Chapter 170
"Alright then, everyone. Summarize the information we've gathered."
The one shouldering the concerns of the teachers was none other than the crown prince... Eric Seincle, but he wasn't acting recklessly to the extent they feared.
Eric first unified all the investigation participants and assigned them roles suited to their abilities.
Then... he managed all the information collectively. Upon discovering anything suspicious, he had them report immediately without approaching it, and only after thorough preparation did they deal with it.
"Prince Eric! One of the cherry trees in the schoolyard is extending its branches and attacking people!"
"One of the investigation team members was attacked and had their blood sucked. They were rescued by other members and have returned. They've already received treatment and are in no danger!"
"Alright, let's head out immediately!"
Most of the participants were engaged in investigation and information gathering.
When encountering the actual anomaly, a subjugation team led by Eric was assigned to deal with it.
"Alright, let's go! Don't fall behind!"
"You're the one who shouldn't do anything reckless, Vincent-senpai!"
Vincent Flame grinned wildly, holding a greatsword in his hands.
The intelligent boy with glasses... Will Rileis followed behind.
"Alright, let's beat it! Once this battle's over, Reina-chan's gonna let me rest on her lap!"
Of course, Luei Biscuit was there as well.
It was the usual four-member team of capture characters.
Reina, the heroine who was supposed to be there, was absent... but a girl who was a student council member had joined them.
She was a first-year girl who had joined the student council in Reina's place.
"Alright, let's go, everyone! We'll save the academy with our own hands!"
"Don't get in the way, Will, Luei!"
"Who are you talking to, Vincent-senpai?"
"Hmph! I'm gonna be the star and get praised by Reina-chan!"
The five of them rushed to the scene.
There stood a cherry tree blooming red flowers even though it was already autumn, its roots and branches writhing like tentacles as it attacked students.
Though it was a cherry tree rampaging while scattering beautiful petals... Eric quickly realized the color of those flowers was the color of blood.
One of the Seven Mysteries of the Academy... 'Death-Summoning Cherry Tree'.
"Don't let those tentacles catch you—they'll suck your blood!"
"Hold out until reinforcements arrive!"
The surrounding students kept their distance, avoiding the tentacles and attacking with bows and magic.
"Everyone, fall back!"
"Your Highness...!"
When Eric called out, the students' faces lit up with relief.
Eric and the other student council members were the academy's top-tier elites with the highest combat ability.
With few exceptions... there was no one who could defeat them.
'Ooooooooooooooooooooh!'
From the Death-Summoning Cherry Tree came a voice filled with resentment.
According to the gathered information... beneath this cherry tree was buried the corpse of a female student who had fallen in love with a male teacher.
That female student had been in an affair with the male teacher and became pregnant with his child.
The male teacher, who had a wife and children, strangled the girl to death to protect his family and career, and buried her beneath this cherry tree.
The Death-Summoning Cherry Tree was imbued with the girl's grudge.
By sucking human blood and absorbing nutrients, it was trying to give birth to the child it carried.
"If this tree had obtained enough blood, the devil's child might have been born... Looks like we made it in time."
In Eric's line of sight was a red-black sack hanging from the cherry tree.
Veins ran across its surface, and it pulsed—it was the fetus the girl had been carrying.
In order to give birth to that child, the Death-Summoning Cherry Tree had been attacking students and drinking their blood.
"I truly sympathize with your plight... but as the student council president, it's my duty to protect this academy!"
"Eric! It's coming!"
Vincent called out in warning to the sentimental Eric.
The next moment, the Death-Summoning Cherry Tree lashed its tentacles toward the student council members.
'Oooooooooooooooooooooooh!'
"Dodge it, everyone!"
Eric dodged the swinging tentacles. The other members narrowly avoided them as well.
"Kyaah...!"
However, the girl at the rear was caught.
Eric immediately rushed over and sliced off the tentacle with his sword.
"Are you alright?!"
"Y-Yes... Thank you, Your Highness...!"
"Don't worry about it... Fall back and focus on healing. We'll take them down!"
'Oooooooooooooooooooooooh!'
"Haaah!"
Eric fiercely swung his sword.
Vincent stepped forward and cut down the tentacles, Will provided cover with magic, and Luei supported the team with auxiliary magic while aiming his bow at the sack hanging from the branch.
"Got youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"
'Oooooooooooooooooo...'
Seizing an opening, Eric slashed the center of the cherry trunk with a sword imbued with magic.
At the same time, Will's magic scorched the sack.
The cherry tree cried out in resentment as it was engulfed in spreading flames.
"I'm sorry... Please, rest in peace."
Eric offered words of sorrowful condolence to the pitiful girl's spirit.