<458 - The Secret Meeting of Oknodie’s Professors>
Compared to actually sneaking the Apostle of Anrage, this is just a mock test where a priest, who doesn’t even exist, got corrupted during the exam.
In martial arts terms, it’s like a monk from Shaolin summoned a hundred criminals for a duel and claimed to seduce them to his side using the Heavenly Demon Technique!
“Isn’t it childish to get serious about these petty arguments as if you’re some kind of god?”
It seemed like even the Northern Grand Duke was logically persuaded by my words, and he didn’t dig deeper into how such deeds could have been committed. Instead, he changed gears.
“Dark Priest. Are you threatening to unleash a new crisis upon the North, one that has never existed in this world? Is this the message that the Wahyhiemhai Foundation is sending to me through you?”
“?”
What on earth is this person talking about?
“I’ve never discussed this with Papa. This is my technique!”
The Dark Priest meta was created by me. Why should I hand over my achievements to Papa? I won’t give this to anyone!
“…State your intentions. If you’ve revealed a technique that could have remained hidden, you must have something you’re aiming for.”
Like someone quickly finding a solution when confronted with danger, as if to overwhelm the regenerating abilities of minions, he exhibits flexibility in his practical nature even against a player like me.
“Please help me when you send a hero to the North later!”
“…Hero? Not you?”
“I promised to support the hero! So I can continue to get along with Irene!”
If the hero solves the regional events in the North, then the event forcing Irene to quit and return to her hometown won’t trigger, which is great!
I can be nice to Ishtar, resolve the North’s headaches, please the Northern Grand Duke, and Irene doesn’t have to go home.
The Northern Grand Duke stared at me, his expression fierce at my win-win proposal.
‘Why? It should be a moment of joy where he can’t contain his excitement and shivers. Why is he angry even with such a good proposal?’
With a puzzled mind, I pulled my hat down and covered my mouth, asking just loud enough for Senior Alice to hear.
“Senior, why is the Northern Grand Duke angry?”
[If he’s not angry, is he even human…?]
“Strange… my role model wasn’t like this…”
Feeling gloomy, I lifted my hat slightly. The Northern Grand Duke continued to glare at me fiercely.
“Do you perhaps have a bad relationship with Irene?”
“…What?”
“If a father cares for his daughter, there’d be no reason to hesitate in accepting such a proposal. But if he’s hesitating, then it means he doesn’t care about his daughter, right?”
Then I’d have to rethink my negotiation proposal.
While seriously contemplating, a squishing sound resonated from the Northern Grand Duke’s feet. The noise grew louder, covering the entire floor.
“……I will accept the proposal. Dark Princess Oknodie. I, Yuda, swear by the position of Northern Grand Duke that I will never forget today’s proposal.”
Indeed, the Northern Grand Duke was a man of loyalty and seriousness. Just as my role model, he was articulate and impressive.
“If you’re free, I might visit during the vacation with Irene and the hero!”
The Northern Grand Duke trembled in excitement.
To genuinely be thrilled that his daughter’s friend would come over, he’s overflowing with paternal love.
As a father to a child, I genuinely respect him. I want to grow up to be such an adult someday!
“Did you find Astarot’s observation helpful?”
“Very much so. Thanks to it, I gained a lot of inspiration. We might see each other again next year at the academy.”
“Then I’m glad! See you next year!”
With successful exams, successfully coaxing Astarot into joining, and an unexpected negotiation with Irene’s parent, the Northern Grand Duke Yuda, it was an incredibly fruitful and satisfying lecture time.
*
Hestia, with trembling steps, finally sought out Professor Destroyer.
“Surely, there is no lie in those words, right?”
“All of it is the truth.”
Professor Destroyer had told her to seek his assistance should any problematic situations arise for Oknodie.
Remembering his words, Hestia recounted all the strange occurrences and conversations that happened during Raregrills’ lecture time.
Thanks to her, Professor Destroyer unexpectedly obtained a significant hint.
‘Northern Grand Duke. What relation does he have with Oknodie…?’
A cruel hero appearing at the moment when Dobi from the Church of the End claims the word law.
A figure resembling a giant with an overwhelming power capable of delivering a tremendous strike, standing at 230 cm, shares strangely similar characteristics with Oknodie, who feels oddly familiar to Irene.
Similarly, Irene is close to Oknodie.
With such a striking resemblance, it’s hard not to associate the possibility.
‘Could it be that Northern Grand Duke Yuda is the secretive executive of the Foundation as well as Oknodie’s mentor?!’
A chill ran down Professor Destroyer’s spine.
He never dared to even imagine this.
Protector of humanity.
Symbol of the Northern Front.
A powerhouse that stands shoulder to shoulder with heroes, has colluded with the Foundation!
Moreover, he received an invitation from Professor Raregrills.
The absurd excuse of being concerned about his daughter’s friend doesn’t fly with him.
Professor Raregrills, a master who once commanded on the Northern Front, retired from the frontline on grounds of having become excessively tainted by Dark Mana and took up teaching.
But if the Northern Grand Duke Yuda is colluding with the Foundation that handles Dark Mana, then Raregrills’ retirement becomes suspect as well.
‘Was he really tainted?’
Could it be that he used Dark Mana as a pretext to plant masters from the North into society under the guise of nurturing his students for some underlying schemes?
Even if he was truly contaminated, that itself poses a problem.
Was it unavoidable pollution or Dark Mana he voluntarily acquired?
Professor Destroyer couldn’t tell the difference.
If he, who could not discern that, how could anyone else, apart from a hero wielding the Holy Sword, uncover the truth?
-Please help me when you send a hero to the North!
But, as it happened, Oknodie had also mentioned a similar sentiment.
An active hero volunteering to go to the North?
That stinks.
The foul stench of a deadly trap, something one might encounter in living memory.
A putrid odor that would make even the former hero Ni’alatotep dread facing the devastating battlefield.
This is a trap meant to kill Ishtar.
Oknodie lured Ishtar, his biggest hindrance—the one with Dark Mana—into enemy territory to do him in.
Or rather, if he could just kill her, that would be good.
-Dark Priest. Are you threatening to unleash a new crisis upon the North, one that has never existed in this world? Is this the message that the Wahyhiemhai Foundation is sending to me through you?
-I’ve never discussed this with Papa. This is my technique!
Empowering one who holds the power of faith using the resistance of the sacred can allow one to endure overwhelming Dark Mana.
If this technique is introduced to the hero, who is likely to birth a being as powerful as a Mara, the fallen hero’s strength could very well surpass that of Mara and possibly rival that of the Demon King.
‘The Foundation intends to display its might through Oknodie, using the power of the hero to reach out to the Demon King of the Demon Realm…!’
It’s a terrifying plan.
What’s most chilling is that they’ve revealed it so openly without concealing anything.
Are they challenging to be stopped?
Is this the intention of the Director?
Or perhaps a request from Oknodie to stop him?
It was impossible to tell.
Too chaotic.
Yet, considering the timing, one could feel a singular purpose in Oknodie’s actions.
-I will kill you. After I kill you… The Empire, the Magic Association, the Academy… I will undoubtedly bring them all crashing down with my own hands someday.
Professor Destroyer felt a sense of fear creeping in.
His intentions, revealed through lectures and tests.
The Empire, the Magic Association, the Academy, the Three Great Evils.
He had made sure to distrust everything, and right after revealing that intention, Oknodie unveiled his own inner thoughts.
This might be an answer directed towards him.
“I will support your dream, Professor.
You just support sending Ishtar to the North.
Then the Foundation’s powerful strength can aid your revenge.”
It felt as if he was whispering so, impossible to dismiss; a massive temptation.
One that could shake his heart even by being directly tempted by the God of Seduction, Anrage.
“Professor Sadako, what do you think?”
After sending Hestia back, Destroyer sought out Sadako, a comrade with some unique experiences and strength.
In the Catacombs’ depths.
From the ominous darkness beyond the gate, a ghostly voice answered his question.
“Oknodie willingly cooperated with the executive of the Foundation, Pasible Yep. The dream that child desires is different from the Director’s… The Northern Grand Duke Yuda has been urged to side with Oknodie rather than the Director.”
“Indeed… the insights of an undead vampire, inheriting the blood of the ancestors, are sharp.”
“Shut up. Bloodlines grant great power, but not everyone likes their lineage. Just like me… Oknodie feels the same.”
Professor Destroyer’s anxiety grew.
One of the Three Great Evils.
An era of upheaval is approaching, where the powers within the Foundation will split in two.
This is bound to become a significant event that will impact the entire world.
If he misses this chance, his revenge will require decades longer to materialize.
Yet, there was a reason why Destroyer couldn’t shake off his worries.
“To help Oknodie, I would have to betray my students. The very hero who came to seek my assistance.”
“If you can’t choose, then waiting might be a method too… There’s still time. At least until Oknodie achieves what he has to at the academy and commits acts…”
Midterm exams of the second semester.
Who is being tested, the students or themselves?
Professor Destroyer couldn’t hide his bittersweet feelings.
“If it’s truly troubling you… then increase your allies.”
“Allies?”
“A professor to participate in the endeavor.”
“For what purpose?”
“To save Oknodie. To rescue that child from the doom shown by the Foundation and nightmares.”
Professor Destroyer expressed his skepticism.
“Not all professors align with you or me. Whether threatened by the Principal or by choice, there are few who would share interests with a singular student.”
“There are. A professor who is unafraid of the Principal and can share interests with Oknodie.”
“You know that Myung So is the Principal’s pawn.”
“He isn’t.”
“Professor Bronze is untrustworthy. She’s capricious. She can’t be on anyone’s side.”
“Not her either.”
“Don’t tell me you’re referring to Professor Raregrills?”
“He might side with the Director. Our information will be exposed.”
“Then who the heck is left?”
“Professor Pinkberry.”
Having memorized Oknodie’s timetable, Professor Destroyer quickly realized.
━━━
[Basics and Understanding of Disguise]
-Monday, Wednesday 6th Period 21:00~23:00
-Professor: Pinkberry
-Adventure Department, Major
━━━
A 144 cm short professor with pink twin-tails, presumed to be a second-year student connected to the Paper Company associated with Oknodie.
While not as deeply connected to the Foundation as Professor Raregrills, she is someone Oknodie interacts with regularly.
“Looks like I need to check it out.”
She was someone who piqued Professor Destroyer’s interest.
