Will Dekan Indulge the Villain's Pretentiousness?

Lord Viscount Lampard sat in his carriage listening to the conversation of the Beautiful Minds Trio.

He felt something was off no matter what he did.

Aren't you here to defend Tristin City?

Why does it feel like you guys are really here for sightseeing?

Moreover, they were tourists who came to join in the fun during the festival.

The lord wanted to say something, but held back.

He had heard of the reputation of Dekan's team before.

But no matter how rampant Dekan and Cornelia are in the Demon Academy and the snowy mountains, that's still the Shadow World.

This is the real world.

Are you still so lacking in tension?

The battles in the real world and the Shadow World are worlds apart.

In the event of a major crisis, the real world is far more dangerous than the Shadow World.

The most obvious point is--

The Shadow World has reasonable mechanisms for protection, which do not exist in the real world.

In addition to providing certain intelligence and guidance, the Shadow World will also provide information on the strength of enemies within a certain range.

This is to ensure that the challenger does not get into a dead end from the very beginning.

Even the ultimate enemy in the Shadow World can be roughly estimated in rank based on the Shadow World's level.

Even if things go awry, at worst, the car will crash.

Challengers can also survive until the time limit expires and be teleported back to the real world, thus resolving the crisis.

People like Dekan can completely abandon their moral burdens and do whatever they want in certain Shadow World.

In the real world, however, Dekan cannot fully let himself go.

Many of his actions in the Shadow World would land him in jail.

For example, the great deeds they did at the Demon Academy.

"Dekan, are you sure you can succeed?"

Lord Viscount Lampard hesitated for a long time before asking Dekan with some concern.

The closer he got to the crucial moment, the more he realized he was out of sync with the other three.

He felt increasingly nervous, and occasionally experienced intense heart palpitations.

Although the situation currently appears to be very favorable.

But.

It might happen soon.

The Resurrection Church is about to unleash its true power.

If an irresistible disaster were to strike, everything would deteriorate rapidly in an instant.

It's possible that not only Ice Princess will be captured.

The entire city of Tristin will be destroyed.

If given the chance to massacre the city, the Resurrection Church would likely not let it go.

Dekan and Lampard's actions must have thoroughly angered the Resurrection Church.

Seeing the lord's worried expression, Dekan couldn't help but chuckle.

"Don't worry, unless it's the Pope of the Resurrection Church who comes, I should be able to find a way."

He patted the lord on the shoulder.

Dekan held his lord in high regard.

This reliable lord also helped him a lot.

Most importantly, the lord's attitude towards Dekan made Dekan very comfortable.

What he likes most is someone who makes him feel at ease and gives him peace of mind.

Therefore, Dekan decided to at least lay the truth out with the lord for now.

Dekan was not an arrogant person.

He was very clear about the difference between the real world and the Shadow World.

In this world, once you get into big trouble...

You could encounter an enemy several ranks higher than yourself at any time and be instantly killed.

After all, the plot of the protagonist being at level three and then a group of level four enemies just showing up to give him experience points is simply illogical.

It only appears in novels that are like those featuring cerebral palsy.

Dekan had long wanted to complain about many of the novels he had read in his previous life.

Regardless of whether the villainous team has a clear understanding of the extent of the threat posed to the protagonist.

Even if the protagonist encounters enemies randomly.

Shouldn't it always be the case that you just happen to encounter someone who's only slightly higher level than you?

This is unreasonable from both a statistical and probabilistic perspective.

Therefore, Dekan was always prepared to face enemies several levels higher than himself.

Even if he returned to his dormitory one day and found a Cardinal the Resurrection Church sitting on his sofa, he wouldn't be too surprised.

If we really encounter them, it doesn't matter whether we can win or not.

At least Dekan has seriously considered how to play.

Opportunity always favors the prepared and cunning.

However, at present.

Dekan believed that the situation in Tristin City wouldn't be too bad.

The Pope must have faced certain limitations preventing him from personally participating.

Otherwise, there would be no need for much planning, nor for those elite Resurrection Cultist to cause trouble.

He could just come and capture Ice Princess directly, and that would be the end of it.

Based on the intelligence gathered, the main force sent by the Resurrection Church was merely a confidant of a Cardinal.

In other words, the enemy's highest combat strength this time is most likely at the seventh tier.

Even the Cardinal couldn't personally deal with the Ice Princess.

"Just trust our professional team."

Dekan said.

"I have faith in your combat capabilities, and I feel completely safe with you by my side. But I am worried about the civilians who cannot withstand a devastating attack."

Lampard lowered his head, looking somewhat helpless.

As a lord, he had too many things to worry about.

He knew that Dekan's combat capabilities were difficult to measure by rank.

After all, Dekan's unique system allows Dekan to create strong crowd control that ignores rank differences as long as he can execute a combo.

What the lord fears most is the unscrupulous methods employed by the Resurrection Church.

"Don't worry, civilians will be largely safe from harm."

Dekan shrugged and explained quite easily.

"If I'm not mistaken, the Resurrection Church intends to use its elite fifth and sixth-tier troops to attack key facilities in Tristin City one night."

"For example, attacking the Lord's Mansion and magic energy station, kidnapping students from the Tristin Academy as hostages, or even blowing up the prison."

"Then it might threaten Ice Princess, putting her in a situation where she's hampered in combat."

"And to create a period of time that prevents the Knights Order and Security Forces of Tristin City from coming to support Ice Princess."

"Finally, the enemy's main force will find a way to defeat Ice Princess under these excellent conditions and then take her away."

"However, we have dealt with the Resurrection Cultist's elite forces very smoothly, so regardless of whether Ice Princess is safe or not, you don't need to worry too much about the civilians."

"Their next move is most likely a countermeasure card prepared specifically for the Ice Princess; they probably don't have the resources to harm civilians anymore."

Dekan slowly explained how, as an expert, he judged the Resurrection Church's strategy.

The lord was stunned.

You speak so eloquently, it's as if you've personally seen the Resurrection Church's project proposal.

Tristin Cathedral.

Inside the spacious church sat only a nun with a gentle demeanor.

Sunlight streamed through the church's stained glass, refracting and casting a soft glow that illuminated the area around her as bright as day.

She sat in an inconspicuous spot, her palms clasped together, as if a devout believer were praying.

However, she seemed to sense something, and her body trembled slightly twice.

He seemed to be finding it increasingly difficult to remain calm, and he clenched his teeth.

His expression gradually became ferocious.

She just used scout-type magic to investigate the situation outside.

The entire city of Tristin has become a hell for the Resurrection Cultist!

The mob is hunting down church members?

This absurd scene, which wouldn't even occur in the Shadow World, made her momentarily doubt whether there was a problem with her detection spell.

"Hehe..."

She placed her hand on her chest; Dekan's Underworld scheme had left her somewhat enraged.

Utter disgrace!

Especially for her, the commander who spearheaded this operation!

She had already considered avoiding Dekan.

I never expected this kid to deliberately walk right into the line of fire.

They actually managed to disrupt their plans.

"Dekan, you'll regret this!"

She quickly adjusted her mindset.

Shadows swirled around her, and when they dissipated, she had transformed into a completely different person.

His jet-black leather armor was covered with scale-like steel plates, gleaming with a chilling metallic luster under the sunlight.

Her eyes held a chilling glint, as if they could freeze one's very soul.

She was none other than Isabel, the confidante sent by the Cardinal.

In her original plan, she was absolutely confident that she could defeat the Ice Princess with a set of counter cards without any interference.

However, things have changed, and she will no longer have the opportunity to fight Ice Princess one-on-one.

Fortunately, this unexpected situation is still within their tolerance level.

Even if those elites were hunted down, they would be restricted to moving around the city.

Even that couldn't change the fact that Ice Princess would be captured!

The church has a comprehensive plan, and its preparations are beyond Dekan's imagination.

Even for countermeasures against Dekan, Isabel had prepared several cards.

If Dekan insists on getting involved, she will not hesitate to eliminate this reckless individual.

However, the most important thing now is to report the current situation to His Holiness the Cardinal.

Isabel then triggered a Spell Card.

[Ultra-Long Distance Communication Magic]

[Category: Spell Card]

[Grade: Purple Rare]

[Class: 6]

[Effect: Enables ultra-long-distance communication without a terminal. Communication consumes a large amount of mana, and the mana consumption increases with the distance.]

[Note: I can be the best version of myself.]

Isabel: "Your Excellency, Dekan has managed to eliminate our elite forces hidden in Tristin City and is gradually increasing the difficulty of our operations within the city. I need your support to capture the Ice Princess as soon as possible."

There seemed to be some noise on the other end of the communication, but a voice soon came through:

"Okay, reinforcements will be here soon. Get ready to go."

After saying that, the other party cut off the communication.

At the same time.

In a small town in a province near Tristin.

This small town is located on the border of the province, only a few hours' carriage ride from Tristin.

It was lunchtime, and the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses filled a small tavern.

"Oh dear, this is interesting. It seems Isabel is in trouble."

A red-haired young man with a gentle demeanor sat at the bar, smiling and sighing.

He was dressed in clergy attire, his gaze calm, and he seemed to possess a maturity that did not match his appearance.

"Father, what were you muttering to yourself just now?"

The surrounding diners asked him.

The priest was just chatting and laughing with the unfamiliar diners around him.

During their brief conversation, the surrounding diners all noticed that the priest was a very cheerful person.

"Ah, it's nothing. The church has run into some trouble, and it seems I'll have to shoulder the burden."

He sighed helplessly, but his expression was actually quite relaxed.

There seems to be the composure of an absolute powerhouse.

"Father, is there anything we can do to help you?"

"You guys? Hmm, let me think. I'm afraid not, but I'm really grateful for your willingness to help me."

The priest smiled and waved his hand.

It's like rejecting someone's kindness.

It was like saying goodbye.

"Well then, goodbye."

This was accompanied by the priest's last words.

A burst of flames swept through the air.

A towering flame shot into the sky, blowing away the entire tavern and nearby houses.

The priest used his magic too suddenly and too quickly.

The civilians around them were vaporized in an instant before they could even feel the pain.

Amidst the inferno and ruins, only the red-haired priest stood serenely.

He wore a faint smile, as if he were admiring his own backyard.

At the same time, a huge crimson flame rose into the sky and sped towards Tristin City like a comet.

The priest raised his hand to his forehead and watched the fiery shadow depart, seemingly finding the sunlight a bit too dazzling.

"Show me your struggle, you little top- Card Crafter, Dekan."

He chuckled to himself.

Then, as he was about to walk out of the ruins, he seemed to sense something moving.

"Wow, you got here so quickly?"

He muttered to himself, a strange red and black magic book appearing in his hand. Without turning his head, he cast a spell.

Instantly, a semi-transparent vortex of deep red flames surrounded him.

As soon as the flames appeared, the air in the entire area suddenly boiled, and the scorching energy spread outwards at an indescribable speed.

In that instant, it seemed as if even the ashes would be reignited.

The spreading flames collided with a sword flash that came from behind him.

A muffled boom erupted.

The enormous impact and recoil swept outwards, as if a storm had swept through the ruins, scattering rubble and dust everywhere.

The priest remained standing still.

But the figure that had attacked him from behind was forced to retreat several meters before regaining its footing.

"Hehe, didn't you have lunch?"

The priest narrowed his eyes slightly and turned around, speaking with a hint of mockery.

He saw a blonde, silver-armored female knight holding a longsword standing behind him.

However, compared to looking directly at the female knight, the priest's gaze seemed to be fixed only on the longsword in the female knight's hand.

A dazzling golden light swirled on the blade, like a sacred, inextinguishable flame.

Even without authentication, the priest could tell it was a high-level epic weapon.

"You heartless bastard, why did you kill these innocent civilians?!"

The female knight pointed her longsword at the priest, her cold face unable to conceal her murderous intent.

"Hmph, if there were civilians around when we fought, you'd be very hesitant, wouldn't you? I gave them a painless release while allowing you to fight without worry. You should all be thanking me. This is my greatest act of kindness."

The priest still held the book in one hand, his back ramrod straight, and smiled calmly.

"Brute..."

The female knight stared intently at the priest.

"Bishop of Ruin Evans of Ruin! Today I will bring you judgment!"

"Oh dear, how scary!"

The priest said this, but he didn't seem flustered at all; he simply summoned more creatures.

It was as if a Demon Realm army had instantly gathered around him.

As the two eighth-tier powerhouses drew closer once more, a fierce battle erupted in the town.

Even when Evans sent his ace card far away, he remained calm.

He was unilaterally suppressing the female knight.

It might take another eighth-tier expert to be able to match Evans.

But that was the task of Bishop of Ruin Evans of Ruin.

To hold back other eighth-tier powerhouses who might go to support Tristin City.

The Kingdom Association has an Astrologer is a major headache for the Resurrection Church, as he can roughly predict the activity range of the Cardinal the Resurrection Church at regular intervals.

If several Cardinal suddenly gather together in a short period of time, it will trigger the highest level of alert from the Kingdom Association.

For example, once it is discovered that all the Cardinal are approaching the Norton Kingdom.

This would directly expose the Cardinal's intentions, leading to a full-scale siege by a coalition of eighth-tier powerhouses from several surrounding kingdoms.

Therefore, the Cardinal dared not gather in full force to arrest a particular Card Crafter.

They can only try to maintain a conventional approach in order to mislead the Kingdom Association.

The only Cardinal who frequently operates near the Norton Kingdom is Bishop Evans of Bishop of Ruin.

He was the only Cardinal who could provide some support to the Tristin City plan without alerting the Kingdom Association.

When outside of the country, the Norton Kingdom generally does not actively seek trouble with Cardinal.

Because these bishops were too difficult to deal with, and their methods were extremely insidious.

However, once Cardinal enters the territory of the Norton Kingdom, the kingdom will send eighth-tier powerhouses to hunt down and annihilate Cardinal at all costs.

Therefore, after Evans entered the territory of the Norton Kingdom, he was constantly being Taunt and pursued by eighth-tier powerhouses.

Now, only one female knight has caught up with him, and he can deal with her easily.

However, it won't be long before more eighth-tier powerhouses arrive.

At that point, we'll just have to fight and run.

But that's fine, that's exactly what Evans wanted.

Even if these eighth-tier experts don't come looking for him now, he will find a way to stop them from going to Tristin City to provide support.

Otherwise, even if Isabel were to capture the Ice Princess, it would be difficult for her to successfully leave the territory of the Norton Kingdom.

On the plains of the Norton Kingdom.

A deep red streak of flame flashed across the sky.

Wherever it passes, it is like a blot out the sky.

The temperature seemed to warm up the cold winter a little.

However, this is an abnormal temperature change that would unsettle any living organism.

It was as if the moment this fiery shadow descended, everything would turn into a scorched hell.

Tristin City.

Ice Princess put down her cup, stood up abruptly, and looked out the window.

She sensed something Terror was getting closer and closer to Tristine City.

She gazed into the distance, her brow furrowed, as if trying to discern something.

[Devil King of Ruin - Zesterli]

[Category: Summon Card]

[Rarity: Orange Epic]

[Class: 8]

[Effect: Immune to all crowd control effects; immediately resurrects upon death; 1-hour cooldown. Each resurrection deals massive area-of-effect damage.]

[Note: Destruction! Rebirth!]

Ice Princess quickly obtained the results of her assessment, and her expression became extremely solemn.

Without hesitation, she used wind magic to fly towards the direction from which the [Devil King of Ruin] was attacking outside the city, leaving a frosty afterimage in the air.

The entrance to the Tristin Magic Academy.

Dekan leaned out of the carriage and raised his binoculars to look at the tiny black shadow in the distant sky.

He could roughly recognize it without needing any identification.

This is the trump card held by the Bishop of Ruin, one of the ten Cardinal of the Resurrection Church.

"Seriously, A-Fu? Are you a sore loser? How could Ice Princess possibly handle this?"

Dekan put down his binoculars and returned to the carriage, his brow furrowed.

The lack of control negates Ice Princess's greatest strength.

Even with resurrection, the Ice Princess, with her low damage output, simply can't outlast it.

It can also cause chaos in the battlefield. Ice Princess can't fight it in the town at all; she has to go out of the city to intercept it.

To be honest, Dekan now thinking about going straight back to the Royal Capital go to school.

Maybe I can still make it to the last class this afternoon.

Ice Princess, you might as well die.

Besides this [Devil King of Ruin], there is also a bishop's confidant who can fight against the Ice Princess, hiding in the shadows.

The bishop's confidant possessed the epic Spell Card capable of enslaving the Ice Princess, and was ready at any moment to defeat and enslave Ice Princess in one strike.

It can be said that it has already reached the point of being covered in ice and snow.

If it weren't for Ice Princess's aloofness and arrogance...

If only she had cooperated even a little with Dekan's preparation plan.

Things wouldn't be that complicated.

All I can say is that this woman's brain is made of ice.

However, Dekan still wanted to try to save her.

Because she's not bad.

Ice Princess immediately chose to leave the city to intercept the [Devil King of Ruin].

If she were truly indifferent to everything, there would be no need for her to so resolutely and desperately fight against an eighth-tier epic summon that she had no chance of winning.

"Dekan, what should we do?"

Seeing Dekan's troubled expression, the lord panicked as well.

This was the first time he had ever seen Dekan wear his annoyance on his face.

"I can't say for sure whether I can save the Ice Princess right now, because it depends on whether my companions are willing to go on the adventure with me."

Dekan replied.

Then Dekan looked at Croix and asked:

"Croix, do you want to go for something big, or should we just take the lord and run away?"

K: "Is it dangerous to gamble big?"

De: "If we go on a high-stakes spree, we two good buddies might both be finished. But if we succeed, the king will at least personally entertain us."

K: "You don't actually want to kill this [Devil King of Ruin], do you?"

Germany: "Be bolder."

K: "So... you still want to capture that Cardinal's confidant alive?"

Germany: "Be bolder."

"..."

This time, Croix remained silent for a few seconds.

A terrifying possibility gradually came to his mind.

He asked rather tentatively:

"... You wouldn't happen to have your eye on Bishop of Ruin Evans of Ruin, would you?"

Dekan nodded:

"I always feel like that guy is showing off from afar, I can't stand it, I'm going to punish him."

"..."

At this moment, the lord, who was sitting next to them listening to their conversation, was so frightened that his mouth dropped open.

He was dumbfounded.

If anyone else were sitting here, they would definitely think Dekan is crazy!

Is Evans an enemy you should be worrying about right now?

And so, you weren't frowning because you were upset.

Is it because they can't stand people showing off?!