episode_0017

“We finally went.”

As Chancellor Adolf was dragged out by Sophia, Arthoria approached the bewildered Vess with a hopeful expression.

“Your Highness, can you tell me about the dream you had today?”

Arthoria clasped her hands together expectantly.

“What kind of dream was it? Was it the memory of the two of us strolling together in the most beautiful garden in heaven? Or was it the memory of standing back to back on the battlefield, fighting off demons together? If not that, was it the memory of whispering love to each other under the fluorescent light late at night under the covers?”

“Well, you see…”

Vess felt reluctant to speak about his dream, feeling as though doing so would shatter Arthoria’s expectations.

“So, what kind of dream was it then…?”

“That, well…”

Upon hearing Vess’s story, Arthoria looked as if she had lost everything in the world.

“I wasn’t in it?”

It wasn’t a dream related to me?

“It seems like the archdemon Lucifer was sealed inside this bracelet. Could it be that I dreamed something related to that because of it…?”

Lucifer!

That woman is of no help even after being sealed!

Why did I dream about her instead of me?

Of course, your lover, me, should have appeared, shouldn’t I?

That barbaric woman is opposing just because she appeared in Your Highness’s dream!

No, it can’t be.

Your Highness must recall our poignant story!

“But why was the sealed Lucifer there in that dungeon at that time?”

The story about the archdemon Lucifer didn’t even appear in [Eclipse].

In the first place, this bracelet itself was just a loose end that only consumed the protagonist’s power and was never properly resolved.

Is it possible that Lucifer exists, just like how the celestial being Vess existed in a past life?

Is this real physical Vess Granginelle’s previous life?

“Ah. I can tell you that. When we received punishment from Deus and fell to this earth, Deus said that seven artifacts related to us were brought down to the earth.”

“Seven artifacts?”

“Yes. …It was something I didn’t mention because Sir Nanggun wished to regain those memories. But I had no choice. To tell you, finding those seven artifacts is our trial.”

Trial.

According to what Artoria said, she and I, who were originally angels by Deus’ side, committed a sin and as punishment, fell to the earth to become human.

However, it wasn’t a complete fall but a temporary trial.

She said that if the two of us meet again, regain that love, and endure the trial, we can return to heaven.

“So, is it possible that the content of the trial to return to heaven is about finding the seven artifacts?”

“Yes. That’s exactly it. However, Deus did not tell us what those artifacts are. Perhaps the sealed bracelet that Lucifer possesses might be one of those artifacts. In heaven, Sir Nanggun was keeping that bracelet.”

So, are the seven artifacts items related to Vistus or Artoria that were in heaven?

But I don’t quite understand.

The demon Lucifer’s sealed bracelet was an item that appeared in the novel as well.

In that case, does it mean that Artoria was an angel in the novel and fell to the earth?

Something doesn’t match with the story in the novel.

Even when conquering dungeons, I thought that the story in the novel could serve as the basis for that information…

Was the world I merged with from [Eclipse] exactly the same as the world of [Eclipse]?

“So, we just need to find the remaining six artifacts?”

“That’s right! If we do that, we can return to heaven!”

Numerous artifacts and connections that appeared in [Eclipse].

Perhaps one of the seven artifacts might be among them.

Either way, what I have to do is gather those connections. That hasn’t changed.

When all those items are gathered, we can find out the truth.

“Okay. Let’s gather them once.”

“Yes!”

While Vyrn and Arteria were in high spirits with different thoughts.

“Vyrn.”

Sophia came back into the cafe.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think our father would get so furious. It’s my fault.”

She ended up causing harm to Vyrn.

I never thought my foolish dad would come all the way here to harass Vyrn.

This is entirely my fault.

Vyrn shouldn’t end up hating me.

“It’s okay. Father might just be worried about his daughter. And your current situation isn’t ordinary, right? Don’t worry about it.”

“Vyrn…!”

Sophia looked at Vyrn with emotion.

Yeah.

Vyrn.

You’ve always been like that.

Even when I caused you harm due to my mistake, you comforted me by saying it wasn’t your fault.

But in the end…

I promised it would be different this time.

I haven’t changed at all.

This won’t do.

It’s just repeating the previous cycle.

I have to change.

* * *

Lichthten Academy Student Council Room

“That’s funny.”

The academy’s student council president, Diavel, murmured.

“Can you believe it? The president of the republic rushed to the academy just because of his daughter.”

It seems easier than expected to bring down the republic.

“Is that so? Right now, the principal and the academy faculty are in chaos. To think the president would come here without notice.”

In front of Diavel, a beautiful woman, Lobina, was talking with Diavel.

“It’s unexpected, but it’s actually like gaining a weapon to bring down the republic later.”

“That’s true. I never thought there would be such a weakness in the republic. It’s good information for ‘destruction.’”

Diavel, the head of the student council leading the academy, and Lobina, who was admired and popular among the academy students, but her true identity was the leader of the “organization,” Eia.

Even the visit of the Academy by the Emperor to her, who even controls the Duchess, was just a means to use later to overthrow the Republic.

“What I’m more interested in than the Emperor’s visit is Groguen.”

“Secretary Granqui. Are you talking about him?”

The son of the Marquis, who no one paid attention to until he entered the Academy.

He has captivated both the Saint and the Princess of the Republic.

Although it is an unverified rumor, there is even information that the Imperial Princess visited the Academy to meet him.

As if to show that he didn’t just charm women with his looks and words, he even overwhelmed the son of a famous swordsmanship family in a duel.

“If we can recruit him as part of the ‘organization,’ he will be a considerable force.”

If we can recruit him, we can dominate both the Saint and the Republic.

“Yes, I think so too. I met him once thinking that way.”

Lobina recalled her recent meeting with Secretary Granqui.

Unlike other male students, a man who didn’t just submit to his looks.

Certainly, he was a man who the Saint and the Princess could fall for.

“It seems more difficult than I thought.”

“It doesn’t matter. After all, our mission is a long-term battle until destruction. It doesn’t matter if it takes a long time.”

“Stay alive, Bell. You have to live.”

Bell heard his voice in his head.

Sway, sway.

Bell shook his head from side to side.

Selfish master.

Did I think there was meaning in living alone?

A world where the master who killed her exists has no meaning at all.

Rather, a world that should disappear.

No matter what happens.

Even if the road ahead is too dangerous.

I will “destroy” this world.

And I will go back to meet the master who left me with the terrible curse of a life without him.

* * *

Time has passed so quickly.

Too much time has passed because of the President of the Republic.

This might affect my attendance score.

Versed, along with Artoria and Sophia, headed to the academy lecture hall.

“The next class location is….”

As he walked around a lecture hall building, he saw a familiar man.

The man he had recently competed against in practical swordsmanship class through a match.

It was Naver Schreiber from the prestigious Schreiber family of swordsmanship.

Naver? What’s he doing here?

“Versed Grangnuel.”

Naver approached Versed as if he had something to discuss.

Ugh.

Is this guy trying to pick a fight with me again?

Come to think of it, he picked a fight with Jenis just because they were together at [Eclipse].

This is getting annoying.

Amidst his pondering on how to handle the situation, thud.

Naver knelt down.

“Take me as your disciple. Please.”

…What is this now?