676 – 8. Will (50)
The manifestation of the magic trick was dramatic.
Pitch-black mud overflows from the midday sun. The ominous magic flowing down the hemispherical border soon completely isolated the inside from the outside.
I could no longer see the sky. The clouds floating in the air descended like a gloomy fog, and only the ominous blood-red lighting was reflecting light and creating shadows.
A scene as if the area near the academy were a cemetery in the middle of the night.
At this point, even those who were ignorant of forbidden magic could not help but notice it. Something was wrong, and the Academy faced another crisis.
However, the chaos was not immediate.
Most students held their breath and chose to look out the window like small animals hiding in a burrow.
However, it did not take long for the amplitude of the anxiety to increase. This was because soon people were seen rushing through the campus in a hurry.
“Gather at the conference hall!”
“Where are the representatives of each country?!”
Knights of the Empire, monks of the Holy Kingdom, professors of the Academy, etc.
The real power of the academy was in motion. Furthermore, among them were people whose names were widely known, and their expressions were all filled with bewilderment. It was conclusive evidence that this situation was unusual.
And one of them was me.
As soon as I sensed any abnormality, I immediately rushed out of the temple’s intensive care unit. When I looked up at the sky, I saw a gray sky forming on my retina.
It was a sight I had seen somewhere before.
When I entered the inside of the ‘Vampire’ barrier, I remembered feeling something similar to this. Although the density of magical power and the perfection of the barrier were such that comparison was impossible.
It wasn’t particularly good news.
There are several types of techniques to isolate the inside and outside of a barrier. Among them, the barrier that creates an internal second dimension is the highest level, and the barrier of the ‘vampire’ belongs to this level.
However, the greater the gap with the outside world in ‘second dimension’, the more sophisticated techniques and vast magical power were needed. In other words, if there was not a great sense of disconnect with the outside world, the magic power used to maintain the barrier could be invested elsewhere.
For example, ‘durability’.
This was a part where a malicious arrangement was felt. I don’t know what the intention was, but it seemed like the magician of this barrier at least wanted to isolate the academy for as long as possible.
While the swordsman was chasing the Seven Sins outside the academy.
I ran through the campus, chewing my lips. As the swordsman was absent, it was unclear how much of the remaining power in the academy would be able to withstand the Dark Church’s offensive.
Because the Dark Church never fights a battle they cannot win.
For me, the most important priority was to ensure the safety of my precious people.
First of all, a saint.
“Lucia!”
With a bang, my foot kicks the door to the saint’s office, and the door bursts open.
Originally, the saint’s office was located in the temple, but after she was recognized as a saint, she moved to the ‘Garden of the Sun’ where she had previously been staying.
For the earthly representative of the Heavenly God, the place used by the person in charge of a single temple is not suitable for the level.
It was a point where the changed status of the saint could be confirmed. Even though I was not at a level where the rudeness of kicking in the door could be forgiven, my reason had been paralyzed for a long time due to the sudden emergency.
More than anything, I wondered what the problem was between the couple.
As expected, several priests were already in the office talking to the saint. Of course, the conversation ended as soon as I appeared.
Only a middle-aged priest’s face turned red as if he was blaming me for my rudeness.
“Sir Ian! No matter how you act, such an unreasonable act is…… !”
It was a bruise that did not even reach my ears.
I immediately passed by the priests who were looking confused and hugged the saint.
The desk was across from him, so he was a bit hunched over. Still, her saintly warmth came through so well that I felt her sigh of relief.
“Wow?! Ian, what is this…… !”
“Lucia.”
Unlike the cute screams of her saint, my voice suddenly quieted down.
My heart was pounding with anxiety for no reason.
Is it because there are no swordsmen? Or is it because I can’t do anything?
Otherwise, the memories of ‘me’ from the future might be influencing me. However, I was only confident that today’s situation would not lead to an unusual ending.
There was no way the saint could not notice my feelings. Soon her woman’s words stopped, her wide-open eyes slowly lost their strength, and then I felt her slender fingers quietly resting on my back.
I gave the advice I deserved.
“After evacuating to a safe place, never come out.”
“Then what about you?”
The saint’s retort was sharp.
In any case, unless my body was completely healed, my military power could not make a significant difference to the situation of the war. Logically, it would be right for me to evacuate with the saint.
Still, I couldn’t bear to say that I would do that.
“I will evacuate only the people I know and return immediately.”
“Who on earth is more… ….”
“Where is Eindel?”
The saint did not answer the question she reflexively asked for a while.
She gave her a questioning look, then pursed her lips, but then she skipped all of her questions and just sighed softly.
It was the greatest expression of trust a saint could show. Because it meant I wouldn’t ask anything.
“Look into the forest south of the Academy. “Do you remember the place where we encountered the wolf demon during the hunting festival?”
How could I forget?
Emma almost lost her life due to the monster’s attack. I vowed revenge, and it was at that time that I began to believe in love letters from the future.
The magical beast that was hunted at the time was named ‘Intestinal Collector’.
It was a strange coincidence. Or, it may not be a coincidence but an inevitability.
“Patriarch Eindel has been investigating the place for some time. He used to be there all the time, so maybe…….”
“Thank you. See you later.”
I stormed out of her office before the saintess even finished speaking. It may have been because she was anxious, but also because she was afraid of the saint’s subsequent interrogation.
If the saint tried to stop me, she didn’t have the confidence to shake off that touch.
What I had to do after that was simple. All I did was run like crazy and repeat the same thing.
Fortunately, Shien heard that she was escorted by an imperial knight to the conference hall, and Lia said she was running a store outside the academy in the first place, so she did not have to worry.
Now all that’s left are those that no one will care about.
For example, a daughter who was abandoned by her family.
My steps headed straight toward the old temple located on the outskirts of the academy. After ‘Alpenhauser’s Golden Fortress’ burned down, it was the temporary base of the Alpenhauser family.
There was a person there just as I expected.
Siene Alpenhauser, a woman who was once called the sun of the Alpenhauser family.
Now, he looked miserable, having lost half his face, an arm, and an arm.
Nevertheless, she was guarding this place alone. In the ruins of the forest, where dozens of patients were groaning.
It was a stupid thing to do.
Senior Siene’s military power was almost non-existent. Even if she protected the old temple alone, it was common sense that resistance was impossible.
But the woman remained here. She was absurd.
It was such a foolish decision that it was hard to believe it was a choice made by ‘Siene Alpenhauser,’ who was called the monster of reason and rationality. But on the other hand, I also thought that she really was like ‘Senior Siene’.
The senior Siene I saw was not someone who simply considered profits and losses. She was a human being made of flesh and blood, angry, afraid, and withdrawn.
When I removed the bandage that covered half my face that night, I was convinced. Perhaps she will never abandon Senior Luna.
My guess was right.
“…… Ian Perkus?”
The dazed voice and incomprehensible look returned.
She was a senior in Siene who had been reluctant to memorize my name, but recently she started calling me by my real name properly. Does this mean that she has become that much closer to him?
It was not a problem to worry about now.
I sighed softly and tried to persuade senior Siene.
“Sir, this place is dangerous.”
Despite the quiet warning, Senior Siene showed no sign of wanting to leave.
She just stared at my face blankly for a while, then slowly turned her head.
The gaze was naturally sliding downward. Toward her twin brother, who was still sweating and acting wild.
“I guess so.”
A simple admission is scarier than a desperate denial.
It was the same as saying that there was no room for persuasion.
So I had no choice but to smile bitterly. Maybe it was because I was overexerting myself from running here and there, but my heart was pounding.
Isn’t it a bit weird to go through this much effort and not achieve anything?
“You must go back.”
“Where?”
“To a safe place.”
“I don’t think that’s the place for me.”
There were no gaps in the flowing Q&A. It was proof that I was confessing my thoughts without hiding anything.
“This is where I need to be.”
“You mean these ruins?”
“Isn’t it similar to mine?”
Meanwhile, senior Siene fiddled with the bandage that covered half of her face. She had a gloomy expression.
“Becoming useless, abandoned, no one cares…” Who will stay here if not me? Also, who takes care of them?”
“Wasn’t the old temple’s defense barrier repaired some time ago? I don’t know how long the abnormal situation will last, but at least you don’t have to worry for a while…….”
“It seems like my uncle has decided to set up a confrontation with me.”
Gwaaah, a moan naturally came out of my mouth.
For some reason, I thought he had a very melancholy look in his eyes. It seems that after the last argument, Dalton decided to completely isolate senior Siene.
Just now, look.
Senior Siene was left alone here. According to common sense, it was nonsense.
No matter how dangerous a place is, if there is a direct descendant of a famous family, there is bound to be a guard, but even so, no guard troops were seen here.
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Honestly, it was a sight that I couldn’t understand.
Although Dalton was the powerful person of the family, Senior Siene was the current family head’s biological daughter. It was hard for her to believe that she would have the power to do whatever she wanted in a place where her life was at stake.
Why on earth?
There was no time to think deeply about this. This was because Siene senior let out a deep sigh before that.
“My uncle gave up defending this place as soon as the incident occurred. Even though you know very well that I can’t give up on Luna…….”
Even so, does it make sense that there would not be a single guard left?
Hardly suppressing the rising doubts, I slowly walked forward and stood next to Shiene-senpai. She wanted to experience her vision.
A pale complexion and heavy breathing.
Senior Luna was still unable to wake up from the nightmare. Her face, which is distorted from time to time, only tells of her pain.
Even I, who only had a short relationship, felt sympathy for me. What must have been the feelings of Senior Siene, who stayed by Senior Luna’s side every day?
After being lost in thought for a moment, I immediately shook my head. It was because I thought that even imagining it might be rude.
After struggling like that for a while, I finally had no choice but to spit out the sad truth.
“You know… “The fact is that even if Shiene-senpai stays here, nothing will change for her.”
“Even so, I can’t leave Luna like this… “I’m sorry, she came here on purpose.”
He said this while scratching the ground with his toe as if he was truly sorry to me. It was a strangely obedient attitude, but even so, Senior Siene seemed to have no intention of breaking her will.
My impressions after seeing this were simple.
Severe condition.
Looking back, it was worth it. It was unfair that he suddenly became paralyzed, but he was abandoned by his family and even lost the power to dream of revenge. It must be a feeling of losing the meaning of life.
So you might be clinging to the last remaining duty.
To my other half who has been with me since birth, my twin sister who has been like the sun and moon my whole life.
She was a woman who could not even properly reveal her naked eyes to the world. I wasn’t cruel enough to tell him to give up even the one remaining stubbornness he had.
Then there is only one option left.
In an instant, senior Luna was on my back. It was not the result of encouragement or coercion. On the contrary, Senior Siene looked bewildered by what had happened so quickly.
It was my choice. This was the only means of persuading Senior Siene.