I wondered how many times this had been—
Deep within the magnificent King’s Chamber, the Crimson King sat upon his throne, waiting for me.
“You truly are a man who never learns. Even after being carved into pieces so many times, you still show your foolish face here without tiring of it. If your nature truly finds joy in pain, perhaps I should introduce you to a professional interrogator?”
Shut up! You’re the one acting like some clingy, unstable attention-seeker—killing me over and over only to let me come back and visit again. Are you that lonely?!
I wanted to fire back with that, but I restrained myself. My ability to undergo this "death-loop" training relied entirely on his whim. If he decided to say, “Fine, then stay dead,” I’d be in a world of trouble.
“I’m a stubborn man. I’ve got infinite continues until I master your power.”
“Infinite contin...? You speak in riddles.”
With a mocking snort, Verdict continued.
“If you waste a King’s time, I shall kill you instantly. Will you show me some entertainment worthy of my notice?”
I bit down hard on the base of my left thumb.
The sharp pain of tearing flesh, the metallic taste of blood—
I pressed my right hand over the wound and channeled my mana, visualizing the Crimson Sword. As I pulled my hand away with a sharp tug, the blade emerged, the wound serving as a makeshift sheath.
I wouldn’t let him call it a dagger anymore. It was easily the length of a short sword now.
“...Hoh. You’ve learned to manifest it from a wound of that size? Impressive, impressive. It seems even a lowlife can manage a monkey’s mimicry of a King if he applies himself.”
Verdict rose slowly from his throne and held out his right hand. In that instant, as if by teleportation, an elegantly shaped Crimson Sword appeared in his palm.
“However, this is the true essence of a King. Can a talentless creature like you ever hope to reach this height?”
He created a weapon of that caliber in a heartbeat, without even a scratch on his skin.
Now that I had begun to grasp the fundamentals of Ancient Blood Magic, I finally understood the terrifying reality of that feat. I knew exactly how much refinement and mana it required.
...Well, there was no point in despairing.
“I’ll reach it. I have all the talent I need. The rest I can make up for with effort.”
That talent was packed tightly within my heterochromatic eyes. All that mattered now was how much work I was willing to stack on top of it.
I immediately flooded my bloodstream with mana.
“Frenzy”—the physical enhancement Verdict had spoken of.
Exhilaration and excitement surged through me. Just as it had when Verdict forcibly invoked the power within me, vitality set my veins on fire. I kicked off the floor, launching a surprise attack.
A sharp, metallic clang echoed through the chamber as Verdict’s Red Blade caught my overhead strike.
...I didn’t expect to win with just that.
I pivoted instantly, unleashing a flurry of slashes as I circled him with high-speed movements. Verdict parried and evaded every strike with a thin, mocking smile.
“Good grief, do not bore me. I have a habit of breaking things that lose their interest.”
Verdict shifted to the offensive.
A strike like a flash of lightning streaked toward me!
React!
I somehow managed to parry the blow, knocking the blade aside just enough to divert its trajectory.
“Kuhahaha! You really have grown, haven't you?!”
During our previous sessions, I hadn’t been able to survive that first strike. He would cut me down, and it would be game over.
But not today!
“Then let us raise the stakes a little.”
Verdict’s strikes became a relentless storm, assailing me from every direction.
Kh—He’s fast!
I swung my sword desperately, trying to navigate that forest of blades. But I couldn't dodge them all. Strikes I failed to parry began to shallowly open my flesh. At this rate, I’d be overwhelmed by the sheer pressure.
My only choice was to push the output of "Frenzy" even higher.
“Uoooooooaaaaaaaah!”
My senses sharpened to the point that time seemed to grind to a halt. In exchange, the agonizing pain racing through my body intensified proportionally.
...A classic self-harm buff. Damaging yourself to boost your output is every boy’s dream in a game, but it’s a nightmare in practice!
To make matters worse—even after pushing myself this far, I couldn't even force a change in Verdict’s expression.
“So this is the limit of your crude mimicry. Then allow me to offer you a lesson.”
In the next heartbeat, Verdict accelerated. His blade tore through my defenses before I could even process the movement.
He had raised the level of his own "Frenzy."
The speed was beyond my ability to perceive. A massive spray of blood erupted from the diagonal wound carved across my chest. The strength left my limbs, and my sword clattered to the floor as I collapsed to my knees.
“How does it feel to behold the distant heights, lowlife?”
“...I won't despair. I’m getting closer, bit by bit. I’m building toward it. One day, I’ll reach you. That’s all there is to it.”
“I look forward to the moment you realize you were reaching for the unreachable. That final descent into despair will be quite the vintage.”
Verdict’s Red Blade descended toward my head.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
Summer vacation had begun.
Or rather, the "Special Summer Training Camp" had.
While most of the noble students had returned to their family estates, those selected for the camp were gathered at the academy training grounds from the very first day of the break. Naturally, I was among the unlucky few.
To ensure we were properly supported, the academy had assigned several high-ranking faculty members to the camp. Among them was Karia, the professor who had neutralized my "Thunder Emperor's Flash."
Principal Galfried, the man overseeing the faculty, stepped forward. He was over a hundred years old, possessing a straight posture and an impressive mane of white hair and a matching beard.
“As a man who was once young himself, I understand how precious a single second of youth is, and how much value this summer vacation holds. And yet, despite knowing that, we have summoned you here. Why? Because we are certain that you are the individuals who will carry the future of this Kingdom on your shoulders.”
Galfried offered us a gentle, fatherly look.
“I am confident these days of intensive training will prove invaluable to students of your caliber. I want you to give your utmost effort and surpass your limits. We will spare no resource in supporting you.”
Galfried paused for a moment before continuing.
“Now then, we have a special guest from the Church joining us. Saint Seraphina-sama.”
The gathered students gasped.
I, however, wasn't surprised. Saint Seraphina’s participation was scripted in the original game.
Like Leon, Seraphina was one of the Anti-Demon King Decisive Weapons and a key ally candidate for the Hero. As a Saint, her recovery magic was so overwhelming that her presence in the final party fundamentally changed the game's difficulty.
A teacher opened a side door, and a young woman about our age stepped through. She wore priest’s garments that were as ornate as a formal dress, shimmering in pure white. It was the exact image of Saint Seraphina from the game.
The students erupted into a low clamor. As a Saint, she held a special status equivalent to Princess Eliana. To most nobles, she was an even rarer sight than royalty.
Seraphina stood before us, a smile of pure benevolence on her face.
“My name is Seraphina. I am delighted to be able to spend this time with you all. It is only for a short while, but I look forward to our time together.”
She followed her introduction with a bow of perfect grace.
As she raised her head, I caught a fleeting shift in her gaze. A tiny, knowing smile touched her lips.
She was looking directly at the Hero, Leon.
Leon noticed as well, offering a subtle nod in return. It made sense—the Hero and the Saint were already acquainted. This silent exchange of glances was a famous moment from the original story.
With Luna, Silvia, and Eliana, Seraphina made up the four official main heroines of the game. You’re quite the lucky guy, Leon.
Seraphina, in particular, had been raised specifically to support the Hero and harbored deep feelings for him. She was the quintessential "easy-to-win" heroine, her devotion baked into her very upbringing.
With the Saint’s arrival and an assassin lurking somewhere in the shadows, the summer camp was beginning—and it promised to be anything but peaceful.