Athena gently caressed the crystal orb, while Mari still wore a bright smile. I asked them for some time alone.
Surprisingly, they both agreed without hesitation. With satisfied faces, they promised to return in the evening.
Thus, I found myself in my dorm room, alone.
I walked straight to my bed and collapsed onto it without looking back.
I should have been at the academy by now, but I couldn’t muster the motivation to go.
“Ha…”
I simply couldn’t shake off the heavy worries in my chest.
[What’s wrong, my disciple?]
While I was lost in my thoughts, a familiar voice echoed in my mind.
“You’re here again…”
[…Yes, I do tend to linger sometimes.]
“Really…?”
[Hmm… Not quite. But anyway, what troubles you so much?]
Clearing my throat a few times, my teacher asked.
For some reason, it felt like she was skirting around the issue… but maybe it was just my imagination.
Anyway, that wasn’t what mattered right now.
“Ha…”
I let out another deep sigh.
What was I even supposed to do?
Being alone again, ominous thoughts began swirling around me once more.
The worry that was twisting my chest was that all the information from the original work had fallen apart.
The fact that the Demon King, who should have been waiting for the hero in the Demon Realm, suddenly invaded the academy was a painful shock to me.
I had completely deviated from the original story.
If that was the case, then all the future knowledge I possessed was effectively useless.
It meant that it wouldn’t be strange if the Demon King invaded at any moment, and that it wouldn’t be strange if a war broke out either.
In my anxiety, I unintentionally bit my nails.
Yesterday was so hectic I couldn’t think much about it.
But I couldn’t hide this uneasy feeling deep down.
What if the people I loved end up dying because of me? That thought terrified me.
‘…I need to think… Why did the Demon King attack first…?’
Gripping my head, I fell into a spiral of despair.
Could it be that Athena changed into a figure of justice, causing some change to happen?
Was it because Lily, who became a hero, decided to invade first since she reached the Grandmaster level…?
Or was it due to Sephir’s betrayal…?
If not that, then…
‘…This feels futile.’
I lamented inwardly.
Even if I knew the reason, what could I do about it?
I didn’t have strong willpower like other protagonists, nor did I have the wisdom to devise plans. Could I really protect this world without any help from the original work?
Originally, the novel was supposed to head for a happy ending. All the misfortunes that deviated from the original were brought upon because of me.
In the end, it was probably my incompetence that led to this situation.
Once more, vicious anxieties began to torment my mind.
…Because of me.
Because of me, people…
[Disciple.]
“Ah.”
The call from my teacher brought me back from my thoughts.
Noticing a sharp pain in my hand, I looked down to see that I had bitten my nails so hard that blood was oozing out.
…Here we go again.
I thought I had gotten better, but once the engine started, my anxiety flared up again.
I had heard that mental illnesses only worsen, but never really get better. Was that really true?
[Why don’t you share your worries with your teacher? What’s making you so anxious?]
“…I’m scared.”
When my teacher remained silent at my words, I buried my face in the bed and spoke in a feeble voice.
“The world is becoming increasingly dangerous, and yet I can’t do anything… I’m so scared of losing my precious people like this…”
They had become more precious to me than my own life.
Even if I were to get hurt… I would never… NEVER allow them to fall into danger.
But despite that will, what could I possibly do?
Right now, the only hopeful path I saw was…
To gather people and charge into the Demon Realm.
Striking first before they could make a move.
But now, even that didn’t feel certain.
What once seemed sufficient to me now raised doubts.
What if the Demon King’s army was stronger than before?
What if there were hidden forces lurking besides the Demon King?
Now that I confirmed that the original had gone awry, I couldn’t trust anything from the novel anymore.
[Why not have a chat with the Goddess?]
After some contemplation, my teacher cautiously suggested.
“Huh? Is it even possible to meet her if she wanted to?”
I grumbled at my teacher, slightly irritated.
Now that I think about it, when I first met her, she also told me to ask the Goddess about the heavenly beings.
It’s not like it’s a neighborhood police station. How could I meet someone whose voice I could barely hear, like the Saintess?
[But you can meet her.]
“…Huh?”
My teacher’s voice sounded as if she read my mind.
[I’m talking about the Goddess. What’s stopping you?]
I was taken aback by her nonchalant tone.
…Wait, what?
Could I really meet her?
For real?
*
A lively and laughter-filled Regis Academy.
But in Class B, an endless heavy silence reigned.
And it was all due to just two girls.
“……”
Ariel was deeply immersed in a book that had no writings or illustrations, merely a black cover, while Iris stared vacantly at an empty seat.
From morning until lunch, continuing until now that classes had ended, they hadn’t exchanged a single word, maintaining an icy silence.
With such a silent display from the most influential girls in the class, the other students were left with no choice but to keep quiet, glancing nervously at them.
Thus, no laughter had echoed throughout Class B all day.
“Ariel looks really scary… Why is the Saintess so down?”
“What if they hear you?! Don’t say that.”
“Seriously, at this rate, I’ll wither away too…”
“That’s true.”
Unable to endure the atmosphere, a few students quietly murmured at the back of the classroom.
Other students probably shared similar sentiments toward those two.
Just when everyone sincerely wished for their mood to lighten, the classroom door creaked open, and a savior appeared.
“…Sera?”
Ariel was the first to speak, breaking her silence.
At her words, Iris’s eyes widened as she turned to face the door.
A girl with chestnut hair, capturing the attention of the students, entered, gasping for air.
Sera. Despite her small frame and cute face, she exuded a peculiar charm, making her rather popular. She was panting at the classroom door.
Seeing her, Ariel and Iris dashed forward.
“Hey… Sera, what on earth happened?”
“Tell us everything right now!”
Sera awkwardly smiled at the two forthright girls approaching her.
“Uh… Well… I don’t really have time right now…”
As she said that, she urgently grabbed Iris’s hand and continued.
“More importantly, Iris, can you help me with something?”
“Huh…? What is it…?”
Iris stared blankly at Sera’s grasped hand before replying.
“Um… I don’t think this is something we should talk about here. Do you have time now?”
“Yes! I can make time! If it’s for Hera, I’ll…”
Iris realized her gaffe and looked around in a panic after her unwittingly enthusiastic response.
But thankfully, no student seemed suspicious, allowing her to let out a sigh of relief.
“Great! Then let’s go somewhere quickly.”
“…Sure!”
The gloomy atmosphere just a moment ago vanished, replaced by the blushing excitement in Iris’s expression.
However, contrasting with her, Ariel stared at Sera with darkened eyes.
“Sera… don’t you have anything to say to me?”
“Ah… Ariel…”
Sera, startled by Ariel’s chilling voice, quickly regained her composure and answered.
“I’ll explain everything… I just need to go with Iris for a bit.”
“…..”
“I’m sorry. If you wait just a moment, I’ll be right back.”
With that, Sera took Iris by the hand and raced out of the classroom.
And just like that, Ariel was left alone in the classroom.
She gazed blankly at the spot where Sera had been standing moments before.
“Of course… I’m weak…”
Muttering to herself, Ariel gripped the book tightly in her hands.
A book with an entirely black cover.
Aside from lacking a title, it seemed fairly unremarkable.
But if one looked closely, they would find a very small symbol tucked away in a corner.
A minuscule emblem that was scarcely visible unless one squinted hard enough.
That symbol was…
An inverted cross, a twisted and ominous emblem representing the Goddess Church.
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