Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Back to the Academy (4)
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Truthfully, when Marey first asked me to teach her the Heavenly Demon Death Beam, I never imagined she'd pick it up smoothly.
To use this Heavenly Demon Death Beam, one needs to harmonize sensitive mana and holy power with extreme control—something I figured only a talent like me could pull off.
And yet, she'd somehow succeeded in that short time.
Of course, she hadn't done it with flawless mana control like mine; she'd bulldozed through with overwhelming holy power.
“Wobbly?”
“Yeah, it's all wobbly now.”
Training together late into the night every day had brought me and Marey much closer.
We chatted casually as I checked the aftermath of her Heavenly Demon Death Beam.
A straw dummy utterly shattered.
In terms of raw power, it honestly surpassed even mine.
“Hmm, at this level, you could proudly call yourself a hero anywhere.”
“Hmph.”
I patted the head of a pleased Marey as I pondered.
The semester had ended smoothly, and Marey had made huge strides, growing into a proper hero.
With preparations like this in place, maybe it was time to set off on another adventure.
I approached Daisy, who was lounging in the corner of the training grounds, idly watching us, and nudged her.
“Think we're ready to head out on an adventure soon?”
Daisy, who had been yawning lazily, perked up at the word "adventure."
“Sounds good to me!”
She seemed eager deep down and agreed enthusiastically.
After that, I set out to round up the hero party members scattered across the academy.
“Homemade chocolate chip cookies for sale! Low-sugar for keeping that beautiful figure! Buy two, get 10% off!”
I first grabbed Laura, who was energetically selling her homemade treats while wearing a mask.
“Everyone, if we unite our strength with this beanstalk, we can surely reach the heavens.”
“Ooooh!”
“Imagine shooting arrows freely at the open sky above the clouds. Isn't it romantic just thinking about it?”
“That's awesome!”
I'd caught Vine by her pointy ears—ears that had been poking out while she was trying to take a photo with the students from the archery department as they planted a massive beanstalk—and dragged her out.
My last stop was the Holy Studies department.
Even though classes were over and it was vacation, the place was packed with students for some reason. They were all attending a prayer meeting led by Rainy.
Even the existing Holy Studies professors were listening in awe, so I didn't drag her out right away. I stuck around to hear a bit.
Just a little was enough to make my head spin.
Dressed in her pure white saintess robes, Rainy floated the Purifying Flame behind her and delivered a passionate speech.
“Brothers and sisters of the Holy Studies department, think carefully. Is the Church truly acting in line with its original purpose of following the Goddess's will?”
“No!”
“Then shouldn't we reform this rotten Church that's failing in its role?”
“Yes! Yes!”
“Long live Saintess!”
“Thank you. With all of you, we can uproot the rotten Church and build the world we dream of, where everyone is equal before the Goddess!”
“Woooah!”
“Fight, everyone! Cut off the cash that's propping up the evil Church elites' power and root out the hidden heretics within!”
“Yes! Yes!”
“To symbolize staining the earth with the blood of the rotten Church elites, we'll call our revolution the Red Revolution. Brothers and sisters of the Church with true spirit, unite! Fight!”
“Woooah!”
'Crazy.'
I'd been focused on training Marey and Daisy, so I'd somewhat neglected Rainy.
In the meantime, she'd been diligently spreading poison in the Holy Studies department.
No wonder the students there had seemed a bit off lately. It was all her doing.
I knew Rainy harbored strong negative feelings toward the Church, but before she could corrupt more students, I swiftly barged in.
I scooped her up in my arms and slipped out like the wind.
“Kidnapping the Saintess!”
“Kill him!”
The excited Holy Studies students gave chase, but their stamina was pathetic.
I successfully "kidnapped" Rainy and returned to where everyone was gathered.
When I set her down, she punched my shoulder lightly.
“Tch, why'd you grab me? It was the perfect chance to nurture young idealists for reforming the Church.”
I clicked my tongue at her malicious intent and said,
“Don't corrupt innocent students needlessly. We'll reform it ourselves.”
Rainy's eyes went wide at my words.
“We're going to the Church?”
I nodded.
With our new hero party member secured, all we needed now was the Church's official recognition.
Our party's skills had leveled up, and with the duke's house backing us, there was no reason to hesitate anymore.
“Great! Then let's go right now!”
Rainy, thrilled at the thought of flipping the Church upside down, took the lead—even though she usually hated walking.
I grabbed her shoulder.
“First, we need resignation letters.”
If three professors just vanished without a word, it'd leave the academy in a real bind.
For ethical reasons, we should submit them before leaving.
Personally, I'd never written one before, so I was a bit curious to try.
“Aigoo, professors, where are you going...?”
I'd imagined a graceful farewell, exchanging well-wishes warmly.
Reality was different.
The academy's administrative director greeted us with a bright smile, but his face went pale as a ghost when he saw the three resignation letters.
Trembling like he'd watched a gruesome horror flick, he asked in a quivering voice,
“Y-You're... joking, right...?”
“...”
“Professors, we'll do better! Please reconsider!”
The director wailed like he'd done drugs and clung to our pant legs.
“Sorry.”
I quickly decided, firmly shook off his hand, grabbed Vine and Rainy, and bolted.
Reality is so messy and sticky.
***
The director seemed ready to chase us to the end, so our group hurriedly boarded Vine's plant carriage and escaped the academy.
The journey from the academy to the Church was smooth sailing.
Both the academy and the Church were powerful organizations with strong control, so the roads were well-paved—no bandits or monsters swarming like flies on week-old bread in summer.
We enjoyed a relaxed carriage ride in peace.
With more people, the interior had expanded, and as we munched on the cookies Laura and Yumi had been selling—crunch crunch—the tension you'd expect from a hero party's journey was nowhere to be found.
“Nom.”
“Marey, you're eating well!”
“This cookie. Tasty.”
Marey and Daisy, on their first carriage trip with us, had already adapted and were chatting and laughing away.
“Night night.”
“Wake me when we arrive.”
Rainy and Laura, seasoned carriage travelers, knew sleep was best and quickly claimed a corner to doze off.
I was thinking of catching some shut-eye myself when Nania trotted over.
She perked up her ears and said,
“Ahem... Then Raden, let's sleep together too! I'm starting to need some essence...”
“...”
I stared at Nania blankly.
Had I been too lenient with her lately?
She seemed to think I'd fully relaxed around her.
Sure, as a party member, it was good she felt comfortable, but boundaries mattered.
In a quiet dorm alone, maybe—but not blatantly in a carriage full of people.
I lightly kicked away the sneaking Nania.
“No carriage action. You've eaten plenty lately; you've got reserves.”
“Tch.”
I ignored her smacking her lips in disappointment.
I'd have to watch out—she might sneak over while I slept.
***
How many days had we traveled like that?
In the midst of boring carriage rides and constant yawning, Vine came rushing over from observing the scenery outside.
“The Church! We've arrived at the Church!”
I checked outside right away and was impressed.
The Church was enormous, buildings plastered with gold and silver—wonder how much they'd fleeced from the faithful.
Rainy gazed at it with a mix of love and hate.
“I'm back, after all...”
The exiled saintess's flashy return.