Chapter 336: Succession of the Academy Exchange (4)
SxQDIt was a sea of fire.I2b1bFN
6vZI scanned the area around me.N8njCk
Wqh5A snow-white mountain range—the Alps, so dazzling they hurt the eyes.ycUcU8
jy7Yet here and there, black fungus-like growths marked scorched spots. Beyond the jagged peaks, a faint reddish glow flickered.OWPM
EkOThe sky was a whitish gray, veiled in suffocating smoke, and the earth was completely stained a deep crimson.ZhmJ
a3KPChIf you looked up, it felt like you’d go blind. If you looked down, your eyeballs seemed like they’d boil.UQ2P
qlQUdOThat’s how radiant Parsy Academy had once been.l7gKg
wSxPiIThat’s why I couldn’t reconcile this hellish scene with that one.RfWcF
O7d2FAIf not for the statue of Parsy’s headmaster, I probably wouldn’t have recognized it so quickly.rRDUl
H9zBwDEven that statue was melting like ice cream, revealing only the metal framework beneath.SAnjC
kNYA monstrous form, like a six-meter-tall anatomical model from a laboratory, looked as if it had been pulled from a horror story.RExmOBm
jMPhOqBut compared to the crowd filling the academy grounds, that anatomical figure was no more than a child’s toy.kFKDvFY
xE2Fwooooosh!VDy
jqXVPeople bowed in prayer toward the rising flames. Some wore thick robes, their lips moving nonstop. Simultaneously, they snapped their fingers repeatedly.CJBiRaQ
hVJWWsZ“Are they… using magic…?”uVT
JTUkGVsI shuddered.vvB
kOWsECHumans can use magic.31T
rcOLike the villains of the past who made contracts with Corp Commanders.15OTX
T7X5HsIf this was the work of those remnants causing chaos, it would almost be preferable. You’d just need to hunt and crush them.OCqz
veP‘But this isn’t contract magic.’NdJ
XSnVbThey weren’t villains. They were drawing mana on their own to cast spells.rGg
lwEezAwI could see it.IcTW
cxw3Tiny light particles flowed as if attracted to their hands. My eyes picked up the stream of mana.xVUz1j
xcmqo9xIf I had to give them a name they would be mages.DVo
NUs5oA class that doesn’t exist within Miracle Blessing M.sjyat
AxaTyFAmong humans, only villains pretend to use magic. The idea is to use their lord as a fuel tank to borrow mana.Nvy
Kv8Because the human world isn’t an environment where mana naturally flows.vJewiW
ubCIX7That’s why this is an illusion.DDb
mU3A scene that breaks the world’s logic like shattered glass.nyn4m
TtB9QA falsehood. How many of the universe’s foundations are being shaken right now?IIAr0
jAFyoE9No way.95F
yRuB0h‘This can’t be real.’XOG7neA
KiOXAt that moment, my vision wavered. I raised a hand to my temple.jhA0Zz
OuqpE“Ugh…”XoHfXP
iI6AMy head throbbed from the inside. The scene was too vivid.9HABL
JbQFgThis technique was indistinguishable from reality.Hbx4h3Z
ebbb‘This isn’t just an illusion…’K3uV
hSzgaBThen, from ahead, as if responding to my thoughts, a voice rang out.cYR
cXRS“It’s not.”fJnZ
drX10It was Chaerina.4CwvmN
spfoPx“You know this isn’t just an illusion, ■■. No matter how much you run from reality, nothing will change.”vWx
g79It’s the future. That’s what Chaerina meant.4zLTqbb
4nLR7“You have an incredible talent… Even with the Poet of Media’s Blessing, you can only glimpse fragments of the future, but you… you, even under suppression, can draw it. Your ability is practically cheating.”DB0P
kNDI cut her off.w0kzx
pV2IeB‘Under normal circumstances, I would’ve drawn my sword before speaking.’M1iCJsF
vCabccnBut I couldn’t now. My body wouldn’t budge an inch.HlEqa
FQfIt felt like seaweed had wrapped around me from ankles to waist, immobilizing me. Seemed like Chaerina had done something.6hB
QNWDid she call it “Gleipnir”? [1]k2nZfu
MTNnYRz“What you’re bound by now isn’t Gleipnir. It’s Humbaba, the dimensional chains.”i58F8G
n4G…Can she read my mind?SCrknWk
9LXBv“It’s a suppression measure designed to restrain a demigod like you. Or perhaps a limitation you placed on yourself.”gLhfCu
4uZChaerina spoke with her usual indifferent tone, saying incomprehensible things.smKJRk
6nXpE6But her gaze held an odd sympathy. As if she pitied me. As if she regretted something.FUNTXC
oPgCt“How long do you plan to stay stuck in your adolescence? If you keep this up, everyone will suffer.”WZ3wo
kxlX“…Coming from someone who introduced herself as a herald of hell, you sure care a lot about others…”3lW
RsqA trickle of blood ran from my nose. Before it could hit the ground, it instantly evaporated.wTW
h8SfGkTThat’s how scorching the heat was beneath both Chaerina’s and my feet.fOvXIM0
NdhpHumans were using magic. Worshipping an unnatural fire, born of mana.uW4
qG5aIf the world had been destroyed by a demonic assault, we could rebuild.A75xl
DifGPXRAfter all, the Joaquin Academy had done it before.qgQ
lFSOf‘But if humanity itself has fallen…’VGvAV
7Rzm7jThen there is no salvation.qksJOn
HkzI didn’t know if she was a regressor, a possessed, or a reincarnated being—but that damn beautiful girl whose true identity was unknown, who claimed to have seen “hell”—RX4
LxFeShe spoke of a world where the laws of the universe, its foundation, had crumbled.Bd5Ykk8
oDztV“I saw this damn hell. It’s not that I am hell itself. In fact, I want to stop it. And for that, ■■, I need your help.”BBLE5zS
sJCgUJ8A plea filled with layered meaning. With no explanation or context, she asked for cooperation.tdcW5fw
JH43UpPEven so, the message was clear between the lines.Un5dl3
rjo56nTThough incomplete, I am the God of the Sword. Fragments of the truth rest in my mind, allowing me to roughly grasp Chaerina’s words.xAd
dj8“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m no mythology expert, but I at least know that ‘Hel’ is part of the end-of-the-world myth.”iGKi
bzrtDI wiped the blood from my upper lip with the back of my hand and, blood still on my lips, spat words at Chaerina.ptzjI
be4Gm“Just because my affinity is hell doesn’t mean I’m evil. Just as you, even as a God of the Sword, are desperately trying to hold this crumbling world together.”8suvZuT
WQxc7kuI had no rebuttal to that.dUE6AT
LR04“This world is falling apart.”fHT
wqb“…”NgATzg
PTMIY3G“■■, the fact that you’re still shackled to your adolescence is what’s slowly rotting this world. Though…”az5NgP
prQYrPSChaerina looked down.9bJmD
Db8KBelow, a crowd of humans lifted their heads as if struck by an anti-aircraft cannon. Their eyes were fixed on us.HO5K
5GEZp“Ahh! Look! The brothers of the apocalypse!”PLwy
ko5q26“Oh, ruler of Niflheim, oh wolf who devours heaven and earth! We can only thank you for granting us this equalizing power…!”jtBLOtc
f1AWithin the illusion, the people praised us with tears in their eyes.G8g
wMd“Oh, almighty one in the form of a boy!”RQE6vy
YkOWVRg“Unleash your power!”xb8
mJq“Show us true magic!”KEkK
gq6jeVChaerina watched them from above. A bright fire burned in her astonished eyes.YtlUhX
vGd“All worlds are destined to be destroyed, but if we join forces, maybe we can hold everything together.”smf
k0YVTKd“What the hell are you—”xU8dWU
JgIdX“We are the agents of the apocalypse.”rvX
jLfOChaerina suddenly stepped closer. A sweet scent drifted through my hair.J4DIW
2dSF“I am the dominator of Niflheim. That woman who pretends to be a saint is the serpent that coils around Midgard. And you are the wolf that devours the universe.”JJCG
yq27nmHer delicate hand brushed my chin. It felt rough.XPfgZ8P
2DcHE“We, the agents of the apocalypse, will swallow the force of suppression. And if we stabilize the phenomenon with that—”kU3SvK1
Tqo“Don’t talk nonsense.”t2U
Qdf2tm“…Huh?”RyV
lGLI looked straight into her wide, black eyes.CPbwm
kHgYOH“I get it now. You’ve got impressive skills. Hel? Gleipnir? Whatever. You even trapped me in this illusion and tied me down. But I’m the God of the Sword, and being bound by a kid is humiliating.”SyqzLf
tKwMMy hair began to lift slowly.2ues
JILPkfs“Chaerina, instead of thinking about how to prevent the apocalypse, you should be worried about what happens when I break out of this illusion. When you pretended to be my cousin, I let it go. But if this continues, I won’t just sit back.”hk9tcyQ
roTe“…When this illusion ends, you’ll lose your memory too.”vyWhtkJ
oFJ04JChaerina bit her lower lip with barely contained anger.zd1
v77Ilr“Do you know why? Because even though you’re close to omnipotent, you gave up omniscience by choosing pathetic humanity. You could have been great. Why did you throw that chance away?”U2T
m8d“Because I’ve always done whatever I wanted. In my past life, and in this one too.”aed9vQ
gvi20As I spoke, still bound by invisible threads, I only shrugged.1uxTFFe
7isAnd then, suddenly, a screech interrupted the moment.X0g
1bwn16Caw!9XJ63j
yKm0YTO***aLqWUfg
LrGeI’m happy.aygc
GzsDI know that blind love isn’t always returned. I’m no longer a child.cU5yN
raoiuOThat blonde human, Rachel, she’s just too developed. I’m also a full-grown woman now.Dqk
TKuP55QI learned at Joaquin Academy that what matters isn’t physical development, but mental growth. I spent three autumns with him, and I’ve matured too.HfJ9Hho
Qc2Thank goodness that, despite my family’s and my grandfather’s opposition, I decided to join the Wolf Class.WqO
Jwtn7mKIt was the best decision of my life.CHt2
1r19No, on second thought, it was the first time I ever made a decision on my own and acted on it.zM1Dh
lndb1pBHow did I get the courage? There’s no need to explain.jJV3NZM
JeDjsFThere’s someone I’ve always wanted to be with… Even though we’re a little distant now, I’ve been watching him from afar.qiEOq3s
2fUStill, I’m happy. Because he’s alive, because if I want to, I can go see him.ZnPircq
CzYEoUOReally?tFH
W89gVYes, really!mYAn5s
oeDoIsLosing him was entirely my fault. I can’t blame anyone else.bCci5
FEqI was immature back then, and thinking I was being a burden to him, I avoided him. Being unable to imagine a future with him was entirely my own mistake.38Jf
tLo0vAnd so, you’re going to give up?efvpT
AJz4JI…zUnt3pW
YJus59II…fGDRGLH
xlXDFrom now on, I’ll give it my all.WSY
jm7XyI’ll clear every obstacle in his path with my own hands. I didn’t like getting my hands dirty before? So what?qvJ4JD
tYqgXLkAh, ah, right! I’m not saying I’ll hurt his friends!gW2M
QhDa0The people who protect him are precious friends to me too.0Pw4
iAtThis isn’t a coward’s excuse.8KuSk
XskpIt’s sincere—completely sincere, without a single lie.6G8v
RrA4And I truly believe this sincerity will reach him.2wFEaiz
ofr8ucI couldn’t express it when I was clumsy and naive, but this time, I’m sure it will reach him.rAvqTF
BTD2And if someone gets in the way?EXW
JjiOKjyT-those things don’t matter.0CGkM8Z
EMIWhy?xggbHuY
6QhBecause I’ll eliminate them all.YLx2iH
f8cpGYou know what? Crows survive by feeding on corpses. People only see that and think they’re bad omens, but not in Mongolia or Tibet.HCX5vIN
CFcThere, they have a funeral tradition called “Sky Burial.”DIy
1gyThey believe the soul of the deceased ascends to the celestial palace with the crows.KqKxL
kTt4l8Don’t tell me you—WC1WfIq
mPpznjI“….”AkQC
BqBUjPHHeavenly Sword.vUYT
oVnJsRKI love you.IPgQ7
YhC0T7h“So…”L2lsl
rwpwKBNLove me too.bZgdGC
vqdG3q***tC4yEO
qPt“…Hugin? Munin? What are you two doing here?”H8F
XJcApMiAs soon as Chaerina muttered that, a large crow positioned itself between us.2htwF
7qqIt ruffled the feathers around its neck and fiercely shoved Chaerina back.7PBu
9DM8HgSCaw! Caw!BjcdSYV
gHmChaerina had no choice but to move away from me. I felt a slight weight on my left shoulder.3nvc
NUpTHA large crow landed gently on it.6f8Hv5
3lYtCaw!Ce2Fe0
GWywAnother crow gripped my other shoulder with its talons, like a claw.5MUQUz
1gs8HfThe crow on the left stared intently at Chaerina, as if to keep her at bay, while the one on the right pecked me gently with its beak.JgwX21D
ql98K5It didn’t wound me. In fact, as it moved its head like a woodpecker, I began to regain my freedom of movement.YQP
GmMAt the same time, I started to break free from the bond that shackled my soul.YtSE1
wuLSYoWhisper.dHa
3k68I closed my eyes, feeling a sense of release. The illusion shattered like glass struck with a hammer.8Tnb
prm2RAThe fragments reassembled to form reality once again.yrink
xLfCrackle…efncnRU
wIanThe scent of fresh grass brushed against my nose. I felt the pure air filtering through the folds of my mind.U0HFR8
BbZgG9When I opened my eyes, a red hue filled my field of vision.EeaNLUt
HkjP8Grrrrk…QLl
FOMqVA familiar figure passed by my side, dragging a katana along the ground.5x2t
pyhpz5FWhoosh!m8qUK
Fb0pEHer red hair fluttered in the night breeze.k9SrwpA
UO5“Heavenly Sword, are you alright?”wI9E
gwLZphsThe gaze that landed among my hair was murkier than a pomegranate seed.1WAR8z
CM1QThis wasn’t the Chloe I knew.izb
bcIzIp“This time, I’ll save you.”Glf
dic6Ten years had passed.8P9c
bZQcQT/N:i8vcRhD
HG99Bse(1): In Norse mythology, a magical rope used to bind the monstrous wolf Fenrir.QdydmKT
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