Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Approaching Threat
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Darkness blanketed the academy's roads as the vampire nun headed toward the women's dormitory.
‘Our Pine seems to be doing well at the academy too. Though I'm a bit worried about her getting close to that boy!’
To her eyes, the two of them looked remarkably alike. Knights who wore their helmets even inside the academy.
Denying they were just friends felt like childish play—it was adorable.
‘She doesn't seem to crave wealth or power, and all they did was exchange sword techniques.’
Recalling their recent conversation, she could tell the junior named Licht wasn't a sycophant.
He just seemed like a pure boy who loved romance.
The thought that he might help her close friend erase some bad memories brought a smile to her face.
“Oh, Sharutineth.”
“Archbishop...?”
Just then, a familiar face appeared, interrupting her happy imaginings.
“It's been a while. How have you been?”
“Yes... I heard you were coming as a lecturer this time, Archbishop.”
It was Beatrice, the academy's professor of divine power studies.
Two nuns in identical outfits, save for their hair color and length.
Black habits, matching shoes. Even similar speech patterns.
Anyone seeing them would mistake them for mother and daughter.
“Lucky me. It was like fate—a spot opened up just right. And I wanted to see our Sharutineth too.”
“Archbishop, you're embarrassing me saying that...”
Beatrice simply smiled at Sharutineth, who scratched her cheek sheepishly.
“You're like a daughter to me. What's there to be embarrassed about? I even gave you the Saintmarriage name.”
“Hehe... You're right.”
As she smiled with her eyes crinkling, Sharutineth felt a faint oddness but quickly let go of her wariness.
“...It's been a while for me too, Archbishop!”
The vampire nun shrank back bashfully at first, then flashed a bright smile in return.
“The academy really is a wonderful place, Sharutineth.”
“It is! Running into you like this too...!”
Beatrice watched them, spreading her arms wide in sentimental delight.
“Hehe, you've brightened up so much. I cried a little when our Sharutineth left the church, you know?”
“R-Really?”
“You think I'd lie?”
“No... You don't usually cry.”
Their easy banter and concern for each other radiated warmth.
“Oh dear, look at me.”
Suddenly struck by a thought, the golden-haired nun spoke up.
“...It's getting too late. Let's catch up another time—head in for the night, Sharutineth.”
“You too, Archbishop. Take care!”
They parted ways, brushing past each other.
The click of their heels faded into the distance.
“Ah, Sharutineth.”
“Yes, Archbishop? More to say...?”
After a few steps, the golden-haired nun turned back for one last word.
“...Sweet dreams.”
And so their midnight encounter came to an end.
Nex Aureus, as usual, sent a telepathic message to Sharutineth the moment he woke.
-Sleep well? My pretty bat? Terrace again today?
Even if she'd thwack him with divine power later,
to him now, it was no different from affection—so he deliberately used sappy words.
“...? No reply?”
He grinned, eagerly awaiting his lover's response.
But silence returned—unlike her usual chatter.
“Chirp...?”
Something was off. Even his spirit seemed puzzled.
Normally, she'd snap back: ‘This fox of a man!! Pervert! What are you doing? And bat is banned now!’
“Why so quiet...?”
He grabbed his coat. A chill ran down his spine.
His phoenix seal reflected his anxious face. The unease wouldn't fade.
“Sharutineth. Huh, not here?”
Her seat was empty in the second-year lecture that followed.
‘Why isn't she answering... Shar...’
She didn't seem ill—if so, she'd have filed for sick leave or ignored the telepathy outright.
The moment class ended, Nex bolted to the library.
A sage might know something. He was a hero specialized in such matters.
“Sorry, foresight's blocked.”
“What...? Sage, that means...”
“Even Laplace on intel doesn't know. Sigh... Hero Cult bastards again.”
Asking the Ten Heroes about Sharutineth yielded only frustrating replies.
“I'll raise it with the board. Wait.”
The horned woman sighed, rubbing her forehead. The purple-haired man snapped at her.
“That's too slow!! Shar's in danger!”
“You don't know how vicious those demon lords are. It's their first appearance in nearly twenty years—we must proceed cautiously...”
“Forget it. I'll find someone else!”
Leaving the library sage behind, Nex dashed around the academy inquiring everywhere.
‘Ten Heroes? Outstanding ten heroes? They won't budge until someone's missing!’
Grinding his teeth, he replayed his fight with his mother as he pushed through the crowds.
Crash—!
Suddenly, a man burst from an alley, sending Nex tumbling.
“Whoa, watch where you're going!”
“Drake?”
The blond man with scars across his face helped Nex up.
“What's wrong, Nex? Running around like you're terrified!”
The hearty middle-aged hero flashed a bold grin.
“...Help us, Dragon Slayer.”
The Purple Fox sought aid from Drake.
[Sharutineth♡Nex 51% “DOWN↓”]
“What the hell...?”
A few days later, at dawn, a status window like a bolt from the blue hit me as I woke.
Why had the Love Meter suddenly dropped?
I'd expected it could go down since it went up—it's a game, after all.
But nothing had happened to warrant it lately.
Only two days had passed.
My guess: the night before last, her route locked in, adding a love line.
I rubbed my eyes.
The numbers kept falling. This is bad. I grabbed my sword and jumped out of bed.
“H-Hey, Licht's up? Training grounds today...”
I didn't even reply to Kainel, just threw on clothes and bolted outside.
First, find Nex or Sharutineth.
I headed to the terrace. The shop was closed before business hours, entrance locked.
I climbed over the chain-link gate and looked inside.
Empty seats and tables.
I scanned around, checking our first meeting spot—nothing.
Not here either.
“Not here...”
No matter where I looked, nothing.
I ran. Dashed. Tripped.
Panting hard.
Last, maybe she's at the cathedral? Headed there—doors shut tight.
Another miss.
“Anyone there?”
Knocking on the iron door got no response. Still early, chill dawn air stabbing my lungs.
The academy was quiet—no demon lord attack.
‘Where the hell are they...’
Sweat filled my helmet. My head spun.
No more guesses left.
Back mountain, inner courtyard, central hall. Checked them all. Even mapped the campus.
Did something happen outside?
The academy in the original or sequel had scant details—I couldn't know every nook.
Hopefully not trapped in a secret room.
Only thing I recalled: a nearby instance dungeon...
“Chirp! Caw! Chirp!”
Then a purple sparrow flew in, circling my head.
“This is...”
“Licht, junior—!!”
Spotting the spirit, I looked around—a man waved from afar, running toward me.
“Been looking for you!!”
“...Nex senior!”
Clank—.
With Nex's spare key, the cathedral door opened.
She must have given it to him. We hurried inside.
“Shar's gone. Hasn't been seen since yesterday...”
“Senior Sharutineth?”
“Yeah, telepathy's cut off completely. Skipped every class.”
He looked frantic—uncharacteristic. Already biting his nails.
“Chirp...”
The phoenix looked drained too, affected by his mood.
“I saw her the day before yesterday. Maybe she vanished right after?”
“Really? Where'd she say she was going?”
“Toward the women's dorm...”
“...Checked there too—asked the guards yesterday. She never came back.”
What? Then something happened after meeting me and Mardol that night. But the status changed today.
‘Max two days, min yesterday—something blew up.’
This status window's useless. Shouldn't it quest or restrict on danger?
No shop, traits, skills. Doesn't pop on command.
I sighed deeply. Can I protect our saintess with this?
“If the Second Saintess seat's vacant, chaos will follow.”
“They're probably aiming for that.”
Nex sighed too, venting like me. Two guys fretting over different saintesses.
“Seen the Ten Heroes?”
“Of course. Sage's foresight's blocked.”
“...Hero Cult.”
I grimaced inside my helmet. Way earlier than I knew.
My fault?
“Yeah. Knew you had intel. Dragon Slayer's disciple, right?”
“Else I'd be clueless on the fortune front too.”
Classic Nex—pinpointed my source quick. No issue though.
‘Laplace's power's worthless too. This might be tough. Reason the Ten Heroes hold back.’
From war experience, moving themselves escalates too much.
“Met Drake too, but trap risk high, so instead...”
“What'd master say?”
“Recommended you. Best prospect among swordsmen he's seen.”
Ugh, old man's dumping on me. I could handle apostle-level okay...
Wait, one more like me.
“...Not me—Mardol?”
“No, kid's got bad trauma.”
Demon lord ties confirmed.
My theory holds.
Glass Knight seemed strong unlike Black Heart, handy ally—too bad.
‘Kainel and Ariel scarred too, Dennis leaving endangers academy.’
Something major went wrong.
That why it wasn't in Knight Heart? Makes sense if Nex failed rescue then.
No me originally.
A pang of regret hit.
“...I know one spot that fits, senior.”
This world's harsh on our saintess.
Happy academy life? Doubt it.
“If not there, no leads... Trust me?”
“I do, junior. You're no Hero Cult. Spill quick.”
“Got it.”
If easy, I'd have twisted Black Heart myself.
“...Underground blind spot near academy barrier.”
I pointed to the dungeon on the map.
“Sunset Tryst.”
Highest odds spot.
“Hero Cult link? Closest is here.”
Past differs from original/sequel.
“This place?”
“Likely.”
Detailed explanation like something happened.
Dummy data? Boss traces, gimmicks—and suspiciously good rewards.
“Let's go, Licht junior.”
“Yes, Nex senior.”
The two men sprang up, heading to one place.