An Angel Lives in the Academy - Chapter 44: An Angel Walking Outside (4)

"Refri, the leader's powers are real. He's a bad guy, but a capable bad guy."

Soya munched away at the snacks Refri had made for her—nom nom nom. Then she realized she was the only one eating and cautiously asked him,

"B-but aren't you gonna eat any?"

"Just watching you eat fills me up."

And it really did. Every time Soya enjoyed the snacks, it all converted straight into angel power for him.

"What? You're not my dad or anything... And there's another problem. Kim Mansu isn't registered as a villain yet. He's way worse than most villains, but..."

"But?"

"He bribed his way out of villain registration with all his money."

Refri wasn't surprised. His own father, the massive guilds—they all existed above the law. So Kim Mansu, who built his power by fleecing his followers, was no different.

'Come to think of it, I wonder how those guys are doing these days?'

Refri thought of his birth family. How had they reacted after his TV appearance? Ignored it? Got angry? No way they'd...

'They wouldn't regret it.'

A throbbing headache hit him, and he winced, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment.

"Refri, you okay?"

Soya's worried voice. Refri flashed an angelic smile to ease the girl's concern.

"I'm fine. And don't worry about the villain registration."

"Why not?"

"Kim Mansu's colluded with the Demon King's army. You know as well as I do—colluding with them means no bribe can save you from villain registration."

Collusion with the Demon King's army made you a traitor to humanity, plain and simple. No amount of money or power could change that.

'The professors will take him out, no matter what it takes.'

That was the play Refri was banking on.

"So our goal this time is simple. Sneak into the New Truth Church's core headquarters, the Central Sanctuary, find proof of their Demon King collusion, and submit it for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the midterm!"

"Will that get us high scores?"

Refri struck a cool pose and declared confidently,

"Don't worry. The professors lose their minds over anything Demon King-related. They come running at the mere whiff of demon stench."

"...That makes sense. Professor Klein did seem kinda pissed explaining the Demon King's magic system. Obsessed, maybe...?"

So Refri could say this with certainty:

"If we bring back solid proof... we'll probably snag first place in the midterm."

"F-first place?"

Soya's pupils trembled. The word "first place" really did have magic to it.

'Plus, stopping Kim Mansu blocks the summoning of Druymark, one of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings. And saves all the sacrifices who'd be offered up. That's a ton more angel power!'

It was hitting two birds with one stone—pheasant and egg, all in one.

Refri spoke first.

"Here's the plan. I'll draw their attention while you..."

And so, Refri and Soya's midterm exam began.

The New Truth Church was currently drawing in believers nationwide. They called their holy site the Central Sanctuary.

Located in northern Gyeonggi Province, this Central Sanctuary was guarded tighter than a military base.

And not just that.

"Six layers of permanent barriers. They're all pretty crappy ones, but... they must squeeze a ton of cash out of the real believers."

The barriers were no joke either.

"Those uniforms look like Hsin Guild. Why would a mega-guild like Hsin guard a dump like this...?"

"It's not just Hsin. Dramatic and Ultra too..."

The guards were top-tier as well. Refri had to revise his assessment. This wasn't just military-level—it blew military bases out of the water.

"Only big-donor believers or ones specially picked by the leader can enter the Central Sanctuary, right?"

"Yeah."

"So how do we get in..."

But Refri had planned for this.

'Time to use the new divine ability...!'

Night-Walking Reverse Angel's Steps. The reason angels could sneak in at night and whisper messages without being detected... was this divine ability.

"Soya. No matter how tough those barriers are, getting out is easy, right?"

"Yeah. If we get caught, we just run."

"So we just need to get in."

He had enough angel power left. Refri activated the ability.

Their figures blurred in an instant.

"Wh-what's this?"

"One of my abilities."

"...Hmm. Kinda dark-magic friendly."

Soya's eyes sparkled. Probably thinking it'd be perfect for dodging other magic department students. Twinkle twinkle.

"...Can I learn it too?"

"Doubt it..."

Soya's face fell immediately.

"Remember the plan?"

"You think I'm an idiot? While you draw attention, I use black magic to sniff out Demon King traces."

Time to start the operation.

"And when the time comes..."

"Got it. All of it..."

Angelic divine abilities outclassed any human skill. Even Rusa, a master of Fairy Fighting Method and peerless martial artist, couldn't fathom them as mere skills.

His ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠healing ability was only Lv.4, yet it rivaled Saintess Rebecca's techniques. His blessing was just a bit shy.

Purely as a healer/buffer... Refri was already professor-level.

So what about this infiltration ability, Night-Walking Reverse Angel's Steps?

"I-it really isn't detecting us."

Soya's admiration rang out. Truth be told, Refri was a bit shocked too.

'Six barrier layers, tons of detection sensors, superhuman guards—and we slip through like nothing?'

Angelic divine abilities truly defied human understanding.

'This'll come in handy someday when I gotta be a righteous thief.'

The boy dreamed of becoming Thief Angel Refri.

And ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠then.

'Angel power's running low. Argh, I should've dried Soya's hair more thoroughly, made more snacks, cleaned harder!'

Regret always comes after realization. Feeling the ability fade, Refri whispered to Soya,

"We're deep enough now. Soya, I'm counting on your stealth magic and mana detection."

"Don't worry. Just trust my genius skills!"

"Ah! Keep it down...!"

Refri was already anxious. But there was no other way.

"Fighting."

And so, Soya and Refri parted ways.

'Now, where am I?'

Refri's goal: cause a huge commotion to draw all eyes. For that, he needed a crowd.

'Worship service time right now, probably.'

He'd timed the infiltration for worship. Best way to grab attention? Stir chaos during service.

'Where's the main worship hall?'

He looked around. Fitting for a cult HQ, the temples were absurdly grandiose. Like a grotesquely elongated medieval castle. Not just fancy—the scale was insane.

Refri felt a twinge of trouble.

Then a voice.

"Huh? You're... a new face?"

The owner was a little girl, about Refri's height, with an uncanny resemblance to him.

'She's cute.'

Resembled Refri? That meant angelic beauty. And even stranger—wings on her back, like an angel.

So Refri blurted,

"Angel?"

"No! Don't say such blasphemy! I'm just a bird subhuman!"

Bird subhuman, a branch of beastkin famous for back wings.

"Oh, a subhuman. Got it."

"Precisely, a sparrow... ahem." The girl blushed.

She continued right away. "You look my age. Hi! You're here to serve the Prophet too, right?"

Serve the Prophet? One of Kim Mansu's inner circle?

Refri played along. "Y-yeah."

"Great! Lots of kids left lately, so I've been lonely."

Lots left? Refri felt a chill.

'What's that about? Something's off.'

But no confirmation yet.

"What's your name?"

"Mine? Sori! What's yours?"

"Refri. I'm Refri."

Sori grabbed his hand and ran.

"Awesome, Refri! It's worship time—what're you doing?"

"Uh... huh?"

"Hurry! We'll get in trouble!"

"Huh?"

Swept along by Sori, Refri soon reached the main worship hall.

A guard at the door barked, "Sori! Always late?"

"Sorry!"

"Who's the kid?"

"Another to serve the Prophet!"

Free pass for Refri.

'Not bad.'

He'd stumbled right to his destination—early, even. Needed to kill time.

The hall was packed. Refri couldn't believe so many bought into this idiot cult.

"Do you all know?"

He decided to listen to Prophet Kim Mansu's sermon for a bit. What nonsense kept them hooked...?

"Only the heavens can save us. And only the angels descended from the heavens lead to that salvation. Only the heavens! Only angels!"

"Only the heavens! Only angels!"

Refri got chills. New Truth? More like New Angel Church.

"Humans can't beat the Demon King. Humans can't beat the monsters overflowing the outside world. Humans can't beat those cursed fallen superhumans!"

Refri glanced around. Everyone fixated on Kim Mansu. Some muttered, "Only angels... only angels..." in prayer.

'More angel worship than some otherworld cults?'

The otherworld empire that went mad summoning angels via necromancy? This cult's weirdness topped it.

"Only angels can drive out these evils! Only the heavens! Only angels!"

"Only the heavens! Only angels!"

Kim Mansu stepped forward, grabbing an item from the altar.

"And the power of angels is—!"

A worn dagger. As he held it, it flickered like a toy sword.

"This!"

The toy dagger sparkled. The crowd went wild. Refri didn't know what to call this. Toy sword club?

"No human can produce such brilliant light. Not those arrogant professors! Not even the saintess! They can't awaken this sword!"

Brilliant light? Toy glow at best? Refri tilted his head.

"Ahh, so bright."

"The light... my eyes!"

The believers' overacting left Refri speechless.

'The acting's too obvious.'

Kim Mansu's sermon continued.

"This proves I'm the angel's reincarnation!"

"Only the heavens! Only angels!"

"I can't awaken the other holy relics yet... but soon! Soon even these..."

The sermon dragged on. Then people stood.

"Wh-what?"

"What? Oh, first time here? At the Central Sanctuary, you can touch the holy relics infused with the Prophet's power."

Touch relics? All fakes anyway.

'As if Kim Mansu could get real angel gear.'

Refri hid a sneer and stood.

"Amazing chance, right?"

"Y-yeah."

Amazing? He wasn't sure. Service wasn't over, so he had to play along.

'Gotta fake it.'

Sori whispered, pointing at the dagger. "That's Flabellum, the angels' dagger. With all angels gone, only the Prophet can wield it."

"Oh, really?"

Refri gripped it. Blinding holy light erupted—too bright to stare at.

'Huh? Toy's got some kick.'

He admired the next relic. "What's this?"

"Th-that's Santus..."

A small leather glove, perfect fit for Refri. Try it on...?

As he slipped it on, sacred flames bloomed from his hand—rainbow hues, quite the sight.

'Cool... Lord, about becoming a righteous thief...'

Already plotting Thief Angel. But.

'Wait, why's it so quiet?'

Everyone stared. Sori, even Kim Mansu—mouths agape.

Why? Touched too roughly?

"Ah, s-sorry, just curious. My bad..."

But the vibe was off. Not anger—more like they'd found who they'd been waiting for.

Then it hit Refri: this was real angel gear. No other explanation for the reaction.

'No way? Kim Mansu had actual archangel relics...?'

Too late to turn back.

"Flabellum shining like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that—brighter than the Prophet's!"

"Wait, Santus—only high angels can activate it? No way?"

"Sniff... only the heavens, sniff, only angels...!"

"An angel! A high angel...!"

"The angel has descended!"

Shock waves here, laughter there, tears elsewhere. And Kim Mansu muttering, "Impossible... impossible..." in despair.

Believers ignored him, shouting,

"This light! This holy light!"

"I believed!"

Refri stared at them, dazed.

"D-did this actually work out?"

The New Truth Church believers now looked like Refri Church followers.