Episode 153. The inauguration ceremony everyone is waiting for (1)
The atmosphere of the bachelor’s school quickly recovered. Although there were some injured people, there were zero casualties, and the masterminds were successfully subdued.
Currently, people from the clergy lineage, including Professor Stella, are treating the injured. Thanks to this, the treatment of the injured is progressing quickly.
Her abilities and actions were not lacking as a saintess. On the other hand, another saintess could not show her face in front of everyone.
The one who appeared in front of her was Professor Radian. What he was asking for was a one-on-one conversation, but there was no reason for her, who was tightly shut, to accept it.
“There is nothing to talk about.”
Eventually, Nebia gave me a look telling me to go away. After saying that coldly, she tried to leave leisurely.
In the first place, what would Professor Radian have to say to him? No matter how hard he tried to recall his memories, he could not find any evidence of contact between them.
Moreover, he is a combat specialist who has nothing to do with his field, and he is just a professor. If he had been at least at the level of department head, he would have stopped.
If his direct priests had been present, they would have stopped Radian immediately.
“Do you remember the Frozen Slum Massacre?”
!!-
However, Nebia’s footsteps suddenly stopped. Her eyes, which had seemed somewhat bitter, began to sparkle.
Nebia was a saint chosen by heavenly revelation, but ironically, her birthplace was a slum.
The name of that area is Frozen.
“What did you just say?”
Even though they had walked quite a distance, Nebia could hear clearly.
Her natural hearing was by no means an ornament. She was able to accurately perceive the tone of a person’s voice… so Nevia had no choice but to stop.
“Follow me.”
Radian moved into the forest where there was no one. Nevia followed him quietly as if she was being led there.
For some reason, Radian’s words seemed to move her. His words had a tone that seemed like he was about to confess an important secret.
“I guess this is enough.”
The two finally reached a place where there was no one. Radian stopped in front of a river flowing in the middle of the forest.
“What do you have to tell me?”
Nevia asks him as he stops. There is a youthful earnestness in her voice that she is not aware of.
You might think that he was called in for some suspicious purpose, but there was no need to worry. No matter how you look at the feeling, there was no way Radian would do something like that.
Rather, it seemed as if he was trying to reveal something.
“I have something to say about the frozen slums I mentioned earlier.”
“You mean… you know where my hometown is, right?”
Usually, those who know the saint’s past know, and those who don’t know don’t.
No matter how embarrassing your past may be, since you are a being chosen by God, no one can touch you.
Radian also heard a lot about her origins. More specifically, the birth story of ‘Saint Nevia of Melody’.
“The Saintess’s hometown is an abandoned village in a cold region of the continent. It is said to be a den of those who could not adapt to the environment of the Empire.”
“Yes, it was already a difficult place to live because it was so cold, and because all kinds of crimes occurred frequently, it was a place where every day was hell.”
It is obvious what kind of shape an unmanaged area will take. It is geographically unfavorable and the cold may not go away, so it will continue to be abandoned.
“There were monsters swarming there. It was a place rumored to be a place where bad people gathered to form a criminal organization. That was the kind of place my hometown was born in.”
It was a place where not even a single flower could bloom. The only life that could be born was something unhealthy.
But in that place, light came down. Someone in the sky artificially sent down sunlight, and miraculously, a flower bloomed.
“Because of that, in addition to ‘Saint of Melody,’ people called me by many other nicknames. All sorts of positive expressions.”
-A ray of light that fell in a beggar village.
-A single flower blooming in a garbage dump.
-The only sunlight shining in the bitter cold.
Even though she was born in a bad place, it was the revival of the saint after 30 years.
People could not possibly view that magnificent birth negatively. That is why the expressions used to call her a saint were as positive as possible.
“But people didn’t try to understand my true nature. They were just thirsty for praising the existence of a ‘saint.'”
Surely, beautiful tree fruits grow in the sun-drenched land. But fruits grown in harsh places will paralyze the mind with their strange properties.
No matter how delicious the fruit was, if you consider the environment of the land where it was rooted, it is impossible for good fruit to have been produced.
That was the nature of Nevia herself. A saint who could never be called a saint was born.
“I didn’t know it until now either… but I realized my true nature. I think it’s been revealed to everyone through this incident.”
That’s why I couldn’t be by Angela’s side.
I couldn’t be by their side.
Also… I wonder if I can really be by his side.
“Not only did you approach me with confidence… but you even brought up my hometown. I guess you have something on your mind.”
“….”
Radian felt his lips go dry at the sight of Nebia’s appearance that he had accurately seen through.
That was also the reason why I brought up this and that to Professor Radian, with whom I had no particular contact.
Because the emotion embedded in his tone was ‘guilt’.
“I think I know since when Saint Nevia became so twisted.”
“What does that mean?”
“As I said before, it has to do with the ‘Frozen Slum Massacre’. Not only for me, but also for the Saintess.”
Frozen slum massacre.
An incident where people gathered in that harsh region rebelled against the empire and attempted to lead a terrorist plot.
However, thanks to the quick action of some imperial units, they were able to suppress them all. In other words, they were all annihilated.
However, it was not confirmed whether they were really imperial troops, and because there were many corpses left behind without any cleanup, it was called a ‘massacre’.
“There were two people with the last name ‘Kromagh’ on the list of rebels.”
Nebia’s face dried upon hearing those words. Those two people were none other than her father and older brother.
Wait, but how does Radian know that fact? And what’s the list?
“Usually, the list of those who were disposed of would disappear quickly, but if the target was a fallen noble or a high-ranking person, it would remain for a long time. Thanks to that, I was able to remember those two for a long time.”
“Professor Radian… What is your identity?”
When Nebia asked that question, Radian let out a sigh. Then his mouth moved and… he heard an incredible answer.
“A unit that immediately eliminates dangerous elements that oppose the imperial family, including former knights who protect the imperial family. The leader of the ‘Black Squad’.”
“….”
“I was the commander of the processing unit that committed the massacre at that time.”
I came to know the source of the ‘guilt’ that had been in his tone until now. Yes, the enemy who had killed his father and brother was right in front of him.
Although his father was usually businesslike, he tried to take responsibility for his family, and his brother was kind to him, his younger brother.
At that time, her mother’s anger was relatively mild. Thanks to this, Nebia’s family was able to live comfortably.
Until those two people died.
“Even though she grew up in that kind of environment, there must have been people who cared for the saintess. However, I think the saintess’s nature became distorted because the unit I led killed them.”
Before she knew it, Nebia had started to see people as trash, because after their deaths, the number of people who slandered her increased.
In reality, my father and brother rebelled against the empire and were punished. But since they are also lawbreakers from a poor slum… is it right for them to slander others?
It was disgusting.
The more I saw and heard, the more my stomach turned.
How relieved I would feel if I could just burn all those ‘trash’ things.
But because I didn’t have the strength to do that, frustration was a daily occurrence.
“So what are you trying to say? My family is a traitor to the Empire anyway. You’re not asking for forgiveness based on that, are you?”
Nominally they were villains. Isn’t it absurd to apologize after killing a villain?
Another truth came to Nebia’s ears as she pointed out such contradictions.
“No, they weren’t actually traitors.”
“yes…?”
“It was all rigged. They were just trying to improve local issues without causing any harm.”
Radian found out after the incident was over that the people he had dealt with were actually innocent people.
The Imperial Family knew this fact, yet they ordered the Black Squad to ‘annihilate the traitors who are plotting evil.’
“Believe it or not, the Imperial Court is a strange place. They always tout justice on their walls, but as I served, I learned that a lot of blood was shed to achieve that.”
From the very beginning, the point of putting guys like Jason in charge of the first team said it all.
Because the strange feeling was so strong, I had to give up everything and step down from my position as a direct subordinate to the imperial family.
“Maybe I… may have killed innocent people besides those two. It’s a wonder I’ve lived without receiving any punishment for it. Maybe…”
-Maybe it was a fate that should have been met with death a long time ago.
Because of that, Radian could feel that something was unnatural in his life.
It feels like the karmic settlement for him is being postponed or even ‘cancelled’.
But there was no way to avoid it any longer. I had called Nevia here to see if there was a price to pay.
“I have no intention of asking for forgiveness.”
It was he who caused Nevia to lose her one and only family.
Therefore, the cause of her ‘essence’ reaching that point is herself.
“I just want to… entrust my life to you, Saintess.”
Leaving your life to me… meant you could kill me right now. It might sound funny to others, but Nevia couldn’t blame her.
Because her hearing was telling her, ‘That man’s sense of responsibility is genuine.’
And that wasn’t all Radian wanted to say.
“What do you want from me even if it means doing that?”
Nebia, who noticed his intentions, asked, “What does this person want from me, even if it means risking his life?”
“Please… can you be friends with those kids?”
Nebia’s body lost all strength at Radian’s request. His earnest request was as calm and pure as the stream flowing beside him.
It was a splendor that did not match its majestic body. Standing before it, he was trying to decide what to choose.
The ‘essence’ is distorted. No, it was already distorted.
This is a situation where you commit many strange acts without even knowing it.
She gave up her desire to dominate in order to live, suddenly became obsessed with a man, and now she was even trying to take her own life.
And then he ended up joining hands with the fox who had an inferiority complex.
And why did you join hands with Jason?
What could I have gained by accompanying him?
At some point, it stopped coming to mind.
She forgot that it was she who joined hands to obtain the Holy Sword Rosaria.
The reason for this is simple. It is because we have thrown away the colored glasses that were made up of distrust toward humans.
It was a pair of colored glasses that made people look like trash. I was so sensitive that I wore them, but even after they disappeared, my body and mind felt relieved.
What would have happened if I had kept it on until now?
Maybe he too was destined to die a long time ago.
“I don’t care about your life. I don’t think I can read the situation to the point where I would stain the floor of the Academy with the blood of my faculty and staff.”
“….”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not interested in your life.”
He was the enemy of my father and brother, but I couldn’t possibly harm him. However, I couldn’t stand to leave him alone like this.
It was as if both evil and faith were strangely mixed together… but suddenly her face turned red and she hesitated.
“And… it’s not like I don’t care about those guys.”
If things had gone wrong, he would have tried to drop out. However, after realizing that his true nature had changed due to Radian’s earnest request, he felt that there was no need to do so.
Of course I will be punished for this, but it doesn’t matter. Now I am interested in the concept of ‘loyalty’.
“To do that… I need to apologize to that fox first.”
As there was always an intention to harm, there was a need for a preliminary procedure to strengthen the relationship.
It was at that moment that Radian was satisfied with the sight.
Slurp-
The trees surrounding the area began to shake. Soon, something like a beast jumped out, and I became extremely alert.
But upon closer inspection, they were both beasts and not beasts.
-Bam!
“Let go of me! You sloppy pieces of excrement!”
『Ha! To the master it is vomit, but to us it is excrement. The master is really shallow!』
“Yeah! You’re not worth eavesdropping on this important conversation!”
“You stupid spirits! You’ve already been caught!”
“huh?”
“Huh?”
It was a spirit and a genie.
The main spirit was a black snake, and the two spirits were a tiger and a lion.
Among them, the two were able to figure out who the owner of the snake spirit was.
『Damn it… I just realized I was going to fight these guys!』
“You are definitely Radon’s…”
“Oh my. Hello~”
Muto greets with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
The spirits also took on a dignified attitude, as if they were servants of a nobleman.
“Muto, come back! I’m an idiot for trusting this stupid snake!”
“Good job, guys!”
Additionally, boys and girls suddenly appeared.
The snake spirit took possession of the boy, and the spirits took possession of the smallest of the girls.
Radon Crawler.
Jenny Chain Silver.
Ruska Mad-Eye.
Mary Rudsiel.
Deciding that they could no longer hide, they simply came out.
and…
“I’ll be honest. I heard everything you just said.”
Additionally, Angela Whitegreen revealed some shocking facts.
Then, Nebia’s face hardened greatly. It was as if she had been caught in a very embarrassing secret.
“That’s why I told you not to send spirits.”
“Ouch!”
Radon hits Mary with a slap.
He was the one who sent the spirit first to eavesdrop on the conversation, but things got messed up because Mary’s spirits suddenly intervened.
“Anyway, Saint Nevia, are you our friend from now on?”
“No, that’s….”
When Jenny asks actively, his face turns pale.
“I know that feeling. You’ll get used to it soon.”
“What does it sound familiar to you?”
Ruska felt great sympathy, but she just scolded him as if he was talking nonsense.
“….”
“….”
Angela held his gaze for a few seconds. She was the first to break the silence.
“Are you serious about what you just said?”
Although Nevia was trembling at the words that were asked for confirmation, she tried hard to convey them.
“I’m sorry about everything….”
“….”
“How can I get along well?”
Angela scoffed at the somewhat cliché-like apology.
“Face to face.”
“huh?”
“Show your face.”
Oh, I’m thinking of doing that.
Although it stung a little, Nebia stuck her face out without hesitation.
And then I felt something on my face… and it was really shocking.
… !-
Something wet touches the ball and falls.
Even though it wasn’t what I expected, it was still quite a shock.
“Hey, what are you doing!”
“Huh? What?”
Nebia, who was exposed to the strange indirect contact, immediately panicked, but Angela only smiled seductively and pressed closer.
“Isn’t this the basic price?”
“Be quiet!”
Nebia was angry, erasing the part where she had kissed him with her hand. If you were to ask if she was going to get punched in the face, that wasn’t it.
Radon, who was watching it, thought.
‘I’ve been through that too.’
Then Mary appeared in the middle of the road and declared proudly.
“Friends! It’s time to do it now!”
Mary’s lips rose at the gaze of those in the audience who seemed to be asking, “What is that?”
“What the heck… It’s called ‘Initiation Ceremony’!”
Then Jenny and Ruska’s eyes lit up. They raised their heads strangely, as if the time they had been waiting for had finally come.
Mary’s smile seemed somehow eerie.
Surviving as an Academy Fraudster
