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.