Chapter 82
Louisa begins to unleash fierce attacks with her dagger, while the other two professors, Paula and Lucen, support her.
Unable to break free, Jagan falls behind, and as time passes, his wounds worsen.
Louisa’s blade is tinged with a crimson aura.
If she were to make a big mistake and cut deeply, it would take a long time to recover. Damage had to be minimized.
Artelion, Alicia, and Leon initially tried to intervene in their fight, but they only maintained a defensive stance and retreated a step back from direct combat.
They couldn’t help it.
The achievement shown by Louisa’s true abilities was etched in their eyes, and they were not confident they could assist.
Even Alicia, a mad genius, Artelion who would later be called the Swordmaster, and Leon who charged in without a second thought, all felt it distinctly.
They were still too young.
If they were to join in recklessly, they would only become a hindrance.
Squelch. Remnants of the shattered inner wall writhed like living insects under the blows of Louisa and her group, crawling up to the ceiling.
The ceiling, which had been gaping wide open, was now restored to its original state.
Realizing her diminished importance, Alicia hurriedly approached Nickel, who was lying nearby, and cast a healing spell on her as she breathed heavily.
While Liam was casting a healing spell nearby, his condition was far from good, and his output was low.
Barogan watched from a distance.
The situation was easily discernible from her appearance. Nicola showed serious symptoms of mana deficiency.
Even if she received proper emergency treatment, she might be able to survive, but it seemed inevitable that there would be side effects.
Liam’s eyes were empty, like those of a person who had lost their mind.
While it seemed like he was making an effort for Nicola by tightly holding her hand, viewed from another angle, it was for his own sake.
If Nicola were to meet her end here, Liam would crumble to a point where recovery would be nearly impossible.
The weight on Liam’s shoulders, already heavy, was different from before he entered here.
The bodies of former colleagues who had turned into corpses were scattered around. Ophelia, Lucayel, and Harryana. Not long ago, they were alive and dreaming of the future.
Nicola’s survival was his only lifeline.
Kwoong–!
Louisa’s sword clashed with the scythe of the sickle, producing a loud noise. Mana exploded like sparks, echoing in all directions.
Time left until liberation.
Approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds.
The expression on the sickle’s face darkened.
Exerting all his strength, veins popped on his temples as he gritted his teeth. Relentless attacks from the professors.
The sickle’s right arm was severed.
Crackle–!
With one arm gone, the balance he was barely maintaining was shattered in an instant.
The sickle’s remaining arm was quickly cut off, and his throat was threatened.
Watching this, Bargan pushed the power of the red gemstone ring he was wearing to its limit.
The ring was an artifact from Shugenhardt’s warehouse, a Grade 3 item, yet it was disposable.
Its effect was a temporary amplification of mana.
Bargan needed to temporarily boost his mana reserves using the power of the artifacts.
Only Bargan was preparing for the current situation.
There was a time in a novel when the sickle’s life was in danger like now. Liam might have known, but at the moment, he had no concept of focusing elsewhere.
“….”
Erica, who was standing near Bargan, noticed as he began to push the power of the artifacts to the limit.
She said nothing. She just observed him with sharper eyes.
Just before the sickle’s throat was about to be cut by Louisa’s crimson blade.
Swish–!
Behind the sickle.
A distortion in space similar to Erica’s warp magic occurred. However, the form was strange. It had an open mouth like that of a creature, with teeth inside.
“I could have done more! I didn’t yield to such things!”
Hundreds of white hands like children’s flock surrounded the sickle and dragged him into their mouths.
Contrary to his words, the sickle did not resist.
Judging the unfolding situation, Erica tried to discern who was behind this action.
“Warp magic? No, that can’t be. The nest’s interior and exterior are disconnected. While it might work internally, contact from the outside should be impossible!”
As if in response, black hands enveloped all the companions’ bodies similar to the sickle’s situation.
What emerged from the ground like tattoos, running up the legs and then tightening around the neck, perfectly controlled their movements.
Even Louisa, who had been beating the sickle, couldn’t break free from the black hands and shouted, “Are you pitifully trying to escape?”
Louisa understood the current situation.
She was part of the group of “superior entities” under Jagan’s authority.
With eyes full of life, she shouted towards the dark space like a wide-open mouth.
Although Louisa was clearly speaking to Jagan, those eyes were aiming for something deeper.
“Kkuuuhhh—!”
A burning sensation surged within Louisa.
Even if she squeezed with such force that her muscles felt like they would burst, except for her mouth, every part of her body did not follow the brain’s commands, as if paralyzed.
She seemed to be missing the Archbishop she had caught.
This way, she couldn’t avenge the students who had lost their lives!
—Kwad, thud.
Her muscles and flesh began to tear apart.
It was because she was trying to force her body to move under pressure.
“Have you completely lost your mind? If you continue like this, your whole body will bend and become a ball.”
Jagan spoke lightly, almost mocking.
Though it was frustrating to be pushed this far, she could seize the next opportunity and annihilate them.
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Time was on Jagan’s side.
There probably wouldn’t be such a situation, but if they were to grow to a point where they couldn’t handle it, then when they weakened. Waiting for the time when they became vulnerable.
He chuckled.
Jagan smiled.
“It’s a shame. Let’s meet again later. I remember everyone here. I will definitely devour all of your bodies.”
It was a curse and a trace that Jagan imposed on them.
A determination not to leave those who made him like this as they were. Injecting fear into them, worrying about the death they might face at any moment, trembling in fear for the rest of their lives.
For her, everything was entertainment, and people were toys. Her liberating power was absolute.
Jagan searched for the man who had greatly contributed to plunging herself into this state with his eyes torn horizontally.
If there were no incidents where they couldn’t be released as absurdly as this time, there would be trouble…
“Alicia, lend me Nyas.”
“Young master…?”
Thud.
It was the first time. Jagan could see in his eyes the emotion of being genuinely surprised.
No matter how much magical power one may possess from birth, they were still merely a young child with a bright blue hue, even the strongest female professor with strong muscles here.
Even the female professor wearing a large hat, likely possessing various knowledge in magic.
They could only mumble with their mouths shut.
That’s all they could do.
It was the power of the “Chugugyeong.”
It was the authority of one of the pillars of the Goddess Church.
Even the strongest warrior would turn into a mere child in front of Chugugyeong.
It was a power so mighty that with a small gesture, numerous lives would turn to dust, and mountains would turn into plains.
“To reach the level of Chugugyeong-grade magic, one must become…!”
When he raised the blue sword, a brilliant light burst out as if resonating with the red gem ring.
The dense blue smoke surrounding him begins to transform.
The smoke, which had a strong blue hue, turns transparent as if concealing its traces.
Jagan had only seen that figure once before.
Forty years ago from now.
When he captured the moment the man known as the current headmaster of the Academy was casting magic. The same sensation as now had alerted his skin back then as well.
Invisible.
Only a distinct presence firmly established there.
He knows what that realm is called.
Other archbishops on the battlefield had commented upon witnessing the man’s achievement.
– He’s a human who has attained the transcendent rank of mana. That guy is dangerous.
Thud.
His ominous footsteps spread through the nest.
With each movement the man makes, the skin feels as if being compressed, pinched, fingers even bending backward.
What astonishes Jagan is not that he can move despite experiencing such pain.
It’s simply the fact that he can move. In itself.
Thud -.
To think he can approach with just ‘such minor damage.’
The man raises the corner of his mouth.
Far from being grim, a sense of cruelty emanates from his noble expression.
Just like mere toys. A single tribe of humans.
Rather than bowing his head, showing such a sight to the archbishop…?
It’s not proper…!
This… this isn’t right.
“Wait a moment… Just wait there for a moment.”
Jagan could muster a voice of ‘urgency.’
She had been holding it in for some time.
Her arms have all been severed, unable to wield the judgment sword.
It’s impossible to use mana. Having depleted all the mana she had until liberation, there’s no energy left to use a mana sword, even amidst impossibility of regeneration.
Even if she tries to resist with her legs, the white hands pulling her back obstruct her movements. The means to escape have become obstacles simultaneously.
“Stop… Stop… I said stop!”
The man does not halt his steps.
Approaching right in front, he raises the sword high.
Though there’s still no sign of any mana flow, a vast amount of mana is present there.
His lips curl.
He doesn’t make a sound, but his expression speaks volumes.
– Sending one of Amon’s underlings like this.
Why would you mention the name of the Archfiend…?
There couldn’t be any humans who know his name.
Fear is etched on Jagan’s body.
Will I die like this?
Me? The Archbishop, will I die?
In a place like this? Me? …Me?
“S, Save…”
Words that had been heard countless times from Jaghan’s mouth escape. The word was the one Jaghan liked the most, a word so familiar that it became nauseating.
Jaghan, who enjoyed watching the pitiful ones’ faces contorted in fear while sneering.
“Please… save me.”
Now, she herself had become one of those pitiful beings.
Swoosh⎯!
The sword comes down.
The red ring shatters.
00:02
2 seconds before Jaghan’s release of power.
Finally, everything is completely settled.
“……”
As Jaghan’s throat gurgles and the space that was open as he gasped closes, the white hand returns inside all at once.
Bargan meets the eyes that had been observing everything from inside. Those eyes are fixed on Bargan.
Whether out of interest or not, soon, they turn into a crescent moon upside down.
They greet him.
***
The night of injustice, where everything is settled, and I return to Academia.
I am resting in the sickroom.
Although I temporarily ascended to the pinnacle of magic power with the help of the rings and Nias, the authority of Archmage Belred was formidable.
Later, it was natural to have bruises all over my body, and there were significant parts where flesh was torn. Blood vessels burst, and there were even dislocations.
Since I forced myself to endure with the overpowering magic power in an incomplete state, these traces remained.
Seeing Alicia wailing and being treated with flattery, I sent her back to her room almost as if I were shooing her away.
…Come to think of it, Erica, despite not liking her, came as a fiancée or something similar. I never thought I would see that side of Erica.
Other people came too, but these two were the most impressive.
According to the professors, all four bodies, except for the one wearing a Tophat which was a Bishop-level entity, had exploded.
The only one who managed to escape was very quick and the situation inside the nest was urgent, so they missed him.
Anyway, that aside.
“I obtained the First Judgment Nullifier.”
The Judgment Nullifier is a weapon like a part of the bodies of Archbishops and above Altifs, which is somewhat different from the concept of bringing the item itself.
I looked at the artifact Nias, now turned black.
Its usual clear color had become murky.
When Jaghan’s throat was cut, she absorbed her Judgment Nullifier.
This is also the reason why Liam used Nias, a second-grade artifact, until the end in the novel.
Although the spirit had died and its power had diminished, it gained enough power to offset the Archbishops’ attacks.
Unfortunately, it cannot use the abilities Jaghan had, but its limits and power have increased significantly.
By now, Nias, feeling stifled inside the sword, is asleep within it.
After a few days, the sudden surge of strength will stabilize, and he will wake up from his sleep.
As he was contemplating his future plans and upcoming schedule,
Drroooom—!
A loud noise accompanied the unwelcome intrusion.
It was a pitiful protagonist wrapped in bandages.
“Quite the bold intruder you’ve become.”
Liam’s breathing was erratic. His eyes, swollen and red, seemed to have burst either from hours of crying or some other reason.
His eyes were swimming in despair.
“Coming to me like this without any sense must mean it’s either urgent or important.”
Liam was greatly affected by this incident.
One wrong move, and he might never get back up.
“…me?”
His murmured words were so muddled and weak that they were barely understandable.
Frowning, he waited and then repeated himself.
“You… you’re a possessor, right? …Aren’t you?”
Liam’s words carried a sense of urgency.
He continued, “You’re a possessor like me! Speak up—!”
Getting up from the bed, he hurried towards the distressed figure. Liam couldn’t seem to calm down, shivering as if from cold.
I let out a deep sigh.
“Cough…!”
I struck Liam’s abdomen.
Already badly injured, Liam crumpled to the floor in shock and writhed in pain.
Addressing that stubborn fellow, I knew I had to act faster than originally planned.
“Yes.”
I couldn’t just stand by and watch his absurd antics any longer.
“I come from the outside world.”