Chapter 368

Chapter 368

“Roan! What do you think?”

Hector, who was cheering in his own delusion—though it wasn’t really ‘his own’ since all the students were excited—singled out Roan and asked.

Roan nodded.

“Yes, we will probably do Sacred Combat.”

“Roan acknowledged it too!”

“According to Professor Alphard’s curriculum… it will have to be at least after the midterm exams.”

“After the midterms… Huh? What did you say, Roan?”

“Do I have to say it again?”

Roan was about to do so kindly, but Hector waved his hands.

“Ah, no.”

Apparently, he did not want it to be confirmed by hearing it again.

Meanwhile, the students who heard Roan’s words were equally shocked.

— W-We’re not doing Sacred Combat until the midterm exams?

— Then why is this class called ‘Sacred Combat Practice I’?

‘For once, they are saying something that makes sense.’

Roan felt a sense of relief that even within this ridiculous Acherandir curriculum, the students were becoming just a tiny bit smarter.

If they became just a little smarter, it seemed they might even start wondering why they were doing Sacred Combat so passionately in the Class of Holy and Spiritual Beasts.

Alphard leaving behind the students’ minor (?) shock, introduced the contents of this pop quiz.

“This pop quiz—is about cooking the food that the divine beasts like—and evaluating the taste. According to statistics, holy and spiritual beasts that consumed high-quality food prepared by their owners showed approximately 30% more… than the group that did not…”

Alphard presented various evidence and data to explain, ‘Why must one feed good food to holy and spiritual beasts?’

Not only were there simple objective figures, but a qualitative analysis showing that it had a positive effect on the bond between owner and beast was also accompanied.

And the students who heard Alphard’s words…

— So, if I cook and feed it myself, my Tangtang-ie will get stronger, right?

— Gasp, I’ve never cooked before. But he says all we have to do is feed them?

Sent gazes shimmering with greed and avarice toward their respective spiritual beasts.

Kwiik—! Kikik—!

Naturally, the holy and spiritual beasts, who cleverly picked up on their owners’ thoughts, were filled with dread.

They couldn’t even begin to imagine what they were going to be fed.

Unable to watch any longer, Alphard dyed his eyes red again and spoke.

“One must feed them—well.”

It meant do not just feed them whatever is available, but cook well and feed them!

At that, the students asked in bright voices.

— I’m not confident about that, can’t we just buy well-made feed and feed them?

The Acherandir students instantly brought the conversation back to square one!

Chiiik— Chiik——

“According to statistics, holy and spiritual beasts that consumed high-quality food prepared by their owners showed approximately 30% more… than the group that did not…”

Alphard vented steam from his joints a few times, but resumed the explanation.

— I mean, we’re not confident about feeding them that well…

“According to statistics, holy and spiritual beasts that consumed high-quality food prepared by their owners showed approximately 30% more… than the group that did not…”

— But we’ve never cooked…

“According to statistics, holy and spiritual beasts that consumed high-quality food prepared by their owners showed approximately 30% more… than the group that did not…”

No matter what the students asked, Alphard merely gave explanations based on evidence and data.

It was a strength possessed only by an artificial intelligence that was not swayed by emotions.

…Of course, he expressed contempt or joy through the light in his eyes, but that was strictly an output value programmed in the algorithm; Alphard himself was never affected by those emotions.

Roan spoke in a rather loud voice, as if for the students to hear.

“I’d prefer it if only those who can win a match against a golem in simple repetition open their mouths.”

— H-Hieek—!

— Did you hear Darc?

— He says he will turn us into golems?

Although they seemed to have taken it even more fearfully than Roan had thought.

In any case, the students, realizing that Alphard had been saying the exact same thing for a while, nodded with exhausted expressions.

— A-Ah, we understand.

— We’ll cook hard!

Chiiik——

Only then did Alphard stop the repeating explanation and proceed to the next step.

‘…He really has no emotions, right?’

Seeing the steam venting as if feeling somehow refreshed inside, it was only natural to harbor such doubts.

At any rate, a consensus was formed between the professor and the students regarding cooking food for holy and spiritual beasts.

The next problem was this.

— But putting aside making the food.

— The Professor is a golem, so how will he taste it?

Whether Alphard could actually eat and evaluate the food!

That was indeed a matter worth wondering about.

One of the students, who had been listening quietly, spoke carefully.

— Saying he can’t taste it just because he’s a golem, isn’t that discrimination?

— Uh…

The other students were left speechless.

It did seem that way…?

To Roan, it was nothing but nonsense.

‘At this rate, they’ll say that humans not having horns is discrimination too.’

If one couldn’t do it, they couldn’t. How could words like discrimination even be brought up?

It seemed everyone had learned weird logic from Demona.

Instead of learning the holy magic they were supposed to learn…

— Right, there must be a way!

— Wouldn’t he be equipped with something like a sensory device to taste?

— Hahaha, Lord Hiloa always emphasized a world without discrimination!

The students laughed heartily and rejoiced, apparently very pleased with their own thoughts.

Demona tilted her head.

“Can’t we just ask him directly?”

“Hmm.”

Roan did not particularly stop her.

‘She knows best what kind of state she ended up in after asking directly up until now, yet she is still doing that.’

Naturally, since Roan remained still, there was no one to stop Demona.

Flash—

“What is it—Student Wicronon.”

“Professor, can you taste it directly then?”

Chiiik——

“The student is fined 10 talents for—making a golem-discriminatory remark.”

“Hieek—! Where is the golem discrimination?!”

“According to Imperial law, golems equipped with artificial intelligence are—granted rights equivalent to personality—.”

Demona, having been slapped with a fine in an instant, wore a tearful face.

“However, the Sacred Combat artificial intelligence—Alphard, naturally cannot eat food.”

“Th-Then, in the first place, the discriminatory remark too…!”

Demona wore a look of immense shock, but soon gave up protesting.

Even if she went further, she would be the only one getting fined.

Meanwhile, Roan asked her.

“How much is the fine you’ve received so far?”

“I don’t know, it’s been a while since I stopped counting…”

Demona replied with her shoulders slumped.

Indeed, Roan also thought there was probably no meaning in counting it.

Since anyway, the moment she got any talents—though she rarely did—the faculty members would rip them away.

“Still, there is something hopeful.”

“What, really?! What is it?!”

“If you get as many fines as you do, the faculty won’t be able to force you to pay it either.”

“What is that…”

Demona, who had brightened up for a moment, wore a tearful face again.

Isn’t there a saying on Earth that if you’re going to pull off a scam, do it with the largest amount possible!

…Of course, scamming was a heinous crime that must absolutely never be committed.

At any rate, if fines piled up to Demona’s level, she could go ‘sue me, I can’t pay’ at any time, so the faculty also left some leeway in collection.

It was also a method used when there were unavoidable circumstances of sorts.

“And if you complete paying a fine of over 1,000 talents, the school will even give you a commendation.”

“Th-That might be somewhat tempting?”

Demona became somewhat motivated, and vitality returned to her expression.

“If I take a commendation back to the family, it will look pretty cool, right?”

‘It would depend on what kind of commendation it is…’

Roan could not bring himself to tell her the truth.

What was the point if it was a commendation in name only?

Around then, a few students approached with firm expressions and called out to Demona.

— Wicronon.

“Huh? Why? Are you going to pay my fine for me?”

— Hieek, that’s not it.

The students trembled at the word fine!

In any case, they looked at each other, nodded, and soon…

Lift—!

Lifted their arms high into the sky.

“W-What is it? I-I have Roan with me! You’ll be in big trouble?”

Demona hid behind Roan, wondering why they were suddenly behaving like this.

“Get lost.”

“Gasp! Roan is the scariest…”

Roan chased Demona out from behind his back with cold eyes.

The student who had called Demona spoke in an extremely serious tone.

— We voluntarily gathered, admiring your wisdom and courage in always speaking the truth.

“…Are you serious?”

Roan asked instead of Demona.

He simply meant if they were truly serious.

— Of course! We doubted at first, but you have excellently proven the prestige of the Sage family!

“Ehem, thank you for recognizing that.”

Demona stepped forward confidently, knowing that they, unlike Roan, had no intention of casting punitive holy magic or hitting her with a staff.

‘That counts as courage?’

In Roan’s eyes, every single bit of it was irritating, but what could he do if they claimed it was so?

— So, we decided to express our respect for you by raising both our arms. How about it!

“Good!”

— Mwahahaha! We shall follow you from now on!

“Thank you! Though we weren’t born on the same day, let us at least graduate on the same day!”

— Uwooooh!

Raise—! Raise—!

‘What a bunch of idiots…’

Roan decided to ignore Demona and the students who were raising their arms while facing each other with solemn expressions, as if they were making the Peach Garden Oath.

Looking closely, as if to prove they were indeed Demona’s followers, the majority of them were those who committed quite stupid actions even in Roan’s memories.

…If they took Demona with them, it would be an immense help.

At least Black Knight and Banjjak, who possessed some loyalty to their master, gave loyal advice.

Thud thud thud—! Whoosh— Swish—!

Since they were naturally spiritual beasts who couldn’t speak, they did it with their bodies.

“Argh! Black Knight, Banjjak! This is an important moment right now~”

Demona fled here and there, waving her arms.

— B-Black Knight and Banjjak are hitting us too!

— To think such a day would come!

— Endure it! This is also the foundation to walk the path of the Sage!

…Demona’s followers took defensive stances while making somewhat dangerous remarks for some reason.

Still, it could be said to be a better judgment than Demona’s.

— What is that over there again?

— Hey, ignore them. You know them.

— Ah, yeah.

The other students also glanced over, but soon realized that focusing on the class was beneficial both mentally and grade-wise.

And that went for Alphard as well.

“A golem cannot evaluate taste, but—I have called an assistant to replace me.”

— An assistant?

— Another golem?

‘He just said a golem can’t taste…’

Lightly ignoring the students’ stupid remarks, Alphard raised one arm to the sky.

— Oh! The Professor recognizes our resolve too!

That was not the case.

Boom——!!!

Alphard shot a holy power firework toward the sky.

A white light shot up like an arrow and soon exploded in midair, emitting a bright glow.

Needless to say, it was a signal.

“Who would he call?”

Sion asked.

Roan stared intently at her and asked back.

“Do you really not know?”

“Yes?”

Sion tilted her head, as if wondering what that meant.

“If you don’t know, never mind. You’ll find out soon anyway.”

Roan’s words were accurate.

Immediately after the firework disappeared.

The students realized that suspicious shadows had appeared on the ground they stood on.

— Huh? Did a cloud cover the sun?

To say that, there were too many shadows.

The students instinctively looked up at the sky.

At that moment, Sion recalled.

The memory of having seen a similar shadow once.

And whom she had met in the commercial district a few days ago.