Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Chapter 33
For an absolute being like Tia, the complaints of others were insignificant. However, that didn't mean she didn't care about how others perceived her.
Awe and authority. These were the two things Tia desired from humans. Within Scientia, she gathered awe and authority in exchange for providing knowledge and safety to humans.
Awe was to prevent them from underestimating her. It was a dragon's instinct, the need to prove herself as the most superior being.
Authority was to avoid bothersome matters. It was a necessary device to preemptively deter those who dared to challenge her.
“Well… I’m all for it, but…”
She was the strongest being in this world. So why did she avoid challenges from others?
“I can’t be seen as weak, you know?”
If she were alone, there wouldn't be a reason to worry. But she had someone she had to protect.
“No, it’s not that I’m actually weak or scared or anything, it’s just… wouldn’t it be annoying if some idiot challenged me?”
Main Story Chapter 12. The SSR-rank character who joins after Tia's death.
[SSR Inheritor of Will]
Spina Ereda El Tiamat
Protecting her only family, currently slumbering deep within Scientia, was Tia’s sole desire.
“I can’t just kill all the humans, can I? A peaceful world… Yeah, a peaceful world is good.”
Therefore, she wouldn't forgive those who invaded Scientia. She wouldn’t forgive those who disturbed her domain.
“You understand what I mean, right?”
“Of course, Headmaster.”
Hundreds of years. That was how long she had lived alone, without family. But what if she did have a family? What if there was a being who would one day hatch from its egg and enter the world?
Yes, Scientia was nothing more than a giant nest she had prepared.
“Headmaster, you can say that I removed the magic tool on my own.”
“Huh…?”
“This bracelet… it’s not like I can’t take it off with force, right?”
“Well, that’s true, but… how could you possibly do that with your strength…?”
Crack!
For Tia, who couldn’t fathom a mage like me removing the bracelet with brute force, I took it off myself. There was a strange sound from my wrist, but it was fine.
“What the… Are you, like, mentally ill or something? I think you need to get checked by Arietta later.”
Tia looked at me as if disgusted. Even when I helped her, she complained.
“Now, now, Headmaster. You should watch your words.”
“…….”
“Don’t you understand the situation? An incident occurred in Scientia, the safest place there is. So, if someone were to be held responsible, whose fault do you think it would be?”
“Right… It’s my fault for assuming the magic tool was perfect.”
Gnash—
Tia gritted her teeth and answered.
The past time of humiliation and oppression… I was sick of it. It was time to teach this fire-breathing giant lizard who had the upper hand now.
“So? What do you want? You know I can’t do anything about the Spellerge inheritance, right?”
“Yes, what I want is…”
The pillar to support the plan. The first assumption was set. A precondition to uphold Tia’s sense of justice while subtly twisting it.
“The safety of all students.”
Using the phrase “all students,” I added Marie Sistus to the list of those she had to protect.
“What nonsense…?”
Tia tilted her head, momentarily confused. But her braided hair swayed like a tail, and her expression quickly turned serious. She understood what I meant.
“What do you know?”
“You answer first.”
“…….”
Grab!
I came to my senses, Tia’s hand gripping my neck. As if time had skipped, only the result was visible. The fact that she hadn't snapped my neck meant she still had some reason left.
Acting aside, this was terrifying.
“……I’ll make a deal.”
“Y-Yes…”
I answered in a strained voice, my throat constricted.
“Well… it’s my job to ensure safety within my domain. But the word ‘all’ is impossible. Even if I’m a strong and intelligent dragon, protecting everyone in this vast area is impossible.”
Tia’s pupils narrowed vertically, her horns emitting heat. Wings had long sprouted from her back. She was already in battle stance.
“So, I always leave myself ‘options.’”
“…….”
“When I can’t save ‘all’ as you said, I will choose the next best thing. Do you understand?”
If I failed to resolve the incident properly, Tia would kill Marie as a last resort.
“……Fine. I’ll make sure to manage that part.”
This was enough of a concession from her. My plan was one that put the students in danger.
She already knew. It was a student who was causing this incident. And its scope encompassed the entirety of Scientia.
“Now tell me.”
“Marie Sistus.”
This name alone was enough.
Tia spoke, as if she understood, yet at the same time, didn’t.
“That [Death King] bastard is attacking me…? Is he crazy?”
“He’ll open a gate to the Underworld inside Scientia using her as a medium. I think about 472 gates will open.”
“……You crazy bastard, that’s not a prediction, you just know, don’t you? Why didn’t you say anything until now?”
“No, actually, I tried to tell you before, but the atmosphere seemed too dangerous.”
Tia looked at me suspiciously, rubbing her cheek. The wound on her cheek had long since disappeared, but the memory of it likely remained, not externally, but within her heart.
“Come to think of it, you… Never mind. This isn't something to discuss here.”
“……?”
“The timing is shitty, though.”
She was talking about Scientia’s guards. Naturally, the meticulous Tia would have prepared for such a situation. But as she said, the timing was bad.
The guards protecting the academy were none other than her Dragon Tooth Soldiers. This year, perhaps due to the celestial anomaly, there were more enrolled students than usual. She must have been short on tooth soldiers to hand out for training.
In other words, her loyal soldiers were currently scattered among the academy students as training partners. There was no time to recall them.
“Now, I just so happen to have a map here marking 472 suspicious locations with noticeable barriers.”
“You little…”
She grabbed me by the neck again. Had I been too flippant? I should have spoken more seriously.
“C-Calm… Calm down, Headmaster. The human body is more fragile than it looks. I’ll die if you squeeze like that…”
Tia threw me to the ground.
I thought I was going to die. I shouldn't provoke her any further. Her way of expressing displeasure was escalating rapidly.
“I’ve taken some preliminary measures in the 71 locations that seem most dangerous. I’ve even marked the most efficient route.”
“I don’t need a route. I’ll know just by looking.”
“As expected of the Headmaster. You’re amazing.”
“Sometimes I really want to kill you.”
“…….”
“So? What kind of measures did you take?”
“I dug holes right in front of the gates.”
The only preliminary measure I could take was to dig deep holes right in front of the locations where the Underworld gates would open. If there was [Dig] in basic-level magic, there was [Sinkhole] in intermediate-level magic.
I didn’t know why I liked digging spells so much, but this time, I could truly appreciate their effectiveness.
“How deep?”
“50 meters?”
“This crazy bastard… What the hell are you doing to the academy?”
It was hard work. I couldn’t remember how many times I used [Sinkhole] to dig down 50 meters. The [Death King]’s soldiers would probably fall into a literal hell the moment they crawled out of the Underworld.
{Undine’s Droplet} itself restored mana. But its efficiency was lower than refined potions. Moreover, because of my encounter with the Parade last time, I couldn't buy ingredients to make potions.
Therefore, I had to conserve {Undine’s Droplet}. If I used it here, I wouldn't be able to use it when it really mattered.
So, I’d leave… no, entrust the rest to Tia.
“With your abilities, Headmaster, even if you can’t destroy the gates, you can block them for about an hour, right?”
Even Tia couldn't easily destroy a fully opened Underworld gate. It was inevitable, since the key was made with divine power. But she could physically block the gates.
However, she couldn't block them forever. In the end, she had to find and kill or persuade the one who opened the gates. Since Tia would prioritize killing over persuading, getting her to agree to these conditions was the challenge.
“No, wait. Did you know about the key?”
“Do you think I’m called the successor of the Mage King for nothing?”
“But even rulers and officials can’t access that information… Wait a second. Were you chased out for being caught snooping around for that information?”
“Uh… Maybe.”
I didn't know why I had been chased out by Salem.
“…I understand.”
She didn't discriminate between humans. Although her methods, weighing the value of life in such an extreme way, were different, her conviction was respectable.
“Really? Then pray.”
“I don’t believe in God.”
God's existence was too ambiguous to pray to. There might be a God in this world, but I didn't think they would answer my prayers. If they did, the probability of [Mana Dominator] wouldn't be so abysmal.
So, I believed it was better to trust myself and keep striving than to rely on such an unreliable being.
“Then pray to me. Pray that I save all the students so that your life can be spared.”
But the being she spoke of was different. She was infinitely similar to a god, but closer to a demon.
“Pray like that.”
Arrogant and ferocious, but at least a transcendent being who could answer prayers.
“…Then hear this foolish human’s prayer and ensure the safety of everyone.”
“Alright, I’ll hear your prayer, you foolish human.”
And she was a being who answered prayers.
The dragon spread her wings.