episode_0172

“… … .”

I didn’t say anything this time.

I was just waiting for Veluid’s next words.

Honestly, I had no idea what to say.

Veluid’s answer was quite beyond my expectations.

Therefore, rather than hastily expressing doubts, I kept my mouth shut and waited for Belude to explain.

Fortunately, it didn’t take long for Veluid’s mouth to open again.

“Do you know about the characteristics of the academy?”

“… Characteristics, you mean?”

I would not be asking about such characteristics as being the best educational institution in the continent or gathering all kinds of talents from the continent.

“Oh, I confused what I said a little. I’m sorry.”

Beluid must have guessed what I was thinking after seeing the reaction, and immediately added.

“To be more specific, it refers to the ‘spatial’ characteristics of the academy.”

Because of the spatial characteristics of the academy.

“… Are you talking about something like a dungeon or a special flow of magical energy?”

The most representative thing is of course the dungeon.

Dungeons only appear in the Academy on the continent.

Although there are similar things in the Forest of Darville, they are only similar to a certain extent, and those that are strictly classified as dungeons only appear in the Academy.

And such dungeons are known to appear due to spatial distortion or movement.

The next thing that came to mind was the flow of magical power.

The academy shows a magical flow that is different from other areas outside.

As a result, barriers cannot be installed properly, and installation-type magic cannot last for a long time.

When it comes to the spatial characteristics of the Academy, these two things come to mind.

“That’s right.”

Veluid nodded lightly.

“And, the center of such spatial characteristics is this mountain.”

“… … .”

That was what was expected.

In the first place, dungeons only appear near mountains and the forests surrounding them, and the academy’s unique magical flow becomes stronger as it moves toward the center.

“This is a fact that only a very few people within the academy know.”

Soon, Veluid made an introduction that was bound to be very interesting.

“In fact, the Academy is a very spatially unstable place.”

“… … .”

“It is no exaggeration to say that the dungeons you mentioned and the flow of special magic power are mostly due to the spatial instability of the academy.”

When I heard that, one possibility crossed my mind.

“I stayed here to stabilize the academy space.”

And, the prediction came true.

I finally understood.

Why did Veluid stay here?

Beluid was stabilizing the space by staying at the center of the academy.

… However, questions still remained.

“… After listening to that, I understand. You said it was to protect the academy, but… Does that mean that the continent is even mentioned?”

That was the question.

Certainly, if that is the reason, what he said ‘to protect the academy’ is understandable.

An unstable space can easily cause various accidents.

Simply put, even if a single dungeon, which was no different from a by-product of such an unstable space, ran into trouble, it would cause considerable damage, and it was easy to predict that if something happened to the space itself, which was the source of the problem, there would be great damage.

However, the mention after that.

Even the mention of it being to protect the continent was not easily understood.

They say that the space in the academy is unstable, and something happens as a result of that.

Because I thought it wouldn’t be a big enough event to mention a crisis on the continent.

At best, the academy will be swept away, and even assuming a contingency, Perdion will be affected.

Therefore, Veluid’s words referring to the continent could only be heard as an exaggeration.

“It’s just as you said. No matter how unstable space may be, it generally does not lead to an event so dangerous as to refer to a continental crisis.”

Veluid confirmed what I said.

However, that wasn’t a complete positive.

“Actually, there is more than one reason why I stayed here. There is one more reason. And, the continent’s crisis is connected to another reason.”

One other reason. What on earth is that?

The answer immediately flowed out of Veluid’s mouth.

“I stayed here and worked to stabilize the space, while at the same time playing the role of protecting this place from any group.”

Any group.

The moment I heard that, a word popped into my head.

“… Denomination.”

“That’s right. I was protecting this place against the cult.”

My expectations were met, but I wasn’t happy.

That’s right, my doubts were still alive and well.

No, it went beyond being healthy and actually deepened.

“… Why did the cult target this place?”

I never knew why the cult was targeting this place.

Belude answered my question.

“That’s because this place is related to their purpose.”

“… … !”

He threw the bomb in a calm tone.

At those words, my eyes opened wide against my will.

Although I have been involved with the church for quite some time, I still did not know what the purpose of the church was.

All I know is that they planned to take over the war, and that if they achieve their goal, the continent will be destroyed.

It may not be very important in stopping them, but I have always wondered what the purpose of the church was.

But, I never thought I would hear that word at this moment.

“… Does the principal know about the purpose of the church?”

“Of course, I know.”

“… … !”

At the words that followed, a ray of hope bloomed in my heart.

The expectation that perhaps we might finally be able to find out the purpose of the church.

“… What is the purpose of the denomination?”

But that expectation.

“I can’t tell you that.”

Veluid shook his head and faded away in vain.

I flinched, and my eyebrows furrowed reflexively.

Because Veluid’s answer could only sound like that of someone playing a prank.

However, I soon calmed down my emotions.

Because I thought that Veluid was not the type of person to mess around at a moment like this or in a situation like this.

Therefore, I looked at Veluid with eyes asking for an explanation.

And, perhaps sensing my gaze, Veluid immediately opened his mouth.

“There is a reason. For some reason it is ‘impossible’ to tell you their purpose.”

“‘Impossible’… … .”

The moment I heard the word ‘impossible’, I knew.

The fact that his will was not involved.

For some reason, he ‘can’t’ talk.

The purpose of the denomination.

“… There is some kind of reason… ?”

“I can’t tell you.”

I kept my mouth shut at the words that followed.

Because I knew that if this happened, there would be no point in asking any more questions.

However, it was a question.

What is the reason why it is ‘impossible’ to teach it to me?

However, I couldn’t have regrets forever.

There was no time, and questions remained.

I decided to shake off my regrets and move on to the next question.

“… Were those arm and wounds inflicted by the cult leader?”

Veluid’s condition was quite serious.

One arm was not visible at all, and the whole body was full of small wounds.

If you consider the location of where he was and who is waiting inside, the suspect is narrowed down to one.

“That’s right.”

Veluid confirmed my guess by nodding his head with a bitter face.

“We were stabilizing the space as usual. Then someone broke into this place and appeared before my eyes before I could do anything. That was the cult leader. As it was, the cult leader and I fought, and I tried to resist in my own way… … In the end, we were defeated. I barely escaped with my life.”

“… Is the religious leader that strong?”

After hearing that, I couldn’t help but ask.

Veluid is strong.

In this vast continent where so many people live, it is not easy to be considered one of the greatest wizards.

If compared to a warrior, he is in a similar position to the Ten Swords.

No, it can be compared to the one that is clearly ranked among the ten swords.

Although it is difficult to objectively compare warriors and wizards, if we limit it to simple destructive power or war, there may be no warrior with stronger destructive power than Veluid.

To that extent, Veluid is an outstanding wizard.

Of course, the story is different if it is limited to peer-to-peer combat.

If a warrior with ten swords and an archmage were to fight in a match against each other, the warrior with ten swords would most likely win.

However, that only applies if no defenses are in place.

If the wizard is sufficiently prepared, even if the opponent is a warrior of ten swords, he can sufficiently block and win.

Moreover, it is Veluid that is evaluated as possibly the best on the continent.

It is impossible for him to stay here and not put up any defenses here, knowing that the enemy was targeting this place, so it is right to evaluate this place as Veluid’s home ground.

But, in a place like that, Belude was defeated by an overwhelming margin?

It was a story I couldn’t easily believe.

I expected that the sect leader would be strong.

I thought that the leader of a group with that much power, with so many warriors of the Ten Swords under his command, could not possibly be weak.

However, it was clearly stronger than I expected, to the point where it was defeated by the perfectly equipped Veluid without even trying.

“The leader was very strong. and… It was strange at the same time.”

“Strange… ?”

“That’s right. It had a strange aura that felt ominous even at first glance. All the magic I prepared was shattered by that strange energy.”

“… … .”

Ominous energy.

There was a corner where I could guess.

The energy that Hayden and Hamel had.

I thought that maybe what the religious leader had was the same thing.

“I thought I was adequately prepared, but… I guess it wasn’t enough.”

Veluid continued speaking with a bitter, yet resentful expression on his face.

“In this way, even ‘him’ has no shame.”

“‘Him’… ?”

I couldn’t help but furrow my eyebrows at the sudden word that came out.

Who on earth is ‘that person’ to appear in this context?

No, who on earth is this person who would use a title like that in the first place?

A clear question appeared in my gaze toward Veluid.

“‘He’ is the one who asked me to protect this place. At the same time, he is also the one who told me about the existence of the church.”

“… … !”

I flinched, my body shaking.

My intuition cried out.

“The reason I accepted the position of principal of the academy in the first place was because of ‘that person’s’ request. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have become the academy’s principal.”

As Veluid continued speaking, the cry of intuition grew louder.

My intuition was speaking to me.

To find out the identity of ‘him’.

I didn’t ignore that cry.

“What is ‘him’… Who are you?”

Who on earth is ‘that person’?

Who knows the existence of the church and its purpose?

Who made Veluid protect this place?

A strong question invaded my mind.

With a trembling heart, I waited for Veluid to open his mouth.

And finally, Veluid’s mouth opened again.

“That’s… … .”

He immediately closed his mouth again.

“… I guess I’ll have to postpone the answer until later. We have arrived at our destination.”

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, the unpleasant space that had been filling our surroundings disappeared.

And we entered an open, vast space.

At that moment, I knew right away.

That this is the top of the mountain.

At the top of the mountain was a vast crater commensurate with its large size.

and.

“You came.”

A voice was heard for the first time.

“… Cult leader.”

Veluid’s voice continued, clearly tense.

Then, I realized that the owner of that voice was the religious leader.

The leader of the church I have been looking for is right in front of me.

Normally, I would have felt various emotions and immediately checked that face, but I didn’t.

In reality, my gaze was not in the direction of the religious leader, but was in the air.

With my eyes trembling like never before, I stared endlessly into space.

There, I saw a face that was so familiar, yet shouldn’t be here.

“Me, Lee… … ?”

Somehow, Mary was there.