136. Strict Bishop
136. Strict Bishop
Somehow, daily life had returned.
Though repeated invasions had left things a mess, it was only a serious incident for me personally; aside from the second event that had thrown the entire stadium into chaos, very few students had actually been directly harmed.
Nevertheless, the large-scale incidents that had occurred over the past two months were enough to make students who had believed the academy was safe feel anxious, and several students had either dropped out or applied for a leave of absence.
Of course, there were far more students who did not.
First, while incidents had broken out, at worst there had only been injuries, and no students had died.
When the Hunting Festival was invaded, one professor had been brutally murdered by a Demon Archbishop, but it had been neatly packaged as something like 'dying while protecting the students.'
One of the biggest reasons the current atmosphere held was that the well-known children of so-called powerful families—the Five Pillars, the Student Council President, the Newspaper Club President, the Swordsmanship Research Club President—were paying absolutely no attention at all.
If the children of ducal, marquis, and count households weren't bothered by it, then even if the children of baron and viscount households felt endangered and made a fuss, they couldn't openly voice such concerns.
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After returning to the academy, while explaining what had happened, I ended up recounting the most critical parts of the investigation.
Killing two Demon Archbishops—that was the kind of deed for which the Pope might summon you and grant you at least one more holy relic.
"So... the ones who invaded the academy were all from the same group, and you went out and finished off a few of their bases so they couldn't even spare any attention for the academy anymore?"
"Yeah."
"And both were places where those... Demon Archbishops who attacked the academy during the Hunting Festival were based?"
"That's r—ow, ow, ow, ow, ow."
Before I could even finish speaking, Liber pinched my cheek.
Liber, who had questioned me about Amy's brief disappearance as well, seemed angry after hearing the full truth of the incident.
"You said you were just going to be questioned. I didn't know it would be that dangerous... And then to secretly come back and take Amy away too... Isn't that too much?"
"It wasn't particularly dangerous. Both times, the investigation dragged on, but I handled them quickly."
"That's your story as a Master. Amy, who went with you, is still an Expert. I've fought that Demon Archbishop too, so I know how dangerous those bastards are."
It seemed the fact that I had only taken Amy with me was bothering her.
By now, she seemed to have definitely realized that there was no need to worry about me.
"Amy has many areas where her demon expertise surpasses even that of the inquisitors. She's a very strong kid."
"Strong... don't give me that."
When I told her that she surpassed even inquisitors, Amy giggled.
Still, since everyone had returned safely, Liber didn't make a big fuss.
I really had gone and cleaned things up quickly, so she seemed to be thinking internally that perhaps it hadn't been a big deal after all.
"Amy, the same goes for you. You should have at least left a note. Do you know how worried I was when you suddenly couldn't be seen all day?"
"Augh... I'm sorry..."
Amy, having her cheek similarly pinched by Liber, flapped her arms.
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When we finished our training and came down, the academy was abuzz.
"Hey, hey, people from the Papal State are coming!!"
"They said a Bishop-nim is coming??"
"They said Holy Knights are coming too!!"
"Are they planning to start a war here??"
Seeing the regular ferry approaching in the distance and the articles posted on the bulletin boards, the students all headed toward the port.
Hearing that a Bishop was coming, I recalled the information the Saintess had passed on.
It was the story that the Papal State had decided to dispatch people to protect the academy from demons.
"A Bishop is coming, huh."
Amy flinched in surprise at the news that a Bishop was coming.
"A... A Bishop??"
"More people from the Papal State are coming to the academy? There's already a church here. There are even inquisitors and Holy Knights..."
"One of each, right? For the two of them to look after the entire academy, they'd each need to split into about five bodies."
It wasn't that the people stationed at the academy were lacking in skill, but considering the recent events, it was true that one of each wasn't enough.
"Shall we go watch too?"
"We have a gap in classes today anyway, let's go check it out."
"Ugh..."
Everyone gathering to wait for the regular ferry to arrive reminded me of the time the Sword Saint had entered the academy.
The ship, equipped with an Orien Drive, emitted a low hum and safely arrived at the port.
Then, an elderly man disembarked from the regular ferry, holding a staff bearing the church's symbol high into the sky.
"Welcome. We are honored to receive you."
"You welcome me so warmly, I hardly know what to do with myself."
When had he arrived? The Headmaster had come down and was conversing with the old man.
A total of twelve people had disembarked from the regular ferry.
Eight Holy Knights equipped with swords and maces, followed by three inquisitors, and a single Bishop leading them.
It wasn't the splendid attire worn during services in the Papal States, but his garments looked extremely solemn and neat.
"Whoa... so imposing..."
"Atlas, could those people be...?"
"You saw correctly."
Amy whispered to me while looking at the people who had disembarked from the ferry.
Since she had said she frequently traveled to and from the Papal State, it seemed many of the faces were familiar to her.
"What secret story are you two whispering about?"
"It seems they didn't just send ordinary Holy Knights..."
"What do you mean?"
"The Holy Knights are wearing long red cloaks over their armor. Doesn't that look very familiar?"
The cloaks, deep crimson as if stained by gushing blood, stood out remarkably against their pure white armor.
And we had seen those often.
"Uh... the coat Amy wears?"
Liber pondered for a moment as if it felt familiar from somewhere, then pointed at Amy.
"Right. That's the same material as the coat Amy wears. It's an incredible item—extremely strong, tough, and resistant even to demonic energy."
I myself didn't own a single item made of anti-demon cloth.
Squite's Armor was also quite powerful, but assuming a fight against demons, it couldn't compare to anti-demon cloth.
"Cloth imbued with an anti-demon aura isn't something just any Holy Knight can wear. Especially anti-demon cloth large enough to drape like a cloak... You could probably buy a small castle with a piece that size?"
"...So the one Amy is wearing is also that expensive?"
"Wouldn't it be?"
"Mine wasn't bought with money."
When Liber and I both mentioned the price and stared at Amy, she waved her hands vigorously.
Of course, it was a joke.
I already knew from what I had heard before that most of her equipment consisted of treasures earned at the risk of her life or items obtained through fortuitous encounters.
"Anyway, getting back to the point... if they are Holy Knights who can wear cloaks made of anti-demon cloth that size, they've sent the highest-ranking Holy Knights available for dispatch to other countries."
"...They're likely as skilled as the elite forces protecting the Papal State. Looking at their insignia... they seem to be from the Red Flag Holy Knight Order."
"Red Flag? That name sounds rather revolutionary."
Considering that the academy was a place targeted by Demon Archbishops, they hadn't come in large numbers, but it was certain that elites had been sent.
Professor Buckingham, watching the incoming inquisitors and the Bishop, had turned completely pale.
Though the Shadow had guaranteed his safety, the fact that he had acted as a demon's pawn seemed to keep pricking at a corner of his heart.
"Their arrival is reassuring, but also extremely unsettling."
"Isn't that a good thing? With that many inquisitors around, even if a demon tempted you, you'd be too scared to do it."
"Since they've come as representatives of the Papal State, they'll have their dignity to consider, so they'll be incredibly zealous about it.
But being zealous isn't always a good thing, you know."
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A short while later, all the students were gathered in the grand auditorium.
The auditorium, which hadn't been used since the day of the entrance ceremony, was packed and bustling with people for the first time in ages.
I thought we would just see them off and that would be it, but they said they had something to say and made everyone gather in the auditorium.
"If a single Bishop shows up and it's this much of a spectacle, the whole place would be flipped upside down if a Saint or the Pope came."
"Since Bishop-nim has come as the Pope's representative, it's only proper to treat him with the utmost respect."
What on earth did they have to say that they'd summon the students like this? It made me incredibly uneasy.
'I wonder what kind of dreadful things that old fossil is going to spout.'
Once it seemed all the students had gathered, the Headmaster appeared on the platform.
"Recently, there have been disgraceful incidents at the academy.
As some of you are aware, the academy is currently being targeted by devil-worshipping heretics.
I have acknowledged that our previous methods are insufficient to respond to them.
Fortunately, the Papal State has taken this matter seriously and has dispatched esteemed individuals to protect the academy, so I hope everyone welcomes them with joyful hearts.
Now then, please come forth."
As naturally as water flows, the Headmaster used honorific speech.
The Headmaster, who never used honorifics toward any professor at the academy.
"Greetings, students. I am called Peter, and I hold the position of Bishop in the Church."
When the Headmaster stepped down, the old man who ascended the platform introduced himself as Peter.
He wore a seemingly amiable smile for the students, but his face was covered in wrinkles that made him look stubborn.
"So his name was Peter."
"You know him?"
"I've seen him a few times, but it was always just in passing, so we've never spoken."
The Pope, the Saints, and the Saintess knew that I was part of the Shadows of the Empire, but those at the Bishop level did not.
Bishop Peter was someone I had only run into a few times when I went clad in my Shadow armor to converse with Saint Macinto.
"He'll be a good person. A great cleric who doesn't engage in corruption and vice, cannot forgive evil, and cares for the weak. That's the kind of people who rise to be Bishop."
"Then why does your expression look like that?"
"Just looking at his face, you can tell he's an exhausting person to deal with."
Bishop Peter, standing on the platform, began his speech.
"Unfortunately, it seems I must start with some bad news.
This is a fact that cannot be ignored, no matter how hard one tries.
The academy is being targeted by demons.
The academy is receiving an invasion from hell!
However, to all of you who carry the future of the Empire upon your shoulders, I make one promise.
As long as I remain at this academy, no demon will dare to bring harm upon you students.
But with fewer than fifty people, there is a limit to how well we can protect you.
Therefore, I propose instituting a light Code of Conduct at the academy, of the same intensity as that of the Papal State, to prepare against demons."
'A Code of Conduct, my ass....'
The mere mention of a 'Code of Conduct' already made my head throb.
"A Code of Conduct...?"
"This old fucking geezer has lost it..."
At the powerful phrase "Code of Conduct," the auditorium buzzed with murmuring.
The atmosphere was something like, 'Just who does a Bishop think he is to restrict our behavior?'
"Then, the first... all forms of injustice within the academy are hereby prohibited."
At that bombshell statement, surprised murmurs erupted from all directions.
The most shocked were the exam admission students.
Because they were always the weak ones singled out as the targets of injustice.
"Demons are highly adept at worming their way through cracks in the heart. And in a gathering of peers like the academy, nothing creates a crack in one's heart so effectively as unreasonable injustice."
To the exam admission students, constantly tormented by the recommendation admit students, it was as if a savior had appeared.
They were aware of the mood right now and couldn't openly show it, but the fact that someone capable of saying such things had arrived made the exam admission students excited.
Well, that much was fine.
"And the second... the prohibition of impure heterosocial interactions."
The second statement was even more of a bombshell than the first.
"Due to the nature of demons that worm their way through cracks in the heart, the emotional changes caused by heterosocial interactions easily become targets for demons.
Impure heterosocial interactions shall be strictly forbidden."
Looking below the platform, the professors looked like they were hearing this for the first time as well.
A prohibition on heterosocial interactions, seriously.
Did they think this was a monastery???
"See? Didn't I say just by looking at his face that things were about to get annoying?"
"Wow..."