Chapter 143

Chapter 143

Fortunately, all the surrounding priests were focused on Vichius, so he could speak somewhat freely.

“Well…… it is about time for his boundaries to fade.”

“Hieeeek!”

Demona looked at Vichius with tearful eyes.

In fact, for someone of Vichius’s stature, death was not something to be feared.

Vichius almost certainly dies during the first semester of the first year, but even after that, he remains in Acherandir as a Holy Spirit.

Rather, becoming a Holy Spirit might be better since he would change back to his prime appearance.

‘Who would believe that Vichius was once as robust as a paladin in his youth?’

Such a twist was also a small fun element.

“Anyway…… for this class, the Saint of the Bell…… will give a special lecture…… Please welcome him with a round of applause…….”

When Vichius finished speaking, the door of the small prayer hall opened again and Espard entered.

— Waaaah!

Clap clap clap clap—

The students sent him enthusiastic support.

With a solemn expression, Espard walked across the center aisle toward the podium.

— Hero of the Empire!

— His expression is truly solemn!

— I feel like we can trust and leave the Empire to him!

Looking only at the current point in time, Espard by far received the most support from the people among the three Saints and two Saintesses.

Espard’s charisma, which other Saints and Saintesses lacked, was a unique charm.

Also, his age was neither too young nor too old.

‘Of course, as time passes, Yusina and Sion will make rapid progress, but that’s a bit later.’

However, even Roan recognized a character like Espard deep in his heart.

Step— Step—

The sound of thick, sturdy leather shoes contacting the floor.

Espard ascended the podium, overwhelming the audience with steps that were not slow but full of dignity.

Then, he knelt on one knee next to Vichius to show respect.

“Your Holiness Vichius, have you been well?”

“Of course…… I am always grateful…… for your dedication to the Empire…….”

Vichius responded by patting Espard’s shoulder.

Afterward, Vichius descended from the podium and sat in a pre-arranged seat.

Espard took his place at the lectern instead and said.

“Nice to meet you, glorious students of Acherandir, and professors.”

A reliable, baritone voice.

— Kyaah!

— So cool!

Especially, a few female students seemed to have already fallen deeply for his tall stature and handsome looks.

Before saying anything else, Espard looked around at the seated students.

At that moment, the instant his eyes met Roan’s, who was sitting in one spot.

Grin—

He temporarily let go of his solemn expression and wore a refreshing smile.

— He smiled at me!

— Hey, he looked at me, okay?

Although the nearby students made a fuss, Roan knew that Espard had looked at him.

Then he felt slightly puzzled.

‘Were we really that close? There shouldn’t have been time for that.’

This was because, to his knowledge, the Saint of the Bell had not entered the Holy Palace for the past fourteen years.

Had there been an unrecorded entry into the palace?

Anyway, based on this clue, Roan began to plan how to respond if he met Espard privately later.

Not knowing Roan was thinking such things, Espard hardened his expression again and continued.

“Before starting the special lecture, I must first offer my apologies to everyone.”

— ……?

The students did not seem to understand what Espard was saying.

Demona asked.

“Does he have to leave without giving the lecture?”

“……Then he wouldn’t have entered in the first place.”

“Ah!”

Demona understood immediately.

Click—

“Do you know what this bell is?”

Espard untied the bell from his waist, held it up high, and said.

— I-It’s the Bell of Eternity!

— They say the number of black mages trapped inside is countless……!

The students were startled upon seeing the Bell of Eternity.

‘Since the Bell of Eternity is a holy relic that traps black mana users, and also a sacred treasure of the Holy Palace.’

It is known that the Bell of Eternity was discovered and used since the old kingdom era.

As is typical for holy relics rather than modern manufactured holy items, its production date was unknown.

Also, as the user utilized the abilities of the Bell of Eternity, holy power would accumulate within it on its own, allowing the owner to utilize it.

This was the very reason Roan coveted it even more.

‘With that, I can also legally(?) use holy magic.’

For Roan, it was a perfect camouflage tool.

Of course, once the owner changed, it would be reset, making it difficult for the time being.

Espard continued.

“Today, I, Espard, intend to hand over this Bell of Eternity to one of the students here.”

— Gasppp!

Naturally, the students were even more terrified than when Espard first took out the Bell of Eternity.

— Isn’t it a glorious thing to receive the Bell of Eternity? Why are you apologetic, Saint-nim!

One of the students shouted loudly.

Everyone seemed to agree with him.

Receiving a treasure like the Bell of Eternity during one’s student days felt like an immense blessing.

‘When you actually hear the reason, it isn’t really so.’

Roan, of course, knew the reason.

“The owner of the Bell of Eternity must take the lead in eradicating black magic more than anyone else. They must walk a path that is arduous, dangerous, and lonely.”

— …….

Obtaining the Bell of Eternity did not simply mean obtaining a treasure.

It meant having to shoulder the corresponding duties as well.

For generations, the clergymen who held the Bell of Eternity engaged in desperate battles with black mages until their strength was exhausted or their grudges were resolved.

‘Well, that is for the clergymen.’

Naturally, Roan, who was a black mage, had no intention of doing that.

Such duties were naturally created as they were passed down through the Empire, and had little to do with the Bell of Eternity itself.

“Only one who has sworn endless vengeance against black magic and its followers, only one who lives solely for their annihilation, will become the master of this bell.”

As Espard spoke in a serious voice and expression, the students completely froze.

— O-Oh dear…….

— I don’t want to have it that much now…….

Hearing this, it did not seem very attractive.

Especially since most of them were children of noble families who lived in comfort.

But regardless of what they thought, the test to find the next master of the Bell of Eternity was a confirmed event.

Swoosh—

When Espard gently released the bell in midair, it floated up on its own to about head height.

“The test of the Bell of Eternity is simple. When you come forward one by one and stand under the bell, if the Bell of Eternity rings, you are recognized as the new master.”

Then Espard looked at the nearby priest and said.

“Priest, could you demonstrate for the students?”

— Pardon? Me?

The priest, who had not expected this at all, had a startled expression.

— The priest is going first.

— Oh, thank goodness.

……Most of the students seemed to think, ‘Can’t the priest just be the master?’

And the priest also found the Bell of Eternity to be extremely burdensome.

— It is an honor…….

However, since it was hard to refuse the Saint’s request, he just closed his eyes tightly and stood under the bell.

Silence—

Of course, that did not mean the bell would ring.

— Ah, it didn’t ring.

— Does that mean we have to go out now?

The students were anxious deep down.

“Now, please come forward in order. First……”

Espard, who was about to proceed with the test quietly.

Gaston Deban, who was always the first in order during every class, stood up reflexively.

“I-It is me.”

“Darc-gun? Would you like to come forward?”

However, Espard called Roan first.

Gaston Deban, who had stood up for no reason, turned red like a carrot.

— What? Why did Deban get up when he wasn’t even called?

— Did he want the Bell of Eternity that badly?

— He can have it though…….

The students whispered as they always did.

“N-No, I didn’t……”

Gaston Deban waved his hands and sat down.

However, the students came to think that he had a massive interest in eradicating black magic.

Anyway.

‘……Were we really close?’

Since Roan had not expected to be called first either, it was quite unexpected.

Strictly speaking, there were many reasons to call him, but there was no need to give him special treatment when he could have just gone in alphabetical or student ID order.

Since the Bell of Eternity recognized everyone in the same space anyway, it didn’t matter for the test even if he went later.

Even if they had met when he entered the palace a few times without record, this felt like too much.

— Darc! Darc!

— Hater of black magic! Disaster of black mages!

— I really hope you get the Bell of Eternity!

Surprisingly, the students genuinely cheered for Roan when he was called forward.

……That was how much they didn’t want to have the Bell of Eternity, and thought it would be a relief if they could dump it on Roan.

Since Roan had shown overwhelming performance in every subject so far, maybe he could win the Bell of Eternity as well?

The students harbored such expectations.

‘Those bastards, only when it’s convenient for them…….’

Of course, from Roan’s perspective, it was simply contemptible.

Well, since their interests happened to overlap this time, he had no intention of saying anything about it.

Roan ascended the podium and drew closer to Espard.

Once they were close enough for their voices to be heard, Espard spoke in a low voice only audible to Roan.

“Roan, I really hope you get this bell. I spoke of duties and responsibilities as its master, but I think it will be of great help to you.”

Espard said with a slight smile.

Although various emotions were mixed, expectation and joy seemed to be the greatest among them.

Even though he felt troubled that handing the Bell of Eternity to a boy whose family was annihilated by black mages might push his fate further into a massive cycle of violence and revenge,

‘Since Roan must have already made a firm resolution even without the Bell of Eternity, I should give him more strength.’

The Bell of Eternity was an incomparably powerful holy relic for one who had already firmly resolved.

Roan also nodded with a more serious expression than usual.

“It is an honor that you called me first. I will now take over that burden.”

An appropriate expression and an appropriate comment.

Espard never imagined that Roan’s slightly moist eyes were glistening with greed rather than emotion.

“Roan……”

Sadness and emotion swept through Espard’s heart simultaneously.

In Roan’s experience, the people of the Empire, especially the named ones, had a weak spot for such emotional moments.

‘Except for Harden, that is.’

Roan looked up at the Bell of Eternity floating a step away.

The qualifications of the Bell of Eternity’s master known to the public were as follows:

The greater the hatred and resentment against black magic to the bone, the more suitable they were as the master.

However, the reality was a bit different.

‘The Bell of Eternity recognizes one as its master the more their fate is intertwined with black magic. That’s all.’

Regardless of how much they hated black magic, the overall connection with black magic was simply what was important.

This was a fact he had discovered when he accidentally obtained the Bell of Eternity with a black mage character in the past.

Then why had the wrong fact been known until now?

‘……Naturally, because a black mage could never obtain the Bell of Eternity.’

If a black mage saw the Bell of Eternity, let alone taking the master’s test, they would be busy being trapped inside it and having their head crushed, so there was no way for them to know.