Chapter 126

A guy came into the cafeteria looking for Aru. He seemed pretty ticked off about Aru’s sparring style from yesterday.

The guy wanted to fight. Aru seemed too bothered to agree, but I personally stepped in and made them fight.

Still, even if he’s somewhat smart, getting into a fight that’ll be recorded in his record is only gonna hurt him whether he wins or loses… but hey, he’s 20 years old, full of youthful spirit. At that age, always wanting to fight is kinda normal.

But contrary to my expectations, no actual fight happened. The moment Aru released ki before even drawing their sword, the third-year couldn’t handle it and collapsed on their own.

Drool’s flowing… Not mine though, the unconscious third-year’s drooling all over. What a sight.

Still, this is kinda unavoidable. Right now, Aru has surpassed their growth limit. Unlike last life, their personality is intact, but their power hasn’t changed much.

No matter how strong that student might be, there’s a world of difference between them and an absolute powerhouse. Unless someone like Merlin or another Heavenly Hero shows up, there’s nothing stopping Aru right now.

Still, it’s disappointing. I was kinda hoping for some chaos, maybe a bloodbath in the peaceful academy cafeteria.

KWAANG-!

The cafeteria doors burst open. A group rushes inside and immediately gasps upon seeing the sprawled-out figure.

The reactions from the spectators aren’t much different. Some cover their mouths, others question what they’re seeing.

I love reactions like these. Mocking foolish and ugly humans is the most entertaining thing in the world.

Saintess Maria dashes forward. She quickly approaches the unconscious third-year and pumps holy energy into them.

Their complexion returns to normal, torn capillaries reconnect. While holy energy can’t heal mental damage, it practically works wonders on physical injuries.

Meanwhile, the big folks who entered with the commotion gather around the fallen third-year. Students chatter.

“H-Holy crap! The Heavenly Hero senior is here!”

“But… the fight’s already over?”

‘The big folks’ consist of several teachers and one student. The Real Eye Teacher, who gave me suspicious looks earlier, stands out, as does a dazzling blonde beauty.

“Student! Student! Snap out of it!”

“We were a step too late, huh? Though why is Pianke…?”

The radiant aura from the beauty lights up the surroundings. The colorful space transforms into golden hues.

The Real Eye Teacher and the beauty kneel beside the unconscious third-year, checking their condition. Upon recognizing Saintess Maria nearby, they formally greet her.

“Heavenly Hero Senior…”

“To the noble and great daughter of our Lord, this humble being offers greetings.”

Humble? Nah, stop talking nonsense.

If you’re going to judge people solely by ‘how amazing they are,’ no human could ever surpass you. No matter how humble you pretend to be, deep down, you know that fact.

Heavenly Hero Shine Stella.

Once my light, my nemesis, my obsession, my life—she defined 13 years of my existence.

‘The Brightest Light’ Shine Stella.

“Stella! Long time no see! How’ve you been?”

Oops, I instinctively raised my hand and greeted her cheerfully. This Stella doesn’t know me from last cycle, though.

There’s no ill will towards Stella. Just a little regret, but she was the first to give my life ‘a sense of purpose,’ and that fact remains unchanged.

“Freshman? Do I know you?”

Quickly retracting my hand and pretending nonchalance, it’s impossible to escape Stella’s sharp gaze. She turns her head toward me.

Even the simple movement makes her hair flutter like gold dust. Such a radiant person.

“No, why would I know you?”

“Then why the greeting?”

“I must’ve lost my mind for a moment. You know, sometimes you just feel happy and want to greet anyone!”

Babbling through excuses, Stella tilts her head, then loses interest in me. In that final moment, her gaze held a hint of ‘pity.’ Guess she thinks I’m some kind of sick person.

“Teachers, Pianke and I will take this student to the infirmary. Everyone else, please clean up the cafeteria.”

Real Eye Teacher addresses the other teachers. Indeed, it wasn’t a proper fight, but the excited students pushed tables around, making a mess. The floor’s also dirty—some coward wet themselves, causing wrinkles on my forehead.

“…Just a sec. Let me ask one thing before we go.”

Real Eye Teacher holds the third-year’s head and upper body, while Stella lifts the lower half. Ready to leave, Stella pauses and looks back at us.

“Who are you? The one who did this to Pianke.”

All eyes turn to the young girl. Unfazed, she continues eating, face buried in her tray. Finally noticing the stares, she lifts her face covered in soup stains.

“Huh?”

“You? Seriously, you did this to Pianke?”

“It wasn’t me! I didn’t hit him! I was gonna, but he just fell over!”

“Stella student! Let’s go!”

“Alright… I’ll ask later. Hey, what’s your name?”

“Me? Aru!”

Stella examines Aru next to me with glowing golden eyes. Seems the unconscious third-year has some connection to Stella. Who’d have thought Aru would get entangled with Stella like this?

Didn’t expect this. But thinking about it, this could be fun. Last life, after Saintess Maria, Stella was the one who entertained me the most. Looks like some interesting scenes are coming up.

SWISH SWISH.

I gently place my hand on Aru’s forehead and stroke it. Aru beams and purrs happily.

—

Eden Academy. Infirmary.

Yesterday, this infirmary was bustling with patients due to a wolf therianthrope incident, and now a new patient has just arrived. As the stretcher enters, a boy shouts.

“Wha, Big Brother!? Big Brother! Big Brother!!”

Pianka, the sibling of the incoming patient, screams sharply. Stella quickly lays Pianke on the infirmary bed. The surrounding area is curtained off, so conversations won’t leak out.

Physically, Pianke is fine; his consciousness is merely locked away.

Pianke shows no signs of waking up. Even the infirmary teacher confirmed it’ll take some time for him to regain consciousness, advising to keep him stable for now. Stella investigates the witnesses.

Every account is the same.

During yesterday’s class assignment sparring, the dog therianthrope who turned all opponents into corpses got into a verbal spat with an enraged third-year Pianke storming in. They ended up dueling in the cafeteria.

However, something strange happened: the moment Pianke stood in front of the dog therianthrope, his body trembled violently, and he collapsed on his own, foaming at the mouth. That was the entire incident.

‘Too fast for the freshmen to notice the attack? Still, clearly beyond what’s expected from a first-year… If it was some cruel trick, things would be different.’

After gathering information from the students, Stella returns to Pianke. By then, Pianke had barely regained consciousness.

Though, his ‘consciousness’ isn’t exactly sound.

“Uh… Krr…”

“Pianke, look at me.”

The giant man lies curled up like a hibernating bear, staring at the wall. Anyone watching would criticize him as pitiful.

“There’s only me, Stella, the leader of Pantera, here. Pianke, turn around.”

“Kruh…? Leader…?”

At hearing “Stella,” his mindset seems to shift, and Pianke struggles to move. His face, marked by fear, exhaustion, and distress, reflects in Stella’s golden eyes.

“Leader! We need to run! There’s a monster in the academy!!”

“Pianke, calm down.”

“Leader! How can I calm down?! There’s a demon hiding in this academy! Actually, it’s not hiding. That monster is brazenly mingling with the students during meals! We need to call the imperial guard right away! Or the church knights!”

Nothing coherent comes from Pianke’s rambling. All we learn is that he’s extremely scared—just like the countless other students frequently seen in this infirmary.

This won’t do. Stella judges that action must be taken. She suddenly thrusts her head in front of Pianke’s shaking pupils.

“!”

“Pianke, look at me.”

“Leader…?”

“Do you think that monster, that demon, is stronger than me? Are you saying that even with me, Shine Stella, standing right here, you still need to tremble in fear?”

Stella’s sharp questioning. Somehow, finding some trustworthy aspect in her unwavering gaze, Pianke’s trembling begins to subside.

“That… that’s not true… No matter how strong the monster is, the leader is unbeatable…”

“Then that’s settled. If that monster causes trouble, I’ll stop them. Now tell me, Pianke, what happened between you and that therianthrope freshman?”

Calm spreads like any other emotion. Right now, Pianke is gradually regaining composure thanks to Stella’s calmness.

It’s because he trusts her more than anyone. According to Pianke’s knowledge, the Heavenly Hero is the strongest existence. If the monster he saw was overwhelmingly powerful, Stella was incomparably stronger.

“That guy…? Ugh… So… When I drew my staff and pointed it at him… and he faced me… That’s when it happened. Suddenly, his form began to distort!!”

Pianke shouts, covering both sides of his face with his hands. He hasn’t fully regained his composure yet.

“Distorting form? Can you explain further?”

“Just as it sounds! Like… black and crimson energy swirling out of the demon’s body…! It shot up high into the sky! The whole world plunged into pitch darkness! I couldn’t breathe properly anymore!”

“Black and crimson energy…?”

“Yeah! That ominous, damp, suffocating energy! Felt like I was caught in a noose! Like being underwater! My eyes stung…! My heartbeat became irregular…! What else could it be but a demon!”

“Pianke, let me share my energy with you for a moment.”

“The leader’s energy? Why suddenly… Gulp!”

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, Stella emits a force similar to what the therianthrope girl unleashed earlier. An oppressive, overwhelming presence.

The surroundings darken, and the air pressure changes. Breathing becomes difficult, as if submerged underwater.

Unable to withstand the crushing ki aimed directly at him again, Pianke panics and faints once more. Stella immediately retracts her ki, but it’s too late—Pianke is already unconscious.

“Sorry… Teacher, could you check on Pianke again?”

“Stella?”

“I need to… go somewhere briefly.”

Thud.

Stella calmly steps out of the infirmary. Her mind is working busily.

‘For a mere freshman to possess enough skill to knock out Pianke with just killing intent… I should talk to her.’

Quietly astonished, Stella heads to find the therianthrope girl.

******

“Fufufu.”

The roof of Eden Academy is triangular. For a regular person, stepping on it means eventually losing balance and slipping off.

But a man with razor-sharp eyes comfortably reclines there, supporting his neck with his hands, basking directly in the blazing sunlight.

Satan luxuriates in the sun, recalling the conversation from the infirmary he overheard moments ago through the window.

“Truly… Everything’s going so smoothly. Humans really are naive. Yet sometimes they become cunning, which is amusing.”

A natural smile curves his lips.

“While Lucifer is using me and I am using Stella, it must be unfair from Stella’s perspective who doesn’t know the situation… but what can be done? If I intervene directly, I might draw Evans’ attention.”

Satan brings the wine bottle to his lips. Thin liquid flows down with a gulping sound.

“Besides, Pianke is quite simple. Just planting some anger in his mind made him rush out immediately. I have mountains of things to teach him, but I’m worried he might never hold a staff again.”

The Demon of Wrath quietly mutters to himself.

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