Chapter 120

Since Harden and Diar were of a similar age (?), they had similar thoughts.

And even if he hadn’t been told, someone of Diar’s level would have recognized Roan’s identity anyway.

A diary’s status also differed like heaven and earth depending on whose diary it was.

—Oh, the Principal did…

—As expected, was the rumor true that student Darc is drawing attention?

The professors cheered and rejoiced, completely unaware of Roan’s true feelings.

They seemed to think that if they could only bring Roan under their wing, they would have no worries about research funds.

[By the way, you have a cute lizard. It’s been a while since I last saw one.]

Diar spoke indifferently, as if only just discovering the Abyssal Dragon.

Since he boasted a long friendship even with the ancient dragon that had met Harden, it was natural that he had little interest in a baby Abyssal Dragon.

Kyat—!

Perhaps annoyed by Diar’s attitude of ignoring it, the Abyssal Dragon made a threatening sound.

“Behave yourself, Bell.”

*But I feel bad!*

Tarararak—!

Kki-it—!

However, as Diar sent pages flying rapidly toward it, its spirit was quickly crushed, and it hid behind Roan.

Nonetheless, the paper sent by Diar tracked the Abyssal Dragon to the end without losing it, and disappeared into dust after colliding.

[Tsk tsk, completely different from Eldavius. What an insolent fellow. Behave politely!]

Eldavius was the name of the Abyssal Dragon in the past.

Diar said so and returned to his place.

The Abyssal Dragon only poked its head out and cried out sadly, perhaps still feeling aggrieved.

[At any rate, since we have new students, let’s start from the beginning. Is there anyone with complaints?]

—None!

The professors replied vigorously.

They seemed to feel a strange sense of relief about starting from the beginning.

……In truth, most of them had taken Diar’s class out of curiosity about the Divine Language, only to be unable to drop out and remain trapped until now.

‘Which means that, for the most part, we will also have to take this class the entire time we are at this academy…’

Roan did not bother to tell that secret to Sion and Demona.

There were many things in the world that made one happier not knowing.

Actually, for Roan, the Divine Language was one of the few skills taught at Akerandir that could actually be utilized, so taking the class was not a loss.

[Good. As you all know, the Divine Language was the language used during the Age of Gods and Humans. You insolently call it Ancient Hilonian, but in fact, it is completely different. Hilonian is not even on the level of an imitation of the Divine Language.]

Diar gave various basic explanations about the Divine Language.

Just as he said, it was called Ancient Hilonian, but that was strictly a name given after the Empire conquered the continent.

Unlike holy magic, the Divine Language did not even use holy power.

The Divine Language was a power exerted through the status of existence itself.

In “God and Devil”, the status of existence was a hidden stat calculated through a complex formula based on the talent stat.

It did not consume holy power, mana, black mana, or anything else.

Therefore, even a devil was capable of using the Divine Language.

As long as they possessed a sufficient talent stat, or had enough time to bridge the gap.

And if they could swallow their pride enough to learn the language of the gods.

In fact, in the very rare scenes where a devil used the Divine Language, dialogue or illustrations depicting the imperial people falling into shock were sure to appear.

‘In the case of the Divine Language at least, it should be viewed that everyone starts from an equal starting line.’

Concretely, the fact that Beleck was taking this class proved that truth.

Moreover, Roan did not doubt for a moment that if it were the character ‘Roan Darc’, he would definitely be able to use the Divine Language.

‘Well, with a talent stat of 100, wouldn’t I be able to use it in about three years?’

Though he would have to put in that much effort.

[……At any rate, I do not expect you greenhorns to use the Divine Language at will. Just recording and interpreting it is enough. Surely you do not believe the Principal will remain in this world forever?]

At Diar’s words, the professors’ expressions became quite solemn.

Currently, the only entities in the Empire capable of conversing in the Divine Language were at most Harden and Diar.

In other words, if Harden became Hiloa’s apostle or ascended to the heavenly realm as a god altogether, the lineage of the Divine Language would effectively be severed.

The goal of this class was to teach the Divine Language to talents and entrust them with Diar’s maintenance.

……Just for reference, it was a first-year class.

Diar turned his gaze—if a book could be said to have a gaze—and asked Roan.

[So, Darc. Have you ever learned the Divine Language anywhere? You seem to know it quite well.]

Roan wore a complicated expression.

In fact, he had learned it directly from Diar himself.

As Roan stood unable to answer, Demona stepped forward in his stead and shouted.

“Roan learns it directly from his parents! They appear in his dreams and tell him!”

Sion, though not as loudly as Demona, nodded beside her to lend support.

Hearing those words, the professors each looked at Roan with pitying eyes.

It was because they knew the circumstances of the Darc family all too well.

While it was hard to believe the claim that they appeared in his dreams and told him, they could understand his heart in speaking that way to his friends.

Though he looked like that on the outside, wasn’t he still a young boy?

But Diar’s thoughts were slightly different.

Pararak— flutter—

Diar remained lost in thought, moving his inner pages back and forth.

‘Handling the Divine Language in the subconscious…?’

The Divine Language was an area immensely influenced by talent.

Even if he had seen related materials since he entered the academy after being at the Holy Emperor’s Palace, to reach a state better in some aspects than the flying and crawling professors?

‘Was that fellow’s word true…?’

Diar recalled a conversation he had with Harden not long ago.

—You know the Darc family, right?

—Of course I do, those eccentric bastards. How could I forget. Just a short while ago too…

—When was that? Anyway, it seems a fellow will take the Divine Language class. But he’s a black mage.

—What? A black mage enrolled?

—Well, somehow. But he’s an unusual fellow.

—……Of course, if a black mage enrolled here, he must be unusual, no?

—……Anyway.

—No matter how unusual, he’s still a black mage. Those Darc bastards, they are impossible to pin down anyway. Still haven’t come to their senses even after being destroyed. Though, if he’s a black mage, the Divine Language would at least be better.

—Yes, yes. And it’s still a guess, but… for now, his talent is above mine.

—???

—And perhaps…

Since Diar had spent a long time with Harden, he was well aware of his abilities as well.

Hiloa’s favor was not something one could win by playing neighborhood games.

The one Hiloa recognized as having a status most similar to herself since the Age of Gods and Humans was precisely Harden.

Whatever their personal relationship was, Diar fully acknowledged it.

‘He said above himself, so this was why.’

Diar could fully guess what Harden’s words “above myself” were referring to.

Therefore, he took seriously even the dream story that others would have simply laughed off or felt pity for.

In Diar’s long life, talent would reach a singularity once it rose above a certain threshold.

Pondering, Diar decided to perform a test.

[Since it is the first class, let’s try using a simple Divine Language spell to pique interest. You, come out here.]

—Ah, are you speaking of me?

One of the senior professors pointed out by Diar hesitantly rose from his seat.

[You have taken the class the longest and have made progress. What kind of Divine Language spells can you use?]

The professor wore a sour expression.

Although he had made a fuss about trying to use the Divine Language a few years ago, he had now realized his limits and practically given up.

—It is… about ‘light’ or ‘flow’.

[What? Is that all?]

—I’m sorry! It is entirely because I am lacking.

[Indeed, of course it is because you are lacking. Anyway, show a demonstration.]

The professor obtained a block of wood from the assistant and began to pronounce something.

—……. Ah. ……. Mmh. ……. This shouldn’t be happening…

The professor began to sweat profusely as he failed repeatedly.

Demona snickered silently beside him.

Seeing the professor, who always made students suffer, suffer in reverse like that was satisfying.

No matter if he was a professor, to their professor, he was merely a student.

On the other hand, Roan and Sion watched the professor’s demonstration with interested eyes.

‘It is Flow. He will succeed soon.’

Just as Roan expected, the professor activated a proper Divine Language spell at some point.

The Divine Language was a phenomenon.

The block of wood in the professor’s hand flowed down like water.

Demona also opened her eyes wide at that moment.

“Roan, that is not a holy spell?”

“It can be made to look similar, but the principle is completely different.”

A holy spell was maintained as long as holy power was supplied.

In other words, if the holy power was cut off, it would return to the original block of wood.

That was also why crafted holy relics required a holy power source.

But if the block of wood was made to flow through the Divine Language like that?

Unless restored with the Divine Language again, the flow of that block of wood would go on like that forever.

That was why the Divine Language was called a phenomenon.

[Well, you struggled quite a bit, but well done.]

—Hehe, thank you.

At Diar’s praise, the professor rejoiced like a child.

Diar restored the flowing block of wood back to its original state, then rubbed his pages together.

“……”

Thereupon, blocks of wood appeared on everyone’s desks without any sign.

In short, this was a phenomenon of the blocks of wood existing at the coordinates set by Diar.

[Now, it is practice time after a long while. Use what you know to do whatever. Anyone who succeeds may just leave.]

Having said so, Diar flew swiftly over to Roan, Sion, and Demona.

[Since you guys probably don’t know it well yet, let’s start with something easy. I will recite it to you repeatedly until you succeed.]

In fact, that was not consideration intended only for the three of them.

Whirrrr—

Diar spread wide open.

Then, the inner pages separated and positioned themselves before each professor.

The inner pages voiced different Divine Language spells.

Although inaudible to others, they were all transmitting the Gospel incessantly to those they were in charge of.

[You fool! You must give more emphasis to the middle of ‘Flow’!]

[Idiot! If you want to do ‘Vaporization’, straighten out your mental image first!]

Like this.

The Ancient Hilonian class was, surprisingly, a private tutoring system.

Diar’s main body also voiced out several Divine Language spells to teach them.

Paaat— trickle— pshew—

Each time, the three people’s blocks of wood would glow, trickle down, or disappear like smoke.

After wildly activating basic Divine Language spells for a round, Diar asked.

[Now, which one do you like?]

“””????”””

Sion and Demona only blinked their eyes.

It was because it had passed by in an instant, leaving no room for them to decide whether they liked something or not.

Sion spoke carefully.

“C-can I do Light?”

The Divine Language spell for Light sounded the shortest and most concise at least.

[Good idea.]

Diar separated a single inner page and stood it before Sion.

“·. Occur? ·. Yes, yes, ·. Ugh…” (Wait, “·. ? ·. , ·. …….” -> “·. Ah? ·. Yes, yes, ·. Ugh…”) Let’s use “·. Ah? ·. Yes, yes, ·. Ugh…” as Sion was trying to copy the pronunciations.

From then on, Sion turned into something like an infinitely repeating cassette player.

Demona tilted her head and asked.

“Is there no such thing as black magic?”

[……]

Flutter—?

Diar silently looked back and forth at Roan and Demona.

He was clearly told that the black mage was Darc?

Roan aided Diar’s understanding.

“This fellow believes that in order for holy magic to reach the ultimate stage, one must learn black magic.”

[Aha? Oho. There was indeed another fellow who spouted such nonsense.]

“Oh, really?”

[Yes. The first Wycronon, Ludiac, was it?]

“See? I told you so, Roan~”

Demona was thrilled.

[Well, he sang and sang about black magic, only to die in the end without accomplishing anything.]

“……”

Demona was discouraged.