Ch.257257. School Performance (3)

“…Um, did you say Professor Astrid?”

In the silence that filled the room, Elia finally managed to speak.

Her voice clearly contained a hint of anger, as the statement that had just flown at her was so strange. Being called a thief cat—she had certainly never done anything to deserve such an accusation—

[Hero. Otherworld’s puppet.]

With those words, the giant’s optical lenses smoothly rotated to fix on the sword Elia was wearing.

[Angels don’t typically commit violent acts, but they scheme plenty behind the scenes. That Lightbearer only contacts you when it wants something, doesn’t it?]

“…What?”

[Normally, it doesn’t respond no matter what you say, right? It only ‘answers’ when it has business with you.]

That was true.

While Elia was speechless, the optical lenses whirled again to focus on the other women nearby who were staring with wide eyes.

[Ah, Demonic Vessels. The janitors responsible for ‘the end of the world.’ You receive too much abuse compared to your assigned roles, and it’s not even a fate you chose willingly—quite pitiful indeed. But from my position, I simply cannot view you favorably.]

A voice that clearly mixed cynicism, mockery, and contempt.

Despite being composed of electronic sounds, the hostility emanating from the speaker was extraordinary.

“…What do you—”

Someone spoke in a slightly suppressed voice amid the suffocating atmosphere.

And what came back in response was a flood of incomprehensible information.

[I don’t think it’s your fault. Setting aside that damned ‘Grey’ who created this frozen gear-like structure, none of you chose to become hosts to those things willingly.]

“Professor.”

[Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that I dislike ‘you.’ I dislike what’s inside you. According to multi-dimensional causality analysis, not one of you hasn’t killed Darwood at least once. From my perspective, you’re all potential murderers—]

“PROFESSOR!”

Suddenly, a thunderous shout rang out.

“Eeeek?!”

“W-what the?!”

It wasn’t just a shout—it was a voice that created actual “physical impact” in the surrounding air, causing vibrations to radiate outward.

Light objects flew into the air, some people were pushed over, and loosely built structures were instantly demolished.

The previously noisy surroundings fell silent at once.

“…”

Elia, who was watching, opened her mouth slightly in disbelief.

Wait, so…

Just by shouting “a little loudly,” a small-scale storm had erupted around them?

She had often seen superhumans who could change landscapes with a single sword strike, but seeing the surroundings devastated by someone just raising their voice was a first.

And Alpha 11, who had created this situation, sighed and spoke quietly again.

“You’re saying too much, Professor. I think you just revealed at least ten classified Demonic Spire secrets.”

[So what? They’re all things I’ve observed.]

“I understand your love for your son is profound, but the people here haven’t done anything to Darwood.”

[Not yet, you mean. And that’s only the serious stuff.]

The steel giant snorted and folded his arms.

[I bet there’s not a single person here who hasn’t tried to get sticky with my son in some way.]

“That kind of baseless speculation is your bad habit—”

Alpha 11, about to say this, suddenly realized that none of the humans around could properly lift their heads, and cleared her throat.

The tightly closed lips and bright red faces provided the clearest answer.

“…You’re all at an age of vigorous vitality, aren’t you?”

As Alpha 11 said this awkwardly, Professor Astrid snorted again and continued.

[Well, as you said, there’s nothing to find here right now. So everyone, lift your heads. I won’t berate you any further.]

The steel giant’s gaze then fixed on Darwood, who was climbing onto the platform in the distance.

It was one of the main events of the school festival—presenting “research results” in front of everyone. Anyone in the Academy could see it through the large projector that had been set up.

“What on earth is—”

[You don’t need to know right now. The ‘beginning’ will happen soon enough anyway.]

Astrid said, waving his hand dismissively.

[Since I’ve already said this much, let me tell you one more strange thing… That child is often called the ‘Key to the World.’ It’s not just a nickname—it means the fate of the entire world depends on that child.]

“…”

She had heard something like this before.

Elia clenched her fist as she recalled.

The Lightbearer had mentioned it several times. The Key to the World.

That Darwood Campbell was more important than he himself realized.

This strange person was probably talking about the same thing.

[…The destruction of the world.]

But what followed was:

[Depending on the circumstances, it might not be you all, but something else.]

A completely unexpected statement.

[Starting today, I think the continent is going to get quite noisy.]

That cold remark spread through the air.

Meanwhile:

“What do you think is the best way to eliminate war from the world?”

That voice dropped into the silence.

●

There’s a saying that the most dangerous madmen don’t actually appear that insane.

“Smiling face hiding a sword”—people who conceal weapons beneath their smiles.

And the man now sitting in a chair on the platform perfectly fulfilled the first condition related to this.

Not looking dangerous.

Relaxed demeanor, gentle smile on his face, and an even voice.

To Selim Bronx, Darwood Campbell appeared completely harmless. Probably most people watching him right now shared that impression.

His continuing words were delivered in a clear yet warm voice.

Though the topic he was addressing was anything but.

“Since ancient times, humans have pointed guns and swords at each other for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes for great causes, sometimes for personal beliefs, and sometimes just because they didn’t like how others looked.”

This was a fact he had also observed from Count Nicholas recently.

For truly trivial reasons, humanity is a species capable of becoming devils to one another.

Even in the massive collective called the Empire, the so-called “politicians” who are prepared to shed blood for their “vested interests” are not much different when viewed from a broader perspective.

“I’ve always wondered why people act so cruelly toward each other. Is there a more peaceful way to live? Is there a way to get by without anyone getting hurt? I often thought about such things.”

The voice of a leisurely, gentle dreamer.

Therefore:

“But.”

“Recently, I had a conversation with a ‘human hunter.'”

The “change in atmosphere” that followed such a statement was even more precipitous.

“He taught me how to effectively hunt children by using their parents as bait.”

A stifled silence spread around.

Darwood Campbell’s words remained calm. Because of this, it conveyed even more clearly that this was a plain statement of fact without any exaggeration.

“I learned that humans can become that cruel for the most trivial reasons.”

The conclusion was therefore more easily reached.

If humans can be that cruel:

Any “civil war” with its fuse already lit is just a matter of time.

“People, for whatever reason—even creating one if none exists—can stab others to achieve what they want.”

Therefore:

“So I thought about it. What could I, as an individual human, do to solve this?”

The audience’s expressions grew strange.

Both the topic being addressed and the sudden, definitive statements were hardly appropriate content for a student club presentation.

As expressions full of doubt and murmurs of suspicion spread in all directions, Darwood placed something on the platform.

It was a small box he had brought with him.

“Well, I think this will explain things a bit faster.”

In recent Earth history, nations puffing their feathers at each other was considered hostile enough to warrant headlines in various media.

This meant it was such a peaceful era that the mere possibility of such “threats” could capture everyone’s attention.

So where does the root of this come from?

What is the most preemptive condition for maintaining peace?

The answer is very simple.

“My conclusion is ‘deterrence.'”

Darwood said as he opened the box.

And from inside:

“Something that can encompass the entire world.”

The “common enemy of the world” was released.

●