Chapter 26: Endless ending

“You are very different from the transcendents I have seen so far.”

“……”

“Most transcendents, including His Holiness the Pope, have an overwhelming presence, but you are unusually quiet.”

“……”

“Did you intentionally erase your presence? But it’s strange, as it shouldn’t work well on other transcendents. Similarly, my subordinate also has quite a presence…”

“That’s enough, that’s enough.”

I cut off Arie’s chattering from beside me, putting a little distance between us.

“There’s no end to it once you start. Were you always so talkative?”

“Huhu, I wonder. I’ve never been told that before, so I wouldn’t know.”

Indeed, what brave soul would dare to say to Arie’s face, ‘Holy Maiden, you talk too much’?

Unless they were close to her, most people would find it difficult to even speak to her.

“…I asked a pointless question.”

“Huhu…”

“Anyway, if you’re satisfied, you can leave now.”

“Leave?”

“I’ve known for a while that you were concerned about the core.”

“……”

Arie flinched and gave an awkward laugh.

She probably thought she had hidden it thoroughly, but it was obvious if you looked closely.

“I’ve removed all the magic circles connected to the core, so if you talk to the Academy Head later, you should be able to get the reward you want.”

“……All I did was follow you… Is that really alright?”

“Didn’t I tell you? This is compensation for stealing the holy relic… More importantly, I don’t need any reward from the Academy Head in the first place.”

It would be ridiculous to go up to that woman and demand a reward just because I helped.

Arie, who had listened to my story to the end, made an absurd request with a meaningful smile.

“Huhu, then, in exchange for keeping this a secret again, could you answer just one thing?”

“What nonsense are you talking about…?”

“Hmm, then… please think of it as an extension of the holy relic’s price.”

“……I don’t know why I should, but… if it’s something I can answer, I will.”

…It was a request I could have simply ignored, but I accepted the Holy Maiden’s increasingly brazen request because I was grateful she had followed along so obediently.

She seemed to ponder for a moment, then carefully asked me,

“It’s a fundamental question, but… why did you come all the way to the academy to do something like this?”

“Something like this?”

“I don’t understand. What benefit do you gain by helping the academy?”

There are several reasons, but if I had to pick one…

It’s definitely partly my fault that the Academy Head’s condition worsened.

“……Let’s just say it’s a form of apology.”

With that, I left, leaving only a brief answer.

Glancing back, I saw Arie still looking like her questions hadn’t been answered.

It seems it wasn’t the answer she wanted, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

‘I can’t just openly say, ‘Because I want to watch those who struggle to prevent destruction.’ can I?’

****

Hestia watched the fierce battle unfolding before her, not uttering a single word.

– Kwa-ji-ji-jijik! Kwa-kwang!!!

Elisha moved around at high speed.

And towards her, Kal Myers continuously shot crimson lightning.

After observing their battle, Hestia understood why Elisha had evaluated him as a mere dabbler on the verge of transcendence.

‘He can’t even properly control his own power.’

He seemed to be utilizing his demonic energy in various ways, such as shaping it into blades and shooting lightning, but Hestia’s eyes could discern much more.

Though he wasn’t showing it, Kal was struggling.

The demonic energy and magic he had forcibly absorbed hadn’t settled properly, and he couldn’t adapt to his rapidly grown body.

Thanks to this, Elisha could avoid all his attacks, even if she couldn’t land effective blows on him.

However, Hestia knew well that this balance wouldn’t last long.

The demonic energy Kal wielded was becoming sharper in real-time.

He was gradually getting used to his body.

His attacks still couldn’t reach Elisha, but as time passed, the accuracy of his attacks was steadily increasing.

If Kal were to fully adapt to his body at this rate, this balance would shatter in an instant.

That is why Hestia’s role was all the more crucial.

‘I just need to do my part well.’

The decisive blow Elisha had entrusted to her.

That was the only card that could perfectly turn the current situation around.

The Hero Hestia’s most powerful weapon, the Holy Sword.

And her powerful slash wielded alongside the Holy Sword.

The one and only thing Elisha had evaluated as comparable to, or even superior to, the Holy Maiden Arie, who was on the verge of transcendence…

Attack power.

Even if she hadn’t reached transcendence, Hestia, who wielded the Holy Sword to its extreme, could produce output close to that of a transcendent.

But as she was still immature, she needed time to gather and accumulate power.

Elisha knew this as well, which was why she chose to buy time herself.

“Huuu……”

Hestia exhaled slowly, steadying her mind.

While Elisha held out, her Holy Sword had already accumulated enough golden aura.

Preparation was complete.

Now, she just needed to aim for Kal Myers’ opening at the timing Elisha created.

In a fleeting moment, Hestia’s eyes met Elisha’s, and she nodded slightly.

“Hup!”

Upon receiving the signal that preparations were complete, Elisha’s movements changed.

She stopped focusing on defense and evasion, maintaining a fixed distance, and began to actively attempt attacks.

– Kwang!

Her spear, thrusting forward at high speed, made an ‘unfamiliar explosive sound’ as it struck Kal Myers’ armor.

“Kukuk, you’re fast… But, attacks of this level cannot penetrate my armor…!”

“Oh really? If you’re so confident, try enduring until the end.”

“What…?”

No sooner had he spoken than dozens of consecutive attacks came flying in a surprise assault.

Each of her attacks contained the same destructive power as the sharp thrust from before.

– Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!!!

“Kuhuk!”

The explosive energy erupting from Elisha’s spear created large and small wounds on Kal’s armor.

They were light, negligible wounds that would heal quickly with a little time, but he allowed most of the attacks in such a short span that he could only stagger and retreat.

‘Now!’

At that moment, Hestia, seizing the opening, rushed forward.

The Hero’s destructively compressed magic radiated a dazzling light, revealing its presence.

An overwhelming momentum that even a transcendent could not disregard…

Hestia swung her Holy Sword, resolved to completely pulverize her opponent.

“I’ve been waiting!!!”

At that moment, Kal Myers’ head twisted at a grotesque angle, turning towards Hestia.

Feeling an ominous premonition, she instantly turned her head sideways.

Only then did she spot the crimson pillar rising from the ground.

In the urgent situation, Hestia’s mind began to race.

Judging by the direction and speed at which the pillar was rising, it wasn’t targeting her.

The pillar was aimed at the side of the Holy Sword, and if it collided, the angle would be twisted.

Why would it target the Holy Sword of all things…

‘No way…!’

Hestia instinctively realized what Kal Myers was aiming for and tried to withdraw her sword, but…

The Holy Sword was already losing control and moving forward due to excessive magic usage.

“Elisha!!!”

Hestia called out to Elisha in desperation.

If things continued like this, the Holy Sword’s blade, after colliding with the crimson pillar, would be directed towards Elisha, and the explosion of accumulated magic would erase her from existence.

Hestia’s expression hardened as she envisioned the worst possible outcome, and conversely, Kal Myers was smiling viciously as he envisioned the best possible outcome—just then…!

– Jjaeng-geurang!

“What…?”

A pure white aura instantly spread, shattering the rising crimson pillar.

Thus, Hestia’s Holy Sword’s angle was not twisted…

– Kwa-deu-deuk!!!

It successfully struck Kal Myers’ body directly.

The armor wrapped around his body was completely shattered along the Holy Sword’s path…

“Kkaaaaaaaaaaak!!!”

– Kwaaaaaaaang…!!!

Along with his scream, the intense light emanating from the Holy Sword illuminated the sky, and simultaneously, a massive explosion echoed throughout the entire academy.

****

“Ugh…”

Elisha groaned, sprawling on the ground.

Her spear, which clearly looked to be in bad shape, had long since been tossed far away.

“Elisha…!”

Hestia called her name in a desperate voice.

Elisha chuckled and replied,

“How many times have you called my name today alone?”

“That’s…”

“Ahaha, I was just joking, joking. Don’t take it too seriously.”

As Hestia hesitated, Elisha laughed heartily, reassuring her.

Despite that, Hestia still wore a face full of guilt.

With trembling hands, she clasped Elisha’s hand, who was lying down, and cautiously opened her mouth.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Huh? For what?”

“With my misguided judgment, I almost… put Elisha in danger. I sincerely apologize…”

“No, no, it was a good judgment. See, everything worked out well, right?”

“……”

Hestia could not agree with her words, spoken as if it were nothing significant.

If the pillar hadn’t been destroyed by chance, the Holy Sword would have been aimed at Elisha, not Kal Myers.

Hestia felt guilty for almost striking her friend due to her own mistake, and at the same time, she felt that Elisha was truly amazing for being so calm despite the dangerous situation.

‘But… why was the pillar suddenly destroyed?’

Just then, as Hestia, suddenly wondering about this, was about to ask Elisha…

“Huhu, it seems this was the problem after all.”

“?!”

– Ta-dat!

At the sudden sound of an unfamiliar voice, Hestia drew her Holy Sword.

Her arm, still not recovered from the full-power attack just moments ago, trembled like a shaking aspen, but she did not lower her sword.

Where Hestia aimed her sword, a woman with pure white hair, who had appeared out of nowhere, was observing the fallen Kal Myers.

“Who… are you?”

“Hmm…”

Regardless of Hestia’s wariness, the woman didn’t even glance at her, squatting down and muttering something.

Then, a faint light seeped into Kal Myers’ body, extracting a dagger so damaged its form was almost unrecognizable.

“It’s already empty. Still, just in case, should I destroy it?”

“Yes…?”

“Huhu, I wasn’t asking you, Hero.”

She chuckled sinisterly, slowly turning her head.

Upon seeing her face, Hestia finally realized who the person was and sheathed her Holy Sword.

“…When did you arrive, Holy Maiden?”

“Huhu… I wonder?”

The Holy Maiden, Arie, smiled.