You sneaked into my simulation world and started spamming the panel?

Lotte nodded quickly, drew his sword, and slashed at the tearful mage beneath him.

The monk, wearing robes designed to withstand sword wounds, managed to endure a few more blows.

In just a few moments, Lotte's control panel popped up.

[Valgard Swordsmanship: Learning]

【Valgard Swordsmanship Lv.1 (0/3000)】: Reduces stamina consumption by 20% when using swords, and increases the damage and slashing frequency of swords.

You've learned it!

Valgard swordsmanship is more of a style; it doesn't require mental energy to activate, and every ordinary attack gains a bonus.

This is a very powerful melee skill for the mage Lot.

As Lot dealt with the mage, Isol grabbed Lot's arm and pulled him out of the encirclement.

The two shook off their pursuers and hid in the shadows.

"Lord Isolde, how is the situation?"

Isolde shook her head. "No."

"How could this be? We've searched all the underground passages, surely there are some underground too?"

"It must be underground. I just don't know where it's hidden right now."

The ground suddenly began to shake, and Lotte even faintly heard a dragon's roar.

The dust above his head was shaken down, making a rustling sound that made it hard for Lotte to open his eyes.

Then, an even clearer dragon's roar resounded.

Lotte and Isolde both looked up, sensing the sacrificial ritual above them begin.

“Lotte, I need you to disrupt the surface ritual so I can find out where the underground magic circle is hidden.”

“Okay.” Lott nodded without hesitation.

It can self-destruct again!

Last time, I didn't get to have enough fun with the Lv.1 [Explosion] skill, so this time I've upgraded to Lv.3 and I'm going to unleash a truly satisfying explosion!

Moreover, if Isolde were to destroy the magic circle, it would be enough to change the course of the world, and the golden talent [Original Deduction] could be rapidly advanced.

Lotte picked up the self-destruct ring, put it on her hand, and was about to leave when Isolde pulled her back.

"What's up?"

“Your face is too dark; you won’t be able to blend into the noble hall.”

Lotte touched his face, which had been blackened by the mage's explosion, and looked at his palms, which were also stained black.

He grinned and groped around with his hands, but the more he touched it, the more messy it became.

Isolde put the sword aside, pointed to the ground and said, "Lie down, I'll clean you up."

Lott lay on the ground, arms crossed over his chest, eyes closed, waiting.

Isolde suddenly felt like an encoffiner, giving Lotte a final makeover.

"Put your hand down and open your eyes."

"Ok?"

At Isolde's insistence, Lotte shrugged and did as she was told.

Isolde chanted softly, her fingers drawing a miniature magic circle.

A moment later, a blue ball of light appeared at her fingertip and moved along with it.

She wiped Lott's face, and the places her fingertips touched restored Lott's original skin color.

The warm, smooth touch made Lotte feel very comfortable, and he even wanted to fall asleep right there.

"Lord Isolde, do you also know magic?"

"Hmm. This is the most basic water control technique."

It seems that Isolde has mastered a second profession in the long world of deduction.

Isolde lowered her head and carefully cleaned Lotte's face. At such close range, Lotte could see her face clearly.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and beneath them, her sapphire-like eyes reflected Lotte's face.

Isolde wiped all the dirt off Lot's face, then took off Lot's helmet and fixed his hair.

Their breaths mingled as Isolde's fingertips ran through Lot's hair, removing every speck of dust.

After everything was ready, Isolde bit her lip, turned her head away, and said to Lotte with her back to him, "Check if there are any tears in the evening gown under your armor. If not, you can set off."

Lott grunted in agreement, rolled over to get up, checked himself over, and said, "Lord Isolde, take care of yourself. I'm off."

"Um……"

The footsteps faded into the distance, and Isolde did not turn back to watch Lot leave.

Only when it was quiet enough around her did she relax her tense body and lean against the wall.

Her white hair obscured her face. She opened her mouth slightly and sighed softly.

Even though Lotte can rewind time, her memories cannot.

The next time they meet, he will remember nothing.

How is this any different from a real separation?

......

Even though a battle had taken place underground, for some reason, the sacrificial ceremony on the ground continued as normal.

The nobles, holding wine glasses and dressed in exquisite gowns, stood beneath the magnificent dome, their faces beaming with excitement.

A red circle appeared on the ground, and the nobles stood in it. Although it was a little crowded, no one complained.

Because this red circle will give them incredibly strong vitality.

"Today, we are all gathered here for a simple purpose: to lead humanity and the Elandor Empire to victory!"

"The people of Orlandis, with their fierce and powerful spirits, have brought forth their treasures and are offering them to you, my guides."

"They gave their lives for the prosperity of the next generation. They place their hopes in you, because only you can lead humanity."

"Now, please stand in the ritual circle and receive the gift from the Civilian Empire, the life crystallization collected over ten years by the Elandor Empire."

Outside the window, the entire city was bathed in a vibrant, colorful light.

A colossal magic circle rapidly extended from the castle's center, instantly engulfing the entire city of Orlandis.

The red sky swayed incessantly, as if it would collapse at any moment and fall upon the innocent people.

The heavy rain was also stained red, turning into blood rain. The blood on the ground began to flood the city, swallowing the people at the foot of the castle.

Screams and wails echoed across most of Orlandis, but were blocked out by the castle windows along with the wind and rain.

The doors to the castle banquet hall were closed, and the lights went out in an instant.

One by one, the candles were lit, their warm yellow light reflecting on everyone's happy faces.

The nobles crowded into a small ceremonial circle and began to sing hymns in unison, preparing to welcome their happy future.

"Sacred soil, which gave birth to the glory of Elando."

"Humble kindling, igniting the flames that dispel the long night."

Isolde, underground, leaned against the wall, her eyes closed, listening intently to every sound.

The torch emitted a ghostly blue light, which blended into her eyes.

"Thank you, selfless lamb, for paving the ladder of humanity with your blood;"

"Thank you, mortal bones, for forging an eternal throne for the guide."

The nobles also closed their eyes, and the sacred light painted the power of faith on their faces.

Their right hands were placed on their chests, and they were deeply immersed in the sacrificial ceremony.

Do not lament the passing of life, for your withering is the blossoming of an empire.

"We will carry countless wishes and drink from this immortal spring—"

"Leading humanity towards eternal glory—"

"Praise be to Elando, praise be to our King, praise be to our Goddess."

As the hymns ended, people opened their eyes.

In the very center of the crowd, a boy with his eyes closed spread his arms wide, standing out from the people around him.

"Bravo—to my Explosion Technique—"

Chapter 29 The Gift of Breaking the Cycle of Reincarnation

The nobles gathered and loudly praised the gods, but it was Loth who responded to them.

The Lv.3 Burst spell also changed shape. The magic power on Lotte's body kept colliding, and some of the magic power that was knocked out gathered in the air into a strange blue line, and this line kept expanding, turning into a blue pillar of light.

The light belonging to Lotte swallowed up all the nobles around her, taking in their doubts, surprise, fear, and anger.

"Boom—!"

Centered on Lotte, a mushroom cloud rose into the sky.

All the windows inside the castle were shattered, and the wind and rain outside finally rushed in.

The splashed blue magic was thrown into the air, mixing with blood and sticking to the huge mural on the dome.

A maid in a corner was unaffected by the explosion, but severed limbs flew to her feet. She desperately tried to scream, and finally, with the help of tears, she managed to utter the first cry in the chaos of the banquet hall.

"what--!!!"

The nobles who were supposed to receive the sacrificial offering were now quietly piled up in the field, their remains forming a perfectly standard circle around Lot.

There seemed to be a circle drawn by a god around Lotte, and no corpses or bloodstains dared to enter the circle.

In such an environment, the guards witnessed such a bizarre scene that they hesitated to approach.

Lotte's body lay in the very center, as if he were the one absorbing the sacrificial ritual.

That is indeed the case.

The nobles willingly sacrificed their lives to upgrade Lotte's [Explosion] spell.

[Explosion Technique Lv.3→Lv.4 (999/1000)]

Depend on!

Lotte squinted slightly, looking at the values ​​on the panel, and couldn't help but mentally complain.

How come we're missing just one?!

He closed his eyes, trying to recall if he had used the wrong posture when he self-destructed.

But to be honest, even though it was the same place and the same group of people, Lott still felt really good about exposing himself.

Lot was not dead yet; the golden talent "I can't die from this" had saved his life. However, he was unable to move; he had no feeling below his neck.

Suddenly, Lott felt himself being lifted up and carried out of the banquet hall.

The wails and groans disappeared, and the surrounding air gradually became damp and stuffy.

Was it carried underground?

After walking for a while, Lott squinted and saw that the ground of the underground passage had been blasted open.

No wonder Isolde couldn't find the magic circle; it was hidden in a lower area.

The person next to him threw Lott directly down from the cave entrance, and he was thrown onto the hard stone road.

Fortunately, he couldn't feel any pain.

Fortunately, the fall didn't kill Lott.

The air here is cooler, but very bright. Instead of simple torches, there are decorative wall lamps all around.

Lotte heard the heavy clatter of armored footsteps on the ground, and then he was dragged away by someone.