Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Dormitory cafeteria in the co-ed area of Panroa Hall.

Actually, cafeteria was not the official name.

It was merely a spacious area where tables and chairs were decently arranged.

The reason students called this place the cafeteria was because of a basket placed in one corner.

Inside it, bread was filled to the brim; it was a holy relic whose numbers did not decrease no matter how much the students took and ate.

There was a theory that it was one of Harden’s trivial miracles, and another theory that the earnest wish of starving students had brought about a great miracle.

In any case, the bread basket, of which no one knew when it had been there, was a grateful existence that filled the stomachs of the Acherandir students.

— ……

However, even considering that it was a morning lacking energy, today was exceptionally filled with silence.

Naturally, the reason for that was Roan.

Creak—

—So yesterday, Professor Selinder…… Hieek!

A few second-years who entered while chatting unknowingly were startled upon seeing Roan’s face.

Then they began to eat bread silently like the other students.

‘Why is everyone so silent?’

Roan suddenly felt a question.

Even so, isn’t it too quiet.

It was indeed suspicious that even Demona was walking on eggshells around him.

“Demona, is there something going on today?”

“……I was in the wrong.”

“About what?”

Demona rolled his eyes around and confessed what he was inwardly guilty about.

“Didn’t you lose sleep because your bag got scratched while climbing the cliff yesterday? If I go outside, I’ll buy you one.”

“……Shut your mouth and just eat your bread.”

I knew it.

It wasn’t like he was a petty person obsessed with a bag.

“How do I eat bread with my mouth shut……!”

Roan lightly ignored Demona’s grumbling.

“Th-Roan. Here.”

Unable to watch any longer, Rafia pulled out a hand mirror and held it in front of Roan.

Only then could Roan understand the reason why the cafeteria was maintaining an uncharacteristic silence.

‘No wonder.’

Roan’s impression, which looked dangerous enough to make people avoid him even in perfect condition, was sharpened even further due to yesterday’s overnight black magic practice.

A level that made one fear it might appear in their dreams!

“I will head down first.”

“Y-Yeah. See you in the classroom later.”

Feeling that it was a disservice to keep sitting there with this face, Roan left his seat.

‘Strange. My condition seems fine, though.’

Rather, he was more wide awake than other times, despite staying up all night.

Could this also be a black mage’s talent?

If so, shouldn’t his impression have improved because of False Divinity?

‘Useless fellow.’

At Roan’s disparagement, False Divinity vibrated its circuits as if it were absurd.

To expect even that kind of thing!

Roan arrived first at Hetrona Hall and searched for the ‘Basic Holy Magic’ classroom.

Acherandir’s classrooms basically reflect the professor’s inclinations.

Just as Professor Kaina’s classroom was decorated with inquisition tools and cages.

On the other hand, this place was filled with all kinds of holy relics, stained glass, and white cloths, making it clear to anyone that a devout believer was the professor.

How long had it been since he sat in a middle seat that wouldn’t stand out much.

─ Wow, this place is somewhat normal?

─ Surely they won’t tell us to torture ourselves with that cloth, right……?

Freshmen covered in dirt and dust from descending the cliff began to enter in earnest.

Demona and Rafia also took seats next to Roan.

“……Hello.”

“Yes. Did you rest well last night, Riel?”

Riel greeted him pleasantly, though she flinched upon seeing Roan.

And right around class time, Hector entered with a stiff expression.

Although not as much as Roan, his face also looked quite sleep-deprived.

“Did something happen, Hector?”

When Rafia asked worriedly, Hector answered, distorting his expression.

“……I pondered all night whether I should take this class or not.”

“??”

Rafia tilted her head at the incomprehensible statement.

You have to take it anyway since it’s a required subject?

Creak—

Just then, a professor dressed in grey robes entered the classroom.

“Oh, that person?!”

Demona recognized him upon seeing him.

He was the benefactor who had given him 30 Talents at the entrance of the ‘Forest of the Holy Spirit’ yesterday.

The professor standing in the center of the podium introduced himself.

His face under the robe was that of a middle-aged man with a sickly look.

“Hello, I am Beleck Hindor, in charge of the basic holy magic class. Glad to meet you.”

Professor Beleck spoke in a cracked voice.

A murmur arose among the students.

─ Is that professor able to conduct a class?

─ Surely he won’t collapse, right?

Seeing the students worrying about him, Beleck smiled and continued his introduction.

“What I want to tell you beforehand is that I am a black mage.”

At that, the murmurs among the students grew even louder.

─ Shouldn’t we report this to Professor Kaina?

─ Surely he won’t kill us, right?

Basic Holy Magic Professor Beleck Hindor.

He was none other than a black mage.

Screech—

Just then, Demona stood up vigorously from his seat.

Clap, clap, clap—

“Did you see that? For such a wonderful person to be a black mage! My eyes were not wrong!”

Demona was so touched that he even wiped away tears while giving a standing ovation.

‘Even this kind of fellow doesn’t get dragged away…….’

Roan looked at Demona as if he were a madman.

Of course, even though Beleck was an authorized black mage who had even converted, if one clapped so openly like that, it was perfect for catching the eye of heretic inquisitors.

Just looking at Hector, who was currently glaring at Demona as if to kill him, made it clear.

“Hahaha…… thank you, student. I have never received such a warm welcome before.”

Professor Beleck sat Demona down with an embarrassed expression.

He had worked at Acherandir for a fairly long time, but this was actually his first time having such an experience.

‘Since normally Demona wasn’t such a madman either.’

And as for the factor that changed Demona, naturally.

“How is it, fanatic? Can you say right now that you will break the professor’s head? Hahaha!”

“……Are you truly in your right mind, heretic?”

It would be the rivalry with Hector, which was enormously strengthened compared to usual.

‘Hmm. There’s no other way to explain it.’

……Roan did not think at all that he himself occupied a large portion of the reason.

***

The commotion that arose in the classroom once did not quiet down easily.

Around the time the students seriously pondered whether they should go bring Professor Kaina, but then turned back to the opinion that ‘he is still a professor, though……,’ Beleck continued his words.

“Yes……. I fully understand that you are surprised and confused. Since all the seniors were like that too.”

If Beleck had rather been the professor of the anti-black magic combat class, they could have accepted it somehow.

But he was the professor of the basic holy magic class, of all classes, wasn’t he.

“I received conversion certification from the Holy See and am a researcher formally researching holy magic. During that time, the Headmaster invited me, so I came to Acherandir.”

At that, the students all nodded in agreement.

Since Harden, the first saint, Holy Emperor, and Holy Spirit, had invited him directly, how could they rebel.

Surprisingly, the people of the Holy Empire disliked raising objections to decisions from above.

‘Seeing that the reaction softens because he received Harden’s recognition. Then I also…….’

Meanwhile, Roan nodded along with the other friends and thought like this.

Strictly speaking, Roan was also a black mage who had received Harden’s recognition all the same.

Did he really have to hide it?

“And since I think you all might have many things you are curious about, let’s make the first class a time to get to know each other by exchanging questions, instead of boring study. You can ask anything.”

─ Ohh!

─ Isn’t he a nicer person than Professor Atoga?

─ Certainly!

The students brightened at Beleck’s words that they wouldn’t conduct a class.

The fact that a professor who did not conduct classes was the best professor, whether they were a black mage or a heretic inquisitor, also applied in Acherandir.

‘Do you have to take required character classes to become a real black mage?’

Roan was also to the point of thinking such thoughts without realizing it.

Strictly speaking, weren’t Beleck and Beanin both among the most decent people here?

“Hahaha, did you see that? Did you see? Fanatic, this is exactly the dignity of a black mage.”

“……I think it would be better for you to be quiet too.”

Demona, who was highly interested in black magic, was the exact opposite, but well, he wasn’t a formal black mage anyway.

Roan stopped Demona after looking at Hector, who looked as though he could kill a person with his eyes shortly.

“Now, does anyone have a question?”

Hand raised!

Naturally, the student who raised their hand was Demona.

Beleck smiled as he looked at him.

“Yes, student Demona Wycronon.”

─ He knows the name Wycronon?

─ He must have memorized all the students’ names then.

He was Professor Beleck, who generated nothing but pleasant anecdotes the more one knew.

In fact, Professor Beleck was a character who made tireless efforts to overcome the prejudice against his background.

To the point of memorizing the names of the freshmen of each academic year.

On the other hand, Demona asked without hesitation, as was natural.

“Are you close with Professor Kaina?”

─ …….

It was a rude question, enough to cut off even the murmurs here and there.

Although everyone was surprised enough to gape.

─ Certainly…….

─ It would be a lie to say we aren’t curious.

For some reason, all the students focused on Professor Beleck.

‘He pierced right to the core.’

Roan also looked at Demona in a new light.

The relation between Beleck and Kaina was a topic that players were also quite curious about.

But directly asking was something they couldn’t even imagine because it was related to favorability.

However, Professor Beleck answered quite readily.

“Professor Kaina is a heretic inquisitor, but she is not a discriminator who oppresses converted black mages like me.”

─ She wasn’t?

─ She wasn’t?

‘She wasn’t?’

At that moment, Roan and the students were of one mind.

It was only yesterday that they heard the talk about who was the best black mage.

‘No, more importantly, that answer wasn’t Professor Beleck!’

Roan looked at Professor Beleck with pitying eyes.

As expected, the world was a structure where kind people lose out.

“It seems everyone has misunderstood, but she is a very kind person. To the extent that when we have dinner meetings, I sometimes get up first, but she always says she will walk me home. Of course, I decline every time, though.”

─ Oh…… Professor Kaina must have just done that to scare us.

─ We almost misunderstood.

Surprisingly, the students seemed to accept Professor Beleck’s words as they were.

But Roan was horrified.

‘Isn’t that even more dangerous?’

After a dinner meeting, a black mage and a heretic inquisitor walking together in a dark night alley.

Isn’t it a combination where it wouldn’t be strange at all if the destination was an interrogation room instead of someone’s house?

“Hmm. As expected of Professor Kaina.”

Meanwhile, Hector pondered something and nodded, muttering like this.

“Just in case, Hector. Inflicting harm on a professor is immediate expulsion.”

“……Did I say anything? I was just thinking.”

At Roan’s pointing out, Hector was startled and ended up giving away his intentions beforehand.

‘There might be a change in the members of the McGodal Room shortly.’

Roan resolved not to be surprised no matter what happened this semester.

Actually, Beleck was subjected to mischievous(?) pranks by students from heretic inquisitor families or strong paladin families at random probabilities.

Of course, since he was also a professor, most ended in failure.

“Well, that was an interesting question. Another student?”

Hand raised!

Demona again.

Beleck looked around the surroundings for a moment and spoke.

“Is there no other student?”

The students quietly kept their seats.

For some reason, they wanted to hear the question Demona was asking.

“Hmm, student Demona indeed has outstanding academic enthusiasm. I will give you some Talents after class, so please remain.”

“Yes!”

Demona rejoiced, clenching his fist.

Receiving Talents so quickly during class was certainly an anomaly for him.

In the first place, isn’t it common sense to fine someone for asking a black mage professor if they are close to a heretic inquisitor?

“Professor, for a black mage like you to use holy magic, does that mean the essence of holy magic lies within black magic after all?!”

Demona asked with burning eyes, as if determined to prove his theory this time.

Although it was nonsense that Roan and Hector had heard all too often, it was the first time for the other students, so a minor commotion arose.

─ Is that possible?

─ Then I also…….

‘There are a few guys who will get dragged away in the middle of the night.’

Beleck, who stared at Demona for a moment, shook his head firmly.

“No, that is impossible. Holy magic and black magic are located at opposite ends of all magic systems. There has never even been a case where one person learned both systems. Even those who learned other magic and holy magic at the same time are very few.”

That was the accepted theory.

What was the reason the Holy Empire rejected black mages in the first place?

While there were issues like religion and crime, instinctive incompatibility was also a factor.

Roan, who was nodding as he recalled these settings, suddenly tilted his head.

‘Then what about me?’

To be precise, it was a curiosity about False Divinity.

When playing the game, it seemed to simply change the appearance of magic.

But after possession, when combined with black magic, it was an authority that completely translated the black magic circle into Hilonian and emblems.

‘He said no one has ever learned both systems.’

Then again, come to think of it, Roan hadn’t learned them either.

The magic just changed and flew off on its own.

Meanwhile, Demona, dejected by Beleck’s highly firm denial, slumped back into his seat.

“Lies……”

Roan asked with a bewildered expression.

“Why on earth did you enter Acherandir?”

Do you have no intention of learning holy magic?

Or were you perhaps forced to enter like me?

Swish—

“Oh, student Zion Beatrice. Do you have a question?”

Leaving the despondent Demona behind, Beleck was delighted when Zion raised her hand.

Zion asked somewhat cautiously.

“Excuse me, but does the fact that no one has learned both systems mean that you, Professor, also cannot use holy magic?”

“Very good question, student Zion!”

Beleck nodded with a broad smile.

The same went for Roan.

That was the exemplary question of a sensible and excellent student who knew Beleck’s identity.

Swish—

As Beleck was highly delighted, Zion looked back at where Roan was.

Her expression was as if saying, ‘You couldn’t even think of such a question, right?’

Roan also willingly nodded this time.

‘I can tolerate this much.’

Since it was a question he couldn’t ask anyway.

No matter how curious he was, he couldn’t tell Beleck, ‘I can do it, though?’

“Just as student Zion pointed out, I cannot use holy magic. Because I have already learned black magic.”

Beleck began his explanation again in a calm voice.

“Instead, I focused on theory rather than practice, and embarrassingly, I achieved some results. For example, shall we look at the holy magic that summons light?”

Tap, tap—

He turned around completely and began to write on the blackboard.

Every time the white chalk touched the board, Hilonian in a flowing handwriting revealed itself.

“Recently, Hilonian is learned simply by memorization, as if in a one-to-one correspondence with magic. However, Hilonian is strictly a language. Meaning, a common Hilonian passage can be sufficiently modified.”

The Hilonian to summon light consists of a total of six characters.

Beleck mercilessly removed and modified those six characters.

In a short moment, only five characters remained, much simplified.

“This is the Hilonian passage of the light holy magic that I modified.”

It was similar to the process where Roan improved the black magic circle.

Changing the standard passage to make it more efficient and powerful.

“Now, would you try using this passage? Since holy power basically has the property of light, it won’t be difficult.”

The students ran the Hilonian half in doubt.

And sparkling spheres of light were summoned here and there.

─ Uh, huh?

─ How did it happen right away?

“As expected, a black mage is different!”

“……That is not the case, Demona.”

The students opened their eyes wide in surprise.

The activation proceeded so smoothly that they didn’t even know how they did it after casting.

“It’s fascinating, Professor!”

“Hahaha, it is the effect of making a simple spell even more concise. Emblems can also be simplified under a similar principle……”

Delighted by the students’ vivid reactions, Beleck began to write furiously with the chalk on the board.

‘Indeed, excluding the fact that he is a black mage, he is a great scholar.’

Roan was also focusing on the class in his own way.

Although Beleck spoke as if it were nothing, in fact, he was an authority with a unique position in the academic field of holy magic theory.

Because changing the Hilonian passages and emblems handed down from ancient times was an idea possible only for Beleck, who came from a black mage background.

However, it was also a theory correspondingly difficult to commercialize.

While something like light holy magic was easy right away, significantly shortening a holy magic likely to be used in practice was difficult enough that even a player had to learn it as a skill and receive help from the system.

“If you draw the emblem like this…… now, try it!”

Hummmm—

─ Wow, look at this!

─ It’s holy!

In the end, Beleck finished the lecture up to changing the light into a star shape with his own modified emblem.

Then, scratching the back of his neck as if embarrassed, he spoke.

“This has unintentionally turned into a class. I am sorry. Let’s stop here for today, and if you have any questions, feel free to visit my office and ask anytime. It is on the third floor of Hetrona Hall.”

The students were pleased yet looked somewhat regretful.

It had been the most informative and fascinating class they had taken so far.

“Use the remaining time freely. Since you are freshmen, it would be nice to take a look around the commercial district.”

─ He is a truly wonderful educator.

─ I guess I had prejudice too.

─ He said he converted, how could he be so…….

‘……Isn’t that not the case?’

Roan looked back with a bewildered expression at the students who were filled with emotion.

Changing prejudice against black mages was good, but.

What on earth did converting and ending the class early have to do with each other?

Then what about Atoga or Kaina, who would have been born into the faith?