Chapter 66
Chapter 66
Chapter 66
EP18 - Over the Snow-Covered Ruins, the Christmas Bells Ring (11)
There was a "spirit."
│▽ㅇ)
He is a Spirit of the star called "scouting star".
Among them, He was a Spirit who enjoyed watching people who were exhausted or immersed in sadness.
Recently, Hiaka Academy was a popular restaurant.
He was happy because there were so many people crying everywhere. Among them, there was a family that He always visited. It was a family of four who had moved in about last year.
│▽ㅇ)
As the Spirit inferred from the conversation.
At one time, this family of four lived in the capital, but they seemed to have lost their home and ended up on the streets due to the wife's surgery debt.
The husband decided to move. Because the Hiaka Academy's sewage treatment facility paid well.
In the meantime, the husband had a younger sibling with a severe mental illness, so he brought him along. And there was a child, 10 years old, with medium-length hair.
In short, it was a family dependent on one husband.
That husband was hit by a fragment of 『Meteor』 and lost consciousness.
He was lying down, bleeding profusely from his head, but the hospital ward was full, so there was nowhere to go.
The family lived in the most affordable slum in District 2 to pay off their debts, and the unconscious husband had to receive treatment at home. Then today, the healing Magic user said that they should start preparing. For the husband's death.
"It's all your fault!! If you hadn't gone out to play and gotten hurt...!"
"What do you know to shout so loud? What have you done while this guy was like this? You're just a parasite stuck in a room...!!"\n\n│▽ㅇ) Haha\n\nThe wife and the husband's sibling started fighting and crying almost every day, and it didn't end for days." They attacked each other at every opportunity. Next to the dying husband.
In the midst of it, the child was dazed.
The child just sat in front of his dad with a blank expression, then went outside and walked around the neighborhood.
When he went outside, there was a snowy ruin.
Even though it was called the cleanest case of defending against 『Meteor』 by foreign media, there were places where buildings were destroyed and people died. It was here.
The child walked through the ruins with a blank look. He went to the destroyed school and then to the park he always went to. It was all destroyed. He even fell in slippery places because of the snow.
Then, he returned with soggy steps and just blankly guarded his dad.
│▽ㅇ) ....
The Spirit thought it was strange. Humans usually cry when they are sad, and kids even more so.
│▽ㅇ)a Why isn't He crying?
But the interest soon faded. There were too many interesting things to focus on one strange kid. It was time to go see other families.
│ …(ㅇ▽ㅇ)
In the pouring snow. Snow piled up on the shoulders and foreheads of the Professors.
"77 hours, 51 minutes, 32 seconds..."
Professor Dante, who stepped forward in front of thirty Professors, opened his mouth.
"We initially planned for 72 hours, and we judged that it would obviously be insufficient."
The 1,200 Students looked up at Him with their mouths shut.
"The Professors tried to fill in the insufficient parts. But surprisingly, you exceeded the Professors' expectations. So we decided to wait a little longer."
It was said to be a final exam that had never happened in history. The reward for it was also the same.
There was a rumor that this final exam was recognized as a specification just by participating, and the Students had to take care of their livelihoods in the midst of the confusion. That was the reason why everyone risked their lives and jumped into [Illusion Magic].
"This is a tree completed solely by your hands."
But it was a difficult three days, and everyone made the tree with blood and sweat. Isn't it expanding and reaching high into the sky now?
Professor Dante calmly praised their hard work.
"It's truly wonderful."
Then He continued.
"As you know, Hiaka Academy has had a difficult time not only in Illusion Magic, but also in everything. I won't talk about the difficulties. Everyone will be feeling it."
Under the sparkling giant Christmas tree.
The expressions of the Students darken.
"But, if we look down on us from a high place, Hiaka is just a one-time fall. The road doesn't wait, so Hiaka must get up and walk on its own."
Dante thought. This is a way for the player to renew national morale.
"May you continue to grow into trees."
Only with that intention.
"Our Professors will light the fire on it."
With those words, Professor Dante raised his hand.
At the same time, other Professors also raised their hands.
All of them raised their arms in sync like machines, and the Students felt an inexplicable chill in the midst of the consistent movement.
All the Professors flicked their fingertips.
Ttaak!
The time is exactly midnight.
An amazing thing began to happen.
Light burst from the bottom of the tree and continued in a row. It quickly climbed the giant Christmas tree and reached the top of the tree. At first glance, it seemed as if a cluster of light reached from the ground to the sky.
Then, at the top of the tree, a pattern of 「Peacefulness☮」 symbolizing peace and recovery was created. It was as if a star had been created in the dark sky. This was also the manifestation of a super-giant [Illusion Magic] that could be 2,000m.
At the end, Professor Collider shouted.
"Merry Christmas―!!"
At the same time, the bell hanging in the center of the pattern began to ring.
Daeng ─
Daeng ─
Daeng ─
In front of such a fantastic landscape.
The Students were overwhelmed with intense emotions.
The bell rang throughout the Academy.
* * *
The Royal Council Chamber was devastated.
An unimaginably enormous tree that completely ignored perspective. It was emitting a faint light in the night sky.
"Oh, no!"
"How can this be...!"
The distance from here to the Academy is a whopping 25km. It is a distance where even the statue of the Imperial Emperor, which is more than 400m high, cannot be seen. Even if there is a huge mountain range, it looks like a blurry hill.
However, the size of this tree, which is beyond common sense, was so large that it suddenly seemed as if a small tree was floating in the nearby air.
"I can't believe it..."
"How huge is it...?"
Finally, when the 「Peacefulness☮」 pattern, which was only faintly visible, was lit at the top of it, the shape of the tree became clearer.
It was a surprisingly elaborate [Illusion Magic], even to the ignorant Council members.
The moment they thought they didn't want to see it, the giant tree began to blur in front of their eyes.
Even the Council members who didn't know much about [Illusion Magic] knew that much. How advanced the formula is contained in [Illusion Magic] that adjusts to the caster's will like this.
At this moment, Ezekiel, who saw the scenery for the first time, also felt a thrill.
That was definitely level 9 [Illusion Magic]. Moreover, the skill had almost reached its Limit.
Dante Hiacapo, what the hell is that bastard...
Ezekiel regained his senses and checked the reaction.
As expected, the Council members were all overwhelmed. Of course, that's understandable. Even if you bring a dragon next to that tree, it's just a fly. Just the size alone would be a feeling of witnessing an otherworldly strangeness.
But surprisingly, in the midst of this, the King was expressionless, which made Ezekiel uneasy. Even if all the people of this country are moved. If that great King is not impressed, it is useless. Hiaka was a country where the King's personal power was so overwhelming.
While waiting for his reaction and voice with an anxious heart.
"Hmm―"
The King opened his mouth.
The mouths of the ministers and Council members who had been making a fuss were shut.
"Ezekiel."
A stern voice.
"Yes. Your Majesty."
"Initially, what did you say your purpose was?"
"Yes. That is a giant Illusion Magic with [Scalability]―"
The King raised his hand.
Ezekiel bowed his head.
"I am ignorant of Magic because I am a warrior. Please speak a little easier."
"...I apologize. All the Illusion Magic users in this land can add their own Illusion Magic to that Illusion Magic. I want to entrust them with the decorations of the Christmas tree."
"The reason?"
"Because it is an Illusion Magic that can attract the attention of the entire continent in itself. As the scale of the event is large, I want to show that Hiaka Academy is still alive, even a little more."
"How long will that tree last? What is the investment status?"
"Yes. Head Professor Kain invested 10 million Hica. The faculty side invested an additional 20 million Hica. Therefore, it is expected to last about 7 days."
"7 days."
The King began to stroke his golden beard. Then He fell into thought.
The words that will come out of his mouth from now on will be the conclusion of this meeting. Ezekiel, who sensed this, held his breath and listened.
Was it because he was so nervous? The answer that came back sounded strange.
"I guess we don't need a kingdom ordinance."
His heart sank. He doesn't need it? Is that all he's been doing to get just that one thing?
"...Yes?"
He asked back in a shrill voice without realizing it.
We can make the pan expansion even bigger."
"Yes? Ah. I'm sorry, Your Majesty. What do you mean by making the panel expansion even bigger..."
"If it were me. I would be willing to take an Airship to see that even if I were on the opposite side of the continent."
"……!!"
Ezekiel was shocked when he finally realized the King's intentions.
Ezekiel and Dante, the faculty, only wanted this event to spread throughout Hiaka.
The King has decided to make it known throughout the continent!
And that was truly reasonable!
He couldn't dare to say it out loud, but in fact, Ezekiel had been hoping for that.
That giant Illusion Magic was an astonishment in human history itself!
"Council member Hadel."
"Yes! Please give me your orders, Your Majesty!"
"The Council member should send a letter to the Imperial Hattengrad Academy."
"Yes!"
"Also. Council members Vitali, Koran, and Yushin should consult with the ministers right now. Invest 300 million Hica from the royal family to increase the duration of that Illusion Magic. And launch temporary tourist facilities near District 9. By royal order."
"Yes!"
"I will follow your orders, Your Majesty!"
Tourist destination???
Ezekiel's jaw tightened as if it would burst.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
The King did not answer. But once the floodgates were opened, it felt like everything was starting to open up.
Imagine. What would be the reaction of those arrogant Empire guys when they see that?
What about those Kreutz guys who are convinced that they have destroyed Hiaka's [Illusion Magic]?
'Battalion, you son of a bitch!'
He heard that He received a huge reward from the Kreutz royal family for taking away all of Hiaka's Illusion Magic?
That ungrateful bastard has to spit out what he ate!
It's hard to control the corners of his mouth just imagining it. A tingling sensation ran down his waist.
'Dante, you bastard!'
All of this was a miracle born from the fingertips of just one Professor Dante Hiacapo!
Ezekiel felt like he was going crazy. Pretty bastard! He's the prettiest bastard in the world! Right now, Dante was prettier than his granddaughter!!
"Your Majesty."
Then one of the Council members opened his mouth.
To the King, who was admiring the tree with a blank look.
"What is it."
"I apologize, but is there a slogan suitable for this event?"
"Slogan?"
"Ah, I'm so sorry. It's such an urgent administration, so I have to ask when I can..."
"A prayer for Hiaka."
The King answered without hesitation. It was a truly appropriate slogan in light of the current situation, where Kreutz was avoiding responsibility for the Assassination War and Hiaka was just a country that was helplessly attacked.
"And add that Head Professor Kain made it."
"Yes!"
Then, something seemed to come to mind.
The King smiled, tearing his dragon-like mouth.
"At this time, let's also request a peace conference with the Empire."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
At that, another wave of joy appeared on Ezekiel's face. If it's a peace conference, wouldn't the King of Kreutz also come?
"Ezekiel. Can you bring that Head Professor Kain to the conference?"
"...Ah, yes!! It is possible with the royal family's accompaniment. If Your Majesty allows me to wear a mask..."
"I understand. Send that guy to the royal family when the conference date is set."
"……."
At that moment, the Archmage Ezekiel imagined it. Professor Dante performing tricks at a gathering of kings from various countries. Even in front of the King of Kreutz himself, who invested hundreds of billions of Hica in Illusion Magic!
"I will follow your orders. ……."
So Ezekiel's mouth didn't close. He kept mumbling because there was something he wanted to say. Should I say it? Should I not?
Should I say it, should I not say it, should I say it, should I not say it…….
But, how can I say it?
"……."
……Please take me too!!