Chapter 648
“Simon, Toto, I thought I just heard a girl’s voice in there. Would you open the door, please?”
The manager of the dormitory—a terrifying figure in the department, known for showing no mercy and tossing students to the disciplinary committee strictly by the book—rapped on the door with a grim expression.
Knock, knock, knock, knock.
“Are you inside?”
She said no more. Instead, she immediately pulled out her heavy key ring, deftly selecting the right key by touch alone before slotting it into the keyhole.
Click!
With a sound, the door swung open and she stepped inside.
“……”
The dormitory room was already deserted. No one inside.
Even the window was closed.
“Did we… hear wrong?”
The junior manager beside her muttered uncertainly.
Without the slightest hesitation, the dorm supervisor strode over to the window and flung it open. Stretching her arm outside, she swept her hand along the frame—and pulled away a bone that had been stuck there.
The assistant’s eyes went wide.
“No way…”
“Yes. They escaped through the window and then used Bone Armor to shut it again.”
For someone who had risen to the position of supervisor after long years as a dorm staff member, this sort of trick was almost laughably childish. With a hardened face, she spoke.
“Tomorrow morning, I’ll summon Simon and Toto to the supervisor’s office!”
“……”
She didn’t reply immediately, instead gazing out the open window.
Waaaaaah!
Outside, the students of the Summonology Department were laughing and partying boisterously. Eshu had popped a bottle of champagne, foam spraying all over her face, while her friends collapsed on the ground in hysterical laughter.
The supervisor stared at them for a moment, then closed the window. Walking over, she placed the bone on Simon’s desk and spoke.
“One day of leeway should be fine.”
Leaving only those words behind, she turned and walked out. Her assistant stared in shock at her back.
‘T-the supervisor?!’
Tomorrow, surely, the sun would rise in the west.
* * *
As the night of the Dark Emperor drew to an end, the time for parting had arrived.
Simon arrived at Grerion’s cave together with Lete.
Now that Ever Kire had been dealt with, the atmosphere here had loosened considerably. Even though everyone was exhausted from consecutive all-nighters, their expressions were bright.
“This is something I’ll keep thinking about even after we go back.”
On the stone slab, a paladin and a necromancer were playing a card game together, oddly close despite their opposing affiliations.
Most of the paladins remained steadfast in their faith, but here and there were some who loosened up, joking and laughing with necromancers.
Simon found the sight heartwarming.
And then—
“Heeeehhh—”
A familiar figure was slumped lazily in a chair. Simon’s face lit up as he ran over.
“Saint!”
The Saint of Harvest raised her hand halfheartedly when she saw him.
“Long time no see, Student Council President.”
“I’m so relieved you’re safe!”
“Yeeeah.”
Suddenly, stalks of wheat sprouted at Simon’s feet, tickling his cheeks. He laughed, staggering back.
“P-please don’t mess around!”
“That wasn’t me.”
The Saint of Harvest shrugged.
“My authority seems to trigger automatically. I think this power… likes you.”
“What are you saying! Ugh, that tickles!”
Step.
Her head turned.
“Ah. Good work, Saint of Stars.”
“Tch.”
Lete brushed her bangs back with an annoyed look.
“Because you got caught, I ended up slaving away. The name Saint of Harvest is crying right now.”
“Couldn’t be helped.”
She slumped back into her chair like a puddle of slime.
“That fanatic dragged me into some weird space and made me fight a fake goddess. Holiness didn’t work there.”
Apparently, she had fought the same “false god” that Simon and Lete had encountered. Lete snorted.
“Fake god or not, if it were me, I’d have beaten it.”
“Don’t forget you had a mental breakdown ther— Ow!”
Lete pinched Simon’s side. He bent over, rubbing the sore spot, while she sharply turned her head away.
“Looks like it’s time to part ways.”
Step, step.
Alastair, the sole operative of the Crows who had led this mission, approached. The necromancer agents all bowed their heads respectfully.
“Lady Neftis once more sends her gratitude to the two Saints. We will never forget this aid.”
“Cut the flowery words between enemies.”
The Saint of Harvest flicked her fingers.
“You’ve prepared what I asked for, right?”
“Of course. See for yourself.”
Alastair pulled a box from subspace and handed it over. She opened it, nodded in satisfaction.
Inside lay a human hand—preserved perfectly, unrotted.
“The great relic… Priest’s Right Hand. We’ve secured it.”
Lete’s eyes widened.
“W-wait! You came here in exchange for compensation?!”
“What are you talking about? Of course.”
The Saint of Harvest rubbed her sleepy eyes. Lete’s face flushed red.
“I—I never heard anything about that from Lady Israfil!”
“Then you came here purely out of duty to stop the war? You’re still young. This is what we call adult business.”
Simon smiled wryly.
‘Aunt Israfil—an idealist in words, but always practical about getting what she wanted.’
“And besides, taking something like this from the Dark Alliance ensures—”
Closing the relic box, the Saint of Harvest curved her lips.
“—that if our presence here is ever exposed, we have something to say for ourselves. Remember that.”
“Ah…”
From behind, Kajan scratched the scar beneath his eye, muttering.
“The Priest’s Right Hand… a bigger expense than expected.”
Alastair responded.
“Lady Neftis’ will to prevent this war was strong.”
Just then, a communication crystal buzzed from inside his robes. After listening to the report, he spoke:
“The teleportation circle is ready. Let’s move.”
Everyone began heading to the teleportation circle, exchanging farewells with those they had grown close to over the past days.
Alastair conversed with the Saint of Harvest, while Kajan traded information with a paladin.
“Damn shame I’m leaving without sleeping with that hottie.”
A blond paladin winked, and a female necromancer snorted, flipping him the finger.
“You’re nuts. Doesn’t your goddess smack your ass for that?”
“Procreation is sacred. Surely the goddess will forgive.”
They had grown close enough to exchange such jokes.
Amid the noise—
“Lete.”
Simon slipped beside her. She scratched her hair awkwardly.
“I’m glad you came to help our school. Get home safe. Say hi to Aunt Israfil for me.”
She smirked.
“Next time, you’re coming to Efnelle, you know?”
“I’d adapt so well it’d be a problem.”
The two chuckled quietly. Then they looked into each other’s eyes.
“……”
“……”
There were a thousand things they wanted to say, but at the moment of parting, the words refused to come.
At that moment, Lete swept her eyes across the noisy surroundings, suddenly inhaled sharply—hup!—and strode forward.
Simon felt a pale, mist-like aura spread around him.
And then—
“!!”
Their white hair brushed together, carrying the faint scent of lilies. A warm, tender sensation followed.
Lete had embraced Simon.
Completely unprepared, Simon’s face flushed bright red. At the same time, he noticed something slipping into his pocket.
‘What’s this?’
Just as quickly, Lete pulled away, a faint blush on her cheeks as she turned her head aside.
“T-then, I’ll be going.”
And she bolted toward the teleportation circle as if fleeing.
The Saint of Harvest was the first to step onto the teleportation circle, and next was Lete’s turn.
“Goodbye, Saint!”
“Please go easy if we meet again on the battlefield!”
Simon also waved his hand.
‘Farewell, Lete.’
She waved back, smiling. A swirl of blue light enveloped her.
* * *
Once Lete and the people of the Holy Federation had departed, the temporary expedition assembled to capture Ever Kire was also disbanded. Simon exchanged farewells with Kajan and Alastair, then returned to his dormitory.
Toto, having drunk a great deal of wine at the party, was dead asleep.
Beep! Beep-beep!
The messenger bird that had delivered the letter was still there, hopping around the dorm as if refusing to leave without a reply.
Simon gave it a little water and food.
“Up we go.”
Changing into pajamas, he flopped onto his bed and pulled out Lete’s letter. He carefully tore it open with a rustling sound.
When it had first arrived, the envelope’s seal had been intact, but now it was broken—apparently opened by Lete herself.
Simon unfolded the letter.
—To Simon.
The neat, disciplined handwriting of Lete greeted his eyes.
—I received a letter from Teacher Anna. She said you’re looking for a way to send mail directly to Heaven Island, so I’m writing this. The one delivering it is apparently a type of Divine Beast. If you tie a reply to its ankle, it will fly a great distance and pass through Heaven Island’s gate safely.
Simon smiled faintly and turned to the next page.
—If I only told you the method, the letter would be too stiff, so I’ll write briefly about how I’ve been. I’m still attending Efnelle and taking Saint classes. There are endless things to do and even more to learn. Here, you can encounter every kind of human scum imaginable.
She went on about her life as a Saint and the varied people she encountered there. Simon lost track of time as he read, drawn in.
‘Compared to that, the troubles of Keyzen’s student council were nothing.’
Since her classes required becoming half-divine, they were extremely harsh and demanding. Simon found himself oddly content with his own workload as he continued reading.
—Feels like I only complained. Are you doing well in Keyzen? I heard you became Student Council President. Just picturing you strutting around stiff-backed with pride makes me irritated. If I catch you, I’ll bend your spine the other way.
Frightening.
Simon instinctively patted his back to make sure his spine was still there before turning the page.
—Do you remember? Next vacation, I promised to cross over to the Dark Alliance. I’ll try, since I want to see Teacher Anna, but the Saint class schedule might delay me. Either way, you’d better be waiting in Leshill. That’s an order. I also want to see the Divine Beasts you’re raising. I’ll check how much your Holy Magic has improved, too.
—Honestly, the atmosphere in Efnelle feels tense. I worry a war could break out any time, or the borders could close. Still, if we do meet again during vacation, then I’ll definitely—!@!%!^!^@%!
Next to the words, Simon saw messy scribbles made with a quill, blotting out the sentence.
The ink hadn’t dried long ago—Lete’s handiwork. He could almost picture her embarrassed face as she furiously crossed it out.
Simon burst into laughter.
“Ah, I really want to know what you meant.”
Covering his face with the letter, he stretched his arms wide.
The bird chirped and fluttered down, pecking insistently at his arm as if telling him to hurry up and write a reply.
* * *
Roke Island – Keyzen Headquarters, Neftis’ Office
“Oh! It connected!”
Neftis exclaimed.
From the crystal orb came the sounds of static—crackle! hiss!—along with the whoosh of rushing wind.
“Hello! Duke! Are you busy?”
Crackle!
Krrrhh!
The communication quality seemed poor. After a pause, a composed, disciplined voice came through.
—Are you at leisure?
Neftis hopped up onto her chair with a whiny complaint.
“Aw! You’re so mean! I’ve already tried over a hundred times to reach the North, and finally a signal went through!”
—I am busy. Ending this call.
“Wait! Waaait! Just listen for a sec!”
Her lips curled into a sly grin as she lifted her quill.
“Duke! Have you heard about the 7th Legion?”
—……Yes.
“Wow, if word reached even that wasteland, then it must really be chaos!”
—As for the identity of the 7th Legion Commander, I know nothing.
Neftis waved a hand dismissively.
“Do you think I called you to ask that?”
—……So you already know who he is.
“Yep. But he’s still far too full of holes as a commander. Too dangerous, too unstable. So…”
Neftis’ lips curved upward into a frightening smile.
“Don’t you think it’s best if a commander is taught by… another commander?”
Silence stretched over the line.
And then—
Beep-beep! Beep-beep!
“Wait! Duke! Du-u-uke!!”
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters
Very good story and translation but half the chapter aren't for free and it is wayyyy too expensive will it stat like tjis foreve or will it get free after some time