Path of the Extra Chapter 405: The Hunt Begins

"Master! W-What do we do!? That angel placed a terrifying bounty on your head!"

"Yes, I heard, Nol."

"If someone kills you, their mana core goes up by three levels!"

"Yes, I heard, Nol."

"There’s also a white marker above your head, Master, and a gold one above mine! We’re both going to get hunted!"

"Yes, I heard, Nol."

Having already resigned himself to this absurdity, Azriel looked away from the angel—and from Nol’s panicked face—and directed his gaze instead toward Dame Selene, who remained frozen in place, just like everyone else.

Then Azriel moved.

He shot forward at a speed far too fast for the average human eye to follow, Void Eater already in his hand. His fingers tightened around the hilt of the katana as he swung it straight for the knight’s neck.

"Hey! That is not allowed!"

The instant Azriel’s blade struck the frozen dame’s armor, a faint white translucent barrier flared around her body like a second set of armor. Sparks burst from the point of impact, white and sharp, and Azriel immediately leapt back as a stronger wave of pressure rolled toward him.

Blinking, he found the angel floating right in front of his face, pouting at him with obvious displeasure.

"That is cheating, human! Smart, but cheap! Are you perhaps one of those opportunists? Still, even if you are the current MVP, I cannot allow you to kill such an important character like this!"

"Tch."

"Human!? Did you just click your tongue at me!?"

Without the slightest care for its outrage, Azriel swatted the angel aside like an annoying fly.

"Hey!"

Then Azriel focused once more on the master before him.

Ignoring everyone else, drowning out every other sound, he listened.

He heard the wind pass by him.

He felt it too.

Then he looked down, shifted his feet slightly, and noticed the dirt moving.

Having reached that conclusion, Azriel dismissed Void Eater and began walking toward the master. The angel floated beside him, speaking straight into his ear as though the earlier offense had already been forgotten.

"You know, human, I cannot point the cameras at you unless you are with another participant. Why am I not allowed to do that? Normally, I decide who gets a camera and who doesn’t! I am getting so much grief over having an MVP who has barely had any screen time! Do you know why I can’t stream you when you’re alone? Hmm? Hmm? Maybe I can throw in a little reward if you tell me?"

"Go away," Azriel said bluntly.

The answer stunned both the angel and Nol.

Then Azriel crouched down directly in front of the knight and began inspecting the ground beneath her feet.

"Wha—how bold of you, human! Do you not know what I am? I am an angel! And there is no way I am leaving after that! I barely get any chances to stream your face! Besides, why are you so calm? Everyone else was much more shocked when I revealed my amazing presence! But you were the only one who looked annoyed! How rude! Gah! This entire scenario stinks!"

Growing more frustrated with every word, the chatterbox angel suddenly lowered its voice and whispered,

"Hey, hey, think about it, okay? There are some unconfirmed rumors that some reaaaaaaaaally important figures have their eyes on this trial. Even within the Divine Court, some of the highest-ranking beings are said to be involved in creating this scenario... Why? Why? Do you know something, human? You’re kind of suspicious too. I don’t know why, but you seriously give me the creeps! So what do you say? If some reaaaaaaaaally important figures are watching, that could give you a chance to earn even more incredible rewards—as long as you tell me why I can’t stream you when you’re on your own. And maybe a few extra juicy details too? Hmm? Hmm? Hmm?"

For some reason, the proctor—who normally decided whose face could be shown whenever he pleased—was already suspicious that Azriel knew more than he should.

The "important figures" in those rumors were probably the Fourth Authority, the Second Authority, and Lucifer.

At least, that was Azriel’s guess.

Not that the proctor would ever reveal their identities so easily.

Even so, Azriel ignored him.

The angel’s mouth fell open in disbelief.

Then, slowly, its eyes began to water, as though it were about to cry.

"Angel! Angel! Are you really an angel!?"

Nol suddenly appeared beside him, his eyes shining with excitement.

The moment the angel saw Nol’s innocent, childlike face, his own expression brightened at once. He rubbed his nose smugly.

"Hehehe! Of course I am! Cool, right? Right?"

"Yeah! Say, Mr. Angel, how do you become an angel?"

"Oh? You want to become an angel, human? Unfortunately, you are far too weak."

Nol’s face fell instantly.

"Eh..."

"Transforming into an angel, much like I have, is an exceptionally arduous accomplishment!" the angel announced with palpable pride, placing a hand over his chest.

"Then... what is your designation, Celestial Being?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed the angel's face.

"D-Designation? Well... angels of my caliber do not possess names. Not in the fashion you mortals understand, at any rate. First, we must attain esteemed titles. Only then can we be granted names!"

"Titles? And subsequently, names?"

Tilting his head, Nol appeared quite perplexed.

Rather than probe further, he gestured towards the floating marker hovering above his head.

"Say... you mentioned that anyone who defeats me gains a single level to their mana core, and whoever vanquishes Master reaps three levels. But what about us? What rewards await our efforts?"

"An outstanding inquiry, mortal!" The proctor's expression lit up with delight. "You shall naturally receive the same benefits! Provided you manage to endure, of course..."

"Whoa..."

Nol's astonishment was evident.

Upon hearing these pronouncements, Azriel—still crouched low, his fingers digging into the earth—narrowed his eyes and regarded them with a serious mien.

"With the exception of yourself, naturally, mortal," the angel interjected abruptly, pointing a digit at Azriel.

This statement drew a wry smirk from Azriel.

The angel mirrored his smirk, but his eyes held a frigid intensity. He glided nearer and murmured,

"Did I not apprise you earlier? Esteemed individuals might be observing this broadcast... and I am not the arbiter of these bounties. These supplementary rewards you mortals are presently receiving—for vanquishing foes and for survival—are quite extraordinary. Particularly concerning the elimination of a human such as yourself..."

"Quite so," Azriel retorted with characteristic dryness. "I mean, a Master need only end my existence and they ascend to become..."

He left the declaration hanging, yet the angel comprehended his unspoken conclusion.

A Sovereign.

An individual akin to Master Ranni or Lioren would need only to dispatch Azriel to instantly become counted among the mightiest beings alive.

It would be that simple.

"Indeed," the angel affirmed. "However, in exchange for these peculiar rewards, this particular scenario is steadily escalating in popularity."

"Is this not inequitable?" Nol inquired from behind them, his displeasure palpable. "If Master does not attain three mana core levels, then what recompense does he receive?"

"Your interrogations are truly captivating, mortal."

The angel's teeth flashed in a sharp, knowing grin.

"And the answer is... I am uncertain."

"Eh? What do you mean you are un—"

Nol's query was abruptly silenced.

Without warning, the very ground began to quiver.

Both he and the angel swiftly shifted their gazes towards Azriel, their eyes widening in unison.

A swirling vortex of frost enveloped him.

Then, it dissipated.

A few intermittent sparks of brilliant white lightning danced in the air—

and vanished.

Standing before Azriel was the knight.

Suspended eerily in the open expanse.

Directly beneath her...

there was nothing but a void.

She was positioned above a gaping circular chasm, the terrain that once supported her having been utterly obliterated and transformed into a dark abyss.

"You... you... mortal...!?"

For the first time, even the angel appeared utterly bereft of words.

Azriel rose to his feet, brushed himself off, and stated with simple finality,

"You ought to have halted time for all things."

With that, he strode past the dumbfounded proctor.

"Nol, retrieve the young lady. Let us depart."