Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Christmas Carols Rang Out
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The academy's sports field shrouded in thick black mist.
Thanks to Licht's orders, most had avoided the apostle's attacks—except for a few. But the enemies soon came swarming in.
"The glass wall's broken!!"
"Now's our chance. Everyone, charge!"
"For the Omniscience Hero!"
The Hero Cult followers rushed toward the students holding their breath.
Weapons, magic, holy power, and spirit arts flew blindly into the fog where nothing was visible even an inch ahead.
However...
"Tough luck, Hero Cult."
3D Magic Circle
Spatial deflection: All incoming attacks repelled
Reinforcements had finally arrived. Professor Dennis appeared out of nowhere, rotating a 3D Magic Circle as he deflected every single attack.
"...Against a mage who twists water attributes into alcohol, trying to use spatial control."
He could now use teleportation magic at will.
"The fundamental 'concept' of water is volatility."
With a sudden thwoong, the massive 3D Magic Circle atop his hand turned blood-red.
"Looks like you skipped our academy's orientation, Metus."
The moment he finished speaking, the magic circle vanished like a burst balloon. The scent of alcohol and grapes spread everywhere, sweeping away the surrounding black smoke.
"You can breathe now, gentlemen."
Just as he'd explained in his first lecture on magic, he'd vaporized alcohol to render the enemy's abilities useless.
At the same time, the charging Hero Cult followers staggered like drunks before collapsing to the ground one by one, overcome by sleep.
"Anyone hurt?"
Thuds echoed here and there—sparing only the academy students.
Far off, the Apostle of Gluttony watching the scene rubbed his eyes in disbelief at the spherical magic circle spinning in the man's hand.
"How is that possible? According to the Demon King, Dennis shouldn't have anything like that right now..."
His orders had been to beware the boy in the Black Knight helmet named Licht and to avoid the central hall where Dennis was supposedly tied up.
How had this blue-haired man with glowing white eyes escaped the water spirit barrier? The question flashed through the apostle's mind.
"Professor!!"
"Professor Dennis!"
With the air finally clear, the academy students shouted toward him and pointed at the toad-like man emerging from the dissipating fog.
"I know. We need to catch that one first!"
Dennis hurled one of his spinning magic circles. The circular formation sliced through the air.
"Kuh... Kuek."
The moment it struck the Apostle of Gluttony, Metus, it transformed into binding shackles. Chains of water droplets wrapped around the fat middle-aged man's body.
"Did you think you'd get away with touching my precious students, Hero Cult?"
Dennis strode toward the captured apostle, his tone and steps heavy with anger.
"...Wait! Hold on!! Kill me, and the students trapped in nightmares will die too...!"
Like a frog caught in a human's grip, Metus thrashed wildly against the chains, bellowing desperately. But he couldn't budge an inch—only kicking up dust on the ground.
"We've already dispelled the status ailments with healing magic."
The Ten Hero chided the apostle's feeble bluff, but...
"Heh heh... That student doesn't look cured to me."
In stark contrast, the toad-like villain grinned ear to ear, pointing at someone with his greasy hand.
"...What?"
"The Demon King's plan had no flaws!"
The blue-haired man whipped around. The other fallen students had all risen and regained their senses.
"Licht, why aren't you getting up?"
"Licht...? Hey, snap out of it!"
"Helmet guy!!"
Only the student in the Black Knight helmet—Licht—lay utterly still. Pine Granasia shook him, trying to wake him, but...
"...No response, Licht."
Pine's sharp wolf eyes assessed the limp boy as she spoke. At that moment, Dennis's hand—poised to deal with the apostle—dropped hesitantly.
A student whose mana circuits were tangled, rendering healing ineffective: the Black Knight, Licht. Even the Head would know of his feats since enrolling at the academy.
"W-what now, you fake who couldn't even become a true hero?!"
The apostle crowed triumphantly, sensing victory.
"This should do it, Metus."
Dennis's mind raced. The Hero Cult's target had never been him from the start.
They'd likely aimed for Licht, the most likely candidate to be chosen as the hero.
He'd defeated even Magic Hat and broken through what seemed to be the Head's dungeon. That boy had to be the hero.
"Student Mardol. Are you close to Licht?"
He swallowed hard. At this rate, they'd all fall into the Head's trap. The Head might even appear soon to wipe them out.
"...Yes, probably."
To thwart his calculations, there was only one unexpected choice. Dennis spoke directly to the princess.
"Then there's something only you can do."
The daughter of Emperor Locke—the one with the highest mana of anyone he knew, able to influence others through mere contact.
"Enter the nightmare and save Licht."
"Understood, Professor."
Dennis made the request as he watched her, and Pine nodded immediately from within her glass armor.
"No way. Wait, this isn't what I heard...!"
Metus, who'd been briefed on the Masterpiece's true nature in advance, gaped in shock. But the princess didn't waver.
"...Licht."
She gently laid the fallen Black Knight flat. Her golden wolf eyes gazed intently at the man, like a doll with its strings cut.
"What kind of dream are you having...?"
Seeing him grimace beneath the helmet, sweating coldly and groaning, she looked at him with sorrowful eyes.
It was a feeling she knew better than anyone, like staring into a mirror.
Trauma is like a person's shadow. Everyone carries one they must live with, but some have shadows that block even the light.
Carry it forever, and the heart crushes under the weight.
A man terrified of fire. The burn scars visible even in glimpses looked severe. He was likely reliving that past in real time.
"...It must hurt a lot. But just a bit more... hang in there."
Without Licht, she probably couldn't have overcome the trauma Magic Hat inflicted. He'd risked his life to retrieve her card.
With her mother, Empress Bellin Granasia, no longer held hostage, the Glass Knight had started showing brighter sides lately.
"You'll be fine soon, Licht. Just like how you saved me before."
Pine clasped one of his hands in both of hers, assuming a prayer-like pose. Without the armor, she might have been mistaken for a cleric.
She squeezed her eyes shut. This man must have an incredibly dark past buried inside him, she thought briefly, but...
"This time, I'll..."
It didn't matter to Pine anymore. Just as the Black Knight hadn't backed down before the Demon King.
"...save you."
Because she had to become the Black Rose.
What comes to mind when you think of Christmas?
Carols echoing through the streets, or a white-haired old man in red slipping down chimneys to deliver gifts.
Some might picture snow falling from the sky, others a green tree adorned with colorful little bulbs.
But I have a memory burned intensely into my mind.
'Here...'
The world blanketed in deep snow, turned entirely white.
"Mom! Santa's definitely coming tonight, right?"
"That's right, Young-min. So you have to listen to the doctor today, okay?"
"Yeah! Got it!"
A place like that, gathered with children in pure white clothes: the children's ward where my real self had been.
'I got hit by the Apostle of Gluttony.'
I opened my palm and looked down. My shrunken body and small hands. Back in that moment of past despair, I had returned.
"..."
I tried to speak, but no words came out. The past is the past—it seemed I couldn't change unalterable wounds or facts.
This was my history from before possessing the game.
An ability that perfectly recreated the opponent's trauma. Unlike with Serbi, I had no sword, and even biting my tongue didn't work.
Nothing moved as I willed. I needed to shout to run away fast, but it was impossible.
'I was supposed to be discharged tomorrow.'
With no options, I racked my brain as best I could.
Like rewinding and rereading a book, I pieced together the shattered fragments left in my memory.
I'd crashed my bike into a car a little and ended up hospitalized. My firefighter dad was too busy to stay by my side constantly.
That evening, a fire broke out. I woke in the middle of the night and was led out by hospital staff, only to...
'...hear a child's scream for help and rush back into that place.'
I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut. With only my consciousness intact in this world, I felt like I was going mad.
"Big bro Soo-hyun! Aren't you excited for Santa tonight?"
The boy from the same room smiled innocently, unaware of the future awaiting us. Despair washed over me as I looked at him.