Ch.33The Last Memory (2)

Consciousness flickered. When I opened my eyes again, a rather familiar scene unfolded.

Antique buildings.

Students walking around in neat uniforms.

[Time Remaining: 42 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds]

This was the Imperial Academy.

*****

“…Did you say this was just a simple tour?”

Manuel, the headmaster of the Imperial Academy, made a disgruntled face as he looked at those seated across from him.

Sword Master Kiel.

The Empire’s strongest knight nodded while seated in his chair.

It wasn’t just the Sword Master. Next to him sat Olivia, the Empire’s third Grandmaster of Bitter Cold and Lightning.

She, who had surpassed even professors in magical application during her student days, had now risen to a position that could no longer be simply called a graduate.

‘Nine years?’

In less than ten years, she had risen from the bottom to the pinnacle with overwhelming talent.

She had now become a legend of the Academy.

“Yes. Just a simple tour, Headmaster Manuel.”

Olivia spoke in a monotone voice.

“I know you’re not the type, but since there are principles to follow, I’ll ask for your understanding.”

Manuel pulled out two documents.

They were pledges not to contact students for profit-seeking purposes.

“Are that many talents being poached?”

“Hahaha…”

Manuel laughed awkwardly at Kiel’s question.

“That’s the trend of the world. We’ve entered an era where money matters more than honor.”

It would be fortunate if they were scouted by other nobles of the Empire.

Crossing the border is the problem.

The Eastern Alliance, if nothing else, had exceptional capital power. The enormous profits from intermediary trade were significant enough that even the Empire couldn’t ignore them.

“Well, I’ve confirmed your signatures. Is there anything else you need? A guide, perhaps?”

“It’s fine. I know the geography.”

“I understand. Then…”

Headmaster Manuel bowed his head and left, closing the reception room door. As soon as the door closed, Olivia looked at Kiel.

“The Academy?”

“I had no choice. ‘You’ absolutely wouldn’t give in this time.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Olivia nodded as if she roughly understood.

‘Well, there’s no way you’d miss an event like demon extermination.’

Over the past four years, the Olivia of the extermination route had grown insanely.

[Olivia]

Level: 97

Occupation: Grandmaster of Bitter Cold and Lightning

Titles: Trusted by All, Academy Valedictorian, Next Golden Tower Master

She had risen to the position of Grandmaster and gained the favor of countless people.

Of course, no one except herself would know that these were stepping stones for extermination.

‘About a year and a half left…’

It’s not something to worry about.

I can’t stop it anyway.

Extermination is already a foregone conclusion.

Olivia turned her gaze to the window. Fresh-faced students were strolling down the streets, chatting.

From Imperial Year 996, stories related to demons would begin in earnest.

Demon race, demon realm, devils.

The starting point was right here at the Imperial Academy.

“Olivia.”

Olivia turned her head.

“What.”

Kiel cleared his throat.

Then, in an uncharacteristically awkward voice, he said:

“Ahem, hmm. It’s good to see you. This time it’s been two years.”

“For me it’s only been a day, as I’ve told you.”

“Still.”

Kiel nodded with a smile.

Two years was a long time.

But too short to forget a friend.

“Anyway, so this time you’re staying for two days?”

“A little less than two days.”

“Then there’s a lot we can do.”

Kiel said.

“By the way, did you know? From today, my one year equals your one day.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Exactly what I said. Today I can meet you for two days, and in four years, I can meet you for four days. And after eight years, I can meet you for eight days. I don’t know why, but it works out perfectly like that. So it was easy to memorize.”

Kiel counted on his fingers.

“Sixteen years, thirty-two years… I don’t think I’ll live to be a hundred… So that means four more times, sixty days left.”

“…”

“Why that expression? Did I calculate wrong?”

It felt like being hit on the head with a hammer.

Kiel’s innocent expression made it worse.

That’s why she couldn’t answer sharply.

“…No. You got it right.”

That’s a lie.

Today is the last time in my memory.

In two years, Kiel will die.

And in four years, the world will end.

“…Right. As you said, we have sixty days left.”

Her stomach churned.

What is this emotion? Guilt? Remorse?

Olivia exhaled deeply and stood up from her seat.

She felt like she couldn’t dispel this suffocating feeling by just sitting still.

“…Let’s walk a bit.”

Walking might make it better.

*****

‘Walking does help a bit.’

Olivia walked along the promenade. Kiel followed a few steps behind. Despite it being lunchtime, not a single student was visible on the walkway.

Not even one.

Come to think of it, the headmaster had asked, “Would it be alright if I let the students know lightly that you two have come to visit?” and she had agreed.

But without any announcement, how could there logically be not a single student?

At that moment, a stern voice came through the loudspeaker in the middle of the walkway.

– Ahem. Dear students. This is your headmaster. Today, Sword Master Kiel and Grandmaster Olivia have visited our academy. Please maintain your ‘usual’ proper conduct.

– When walking, move in formation ‘as usual,’ and maintain etiquette ‘as you always do.’ I trust all of you.

“…”

Huh?

– H-Headmaster? Should I really read this as written? Twenty penalty points means expulsion…

– The loudspeaker is on, you fool!

Screeeech.

– Ah, hello. This is Ian, the student council president. The current time is 12:29. All fellow students are requested to enter their classrooms 30 minutes before class starts, ‘as you usually do.’ That is all.

– A-Absolutely be in your classrooms 30 minutes before! Any student identified outside the classroom will receive 20 penalty points!

– If you’re late, you’ll be expelled. Expelleeeed!

Ahhh.

My chest… my chest…

It’s getting unbearably suffocating again.

“Eeeek! Run quickly if you don’t want to be expelled! Only one minute left until 30 minutes before class!”

“Damn it! That cursed headmaster! That senile old bastaaaaard!”

“Why do the high and mighty always come during our damn lunch tiiiiime!”

Countless screams of students could be heard through the windows. Among them were students who hadn’t even touched their lunch.

Witnessing that terrible scene, Olivia covered her face with a thud.

‘…Should I just let the demon devour him?’

Not the innocent students.

Just that one headmaster bastard.

He’s going to die naturally soon anyway, so wouldn’t it be fine?

Olivia checked the quest window with a deep sigh.

[Imperial Academy – Stop the Demon Summoning Ritual]

– Content: Eliminate the demon worshippers who have infiltrated the academy and stop the demon summoning ritual.

– Reward: Emperor’s Gift, Sacred Artifact from the Imperial Central Diocese of the Light Order.

Tomorrow, a demon will be summoned here.

The name of the summoned demon is Belphegor.

And he specializes in necromancy.

Of course, since there are no lost souls in the academy, his abilities won’t be very effective.

But that’s precisely why the demon worshippers summoned Belphegor. Because his abilities were restricted, they could paradoxically summon a stronger demon.

If they had summoned a demon that could fully exercise its abilities even in the academy, it would have been at least two ranks lower than Belphegor.

Anyway, this ‘Demon Summoning’ event offers two choices.

The first is to eliminate the demon worshippers as written in the quest. That way, neither Belphegor nor whatever else won’t be summoned.

And the second is:

[Defeat the Demon – HIDDEN]

– Content: The demon worshippers have succeeded in summoning the demon. Defeat the demon.

– Reward: Increase the affection of one party member who accompanied you in defeating the demon by 20.

Just let it be until the demon is summoned.

Each has its pros and cons. Following the first method, you get praised by the Emperor and the Archbishop, receive rewards, and can extract various benefits.

Basically, since the Empire and the Holy Kingdom consider demons as their main enemies, they can’t give stingy rewards. That would be damaging to their own reputation.

And following the second method, instead of all those rewards, the affection of one NPC who fought alongside you increases by 20.

So…

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Can’t I even look at you?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

In truth, for the extermination route, this is a no-brainer—option 2. While the rewards from the Emperor and Archbishop are good, they’re not good enough to make the Sword Master’s blade hesitate.

– I had no choice. ‘You’ absolutely wouldn’t give in this time.

Olivia of the extermination route must have come to the academy with Kiel for this reason.

[Kiel Rothschild]

– Level: 93

– Occupation: Sword Master

– Affection: 63(+68)

Because Kiel’s affection was still only around 60.

…Wait.

‘But what happens if I take this?’