Chapter 62: The Fracture of Human Nature
Erwin's shrill screams tore through the Six-Pointed Star Plaza.
Even now, the spectators surrounding the arena still had no idea what had actually happened.
They saw no wounds.
No visible traces of combat.
They only saw Erwin's transformation—
from arrogance, to fury, to madness, and finally, total collapse.
A complete and public annihilation of his reputation.
The only thing they could be certain of was this—
Elias had not moved at all.
He hadn't even lifted a finger.
As if without effort, as if through nothing more than invisible confrontation, he had utterly crippled Erwin.
"Terrifying… So defeating Queen Carlile wasn't a fluke. He's genuinely powerful!"
"Elias… debuting like this and causing such an uproar!"
"Strong and handsome. Becoming Lady Leiya's companion is only a matter of time."
Amid the chaotic chatter, Erwin was carried away by the military's medical team.
Even strapped to a stretcher, he continued screaming, writhing in agony as if his hands were still being torn apart.
Listening to those cries, General Yug—himself a soldier—fixed Elias with a heavy, contemplative gaze.
A mage with no known background.
A man who, without even striking, had utterly humiliated the Deep-Cruel Executioner.
His face remained expressionless, yet he radiated an unfathomable depth.
And then there was the way he had calmly explained the ultimate nature of thread magic—
A man like this suddenly appearing in the Holy City…
and seeking to become Lady Leiya's guard…
Was it really a coincidence?
Regardless, Erwin's defeat was absolute. Yug could only announce loudly:
"Congratulations to contestant Elias for winning this match!"
"The next contestant, please—"
"—Wait."
Elias suddenly interrupted.
"General Yug, may I ask—how many contestants remain?"
Yug glanced down at the roster.
"There are thirteen remaining."
"…Still that many."
Elias paused briefly, then said calmly:
"Sending them up one by one is a waste of time."
"Let them all come at once."
The moment his words fell—
Aside from Flamme, who could only shake her head helplessly,
Everyone else: Σ(ŎдŎ|||)ﾉﾉ
Even Yug, a veteran of countless battles, was momentarily stunned by Elias's declaration.
"You mean to say," Yug asked slowly, "that you intend to face the remaining thirteen… alone?"
"—What else would I do?"
Elias replied coolly, his question landing like a blade.
"There isn't a fourteenth person left for me to fight."
Yug: (ᇂ_ᇂ|||)
"That's… not the point…"
"Are you absolutely certain?"
"No need to drag this out."
Elias cut him off decisively.
"Call them up already. Lunch is coming soon."
"…Very well."
Yug stepped forward, turning toward the remaining contestants, about to call out their names—
Only to discover that every last one of them had retreated to the corners, huddled together, refusing to move.
"…What is this?"
The thirteen said nothing.
They only shook their heads desperately, over and over.
"They're… giving up outright?!"
Yug was shaken—but after a moment's thought, he found it understandable.
To ordinary mages,
Erwin had already been terrifying enough.
After witnessing Erwin's miserable end, they had all realized one thing—
The man who utterly destroyed Erwin
would be far more terrifying still.
Seen from that angle, stepping onto the stage was pointless.
"…Very well."
Yug inhaled deeply and announced solemnly, before all present:
"Congratulations to contestant Elias—
for winning the final selection and earning qualification as Lady Leiya's personal guard!"
The crowd erupted.
Many cheered out of pure admiration for overwhelming strength.
Others remained silent, their gazes fixed on Elias with unmistakable fear.
Flamme, keen-eyed as ever, noticed the stark divide immediately.
No surprise there.
Humans revere strength—
but they also fear the unknown.
Had she encountered Elias for the first time today,
she would likely feel the same.
Sending such a being into the military—
Was this meant to fracture human nature itself?
Teacher Serie was, as always—
mercilessly precise.
---
High above, on the palace's top balcony, a blonde elf lounged casually, gazing toward the Six-Pointed Star Plaza with a faint smile.
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth…"
"Truly his style."
"But with Erwin crippled," she mused,
"the military is bound to notice."
"Elias…"
"How will you respond next?"
---
Night · Holy City · White Swan Fine Dining
Julie raised a full mug of beer high.
"Come on—cheers!"
"—Wait."
Frieren reached out and stopped her.
"Captain Julie, you were injured today. Are you sure you should be drinking?"
"It's fine!"
Julie laughed heartily, turning to the others.
"Lady Flamme personally healed me—I'm completely recovered!"
"And Elias…"
She shifted her gaze toward the stiff, expressionless man seated beside Flamme.
"Your fight with Erwin today was incredible!"
"I didn't even see you make a move—"
"But watching Erwin scream and roll on the ground?"
"That was glorious!"
"Seriously, thank you—and congratulations on becoming Lady Leiya's guard!"
Unlike Julie's enthusiasm, Elias felt nothing at all.
If Flamme hadn't insisted on celebrating, he wouldn't even be here.
In his eyes, was there really anything worth celebrating about a foregone victory?
It wasn't until he saw Frieren and Julie raise their glasses together that he snapped back to attention.
"Frieren. No alcohol."
Elias spoke sternly, memories of Serie's drunken antics surfacing unbidden.
"First, you're underage."
"Second, elven drunkenness has… severe consequences."
"…Um, sorry."
«(≖_≖'')»ノ口
"It's pineapple soda."
"…Then forget I said anything."
As the others clinked glasses, Elias made an excuse and quietly left.
Under the pale moonlight, he wandered the streets alone, without direction.
Then he turned into a narrow alley.
Left. Right. Deeper still.
A stray black cat darted away—
and Elias stopped.
"Come out."
"With your build, you can't hide in a place this narrow."
"…So I've been found."
A tall, imposing man stepped out behind him.
Elias turned calmly.
"General Yug. What brings you here?"
Yug's face flickered between shadow and moonlight,
his gaze sharp as a lion's—utterly different from the judge on the arena earlier that day.
"Elias… is it?"
"You defeated our chief interrogator without lifting a finger."
"That alone places your strength near—if not equal to—a grand mage."
"And yet, among the world's powerful figures, I know nearly all of them."
"Only your name…"
Elias met his piercing stare without the slightest ripple.
"I'm just a country bumpkin with a modest understanding of magic."
"It's normal for nobles of the capital not to have heard of me."
"…Is that so?"
Yug's voice lowered.
"Because I suspect…"
"That recently, the Holy City hasn't merely welcomed rural folk—"
"But something…"
"That isn't human at all."
---