Chapter 192: Nirvana (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 192: Nirvana (2)
The brilliant light grew stronger and stronger until it transformed into a literal pillar of radiance.
“You crazy wench! What the hell did you make?!”
“It’s not fair!”
She claimed it was unfair every single time, but I really couldn't let it slide this time. This wasn't at a level where one could just grumble about being wronged and move on.
“Still, it’s divine power, so the physical effects should be…”
Princess Nea didn't miss this small opening to shield Boradori while trying to grind some affinity points, but—
“…Senior, what on earth did you do?!”
“It’s not fair!”
She shrieked in horror upon seeing the ceiling being slowly carved away by divine power, which was supposed to have no physical mass.
However, if you were to ask if it was completely useless, that wasn't quite the case either.
“S-Still, it’s working on the demon!”
Boradori shouted as the Great Demon didn't just shrink, but began to dissipate into black smoke.
“The problem is that it’s working on us, too!”
I turned my head away from her, staring at the ceiling that was now visibly punctured.
“Do something, Altear… Who are you?”
I looked toward Altear, the only one who might be able to resolve this situation. But standing where the skeleton had been was not a pile of bones, but a person. Specifically, a beautiful youth who wouldn't look out of place even if he were added to Daisy’s harem right this second.
Dressed in white holy robes, the boy looked at me with a benevolent smile, his eyes reflecting the enlightened gaze of a high priest.
“It is I.”
“……”
“It seems my time has come.”
No, wait. Where the hell do you think you’re going?
“Where exactly are you going?”
“The reason for my presence here has vanished, so I must depart without lingering attachments. If I were to miss this chance and fail to leave, how would I be any different from that demon?”
“Lord Altear?!”
Princess Nea also realized Altear’s state a moment too late and cried out, her eyes wide.
“I go now!”
“No, even if you’re going, fix this before you leave!”
“Lord Altear! Please wait just a bit longer! My father is coming to see you personally at the end of the year!”
“The Emperor is coming to the Academy? Are you trying to organize a grand coalition of the Revolutionary Army, the Liberation Front, Dark Mages, Pagans, and the Demon Tribe?!”
“What kind of nonsense is that?!”
What do you mean, nonsense? It’s the sound of the Academy exploding.
In the military, even a division commander visiting causes a nightmare. If an Emperor moves in a RoFan novel, the Academy is guaranteed to blow up.
“I am no longer a person of this era. Why should I harbor any more lingering attachments?”
“No, the people of this era are about to die, so please harbor some attachments!”
“The Founding Day Festival just ended, so there really isn't much time left! Can’t you just stay for three more months?!”
“Ah… Luke. Tesilla. Harmis. And…”
“Stop calling out your dead friends' names!”
Despite our pleas, Altear began his ascension without a single shred of regret. It seemed his entire being was now classified as a ghost; even the parts that hadn't turned into light couldn't be grasped.
“Farewell, children! I am casting off all the shackles and constraints of this world and leaving for where I truly belong! May you all be happy!”
“I told you, we have to be alive to be happy?!”
“We’re doomed! It’s all over!”
As the floating Altear merged with the pillar of light, it acted like fuel. The pillar grew larger and larger, swallowing the Great Demon whole, and then…
“Ah. We’re screwed.”
It pierced through the stone ceiling, and following that momentum, a sound that should never be heard echoed through the air…
“Run!”
Seeing the rocks falling in the aftermath, Boradori was the first to bolt. Princess Nea and I followed right behind her, running for our lives.
Joan Helias: Just scrap everything.
Joan, the Director of the Imperial Academy, let out a deep sigh.
“I want coffee.”
“You cannot.”
“Then at least some black tea.”
“That is also forbidden.”
“…Just give me some booze, then.”
“That is the most forbidden of all.”
Having been denied all the joys of life, Joan wondered if this was why people took up smoking as she picked up her spoon.
“I just want to eat something delicious.”
Joan made a tearful face as she stared at the thin rice gruel that was nothing but white.
“Please recover quickly so you can do everything you want.”
At those words, Joan felt a sudden surge of emotion and pulled several envelopes from her robe, scattering them.
“I told you there’s a way for me to recover! These! Any of them! Just accept one!”
The resignation letters fluttered like cherry blossoms, but not a single Academy staff member nearby paid them any mind.
“Director.”
“What! Why! You want to go? You think you can take me?!”
As Joan huffed, the surrounding staff members each pulled a piece of paper from their own pockets.
“Your resignation letter will likely not be accepted, Director.”
“His Majesty the Emperor would never grant it.”
“But would the same be true for our resignation letters?”
The position of Academy Director was no easy task. Of course, many coveted the spot because it brought wealth, power, and honor. Because of that, the Imperial Family was extremely thorough in vetting the Director…
But that wasn't the case for the staff.
Though they were nominally appointed by the Imperial Family, they were usually approved as long as the Director submitted the paperwork. Therefore, even if they left, the Empire would simply hire the next batch of people immediately.
“You think… that’s going to happen?!”
Even if the Imperial Family allowed it, Joan had no intention of permitting it. To abandon this workforce, tempered by overtime after overtime after overtime, and use new recruits who had to be taught from scratch? It was obvious that her workload would only increase. But the bigger reason was…
“You’re going to leave me behind and escape on your own? You think I’ll just stand by and watch that happen?!”
At the sight of the snarling Joan, one of the staff members let out a hollow laugh.
“We can just flee in the middle of the night.”
“Ha! You think you can flee this Academy at night? Do you have any idea how much money was poured into this place to stop Dark Mages?! If I flip those defenses around, do you think a midnight escape is even possible?!”
Seeing Joan’s confident smirk, the staff felt her sincerity.
“Does that thing even actually work?”
“For something like that, the Dark Mages sure seem to just walk right in.”
“If it worked properly, we wouldn't be in this mess right now…”
As the staff members were all lamenting, the secretary—who could be called the Director’s left hand—spoke up.
“No, it works quite well.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I got caught trying to flee at night.”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“Damn it.”
At that heartfelt remark, everyone’s faces crumpled. Joan was about to use their misery as a side dish for her bland porridge when—
“……Director?”
“What.”
“Here is my resignation.”
The "WWE with hidden UFC" act had ended a long time ago. To be this tone-deaf and keep pushing it… A vein popped on the Director’s forehead. No matter how much she tried to keep things lighthearted, there was always someone who just begged for a beating.
“……?”
But it wasn't just one person. Even the secretary she had beaten half to death for trying to flee at night was holding out a resignation letter.
“What kind of tactic is this now…?”
Joan fell silent. The expressions on all their faces looked like people who had lost their souls.
What is it? Another Dark Mage? Did someone finally make it all the way here and cast mind control on everyone? I wish they’d cast it on me too, so I could use it as an excuse to quit. Why are these people, who were trying so hard to kick me out of the Director’s chair until two years ago, all trying to resign now?
As befitting someone with the title of Archmage, she went through countless thoughts and complaints in a matter of seconds.
“……”
Something was strange. How should she put it? Even if it was daytime, wasn't it a bit too bright? Did someone cast a Light spell?
“……”
There’s no way!
Joan kicked her chair back and stood up on her desk. Only then could she see past the staff members to what they were looking at through the window.
“……”
There stood a massive pillar of light reaching toward the heavens. And what that signified was very simple.
“……You damn Goddess!”
The Academy was already a mess because of the Dark Mages. Now, things were going to be a mess for the entire country.
On that day, the Goddess of Light lost one follower and gained one Holy Land.
Fortunately, the dungeon was sturdy. The hole just got a bit bigger, but the dungeon didn't collapse. But that was it.
“……”
Looking at our dear Mr. Altear—no, the pillar of light—stretching endlessly toward the sky, I emptied my brain and asked a question out of pure curiosity.
“Which is bigger? That, or the Sword of Light Daisy supposedly showed in the Holy Kingdom?”
“That looks at least twice as big, doesn't it?”
“Wow.”
So, Daisy swung something about half that size? I finally understood why the people who were desperately struggling and even siding with Dark Mages surrendered so quietly back then.
“The seniors at the library are going to be so pissed.”
I wasn't the only one who had given up on thinking. Princess Nea was also crouched down, staring at the pillar of light heading for the sky.
“That guy, he sure makes an artistic exit.”
“Maybe it’s because he was so unsightly while he stayed.”
“Is it okay to talk about a hero of the Empire like that?”
“I don't know. Hero or not, he’s dead now.”
There was no soul left in her drooping eyes. She was probably agonizing over how to report this to the Imperial Family.
…Honestly, I did feel a bit sorry for her.
I just reinforced some Holy Water with sorcery, and suddenly a pillar of light appeared. Then Altear, who was a Lich and a hero of the Empire, got hit by that light and ascended to heaven.
If she reported it exactly like that, would the Commander hurl curses at her? Or would he ask if she’d been having a hard time lately and send her to a psychiatrist?
While I was pondering that, I felt someone approaching rapidly. There was no need to be on guard, though. The only people who would come here were either the Romance Fantasy party or…
“It was you after all, Brother!”
The Heresy Inquisitors who had lost their minds to religion.
Marian was approaching with an ecstatic expression, as if she were on drugs. It wasn't just a figure of speech; she was literally drooling.
“……”
The sight was even more unhinged than I had expected, causing my brain to stall for a moment. Fortunately, I had been somewhat mentally prepared, so I was able to react quickly.
“All of this is the will of the Goddess.”
“Oh! Brother!”
At my words, her eyes shone even brighter as she drew closer. Even Marian, who at least looked normal on the outside, was terrifying. Among the Inquisitors behind her, there were quite a few brothers with very intimidating faces.
Seeing those men approaching with crazed eyes and drooling… at a glance, you could easily mistake it for a zombie movie.
“And the one who carried out the Goddess’s will is none other than Vi… Violet here.”
“…Me?”
Boradori, who had been frozen by the bizarre sight, snapped her head toward me.
“That’s right.”
She blinked as Princess Nea delivered the follow-up blow.
“Wait, hold on a second!”
She seemed to realize she had just been made a sacrificial lamb, but—
“As expected of the number one candidate for the next Cardinal!”
“Truly worthy of the one the Pope and the Saintess rely on!”
“Just what words did you hear from the Goddess to perform such a miracle?!”
It was already too late to escape the fanatical Inquisitors.