146. Clique Formation (2) (Article)
Beneath the cross, at the silver round table, a very serious meeting was taking place.
The number of people gathered here is at least 13 people.
One cardinal, three archbishops. The other nine were academy cadets.
There are many priest-type cadets attending the academy, but these are special among them.
“We must win the Great Festival.”
The thick voice of Cardinal Livius resonated in the hearts of the priestly cadets as if echoing.
“After decades, the god of light gave me a candidate for the saint. It must be a golden opportunity to raise the honor of the church.”
Archbishop Henry assisted.
This issue was so important that even cardinals and archbishops stepped forward.
When the Great Ritual is held, the work is usually handled by the Archbishop’s line. It just ended with joining forces to raise the honor of the priesthood, but this time it was very different.
that top.
This is something that Pope Benezio Adragones, the head of the Church of Light, is interested in. The existence of the saintess candidate was so important.
With the pope stepping out, of course, he became a cardinal, not an archbishop. The comment was changed to ‘the honor of the church’ rather than ‘the honor of the priesthood’.
The cadets were also summoned here, and the moment they saw the famous Cardinal Livy, they realized the importance of the situation. The vague ‘importance’ now has an accurate form.
If Livius had said that, there was nothing more to say.
It shouldn’t be considered simple. You have to stay alert.
Today, the large cross hanging on the wall felt even more intimidating.
“As the Holy Father expects, everyone please take heed. It is important.”
Livius said with his hand on the Bible. The toneless voice felt like reciting a prayer. The cadets swallowed and listened.
“In the great festival, unite around the candidate saint. They will grow on each other.”
“The most important thing is the safety of the saintess candidate. I hope you all keep that in mind.”
When Livius said a word, the other archbishops always helped.
They are the titans of the church that are hard to meet once. The commands he heard directly from them sounded like the voice of a god.
“Protect the candidate saint until the end, and help her get the trophy. The God of Light will be with you.”
“May the God of Light guide you.”
The cadets answered in unison.
All 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders paid attention to Bell, who was a candidate for a saint. The girl who is the ‘divine’ that they must protect.
The goal was simple and clear.
to win the bell. Bringing trophies to church.
It is a great festival held when there is a candidate for a saint. The level of mindset and aspiration was different.
Even the cadets carved their sacred mission into their bones.
Sparks fly from the eyes. Yes, this was more like a ‘hospital’ at the academy.
“Let’s pray.”
It is a prayer made under the leadership of a cardinal. Solemnity pressed against his shoulders, and piety welled up from the depths of his heart.
“Almighty god of light, today we have gathered here at your call… … .”
A golden aura rose above the cadets’ heads.
The flames of the temple began to burn.
In this pious moment, there was a man who sighed with one eye open.
‘It’s not funny… … .’
It was Belirusi, the center of everything.
As the prayer continued, Bell had other thoughts. She tried to have faith in her own way, but it didn’t work out as well as she had planned.
And to be honest, I wasn’t interested in how the Great War ended.
Rather, this kind of attention and excessive protection was burdensome. My breath is tight. I was wondering why I had to do this.
Do I really have to live like this? I thought about it dozens of times a day.
At times like this, there was one person that came to her mind as if it were seeping into her heart.
I don’t really want to see it, but I think about it.
Slightly embarrassed that I thought of another man at the foot of the cross, I shake my head and try to focus on my prayers.
‘Why am I like this?’
Why are you thinking of men during prayer?
The harder I denied it, the more I remembered the promise I made with that man. Belle was looking forward to that promise without realizing it.
‘Apple pie… … .’
Belle was more looking forward to the apple pie that Aren bought than the great festival.
Chew. I get hungry. what’s for dinner tonight I hope it’s delicious.
Bell pretended to be a very benevolent saint and secretly swallowed her saliva.
In the eyes of others, it is the appearance of an angel descending itself. sincere and sincere Just by looking at it, a sense of faith springs up.
Cardinals, archbishops, and cadets swear by seeing her like that.
Undoubtedly, the temple.
* * *
Boom-!
Magical firecrackers explode. Colorful dragons fly from the ceiling.
Unlike firecrackers made only with human technology, magical firecrackers can create moving shapes, so your eyes widen.
Where did Dalglish get such a thing? Hee hee, imagining that he picked the firecrackers with a smile is staggering.
“Congratulations! good job my son!”
“It’s a great festival, it’s the family’s honor. Not bad.”
“Congratulations to our baby too. Do well so you don’t get hurt.”
“yes. Thank you. mother.”
Father, sister, mother, and Shiana spoke in turn.
Something… … I felt a sense of incongruity in the flow of the conversation, but it flowed so naturally that I almost missed it.
‘My baby? mother?’
The conversation is something you would only hear in a relationship with a father-in-law, but this is a bit strange. Were your mother and Sianna that close?
Blackfire Mansion is always a place full of doubts.
“Aren. I was worried when I first sent you away, but I can’t be this proud as a father because you seem to be doing really well in the academy life!”
“haha. thank you.”
“Yes, work hard. I’m cheering you on from afar.”
Usually, don’t people come to see and cheer for things like this? Trying to be a bit sad.
In the middle of the noise, my sister Agnes comes over and speaks quietly.
“hey. What the hell are you doing outside?”
“yes?”
My sister glared at me, narrowing her fierce eyes. How to say… … . I felt something like living, but a cold sweat automatically ran down my back.
what did i do wrong
“There is Ciana, but there are rumors that she is dating a girl from the Abella family?”
“… … Yes?”
I thought, ‘Where did that story spread?’
“Ah-oh. Is that all? Why are you hanging out with the saintess candidate again?”
Annesek crossed her arms and interrogated me. It was a gaze that did not see me as a person.
“That, that… … .”
As for the saintess candidate, I also feel unfair.
But Sister Agnes didn’t even allow me a chance to explain.
“You Seriously, do it right. It doesn’t matter who you meet, just do one, really. Don’t ruin the family for nothing.”
Agnes took one shot of the white wine he had filled and shot at me. I thought that would be worrying about my younger brother, too, and moved on.
Still, I couldn’t help the dampness on my back. There was an instinct in my body to be afraid of Agnes, and for some reason I think I know why.
“Congratulations anyway. Cheer up.”
When my sister tapped me on the shoulder, my body stiffened. How severe is the real trauma… … ?
Anyway, the gloomy mansion was noisy for the first time in a long time. It was nice to see that it now looks like a house where people live. The attendants also seemed happy. Well, good is good.
There is food, alcohol, music, and family.
The celebration party for the Great Festival is ripe.
Siana sat down next to me, smelling of alcohol. The breath Siana exhaled was sweet despite the smell of alcohol.
“Aren, Aren! Shall we toast?”
“Siana. You should drink in moderation.”
“Yes. nah.”
Siana tilted her head and poured her glass. I had no intention of taking it off today, so I happily bumped into the glasses.
――!
“Yes, Aren.”
Shiana, who had been drinking and the tension had risen to the limit, gently gestured to me to put her ear closer.
“yes?”
“Areaeen. How’s the horn?”
Ooh, my ears tickle. Shiana blew hot breath into my ear as if playing a joke.
“horn? Oh, it’s itchy, but it’s okay. I am cutting it every day.”
And the horn was secretly passing it like food to the Paramelapa guy.
“Yes. That’s right. Haha, hot.”
Shiana touched the flushed cheek with the palm of her hand and moved away from me.
“Thank you for your concern.”
“Areaen. If it’s hard, tell me. i will help you Don’t go to the saintess… … .”
Shiana touched my forehead with slightly dilated pupils. It was the moment I thought, ‘Hey, I think you should stop sleeping.’
“Pooh… … .”
Cyana closed her eyes, leaned over to me, and buried her forehead in my chest.
“Oh, my baby girl has been drinking too much.”
“Aren. You take me to bed.”
“… … yes.”
While receiving teasing glances from my parents, I moved Siana to bed.
.
.
.
.
.
“Catchcha!”
Even though she was unconscious, Shiana was as light as cotton.
I hugged Sianna like a princess and carried her safely to the bed.
Siana was drunk and fell asleep with only chuimsin like ‘um yum yum’.
“How much did you drink?”
sleeping is cute I smiled and reached for the blanket to cover me.
“Huh?”
At that moment, my vision suddenly changed and I saw the ceiling.
“Poem, Siana?”
And a silver-haired girl who quietly poked her head out.
“Are you talking in your sleep?”
Even so, the focus is clear. Shiana is clearly staring at me.
“Aren.”
“uh… … ?”
A voice that can make you feel cold.
Shiana moved her lips slowly and whispered in my ear.
“Aren is mine.”
――!
“Oops… … !”
Before I had time to react, his soft, thick lips covered my lips.
At the same time, a soft object squeezed between the lips. eyes open wide
The sweet scent of wine warmed up to her body temperature and gently covered my tongue.
Just before her heart burst, she parted her lips. The liquid that connected me and her fell thin and long.
Shiana’s eyes were mischievous.
Could this really be the Ciana I knew? Why the hell is he doing this?
“got it? I can’t go anywhere.”
“Siana? Are you sleeping?”
The question remains unresolved. Because Siana fell asleep on top of me.
Was it an accidental act of drunkenness?
Her red eyes were too bright to say that. My head is complicated.
“ha.”
The moon is very bright. My lips were still wet.
My heart beat without even noticing. It was unclear whether it was my heart or the heart of the person lying on top of me.
* * *
There is about a month left until the start of the semester.
During that time, all the cadets participating in the Great Festival must be diligently honing their skills.
Neither did I.
As the demonization progressed, some inflation occurred in my power, but in fact, I was not reluctant because it was the power that held my life as collateral.
I have to develop my real skills, not depend on the power of demons. If I’m not careful, I might get drunk with that power and become weak without even realizing it.
When it comes to the grand festival, you shouldn’t buy even the slightest suspicion because of the magic engineering CCTVs installed everywhere.
The moment I use the shadow armor, I will be eliminated for cheating and taken to the royal court to be executed.
This time, I have to thoroughly overcome with my own strength.
So, during the vacation period, I plan to check my pure strength and develop it.
I went out to the small gymnasium of the mansion and started checking my weapons and powers one by one.
‘First of all, the holy sword.’
The holy sword that does not use divinity is a seemingly ordinary sword.
Divine power cannot be used while demonization is in progress, so this is not completely wrong.
Even though the horn tickled every time he wielded it, it was a level that he could endure without using divinity, so there was no need to stop training.
‘Swordsmanship training shouldn’t be off.’
Swords and black magic are my identity. Under no circumstances should you let go.
Necrotula
Windsorbing Tears
Torma’s Trial
Holy Sword Purifier
Purifier Leather Armor
purifier ring
Purifier Eight Tree Shield
Lumina’s Magic Cloak
Doombia’s 8-Hour Prophecy
Necrotula continues to use it, and is learning black magic. Windsorbing’s Tears was a bestseller, and Torma’s trials are also working hard to raise mana in my short battle.
‘I’ll have to leave the holy sword set to Hilda to inspect.’
Lumina’s magic cloak blocks heat and cold, and has the ability to dispel water attribute magic in addition to stealth.
It will be most useful when surviving on an island.
All that remains is Doombia’s 8-Hour Prophecy.
‘This is at the last minute.’
When I first got this artifact, the usage was already decided.
Overturning Diamon’s resurrection ritual is truly risking one’s life.
Even if it was me, it was obviously a big risk, and it was difficult to guarantee success because it was a flow that completely deviated from the story.
So, I was planning to read the Prophecy right before the highlight.
Even if it’s not the future I thought, I have to deal with it.
Item inspection is enough.
Name: Aren Blackfire
Gender: male
Age: 21
Personality: [gloomy] [aristocratic]
specialty:
＞＞＞＞＞
[Dark Magic] ―― Intermediate
[Black Fire: Spruce] ―― Intermediate
[Descendants of the Sword Saints] ―― 3 stars
[Destiny of Demon Worship] ―― Diamon 55%
└[Contract: Shadow Armor]
[Inner Eye Lv.2]
[Insight Lv.2]
[Magic Seal] ―― 50
＞＞＞＞＞
Stats: [Strength: 34] [Agility: 30] [Stamina: 31] [Luck: 1]
mana: [163/163]
Finally, I check my current status.
Change was happening slowly.
After the horns appeared, the percentage of fate of the demon worship was gradually increasing.
Perhaps the moment I reach 100%, I will become perfect as a vessel for Diamon.
Maggie grows bigger day by day, and the insidiousness that flows inside me only grows.
Dark circles are getting thicker, but the rest of the body is getting stronger. Magi can also be hidden.
Of course, it is only on the surface. In fact, it is rotting from the depths of my body. It was truly a body change that could only be seen in an exorcism movie.
I realize that I am dying every day.
But the more I do this, the more I have to make up my mind and become stronger.
To the extent that I can slaughter the demons with my skills.
‘Ackerman must be working hard too.’
I also have to train to a similar extent to the lung-gwan practice.
Status check is over.
This vacation should be pretty busy.
Write down your goals in detail in your notebook.
○ Achieve 70 Holy Sword Mastery
○ Descendants of the Sword Master 4 stars
○ Reach Advanced Spruce
○ Achieve an average stat of 35
It seemed like it would be really fast to achieve all of that. It was a lofty goal that could only be achieved by hunting monsters for a whole month.
still… … .
No worries.
Coincidentally, my training mate was by my side.
Shiana decided to spend three days a week at my mansion during vacation.
It’s something I asked for, but it’s also thanks to her stepping up.
Passing the certification exam and having more time in your schedule, you said you really want to help.
Well, it’s me. Thank you.
“Aren! Are you ready?”
“yes. I wish you well.”
“No, you won’t look at me!”
Shiana appeared with a tracksuit she didn’t know where she got it from.
He seemed to have decided to pretend he didn’t know what happened last night, so he greeted him as naturally as possible.
‘I’ll have to ask later.’
Do you remember what happened last night?
First of all, it’s from training.
From her facial expression to her outfit, Siana seemed to be sincere in my training and summoned something amazing right from the start.
“drake… … ?”
The silver Drake familiar was looking down at me with sad eyes.
Sianna, do you really have no intention of watching?
“Then Sijaak!”
I tasted hell this day.