TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 201
Hanna had a dream, a dream to repay the kindness she had received so far.
It was a dream to repay the kindness, no matter how small, that she had received.
Hanna wanted to repay the kindness that had unraveled the tangled thread that she couldn’t have untangled on her own, a kindness that had been given to her without expecting anything in return, and she was grateful for the hand that had been extended to her, even though she was ugly and had no special talents.
What could she give in return?
How could she repay the kindness?
Hanna had thought about it a lot, but she couldn’t find an answer, because there was nothing she could give as a member of a household who had left her family.
So Hanna was desperate for her wish.
-It’s probably not possible with the Academy, anyway.
-I’m sorry.
-No, I’m the one who made an unreasonable request.
For the first time, Hanna wanted to grant the request that Butler had made to her, a request that she still remembered even though it was their first meeting.
And she felt a sense of inadequacy because she couldn’t grant such a simple request.
So Hanna drew her sword.
She stood calmly in front of a stronger opponent, took a deep breath, and held her sword.
Hanna drew her sword to put her words into action and to grant Butler’s request.
That way, she could repay Butler’s trust, even if only a little, and Hanna began to harbor fear and fill her sword with it.
*
Chartia had one misunderstanding.
It was the misunderstanding that Academy students were strong.
It was a misunderstanding that had arisen without anyone realizing it, as the public had high expectations and the graduates had achieved great things, so Chartia had thought that Academy students were strong.
And that statement was true.
The Academy was a group of rookies with talent within the Empire, a group of students with various talents such as swordsmanship, magic, healing magic, and divine power users, and they had easily overcome the hardships that came their way.
Although the ball had been disrupted by the Cultists’ Raid, Chartia thought that this time would be different.
At that time, it was an unexpected moment, but now they knew who their enemy was and were prepared, so Chartia thought they could win.
Chartia had been anxious to regain the Student Council’s lost honor, or perhaps it was because they were narrow-minded, but Chartia had forgotten that their perspective was limited.
The presence of the Heretics had corrected Chartia’s arrogant thoughts in an instant.
You are weak.
You are just a Greenhouse Flower.
Chartia had thought that even if they couldn’t win, they could at least stall for time, but they had lost without being able to put up a fight.
-Professor Shulia.
-Why did you call me?
-Can you come with me for a moment?
-Hmm… should I try to keep up?
-Yes?
-I’m really quick to catch on, you know.
-Professor.
-Can we stop pretending now?
It was a moment of great change, as the Disciplinary Members fell like dry tree branches with just a slight gesture from Professor Shulia.
Chartia couldn’t come to their senses as they saw the Disciplinary Members fall with just a light movement.
-Khuk…!
-You think you can catch me with just this?
-Fight with a clear mind!
-You’re underestimating me too much, I gave you generous grades, but I’m disappointed.
The sight of the Disciplinary Members, who were known for being strong in the Academy, falling without being able to do anything, was filling Chartia with great fear.
The air was filled with Killing Intent.
The atmosphere was filled with Death’s Aura.
The drops of blood that were scattered everywhere proved that this was not a Training Grounds where they could receive preferential treatment, and there was no Professor to stop the fight.
If Chartia had known this would happen, they would have asked the Professor for help and subdued them together, but Chartia had made a hasty decision to move first to regain the Student Council’s honor.
Regret was swirling, and fear was filling Chartia’s mind.
With a ‘puk’ sound, Chartia’s abdomen was pierced by Professor Shulia’s hand.
Professor Shulia was smiling.
-Do something, don’t just stand there.
-…
-This isn’t fun, I was expecting you to come at me with more enthusiasm, but this is boring.
As Professor Shulia licked the blood on her fingers, Chartia realized why they had been able to fight without fear during the previous ball.
-There are two Archbishops, and I’m alone.
Chartia realized why they hadn’t been pushed back when facing the two Archbishops, why they had been able to fight without fear.
It wasn’t that the Archbishops were weak.
It was that Professor Shulia was overwhelmingly stronger than them, and Chartia only realized this after feeling the pain of being pierced.
-Kkakka…!
Chartia saw Professor Shulia’s gaze, which was filled with Killing Intent, and her leisurely movements as she fought with her bare hands were crushing the Disciplinary Members’ will to fight.
Rohan, the Head of the Disciplinary Committee, who had swung his sword with confidence, was now looking down, his sword trembling, as he couldn’t meet Professor Shulia’s eyes due to the overwhelming difference in strength.
As Professor Shulia’s elegant movements continued to draw a red line, aiming to take her opponents’ lives, Chartia began to feel fear towards the Heretics.
*
After blocking Hanna’s attack, Professor Shulia was wiping the blood off her hand with a look of interest.
“You’re really from Histania’s bloodline, aren’t you?”
With a ‘swish’ sound, Professor Shulia’s sharp fingernails, coated with Dark Magic, barely missed Hanna’s face, and Hanna gritted her teeth and swung her sword.
Professor Shulia dodged Hanna’s sword by slightly bending her waist and smiled.
“See, you can dodge this too.”
Professor Shulia was smiling, showing her interest, as she sent a glance that said ‘you can dodge this too’.
“I guess it’s true that a person becomes who they are because of their good parents.”
“Shut up.”
Hanna was attacking Professor Shulia with a fierce determination, her face stern.
There were voices of admiration for Hanna’s martial arts skills among the fallen Disciplinary Members.
“She’s winning…!”
“She’s beating that monster…!”
“Was Hanna that strong?”
Although the voices of excitement and admiration for Hanna’s strength were ringing out, Chartia knew the truth.
“Do more.”
“Huu…”
“Do more, show me everything you’ve got, don’t hold back.”
It was clear that Professor Shulia was the one who had the upper hand in this fight, as Hanna’s breathing was getting rough, while Professor Shulia’s breathing was calm.
The powerful attack that Hanna had launched with a ‘puddak’ sound wasn’t even able to push Professor Shulia back.
Chartia knew that if they didn’t help, Hanna would lose.
Chartia wasn’t the only one who knew this fact.
Mikhail was slowly drawing his sword and focusing, trying to find an opening to attack.
Chartia was also preparing magic in their hand, enduring the intense pain in their abdomen.
“We have to endure.”
Chartia thought that they had to hold on until the Academy’s reinforcements arrived, and that’s the only way they could find a glimmer of hope in this desperate battle.
The tide of the battle was starting to shift in Professor Shulia’s favor.
“Hanna, you’re really interesting.”
“I don’t care about your praise.”
“You’re really amazing.”
Professor Shulia clapped her hands, smiling.
“Your hands are pretty too.”
“…”
“And your face is pretty too.”
“…”
“You’re so captivating that I want to have you.”
Professor Shulia smiled, her eyes gleaming with interest, as she began to darken her fingertips, and an eerie energy began to spread quickly throughout the Academy, causing Mikhail and Chartia to take deep breaths and prepare their magic.
As Hanna’s body began to be pushed back with a “thud” sound, Mikhail and Chartia started to launch a fierce attack.
It was the first time the three of them were working together.
For Mikhail, it was his first time fighting alongside Hanna.
With a sense of elation that they might be able to turn the tide of the battle, just as they were gaining momentum, Shulia smiled eerily and said to the three of them,
“Don’t you know what kind of professor I am?”
The moment Shulia’s voice was heard.
-Kkaaaa!
A horrific scream began to echo in the ears of the three.
It was chaotic.
The eyes of all the students in the stands were rolled back, and they were biting and fighting each other, while Shulia smiled and began to speak slowly.
“Come down and die.”
As Shulia spoke, the students started to come down to the arena, staring at Mikhail and Hanna with a zombie-like gaze.
Shulia disappeared into the crowd, saying,
“Now that I think about it, I haven’t introduced myself.”
“Archbishop of Curses.”
“That’s my name.”
An impenetrable darkness began to engulf the Academy.
*
Ruin was unable to do anything.
The Academy students were coming down from the stands, and Hanna and Mikhail were busy fighting them, but Ruin was powerless to help.
“What’s going on?! Why are you all like this?!”
The students with weak mental strength were being swept away by Shulia’s magic and weren’t listening to Ruin.
‘Thud!’ A student passed by, hitting Ruin’s shoulder, and Ruin just stood there, watching as they rushed towards Mikhail and Hanna.
-Try to stop them!
-I want to, but I…
Mikhail, who couldn’t bring himself to hurt innocent people, was struggling to focus on the fight as he tried to avoid the students’ attacks.
Hanna, who was preparing to use her secret technique, was being constantly interrupted and was unable to fight effectively, leaving openings for Shulia to attack.
Ruin’s presence was not helping at all.
In fact, it was more of a hindrance.
The pure malice emanating from the scene was terrifying, and the selfishness of sacrificing others for one’s own goals was making Ruin anxious.
The fear of the Archbishop’s presence was overwhelming, and Ruin couldn’t shake it off.
Hans was different, though.
Was it the effect of Professor Shulia’s magic, or had Ruin just become a coward?
Ruin couldn’t shake off the desire to escape from the battlefield.
Ruin wanted to run away.
-Try to stop them! We can’t do anything like this! Just kick them away!
-…!
-This is ridiculous!
Ruin wanted to stand still like a scarecrow, but the fear of being swept away by the attacks was too great.
“No… ”
Ruin needed to calm down.
-Thud.
Ruin’s footsteps were already taking them away from the battle.
One step.
Two steps.
Ruin was retreating, overcome by fear.
Go ahead and call Ruin a coward.
That’s fine.
Because…
Ruin wanted to run away.
Ruin turned around and ran towards the exit, bumping into people and knocking them down as they went.
After running for a while.
A ‘thud’ sound and a woman’s short scream could be heard, and Ruin stopped, looking down at the woman on the ground.
“Hua… it hurts…”
When Ruin saw the woman’s face, their eyes began to tremble violently.
The woman had pink hair.
Ruin didn’t want to see the woman who used healing magic to help others in this state.
The woman looked up at Ruin and said in a trembling voice,
“…Ruin?”
Ruin.
“Damn…!”
Ruin passed by Yuria and ran away.
It was embarrassing.
Humiliating.
But Ruin was too scared.
So Ruin ran.
After running for a while, when Ruin finally reached the exit.
Ruin saw the backs of the students who were running away and finally realized what they had done.
“Damn.”
Ruin turned around, wanting to go back to the battlefield to help.
It was too late, but Ruin wanted to try.
Even if it would be a burden, Ruin wanted to help, and they tried to overcome their fear and move their legs.
But.
Ruin was already too late.
A bright light began to shine in the center of the arena.
As the familiar mana emanated and a sun-like radiance descended.
Ruin let out an empty laugh and looked down.
“What am I…?”
The hero had arrived.
The old man Ruin respected had already put an end to the situation.