The Angel of the Academy (2)

Everyone who witnessed Raphael's angelic transformation spoke in unison. An angel had descended upon the academy.

Ian, Sein, Eiron, and Belinda, who had been locked in combat with the demon, all stopped fighting at once and stared at her.

Master... are you alright?

Master turning into an angel... does that mean the situation is that dire?

Ian, bolstered by Sein's buffs, focused his attacks on the demon's eyes, but the creature's massive arm blocked him every time. The demon's six eyes had been reduced to five, yet that only meant he still had to kill it five more times before this nightmare would end.

Far too many students had already been devoured by the monster.

Watching the carnage, Ian tormented himself with guilt.

What kind of hero am I...! I couldn't protect a single person.

Even Master revealed her true identity to save us, and here I am, useless. What the hell am I even doing? What am I fighting for...?

Sein had suffered a head wound from the demon's attack and was bleeding profusely, yet she looked straight into Ian's eyes as she spoke.

In truth, Ian had been blaming himself for every death he'd witnessed. He believed he could have saved them if only his body hadn't frozen up. He had been furious at his own weakness.

But just as Sein said, it was time to let them go. For the sake of those still alive and for the battles yet to come, he could no longer remain trapped in grief.

I am the hero. The one who protects people and vanquishes evil.

And I am Raphael's disciple. If even that unbreakable Master is fighting like this, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can't stay helpless!

Stand up, Ian!

He gripped his swords with both hands, steadied his mind, faced the demon before him, and focused everything on the attack.

One hour after the demon's descent upon the academy, Chief Heresy Inquisitor Torres finally arrived.

His face was etched with deep worry.

Damn it... Did I arrive too late because I was busy killing the lesser demons around the perimeter...?!

Torres, get a grip!

I am the one who carries out the Goddess's punishment. I must bear its weight.

But the moment he saw the demon's horns, his expression hardened.

...Is that a Hexagram Demon?

So the creature that only existed in ancient texts was real after all.

A Hexagram Demon—one that rivaled the Four Heavenly Kings in power. A demon of insatiable greed that devoured everyone around it and grew endlessly stronger.

......

..........

It seems this is where I die today.

I will fulfill my duty and perish.

What a shame... that I must die without seeing Raphael one last time.

Now fully transformed into an angel, Raphael ignored the awestruck gazes of everyone around her and charged straight at the demon.

Whew... My entire body feels overflowing with energy.

And my instincts are screaming at me to kill that thing.

This feels amazing. Is this what they call guilt-free pleasure?

If the Holy Sword's effect didn't work, she would simply have to kill it five more times. Simple enough.

First things first—treat the students.

"Area-Wide Great Heal!"

Every student touched by Raphael's healing light was restored to perfect condition. Even those with bones completely exposed had their wounds rewind as if time itself had been reversed.

The surviving students began cheering for her.

"Angel-nim is the best!!!"

"Please defeat that demon quickly!!"

"You can do it, Angel-nim!!!"

Both professors and students were cheering for her. She was an angel—one who answered humanity's call.

Alright then. Shall we get serious?

"Huu..."

Upon hearing her declaration, the crowd erupted into even louder cheers, chanting her name.

"Raphael!"

"Raphael!"

"Raphael!"

"Please go out with me!"

"...Who the hell said that last one?"

"Unnie! Don't forget you promised to do scissors with me!!"

"Fucking hell, these crazy bastards..."

Shaking off the dizzying cheers, Raphael spread all three pairs of her wings wide and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠charged toward the demon.

"Primordial Holy Sword Forging—Chakra Infusion: Death & Pain—Chakra Release!"

"Now then... a hell made just for you is complete."

The Primordial Holy Sword had evolved far beyond the original Holy Sword. It now carried an additional effect that prevented wound recovery. And since Raphael had already experienced death herself, she infused it with the chakra of death, and finally, the chakra of annihilation. The moment it touched its target, it would bring searing agony followed by utter obliteration.

Goooooo—

Four massive swords floated in the sky. One by one, they severed the demon's limbs. Every time a limb was cut, it disintegrated completely. At the same time, four of its eyes vanished.

Now only one eye and one life remained. She would need to kill it four more times, then once more at the end.

"Huff... huff..."

"This is pretty exhausting... Still, it's almost over."

Just as Raphael began to feel the strain, a notification window appeared.

"Huh? What is this now..."

"Right. The final battle was always meant to be finished by the hero."

"...It turned into another weird blessing again."

"Why does everything I do end up getting twisted like this...?"

Raphael folded her wings for a moment and approached Ian. He was steadily cutting away at the Hexagram Demon's arms, slowly cornering the beast.

"Ian. Can you look at me for a second?"

"...! Master!"

"Yes, Ian. You're doing wonderfully."

"I wish to bestow a blessing upon you."

"Please accept it."

"...! Yes, Master!!"

Whether her voice reached everyone or not, the moment they saw the blessing descend upon Ian, the crowd began praying toward both of them.

Among them were Baden and Torres, who had just finished eliminating the other demons.

"...Raphael..."

"...Lady Raphael...? Is it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠truly you?"

"Ah... at last... at last..."

Ignoring them, Ian and Raphael charged at the Hexagram Demon together. In perfect sync, they shouted:

Kugugugung—

Because it was the final blow, Raphael joined forces with Ian. A magnificent, rainbow-colored greatsword formed in the sky—one that could never be replicated. The colossal blade, born from both their techniques, plummeted toward the demon's core, now stripped of all its limbs.

Shwooooo—

Crack!

As the Holy Sword's judgment struck, the core in the demon's heart shattered. The monster finally began to disintegrate into nothingness.

The moment the demon completely vanished, the surviving students and professors embraced one another and wept tears of relief.

The heresy inquisitors and Torres, who had been watching, began walking toward Raphael.

...Lady Raphael... do you remember me?

Thanks to your help, I was able to reach this position.

Thank you for slaying the Hexagram Demon.

Thank you for protecting the Saintess.

And finally... thank you for letting me see you with my own eyes one last time.

"...Lady Raphael..."

"...."

"......."

"...It's been a while, Torres."

"That tiny child from back then has grown so much..."

The boy who once only reached her chest now stood taller than she did. How time flew. How terribly fast.

"Children really do grow up so quickly, don't they?"

"Lady Raphael, I am no longer a child. I am now a fully-fledged Heresy Inquisitor."

"You have changed a great deal since I last saw you..."

"It seems your very race has changed as well."

"To think I would see an angel in my lifetime..."

"Puhuhuhu... Angel? Please. I'm still just Raphael."

Yes. Angel or not, she would remain Raphael. Forever.

Ah, except for the hero party. They were excluded.

"Thank you for growing up so well. Every time I saw you, I always worried. What if he gets bullied? What if he's tormented?"

"Pfft. The only person in the world who would worry about me like that is you, Lady Raphael."

"Is that so..."

"By the way..."

While Torres was speaking, someone called out to Raphael. And they were running toward her while screaming.

"Maaaaaster!!!!"

"...! That kid..."

Torres and Raphael watched Ian as he sprinted toward them.

Raphael spoke with pride in her voice.

"Yes. That child is my successor. More precisely, he is the boy destined to become the 'hero' who will defeat the Demon King."

".....I see... Will you be joining him as well, Master?"

"Who knows... I think I'll just keep helping those who need me and live freely."

"Heh... You really haven't changed at all, Lady Raphael."

"Lady Raphael. Please, stay alive. No matter what happens, promise me you won't sacrifice yourself... Can you do that?"

"......"

"...Lady Raphael, everyone can only be happy if you are alive. So please... don't die."

"Torres..."

"Then I shall take my leave. That damn hero is coming this way."

"Kukuk, you still hate heroes as much as ever. Won't you tell me why?"

"Hmph! Isn't he the very culprit who caused your death?! How could I possibly like someone like that!"

"Sigh... Who told you that nonsense again..."

"...! The professors and students are coming. I must go now. When we meet again, I hope to see you in good health."

Shrrk—

Torres and the other inquisitors immediately turned into particles of light and vanished.

That boy... he's already become such a fine young man.

It feels like yesterday that I was raising him like my own child...

Is this what parenthood feels like? My heart feels strangely heavy.

"Maaaaaster—!"

Kukuk. Here comes my new little one.

Alright. Shall we begin again?