Chapter 310 : Chapter 310
Chapter 310. The Descent of Leviathan (3)
“It is not over yet.”
Kier Iern muttered from within the shadows.
Even if it was incomplete, he had succeeded in bringing Lord Leviathan into the world.
He could feel it.
The despair of the people surging like a tide.
The joy had vanished from the faces of those who had been enjoying the festival.
While professors, priests, and those strange figures held back the undead, the people fled with all their strength.
“Head to the main gate!”
“We have to get out of here!”
“Mom! Dad!”
To Kier’s eyes, they looked like nothing more than plump, tempting sacrifices moving in herds.
“There is nowhere for you to run.”
Of course, this was not all he had prepared.
Rolling up his sleeve, Kier slashed his own forearm with a dagger.
Slash!
“The place you are headed for is hell.”
A wicked smile spread across Kier’s lips.
He splattered the blood flowing from his arm onto the ground.
“Gather.”
As he recited the curse, dark energy began to spread along the road leading to the main gate.
Fear, despair, agony.
Those emotions gathered and amplified the power of demonic energy.
It was only possible because the stones scattered across the academy were suppressing Divine Power.
Now that Leviathan had descended, this place had become his domain.
Though imperfect due to the lack of sacrifices, the academy was gradually slipping free of the Supreme Deity’s authority.
“Open, gate of hell.”
The moment Kier completed the incantation, abyssal darkness rose from the ground.
BOOM!
Leviathan’s domain.
Roads became seas, darkness became waves, and they swept over the people.
SPLASH!
“Aaaagh!”
“What is this?!”
“Save us!”
Those caught in the waves flailed within the darkness, screaming.
Before long, they would be dragged into hell and become new sacrifices.
Using these sacrifices as stepping stones, the academy would sink even deeper into the abyss.
Within that abyss, Lord Leviathan would be completed anew.
As the true Lord of Darkness!
Just as Kier was smiling in satisfaction—
Clink.
A dreadful sound reached his ears.
Clink.
Clear, resonant bells.
Clink.
The power of the Supreme Deity spread across the academy, carried by the ringing.
‘The Bell of Purification?!’
It was a holy relic of the Supreme Deity Order, carried by Inquisitors.
Kier’s expression hardened.
He had taken precautions in advance!
He had sent the Inquisitors so far away that they would not be able to return before the plan was complete.
Then what was this overwhelming Divine Power?
This was not ordinary strength.
Unconsciously, Kier turned his head toward the source of the sacred energy.
“What is that?”
Even he, who had attended the academy for four full years, had never seen such a structure.
A tall construction resembling a temple pillar.
Standing atop it was the academy’s principal, Cromwell Bondis.
-BEEP
“You underestimated us.”
A meaningful smile curved Cromwell’s lips as flying golems surrounded him.
“You have no idea how long I have been waiting for a day like this.”
At that, Professor Bronson, standing beside him, made a baffled expression.
“Principal. When you put it like that, it sounds as if you were waiting for the academy to be put in danger.”
“Oh, did it come across that way? My mistake.”
Cromwell had simply installed a barrier device that amplified Divine Power throughout the academy.
Under normal circumstances, it remained hidden between buildings, designed to rise only in emergencies.
Of course, it could not be activated freely.
At least three academy professors had to approve the magic circle.
It was one of the new structural changes Cromwell had implemented after becoming principal.
But the way he spoke made it sound as though he had ulterior motives.
Rubbing his hands together, Cromwell said,
“It is my first time activating it, so forgive me. Now then, let us begin the cleanup.”
Through the flying golems, he sent signals to the other pillars.
-BEEP!
In response, the Inquisitors stationed at the other pillars rang their Bells of Purification in unison.
Among them was Kirio Tites, who had just arrived in Marcellent.
Clink.
The bell tones, filled with purifying power, spread outward in concentric circles.
HUM.
The abyssal waves that had swallowed people grew still.
Relief appeared on the faces of those who had been dragged toward the darkness.
“They are Inquisitors! We are saved!”
“O Supreme Deity!”
“Uuuugh!”
Relief, reassurance, jubilation.
Emotions that should not have existed in this situation.
Kier bit his lip.
‘Damn it!’
The world was supposed to be destroyed.
No, it had to be destroyed.
How much effort had he poured into making that happen?
He could not lose like this.
If he could not offer another sacrifice, there was still one final sacrifice.
Everything was for Lord Leviathan.
Without hesitation, Kier drove his blade into his own neck.
Thud!
But no blood splattered.
What he had stabbed was empty air.
Someone had seized his arm.
“Are you Kier Iern?”
“?!”
WHOOSH!
Flames engulfed Kier’s arm.
“Aaaargh!”
He writhed in pain and dropped the dagger.
Clatter!
“I will not bother waiting for an answer. I am in a very bad mood right now.”
A red-haired girl threw off one glove and grinned savagely.
“I feel like burning anyone I see.”
A calm voice spoke from behind her.
“His Highness said to keep him alive.”
“Twenty-four hours have passed! The bet is over. I am not listening to you anymore.”
“He is an important witness. We must prosecute him properly.”
“Ugh, whatever! Then I will just beat him to within an inch of his life. You can heal him afterward, right?”
Kier stared in disbelief at the two people having such an absurd conversation in front of him.
Idiots.
To show an opening before a Black Order executive like himself.
He drew upon the power of darkness and gathered it at his fingertips.
“Die!”
If nothing else, he would offer these two as sacrifices to Lord Leviathan.
Whoosh!
Kier’s sharpened fingers shot toward Inette’s heart.
But they were effortlessly blocked.
Clang!
‘Why?’
That had been an attack imbued with the power of a curse!
Staring in disbelief, he looked at the sword that had stopped him.
Gusto spoke calmly.
“You relied too heavily on heretical power.”
Thanks to Cromwell’s device, the academy had long since become a domain of the Supreme Deity Order.
Naturally, the power of curses was weakened.
“From now on, you will have to fight with nothing but your original abilities.”
Behind him, Inette could be seen loosening up her hands with enthusiasm.
“I look forward to a fair fight.”
Two against one was a fair fight?
Kier’s face twisted.
***
It was a strange thing.
Arteo felt his heart gradually ease.
It was an emotion one should not feel in a situation like this.
Just moments ago, he had even been prepared to use his Ability.
When Shartea had been pushed into danger.
When the dragon had appeared.
Arteo had steeled himself.
Even knowing it would put his life at risk.
“Are you about to use your Ability?”
“Grandfather.”
Perhaps he had sensed his thoughts.
Arteo’s maternal grandfather, Alexius Kudente, spoke to him.
“I was scolded rather severely today, for the first time in a long while.”
“Who on earth would dare scold you, Grandfather…!”
“I visited the counseling center earlier.”
The counseling center?
The Spirit of the Library flashed through Arteo’s mind.
If it was that strange Great Spirit, it would scold anyone without hesitation.
A veteran of the borderlands.
Whether Alexius Kudente was the strongest swordsman or simply an old man, it would not matter.
That spirit had likely lived since the birth of the Spirit World and treated all humans like children.
“…What did the spirit say?”
“It told me not to try to change you.”
Arteo stared, dumbfounded.
After telling him to change everything, now this?
But there was something that surprised Arteo even more.
“Did you ask about me?”
“Yes. That has been my concern lately.”
Alexius’s words struck Arteo like a blow to the head.
Had he not gone to the counseling center himself, hoping to change his grandfather’s heart?
Alexius continued calmly.
“After hearing the spirit’s words, I reflected. And then I saw you today. You have changed a great deal.”
“…Changed?”
Arteo looked down at himself.
He was wearing commoner’s clothes and shoes he would never normally put on.
Even his noble platinum-blond hair had been dyed dark.
And that was not all.
He had not punished a junior who had spoken ill of him behind his back.
He had planned to quietly watch Shartea’s final match without even informing her.
They were all things he would never have done before.
“You were already changing, even without me trying to change you.”
“T-that is not… that is not it…!”
Arteo denied it, his face burning hot.
But Alexius merely gazed at him with steady eyes.
The spirit had been right.
The Arteo he saw today was completely different.
The reason was probably—
‘That Prince.’
Sometimes, who one meets can change the course of one’s life.
Ears burning red, Arteo fled from his grandfather and began confronting Radel.
“Is not your spirit unbearably rude?”
“What do you mean, Your Highness?”
“Grandfather said he went to the counseling center!”
“I am obliged to protect my clients’ privacy. I do not remember anything at all.”
“You insolent—!”
Alexius watched Arteo argue with Radel.
It had been a long time since he had seen his grandson speak so comfortably.
Back when they were children.
When Shartea, unable to control her Ability, had crushed Arteo’s body.
Young Arteo had used his Ability again and again for his sister.
That Ability demanded a terrible price.
Because Alexius knew that, he had scolded the boy harshly.
‘Are you going to use your Ability again?’
‘Yes.’
‘Even if it shortens your lifespan?’
Arteo had replied without blinking.
‘I will use it ten times, a hundred times, if it is for Thea.’
At that time—
What had the look in his grandson’s eyes been like?
Had that child not been on the verge of tears as well, unsure of what to do?
Lost in memory, Alexius let out a sigh.
“I suppose I have grown old.”
If the Gale Knight Order’s personal mage heard that, he would surely protest, asking what nonsense his lord was speaking.
***
“We do not have much time, so I will get straight to the point.”
Before heading off to slay the dragon, Radel spoke with a solemn expression.
“This is my plan.”
Everyone present listened intently to Radel’s words.
It was an unbelievable sight.
The Empire’s strongest swordsman and seasoned marquis of the borderlands.
The 2nd Prince, the 3rd Princess, the 9th Prince.
Even a Priest of the Supreme Deity Order who had once been a heretic.
Not a single one of them was an ordinary individual.
‘Even I think this is absurd.’
Leon’s expression turned subtle.
Imperial royals putting their heads together with a shared goal?
It was unthinkable.
And yet, he himself had followed them here.
He had climbed onto the griffin’s back without asking where they were going or why he was being summoned.
Leon glanced sideways at Radel.
‘Just who is that guy?’
How did he inspire such trust?