Ch.79Academy Attack Incident – 1

“Disgustingly flashy.”

That was my first impression upon seeing the Holy Knight Order of the Starlight Church that I’d only heard about in stories.

Not only were they all tall and bulky, but every one of them wore armor in the same color scheme as the holy sword, each holding a spear and shield with ruler-like precision, and wearing swords at their waists that closely resembled the holy sword.

Anyone would have the same impression upon seeing the Knight Commander, who wore armor 1.5 times larger than the others and was adorned even more extravagantly as the finishing touch.

‘The Royal Guard wasn’t like this.’

Perhaps because they were the Pope’s personal guard, the design philosophy of their armor was completely different.

While the Royal Guard’s armor exuded dignity while still prioritizing practicality, the Holy Knight Order’s armor focused solely on eye-catching splendor. The excessive decorations made that obvious.

But conversely, this meant they certainly had an intimidating presence, and there were a thousand knights wearing such armor.

If this weren’t the Academy, or if they weren’t standing still awaiting orders, they would surely have been mistaken for an invasion or raid by the Church.

“So, you’re telling me to go to the Papal State?”

“That’s right, Hero. Come with us.”

As Aria had said, Brunhild was talking with the Holy Knight Commander. Her expression showed she was quite displeased. Her stance with one leg slightly forward and her curt tone revealed her discomfort.

“What if I refuse?”

“You seem to misunderstand. This is neither a request nor a suggestion, Hero. It is an order from the Pope of the Starlight Church, who is essentially the source of the holy sword. Since you wield the holy sword, you must naturally obey His Holiness the Pope’s command.”

“Since when has the Church been the source of the holy sword? I’ve never heard that before.”

“Have you not heard the myth that the goddess dropped a star to bestow the material for the holy sword, heated it with the burning sun, tempered it with the cold moonlight, and whispered starlight to infuse it with divinity? The holy relic created in this way is the holy sword.”

“Even a passing dog would know that’s a lie. Stop talking nonsense and get lost. I’m absolutely not going to the Papal State.”

“I repeat, this is neither a request nor a sugges—”

The Knight Commander stopped mid-sentence. His helmet, a mixture of silver and sky blue, was facing in my direction. However, he wasn’t looking at me. Rosaria flinched and grabbed my sleeve, quietly hiding behind me.

“Mira!”

Finding my presence strange, Brunhild turned her head, spotted me, and waved happily. I waved back.

The Knight Commander, interrupting his speech, began walking toward us as if entranced. Heavy footsteps echoed with each thud. As the distance closed, I could feel the enormity of his build.

‘…He really might be similar to the Chairwoman in size.’

Up close, he was much larger. Even I had to crane my neck to look up at him. The thick armor contributed to his size, but his basic physical dimensions seemed beyond that of a normal human.

Stopping right in front of me, he spoke as if issuing a decree:

“Step aside. I have something to say to the Saint candidate.”

Unlike the semi-respectful tone he’d used with the Hero, this was a command without even a hint of courtesy. I couldn’t help but laugh. Just like Alexander before, they were all insufferably arrogant.

“And if I refuse?”

I rejected him outright. If Rosaria had shown any willingness to talk, I would have stepped aside, but since she was hiding behind me with a frightened expression, I couldn’t do that.

“How impudent.”

“No more than you, bringing all your subordinates. Is that also the Pope’s order? To make a show of force at an Academy where a dragon serves as Chairwoman?”

“Show respect when speaking of His Holiness. Disbelief in the starlight is enough to be judged as heresy.”

“Heresy?”

I scoffed inwardly. The entire Church had been bewitched by a succubus, yet they dared speak of heresy.

‘Well, from their perspective, I suppose it’s not wrong.’

Just as a person with two good eyes would be considered abnormal in a village of one-eyed people, if the entire Church had been bewitched by a succubus, then those who weren’t bewitched would be the abnormal ones from the Church’s perspective.

But the fact that they were the fools wouldn’t change.

“I warn you only twice. Show respect.”

“And I’ll answer only twice. No.”

I noticed him fingering the sword at his waist.

I’d heard about this. The Pope’s personal guard doubled as inquisitors of heresy, with the authority to carry out immediate executions depending on the severity of the case.

Of course, if such a thing were really about to happen, I had no intention of sitting idly by. I’d have to kill everyone here first and then think about what to do next.

“…”

Apparently he had some sense of judgment, as the tension that had built up ended with mere intimidation. Instead of declaring me a heretic, he slightly turned his head.

It was in the direction of Rosaria hiding behind me. His hand, encased in a thick gauntlet, reached toward the cowering Rosaria behind me.

“Where do you think—”

With a loud grab, I seized his wrist. Due to the basic difference in body size and his heavy armor, I couldn’t even grasp half of it, but it was enough to stop his arm. The helmet turned toward me again.

“Are you opposing His Holiness’s will?”

“I’m following the Saint candidate’s will.”

“…”

Perhaps meaning he didn’t want to exchange any more words with me, he put strength into his arm. I responded in kind. The standoff continued.

But I clearly had the upper hand. He could neither grab Rosaria nor pull his arm away. It might look even from the outside, but the reality was different.

I could sense the nearby students growing restless as they watched our contest of strength. It was understandable—an Academy student was matching strength with a Holy Knight who could supposedly fight on equal terms with the Royal Guard.

—Creeeeak!

“…!”

Suddenly, an ominous sound came from his gauntlet. The part of the wrist I was gripping began to cave in. Seeing his armor crumple, he tried to pull his arm away.

I applied more strength. The arm that had tried to escape stopped firmly in place. The ominous sound grew louder. The gauntlet was caving in even more.

“…”

“I’m warning you—if you draw that, it won’t end well for you. Try it if you’re willing to bet your life.”

I issued a subtle warning. His other hand had finally gripped the handle of the sword he’d been fingering.

But despite my warning, he began to draw his sword. Just as I was about to summon Eternity into my empty hand—

—What insolence is this?

A fierce voice thundered from the sky. Even students who weren’t the target of that voice trembled in fear, and ripples spread through the previously statue-like ranks of the Holy Knight Order.

Immediately, a figure descended. Behind her fluttered a single black wing larger than an average person, and just above her buttocks rose a tail as thick as a human torso.

“No need to answer. Your fate has already been decided.”

It was Erestica, the Chairwoman of Bellium Academy.

Intense killing intent flowed from her yellow vertical pupils, which were wide with rage. Her clenched fists trembled, and savage teeth showed between her lips.

“Did you think you could touch my student in my Academy, which I built with my own hands and own, and escape a dragon’s wrath?”

—Crack!

The ground split just from her taking a step. It was evidence that the Chairwoman had resolved not to show even the slightest restraint. Seeing this, I released the pressure on his arm. The Holy Knight Commander retreated, clutching his wrist.

The spot I had been gripping was severely dented.

“…You crushed star-infused armor with just hand strength?”

Rosaria whispered from behind me, having seen the dented gauntlet. I answered nonchalantly:

“I used a bit of strength. It was unusually hard. My palm still stings.”

I could feel a burning sensation across my entire palm. My skin was probably red, though I didn’t need to look to know.

“No, you crushed star-infused armor with your bare hands! That’s more than ‘a bit’ of strength!”

“I’ve done worse than this before.”

Rosaria touched my hand in disbelief. While we were doing this, Erestica approached right up to the Holy Knight Commander.

“I greet the Chairwoman.”

His tone had half-returned to politeness, but his head remained stiff and his knees unbent. The Chairwoman emanated killing intent.

“Have you come prepared to die?”

“I understand this may seem disrespectful. I apologize for that. However, the Pope commanded me to bring the Hero and the Saint candidate without fail, so I had no choice but to bring the entire Holy Knight Order. We couldn’t risk another unfortunate incident like last time, could we?”

“Though I’d like nothing more than to tear you limb from limb right now, out of consideration for the Starlight Church’s efforts, I’ll give you one chance. This is your last opportunity to walk out of here on two legs, so turn around and leave the Academy immediately.”

“I cannot do that. We must—?!”

Before he could finish, the Chairwoman’s fist slammed into his chest. With a single punch, his armor shattered into hundreds of fragments, and his body flew like a bowling pin, colliding with the knights behind him.

His body bounced back through about 70% of the knights arranged in 10 rows before finally stopping. He was still moving, so he appeared to be alive. It was remarkable that he hadn’t died from such an impact.

The Chairwoman spoke dismissively to the knights who were staggering to their feet:

“Your superior has kicked away the only chance for you to leave here alive.”

A snapping sound was heard. An opaque barrier enveloped the entire Knight Order. It seemed intended to prevent other students from seeing what was about to happen inside.

I, Priscilla, Rosaria, Brunhild, and Aria remained inside the barrier, however.

“So, I won’t show mercy a second time.”

Just as the Chairwoman was about to swing her fist at the head of the nearest knight—

“Might I have a moment of your time, Great Dragon?”

Particles of light gathered in the air, forming the figure of an elderly man in elaborate ceremonial robes. Despite his aged and weathered face, his aura was unmistakably genuine.

Even though this was merely a magical projection rather than his physical presence, the impression was powerful. It wasn’t just the elaborate robes he wore—it was the aura he naturally exuded.

‘So this is the Pope.’

It seemed he wasn’t called Pope for nothing. I realized that one needed to project such an aura to be the head of the Starlight Church.

“Before I speak, I offer my sincere apologies to the Chairwoman of this place where the Empire’s finest talents gather, a being at the pinnacle of existence respected by all creatures whether two-legged or four-legged. My subordinates have committed an unforgivable sin. Sometimes their excessive loyalty to the goddess leads them to make such mistakes.”

To be honest, I was greatly surprised by those words. I had expected outright arrogance, but he actually showed proper respect.

I’d heard that he was the most insidious of them all, but the fact that he could at least maintain a veneer of politeness already put him in the top 1% of the Starlight Church.

“Spare me your honeyed words. The disrespect you’ve shown in my Academy can only be repaid with blood—”

“Yes, with blood. I shall have half of the Holy Knight Order killed.”

“What?”

Before the Chairwoman, who had been fiercely declaring that disrespect must be washed away with blood, could even react in surprise, the knights on the right thrust their spears into those on the left.

Not one of them showed any resistance. Despite five hundred men being executed by their comrades, they simply died silently within their armor.

It didn’t take long for all 500 to completely stop moving. With a hill of sprawled corpses as a backdrop, the light particles forming the Pope’s image continued speaking calmly:

“Does this satisfy you? If you say it’s not enough, I will kill half of the remaining knights.”

“Do you not see life as life? Then there’s no meaning in continuing this slaughter. No matter how many die, to you they’re nothing more than broken parts.”

While Erestica expressed her disgust at understanding his operating principle, my eyes met the Pope’s as he looked around. Upon seeing me, his face contorted.

‘…What?’

It was a face filled with obvious jealousy.

‘Wait, why that expression?’

I was dumbfounded. If it had been anger or hatred, I would have understood completely. After all, his son was essentially dead because of me.

But jealousy? It was an emotion I hadn’t expected. What could he possibly envy about me?

“I’ve heard much about you, but this is the first time seeing your face. Hmm. Pleased to meet you, student Mira Crate.”

The Pope, having instantly changed his expression, approached me directly and greeted me. He seemed to pay no attention to the Chairwoman he had been conversing with until just moments ago.

“You say you’ve heard much about me—from whom?”

“When one grows old, one tends to take interest in the outside world one way or another. There are always ways.”

I tried to probe a little, but the Pope smiled like a kind old man, as if his jealousy-filled face from earlier had been a lie. Seeing this, I was certain:

‘He’s plotting something.’

Whatever it was, he was clearly planning to do something strange again.