Chap 108-Heroes Who Saved the Academy

 

Two weeks had passed since the Dorothy Academy midterms, which had been filled with many incidents.

During those two weeks, Terra was plunged into deep sorrow.

The Medici Family, one of the five great ducal houses that protected Terra.

The tragic news had arrived that Cassandra Medici, the head of the family, had stepped forward to save the academy students, only to die in battle.

During that time, countless articles mourning her death poured out, and people honored her sacrifice with one heart.

A hero who gave her life to ensure that not a single academy student was sacrificed in the face of a massive magical beast attack.

That was the current assessment of Cassandra Medici.

Along with that, the reputation of the Medici Family naturally rose.

Public opinion formed that any force that dared to touch the hero’s family was worse than a Contamination Worshiper, and naturally, no one dared to touch them.

Not yet.

Dorothy Academy Square.

Like at the start of the midterms, all the academy students were gathered there.

The difference from that day was that it wasn’t just students present.

Many high-ranking nobles, rarely seen even by academy students, were filling the space.

The heads of the other three great ducal houses, excluding the missing Duke Bennett and the recently deceased Duke Medici.

And even the chairman of the council.

All the prominent figures of Terra, except for the frontline forces who had to hold back the magical beasts, were gathered here.

Professor Merlin, the emcee, stepped onto the platform set up in the center of the square with a heavy expression.

Her voice, amplified by magic, echoed throughout the silent square.

“Thank you to everyone who has gathered here. Before we begin the ceremony, we would like to honor a great hero.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“She sacrificed her life for Terra and for the students, who are the future of the academy. For Duke Cassandra Medici, let us take a moment of silence.”

As soon as Professor Merlin finished speaking, everyone gathered in the square lowered their heads as if they had made a promise.

The students closed their eyes with mournful expressions or with their mouths firmly shut.

The nobles, dressed in splendid formal attire, also paid their respects to her sacrifice with solemn faces.

Only the sound of the wind swept sadly over their silence.

It was the grief of all of Terra, commemorating the end of a hero.

But there was someone who simply stared at those people with an expressionless face.

Camilla Medici.

The unfortunate girl who had a great hero as her mother.

On the surface, it seemed as if the shock of losing her mother was too great, leaving her no room to mourn.

‘Disgusting…’

She desperately tried to stand still, fighting back the rising nausea.

It wasn’t exactly because of her mother’s death.

The Medici Family’s succession competition was known to be brutal.

If one failed to awaken the Librarian ability, they were immediately expelled to a collateral branch, and even if they awakened the ability, it was only the beginning of a hellish competition.

Cassandra was the one who encouraged such bloody competition.

Camilla had never received anything like love from her mother.

So, it was perhaps natural that she didn’t feel much emotion at her death.

Besides, her mother, Cassandra, was originally…

Before Camilla could finish her thought, the moment of silence ended.

Professor Merlin returned to the platform and announced the next order.

“Now, we will begin the ceremony for awarding medals to the heroes who saved the academy.”

Camilla Medici, Clara, and Bella Staren.

The three names were called in order.

Camilla and Clara stepped onto the platform, and Bella’s father, Baron Staren, followed behind them with a heavy expression, standing in for Bella, who had not yet regained consciousness.

Elaha, the headmaster of the academy, personally stepped onto the platform and stood before the three.

In her hand, she held a medal, intricately crafted from platinum, symbolizing the highest honor of the Terra Federation.

First was Clara.

She was awarded the medal for her contribution in fighting amidst the magical beast attack, dealing with numerous magical beasts, and protecting the Saintess Candidate Lina from the villain Yeon Bennet.

She received the medal with trembling hands.

Hot tears welled up in her eyes.

A reward for fighting to the end in the face of fear and despair.

The weight of it seemed to overwhelm her small shoulders.

Next was Baron Staren.

He accepted the medal on behalf of his daughter and bowed deeply with a firm expression.

Pride and regret for his daughter, who had not yet awakened, were etched on his face.

Finally, it was Camilla’s turn.

Elaha presented her with the medal, offering words of comfort and encouragement.

“You have inherited your mother’s courage. The future of the Medici Family will be bright.”

Camilla mechanically accepted the medal without any change in expression.

The platinum medal in her hand shone dazzlingly in the morning sunlight.

But that light didn’t seem to reach her empty eyes at all.

When all the awards were given, Elaha took another step forward to the front of the platform.

Her gaze slowly swept over everyone filling the square.

The noisy square once again held its breath before her presence.

“This academy attack has left an indelible scar on all of Terra.”

It was a dignified voice, but everyone in the square could feel the sadness within it.

“But we saw hope in this tragedy. The sacrifice of the heroes who risked their lives to save their comrades. And the courage of the students who fought to the end in the face of despair.”

She paused for a moment and looked at the students with warm eyes.

“This trial will make us stronger. Dorothy Academy and Terra will never fall.”

At her words, a faint light began to return to the eyes of the students who had been gloomy.

Elaha met those eyes, filled with determination for hope, and quietly declared.

“We will engrave today’s sacrifice and courage in our hearts and rise again. With that, everyone is dismissed.”

With her words, people began to disperse with their own emotions.

Camilla also tried to leave the square quietly, without saying a word.

But Elaha’s voice was heard from behind her.

“Lady Medici.”

Camilla stopped and turned around.

“Please, I have something to tell you.”

“Would you… come to the headmaster’s office with me?”

…

The headmaster’s office at the academy.

Outside the window, a busy scene of cleaning up the aftermath of the incident was visible, while inside, only a heavy silence lingered.

Elaha sat in her chair and silently looked at Camilla, who was sitting on the sofa opposite her.

Camilla was still staring at the teacup with empty eyes.

“…I am sorry for what happened to Duke Medici.”

Elaha broke the silence first.

Her voice seemed to contain sincere condolences.

“Terra has lost a great hero. Nothing can comfort you, but… please, be strong.”

At Elaha’s consolation, Camilla slowly raised her head.

“…Thank you for your kind words.”

It was a mechanical and cliché answer, but Elaha didn’t mind much.

Her reaction only felt like a girl who hadn’t yet escaped from the grief of her mother’s death.

“How is your body?”

Elaha asked again.

“I’m fine.”

At that answer, Elaha’s eyes lit up as if she was interested.

She scanned Camilla up and down, carefully observing her condition.

“By any chance… do you hear any hallucinations?”

At the unexpected question, Camilla looked puzzled for a moment.

“What kind of hallucinations are you talking about…”

‘Hmm… that’s strange. He’s not the type to back down so easily…’

Elaha looked at Camilla again.

Clearly, her level was abnormally high.

Not a level built up through natural training, but an unnatural trace of something enormous forcibly widening the vessel.

But now, the presence of that being had disappeared without a trace.

‘God of Fighting… is it you again?’

“Well… it seems like there’s nothing particularly wrong with you. Good.”

Elaha said with a bright smile.

“I would like to give you a personal gift, Lady. Tell me if there’s anything you want.”

At Elaha’s words, Camilla’s red eyes, which had been dead, slowly began to burn again.

“…A visit.”

“Yes?”

“Let me visit Yeon Bennet.”

…

The stairs leading to the underground torture chamber of Bastille Prison.

Count Bastille walked down into the darkness familiarly.

Clack-

Clack-

‘Are they still doing it?’

The sharp sound of the whip, which had been heard since morning, had not stopped even though it was almost dinner time.

‘Well, they must have had a lot pent up.’

Creak-

As he opened the door, a terrible smell of blood greeted him.

In the middle of the torture chamber, thick curtains were drawn, and red blood was flowing profusely through the gap underneath.

Clack-

“Lady Serena?”

“…Yes?”

Serena, who had stopped whipping at the sound of someone calling her, peeked out from behind the curtain.

“Yeon Bennet… no, a request for a visit has come for Yeon.”

Count Bastille conveyed.

“Hmm… a visit when the interrogation of the prisoner is not yet finished… Please tell them that it is refused.”

“Well… the person is a little difficult to refuse…”

“No matter how high-ranking the noble is, what is not allowed is not allowed.”

Serena said firmly.

“The request came from Lady Camilla Medici.”

“……”

At the mention of Camilla’s name, her eyes flickered briefly.

“Haa… I can’t help it.”

Serena, who walked out from behind the curtain, had red blood splattered on her body in places.

She nonchalantly dropped the whip she was holding on the floor.

“The prisoner is not in a state to go out for a visit right now… Could you give me a little time?”

Author’s words

I might have to go out tomorrow for some business…

I’ll be back on Monday…