The Sponsored Heroines Are Coming for Me-Chapter 268

Step.

The world had come to a halt, drenched in crimson rain.

Two figures walked forward, their silhouettes set against the monstrous horrors beyond.

Even at a glance, the aura they exuded was anything but ordinary.

— Step.

Everyone held their breath.

“…”

Iris Lipenstein was no exception.

She recognized the face of the one approaching. They had clashed a few times before. Yet, her body stiffened involuntarily.

There wasn’t a particular reason.

It was simply instinct. As someone who had awakened the power of elemental control, her body had frozen before the overwhelming strength before her.

‘To be honest, I couldn’t accept it before.’

Iris recalled Silvia’s words.

That salvation would come if they could just hold on a little longer. That they would be freed from this catastrophic nightmare.

She had nodded back then, but she hadn’t truly believed it.

And how could she? The disaster unfolding before her made even the faintest sliver of hope impossible to grasp.

A simple question lingered in her mind.

‘Just what kind of salvation would it take to pull us out of this living hell?’

Iris couldn’t even begin to imagine it.

But then—

“…Ah.”

As Ian stepped through the gateway and approached, Iris exhaled in a breathless murmur.

Silvia’s words finally made sense.

Even with monsters looming behind him, he shone brilliantly.

Brighter than the arrival of the Saint.

Brighter than the arrival of the Guild Union.

Brighter even than the arrival of the Northern Grand Duke.

He was undoubtedly the salvation that could flip the atmosphere of this place in an instant.

Of course, not everyone shared Iris’s thoughts.

The aura emanating from Ian was far from something one could call “pure.”

Having mastered the art of manipulating life force, Ian now possessed an overwhelming presence that would instinctively inspire fear in any living being.

Moreover, his power felt immeasurably dominant.

And walking beside him was a woman radiating an eerie energy, reminiscent of the Bloodstone Cult.

It was only natural that some of the students, unfamiliar with Ian, took an instinctive step back, bracing themselves for the worst.

Just as someone was about to step forward—

“…Ian!”

A head of nearly white-blonde hair fluttered in the wind.

Everyone blinked.

Silvia, who had always led them with an unshakable coldness, ran straight into his embrace.

Ian patted her gently for a moment before lifting his gaze with a smile.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

◆

Familiar faces after a long time.

It would be a lie to say I hadn’t hoped for an emotional reunion.

As much as they welcomed me, I was just as glad to see them.

They all looked exhausted, as if they could collapse at any moment, but fortunately, there were no visible injuries.

There was a lot to talk about.

After all, it had been well over a month since we last met.

But, as expected, the final chapter was not so generous as to allow such sweet moments.

“Hold on tight.”

Holding Silvia in my arms, I leaped a few steps back.

The Blood Witch also quickly noticed and evaded along with me.

Immediately after—

“Everyone, get out of the way, nyah!”

The long-missed cry of Danya rang out just as—

— Ziiiiing!

A barrage of brilliant white beams struck the exact spot where I had just been.

The ground turned black, charred by the impact.

The waves forming the beams vibrated violently.

— Boom!

A massive shockwave then overturned the ground.

A follow-up explosion after the direct hit of the energy waves.

It was the same type of attack as the one used during the summit terror incident.

Of course, at the moment of impact, I had quickly deployed a buffering shield around us to reduce the force, but…

I couldn’t help but worry about the surroundings.

Through the settling smoke, I scanned the area.

“Whoa. I almost got roasted alive.”

Elena peeked out from behind her shield and muttered.

Behind her, members of the Dessert Research Society were huddled together.

They also let out small sighs of relief.

Seeing them like that, I couldn’t help but smile.

‘Everyone’s grown so much.’

The forces from the North were under Yerina’s command.

The group of mercenaries, seemingly from the Guild Alliance, were standing as Emilia’s guards.

And, naturally, the priests of the Holy Constantine were being shielded by Aria’s protective barrier.

“Just now… what was that?”

Silvia, who had been in my arms, stood up in a daze and asked. It was quite a rare expression for her.

“Four. That bastard’s long-range assassination technique.”

The Blood Witch answered in my stead.

Silvia still looked disoriented, likely because she had momentarily let her guard down and was caught off guard by the sudden attack.

“S-Samjonwi… you mean, the Bloodstone Cult?”

“Yeah.”

“And how do you know that?”

Now that I thought about it, Silvia, as well as everyone else here, had never actually seen the Blood Witch’s face properly before.

After all, she always appeared with time frozen around her.

She turned her head toward Silvia.

“Well, you see—”

Just as she grinned and was about to answer—

“Enemies are approaching from all directions!”

An urgent report interrupted.

“We clearly took care of all the Phase 2 Voids… what enemies?”

“T-They seem to be cultists!”

The Blood Witch glanced at me and smirked.

— ‘You destroyed things too much.’

She mouthed the words.

In short, she was saying it was my fault.

I felt a little wronged.

Well… given the chance to crush the cult leader’s dantian, there was no way I could just hold back.

I quietly scratched my cheek.

Meanwhile, Silvia seemed to have fully regained her composure and quickly began issuing orders.

“Everyone, I appreciate your efforts in coming to assist, but I’ll have to ask you to push a little harder. Lady Yerina, can you take charge of the north gate of the Academy?”

“Of course. It was good to see you, Ian.”

Without even waiting for a response, Yerina flashed a grin and leaped toward the north.

The knights from the North followed after her, disappearing from sight.

Watching them go, Emilia swept her hair back.

“Silvia.”

Emilia Raymond.

The most unpredictable ally.

Her voice was polite yet carried an undeniable arrogance.

She called Silvia’s name as if she were looking down on her, then smiled.

“I may be helping you, but we’re not exactly in a position to give each other orders, are we? We’re friends, after all.”

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No matter what anyone said, Silvia was the one in charge here.

I didn’t miss the slight furrow of her brow.

Still, she wasn’t the type to let emotions get in the way of work.

When Silvia gave a quiet nod, Emilia continued.

“I’ll take care of the east, then?”

“… Please do.”

“If it’s Lady Silvia’s request, it would be rude of me not to comply. Fufu.”

I wondered if Emilia even tried to hide how insufferable she was.

But strangely, the others didn’t seem to mind.

She had a talent for making anything she said sound elegant and convincing, thanks to her graceful demeanor and voice.

“Oh, and Ian.”

Emilia stepped in front of me.

For some reason, her eyes were filled with genuine fervor.

“Do your best.”

With those elusive words of encouragement, she left for the east gate.

“…”

Who would believe that just a few months ago, that woman was glaring at me as if she wanted to kill me?

“I-I…”

Someone stammered.

It was Aria’s voice.

But before she could finish, Silvia sharply cut in.

“Lady Aria. I’d like the priests to provide support in all directions. The south gate will be entrusted to the Dessert Research Society and Professor Asilia.”

“Understood, nyah! But just a moment!”

— Poof!

A pink tail swayed in my vision.

A warm embrace.

Danya, her ears drooping, looked up at me with teary eyes.

“You came, nyah, Ian.”

“Yeah.”

“You worked hard, nyah.”

“You too.”

That was all our greeting amounted to.

Or so I thought.

“I was really worried about you, Ian!”

“Me too! Brother Ian!”

Lina and Elena also took turns giving me a hug.

“I’m glad to see everyone safe.”

“Yeah!”

“Once we get through this safely, we should all gather and—! Mmph! Why are you covering my mouth, Sister Lina?!”

“Because you’re not supposed to say things like that out loud!”

The commotion lasted only for a moment.

Silvia, who had patiently waited through the exchange, finally spoke.

“Ian, and the woman beside you…”

Her gaze wavered slightly in confusion.

Was she trying to figure out our identities?

Did she already suspect that the woman was the Blood Witch?

However, Silvia didn’t voice her thoughts aloud.

I nodded.

“You want the two of us to take care of the west gate?”

“Yes. Will that be possible?”

The Blood Witch answered before I could.

“With this child and me? There’s nothing we can’t handle.”

Anyone watching would think she had some deep personal vendetta against the Bloodstone Cult.

As the two of us moved toward the west gate, someone stepped in front of us.

Black hair.

The same somber expression.

But this time, there was an unfamiliar resolve behind it.

It was Aria.

“Um…”

She hesitated, as if she wasn’t sure what to say.

Was she too nervous to get the words out?

Emilia and Aria.

Regardless of who ended up being responsible, there was only one thing that mattered to me right now.

Ending this cursed scenario.

So, I did what I could to encourage her.

“Do your best.”

“O-Okay!”

Right now, it was time to use every last bit of strength we had.

◆

The view from the west gate was far from picturesque.

The monstrous entity creeping closer wasn’t the only problem…

“Ahh, Blood Witch.”

A man hovered in the air, smiling.

“… Three.”

“Ahh, and Ian as well.”

His originally closed eyes slowly opened.

Pale, unnervingly white pupils.

“Why did you do it? I treated you so well.”

His wild eyes fixated on me, gleaming with unsettling intent.