I am Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes.

“I know, but I’ll have to use Esther’s power as much as possible from now on,” Jill said.

"Use it sparingly, after all..."

“No… she’s my contracted spirit, I should at least trust her a little, right?” Gil stroked the contract mark on his right hand. “After all, Esther is the strongest sword spirit, the holy sword of salvation, the Demon Slayer, isn’t she?”

Esther's contract mark flickered twice, seemingly in agreement with Gil's words.

“Right…” Jill smiled, “So… what’s next…”

“Lian, pack your things…” Jill picked up the cloth bag. “Let’s go see Grevas.”

……

This is a medical facility belonging to the Divine Ritual Academy, and the person resting on the hospital bed is none other than Grevas Sherumas herself, who once held the reputation of being the strongest elf wielder on the continent.

Grevas gave a weak, hoarse laugh, "What? Did you come here to laugh at me?"

“Don’t think of me as so bad. I made a lot of sacrifices to get in here.” Jill sighed. “I told you all along, use it as soon as possible, right?”

“Well, there’s nothing I can do about it…after all, I still have to tell Lian the ultimate secret.” Grevas said.

After teaching the Lotus Sword Technique, Grevas collapsed.

Fortunately, Ren used the Rule Breaker to destroy the cursed seal, and with the timely intervention, Grevas was spared from death. However, the diagnosis revealed that the meridians responsible for circulating divine power in Grevas's body were completely severed and destroyed, beyond repair.

In other words, she will lose the power to command spirits for the rest of her life.

The strongest spirit user, known as the "Twilight Witch," no longer exists.

Chapter 228 Interlude

“Grevas, so what are you going to do next?” Jill looked at Grevas. “If Lian hadn’t broken the contract for you, you would have been in even more pain.”

"This was my destiny all along; now I'm just facing my inevitable fate sooner rather than later."

Grevas continued with a self-deprecating laugh, "I remember telling you before that I was able to temporarily keep my body immortal by making a wish to the Elf King; my power as an Elf Wielder has long since been exhausted. So there's no need to worry about me; you'd be better off worrying about yourself."

"Hmph, that annoying witch... but it's only at times like this that I can't hate her." Jill curled her lip. She reached for an apple, and with her other hand, she held a knife with a steady grip, peeled the apple, and then with a flash of light, the apple pieces scattered into the bowl.

“Here, I don’t usually feed people, but since you’re sick today, it’s not unreasonable to feed you something.” He picked up a piece of apple with a bamboo skewer and put it to Grevas’s mouth.

"Oh my? Feeding play? You're really something, kid," Grevas said teasingly.

Who is Gil? He's the kind of person who can remain unfazed even when his sword spirit, wearing only stockings, climbs into his bed. Faced with Grevas's teasing, Gil simply pursed his lips, "I'm not some innocent little boy who blushes when you tease me like that. Want some? If not, I'll just leave it aside."

“I didn’t really have an appetite anyway… let’s put it aside for now,” Grevas said. “Did you teach that kid your last move too?”

“I taught her, but unless she has elven magic armor, she probably won’t be able to use that move. After all, it’s a sword technique that reaches the highest level of magic. It would be difficult for her to use that move with just her physical body,” Gil said. “She is my disciple after all, so I have no reason to hold back when teaching her.”

"Hmm... what will you do then?"

“Lie low first, then strike at the last moment…” Jill said. “Yeah, right. I’ll just defeat all the teams outright.”

“Then, you can take this.” Grevas took out a stack of documents from a cabinet on the side.

"The contestants' information? You've really gone to a lot of trouble." Jill took the information and glanced at it briefly. "It's quite detailed."

Although there is only information on a few people, these are members of several teams that require attention.

“This is the last bit of help I can offer,” Grevas said.

“Is that so… Then I promise you here that we will definitely win the championship of the Elf Sword Dance Festival!” Gil made such a promise to Grevas.

“That would be best…” Grevas nodded.

"Get some rest and recover soon, you wretched witch."

"I wish you the best of luck in winning the championship, you arrogant brat."

……

Jill quickly left the building using stealth (physical movement).

Huh? Stealth works in physics?

It's simple: stealth means being unseen, knocking out guards along the way, and leaving – that's stealth (physical)!

Jill glanced back at the building.

“That wretched witch… things only get a little better at the end.” Jill glanced at the documents in her hand. “Well then, we must keep our promise.”

"Master, what's going on?"

Lian, holding two knives, asked.

“Speaking of which, Lian, are you planning to use Restia to participate in the Elf Sword Dance Festival?” Gil asked.

“Yes, Restia has returned, but the information she brought is a little bad…” Ren nodded. “That Ren Ashbell who impersonated me is now in a group called the Purgatory Apostles, which is the group of that theocracy.”

“The Theocracy…” Gil raised an eyebrow, “that theocracy that worships the Demon King?”

"……Correct."

Lian nodded. "By the way, Master... do you know about the Academy of Education?"

Jill nodded. "I've heard a little about it."

Education Institute

That wasn't an ordinary orphanage; it was a "training school" that wasn't even marked on a map.

There, girls with the potential to become spirit mediums, discovered from orphanages and relief homes across the continent, are gathered. In this secret training ground, they undergo rigorous education to eradicate their emotions, cultivating only the most skilled assassins. The ability to manipulate spirits for killing is thoroughly imprinted on their minds and bodies.

"You mean that in that group called the Purgatory Apostles, there are also children trained by that academy?" Jill asked.

“Yes…and Master, there’s something I’ve been hiding for a long time…” Lian paused, trying to muster the courage to say it.

"...Lian, are you trying to say that you are also a trainee of the Academy?" Gil glanced at Lian and said indifferently.

"……yes……"

“Lotus.” Jill’s voice startled Lotus.

Gil's crimson eyes stared at Lian. "First, you are my disciple, so your background is not important at all."

Secondly, I believe I have a good eye for people. Although I didn't have a very good impression of you when we first met, you've changed. Now you're more like a human being, not a killing machine from a reformatory.

“Finally…” Jill suddenly reached out, bent her index finger and thumb into a ring, and flicked it onto Lian’s forehead.

"It hurts!"

"It's just a punishment for my disciple's tendency to overthink. Let's go, it's time to go back," Gil said, then walked past Lian and headed forward.

Lian covered her head and looked at the figure in front of her.

The figure ahead gave one the unsettling feeling of wanting to follow him.

Although he looks very lonely—

No—I'm definitely not going to be lonely.

Surely someone will be able to catch up with him and walk alongside him?

Such a person truly exists.

He was aware of her existence.

"..." Lian pursed her lips and quickly followed.

She also hoped to be able to help her master.

Even just a little bit.

Even just a little bit would be fine.

I will never stop moving forward.

"Let's go, let's head back to the academy today..." Jill patted Lian's head. "You've found the last member, right?"

"Yes, we found the last team member, and it's someone you know, Master~" The girl smiled brightly.

“Hmph…” Jill chuckled, “If that’s the case, then that’s for the best…”

He looked in the direction of Arecia Academy.

"I hope this Elf Sword Dance Festival goes smoothly."

"Just make sure... there aren't too many unexpected incidents."

No Game No Life Prequel Side Story 3

The final battle...

This sounds like a joke.

But Rick knew the meaning of those words.

"Are you kidding me?!" The traveler felt the person in front of him forcefully grab his collar with their arm. "Do you want to die?!"

“You should know better than I do what that means!” Rick roared at the traveler in a voice like that of a wounded beast.

"boom--"

A voice rang out, and the traveler was slammed against the wall: "What's the difference between what you're doing and suicide?!"

"..." The traveler sighed, "Do I look like the kind of guy who would do something so dangerous?"

The throne of the one true God—the Star Cup.

The war that decides the fate of the supreme god who commands all gods and spirits—the One God.

The conceptual device of absolute dominion – the [Star Cup].

That is the reason and purpose of this great war, and the way to end the war is to seize the Star Cup.

This is also why Rick was so angry about what the traveler said.

Go and fight those gods and races—

That would undoubtedly be courting death.

"So I was really underestimated." The traveler laughed. "You know, there's a second way to summon the Star Cup—"

“That is to make this self spit out the Star Cup…” The traveler raised his right hand, “I can do… that.”