Chapter 32

Chapter 32

The next morning.

Although Roan had not slept a wink because he was practicing the Abyss attribute,

‘It’s indeed nice not having to sleep.’

his condition was not too bad.

He stepped out into the living room, satisfied with this minor perk of being a black mage.

Beanin, who had woken up early, was preparing breakfast,

while Hector sat on the sofa with a hollow look on his face.

Listening closely, he was mumbling something to himself.

“Silsil-i… You’re not a Thousand Eye-socket Serpent, you must be a legendary divine beast. Yes, like a Sea Divider…”

“A divine beast, my foot. If that thing is a divine beast, then I’m a half-angel.”

Demona sat next to him, teasing him, but Hector did not seem to hear his words.

‘You actually are a half-angel.’

Roan thought to himself.

In the distant past of their ancestors, the Wychronon family had indeed mixed their blood with an angel who descended to the earth.

Though looking at Demona made him wonder where all that blood had gone…

Or perhaps the Wychronon blood was simply too dominant to begin with.

At any case, that was none of his business.

Roan walked over to Hector with a deep frown.

What a snob!

‘I can’t let this slide; he’s being too impudent.’

“Oh… Roan. When did you wake up?”

Hector, who had been thoroughly ignoring Demona, greeted Roan in a cracked voice upon seeing him.

“That egg is indeed the egg of a Thousand Eye-socket Serpent.”

But Roan immediately delivered a direct blow.

“To begin with, the egg of a divine beast is golden and much smaller than this, and elementization should be underway by now. On the other hand, a Thousand Eye-socket Serpent egg is characterized by a vertical green line drawn down it. Also, if you look at the bottom of the egg, there are three protrusions like legs…”

Roan pulled out all the settings about the Thousand Eye-socket Serpent egg from his subconsciousness and poured them out like a bombardment.

Hector could only listen blankly.

Checking Roan’s words was Demona’s task.

“Oh! It’s true! Everything Roan said is correct!”

Demona examined Hector’s egg and made a big fuss every time Roan’s words proved true.

And each time, Hector’s soul slipped away.

…Not figuratively, but literally.

“Good morning, every—He-Hector! Snap out of it!”

Beanin, who happened to be coming out of the kitchen, was startled and grabbed Hector by the shoulders, shaking him violently.

Even though Acherandir was a holy land, surely it wasn’t a place where a mere student’s soul would suddenly ascend to heaven, right?

Fortunately, thanks to Beanin’s quick first aid (?), Hector’s soul returned to his body.

Beanin broke out in cold sweat and asked Roan and Demona.

“Did something happen? Is it because of yesterday’s injuries?”

“Roan did it.”

Demona pointed at Roan without a moment’s hesitation.

‘What did I even do!’

Roan felt incredibly wronged.

‘…Though what he said isn’t exactly wrong.’

The fact that he had no way to refute it made him feel even more frustrated.

“Roan completely insulted Hector’s egg.”

He felt a surge of annoyance.

“I didn’t insult it, I merely stated the facts.”

Roan glared at Demona.

If calling a spiritual beast’s egg a spiritual beast’s egg was an insult, was calling Harden a Holy Spirit instead of a god also an insult?

Since when had the Holy Empire become such a shameless place that relied on instigation and fabrication?

It was deplorable.

However, Demona confidently retorted.

“Which is higher, a divine beast or a spiritual beast?”

“…A divine beast.”

“Then isn’t it true you insulted it?”

‘I should just stop talking!’

Roan chose silence instead.

Beanin thought for a moment and then clapped his hands.

“Ah, what Roan was explaining earlier? Roan seems really interested in the Holy War. It was my first time hearing that, too.”

“You didn’t hear? Roan completely knocked down Zion during the Holy War class.”

“Zion…? T-That Saintess candidate?!”

Beanin asked, his eyes widening.

Demona nodded in agreement.

“Yes. Senior, you should have seen Roan’s crazy Wind Terrier back then. Anyway, seeing things like that, Roan doesn’t seem normal either~”

His fists clenched.

Roan clenched his fists tightly.

‘#@&(%$!!’

Fortunately, however, Beanin calmed Roan down at least a little.

“…Demona, I don’t think you’re in a position to say that.”

“Eh? Why not me?”

Did he ask because he genuinely didn’t know?

Demona asking innocently, and Beanin having much to say but unable to voice it.

Shaking his head at the sight of the two, Roan spoke to Hector.

The more he dealt with Demona, the more it was his own loss.

“Hector, if you really don’t want to believe it, go ask Professor Vulcan.”

At that, Hector looked up at Roan for a moment, and then,

“Siiiiiigh…”

let out a deep sigh as if the ground would collapse.

“I understand.”

His appearance showed that he had accepted Roan’s words to some extent.

“Good, if you understand, let’s eat breakfast now and—”

“I should go there by myself during lunchtime.”

“Is he seriously a lunatic?”

“””???”””

The other three were startled by Roan’s words, which had finally slipped out of his mouth in frustration.

Although he had a slightly fierce look, he wasn’t someone who spoke so crudely!

Yet, Roan walked into the kitchen casually, completely oblivious to what he had just said.

He then began to spread Beanin’s jam on the bread he had brought from the dining hall beforehand.

‘It’s jam made from wild berries. I learned well. Over the weekend, I should climb the mountains and get some ingredients…’

This was closer to an instinctive defense mechanism to avoid extreme stress.

Before long, the other three hesitated before coming in and eating breakfast beside Roan.

“Have you prepared for today’s classes?”

Roan asked, looking at Demona normally as if he had never cursed.

That kind of reaction was actually even scarier.

Demona flinched once, and then tilted his head.

“What classes do we have today?”

“…It’s Basic Holy Relic Creation and the basics of physical combat.”

Roan shut his mouth for a brief second, as if he hadn’t expected much from him anyway, before telling him.

“Huh? There was no textbook for the holy relic class.”

“Ah, that is—”

Beanin tried to explain the reason, but Roan cut him off.

“The holy relic textbooks will be distributed during class. It would be good if you brought some Talents.”

“…I don’t have Talents.”

Demona looked on the verge of tears.

For him, let alone Talents, only a pile of fines remained.

Roan nodded as if he hadn’t realized that, and continued speaking.

“I forgot.”

“So mean…”

“In that case, take some imperial currency. Actually, that might even be better.”

Beanin, who was quietly listening to Roan’s words, opened his mouth in surprise.

“Roan, have you taken the holy relic class before?”

But only after saying that did he realize how strange that question sounded.

Roan pointed out the reason.

“What are you talking about, Senior Beanin? I am a freshman.”

“Ah, right.”

“I just told you to pack it because there’s no harm in having it.”

“That’s true…”

Judging by the conversation alone, one wouldn’t have been surprised if there were two mentor seniors.

For some reason, Beanin felt the presence of a distant senior from Roan.

In fact, that was also his beastman instinct!

“Is there anything separate we need to prepare for the physical combat class?”

This time, Hector asked.

Roan shook his head.

“No, you only need to show up. Armor and weapons are provided. If anything, wear thick clothes.”

“The Pabilto family is not composed of such cowards!”

“Meeee…”

Beanin was utterly dumbfounded.

‘No matter how I look at it, he sounds like he’s heard this before.’

How else could he speak so confidently?

Even the contents weren’t wrong; every single word was correct.

In particular, advice like bringing imperial currency or wearing layered clothes was definitely a know-how that only upperclassmen would share.

Beanin nudged Demona beside him and whispered.

“Demona, I think you are right.”

“Eh? About what?”

But he couldn’t bring himself to state the reason.

Since he couldn’t say ‘I think he is abnormal’ right in front of the person concerned!

Especially for the kind-hearted Beanin.

***

Hetrona Hall, where first-year classes were mainly held.

The ‘Basic Holy Relic Creation’ class was also held in Hetrona Hall.

Fitting for a class about creating holy relics, the lecture hall was littered with golems stripped of their power sources, fabrication tools, and unfinished products of unknown purposes.

—Can we make a holy relic that takes notes for us?

—Since we’re making one anyway, we should make a cup that pours wine infinitely.

The freshmen, who had become quite accustomed to descending the dormitory cliff by now, entered the lecture room chatting energetically.

Roan also nodded as he listened to the conversations of the students.

‘Their dreams are still fresh and young.’

They would find out soon enough.

That the holy relic class was not as filled with romance as they thought.

“Roan, Roan.”

Demona, who entered the lecture hall behind Roan, called him.

“What is it?”

“Is that squ… I mean, is that the professor?”

Demona asked, gesturing with his chin toward the workbench placed at the front of the lecture room instead of a podium.

Roan nodded.

“Yes.”

On the workbench, which was lower than the students’ but twice as wide, fabrication was already underway busily.

All kinds of magic tools flew through the air, assembling and refining materials,

while various holy magic patterns and Hilon words emerged to assist the creation.

Indeed, it was a spectacular scene of holy relic creation!

The students admired the sight, which looked like a craftsman at work from a childhood fairy tale book.

However, the thing that surprised them the most was none other than,

—Is that a squirrel?

—So cute!

the fact that the professor of the ‘Basic Holy Relic Creation’ class was a colorful squirrel.

It was about the size of a young child.

Demona had also subconsciously tried to say ‘that squirrel—’ before hastily changing his words upon remembering the fine.

She was a squirrel spiritual beast, a five-colored squirrel hybrid named ‘Uli Bohenard.’

Though she looked small and cute like that, she was a seasoned artisan of over 120 years.

‘Since she’s a spiritual beast, it wouldn’t be the same as human age. In any case, she hasn’t changed.’

Roan nodded as he took his seat, seeing that she was exactly as expected.

On the other hand, the students were also a bit surprised that the professor had arrived before them.

—She must be a really passionate professor.

—Let’s quickly take our seats too.

‘She is passionate, indeed.’

Roan thought as he sat down.

But he could guarantee it wouldn’t be the kind of passion they were imagining.

Clatter—

Just then, Roan heard the sound of metal clashing.

Turning his head, he saw Lafia and Riel.

“…What is that?”

They were carrying backpacks that looked much heavier and larger than usual.

Judging by the sound, he could guess the contents.

Sure enough, Lafia replied with a bright smile.

“Today is physical combat class! We brought our armor in advance!”

“I-I see.”

“Roan is studying hard, even visiting the library, so we felt we shouldn’t fall behind. Right, Riel?”

When Lafia asked, Riel also nodded repeatedly.

Very slightly, of course.

In any case, that the cheeks of the two were more flushed than usual did not seem to be solely because of the heavy baggage.

It was, after all, the first opportunity for the two from knight families to utilize their specialty.

‘Normally I would have found it ridiculous.’

By now, he could just smile and overlook a mistake of that level.

“Hmph, Roan said all the preparation materials for the physical combat class are already provided. You didn’t even know that?”

“W-Was that so?”

…Well, seeing as they hung around with guys like Demona, after all.

Lafia looked visibly disappointed at Demona’s teasing.

Smack—

Unable to watch any longer, Roan smacked the back of Demona’s head.

“Ouch!”

“You should try to be at least half as diligent as those two. Apologize quickly.”

“S-Sorry…”

“It’s fine. We were the ones who didn’t know.”

Lafia shook her head and sat down.

Since the situation was so natural, she didn’t think to wonder, ‘How does Roan know that?’

With that, the holy relic creation class began.