Chapter 191: Pre and Post-processing – Part 1

Meanwhile, while Dorothy and Sion were in the middle of their fierce standoff, what were the people outside the barrier doing?

“Princess! It’s dangerous! Please come down!”

“Isabella!! Stop that nonsense and get down here right now!!”

They were desperately trying to stop Isabella, who was attempting to climb up toward the hole Dorothy had made in the barrier.

Due to the way the barrier was constructed, the entrance into it was positioned at a height inaccessible to creatures walking on the ground—around 10 meters off the ground.

Not to mention, since no one knew what kind of battle might be unfolding inside, the others had agreed to stay outside to avoid getting caught up in the chaos.

But our reckless princess had a slightly different take on things.

Her loyalty to her sister was just too strong—having come all this way, she couldn’t accept just standing idly by outside.

Who knew what kind of danger her sister might be facing in there? She couldn’t just sit around and do nothing.

So she decided to take a direct approach. She cast a Glue Seal spell on her hands to increase adhesion and began climbing the wall like a spider.

To her, it was a very serious mission—but from the side, it was quite the ridiculous sight.

“Hey! What are you going to do if you fall?! You could seriously get hurt! Come down now!”

“Shut it! You cowardly brother can stay down there all you want! I’m going to help my sister!”

Shouting back, Isabella reached up again.

She was almost there.

Just a little more and she’d be able to throw herself through the broken opening.

Since it was a dome, the incline became gentler toward the top—she’d be able to climb faster from here.

Wait for me, Sis! I’m coming ri—

CRASH!

“KYAAAAAA!!!?!?”

“Isabella?!!” “Princess?!”

But the next moment, the lower part of the barrier burst open, and Isabella lost her grip and fell.

Martin and Lancia, startled, rushed in to catch her, but they weren’t able to fully absorb the impact. All three of them tumbled to the dirt ground, groaning in a heap.

Dorothy, who had come out of the barrier, frowned as she saw the scene.

[What are you guys doing?
You seem to be having quite the relaxing time. You’ve even got the energy to mess around in a situation like this?]

“I wasn’t messing around…”

Isabella protested in an indignant tone, though her eyes were frantically scanning the area, searching for her sister.

And then, finally spotting her, she leapt to her feet and ran toward her.

“Siiiiiis!!!”

“Huh? Oh, Princess.”

Isabella flung herself into Sion’s arms, clinging tightly to her. With tears welling in her eyes, she looked up and asked:

“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? No serious injuries, right? You won the fight, didn’t you?”

“Of course. Thanks to your cooperation, everything went smoothly. I’m perfectly fine.”

“Thank goodness… I’m so glad… sniff…”

Isabella buried her face in Sion’s chest and sobbed. Sion, smiling gently, patted the princess on the back as if comforting a child.

Behind them, Martin, now composed, got up and approached Sion.

“Congratulations on your victory, Hero. Thanks to your efforts, we were—…?!”

Martin cut off mid-sentence, his face turning beet red as he broke into a coughing fit.

The reason? Sion’s appearance.

Though she had claimed she wasn’t seriously hurt, her prolonged battle with Raizein had left her clothes in tatters.

She was in such a state that it was embarrassing even to look at.

Her uniform was ripped all over, exposing skin beneath.

Her belly button was fully visible with nothing to cover it, and even the strap of her underwear was showing at her thigh.

For a teenage boy just entering puberty, it was an overwhelmingly provocative sight.

“Hero! Are you hurt anywh—hyaaah!?!”

Lancia, who had rushed over as well, jumped back like a startled cat, her face flushing bright red. She quickly turned her head away, unable to make eye contact, and stammered:

“J-just a moment! Let me get something for you to wear! I’ll take off my cape and—”

“No need,” Sion said politely, refusing Lancia’s offer.

“To be honest, I’m not even embarrassed at this point. I’ve been through worse today.
I spent the whole day dancing in a bunny suit in front of everyone. A few rips in my clothes now? That’s nothing.”

“Rather, right now, the cloth to cover my body is more needed by someone else than by me. So please take care of them first.”

“Someone else?”

“Yes, for example…”

Sion subtly motioned with her eyes toward a corner of the barrier. At that moment, Therese, who had been observing the situation from behind, suddenly sprang up and rushed forward.

“Marianne!!! Are you okay!? Marianne!!! Please wake up!!”

“……”

Despite her sister’s desperate cries, Marianne remained silent and unresponsive.

Sion, who was beside her, spoke as if trying to reassure Therese.

“You don’t need to worry too much. She’s just fainted for a moment — her life is in no danger.

However, if you’re going to move her, please cover her completely with a cloth. Make sure no sunlight reaches her.”

“Huh? Sunlight? Why?”

“…….”

Sion turned her head silently. Therese’s face instantly turned pale.

“No… no way… You’re not saying… Hero?! No, right?!”

“…I’ll say it again, her life is not in danger. Though her future may be a bit more inconvenient, it will be something she can manage.

I’ll also do my best to find a way to reverse it, so please don’t worry too much.”

“……..”

Therese collapsed to the ground in despair.

It was unfortunate, but this was something beyond Sion’s power. When she encountered Raizein, Marianne had already become one of her subordinates.

All she could do was keep her alive.

The consequences that followed… would be theirs to bear. There was nothing more she could do.

Well, it’s still better than dying.

“So this is the vampire commander who attacked our school…?”

Sally stared closely at Raizein’s face, who was being held by Dorothy.

Understandably, she was covered in blood.

“She’s alive, right? Where’s the lower half of her body?”

[No idea. She’s a vampire, she’ll probably regenerate on her own later. Not my problem.]

Dorothy replied indifferently.

[Anyway, it’s over now, right? Can I go rest?]

“Ah, yes….”

The battle was over. With Raizein losing consciousness, both the Black Parade and the Crimson Operetta had vanished, and the darkness was dispelled by the sun.

There was no longer a need to fight off monsters or resist the draining of life force.

Anatolia had won.

“Well then, since it’s all over, let’s move to the main building. Dimension Door.”

Sally said as she opened a dimensional gate leading to the main hall entrance.

With the exception of Dorothy, who went her own way, everyone gathered in front of the barrier immediately returned to the others.

Brad, who was leaning on his sword and breathing heavily, welcomed them back.

“Oh, finally back. Did you wrap everything up properly?”

“Yeah, more or less.”

Sally laughed sheepishly.

It kind of felt like the dragon that suddenly showed up at the end did all the work, but whatever — a win’s a win.

As long as the outcome is good, it’s all fine.

“Is Master okay? She had to maintain the barrier alone for six hours… I hope she didn’t overstrain herself…”

“Well, from the looks of it, she seems to be in a bit of a dangerous state.”

Brad glanced over toward Mana.

She stood completely motionless, holding the staff she had planted into the ground. Her posture hadn’t changed a bit from what it had been at midnight.

At first glance, it looked like she had died standing up. But since the barrier was still being maintained, that clearly wasn’t the case.

“It looks like she’s just unconscious. Fortunately, her life doesn’t seem to be in danger.”

Sion, who had checked her pulse, reassured everyone.

Lifting the unconscious Mana in both arms, she spoke:

“Then, I’ll take responsibility for escorting the Headmistress to her room. The rest of you, please handle the clean-up.
And if you need any help, don’t hesitate to contact me. See you.”

“Ah, wait. You must be exhausted from fighting too — we can help carry her—”

“!”

At that moment, Sally, realizing something, suddenly rushed over and clamped a hand over Brad’s mouth.

Brad’s eyes widened at her sudden action.

“Mmmph?! (What the—?!)”

“Yup! We’ve got this covered! Please take care of the Headmistress, Sion!”

Sally said brightly with a big smile, and the very next moment, turned and glared fiercely.

“Don’t get in the way, you clueless oaf!”

“??????”

Brad, completely unaware of the situation, was left utterly confused.

The warm morning sunlight, the gentle breeze, and a soft bed.

Surrounded by all these pleasant sensations, Mana slowly opened her eyes. She blinked drowsily and looked around.

“This is…?”

She almost spoke the words out loud, but the question was answered instantly.

It was the infirmary. More precisely, the private recovery ward attached to the infirmary.

The same place that the idiot Sion had recently been brought to after injuring herself.

But why was she here?

“Ah, you’re awake.”

Just then, a familiar voice rang out from a distance. It was Sion.

Turning her head, she saw her standing and looking at her — wearing an apron over her school uniform.

…An apron?

“Just wait a moment. Your breakfast will be ready soon.”

Sion said with a bright smile.