Chapter 53
Wrapping up the brief activities of the Research Society, it’s time for the afternoon class.
Today’s lesson, delivered by the professor Louisa, revolves around the public enemy Altife.
“…As you might know, Altife, who follows the Goddess Church, uses names similar to the church’s. The Yggdrasil Church isn’t fond of it, but it’s the easiest classification, so we usually go with this. Damn it, I don’t really like it either.”
Louisa clicks her tongue in discontent, her frequent use of vulgar terms hardly reflecting a teacher’s demeanor.
“First off, Altife is divided into intelligent and non-intelligent beings. Non-intelligent beings move purely based on instinct. They follow only the ‘intelligent beings’ that are higher on the hierarchy than themselves.”
The muscle-bound red lumps that Alicia fought against to overcome her trauma. These creatures represent the most common form of non-intelligent beings.
“The Goddess Church refers to those non-intelligent beings among themselves as ‘Priests.’ Most people simply call them Priest-level, but technically, they should be referred to as non-intelligent beings or classified as the fourth threat level.”
The video shows various forms of ‘Priests.’ Some have two tentacle-like appendages sticking out of their backs, others have claws and can breathe underwater, and some have well-developed jaws….
The common trait? They’re all muscular and red.
Interestingly, their faces appear masked in white.
In small text beneath the picture, it reads: Is this the only entity capable of reproduction through a host?
Bang!
Louisa pounds the teacher’s desk, capturing everyone’s attention.
The somewhat relaxed students straighten their backs and open their eyes wide.
Louisa also becomes more serious.
“Now, from here on out, keep your eyes wide open.”
Louisa plays the next video.
The screen displays the text:
“Bishop: Third Threat Level”
“From here on, we’re dealing with all intelligent beings. Pay attention and remember this.”
Louisa’s narrowed gaze warns everyone. It’s a matter not to be forgotten, and quite important.
“Bishops are truly dangerous creatures. The weakest Bishop we’ve identified so far easily slaughtered a thousand ordinary soldiers. Actually… it was just a matter of time; they played with them like toys. It’s not even comparable to regular humans. Let’s take the heroes you all love as an example.”
Bishops require at least three rookie heroes to hunt safely. Naturally, capturing one demands even more manpower.
Similar to before, there’s small text under the video stating: Is replenishment possible through evangelism?
“Those creatures can communicate through language. But don’t even think about trying to talk to them. They are not human. Their way of thinking is entirely different from ours.”
Louisa states.
Because they process information quickly, they act cunningly and intelligently. Just because they can talk doesn’t mean you should let your guard down and lower your weapon.
“The moment you do, your hearts will end up on the floor.”
Or worse, you could be used as a host for the reproduction of Priests.
At Louisa’s words, everyone grimaces.
Imagining it is simply unbearable.
Better to have your heart ripped out than being toyed with and used as a breeding tool.
It was just too horrific to be used.
“There’s no gender among those guys. So the gender of the person used as a substrate doesn’t matter. The way they reproduce deviates from that of normal organisms.”
As the atmosphere in the classroom became darker and filled with tension than expected, Louisa continued in a lighter tone to ease the mood.
“You’re still chicks, so you’re unlikely to encounter anyone above Priest level. You’ll only see a Priest during the practicals for the End of First Semester. Well, still… although it probably won’t happen…”
Louisa states this.
To protect the chicks.
She seemed to forget that she started this to lighten the mood and spoke very seriously.
“If you see anyone above Bishop level, run away immediately and get help. They’re not opponents you can deal with right now.”
*
“Seriously, they look so gross. Why do all Altifes look so hideous? It was really hard to look at.”
After the last class of the day.
Emily, from the same team, said while showing her goosebump-covered arms. Serena, as always, showed no notable reaction, while Alicia nodded in agreement.
“Right? They’re so disgusting…”
“Totally! I’m already worried about the practicals during the End of First Semester… they look like they won’t even get stuck with a sword…”
“If you have a stable aura, it can get cut. Since they have muscles, you can see where to slice easily. As long as you don’t get too tense, you’ll easily handle it with Emily’s skills.”
“…Alicia sounds like an expert. I had a feeling, but you really have fought with those guys before, haven’t you?”
“Yes, just once.”
As they were chatting like this, Louisa approached, her long strides more significant than an average adult male’s due to her height.
“Hey, top student, your request for an outing has been approved. You’ll be taking the operational airship next Tuesday at 3 PM.”
“Thank you very much.”
“Alright, alright. It’s bothersome, but this is part of the responsibilities of the overseeing professor… By the way, a date with your fiancée… I think it’s unnecessary to worry, but make sure nothing unsavory happens. Got it?”
“I have no idea what kind of misfortune you’re thinking about, but I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Good grief, your personality really never changes.”
Louisa let out a half-hearted chuckle that felt almost disgusted. While she didn’t seem genuinely worried, she probably felt some resistance upon seeing my response.
“Sex. Yes, sex. I won’t stop you from doing it, but it would be a problem if you were still on fire after curfew.”
??!!
I was the one who heard that, but Alicia, who was sitting a bit away, gasped and opened her mouth wide in surprise. Emily also covered her mouth with both hands and turned red.
The two of them were so dramatic that Serena, who remained quiet, stood out even more.
“You don’t have to worry.”
“I wish it were that simple. I’m not saying this for no reason; there have been quite a few late guys because of it.”
Even if they’re the prospective heroes, they’re still young and bursting with energy, so it’s not uncommon for boys and girls to spend the night together. Not exactly the kind of setting I wanted to know about…
“For this reason, I won’t be late, right? But… life is unpredictable, isn’t it? What if, due to unavoidable circumstances, you miss the last airship?”
“…That’s a rather unsettling statement.”
Louisa added a follow-up, hoping I wouldn’t have any bizarre thoughts and would return on time.
“If students don’t come back, we’ll have to go search for them. No matter how talented they are at fighting Altifes, you’re still kids. If something happens to you outside, we wouldn’t be able to face your guardians who trusted us to protect you.”
“Oh, quite mature of you.”
“Of course I’m mature, you brat.”
Louisa thrust her finger towards me as if slapping Alicia, then released a light sigh.
“Well, I can’t say much either since I caused a bit of trouble back in my day.”
“……”
I remembered her school days—causing all sorts of trouble while being taught under the current Chancellor alongside Paula.
I remember reading about how much he used to cause a scene.
That’s definitely the reason why Louisa is making such a longing expression now.
Louisa turns around and steps out of the classroom.
Waving her arms casually, she greets me in advance.
“Have fun and don’t bring back any souvenirs.”
“I wasn’t planning on it, but I’ll keep that in mind.”
“What a sassy brat… always speaking like that till the end.”
With a light laugh, she completely disappears from sight. Around me, Emily, sporting a curious expression, bursts in excitement.
“What’s going on! I was wondering why there wasn’t a research society meeting today, and it turns out you’re going on a date? Wow, that’s amazing!”
I still don’t understand what all the fuss is about.
Why are they in such an uproar? They aren’t even the ones going out.
“It’s the engagement anniversary, so I had no choice.”
“Uh-huh, sure, of course you didn’t~. How could you?”
Emily giggles. Seems like she really wants to push herself to the limits in training during the research society activities after a long time.
“Can’t you just take Liam out instead? Of course, that would require me to skip research society activities to make it happen.”
“W-Why is Liam involved in this…! Plus, I’m attending the society every single day, when would I have the time for that!”
Emily’s expression shifts from angry to realizing her point, deflating. Beside her, Alicia, wearing a modest smile that feels somewhat different from her usual demeanor, chimes in.
“I will ensure that all tasks are completed without fail while the Young Master is out.”
“Right, I’ll check when you return, so make sure to be prepared.”
“…Yes, Young Master.”
Hmm.
What should I say about this?
“…I will be waiting for your return, Young Master.”
I don’t think it was intentional, but I felt a slight sense of longing in Alicia’s last words, a touch of earnestness.
I can’t quite explain it.
I just felt that way.
*
After returning to my room, I would usually go through my usual training routine, but today there was something I needed to check first.
A letter from Diphelia.
Her alarming fear she showed today.
A document she chose to write out and deliver instead of simply speaking.
Considering how cautious Diphelia always is, I waited until I was alone to open it. This is a peculiar symptom coming from none other than the Saint herself.
It might significantly impact the events to come.
Snip.
I carefully cut the seal with a small knife and pulled the letter out.
Inside the envelope was a single sheet of paper.
The content of the letter was a poem.
“I had a dream.
A dream of the third star shining in the center of the radiant Empire losing its light. I was so saddened by that death that I recited an elegy. However, my mourning never reached it, and I soon became a specter, wandering around an unnamed grave.”
“…I see.”
Yes.
So that’s why you were so terrified, Diphelia.
As soon as I finished reading the letter, golden flames kindled and quickly burned the paper to cinders without leaving a trace.
The envelope resting on the desk also vanished without a mark.
Instead of the crackling sounds of burning paper, Diphelia’s voice echoed from the flames. This time, in her usual tone instead of the metaphorical poetry.
“Next Tuesday, around the time the evening moon rises. I will be waiting at the small greenhouse near the dormitory.”
I settled into a plush chair where I could relax, lost in deep thought.
I clearly understand what Diphelia is trying to convey through her ridiculous poem. It makes me think even more.
“The timing of the prophecy has accelerated. The content has changed too.”
Dreams are omens.
The third star shining at the center of the radiant Empire is me.
The speaker of the poem, ‘I,’ refers to myself.
The reason I could identify the speaker of the poem was because it mentioned reciting an elegy. Vargan’s last words were indeed about mourning the deceased.
Interpreting the beginning should lead to this conclusion.
“I received a prophecy.
It was a future where the third son of the Schugenhartz Family in the Troa Empire dies. You were so saddened by that death that you recited an elegy.”
Reading that sentence, “that death” seems to point to Vargan’s demise, but it’s not that simple. Vargan didn’t mourn his own death.
It seems to mean something, but it’s different. Vargan did not mourn his own death.
However, the prophecy-receiving Diphelia couldn’t know whom Vargan was commemorating, so she replaced it with ‘that death.’ The absence of mourning and the wandering as a nameless grave spirit was a metaphor for not knowing the subject.
“Ha.”
She’s threatening me. With a weak voice that seems so fragile it could crumble, she thrusts the moonlight sword toward my neck.
The prophecy is not an actual premonition of our future.
The play is set with Arterion as the protagonist.
Originally, the prophecy should have emphasized the gap left by Liam, a character who doesn’t appear in the original work. It should also have dealt with the tragedy of Academia instead of Vargan’s death, and the prophecy came four months early.
According to Diphelia, the prophecy she received occurs at the moment when the original Vargan dies. The moment he lost everything and went mad, bringing disaster to everyone with the power of the Goddess Church.
Knowing that I am the villain of that incident, she still sent me a letter. This meant that if I had some scheme and planned to realize it, she’d prevent it since she could see the future, implying I should not have foolish thoughts.
She aimed to gather information by contacting me directly, to create countermeasures against an overwhelming cataclysm.
Diphelia was trying to capture me, following a divine order that only showed parts of the original work.
“……”
However, the change in prophecy was something I had already confirmed through Liam’s example. What’s troubling me now isn’t her threat, but the day of the week that was called forth.
Strange.
Very strange.
It’s not completely impossible, but….
“Next Tuesday…”
I tapped my finger on the handle.
I need to organize this.
Tap. Tap.
Diphelia pointed to the exact date.
She must not know that I have an appointment with Erica.
Before her, Frieda had proposed going out next week. Although we hadn’t set an exact date, recalling the original work, there had been a precedent where it overlapped with Erica.
Tap. Tap.
It feels like she’s trying to prevent me from meeting Erica….
Is this a coincidence?
Should I see it as a simple coincidence in probability?
Tap. Tap.
In the original work, Erica and Vargan did not meet at their agreed spot. We don’t know how Erica handled it since it wasn’t described, but I can guess she probably watched the play alone after waiting.
Tap. Tap.
Erica. Prophecy. Next Tuesday. Play.
Were there events that encompassed all these, or at least that even had a possibility?
Let’s think again about what kind of person Erica was.
Vargan’s fiancée. A high-level user of freeze and warp magic. The second daughter of the prestigious Portlet Family. Small stature. Strong on the outside but gentle on the inside. A villainess. Loves sweets, enjoys dolls… and.
The person destined to become a “Bishop” of the Goddess Church.
At the same time, a question I had long harbored.
Since when did she start showing such signs?
Tap.
My finger stopped.
I hurriedly checked the theater ticket that Erica had given me.
It was mentioned just once in the novel. Erica scolded Vargan for not showing up at their meeting place. She referred to the name of the play on that occasion.
Just that once.
In a lengthy work of 628 chapters, the name of that play appeared just once, yet I remember it. It was a title so famous it couldn’t be forgotten.
And.
I had overlooked it, considering it simply the author’s background knowledge, just a single line of text.
“Love burns brighter the more it is restrained. The flowing stream runs stronger the more it is blocked.”
I knew it perfectly.
Yet I had been oblivious.
Even though I noticed I had a connection, I brushed it off.
That line was a quote from one of the greatest playwrights, Shakespeare.
“Play: Romeo and Juliet.”
Moreover, it was uttered casually by a character deeply fascinated by Shakespeare.
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