Chapter 53 – Save Me

Despite the difference between a Gift and a Covenant, similarities still exist, excluding those differences.

“Senior? What did you just say? Self, what?”

“Self-buffs. I mean, buffs you cast on yourself. So… um.”

Then, rephrasing it so he could properly explain it to someone else.

“Isn’t it true that almost all wind-type ability users are specialized in support?”

“That’s right.”

“And that support mainly consists of either increasing the team’s movement speed or boosting their evasion abilities.”

“Precisely.”

There are other ways to support a team besides those.

For example, sustaining a wind barrier that deflects a ranged attack, or two.

Or, conversely, altering the trajectory of an ally’s ranged attack, hitting from an unexpected angle.

But those two are by far the most common.

The rest are too difficult to control, and the cost is too high. Speaking of cost, we are talking about the ability user’s stamina here, so it’s nothing to take lightly.

“President, you wanted to be a combatant, not a supporter. You wanted to stand on the front lines, so you devoted all your effort to meticulously…shape… that capability, didn’t you?”

“U-um, Senior? What do you mean by ‘shape’?”

“Ah. I mean, you focused all your efforts in that direction, so to speak.”

“Aha. Anyway, as you said, junior, right? I really worked hard.”

Neferti nodded, as if she understood what I meant by ‘honing down’.

“Originally, wind abilities, which are specialized for support roles, are being used as attack skills. There are definitely good points, but the fact that almost no one uses them that way means there must be a reason. Even more so since these abilities appeared decades ago.”

“…It’s humbling to hear, but yes. That’s right. I’m the only one using this wind-type ability for purely combat purposes.”

Superior talent is definitely part of it. But, is that all there is?

They didn’t feel the need. And the reason is ultimately that other combat types are superior.

No matter how much you hone down wind-type abilities to refine skills for frontline use.

In the end, other types, like weaponry or martial arts, that are purely combat-focused are already ahead.

Neferti was trying to overcome that limit, to break that prejudice.

She was pushing forward with her original, innate talent, infused with a bit of stubbornness.

It’s not quite romance, and it’s too much to call it fate.

Deus thought that was the adjective best suited to coldly assess Neferti right now.

“…So, I’m just not good enough?”

A forlorn voice. The death of someone, the opposition of someone.

And someone’s ability-based limitations are meeting, painting a deep sense of despair.

“It’s a shame. If my ability was more combat-oriented, it would have been nice. I didn’t even want weaponry or martial arts, but even if it was just fire-based. If that were the case…”

“I think you’re mistaken, Chairman.”

Mistaken? Mistaken about what? Neferti looked up.

“I’ve only said that there are limitations to your approach, I never said it couldn’t be done, that it was impossible.”

“…Isn’t that the same thing?”

“Not at all. It’s completely, utterly different.”

Of course, it’s different. Totally different. It’s like saying your skills are a mess, so let’s rebuild them.

Your points are allocated all over the place, so the effect is minimal.

“How many skills are you currently using, Chairman?”

“Skills? Uh… Well, they’re all different depending on the strength and direction of the wind.”

“You don’t have to be exact. Roughly, how many are there?”

Neferti fiddled with her fingers for a moment, then answered. Seven, she said.

“Seven, huh.”

Deus thought for a moment about the merchant he once saw at the street market.

They wouldn’t even look back if there were too many items, rejecting them all.

“Let’s reduce them. By half. Four. No, that’s still too many. Let’s reduce it to three.”

“Huh? N-no. Wait a minute, junior? All of those skills are absolutely used in combat…”

“And have those combat skills been effective lately?”

“…!”

It hurts. Being hit with facts, especially since the attacker is Deus, hurts even more.

But there’s nothing I can do. I have to admit it. In reality, even after using all those skills.

I couldn’t even properly damage that woman from before, let alone the demon that appeared in the cradle.

“And you’ll use that much ability, that much stamina, to strengthen the remaining skills.”

“…Strengthen the remaining skills?”

“How about something like this? For example—”

Just like she’d seen in novels. Like she’d done in games. Like she’d encountered in every kind of media.

Deus was trying his best to awaken the one trapped within this medieval fantasy mold.

“You could weave a powerful whirlwind around Director’s body, amplify its strength and speed. Or how about a hovering technique? Use the wind to slightly levitate, then rapidly spin, unleashing gusts in every direction. Or even ride a colossal storm and trap your opponent in its very eye.”

“Is that… even possible?”

Just hearing it made her head spin. It sounded incredibly difficult.

So, when Neferti questioned its feasibility, Deus tilted his head for a moment.

“You shouldn’t be asking me that.”

“Huh?”

“From now on, Director will have to try it all, one by one, without exception.”

“Eek?”

What was he saying? Just throw it all at her and expect her to figure it out?

After promising to help with everything, from start to finish?

“Ah, don’t worry, Director.”

What not to worry about?

“I will assist you.”

“Oh? Really, Junior?”

“Yes. Because having too much time, or being too relaxed, just won’t do. Though, I think me pushing you will be better than letting the devil have a go.”

“…?”

For a moment, Neferti had to doubt her very ears.

What did he just say? Someone’s going to push me? No, right? He’s joking, right?

“Just trust me.”

Deus said, smiling, and for a moment, she thought the devil was standing before her again.

He told her to trust him, but why was he clenching and unclenching his fist!

Watching that spectacle, Neferti already knew what she had to say.

‘Save me. Save me! Junior! I gave you the club room for free!!”

But no matter what Neferti was thinking, Deus’s mind was already elsewhere.

‘After the student council president, it’ll be Luciel-sunbae’s turn. At least that one can use Radiant abilities to some degree, so there’s no need to rush like this.’

There was nothing more cruel than telling someone who followed romance to abandon it.

So he didn’t interfere. He just offered encouragement. But if that wasn’t enough, he’d resort to other measures.

To allow them to soar even higher than now, while maintaining the romance they so desperately desired.

Of course, at the end of that method, Deus himself always stood.

‘Gotta roll them. Roll them all around.’

He cursed so much, grumbled so much, even screamed for him to ease up a little.

But in the end, Deus himself was starting to resemble the old geezer he remembered.

*

“….”

Astaroth blankly gazed up at the sky.

It was different from Hell. Not all red and pitch black.

Blue. Bright. He realized anew that this was a different world.

He tried to get up. But his body simply wouldn’t listen.

Barely a twitch at her fingertips. Below the neck, still no sensation.

The agony of being ripped apart remained, a testament to the brutal beating.

“Hey.”

Unable to even turn her head, she speaks to the side.

A disgruntled male voice answers from her right.

“Don’t bother me. Let me catch my breath, too.”

“Don’t get cocky.”

“If you think this is me being cocky, I’m truly wronged. Astaroth-nim.”

She wanted to say, *Enough with the jokes*, but she knew it wasn’t that.

“…Hee. Heehee. Heeheehee….”

Laughter bubbles up. From disbelief. From bewilderment. And from a burgeoning fascination.

Not even in hell had someone dared to beat her so mercilessly.

She pictures her assailant. How much he must have sneered at her in his heart.

Seeing that she was nothing more than a single punch away from oblivion, as he ranted about inferior beings and insects.

It must have been like a grown adult watching the antics of a witless child.

“Euheehee…!”

“Just don’t lose your mind, okay?”

Regardless, she was alive. Yes. Miraculously, her lifeline was still intact.

That strange fact prompted her to ask why, and the answer she received was truly something else.

“So, you spilled everything you knew?”

“What else could I do? I’m not exactly gifted at lying. If I’d been caught, I guarantee you, both the Duke and I would have ended up with our limbs torn off and reattached to each other’s torsos, all buddy-buddy.”

“…If it’s that guy, I believe he’s really capable of doing it which is even scarier.”

The two demons, the two men and woman, remained sprawled on the ground.

Their bodies were a mess, but more than that, the psychological shock was immense.

“Things don’t seem to be going in a getting-killed direction.”

“You know me too well.”

“Of course. Who else did I come off of?”

The man glances sidelong at Astaroth.

And then offers a stark warning: “This time, you really could die.”

“I know. I know.”

Heehee. Astaroth smiles.

“I want to go up against that b*stard one more time. It feels like all the weariness in my body is swept away.”

“Ah, Duke! Please! Have some patience! …I don’t even have the strength to stop you. Do as you please. Damn it.”