Approaching Darkness (3)
Tallen was walking among the students who couldn't cast Restore, gently guiding them through the spell. As class drew to a close, he called out to one particular boy.
"Ian? Could you come here for a moment?"
"Yes?"
Once Ian approached, Professor Tallen's demeanor shifted into something far more serious. He had sensed a rare potential in the young man.
In this world, true angels no longer existed. Yet the named demons—the seventy-two great demons—were always watching for the slightest chance to break free from their seals. That meant there were no longer any angels capable of resealing them.
Instead, there were those who stood vigilant against the great demons' return, hunting down lesser demons and demonkin. They were called Demon Hunters.
Tallen had felt the unmistakable qualities of a Demon Hunter radiating from Ian.
"Ian. You wield holy power with remarkable freedom," the professor said.
"When you graduate from Hero Academy, is there a particular path you wish to pursue?"
"Graduating from the academy opens many doors. It proves your strength, after all."
"You could become an adventurer, a soldier guarding the imperial palace, a cleric... or even a Demon Hunter. Truly, the possibilities are endless."
Tallen looked directly into Ian's eyes.
"Ian. How would you feel about becoming a Demon Hunter?"
"The Hero was chosen twenty years ago. Yet this academy continues to operate. Do you know why we still train so many Hero candidates even after one has already been selected?"
"...I'm not sure."
"It's to create people who can support the Hero. Even if they never become the Hero themselves, they can still stand beside one."
"Professor... why are you telling me all this?"
"Ian. You are an extraordinarily special individual. The Restore you used earlier didn't just affect one person—it influenced everyone around you."
"That was an area-of-effect Restore. It's a skill that normally requires at least the rank of bishop to use."
"Yet you wielded it so effortlessly. That's why I want to make you this offer. Become a Demon Hunter. Save the suffering people of this world."
"...But I'm still just a student. I want to help, but is that even possible right now?"
A sly grin spread across Tallen's face.
"Actually, it's entirely possible to work as a Demon Hunter while attending the academy."
"Of course, it requires the headmaster's permission."
"I believe you have the makings of an outstanding Demon Hunter."
"Come to the angel statue tomorrow evening at nine o'clock. We'll hold the initiation ceremony there."
"Professor Tallen. Are there other Demon Hunters attending the academy besides me?"
"Of course. But they don't know each other's identities."
"We operate as a cell network. If one of us is captured, we can't risk exposing the entire group."
"Any other questions?"
"...No. That's all."
"Good. You must not speak of this to anyone. I trust you. I'll see you tomorrow."
It had all happened so quickly that Ian remained frozen in place even after the professor walked away.
"Today really has been... one thing after another..."
While Ian stood there in a daze, Sein and Eiron approached him.
"Ian! What were you talking about with Professor Tallen?"
"Husband! What did you discuss without me?"
"Huh? It was nothing. He just praised me for doing well."
"Hmmm..."
"Well, if you say so, I guess that's it."
"I'll trust you this time, husband."
"Why do I need your permission for anything..."
"Sigh. I'm heading off first."
Ian left to attend his next class, leaving Sein and Eiron staring intently at his retreating back.
"Sein. It looks like Ian has created a new turning point. A Demon Hunter, of all things... In previous cycles, he never did anything like this."
"Eiron. This cycle feels different somehow. Across all those regressions, this is the first time Ian has grown stronger this quickly."
"And that power capable of annihilating everything... If it's this power, then...!"
"If he keeps growing at this rate, we might actually be able to kill her. That mad goddess, Raphael..."
"The insane deity who invaded our world... We will kill her without fail. For that to happen, Ian must grow stronger."
"Yes. First, we need to kill the Demon King. In every previous cycle, we failed to defeat him and had to start over."
As Sein and Eiron continued their conversation, Sein's expression grew deadly serious.
"We have to support Ian from his side. And honestly... my mind is already at its limit."
"If we regress again, I don't think I can endure it anymore."
"You, as a long-lived species, might still hold on. But for me, this will likely be the final cycle."
Eiron stared at her quietly before replying.
"...Alright. Let's see this through to the end this time. For some reason, I feel like it might actually be possible."
"Yeah... And that ferocious dragon girl—is she still asleep? Didn't she regress too?"
"Unlike us, she can't stay with Ian. She probably won't awaken until right before he fights the Demon King..."
Sein looked at Eiron.
"What if we wake her ourselves?"
"...Are you out of your mind, Sein? She's sleeping inside the magma of Monster Volcano. For now... let's focus on killing the Demon King first."
"Understood..."
"Ian... please keep growing stronger..."
After finishing all his classes for the day, Ian headed toward the plaza just like yesterday. But today, far more people than usual had gathered in front of the statue. They were on their knees, weeping as they prayed.
Confused, Ian pretended to pray while quietly addressing the statue.
"Master?"
-Ah, Ian. You're here.
"What is with all these people?"
"And they don't look like students from the academy. They seem like ordinary citizens??"
-...Well, the truth is...
The scene shifted back six hours before Ian and Raphael had met.
A man carrying a child in his arms came running desperately toward the statue. He fell to his knees and began to pray with a broken voice.
"Ugh... Angel... Angel, please... I beg you..."
"I'm just a humble farmer who supplies vegetables to the academy. My child has caught a terrible plague..."
"I went to the temple, but they refused to even see us. They called my child unclean and disgusting. They wouldn't treat him at all..."
"How can this be? A priest who serves the gods calling a dying child unclean and repulsive... I can't believe it..."
"I heard the rumors about the angel who healed all the students last time. Now, you're my only hope."
"Please... let your mercy reach my child... Sob... Hic..."
He continued pouring out his grief for twenty minutes before finally bowing deeply toward the statue.
It was the desperate prayer of a father begging for his dying child's life.
Raphael listened in silence, then made up her mind. She would use her holy power for this man. And she would punish the greedy, self-righteous priests who had turned him away.
Child. A father who prays for his own child.
I have heard your plea.
You bear no sin. It is not your fault that your child fell ill. So lift your head and look upon me.
The farmer jumped in shock at the sudden voice and looked around frantically. The only people nearby were students training in the distance. No one was paying him any attention.
Then whose voice was that? Could it be...?
"A-Angel...? Are you the angel...?"
-I am Raphael, the Angel of Might and Healing. Place your child before me.
"Ah... Hic... Yes...!"
The farmer carefully laid his child in front of the statue and continued praying with trembling hands.
"O merciful and benevolent Raphael... Though I am a foolish and unworthy human, please look upon us with pity... I beg you, save my child... I implore you again and again..."
"Please... please help us..."
Raphael began channeling her holy power to heal the child. As proof, a brilliant halo once again appeared above the statue's head, and waves of sacred energy washed over the boy.
"Ah... My child... My beloved child... I'm so sorry... Forgive me... Your mother failed to protect you..."
-Your child has been healed.
-You are a good person who loves your child and seeks to help others. Could you bring me other children suffering from illness, just like yours?
The farmer looked up at the statue, tears streaming down his face.
"Yes!! I will! I will definitely do so! And... thank you once again, O Angel!"
An hour after the farmer left, a large crowd could be seen approaching the academy from afar. The academy guards tried to stop them, but upon hearing their desperate pleas about their sick children, they reluctantly opened the gates.
"O Angel! Please bestow your mercy and benevolence upon our children!"
Around four hundred citizens gathered in a circle around the statue and began to pray.
As their prayers continued, Raphael decided to expend her divinity to heal them all.
Would you like to consume 50 Holy Power to bestow the Blessing of Healing upon everyone within a 2km radius?
Request received.
The halo above the statue grew even larger and rose high into the sky. Holy power began to ripple visibly around the statue. Then the heavens parted with brilliant clarity, and the Blessing of Healing descended upon everyone gathered in the academy plaza.
The effect of the Blessing of Healing was simple: to return bodies to their perfect, natural state. Deformed children were restored to normal. Those missing limbs regrew them. For six full hours—right up until Ian arrived—the blessing continued to pour down without pause.
During those six hours, every single sick child was cured and returned to full health.
Afterward, using a faint manifestation of her power, Raphael visited the temple that had refused to treat the farmer's child. She delivered divine punishment upon them. The corrupted priests were stripped of their ability to use holy power ever again, and lightning bolts rained down upon their temple.
Most of the people who had been praying witnessed the scene and thought the same thing:
They've been struck by divine retribution.