Chapter 215
The captives totaled 20.
This number excluded those who had transformed into Altife or had clearly been killed as part of the Goddess Church in between.
Heigel and Ferangis thoroughly screened these 20 individuals.
They checked how they could “properly” examine the brain without distortion to determine the presence of the divine bugs in their bodies. Using this method, they successfully uncovered the believers and extracted information from them.
However, this process took a considerable four days because only Heigel and Ferangis had the ability to delve into memories.
Vargan could also examine brains, but as a student, he wasn’t allowed to take part.
Studying the brain was itself a sophisticated task that required immense caution. It consumed a lot of time, energy, and a vast amount of mana.
Fortunately, thanks to their exceptional magical achievements, it took less time for Heigel and Ferangis.
The reason they couldn’t examine all the students’ brains lay here. They had very few available personnel, and the required time and effort were significant, making it impossible to check everyone.
While the two continued their tasks, all students were prohibited from individual activities.
One team from the Academia and one team from Rikeion cohabited together, keeping an eye on each other.
Vargan also continued to live with existing members, including Alicia, in addition to students from Rikeion.
—Why do we have to follow your orders?!
One student from Rikeion, paired with Vargan’s team, voiced dissatisfaction.
For some reason, Vargan was deciding the staying place, even the range and pattern of movement all on his own.
However, Vargan shamelessly replied as if it was obvious.
—This is part of the prize I get for solving the riddle. So shut up and follow.
—What do you mean by that?!
Finding it utterly ridiculous, the student protested above, only to have his words validated officially.
The professor in charge mentioned that he had been directly requested by the chancellor and asked for understanding.
Moreover, the student ended up getting reprimanded for acting on his own, feeling utterly wronged to the point of tears.
Despite this, time passed, and by the 29th, all conditions were lifted.
During this process, the students from Rikeion who watched Vargan and his team’s rigorous training from start to finish were left in awe, and their initial negative feelings disappeared.
Alicia, persistently learning Curse Magic, and Finn, who swung his sword to the point where it was hard to tell if he was even sleeping.
Serena, quietly mastering her mana, and Liam, who poured himself into training as if pleading to quench his thirst.
With them was Emily.
At the center overseeing it all was the chief of the Academia, Vargan, who was carrying out his own research.
‘It feels like they’ve collectively fallen into a religion. That level must be what we call effort…’
Surprisingly, the individuals received an unexpected lesson(?) and returned to reflect on the meaning of effort.
And now.
Right now.
All the students gathered in the auditorium of Rikeion.
The auditorium, structured similarly to Academia, could comfortably accommodate all students without any issues.
The purpose was to announce the progress of events and upcoming schedules.
Among the group of students was Vargan. A woman was clinging to him.
“Let’s fight! Fight me!”
“Arha, are you a parrot? Why do you keep repeating the same thing over and over? Go find your group members instead. The sooner, the better.”
“I’ll back off if you confirm that you will fight me.”
“Alicia can barely win, yet she’s so talkative…”
“…Don’t bring that up. Next time we compete, I plan to stomp you properly.”
“Hah. I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Vargan scoffed.
Arha simmered with frustration but couldn’t argue back.
It was true they had a close match in the quarterfinals, and she felt Alicia’s growth was accelerating day by day, so she kept her mouth shut.
“Anyway. Hurry up and give me your answer. Then I’ll leave you alone, okay?”
“Okay, okay. I got it, I got it. Before leaving Rikeion, I’ll specially trade blows with you, so just scram already.”
“Your manners are really lacking.”
“Do I have to be polite to someone like you?”
“…Wow.”
This was the first time Arha had seen someone speak so rudely to others.
With a look as if she had been punched, she managed to achieve her purpose and left in a zen-like state.
A little while later.
—Click-clack.
Light gathered in the center of the stage, and a beautiful blonde woman walked out.
—The Student Council President of Rikeion, Ocell Bui Edina.
Her first words brought silence to the commotion.
She spoke calmly, drawing everyone’s attention.
Vargan sensed a mix of anger and betrayal hidden in her tone, but figured the others likely wouldn’t notice.
The skill of hiding one’s true intentions wasn’t so bad.
—Currently, we have discovered and executed all members of the Goddess Church lurking within Rikeion. Based on the information they provided, we have confirmed that a total of 12 cultists have infiltrated.
‘Twelve, huh… Just like the original story.’
Vargan recalled the formless faction’s acquisition excluding Erlich.
Naturally, it was revealed earlier than in the original plot, but the number remained unchanged.
It showed how hard Heigel and Ferangis had worked.
—…Furthermore, though the schedule is slightly delayed, the final match is set for tomorrow at 2 PM, featuring Shugenharz Troa Vargan from Academia and Ocell Bui Arterion from Academia.
Vargan and Arterion.
It was a tournament held by Rikeion, yet the name of Rikeion wasn’t included in the finals.
How disgraceful!
However, considering the incident that had occurred at Rikeion, Edina didn’t furrow her brow or show displeasure.
She was relieved that it hadn’t escalated into something worse.
—After the finals, an exchange meeting will be held in the evening as planned. Please note that outfits for the event will be available for rent.
Exchange meeting.
A typical facade aimed at fostering friendship and solidifying future cooperation.
Normally, Vargan would consider it flashy garbage, but this time felt a little different.
—During the exchange meeting, there will be an announcement from the Central Church, so participation is not optional but mandatory. Please be aware of this.
The heroes coming to Rikeion was for the purpose of sussing out the Goddess Church’s forces, but that wasn’t all.
‘They came to bring about another massive change that wasn’t in the original story.’
Vargan, having received news regarding that mystery in advance, didn’t tilt his head in confusion like the others.
As I put forth my answer to the riddle, I had already caught wind of the news, so there was no need for me to tilt my head in confusion like everyone else.
What kind of results would the newly blown winds bring about?
There was a slight feeling of unease, but the anticipation was far greater.
If we only fear change, there will be no progress, so it’s best to just roll with it.
—Lastly, I would like to offer my deepest apologies.
Edina, the princess of the Ocel Kingdom, bowed politely in front of everyone.
She who had lived her life proudly before others was acting accordingly to her title as Student Council President.
—Despite the followers of the Goddess Church appearing within the Student Council, I failed to recognize and address this issue beforehand. The chaos caused among my fellow students due to my inexperienced handling after the incident is entirely my fault.
Even though Edina did her best and made appropriate judgments within her view, she said it was her responsibility.
For a perfectionist like her, ignorance is an unforgivable sin.
Even if the Central Church and the Chancellor solved things secretly, not uncovering the causes and processes was also her fault.
Wasn’t Vargan, Rheincarven’s younger brother, quick to grasp the situation and apprehend even the fleeing professor?
‘How embarrassing and infuriating.’
The strength in her hands wasn’t due to the betrayal of Jeraman, the Vice Student Council President, or the students and professors she trusted.
It was because she felt pitiful for making the students tremble in fear over the tournament’s first place.
‘At this rate, I have no grounds to say anything to Rheincarven.’
Suddenly, a conversation she had long ago at Academia flashed through her mind.
He had warned that there might be followers of the Goddess Church even inside Rikeion, and though Edina understood, she didn’t actively move.
Why hadn’t she looked at the bigger picture?
“…….”
Edina raised her head.
Her gaze did not tremble.
Even if she were to scold herself and suffer from past actions, she wouldn’t be the kind of woman to be broken by such emotions.
—I will not repeat my mistakes. I will learn from this incident and show you my growth.
The golden woman resembling Arterion declared.
—I won’t string together any more trivial words than this. I will take action so that you can regain your trust, so please watch over me.
*
“This is impressive.”
I accidentally said it out loud without realizing I was thinking.
With my thorough knowledge and information about familiars from the original work, I couldn’t help but let that slip.
“Young Master. Are these familiars really that impressive?”
“Of course. Can’t you tell just by looking at them?”
“I-I’m sorry… Ah, no! No! I didn’t mean to say I’m sorry! Please take your hands off me!”
Watching Alicia’s noisy reaction, I strangely felt a bit of guilt and lowered my hands.
Even if it hurt, was it really necessary to flinch and act like such a big deal over just a flick?
I felt like a cruel criminal for a moment.
“Oops!”
I flicked her again out of spite.
The so-called ‘punishment flick.’
“Ouch…”
“Play hurt like that and make sure you keep a close eye on them too.”
“Me too…?”
“Yeah. You’re a servant of the Schugenhartz family, and you don’t have a single familiar contracted? The familiars here are all high grade, so choose the one that appeals to you.”
This was the private breeding room of the professor I had killed.
I was surrounded by well-groomed creatures, selecting a new entity for a contract.
If you asked why I was suddenly enjoying this “pickup time” for familiars, the answer was simple.
Having discovered the sub-world a few days ago, I handed over the professor’s corpse, the information he spilled, and a magical tool containing his voice to Heigel.
He handed me a magic tool that contained his voice.
Of course, it wasn’t done out of goodwill; he was aiming to demand a fair price.
Who would voluntarily take on annoying work for someone else’s benefit?
Anyway, I declared my intention to be entrusted with the full authority over the familiars that the professor had, and Chancellor Heigel couldn’t refuse.
In exchange, his assets and information were passed to Rikeion, so it was a win-win for both sides.
Ah, and I’ll explain later why Heigel was the one who benefited the most from this incident.
For now, let’s focus on the adorable little ones in front of me.
‘It seems the professor only took care of familiars; their condition is really good… Plus, they’re all rare species. I can’t take my eyes off them.’
From familiars that spew magma to those capable of moving at high speed in water and sky, and even those developed for slaughter…!
They’re so beautiful and noble that I feel like I want to contract them all and take them with me.
…I won’t do that for the sake of mana efficiency, but if I take them to Naias’s secret dungeon to bond with the locals, they’ll surely show off an even greater form than now.
—Meow.
“Erica. You don’t have to just stand there; feel free to look around.”
“……”
Erica seemed to be fond of the Ragdoll cat, still holding it in her arms.
Every time her hand brushed against it, the cat let out a pleasant sound.
Hmm… I have to use that one later, so that’s a bit troublesome.
“…Erica, I’m sorry, but could you choose another familiar instead of that one?”
“Oh, no, this is….”
“Hmm?”
“It’s just… holding it calms me down….”
Erica shyly buried her face in the cat as if she was embarrassed to mention such a trivial reason.
Well, given she’s always liked dolls, it makes sense she’d enjoy that particular feeling.
Then, Erica peeked up and said.
“The familiar is fine. I have Kkamag, so.”
“With your total mana and talent, having one more wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Uh-huh. Kkamag is enough. I’ll just hold this cat a little longer. …Is that okay?”
“Then go ahead.”
“Thanks!”
I entrusted the cat to Erica and focused back on observing the familiars.
Choosing the entities to contract directly is a very important task, so I needed to think it through thoroughly.
‘By the way… I thought it would be here, but maybe not?’
While scouting the familiars, I was looking for something else.
There’s more than just the Ragdoll cat and adult familiars that I shouldn’t overlook in this professor’s collection.
Something even more important.
It was definitely written in the novel and showed tremendous power later… where could it be…?
“I found it.”
Discovered in the corner.
Seeing it in person made me smile wider than I would if I found ginseng in the mountains.
How could I not be happy? Just look at that shiny sheen!
To stick this valuable existence in such a shabby corner! Do they have an eye for beauty or not!
This was what was called the [Mysterious Egg].
In stories, not revealing its identity until later means it has significant importance and a great impact.
In that regard, considering how it appeared in the first half and only revealed its true identity in the second half, one can easily grasp the weight this egg carries.
‘It’s still an unknown value. But once its true worth is recognized, this egg will be treasure among treasures that any tamer would drool over.’
And rightfully so.
This is not just some simple egg.
It’s the egg of the apex of current monsters.
The egg of the being referred to as the Twelve Divine Beasts.
“What a lucky find indeed.”
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