Chapter 798
“Let go! Let me go!”
A male student kicked his legs in protest.
He was being carried away like baggage, slung over the shoulder of a Feather Soldier summoned by Serne.
“I can’t go like this! Without Death Knight materials, I absolutely can’t go!”
But, of course, there was no way the Feather Soldier would understand. It simply obeyed the order it was given.
Behind the museum, the last transport-type Chimera was waiting, and the Feather Soldier threw the captured student into the Chimera’s gaping mouth.
“Ugh!”
The boy, thrown inside, lifted his head.
Within the Chimera sat students who had arrived late, faces hardened with unease. Struggling to stand in the slippery interior of the Chimera, he screamed.
“No! No! Even if I die, it can’t end like this!”
He tried to force his way out of the Chimera, but suddenly! a hand clutched his waist. When he turned his head, Toto was straining with all his strength to hold him back.
“Let go! What are you doing?”
“...It looks like the priests have broken in. Professor Grerion and the defense team are fighting with their lives.”
Toto’s voice trembled, on the verge of tears.
“If you run out there, then all the efforts of the others who are protecting us will be wasted.”
“......”
Hearing that, the student opened his mouth as if to reply, but no words came out, and eventually he collapsed back onto the seat.
“Ha, f***...”
He spat a long curse and leaned his head back. Only then did Toto slowly loosen the grip on his waist, watching him cautiously.
“Hey, kid.”
“Uh, yeah.”
“In the end, I couldn’t get the Death Knight materials.”
He rubbed his eyes roughly with the back of his hand.
“At this rate, I won’t even be able to attempt Death Knight production, I’ll have to drop all future practicals. That’s several evaluation grades gone, just like that.”
His hands trembled violently, as if afflicted with tremors.
“Me, huh? After all I went through to get here. My family? They sold our shop to cover my materials, all for me getting into Keyzen! Everyone back home is watching only me!”
“......”
“Whether I go out there, fight the priests and die, or sit here with nothing to do, get expelled before I even make it to third year, what’s the difference! If it’s all the same—!”
He jumped to his feet.
“Then it’s better to at least try before I die!”
“No! Absolutely not!”
Toto grabbed onto his pant leg again. The boy’s eyes glistened with irritation.
“Damn it! Easy for you to say, since you got your Death Knight materials, right? Huh?”
“I didn’t.”
Toto’s jewel-like eyes overflowed with tears.
“I didn’t get them either.”
“......”
“But I can’t cause more trouble for others. We have to be cold-headed. The teaching assistant said it already, there’s a chance not everyone will make it back. Staying here, that’s the only way left that helps everyone.”
The boy sat back down in silence. Then his eyes caught another student at the far end, begging the assistant nervously, asking if they could just leave on their own since it was dangerous.
He let out a hollow laugh.
“Humanity really goes down the drain. So in the end it’s all competition? This school, it breaks your character in real time. All because of this goddamn competition...”
Clang!
At that moment, a Bone Armor leapt into the Chimera. Toto’s eyes widened.
“S-Simon?”
It was none other than Simon’s Dragonian Suit. From its hands, it poured out a heap of bones.
Though jumbled and messy, they were Paladin corpses. About four of them.
“No way...!”
The Dragonian Suit gestured, explaining silently. Understanding the signs, Toto’s eyes filled with tears of gratitude.
“It’s Simon’s message! He says everyone without materials should take one corpse each!”
“Really?”
Two other students, hollow-eyed from despair at not finding Death Knight materials, rushed forward instantly.
Though the bones weren’t in the best condition, they would serve. Those who had failed to secure materials at last showed faint smiles on their lips.
Meanwhile, a little ways from the Chimera.
“Simon is too nice, that’s his problem.”
Serne smiled sweetly.
Around her, feathers fluttered, and Holy Creatures lay shattered on the ground.
Smash!
Simon, too, had just crushed a Holy Creature with a kick, and now wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“I just found what others had dropped along the way. If it’s something I can help with, then I should help.”
“Oh my, is that the luxury of the strong?”
She slid up close to his arm.
“Having such foolishly kind thoughts... sometimes, it’s rather nice.”
‘That’s supposed to be a compliment, right?’
“What are you doing?”
At that moment, Loraine was walking toward Simon and Serne.
Sweat beaded on her brow, it was clear she had just fought a fierce battle.
When her sharp eyes fixed on Serne, the latter pressed herself even closer to Simon, as if to provoke her.
“Loraine, how’s the third floor?”
Simon forced a smile, trying to divert the subject.
“Yeah, I rescued the last two students and sent them off safely. Looked like they found materials too. Now every student except for the defense squad has boarded the Chimera.”
As expected.
In the distance, two students were climbing onto the Chimera.
Serne folded her arms.
“So, what do we do now?”
“Of course, we should help Professor Grerion—”
But Loraine’s pupils began to quiver violently. Simon turned his gaze toward where she was staring.
‘Ah.’
For a moment, Simon froze.
It was far off, but perfectly visible.
Through the mist, a crimson cross towered high.
On it, a man with shattered sunglasses was nailed by both arms.
Loraine covered her mouth.
“...Professor Grerion?”
Beside him, another small cross had been raised.
One of the assistants who had fought beside him was also hung there. Simon couldn’t help but gape in shock.
‘Professor Keyzen was taken down?’
By who?
What kind of priest had come here?
While Simon’s face stiffened in disbelief, Serne rested her chin on her hand.
“Looks like they plan to capture and execute everyone. What a distasteful hobby.”
“...We have to save him.”
“No, Simon. The opponent is Inquisitor Chief Leight.”
A chill ran through his whole body.
He had seen Inquisitor Chief Leight up close once in the Holy Federation. He knew exactly how terrifyingly strong the man was.
And yet.
“I’m going anyway.”
Simon tore open subspace.
From within, a towering skeleton in a flowing, spectral cloak appeared.
[Kuhuhuhu! It’s been a while since I felt such a pleasant tension!]
It was Feer, Master of the 7th Legion.
Along with that, Simon summoned a zombie and whispered into the ring on his left hand.
“Prince. If you can hear me, drop whatever you’re doing and come here.”
He then pressed the ring to the zombie.
Moments later, black lightning struck, and the zombie transformed into a noble young man in aristocratic attire.
[What’s this, summoned after all this time, and it’s the Holy Federation?]
It was Prince, the general of the zombie army.
Simon intended to wield even the power of the Legion. Realizing his resolve, Serne clicked her tongue.
“You all, retreat with the Chimera. As for Professor Grerion, I’ll somehow—”
Chhhk.
At that moment, Loraine, who had remained quiet until now, activated her communication crystal.
“Teaching assistant, please take the students and depart. We will somehow rescue Professor Grerion and return.”
—Lo, Loraine! But...!
“This is an emergency, so in the name of Arkbold, I command you. Depart.”
At the name of Arkbold, the assistant could no longer argue. In the end, the centipede-like Chimera carrying the students began to move first.
“Simon. Listen carefully.”
Loraine moved her hand to the necklace at her throat that sealed her powers.
In that time, a third crimson cross rose into the air. Another assistant was bound upon it.
If they did not hurry, they would all be executed by Leight.
“When I release my seal and unleash my ability and Darkness, Leight will come straight for me.”
“What?”
“During that time, you rescue Professor Grerion and the assistants. Got it?”
As Simon hesitated, Loraine fixed him with her serious crimson eyes.
“This is something only you can do. Please, Simon.”
Her resolve was unwavering. Simon nodded, then looked at Serne.
“Serne.”
“Yes, shall we go together?”
Serne, with her hands behind her back, turned to walk away, but Simon added,
“Stay here, and protect Loraine.”
Her steps halted. Simon’s voice grew firm.
“I’m asking you.”
“......”
When she turned back, a foxlike smile curled on Serne’s lips.
“Guess I’ll have to start stamping coupons again. Fine by me.”
“There’s no time, I’ll start right away.”
Loraine removed the sealing charm.
Fwoooosh!
Her black hair whipped wildly. From her forehead, two crimson horns sprouted, her ruby-like eyes gleamed, and the space around them split and tore apart.
“Simon! Go!”
“Please!”
Simon spread his arms wide. Feer leapt straight in, transforming into the form of a Bone Armor, and right beside him, Prince followed.
Simon and Prince kicked off the ground, dashing away.
“Hmmm—”
Serne, clutching her wildly flying ivory-colored hair, stared ahead.
“So, will that monster come?”
“He will.”
Loraine’s voice rang with certainty.
“I’ve heard the stories of Leight more times than I can count. He reacts to strong power, and to the thrill of battle.”
No sooner had she spoken than an eye-bearing cross manifested in the air before them.
Its pupil fixed on Loraine.
—Hahahahahahahahahaha!
A thunderous laughter resounded from afar.
Soon, a white mist began to drift closer. Step by step, it approached like the embodiment of death itself.
Whooooom—!
Out from the mist emerged Leight, wielding a Cross Sword.
His body was covered in blood. His abdomen, his shoulder, even his neck were impaled with the bones and joints of Chimeras.
It was clear just how brutal the battle within Grerion’s Chimera Field had been.
“Well, well. I felt the power of the ‘Witch of Death’ and rushed over.”
Thud.
He stopped in place, ripped a vertebra from his neck, and dropped it to the ground.
“So it’s the witch’s daughter. Loraine Arkbold, was it?”
“...Inquisitor Chief Leight.”
She drew a dagger from her thigh and held it forward. Her ability awakened it, coating it in crimson energy.
“I know all about the countless sins you’ve committed. Today is the day your vile path comes to an end.”
“Amusing.”
Leight smirked casually.
“As Neftis’ daughter, I would’ve liked to taste your power more matured, but letting this chance slip would be foolish.”
His mouth split open, monstrous in its grin.
“Who knows? If I nail the daughter to a cross, perhaps the mother will come before me as well.”
Loraine’s face twisted with lethal fury.
Unbothered, Leight turned to Serne.
“You too are a well-known figure, future Master of the Ivory Tower.”
“My my, you recognize me?”
Serne dipped lightly, grasping her skirt as she bowed.
“I’d like to savor my time with the Witch’s daughter, but, just this once, I’ll pretend I didn’t see you.”
“Hm—”
Serne placed her hand on her hip, her expression torn in thought.
Leight added,
“You’ve always wanted to bring down Keyzen, haven’t you? Using me to eliminate her would be the perfect chance.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
Serne released the Darkness.
Feathers poured from her body, rising into the air.
Hundreds of feathers clustered and tangled, transforming into countless magic circles.
“But, a man I want to impress asked me to protect this woman. I can’t risk being resented later, can I?”
“Then I’ll just have to hang you both.”
Shing.
Leight adjusted his grip and lowered his stance.
“Your professor killed me three times. Let’s see how you fare.”
Leight shot forward, and Loraine and Serne simultaneously unleashed their black magic.
Boom! Boom!
Thunderous explosions resounded one after another.
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