Chapter 32: Arthur’s Trial: Pushing Beyond Limits

“Thank you so much, Teacher…”

“It’s nothing special for a teacher to help a student, Alex.”

Two boys walk behind me, arms slung around each other’s shoulders.

Ethan and Alex.

The most exceptional students among the first years.

One from the slums, the other raised in the Imperial Palace—their backgrounds couldn’t be more different.

While both appear calm on the surface,

Alex harbors a deep-seated anger, an unconscious inferiority complex gnawing at his heart.

A loving family. A supportive father. A doting mother and sister.

Things Alex could never have.

Alex is undeniably talented.

It’s remarkable that he entered the academy without proper education,

and he’s even rivaling Ethan, the top student.

He might even surpass Ethan.

But should I be focusing on Alex right now?

There’s a hierarchy of priorities.

A bias a teacher should never have, a weakness unbefitting the title.

I’ve developed a preference for a student.

I need to nurture Arthur.

I’ve already interfered too much in a story I don’t fully understand.

Even if I could somehow manage Valentina of Wrath alone,

the demon representing Sloth,

the one who defeated all the demons except Valentina,

the Unmoving One…what if the Demon King himself appears?

Right now, the only significant fighting force is me, the Headmaster, and Serenade.

Considering Teacher Lenas’s recent power-up, perhaps he could join us.

But even if the Headmaster, Lenas, and Serenade combined their strength, they couldn’t defeat the Demon King.

Even if I were on par with Valentina, humanity would lose.

Moreover, Valentina was holding back.

Unfathomable techniques and precise power distribution.

She surpasses me in every aspect except magic.

But when it comes to magic, to performing miracles,

I’m definitely not inferior to Valentina.

But I don’t think I can win without sacrifice.

Did they defeat the Demon King in the original story?

Could it have ended in a bad ending, with the Demon King undefeated?

Arthur isn’t ready yet.

He’s far, far too weak.

Even with my guidance, there’s no way he can reach Teacher Lenas’s level.

What is it? What changed Arthur in the original story?

The death of a comrade?

The appearance of a powerful enemy?

The discovery of a hidden opportunity?

I don’t know.

There are no clues.

I can’t predict the future.

“Teacher, is something wrong?”

Ethan asks cautiously.

Did I unconsciously express my frustration?

“No, nothing’s wrong.”

“Well, this might be unnecessary, but…it seems like your speech pattern keeps changing.”

“Is that so?”

A side effect of meeting the Saintess?

Hmm. I thought I was consistently using polite speech.

“…Now that you mention it…”

“Yes. You’ve been working hard, so it would be good for you to rest a bit.”

Alex adds from the side.

Even though I healed them, they’re the ones who must be the most exhausted.

A teacher making his students worry…

“…Yes, I should rest.”

What I realized after the battle with Valentina is that,

not just the students or those around me,

but I also need to become stronger.

I know Valentina is an unparalleled force.

If I don’t become stronger, the next battle could be decided by a single, small factor.

“I need to take a leave of absence.”

I need to go somewhere.

“Arthur.”

“Yes, Revan.”

“Yes, it’s so much better not calling me Teacher Lenas. Much shorter, too.”

Cute kid.

And a pitiful kid.

I can see it. Arthur’s potential.

A vast emptiness within him, capable of holding far greater power than mine.

But there’s something missing to fill it.

In my case… the death of all my comrades at the hands of the Demon King.

I completed my growth in the final battle, and barely managed to defeat him.

Though nothing remained.

Arthur is an excellent hero.

His mindset, strength, and tenacity are far superior to mine at his age.

But…if he needs to experience the same as me to fill that void…

I’d rather…Arthur’s Holy Sword…

…!

“Arthur, don’t look back and keep walking. And listen carefully.”

I whispered quietly to Arthur, who was walking ahead, saying he’d use the training grounds first.

“…Yes?”

Arthur almost stopped, but thankfully continued walking.

He seemed to have grasped the situation instantly and made a gesture to summon the Holy Sword, but…

Arthur will only be a hindrance now.

“From now on, run as if Teacher Raven is chasing you from behind, pissed off.”

“What are you…”

“Run!”

Thump.

I kicked Arthur in the back.

Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to send him flying.

“…!”

After tumbling on the ground for a moment, Arthur started running earnestly.

Perhaps mistaking it for a game or training, Arthur was smiling slightly.

It might be better for him to misunderstand.

“Hey! Hey! That magic stone… it’s ours, you know?”

A gaudy jester’s outfit in red and white.

Janinang of Greed.

“Heehee…pity…such a pitiful thing…”

A muscular man next to him. Probably Lust’s knight. And clinging to him, a pink-haired woman in a revealing outfit.

Lerajie of Lust.

“…Hungry… Can I eat it?”

Gluttony’s… what was it? I haven’t seen the names of the current Seven Deadly Sins, so I don’t know.

Well, the most important thing is,

“To make me appear personally. Is the former Hero that strong?”

A pale man with a massive frame clumsily emerges from a black portal.

Aner of Sloth.

The current Demon King.

…This is dangerous.

“The Unmoving One, they say. Seems like you’re quite desperate, bringing everyone along like this.”

Flash.

I summoned the Holy Sword and gripped it tightly.

I’m pretending to be relaxed, but all I can do is stall.

If I charge in now, I might die instantly.

Aner cracked his knuckles and replied,

“Quite desperate, indeed. The Envy magic stone is useful. And I can eliminate a threat like you at the same time. I had no choice but to make a move.”

“…With this level of force, in this location, wouldn’t the other Transcendents notice?”

“Have they ever acted for the sake of humanity? They’re only driven by stimulation and their outdated sense of justice. Even if they come, they won’t be enough to face us all.”

Clink…

With a flash of purple light, rings appear on Aner’s fingers.

One on each finger.

A chain sickle.

I’m screwed.

“I’ll take at least one of you with me, even if I die. Keep that in mind.”

“Doesn’t matter. The new Arrogance has incredible healing abilities. She’ll revive even if she dies.”

Huh. So Arrogance has already been replaced.

Is there no hope for humanity?

Even my last-ditch threat didn’t work.

The Seven Deadly Sins slowly ready their weapons.

Lerajie’s illusions, Janinang’s hidden weapons, the Lust Knight’s fists.

I don’t know Gluttony’s power. That’s also a problem. And the Demon King is right in front of me.

Shwing-.

My face is reflected in the white blade.

It would be a lie if I said there was no anxiety or fear in my eyes.

I never thought the days of wielding the White Flame would end so soon.

Am I going to die? Hmm. Will I die?

Unless something unexpected happens, I’ll definitely die.

If it weren’t for the Demon King, I think I could have managed somehow.

“…Hiya.”

The White Flame trembles slightly.

The last dance, then. It’s been a long one.

“Come, you disgusting demons.”

Burn, Le…

“But not today.”

Aner lowers the chain sickle he was about to swing.

The other Deadly Sins also relax their fighting stances.

This is absurd.

“…What?”

I’ll definitely die.

What is this, a strategy to make me lower my guard?

No. He looks genuinely disappointed.

“Valentina said that only select actors should be on the final stage.”

“…Since when did the Demon King listen to the other Deadly Sins?”

“Ah, Valentina is special. Because she’s stronger than me.”

Everything I thought I knew has crumbled.

Stronger than the Demon King? And the Demon King readily admits it?

In my time, they were all vying for the Demon King’s favor.

“This is ridiculous.”

It’s incomprehensible. He could eliminate the most dangerous threat right here… well, with Arrogance joining us, our completed group would never lose.

“Didn’t your senior say the same thing before getting his head chopped off? By the very person standing right in front of you.”

“And you’re in a position where getting your head chopped off would be a mercy. Playing at love while your comrades are being slaughtered… I would have been too ashamed to do that.”

Love? I’ve never been in love.

I’ve only had unrequited feelings, and he’s promoting it to love? Thank you.

“…Sigh.”

The tension drains away.

I’m deflated. Utterly deflated.

To suddenly be told “I won’t kill you now” after preparing for death…

Though it’s the best news I could have hoped for.

“So, what’s the name of Arrogance? I should remember it.”

“Heehee. I knew you’d ask. It’s a secret. Figure it out yourself.”

Aner chuckled and beckoned with his index finger.

A black portal opened behind him, countless hands reaching out to pull him in.

“Then, next time we meet, I hope one of us will die.”

“Yes. Die on your way there.”

The shadows recede,

and the Seven Deadly Sins vanish without a trace.

Why did they even come?

To scare me and make introductions?

“Idiots.”

I should hurry back, Arthur will be worried.

I desperately need to focus on raising my junior.

By the way, my pockets feel lighter…

“Sh*t.”

These bastards…

When did they take the magic stone?