1.
To get straight to the conclusion, Nahan’s hypothesis was exactly correct.
At midnight on the day Viscount Richmond was murdered, a system window appeared.
【Currently, Bad Ending 8 – < The Hero’s Death> is in progress.】
【Scheduled Date: D-1.】
Originally set for D-3, the scheduled date had now shortened to D-1—meaning it would happen tomorrow.
During the given two days, Nahan poured his time into the rest of the Hero Party, excluding Asha, and as a result:
“Today’s snack is strawberry tanghulu.”
“With strawberries on top and grapes too.”
“…Do you want to be my disciple?”
Successfully befriended Marin Blue.
“Um, Priest… I wanted to ask about that <Black Wolf> member we met before. Do you have a moment?”
“Of course, Selena. From what I can tell, the member who killed Viscount Richmond was likely Luna, as I mentioned before.”
“I… I thought so too…!”
Gained the position of Selena’s spiritual anchor.
“Hey, Ian Red! Try this one too!! Gardner’s Shield is the best in the world!!”
“I heard it never breaks, no matter what force it faces.”
“Damn it…!! You even know about that…!! Fine, I shall bestow upon you the Gardner name!!”
“Ahaha… Unless we get married, wouldn’t that be impossible?”
“Take him! I grant my permission!!”
“…?”
Unofficially became Hestia’s future husband (not really).
For an ordinary freelance priest, it was an impossible feat—but he had successfully formed unbreakable bonds with every member of the Hero Party.
Of course, Asha also crept toward him like a pet drawn to its owner.
However.
“I’m sorry, Hero. I have things to do with Selena today…”
“Ah, I have dinner with the Great Mage later…”
“Tomorrow, Vulcan wants to try breaking a rock with an egg…”
Making various excuses to keep his distance, he left Asha wandering alone, patrolling the capital with a forlorn look.
And then, finally, midnight arrived.
Tick.
As the second hand moved, a chain reaction followed—the minute and hour hands crossed the threshold of midnight.
【Scheduled Date: D-Day.】
The time to save Asha had begun.
Under the excuse of needing a quiet place to pray, Nahan had secured a run-down inn room.
At some point, he moved next door and, now in his <Black Wolf> form, he rose from his seat and muttered.
“Status window.”
【Skill List – <Black Wolf>】
– Passive: Black Wolf (EX)
– Skill 1: Veil of Shadows (EX)
– Skill 2: Unyielding (EX) (6/15)
– Ultimate: (Access Restricted) (EX) (10/15)
By clearing Bad Ending 7 – <The Fanatics’ Revolt>, he had unknowingly saved Selena and 124,012 others.
As a result, his reward tier had increased, granting him the body of Black Wolf, Black Wolf’s Aura, Black Wolf’s combat experience, and the passive Black Wolf fully unlocked.
Unlike before, when even a lowly D-rank member of <Eclipse> was a life-threatening opponent, now he felt like he wouldn’t lose to anyone.
Though he hadn’t had the chance to fully utilize the things he had obtained from hastily accepting Halorand’s request, he could instinctively tell—
‘My body will move exactly as I think.’
A physique as mighty as a mountain, yet strength as delicate as a feather, all completely under his control.
Even the raging Aura within his body—he could suppress it so well that it seemed nonexistent.
‘Must be due to the combat experience.’
There was still a slight delay, like reacting after reading an instruction manual, but unless he faced someone on the level of a Hero or Black Wolf, no one would notice.
Moreover, thanks to his Aura, his artifacts, which previously drained his life force, could now fully display their true power.
‘Now that my passive is completely unlocked, there’s no way I’ll die.’
And so—
Up until now, he had struggled desperately just to survive. But now, not only did he possess overwhelming strength, but he also had enough power to protect others.
“Saving the Hero should be easy now.”
Click.
【Alert – <Acting> has begun!】
【Stage 1 – <Analysis> complete.】
【Understanding of the character – <Black Wolf> is increasing exponentially!】
【Stage 2 – <Immersion> complete.】
【Reproducing the <Black Wolf> persona with absolute precision!】
Wearing the mask of Black Wolf, Nahan placed his foot on the window frame and murmured.
“Let’s finish this quickly and meet the Empress.”
Like this, by saving Asha, he would be able to gain more information.
One by one, slowly but surely—if he continued to clear these bad endings—
He would eventually reach the happy ending.
2.
Asha had dozed off.
– Asha, you must live.
– No!! Father!!!
As always, her dream continued.
The burning Mirabelle.
Herself, the sole survivor.
Halorand silently reaching out his hand.
The royal emblem carved into the scabbards of the murderers’ swords.
Normally, she would wake up at this point, but on rare occasions, she recalled what came after.
The scene of the knight academy.
At the place where hero candidates were selected, the young Asha, who had always been an outsider, was approached by a black-haired boy.
With a smile, he whispered.
– You shine softly, like the moonlight.
Asha had thought her emotions had long since withered.
But at those words, she was filled with anger.
Shine?
All the light she had once possessed had burned away with Mirabelle, leaving only soot behind.
– …Stop messing around and get lost.
– Messing around? Me? With you?
– I said, get lost.
– So sensitive.
Ignoring Asha’s sharp tone, the boy sat down beside her and muttered:
– I’ve decided. If I die, I’ll ask the Goddess to give you the title of Hero.
– …What?
– Others may not see it, but I can see everything. Your kindness.
Kind?
Me?
Caught off guard by the unexpected compliment, Asha was too stunned to respond.
Before she realized it, the boy had even grabbed her hand.
With a bright smile, he whispered in her ear.
– So, promise me one thing. If you ever become the Hero…
What did you say that day?
“…”
As always, Asha woke up without hearing the rest of those words.
A night with a crescent moon, the same one she had seen with that boy.
Leaning against a secluded alley in the capital, she slowly straightened her body.
“Should I at least thank you for waiting?”
Her voice, cold as it cut through the thick darkness.
Zuaaak.
A fissure split through the void, and from within, a woman emerged—her jet-black hair cascading down, crimson eyes gleaming.
“That would be nice.”
“…Fine. I’ll make sure to pay the price generously.”
At the same time, Asha’s hand moved to her waist—where the Holy Sword should have been.
“Don’t worry. I already took it.”
Instead of the missing sword, her fingers clutched at nothing but dust, slipping through them.
The Calamity the Blooming Blood.
The Fourth Elder of <Eclipse>.
After stealing the Holy Sword, she made it disappear somewhere and then curved her crimson eyes seductively.
“Then should I offer my gratitude as well? For coming all alone, to such a secluded place, at this hour?”
【Eclipse’s Fourth Elder – <Calamity the Blooming Blood (SS+)> activates her ultimate skill – <Germination (SSS-)> enhanced by sacrificing her own life force.】
【Target: <Asha Mirabelle (SSS)>】
Chwaruruk!
From every shadow, dark crimson thorned vines shot toward Asha.
【<Asha Mirabelle (SSS)> activates her passive skill – <Purification (SSS)>!】
As her divine power surged with the beat of her heart, it erupted in a radiant burst—
But.
【Eclipse’s Third Elder – <Calamity of Silent Silence (SS+)> activates ultimate skill – <Silence (SSS+)> enhanced by sacrificing his own life force.】
【<Purification (SSS)> has been silenced.】
【Restriction: <Asha Mirabelle (SSS)> is unable to use skills for 60 seconds.】
Before she knew it, she was blocked by Silent Silence, who had already closed the distance and bound her completely.
Still, as was once said—the gap between different ranks was like heaven and earth.
While <Silence (SSS+)> was unavoidable due to its enhancement through life force, <Germination (SSS-)> was still a lower rank than Asha.
“Seems like you’ve put a lot of preparation into this.”
“Of course. You’re the one they call the strongest in the world. I had to treat you properly.”
“…I said, seems like, didn’t I?”
Crunch.
Kwa-dududuk!!!
Even without using her skills, Asha had no trouble tearing through the shadowy vines.
The moment she ripped them apart with her bare hands and lunged at Calamity of the Blooming Blood—
“I told you. I’m treating you properly.”
“…!!?”
Kwaaaaaang!!!
Asha was struck by a completely unexpected attack, sending her tumbling violently.
The Ruthless Stone Mask.
The very first Jangseung created in the Eastern lands.
【Eclipse’s Second Elder – <Calamity of December (SSS-)> activates the ultimate skill – <Pungmulpae (SSS-)>!】
Calamity of December.
“…Whoa. You’re this strong even without sacrificing your life force? Guess the old man isn’t dead yet.”
“Focus.”
“Aw, come on. At least tell me your secret…”
As the Calamity of the Blooming Blood teasingly poked at December.
“…I’ll ask you one thing. Are you from <Black Wolf>?”
Kwaduk!
“Speak. Are you assassins sent by the Empress? Or perhaps <Eclipse>? …No. Never mind. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
A presence entirely different from before radiated from where Asha had landed.
Cold sweat dripped down.
The fine hairs on their bodies stood on end.
Their hands trembled.
Even though they clearly held the advantage, why did it suddenly feel like they were the ones cornered?
Even as all the Elders tensed up, Asha remained expressionless and simply added.
“I’ll just rip off your heads and hand them over to the Black Magic Tower for information extraction.”
3.
Meanwhile, hidden inside a subspace, Nahan peeked out cautiously, observing the situation.
“Tsk. If she’s that strong, I won’t even get the chance to rescue her… This won’t work.”
Rummaging through his things—
Not the Black Wolf mask.
But the mask he recently took from the Calamity of Whispering Nightmares—a certain “doggy’s” former possession.
Click.
After checking his reflection in a mirror, he nodded in satisfaction.
“I’ll just pretend to be part of <Eclipse> for a while, join in on the fight, and then show up as her savior once things get really dangerous.”
The ultimate giving the disease and the cure strategy.
