Chapter 93

Through the classes so far, the students had learned that in Akerandir, it was actually better if a professor could not use the holy art of their respective subject.

— Suddenly, I’m proud that Professor Beleck is a black mage…….

— Tell me about it.

It was a truly sharp point.

The scenario that would unfold if a few professors Roan knew had taken charge of this class was clear as day.

“Borrowed-Name Holy Arts are holy arts that activate holy power by borrowing a god’s name, and they can even use attributes that one normally couldn’t use……”

The theoretical contents explained by Professor Beleck were things Roan was already well aware of.

For that reason, Roan kept recalling the Borrowed-Power magic circle he would use this time.

‘……Wait, actually, isn’t it better if I just fail moderately?’

Then, he suddenly arrived at this thought.

Come to think of it, he had done too well in every class until now, which was rather the problem.

The classes with Professor Atoga, Professor Vulcan, Professor Wooly, and so on.

Of course, it wasn’t because he wanted to do well, but this time, just moderately like the other students…….

Roan, who was grinning after finding a new method, met eyes with Professor Beleck.

Professor Beleck stopped explaining the Borrowed-Name Holy Arts and spoke warmly.

“Ah, I heard about Student Darc’s activities yesterday. You drove away Pierbo’s subordinates, right? To make such efforts for the school’s safety is truly admirable and brave. I believe you will use Borrowed-Name Holy Arts well too.”

“……Thank you.”

It seemed Harden had told all the professors overnight.

‘At this rate, it would be stranger if I failed.’

It was a setback for Roan.

An ordinary holy art was ordinary only for average students; if an honor student did that, it would immediately cause worry to those around him.

Meanwhile, the students who heard Beleck’s words shouted, getting even more excited instead.

— They say he didn’t just drive them away, but tried to torture them to death with a terrible holy punishment art!

— They said they invaded in an outright army!

— He was so cruel that even the Headmaster tried to stop him!

— I heard even Professor Kaina shook her head upon hearing the story?

— And then he had a duel with the Headmaster…….

Beleck was momentarily bewildered by the near-lie exaggeration.

‘I don’t think it was to that extent……?’

Although Harden hadn’t given detailed info, if those words were true, there was no way it would have passed quietly.

Naturally, Roan couldn’t look kindly upon the students bragging as if they knew it all.

‘Those bastards, speaking of such things proudly in front of a black mage!’

No matter how much Beleck had converted, wouldn’t he feel sad hearing stories about Roan trying to kill or torture black mages?

Beleck wiped the sweat trickling down his temple and said.

“I-I see. Black mages will tremble in fear from now on just by hearing Student Darc’s name.”

— Exactly!

— Let those bad black mage bastards invade all they want!

Naturally, since Beleck was also a black mage, he was trembling slightly as he said those words.

Roan lamented inwardly.

‘Beleck, who even claims Professor Kaina is good…….’

He was only guilty of trying to catch apple thieves.

And frankly, they were punks who deserved to be treated that way.

“Now, quiet, quiet. I will resume the class. So, Borrowed-Name Holy Arts……”

Beleck calmed the students and restarted the class.

Yet for some reason, even while writing on the blackboard, he kept scanning Roan’s reaction on the sly.

When Roan, who disliked this entire situation, scowled slightly.

“A-Ahem! For Borrowed-Name Holy Arts, the p-patterns and Hyl-Hylon language must use the gods’ borrowed patterns and borrowed words together, but step-by-step…… ah, sorry, not this……”

Beleck was visibly flustered to the point of making rare mistakes.

Roan became even more aggrieved.

‘It wouldn’t be so unfair if he were actually weaker than me!’

Even though Beleck looked like he was just quietly teaching class, in his younger days, he was an authority on black magic who would be second to none in the eastern part of the Empire.

His nickname back then was ‘Black Staff of the Tandalim Mountains’.

He was a powerhouse who fell in no way short compared to Tady.

Did it make sense for such a person to be trembling before a novice black mage like Roan?

Unaware of Roan’s thoughts, Demona sitting next to him whispered softly.

“Roan, I’m saying this just in case, but Professor Beleck is a professor before he is a black mage.”

“……Is that for you to say?”

***

Having finished the rough theoretical explanation, Beleck intended to have the students practice in earnest.

“Now, everyone understood the theory, right? From now on, let’s try using the power of a god I designate. Once you get somewhat used to it, we will also exchange offense and defense with each other.”

Since using holy power directly was naturally more fun than a boring theoretical class, the students liked it.

“First, so it’s not dangerous, we will borrow the name of the Goddess of Rivers and Lakes, Lady Ephrise. Lady Ephrise’s basic borrowed pattern and borrowed words are as follows. Since they are modified by me, water will be summoned just by using the borrowed pattern and borrowed words. Everyone, give it a try!”

The students began to use the holy arts as Beleck instructed.

Thanks to Beleck’s excellent explanation, before long, water was summoned here and there.

Of course, since it was still clumsy, most of the summoned water failed to maintain its shape and soon collapsed.

Splash─

— Whoa, what is this!

— My clothes are all wet…….

“Hahaha, that’s why Borrowed-Name Holy Arts must be practiced starting from safe ones. Because you bring and use the power of the gods, not your own strength. Please remember that!”

Demona summoned a surprisingly large lump of water into the air.

“Huh? Oh! Roan, look at this! It’s huge!”

“Oh! The Wechronon student is amazing. It seems you receive Goddess Ephrise’s favor.”

“Hahaha, did you hear that? I’m receiving favor!”

Demona moved the water lump here and there.

Surely, achieving that level of result in one’s first Borrowed-Name Holy Art meant either their resonance was high or the respective god’s love was exceptionally grand.

‘Same for spiritual beasts…… is she truly worth 3,000,000 gold?’

Although affinity for spiritual beasts and the love of gods were slightly different, they generally had a proportional side.

“Uh-oh?”

However, Demona’s water lump, which was being moved here and there, eventually lost control and came crashing down.

Of all things, it happened right over the head of Hector, who was groaning without being able to summon anything yet.

“Y-You…… h-heretic……”

Since it was water from the Goddess of Rivers, it was mixed with plenty of waterweeds, and Hector’s eyes flashing through the weeds draped over his head were exceptionally sharp.

“A-Accident!”

Demona quickly apologized, but Hector pounced on her anyway.

Even amidst the clatter and noise, Roan drew his magic circle without paying attention.

‘If it’s water, Etherog the Devil of Greed would be good.’

Since the power of water was uncommon in black magic, it was a devil Roan had also used frequently.

If there was one thing slightly bothering, it was the setting that it wasn’t pure water but saliva drooled by Etherog.

Because what was summoned was the saliva drooled when Etherog coveted something.

Roan carefully drew the magic circle.

Even if he restricted his output, the devil’s will was more important for the results of the Borrowed-Power lineage.

He intended to cancel the magic immediately if it seemed like something would happen.

Hummm─

And the moment Roan’s Borrowed-Power lineage manifested through his false divinity.

Creeping─

“……?”

An ominous, thick water instantly flooded from the ceiling of the classroom.

No, since it was heading from top to bottom, saying it flooded was incorrect, but.

Everyone who saw the sight could only express it that way.

─ …….

Although there was no proof that Roan had summoned the water, everyone naturally stared at him.

Since it had come to this, it was too late to cancel the magic.

‘Are you screwing with me like this just because you’re displeased?’

Roan naturally got angry at his false divinity.

Hummm─!

Naturally, the false divinity protested.

The false divinity merely changed the spell into a holy art based on the magic circle Roan drew.

This was entirely the result of the devil Etherog pouring out power to his heart’s content on his own as soon as he received Roan’s request.

Demona, who was being shaken down caught in Hector’s grasp, raised her hand in bewilderment.

“Y-Yes, Wechronon student.”

“Professor, is Roan personally acquainted with Lady Ephrose?”

“……It is Lady Ephrise, not Lady Ephrose.”

“Whatever.”

Beleck merely stared up blankly at the water Roan summoned, speechless.

‘This is a Borrowed-Name Holy Art……?’

Of course, Borrowed-Name Holy Arts could produce results like this.

However, doing this with only the basic borrowed pattern and borrowed words Beleck had taught was near impossible.

Furthermore, the energy felt from that thick water didn’t seem to be the holy power of a mere human, no matter how much they borrowed a god’s strength.

‘No, of course it’s a god’s strength, but…….’

Beleck thought as he stared up at the ceiling in bewilderment.

He was half-correct.

Since it was devilish power.

‘Is there something I don’t know because I can’t cast holy magic?’

It was to the extent that Beleck, for the first time, realized he was a black mage who couldn’t use holy arts.

Meanwhile, Roan, who cast the magic, was breaking into a cold sweat.

‘I hope I won’t get caught.’

Making a louder fuss than others was something he was used to now.

However, because he had summoned actual devilish power this time, he was even more anxious than usual.

“Professor. May I withdraw the holy art now?”

Roan spoke to Beleck as calmly as possible.

Only then did Beleck realize Roan was sweating and spoke hurriedly.

“Ah, ah! Cancel it quickly! It must have been difficult, I am truly sorry.”

Borrowed-Name Holy Arts connected somewhat directly with the god.

The burden on the user was far greater than with ordinary holy arts.

Of course, Roan had simply sweated out of tension, but either way was fine.

“No. It seems I was lucky this time.”

‘Can that really be done just by being lucky……?’

Roan canceled the magic, saying words that would leave Beleck dumbfounded.

Yet while almost most of the water vanished by seeping into the ceiling just as it had appeared.

Drip─

“Ack, cold!”

Just a single drop fell onto Demona’s face.

Demona reflexively wiped the water from her cheek.

Then, feeling something was off, she tilted her head.

“But Roan, isn’t this a bit sticky?”

“……What do you mean?”

“Like, a bit like spit……”

It was a truly sharp intuition, highly uncharacteristic of Demona.

How could she realize it was Etherog’s saliva from just a single drop!

Roan deliberately hardened his expression and barked at Demona.

“If you blaspheme Lady Ephrise any further, I won’t let it slide even if you are my friend!”

“Huh? No, it’s not that, it just really feels like spit—”

“Demona Wechronon!”

“Uh…… sorry. It’s just water.”

Ultimately, Demona had no choice but to nod, even though she felt uncomfortable.

Of course, strictly speaking, Roan, who claimed Etherog’s saliva was Ephrise’s water, was committing far greater blasphemy.

‘Fortunately, I am a black mage.’

Roan had no need to feel guilty of blasphemy.

Also, this appearance received rather good evaluations from other students.

— That Darc fellow, I didn’t think he was like that, but he is quite devout.

— To think he would cut off even the Wechronon like that…….

In many ways, it was an excellent result for Roan.