Chapter 216
6Djvg“How…?”PajHf
kKKxjSurprisingly, Professor Dominique remained calm.8PX4
SMSeWr“Would you like a cup of tea?”HD9un
X0AHe took out some cups from the corner of the laboratory and slowly began preparing tea.90ojSd1
OMGng“Sit down.”bW4
Xkdtf“……”B5w
GoeHh“You must have many questions. Are you going to stand the whole time?”OBh
v9L“…This, is this what I think it is?”nhx
xVGSDjDominique poured milk into the freshly prepared tea.q9Dw
y7U0“Well, if I answered so easily, it wouldn’t be any fun. What do you think?”oRw
47Oubi“…It’s true.”QUpRS
QnbJHwt“Correct answer.”2tZ
MqqoHe added sugar and stirred calmly.SiMww
gGHR“It’s the same as the books Abel Kalens and Roderick Fisher had. But…”g2O
uFT52oKHe took a sip of the sweetened tea and looked up at Aint.Hu0j4
IJB“How long do you plan on watching me from over there?”wO4ydzM
NeBMuOA───!dgxpU5
37nA sudden pressure made Aint swallow hard. It was heavy. Was this man truly a corrupt?icS6YNS
coUi“Sit down. Don’t you want answers?”PNwnV
op80V— Listen to what he has to say, Aint. That calmness is suspicious. He’s hiding something.FN6
H3JR8Gardner was right. Suppressing his anger, Aint sat down.MPx
lSJr4“…Professor, you’re a corrupt.”knSMtK3
tj4Y2“And yet you still call me ‘professor’?”PPA
GnHHe smiled.rFa464
ZJwV6“Why? Why did you become a corrupt? Were you the one who made contracts with demons inside the academy? Are you the one who created the corrupts?”N0f6gv
PbklL“Well, that’s ambiguous.”iGEAl
fFH2kDtDespite Aint’s growl, Dominique closed his eyes in thought.BGu4upd
7LDlovD“I could say yes, or I could say no.”Obyj6cE
a5d“Are you playing with words?”H9hA
qg9DF“Does it seem like I’m playing with words?”SBiPN8g
euk3A wave of miasma exploded. Aint opened his eyes wide and endured it.oiN
tMcon“Drac Vener, Aaron Frain, Roderick Fisher, Daniel Kool, Abel Kalens, Laurencios Sidis, Izard Volens.”ciKb
bt3N2ix“…What are you doing?”wdfRVM0
kz2ud“Setris Berlo, Epister Sloss, Haveron Michaelis, Lucy Allencl, Urs Evertsen, Margee Kravelin, Cornel Iorga.”yUyF
Syg5czf“I asked what you’re doing!”E4DQmq3
DcX“I’m answering. To a student’s questions, as a professor.”gFcX
3p5XAh, are there some names you don’t know?NOlR1
DqUl8“Drac Vener was just an ordinary citizen who recently ran a bookstore in the academy’s city. But, poor man, Professor Rosalia caught him accused of being a corrupt. He was tortured and is now dead.”bDV1
QyEdLaurencios Sidis, maybe you don’t know.SRwCV7G
TUedKa“He wasn’t in the academy, but in the Kingdom of Alprosen, where he faced Fernan Pellenberg.”LOmvSy
yT26VAnd as for Izard Volens, Setris Berlo, Epister Sloss, Haveron Michaelis, Lucy Allencl, Urs Evertsen, Margee Kravelin, Cornel Iorga.ZD8j7
6ldwKVc“They are the ones who, in recent months, infiltrated the academy again and again and ended up being exterminated by you and the rector.”MXg
kyPWOf those, the answer is “yes.”9b1
PaE1G“But if we talk about the other corrupts you encountered, the answer would be no.”nSFUGu8
hY5Clack. Dominique checked the pocket watch hanging from his neck.u2YN
ybqdV“What do you mean by that…?”1ou
iUHt“Do you know what all of them have in common?”BXy
b2JDk2His smile widened. The corner of his lips lifted and never came down.A7O
x4llE“That they were all me.”ZwStOsu
7abg“Then, the one responsible for turning them into corrupts was…?”8lI
Gs3H4“No, no. You misunderstand.”uRn9
e6GRewIt’s not that he created them. They were him.1JWIfW
eYplfF“Myself, Aint Armian.”xUr
xtg3UoAint’s eyes widened. Dominique’s laughter echoed in the silent laboratory.Oxq8Y3
vMj4Clang! He struck the table with the book.MGniP5
3cR7“All those who had books like this…”6txal7i
xsMgtf5“Were me.”wFJbL
WZgQ“What the hell are you saying?!”HL5
BCMo0bUnable to comprehend, Aint froze.Thhrj
3PaOQh— Wait… could it be…?nHcWkvv
vvXivGardner was shocked, but Dominique spoke first.82M5
tIRZ0Tk“I’ve been preparing for a long time to destroy the academy.”nGxOQ9
W3IHis pupils exuded a faint miasma. The inescapable pressure forced Aint into silence.Bg9wR
PBSpcb“Think about it. If the academy falls, what do you think will happen to the Empire?”hdmV2Bv
1NfkuBIt was the place where the continent’s most capable gathered. The cradle of the Empire and of the entire continent.bVxAtQ
SHYZQJDIf it disappeared, the Empire’s future would be ruined. It was the perfect spot to uproot humanity.mxpe4
YmMBut it wasn’t easy.hA1
0y59“There were too many obstacles. More than I could count.”Qej
SvuIlhEven after becoming a professor and a man from within, there were still many mountains to climb.Fn04ZD
XtKR“But I didn’t care. Time was on my side. Until you appeared, Aint Armian.”Be3Kp
4I0SaThe fallen Armian family.CD3N0XL
QRkThe boy who, against all logic, mastered the secret sword that should have vanished.CBsUjul
Rhfs“Maybe I didn’t understand what went wrong, but I knew what had to be done.”CxMX
madSEliminate him. Cut the bud before it bloomed.2nKZ
ypmsX4“Ha, but then another unexpected variable appeared…”Mcx
DWP7nDominique’s mood swung between laughter and anger, and the emotional instability chilled Aint even more.A8u3LH
cum“Fernan Pellenberg’s fall was already planned. I had carefully prepared my great blow.”37t
8HIUBBut Fernan slowly began approaching Aint and saved him several times.J5mtKQ
3fD“I had prepared so much and it all fell apart. I couldn’t believe it.”U1AkyFa
pOjLN0xHow did he do it?PlX5e5v
o6bvDEven though it was a question, he didn’t expect an answer. Dominique continued speaking.mJmzj
2e1“Demons learn. And I changed methods.”Pew
yqT2CKI decided to go back to the beginning. Half-baked methods only made Fernan turn the tables. I had to ensure it by yielding flesh to take bone.1zRN
5dX“And the beginning is the academy.”7Dsk9b
ysxWiwClack. Dominique set down the empty cup, poured more tea, added milk, and five spoons of sugar.Tqc
SsB1x“First, I planted a medium inside the academy. I’m sure you saw it. Those eyes overflowing with miasma.”BYx
LZOB“Abel Kalens…”DMnUCSu
uiwu“Exactly. Through Abel, I approached you and Fernan. Those were the Eyes of Andrealphus.”jKZyoI
6HYWCThe 65th-ranked demon, Andrealphus, possessed hundreds of eyes.W1r
Xx56“And then, I began creating those ‘mes.’ I deliberately approached you, Fernan, and the rector, and died on purpose.”Hv5
6zVKQt“…Died on purpose?”8CfI
yKyIOLYou don’t get it. That makes it even more fun.HfFr
B91Dominique gently tapped the cup with the spoon.BbC
XatG“As you know, summoning a demon requires massive amounts of miasma, mana, and life.”jTKn
Jh6fDQKYou know this well, don’t you?fL24o
9eTLlL“The Eyes of Andrealphus contain enough miasma, but not enough to summon the main body.”47ILR
9giCp4And with the rector watching so closely, producing enough sacrifices inside the academy was impossible.8pWd
ALFTByx“So I sent those ‘mes.’ As substitutes for the sacrifices. I made them die on purpose to make it look like they disappeared.”IbK9
fKz“Make it look like they disappeared…?”wWEKOqf
lO1Qv“Exactly. In reality, they didn’t disappear. They were being absorbed into the core I created deep within this island.”EflrV3
dtB71zGAh, it was quite exhausting.pxwq5O
OIN“Creating those ‘mes’ and making them die was, even for me, like tearing pieces of flesh from my own body.”WDyGwE
5FJBut I already told you, didn’t I? Yield flesh to take bone.VpuF
sOQBqONThe reason Dominique had been so exhausted for months was now clear.sUmw
7ifv“Do you know how ridiculous it was for me to watch you all, not knowing that each corrupt you killed was turning into my source of energy?”Qy4
81nS0NThanks to that, I moved the plan forward much sooner than expected. And it was so much fun.OhiWzPM
reW8qiZThank you, Aint.Godk
WhNq0h1He clapped with genuine delight, laughing like a madman.GmFZ
KB6T“Now! Months of accumulated energy. The moment is ripe. And do you know what’s missing now?”ZPbV5TL
XmUnOb“…….”qXw
zvzi“What a shame. If it had been Fernan, this conversation would be much easier. Knights are always so ignorant.”Rqsy
xT7ETsk, he clicked his tongue.ceQrNuY
D4o“The answer is the magic circle.”Mpk98Xm
OfOK59If energy was the source, the magic circle was the circuit that determined how to use it.YyTJ6q
qeyYWith such a huge amount of accumulated energy, a magic circle capable of detonating it was needed.DfAoL0v
oFV4l8“But just like with the sacrifices, with the rector watching so closely, I couldn’t draw a demon summoning circle lightly. That’s why I volunteered to handle the fireworks for the founding anniversary.”Lynb8ex
7AuSM“……!”jqRSv
WWt“A gigantic magic circle, covering the entire academy and painting the sky with beauty. Isn’t it thrilling just to think about?”QHOvCY
wYSrg1bAint stood up abruptly.jtvi
qW1TWA“I won’t let you succeed! I’ll stop you! I’ll kill you and neutralize the demon summoning!”bhYlD4B
DU1UGrowling, Aint grabbed the pendant on his neck. The sword, which had been reduced, returned to its original form.YvS
z1lB“Do you know something?”09v
SWSj4cBut Professor Dominique remained unshaken.6f9cR
ZwqYED“I agree with what Professor Rosalia said.”yXxQza
ejveOHe calmly crossed his legs and savored his tea.l5l4K
R0j0“Talking without being asked, boasting about one’s plans…”9W1RPP
ZdtjRHAnd that’s why, in the end, they fail.kehf5
bvWXS“What a great foolishness. Voluntarily exposing your weaknesses to the enemy.”SmHe
tGi1But I must admit, it’s not so bad.4Lh0cX
VYo“Your face changing, the fear and the consternation you now feel are quite entertaining.”LrIhn
cKyNow I understand why villains do such third-rate nonsense.wA0
dSLIt might become my new hobby.6KLam
dvoMP“And yet…”YbFw
WUc35oBeyond the amusement, it was true that saying too much could ruin a plan.KQcd
A2O“Do you really not understand why I’m telling you all this?”H3e2et
wDCfLX“…What?”Xpe
QcFyJWhat a pity. If it were Fernan, he would’ve already understood.0f4r2uR
NJZ939“I was surprised that you arrived so soon, but thank you for playing along.”hoo
rHXAZ7Dominique tilted his head slightly.hMj
oiY9Ps7“No matter what you think or try to do now, it’s already too late to stop it.”o1TBal
gszFWEThe plan was already in motion, Aint Armian. While you were listening to my story.cey
C1jP“I prepared a lot for this moment.”DSnv
lXnI set a trap for Fernan Pellenberg.dVcU
BNPfI cursed the rector’s grandson.GJE
H2CWI inoculated miasma into Carlo Deneb to plant suspicion in you.AnhA
RFAHHFvI dragged Aria into it and brainwashed her.odaSDy
c2hxwqAnd with that, I made sure you would come here on your own.5kKv2H
mkEF“And finally, I placed this book deliberately so that you would see it.”VEtowf
LKcThus, at this precise moment in which you are here.DpFTjC
Z22rjf“You can no longer stop its descent.”S9afSZC
7wvjbDominique threw the empty cup. Crash! The fine porcelain shattered into dozens of pieces.luvJe6X
2ciThat was the signal.E2Ba
QGc8WxClack—IZu1m
JQjnb1The laboratory door, which had been slightly ajar when Dominique entered, now closed.hSIO
hj8ITwo elf women stood in front of it.brxB69R
LZeOtJ“Aria…! Professor Nania…!”fOKW6
KYfmDRYTheir eyes were unfocused.M89z5
sdKThe summoned spirits showed hostility toward Aint.G83R8
S4aO5P3At the same time, the entire laboratory lit up.uRMBFi
V6MgWhat he had taken for simple research formulas was actually a magic circle. A massive circle forming a prison.P1q
EEuAnd then—95CkX
ibLLc3pSnap.r22zgJ
yif5YUDominique gently snapped his fingers.XOgDwo3
3OcMRing, ring—zJbKs
01dThe lab’s alarm clock struck exactly seven.xdGw
ehq5g8tImmediately—LHC4mbc
XvCoH─────!cM3
kKKHaThe fireworks exploded outside the window.yNgIkbT
aBimA massive Saintbird of pure white fire soared across the skies of the academy.vcol
3a8nWt1“Never.”WeH0qZ
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