Chapter 59
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: The Holy Water Treatment
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The story that the Vile Breeds were after the Mother Tree's scion.
Normally, she wouldn't have believed it, but since the one who said it was Pernyan Fallenberg, and she had already encountered the demonic beasts, she had no choice but to trust him.
‘Even if I hadn't met the demonic beasts, I might have pretended to go along with it. That would have been interesting in its own way.’
Of course, it would have been solely to win Pernyan Fallenberg's favor, so the feeling would have been different.
In any case, she intended to do her best to protect the Mother Tree, which was also why she had remained at the academy when everyone else returned to their family estates.
A few weeks passed. An abnormality was discovered in the fragment of the Mother Tree, which had been quiet until now.
"...A part of it is contaminated?"
When did this happen?
She hadn't been standing guard 24/7, but she had come to check on it two or three times a day without fail.
‘This level of contamination couldn't have happened in just a few hours.’
It was more likely that it had seeped in slowly, only now becoming noticeable.
Even if it was a scion of the Mother Tree, communication wasn't exactly seamless, which made the theory more plausible.
‘Just as Sunbaenim said, the Vile Breeds really are at the academy...’
There was no other explanation. She decided to check the recording devices Pernyan had installed.
But besides her, no one else had been recorded.
‘How?’
Aria, flooded with a torrent of questions, inspected the area around the branch.
The answer was underground. The contamination was starting from the roots.
"...It seems this isn't a problem I can solve on my own."
If Pernyan were here, she could just run to him, but unfortunately, he wasn't. That meant she had to find a suitable alternative.
Someone trustworthy and strong.
Aria first went to find Verian. Pernyan had told her a secret to use in case of an emergency, so she had no reason to hesitate.
"There you are, Miss Aria."
Just as Aria was about to go find the Spiritology professor, someone called out to her.
"Assistant Imelda?"
Imelda was the assistant brought by the newly appointed Spiritology professor, Nania, and she was an elf.
"I'm sorry to ask this so suddenly, but could you possibly go to Professor Dominique's office right now?"
"What's wrong?"
"Actually, Professor Dominique had requested Professor Nania's cooperation on some research, but something came up, and she can't go anymore."
It was research on combining spirits and illusion magic, Imelda added.
"And you're asking a student to help with something like that?"
"...Well."
"Oh, fine. If it's a request from my sister—I mean, the professor—I'm happy to help. Family ties and old connections are important, after all. Ah, now that you're at the academy, I suppose this counts as a school tie, too."
"...That's."
"You said Professor Dominique?"
Aria said with a bright smile before disappearing.
* * *
"...So, it's research into combining spirits with illusion magic. We needed the help of those within the academy who can handle spirits most proficiently."
Having finished his lengthy explanation, Professor Dominique pushed up his slipping glasses.
"I understand. Why you need my help, that is."
Spiritism was a field that was particularly dependent on talent, and one where none were more skilled than the elves.
"This isn't something I should be asking of a student, but would you be willing to help?"
"Yes, of course."
"Thank you so much. Ah, where are my manners? A guest has arrived, and I haven't even offered tea. What would you like?"
"Any kind of tea is fine."
Professor Dominique brought the tea and snacks himself. He added a fair amount of creamer to his coffee and stirred it with a teaspoon.
"In practice, what you'll be doing is simple, Miss Aria. Illusion magic and spirits... The creamer is a little lacking."
A little more creamer was added, and he stirred again with the teaspoon.
"...The idea is to substitute spirits into the various elements of illusion magic to create a more organic illusion. An illusion is, after all, about deceiving another's senses, and that..."
A spoonful of sugar was added.
"If a living soul were to blend with it, it would become..."
Another spoonful. Aria found her gaze drawn to the teaspoon tracing circles in the teacup.
"You take it quite sweet."
"A bit childish, isn't it? But I can't handle bitter things well."
Professor Dominique gave an awkward laugh and continued his explanation. Even as he spoke, another spoonful of sugar was added, and the teaspoon continued to swim through the cup.
Her eyes were drawn to it for no reason.
"...Do you understand?"
"So, when you activate the magic circle, I just need to position the spirits at the designated spots and have them perform the movements you require. That doesn't sound difficult."
"Yes. Not right away today, but..."
After the additional explanation was over, Aria left Professor Dominique's office.
‘...Wait, does this mean Nania isn't in her office right now?’
She must be incredibly busy if she had to send a student as a substitute for a meeting with another professor.
‘Then who should I go to...’
Just then, someone called out to her.
"Miss Aria."
"Assistant Aaron."
"What brings you to the faculty building?"
"Professor Dominique called for me, so I was just giving him a little help."
"Oh? Professor Dominique asking a student for a favor? That's unusual."
Aaron chuckled and pulled the book he was holding forward.
"Ah, speaking of which, can I ask you something too?"
"What is it?"
"This is a Spiritology book, and I'm having trouble understanding the contents..."
He carefully opened the book.
"There's nothing..."
For a moment, their eyes met.
Aria felt a faint light emanating from Aaron's eyes.
"Assistant, your eyes..."
"My eyes? What about them?"
"No, it's nothing..."
When she looked again, they were just ordinary eyes. *What's wrong with me all of a sudden?* Aria shook her head.
"So, where were you headed?"
"Um, well..."
*Where was I going?*
She looked out the window and saw the sun setting.
"To the dormitory. I'm feeling tired, so I thought I'd get some sleep."
"Right, it is getting a bit late. Take care, see you later."
"Okay."
Aria gave a small bow and left.
* * *
That evening, after waiting at the meeting spot for two hours, Verian returned to La Vie Douce Dormitory, grinding his teeth in frustration.
"Damn it, Pernyan. He called it a secret, but he's been spreading it all over the place."
He needed to do something.
Absolutely.
And the next day, as Verian was about to confront Aria, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
"Ah, could you maybe come to the forest for a bit later?"
The same place.
The same person.
And even the same conversation.
The opening was a carbon copy of yesterday.
"The forest?"
"Yeah, a branch of the Mother Tree is planted here, and I'm protecting it. But I think there's a problem with it."
"And you're not supposed to tell anyone, but since there's a problem, you're asking for my help?"
"Huh?"
Aria's brow furrowed slightly.
"Pernyan told you that you could trust me and ask for help, and he also told you about how I was turned into a Vile Breed?"
"...How did you know that?"
Her eyes widened.
*Hey. What do you think you're doing?*
"Do you think I'm an idiot just because I lost to Aint?"
Verian growled ferociously.
* * *
"...And that's why I cursed out that stupid pointy-ear, Aria! She kept repeating herself over and over! I thought she'd gone senile."
Verian finished his recollection, speaking proudly.
"And then what?"
"...Huh?"
"I'm asking what you did after that."
"...Well."
He tilted his head.
"What did I do after that?"
"Probably nothing."
"Yeah, probably. If I'd done something, I would've remembered it."
"You're a genius, Verian. So logical! Just what I'd expect from the third-ranked student in the Knight Department!"
"Not third, I'm the salutatorian!"
"Are you an idiot? Aint is the salutatorian!"
"Third place is still good!"
Pernyan let out a hollow laugh at the sight of the man and woman spewing nonsense at each other.
His head ached, wondering how to solve this. He wished there was a way.
"What's the verdict?"
"You were right, Hyeongnim. They've been afflicted by demonic energy."
"I had a feeling, but to think it was real."
"Yes. It seems to have affected the brain, so it's a mental-type magic. Tracing the remnants, it's nothing too powerful, just a simple suggestion, but..."
The Saint, having examined the heads of the two, showed a faint anger.
"It's been used so many times that the demonic energy has gradually accumulated, half-blocking the flow of mana in their brains. Of course their memories would be affected. Those garbage Vile Breeds. They must all be exterminated."
"How many times would it take to get to this point?"
"At this level, at least ten times or more...?"
"What kind of idiots are these..."
They fell for the same trick not once or twice, but more than ten times?
He couldn't tell if the Vile Breed was competent or if Verian and Aria were just fools.
"Is there a cure?"
"The demonic energy itself is a minuscule amount, so it's not that difficult. The problem is that even a small amount can cause issues because it's in the brain. Which is why..."
"It's going to cost money?"
"As expected of Hyeongnim, you catch on in a flash."
He was truly a consistent bastard. But for some reason, that was reassuring. At least this one didn't seem to have been gotten by a Vile Breed.
As they say, a money-grubber is scarier than a Vile Breed.
"Using 『Sacred Light』 on a human brain will definitely cause problems. You experienced that last time, didn't you?"
"Did you really have to test it to find that out?"
He felt like he would have known that without trying.
"Magic is also a science of verification. Until you have a definitive result, it remains an unknown. In any case, since the brain is a much more sensitive area, I plan to use holy water to work more gently."
"How, exactly?"
"I'll be using purification magic while their heads are submerged in holy water."
He went on to explain that this would allow the holy water to be absorbed from all directions—through the submerged skin and pores, and through the mouth and nostrils as they struggled.
"Is the purification magic safe?"
"Compared to 『Sacred Light』, I can confidently say it's much safer. Its efficacy is lower, but with the help of the holy water, we can cover for that to some extent."
"Then do it now."
There were more than a few things he needed to hear from these two idiots. Above all, the condition of the World Tree's branch.
"However, since it involves the brain and nerves, the pain will be anything but slight."
"I don't care. It's not my body."
"True, the soundproofing in here is quite excellent. So, about the cost?"
"I'm not their guardian."
"The Friediens and Calburdens should be more than capable of paying the fee. Then I'll proceed. Could I perhaps borrow two basins?"
When a clerk from the shop brought two small basins, Jace poured holy water into each.
"...Huh? What are you—!"
"What is... th—!"
And then he grabbed the backs of the two dazed individuals' heads and plunged them straight into the holy water.
"Guaaaargh-gurgle-glub...!"
"Kyaaaargh-gurgle-glub...!"
Bubbles rose to the surface along with their violent struggles.
"Everything is the will of the gods. This, too, is a trial laid before you. If you endure and persevere, evil will ultimately be vanquished."
A light that seemed sacred at first glance seeped into their minds.
"He-help... mmph-glub!"
"You will not die. Only the demons will die."
*May the blessing of mana be with you.*
"I-it's going in my no-gurgle...!"
"Yes, it must enter through your mouth and ears as well."
"You crazy... glub!"
"The purification is not yet complete. Repent. You were deceived by demonic energy and abandoned mana, but the great mana is merciful."
Jace pressed down on their heads with more force, offering a pious, silent prayer.