Chapter 122
Chapter 122
Second Semester (1)
“Ah! Wait a second!”
Perhaps because it was extremely angry, the Holy Scripture beat me up without caring about front, back, left, or right. Honestly, I felt wronged.
When I fought Anash. What kind of appearance had that bastard shown with this greatsword? It smashed the ground and even knocked away my club.
How was I supposed to know something like that would break just from pulling it out?
“What a~ rare sight~”
Before I knew it, Canis was sitting on a chair made of crystal, swinging her legs back and forth as she watched.
I couldn’t feel pain, but I couldn’t regain my senses from the attacks flying at me from all directions. In the end, only after grabbing the Holy Scripture with the gauntlet did the Anaye-style repentance come to an end.
“I never~ even imagined something like this~”
The Holy Scripture had become docile as if nothing had happened. Even when I told it to go back, it remained completely unmoved. I handed the Holy Scripture over to Canis.
After receiving it, Canis spoke as if troubled. I agreed. I had never dreamed the greatsword would suddenly break.
“……For now, we’re heading back.”
“Hm? But~ will that really be okay~?”
I roughly nodded at Canis’s question. There was practically nothing we could do here anyway. The original goal had been recovering the greatsword, so nothing really changed.
“It won’t come out.”
Just in case, I tried pulling out the greatsword embedded there, but it didn’t budge.
“The purification function~ is still working though~?”
Only after hearing Canis’s words did I realize the air was still clean.
Purification had started once the greatsword was embedded, and even with only half remaining, the surrounding air was still being purified. I didn’t know whether it was the building’s ability or the greatsword’s own power.
“Anyway, we’re going back.”
With an unpleasant feeling lingering in my mouth, we left the place.
***
“You’re back?”
Winter, who had finished her paperwork and was studying on her own, welcomed us.
Four hours had passed since we left the chapel, and after returning, Winter brewed tea for us.
“Is that what you brought back this time?”
“……Yeah.”
Seeing the greatsword in my hand, Winter showed interest, so I handed it over to her. Watching my uncomfortable expression, Winter tilted her head.
“Ugh. It’s really heavy.”
Grunting as she dragged the greatsword over, Winter examined it with fascination. Looking over the handle, the base, and the broken blade, she let out a quiet admiration.
“It’s really clean. Stone? It feels like some kind of material like that, but the surface is incredibly smooth. Though it doesn’t have an edge.”
I nodded. The greatsword had no edge. In truth, it was closer to a blunt weapon shaped like a sword rather than an actual greatsword.
“Was it originally broken?”
“…….”
“…….”
Winter simply asked whatever came to mind without much thought. At her question, Canis and I silently sipped our tea.
“The tea’s good~ What kind of tea is this~?”
“Ah! I’m glad it suits your taste. I heard it’s good for detoxification, so I bought some.”
Canis changed the subject naturally, and it worked well. Before long, Winter was talking about tea, and the two of us laughed along and responded.
“Anyway. Like you said, Senior, I’ll leave it for appraisal. If we’re lucky, it might even become a Holy Relic.”
At Winter’s words, Canis’s eyes began trembling. After meeting her gaze, I slowly shook my head.
“It’s probably not a Holy Relic.”
“Huh? Ah. Well, that’s unfortunate then, but it’ll still be a huge help.”
A Holy Relic generally referred to an object once used by an Apostle or a god. The Holy Scripture I possessed and the Holy Brush that had turned into the flag Winter carried both fell into that category.
There was no way a lump of stone like that could possibly be a Holy Relic.
“Then are you going to gather Believers?”
Once the conversation roughly wrapped up, Winter started another topic. It was because I had begun making moves to seriously expand the Religious Order.
“I’m thinking about it.”
Like I said before, I originally had no intention of revealing the Believers first. The taxes were considerable, so if things went wrong, it could become a disaster.
But now I was a little conflicted. Since I could receive the Imperial House’s full support, I wondered if the tax issue could be resolved.
“You two heard the rumors too, right?”
“Hm?”
The real reason I was seriously considering it was because of the events that would unfold once the second semester began. At my words, Winter and Canis tilted their heads.
“I’m talking about the Floating Island.”
Rumors spread quickly. No matter how much the academy tried to control things, it could never be perfect.
Especially since many magicians and alchemists used bizarre methods, there was no such thing as a perfect secret.
At present, rumors about the Floating Island were spreading throughout the academy. At first, the academic affairs office seemed to try blocking it, but perhaps they gave up, because now that was all anyone talked about wherever you went. Even during vacation.
“……Is that really true?”
Winter, who neither trusted nor particularly liked rumors, asked suspiciously. I nodded.
If it had only been a simple rumor, I wouldn’t have believed it either, but this was information I had heard directly from a professor.
“Then~ we’re going to get pretty busy~”
At Canis’s comment as she casually joined in, Winter’s eyes sparkled. Canis looked at her as if she found her adorable.
“The Floating Island~ is a massive event that only comes once every 60 years~ The academy will handle the preparations themselves~ but we’re focused on something else, right~?”
Winter, who knew little about the Floating Island, and I, who only knew about it through the game, both listened closely to Canis.
“The Floating Island~ is said to be a weapon created by the Empire’s First Emperor~ Back then, all the greatest magicians gathered together~ it was truly the ultimate Magitech~ The First Emperor entrusted the management of the Floating Island to a certain family~ and that family has been managing it ever since!~”
“Oh.”
At Canis’s explanation, Winter let out an impressed exclamation.
I also knew how to clear the Floating Island, but I didn’t know the detailed history behind it. More accurately, I had never looked into it because I wasn’t interested.
“One of the great magicians~ who created the Floating Island~ also founded this Museion Academy~ That’s why the Floating Island stops by the academy at certain intervals for resupply~ Anyway, enough about the Floating Island itself~ The reason we’re going to get busy is because of the events that take place inside the Floating Island~”
I already knew about that part. It was the reason I intended to enter the Floating Island in the first place.
Watching Winter’s sparkling eyes, Canis smiled cheerfully.
“If you look through the academy’s history~ every time the Floating Island descended, they held a special festival~ And from two weeks before the Floating Island arrives, a full-scale festival begins~ that’s what I’m saying!”
As if giving a speech, Canis spoke grandly, and Winter clapped her hands as though mesmerized.
“So~ that’s why Dabi’s worried~ There’s no event where people gather in one place more easily than a festival~ And that’s exactly! The perfect environment for missionary work~”
I nodded. Just as Canis said, the Floating Island event was divided into two major parts.
One was the main event that took place inside the Floating Island after it descended. The other was the festival held within the academic affairs office before the Floating Island arrived.
Since both events naturally gathered large crowds, there was no better timing if we wanted easy and convenient missionary work.
“Th-That’s true. Shouldn’t our Religious Order prepare something too?”
Only then did Winter understand my intentions, and she hurriedly began offering suggestions. I shrugged.
“You never know.”
At my skeptical reaction, both Winter and Canis looked puzzled. I didn’t think this event would be purely beneficial for missionary work.
Episode 4 would begin soon, and it would definitely be connected to the Floating Island. Since I roughly knew how Episode 4 started, it was difficult for me to expect only positive outcomes.
“Uh……isn’t this our chance right now?”
Winter asked in a small voice. Since I was ultimately the Cult Leader making the decisions, her attitude was careful.
I thought about the chaos that would unfold once Episode 4 truly began.
“You’re right. It is a chance. Now that I think about it, it’d probably be good to try something.”
At my words, Winter’s face brightened. It seemed she had secretly been looking forward to the festival. Meanwhile, Canis rolled her eyes thoughtfully.
Her expression looked like she was wondering whether a Religious Order led by me could really become successful.
“Then what should our Religious Order do? If it’s a festival, both Religious Orders and clubs will probably prepare something.”
Winter asked excitedly. Seeing her cheerful, childlike enthusiasm, I let out a faint laugh.
“We’ll take advantage of the chaos and stick straws into the Believers.”
At my confident declaration, Winter’s expression instantly turned cold.
“……Missionary work. There’s already a perfectly good word for it.”
“Yeah. Missionary work.”
Canis patted Winter’s shoulder as she muttered gloomily.
“Anyway, we should probably hold a meeting about this. Until then, Winter and Canis, try thinking up some ideas. I’ll see what I can squeeze out of the Imperial House.”
After saying that, I stood up from my seat again. Honestly, I wanted nothing more than to lie down on the sofa and take a nap under the sunlight.
Still, I hated letting work pile up even more, so I planned to finish what I could handle right now.
“You’re leaving already? To the Imperial Knight Order?”
“No. The greatsword. Appraisal.”
Watching me abruptly rise, Winter asked in surprise. After hearing my answer, she nodded and stood up as well.
She headed straight toward her work desk. She looked strangely motivated.
―She’s~ way too motivated~ I’m worried she’ll end up disappointed~.
Canis whispered carefully into my ear. That worried me too. From what I knew, the festival wouldn’t turn into a proper festival.
―Can’t be helped. She looks that excited.
―That’s~ true too~.
I answered in an equally quiet voice so Winter wouldn’t hear.
After saying that, Canis walked over to Winter with light little steps.
I stared at the two for a moment before picking up the greatsword and leaving the chapel.
“It’s probably not a Holy Relic.”
Enjoying the heavy weight of the sword in my hand, I muttered to myself.
The appraisal would be done at the Lofty Order’s grand cathedral. After walking a little along the route I had practically memorized by now, I quickly arrived.
“No matter how many times I see it, I never get tired of it.”
I wondered how something with such modest decorations could still appear so magnificent. I confidently stepped into the enormous cathedral.
“!”
My eyes met the guestbook priest I always ran into. Seeing him jump in surprise as usual made me snicker as I slowly approached him.
However, unlike usual, the guestbook priest’s face gradually turned pale.
“W-Wait a moment!”
“Stop right there!”
The guestbook priest stretched both hands out to stop me. At the same time, the Paladins guarding the inside of the cathedral all drew their swords and shouted.
I looked around with a puzzled expression. I had no idea why everyone was suddenly acting like lunatics.
“Drop your weapon!”
“Weapon? What kind of bullshit are you……. Ah, this?”
I frowned at the words of one of the Paladins. Then I lifted the broken greatsword.
The heavily guarded Paladins raised their weapons threateningly. Honestly, this felt like a massive overreaction.
“You bastards.”
“Ah, Anaye Order’s Cult Leader-nim. Weapons aren’t allowed inside the cathedral.”
Having weapons suddenly pointed at me started irritating me too. As I growled like I was ready to throw down, the guestbook priest carefully approached.
Though trembling, he spoke to me in a calm voice.
“I know that already. But this is an item scheduled for Holy Relic appraisal.”
At my indifferent response, the guestbook priest swallowed dryly.
He looked like someone dealing with a tiger that had escaped from a zoo.
“A-As part of procedure, weapon-type appraisals are traditionally wrapped. O-Of course, for other items, it doesn’t matter whether they’re wrapped or not, but weapons are a little sensitive. If it’s alright with you, could I take custody of the appraisal item? I’ll explain things properly to the Paladins!”
I tilted my head. Winter had never told me there was such a tradition. Still, judging by their reactions, it didn’t seem to be a lie.
I placed the greatsword on the floor and stepped far back. Seeing me comply so obediently, the guestbook priest let out a sigh of relief.
“P-Please wait here for a moment.”
Grunting as he lifted the greatsword, the guestbook priest received an appraisal box from another priest and placed the sword inside.
After struggling together with another priest to carry the greatsword away, he spoke those words and left.
“…….”
“…….”
An awkward atmosphere formed between the Paladins and me because of the misunderstanding. One side acted without knowing, while the other misunderstood.
We stared at each other briefly before simultaneously bowing our heads.
It was a small happening.