Chapter 145

Chapter 145

“Then what should we call the Saint of the Bell now?”

When no one could answer Demona’s question, Roan sighed and replied.

“You can just call him Saint Espard.”

“““Aha!”””

“As expected of Roan~”

His friends wondered how they could survive without Roan to give such clear answers.

***

Meanwhile, around the time Espard’s special lecture was in full swing, at the Sacred Spirit Beast Conservatory of the Nerchiora Grand Temple.

All the baby divine beasts and spiritual beasts of the newly enrolled freshmen had gathered there.

Since the Sacred Spirit Beast Conservatory was equipped with food, toys, and resting places according to the species of the spiritual beasts, it was practically an optimal environment.

Flutter— Flutter—

The Abyss Dragon, Bell, fluttered his wings and rose into the air, watching the other divine and spiritual beasts.

……For some reason, he was in a very grumpy mood.

[So pathetic, so pathetic.]

Actually, the reason Bell was grumpy was simple.

Chirp— Chirp chirp chirp—

Woof— Woof woof woof woof—

Pitter-patter— Thud-thud-thud—

Chomp-chomp—

The cries of all kinds of spiritual beasts, their running around, and even the sounds of light fighting or eating food were extremely annoying.

Since they were children in their prime of vigorous energy, the noise was all the more intense.

If they had any awareness of being proud divine and spiritual beasts, they wouldn’t behave like this.

[Geez, is a one-day difference this big? They’re all completely like children.]

……In fact, Bell did not know that he was also a child.

The only one who remained quiet in the midst of this chaos was Charlotte, the Heavenly Sword Peacock King, who sat neatly on her knees in a corner.

[Tsk, still, as expected of a younger sister, she is the best. Though she is a bit annoying.]

Is she meditating or something, despite being a divine beast?

Bell snapped his head away and fluttered his wings, heading to the central spirit beast tower.

The spirit beast tower was a structure similar to a cat tower on Earth.

Bell, filled with pride, naturally flew to the highest spot among them.

Breathing softly—

There, a grassblade cat was already asleep with a leaf placed on its head.

Mew—

[Does this one really fall asleep in the middle of all this noise?]

Just as Bell, who didn’t particularly want to steal the spot, tilted his head and was about to descend a bit.

Meow—?

The sleeping grassblade cat blinked its eyes open.

At that moment, the instant Bell’s eyes met the grassblade cat’s.

Meeeeeoooowwww───!!!!

The grassblade cat was so startled as if it had seen a natural predator that it fell off the top of the spirit beast tower.

[What? Are you okay?]

Mew—

Bell, also surprised by the sudden situation, worried about the fallen grassblade cat.

Scurry-scurry-scurry—

The grassblade cat even used its unique movement skill, Leaf-Stepping, to run far away.

[What is wrong with it…….]

Thinking it was just because it was a cat, Bell climbed up to the spot where it had been.

However, the surrounding atmosphere was slightly strange.

…….

The spiritual beasts, which had been making a racket as if the world were ending until just a moment ago, were now blankly staring at the spirit beast tower where Bell was.

Even the spiritual beasts on the other floors of the spirit beast tower were stealthily avoiding him and going elsewhere.

[What are you looking at?]

Bell asked, wondering why those fellows were behaving like that.

Turn— Turn—

Chirp……

Then, as if afraid to make eye contact, the spiritual beasts quickly turned their gazes away.

Only then could Bell understand the situation to some extent.

[You bastards…… I didn’t steal it, that fellow moved aside on its own!]

How could they make such a ridiculous misunderstanding?

He had clearly intended to go to another spot since there was a space, you see.

However, the spiritual beasts had already firmly misunderstood.

……In fact, the spiritual beasts were already fed up with the colossal energy felt from Roan.

And they showed this reaction because they felt a smaller but almost identical, ominous energy from Bell as well.

Without a master to rely on, their reaction was all the more extreme.

[Geez, what kind of life is my master living?]

Only then did Bell feel like he understood why Roan shuddered whenever he saw other students.

To think they would misunderstand and make a fuss on their own when he didn’t do anything!

[Tsk, in times like this, ignoring them like Master is the answer.]

Bell clicked his tongue and thought he should just sleep.

Since he was also still a baby dragon, sleepiness would always wash over him.

The large, shiny cubic zirconia was the best pillow.

Drift—

Just as he was about to fall asleep.

Buzz— Smack—

He heard the sound of wings, and then something heavy and hard clung to Bell.

Bell slightly opened his eyes, wondering what kind of ill-mannered fellow this was.

Flutter— Flutter—

It was Banjjak, the Diamond Beetle.

[What in the…….]

Although it was somewhat absurd, Bell decided to leave it be.

He liked shiny things quite a bit, and Banjjak was a fellow who behaved gently as long as it wasn’t around its owner.

However,

Hop— Hop— Whack!

Not long after, Black Knight, the Fanatic Rabbit King, suddenly jumped up and delivered a dropkick to Banjjak.

Because of that, Bell was also pushed aside.

Roar—!

Angry, Bell let out a sharp cry.

Regardless, Black Knight did not care in the least.

Creep—

Sob sob sob—

……As if the thread follows the needle, Eongeong, the Purgatory Repentance Beast, and Silsil, the Thousand-Eyed Hole Serpent, also stealthily climbed to the highest floor of the spirit beast tower.

Gradually, the highest floor began to get cramped.

Not only that, but before he knew it, Noeul, the Sunset Shadow, and Pallangi, the Sunrise Nest Butterfly, had quietly taken their places right below the highest floor.

Saengsaeng, the Dream-Eating Thousand-Mile Horse, and Kiki, the Tree Emperor Monkey, were also playing among themselves near the spirit beast tower, checking the atmosphere.

Unlike the other spiritual beasts who had distanced themselves from Bell early on, the spiritual beasts of Roan’s friends were dying to get closer.

Looking at the whole situation, Bell somehow felt like it was a scene he had witnessed somewhere.

[Is this just like……?]

Suddenly, Bell fully understood why his master always walked around with a frown.

[Go down and play among yourselves. I want to sleep.]

Bell said, pushing Banjjak away with his wing.

Cling—

However, the Diamond Beetle did not care and clung even more.

Whether Black Knight delivered a dropkick or not, not a single scratch appeared on the Diamond Beetle’s hard shell.

Rattle— Rattle—

It only shook the spirit beast tower for nothing, waking Bell from his sleep.

[You guys, seriously!]

Unable to bear it any longer, Bell eventually decided to use his power.

Roan had told him to restrain himself as much as possible, but since there was no one watching here, it should be fine.

Bell cast a paralysis spell toward Black Knight.

Hop—!

[?]

However, Black Knight avoided the spell with his characteristically agile movements.

Wail—!

For no reason, Eongeong, who was behind him, was directly hit and fell below the spirit beast tower with his facial muscles contorted.

[This was something that could be dodged?]

Bell looked down at the fallen Eongeong with dumbfounded eyes.

Master used to hit his marks perfectly though…….

Anyway, Bell cast the paralysis spell at Black Knight once again.

Hop—!

Slither—

This time it was Silsil.

……For some reason, only Hector’s spiritual beasts were getting hit by the paralysis spell.

[Well, since those guys were annoying too.]

Bell quickly completed his self-rationalization.

However, he did not realize that the other spiritual beasts in the Sacred Spirit Beast Conservatory were turning increasingly pale every time a spiritual beast fell from the spirit beast tower.

Anyway, annoyed by the combination of the Diamond Beetle and the Black Knight, Bell eventually decided to take extreme measures.

Rattle— Rattle—

Roar────────!!!

He activated the suppression magic he had used in the past, Eye of Alberg.

No matter how quick the Black Knight was, he had no choice but to be helpless against suppression magic activated at close range.

Screeech—!!!

Woof woof woof—!!!

Meow—!!!

Of course, the other spiritual and divine beasts in the Sacred Spirit Beast Conservatory were now completely terrified, burying their heads somewhere and trembling.

Purr—

Though Charlotte sat meditating on her knees unbothered, as if unaffected by the magic.

Anyway, the inside of the Sacred Spirit Beast Conservatory finally grew quiet.

Bell nodded in satisfaction.

[Now it’s finally fit for sleeping!]

Just as he curled up his body again to seek sleep.

“““…….”””

Before they knew it, the students who had finished class and came to retrieve their divine and spiritual beasts were standing at the entrance with dumbfounded eyes.

To be precise, they had been watching since the moment Bell activated the Eye of Alberg.

The inside of the Sacred Spirit Beast Conservatory as seen by the students was

Roan’s Abyss Dragon occupying the highest floor of the central spirit beast tower, releasing coercion holy magic,

The spiritual beasts of Roan’s friends clinging nearby,

The spiritual beasts of the other students cowering in fear,

……And for some reason, Hector’s Eongeong and Silsil sprawled on the floor, twitching.

Roan, who was standing at the head of the students, spoke to Bell in an ominous voice.

“I am sure I told you to behave yourself……”

Roan’s voice carried sincere anger!

As it was, he was already suffering from drawing too much unwanted attention.

If even his divine beast caused such trouble, what was he supposed to do!

On the other hand, Bell, who had caused a massive misunderstanding, was at a loss.

[I-It’s a misunderstanding! This is all because they were too…….]

At least Master should understand this situation!

“Right, the fact that you sat at the top of the spirit beast tower, cast punishment holy magic on Eongeong and Silsil, and even fired coercion holy magic over a wide area is all a misunderstanding, is it?”

[……I’m sorry.]

At that moment, Bell could perfectly understand Roan’s feelings.

It really wasn’t my fault though!

Of course, unfair was unfair.

***

Fortunately, the commotion in the Sacred Spirit Beast Conservatory could pass without much issue.

— Trian! Galland! Are you just going to let it slide after our spiritual beasts were treated like this?

At first, a few fellows from Trian’s gang expressed anger.

However.

“Well…… it was something among spiritual beasts, so what can we do?”

“Right. Spiritual beasts originally grow by fighting.”

Since Trian and Galland, who could be called the leader and second-in-command of Trian’s gang, showed a lukewarm attitude, the rest also seemed to accept it.

“If you have a complaint, come talk to me directly. Don’t hide behind Trian and Galland and whisper.”

……In fact, this single remark from Roan was decisive.

To Roan, the rest of the guys who egged Trian and Galland on seemed far worse than Trian and Galland themselves.

‘Especially Galland, who turned out to be a good guy.’

The memory of when Galland visited the McGodal Room regarding the noise issue last time remained as a good memory for Roan.

However, Roan couldn’t help this level of murmuring.

— Doesn’t it look like the kids have gotten a bit scruffy?

— Do you think Yongyong-i made them like that with holy magic?

‘Where would such useless holy magic even exist.’

Even though they had been apart for only a short while, the condition of the spiritual beasts seemed a bit dirtier than before.

It seemed they had gotten various things on them as they tangled and played together excitedly.

Roan’s friends seemed to feel the same way.

“Noeul, where did you get this dirt on you?”

Meow—

“Saengsaeng, your mane is tangled. I should brush it.”

They seemed to smell a bit too, and had tangles here and there…….

“Kiki.”

Uuk—?

Although Riel only understood the name, not knowing what the complaint was.

Roan shook his head as he watched his friends.

‘A spiritual beast is not a robot; you have to care for it.’

In God and Devil, divine and spiritual beasts are not pets that you can just leave alone.

If you did not continuously maintain their cleanliness and manage their stress, they could die of illness or run away entirely.

‘Well, they will learn about it in the next class anyway.’

And they would probably learn the method soon.