(Continued)
She approached right in front of me and spoke, her voice layered with an echo. That really is a luxurious helmet.
‘I take back what I thought about you being a good person.’
I gulped in disappointment. Either way, hard times are ahead. Am I really on the right path, continuing these club activities? With the *Glass Knight* blocking him, Dennis had no choice but to step back.
“..There’s still plenty of time, so think about it some more, Student Licht.”
The blue-haired man returned to his seat. When did he change the way he addressed me again?
Dennis didn’t have any other routes besides her, so I could relax.
“For now, I sincerely welcome all of you to the Magic Club.”
In any case, I had succeeded.
Staying close to Dennis like this would make it easier to establish the romantic storyline. After all, I still needed to prepare for the story of *Night Heart*. I sighed in relief.
“Thank you, Professor.”
“We’re in the same club now.”
Wait,
The distance between me and Mardoll had become subtly closer.
Come to think of it, she was someone obsessed with strength for some reason.
What was the reason again… I erased it from my memory because it didn’t make sense with her Mary Sue character.
“Good for you, Helmet!”
“Licht, you should never use magic. Be responsible.”
I decided to think about it later. For now, just dealing with these two bridge-builders surrounding me was exhausting. Since the Crown Prince didn’t have any specific coupling in the story, it should be fine.
“We’ll see about that later, Kainel.”
With that mindset, we all sat cozily in the clubroom, sharing snacks.
***
Click.
The sound of footsteps echoed.
A place where no light could reach—the underground.
While Licht’s group was meeting with Dennis, a secret rendezvous was taking place elsewhere.
“Oh my, hello, little lambs. It’s been a while since the war, hasn’t it?”
A woman with narrow eyes dressed in a black nun’s habit.
“Cardinal Beatrice, the day of prophecy is approaching.”
“I’m aware. But why summon me right after leaving the academy? I almost got caught.”
Until this afternoon, she had been teaching a class on Holy Dynamics as a professor.
Now, she stood in front of a group dressed in white robes adorned with the emblem of four swords.
“My apologies. The Hero gave final confirmation of the schedule just yesterday.”
“…He really has a gentle heart, doesn’t he? Are the numbers for the Book of Life and Death minimal?”
The pattern drawn in a # shape depicted swords of different colors.
The tallest of the group responded.
“Yes, everything is ready, Cardinal.”
“The fateful moment, as prophesied by the All-Knowing Hero, is near.”
She slightly opened her golden eyes and gave a twisted smile.
“I’ve already selected the hero. So naive, really.”
“Is that true? As expected of the Cardinal. You’re incredible.”
“I merely spoke the truth, and they didn’t even suspect a thing.”
A small laugh escaped her lips.
“Well, there is one bothersome person.”
“Who is that? Surely, the All-Knowing Hero couldn’t be wrong…?”
“Disgusting.”
Before the words were even fully spoken, the nun with blonde hair extended her hand toward the speaker.
“…Please mind your words. He wouldn’t make such a mistake, would he?”
“A-Ah… Cardinal, please forgive me..! Mmph! Urk! Mmgh!!”
The woman used her holy power to seal the man’s lips shut, molding them into one.
“Next person, please continue. I don’t want to hear such filthy words.”
Her eyes returned to their narrow state as she silenced the man. The chilling atmosphere caused the air around them to freeze.
At that moment, someone timidly raised their hand and asked Beatrice a question.
“Is it… is it the Ten Greats..? Has our plan been discovered?”
“No, I thought I saw the cub of a tiger.”
“If that’s what you’re saying, then…?”
“It won’t be a problem. We trust our Hero, who always does his best.”
She recalled the Black Knight she had seen during her lecture. The swordsmanship no one else had learned, Drake’s technique. He and her trusted Hero stood at exact opposites.
If anything, it would be an advantage, not a disadvantage.
‘Ah, the gentle grace of our Hero will soon return to this world…’
Her face was filled with ecstasy. Her chest ached as she clasped her hands over her heart, praying. Though her face reddened like that of a girl in love,
“I’m so glad I became a professor.”
Her eyes still did not smile.
“Thanks to the prophecy, it will be easy to capture the princess as well.”
“Is that true..? Cardinal?”
“Yes, it will be a truly tremendous gain.”
Now, the nun wrapped her arms around her shoulders, trembling with excitement.
“This time, we will succeed!”
“We won’t have to remain in the shadows any longer, will we, Cardinal?”
“Long live the All-Knowing Hero! Long live!”
Beatrice’s words ignited a frenzy in the room.
“It will happen. After all, there’s nothing he doesn’t know!”
With her arms spread wide, the divine light shone behind her, like a radiant sun. The eerie light created by the black nun signaled that something was gravely wrong.
“For the *Church of the Hero*, let us all give our best, little lambs!”
The short-haired nun finished speaking.