A Cadet Becomes a Prophet?! — Chapter 59

Chapter 59

The‍ story that the⁠‍ corrupt were after the replica of‌‍⁠ the Mother Tree.‍

Normally she wouldn’t have‍‌ believed it, but⁠‌ coming from Fernan‌‍ Pellenberg, and having⁠ already encountered monsters,‌⁠‍ she had no‍⁠‌ choice but to‌⁠ accept it.

‘Even‌⁠ if I hadn’t‍ met the monsters,⁠‍ I probably would‍ have pretended to⁠‌‍ believe him. That‌ too would’ve been‍⁠‍ amusing in its⁠‍ own way.’

Of‌‌ course, that would’ve‌⁠ been only to‌ earn Fernan Pellenberg’s⁠ favor, so it wasn’t the same.‌

In‌⁠ any case, she‍‍ intended to do‌ everything possible to‌⁠ protect the Mother‍ Tree, and that was the reason‍ why she had⁠‌ stayed at the⁠‍ academy when everyone else returned home.‌‌⁠

A few weeks passed.‍‍ Then an anomaly‍⁠ was detected in‌⁠‌ the fragment of‍ the Mother Tree‌ that had remained⁠‍ calm.

“…A‍⁠ part is contaminated?”‍

When did that happen?‌⁠‍

It‌‌ wasn’t as if⁠‌‌ she watched it‌ 24 hours a day clinging to‍ it, but she‍ did come two‌‌ or three times⁠⁠‍ a day to‌‌ check on its‍‌‌ state.

‘At‍ this rate, it’s not something that⁠ happened in just‍‍ a few hours.’‌⁠

It⁠‍‍ was more accurate‍ to say that‌ the contamination had seeped in slowly,‍‍ and only now⁠‍⁠ became noticeable.

Even‌⁠ if it was a replica of‍ the Mother Tree, it wasn’t as‌ if one could‍⁠ communicate with it‌‌ fluently, which made⁠‍ it all the‌‍ more plausible.

‘Could‌‌ it be that‌⁠‍ the corrupt really‌ are inside the⁠‍⁠ academy, like senior‍‌ said?’

There‌⁠ was no other‍ explanation.

Aria⁠ decided to check⁠ the recording devices⁠ Fernan had installed.‍ But aside from‌ herself, no one‍ else had been⁠ captured by them.‌⁠

‘How‌‌ can that be?’‌‍‌

Questions‍‌ pouring like a waterfall, Aria inspected⁠⁠ the surroundings of⁠ the roots.

The‍ answer lay underground.‍ The contamination had‌ started from the‌ roots.

“…Looks‌ like this isn’t something I can‍⁠ handle alone.”

If⁠‌ Fernan were around,‍‍ she would’ve rushed‌ to find him,‌ but unfortunately that‌‌ wasn’t the case.‍⁠

So,‍ she had no‍‍‍ choice but to⁠‌ look for a proper alternative. Someone‌ she could trust,‍⁠ and who was strong.

First,‍‌⁠ she went to look for Verian.⁠⁠

Since⁠ Fernan had revealed‍‌ his secret for‍ her to use‌⁠⁠ in case of emergency, there was‍‌ no reason to‍‍ doubt.

“Ah,‌ here you are, Miss Aria.”

Just‌ as Aria was⁠‌ about to head⁠‌ to see the⁠‍⁠ elemental spirit professor,‌ someone called her.‌

“Assistant⁠‍ Imelda?”

Imelda‍ was an elf,⁠‌ assistant to the⁠⁠ new professor of‍‍ spiritual studies, Nania.‍

“Sorry‌ for the sudden‌ bother, but could‌ you go immediately‌‍ to Professor Dominique’s‌‍‌ office?”

“What’s⁠⁠ going on?”

“Well,⁠‍‍ Professor Dominique had‍‍ asked Professor Nania‌ for collaboration on⁠‍‌ a research, but‌ something urgent came‍ up and she⁠ can’t go…”

Imelda‍‍‌ added that it‍ was a study⁠‍ to combine illusion‌ magic with spirit‍ magic.

“And‍ they’re asking me‌⁠ for that, a student?”

“…Yes,‍‌‌ well…”

“Bah,⁠‍ fine. If it’s‍ a request from⁠ my sister—I mean, from the professor—I‌‌‍ can do it.‌ After all, ties‌‌ of blood and‍⁠ region are important.‌‍ And since I’m‌‍ in the academy now, I guess⁠‌ it counts as an academic network⁠ too, right?”

“…That.”‌‌

“You‍⁠‌ said it was‍‌ Professor Dominique, right?”‌⁠‍

Aria⁠ left with a smile.

***‌

“…As⁠ I was saying,‍⁠ this is research‍ to combine illusion‍ magic with spirits. We need the help of people‌ who can handle spirits fluently within‌ the academy.”

Professor Dominique, after explaining‌‌ everything, pushed up⁠⁠ his glasses that‍⁠ slid down his‍‌ nose.

“I‍ understand why you‌ need my help.”

Spirituality‍ was a field‍ where innate talent had a huge‌ influence, and in‌⁠ which no one‌ surpassed elves.

“I shouldn’t be asking⁠⁠ this of a student, but could you help us?”‍‌

“Yes, of course.”

“Thank you very much.‍‌‍ Ah, what a blunder of mine!‍‍ I have a visitor and I didn’t bring any tea. What would‌‌ you prefer?”

“Any‌ tea you have‌ is fine.”

Professor‍ Dominique personally brought‌ the tea and⁠ some pastries. He‍ prepared coffee and⁠ added non-dairy cream,⁠‍ stirring with a teaspoon.

“What’s⁠‌ expected of you is simple. Illusion‌‍ magic and spirits‌‍‍ hmm, needs a little more cream.”‌⁠⁠

He⁠⁠ added a bit⁠ more and stirred⁠‍ again with the‌ teaspoon.

“…The‍ idea is to‍ insert spirits into‌‍ the different components⁠ of illusion magic⁠‌ to create more‌⁠ organic illusions. Illusions,‌ after all, deceive‌ the other’s senses,⁠ but if…”

He‌ added a spoonful‌⁠ of sugar.

“If⁠ mixed with living‍‍ souls, then…”

He‍ added another. Aria,⁠⁠ without realizing it,⁠‍ fixed her gaze⁠‌ on the spoon⁠⁠ swirling circles in‌⁠ her cup.

“You‍‍ like it quite‍ sweet, don’t you?”‍

“A‍ bit childish, I know. But I can’t stand bitter‍‍ things.”

Professor‌⁠‌ Dominique gave a clumsy smile and‍⁠⁠ continued explaining. Meanwhile,‌‍ he added another‍‌ spoonful of sugar,⁠ and the teaspoon⁠‍ kept turning in‍ his cup.

For⁠ some reason, she‌ couldn’t stop staring‍‌ at it.

“…Did‍ you understand?”

“So,‌ when the magic‌ circle is activated,⁠‌⁠ all I have⁠ to do is stand in the‌ indicated position and‌ perform the required‌‍‍ movements, right? Doesn’t‌ seem complicated.”

“Exactly.‍‌ Though it won’t‌ be today…”

After‍ further explanations, Aria⁠ left Professor Dominique’s‌ office.

‘…Wait⁠ a second. So‌‌ Nania unnie isn’t‌ in her office‌⁠⁠ right now?’

If she couldn’t make‌‍‍ her appointment with⁠‌ another professor and‌‌ sent a student‌⁠‌ in her place,‌ she must be‍ really busy.

‘Then,⁠ who should I go to…?’

At‌⁠ that moment, someone‌ called her.

“Miss‍ Aria.”

“Assistant‍ Aron.”

“What⁠‍‌ are you doing⁠⁠ around the professors’⁠ area?”

“Professor‌ Dominique asked me‌‌ for a favor,‍ so I came⁠⁠ to help a little.”

“Really?⁠⁠ Strange for Professor‍‍⁠ Dominique to ask‍⁠‍ something of a student.”

Aron‌ chuckled and brought‍ closer the book‍‍ he carried in‌‌‌ his hands.

“Ah,‍ now that I think about it,⁠⁠ can I ask⁠ you something?”

“What‍ is it?”

“It’s‍ a book of‍‌ spiritual studies, but‍ I don’t understand…”⁠

He carefully opened the⁠‍ book.

“There’s nothing in it…”⁠‍⁠

At‍ that moment, their‍‌ eyes met. Aria‌‌ felt a soft‌ light gleam in‍ Aron’s eyes.

“Assistant,‌‍⁠ in your eyes…”‍⁠

“My⁠⁠ eyes? What about⁠ them?”

“No,‌ nothing…”

Looking‍‌ again, they were‌⁠⁠ normal eyes.

‘What’s‍ wrong with me?’ she thought, shaking‌ her head.

“And⁠ where were you‌‌ going?”

“Hmm,⁠⁠‌ well…”

Where⁠‌ was she going,‌⁠ exactly? Looking out‌‍⁠ the window, she⁠⁠ saw the sun‍‌ was already setting.⁠⁠

“To‍‍ the dorms. I feel tired, I wanted to sleep⁠ a little.”

“Well,‌ it’s already a bit late. Rest‍ well, see you‍‍ later.”

“Yes.”

Aria‍ said goodbye with‌ a bow and⁠‍ left.

***‌

That‍‌ night.

Verian‌ waited two hours at the agreed‌‍‌ spot before returning to Ravidus Pavilion,⁠‌ grinding his teeth.⁠⁠

“Damn‌ Fernan… He said‍ it was a secret, but he’s⁠ been telling it⁠‍‍ all over the‌ place.”

He needed to find‍ a way. One‍‍ way or another.

And‌ the next day,⁠⁠ when he planned‌ to confront Aria,‌ Verian had a strange sense of‍‍ déjà vu.

“Hey,‍‌ can you come‍‌ to the forest‍‍ for a moment‌⁠ later?”

Same‍‌ place.

Same‌‌ person.

And even the same‌ conversation.

Even⁠⁠ the beginning was⁠ exactly the same‌‍ as the day‍‍ before.

“To‍ the forest?”

“Yes. Actually, a branch‌ of the Mother‌‌ Tree is planted‍‌⁠ here and I’m‍ in charge of⁠‌⁠ protecting it. But‌‍ it seems there’s‌ been a problem.”‌

“And‌⁠ since you shouldn’t‌ be asking me‌⁠ for help but‍ a problem came‌⁠‍ up, you’re going‌‍ to ask me‌ anyway?”

“Eh?”⁠

Aria‌ slightly furrowed her⁠ brow.

“Fernan‍ told you to‌ trust me, that⁠ you could ask‌ me for help,‌‍ even telling you that I was‍ once corrupted?”

“…How⁠ do you know⁠ that?”

Her‌‍ eyes widened.

‘Hey,‌‌ what are you⁠ doing now…?’

Verian‍‌ growled in anger.‌⁠

“Do‍ you think I’m‍ an idiot just‌ because I lost⁠‍⁠ to Aint?”

***‍

“…So I insulted that‍ stupid elf Aria!⁠ She repeated the‌ same thing as⁠‌‌ yesterday, and again,‍ and again. I thought she had‍‌ dementia or something.”‍‌‌

Verian finished his tale‍ proudly.

“And after that?”

“…Eh?”

“What⁠⁠ did you do⁠‍ after that?”

“…That…”⁠

He⁠⁠ tilted his head,‌ confused.

“What‍⁠ was it that‌ I did…?”

“You‍⁠‍ didn’t do anything.”‍‌

“Ah,‍⁠ right! That must‍ be it. If⁠ I had done‍⁠ anything else, I would remember.”

“You’re a genius, Verian.‌ Logical to the‌ end! As expected⁠‍ of the third‍ place in the‍ Knight Department.”

“I’m‌‌⁠ not third, I’m‌ vice representative!”

“Are⁠ you stupid or‍⁠ what? The vice⁠‍ representative is Aint!”‌

“Being⁠‍ third is good⁠ too!”

Fernan⁠‌ let out a dry laugh at⁠‌ the sight of⁠ those two fools‍‍ exchanging nonsense.

‘What‍‍ a headache. If‍‍ only there were⁠ a clear solution.’

“What⁠‍ do you think?”⁠

“My⁠‌ lord, you’re right.⁠‍ They’ve been tainted by corrupt magic.”⁠

“I‌‍‌ suspected as much,⁠ but it’s real⁠⁠ then.”

“Yes.‌‌ Apparently, it’s a mental spell that affects the brain.‍⁠‍ Tracing the traces,‌ it looks more‌⁠‍ like simple suggestion‌‍ than anything advanced…”⁠

The saint examining their‍‌ heads showed a faint anger.

“The‍ amount of corrupt‍ magic accumulated and‍ ended up partially‍‍ blocking the flow‍⁠‌ of mana in‍ the brain. Naturally,⁠ their memory would‍ be affected. Damn corrupt bastards. They‍‍ should be exterminated‍ to the last.”⁠⁠

“How‍ many times did they have to be attacked to end up like‌‍ this?”

“To‌ reach this level,⁠‍ at least ten⁠ times.”

“What‌ kind of idiots…?”⁠⁠

Did‌ they really fall‍ into the same‌‌ trap more than‌‌ ten times? He⁠‌ didn’t know whether‌⁠ to praise the cunning of the‍ corrupt or pity‍ the stupidity of⁠‌ Verian and Aria.‍

“No treatment?”

“The‍⁠ amount of corrupt⁠ magic is minimal,⁠⁠ so it won’t⁠ be difficult. But since it’s the‍‌ brain, even a small dose causes problems. So…”

“Does‍ it cost money?”‍⁠‌

“My⁠ lord, you guessed‌‌ it right away!”⁠‌

This⁠ guy was so⁠ predictable.

But⁠ in a way,‍‌ that reassured him. At least this one didn’t seem‍ to have been‍ manipulated by the corrupt.

After‌‍ all, nothing is‌ more terrifying than⁠ a money addict.‍‌

“If⁠‌ Holy Light is‍⁠ used directly on‍ the brain, there‌ will definitely be side effects. We⁠ confirmed that last‍‌‍ time, didn’t we?”‍‍

“Was‍⁠‌ there any need⁠⁠ to confirm something‍⁠ like that?”

He⁠‌‌ could already imagine‌⁠⁠ what would happen‍‌ without needing to⁠⁠‍ experiment.

“Magic⁠‌ is also a science of verification.⁠ Nothing is confirmed⁠‍ without concrete results.‍ But since the‍ brain is a very sensitive area,‍ we plan to‍‌ use holy water to make it⁠ gentler.”

“How‌⁠ exactly?”

“We⁠ immerse the head‌⁠ in holy water‌ and use purification magic.”

The‌‍‌ saint explained that the skin and⁠ pores would absorb‌ the water, along‍ with the mouth⁠ and nose as‌ they swallowed while⁠ being agitated.

“Is purification magic safe?”‍‍

“Compared to Holy Light,⁠ it’s much safer.‍‍‌ Of course, it’s⁠ also less effective, but the aid‍ of holy water‍⁠ compensates quite a bit.”

“Do⁠ it right now.”⁠‌

There‍ were many things‌⁠ he wanted to‌‍‍ ask those two‍‌‍ fools. Especially about⁠‍‌ the state of‍ the branch of⁠⁠ the World Tree.‌

“However,‍⁠⁠ since it affects⁠⁠‌ the brain and nervous system, the⁠ pain won’t be⁠⁠⁠ light at all.”⁠

“I⁠ don’t care. It’s‌‍ not my body.”‌

“True. This room has‌ excellent soundproofing. Then,‍⁠ how are we⁠⁠ going to handle⁠ payment?”

“I’m not their guardian.”‌

“Fridian‌‍‍ and Kalburdern can‍ cover the expenses‌‍ without trouble. Then‍ that’s how we’ll‌ do it. Could‍‍ we borrow two‍ basins?”

The⁠⁠ shopkeeper brought two‍ small basins, and⁠ Jace poured holy‍ water into each‌⁠ one.

“…Huh?‍ What’s that…?”

“What‌‍ the hell…?”

And‍ before they could‍‍ react, Jace grabbed‍ both of their‍⁠ necks and shoved⁠ their heads into‍‌‌ the holy water.‌‍

“Guaaaarrghhhhghkkgh…!”⁠⁠

“Kyaaaaahhhggggkkghkk…!”⁠

Bubbles‍ began to rise⁠ as they struggled⁠⁠ violently.

“The⁠‍ will of God⁠ is absolute. This‌ too is a trial set before‌‍ you. If you endure with patience, the evil will‌‍ be purged.”

A light of sacred⁠ appearance began to⁠ seep into their‌‌ brains.

“M-mercy…‌ glubglub…”

“You‌ won’t die. Only⁠‍ demons die.”

May‌‍ the blessing of‌‍ mana descend upon‍ you.

“It’s‌ going up my‍‌‍ nose, ghrrrk…!”

“Yes,⁠‍ it must also‌ enter through the‍ mouth and ears.”‍‌⁠

“This‍‍ is insane… glub…!”‍⁠‍

“You‍ are not yet⁠‌ completely purified. Repent.‌‍‌ Though you were‌‌ seduced by corrupt‍ magic and abandoned‍ mana, the great⁠ mana is still⁠‌ merciful.”

Jace⁠‍ pressed their heads‍⁠ down harder into‌‍ the water as‌‍‌ he bowed his⁠ head solemnly in‍ prayer.