Chapter 363

“…Why?”

“First, there are two reasons. One being that, as I mentioned earlier, I’m still inexperienced.”

Compared to the past, I am an extremely weak existence.

I don’t have the overwhelming divine power that resides in me as before, and my body isn’t strong enough yet to endure using something overwhelming like the ‘Annihilation Spear.’

Perhaps, the only plausible option would be reaching the fourth stage of whatever I’m achieving… but even then…

“Three hours is meaningless.”

A mere five hours a day, at most reaching ten.

And even these scarce hours are fully consumed by my maintenance of Serrek’s upkeep.

The golden mask of Pharaoh quivers slightly.

“You are the one who holds dozens of monsters within your soul. And you are also the one who managed to contain a monster whose soul was almost shattered.”

“It was Myeosin. She too was pitiful.”

Myeosin, burdened with the fate of her own kind.

Had I been even slightly weaker, she would have undoubtedly perished. But at that time, I was already 26 years into my journey, nearing my prime.

“That’s all in the past. I don’t have that kind of strength now.”

“But you could place her within your soul.”

“I previously tried to unlock her abilities within my soul, but you refused, didn’t you?”

“I’m not merely saying this because she needs to exist.”

“Then what?”

Pharaoh closes his mouth again.

Even though he asked, the truth is he already knows the answer.

“That won’t happen. In a world where they are gone, it isn’t as dangerous.”

“…It’s not about threat.”

“Then it’s about time. We don’t know how long it will last.”

Serrek’s soul, though shattered, had been lying dormant for thousands of years.

Pharaoh was brought out of me, and although she awoke again, her condition wasn’t good.

Compared to the other monsters in the Space of Despair, Serrek’s abilities were extremely ordinary.

“The time she can maintain form keeps getting shorter. At this rate, it might become impossible to maintain her soul.”

“…”

“So, if you grant my request, I will do one more thing that you desire.”

“Desire… well, then answer frankly.”

Glancing sideways.

Once again, I shift my gaze toward the door.

Though their energies were concealed, there are still two presences remaining.

– Oh, they’re doing it.

– …Gulp.

What perfect timing.

“How do you view Serrek?”

“What exactly do you mean by how I view her?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. I’m simply curious, so answer however you please.”

To Pharaoh, who is Serrek?

“…Serrek. My subordinate. The only remaining capable subordinate.”

“Is that all?”

If you give such a limited answer, I cannot ponder on it.

Shaking my head, Pharaoh sighs.

“…She is a little special. That’s all.”

“In what way?”

“Are you teasing me?”

“Not at all. I’m genuinely curious.”

A straightforwardness, brimming with confidence, unseen in the past.

To be truthful, back then I wouldn’t be concerned with trivial relationships like these.

“…I merely worry about her. Is that enough?”

“Wow.”

“Wow-wow-wow.”

“I should post this to the academy bulletin board.”

“…What are those things?”

Pharaoh glared at the two fallen girls lying at the door of the Dean’s office.

Did he only notice them now?

“This guy’s scandalous love story…”

Underneath the collapsed girl, Leo uses the Student ID system, while…

“Expected. I knew it.”

Curtaining herself within the Veil of Blood, blocking all sensations, Lasty stands there with a satisfied smile on her face.

Even outside the door, Pharaoh should have noticed them instantly with his abilities, but this is Lasty we are talking about.

An entity unmatched by anyone in the Daoen for her mastery of magic, despite her current waned prestige.

Though Lasty’s power has decreased, the same applies to Pharaoh.

Lasty smiled faintly.

“You were pretending, weren’t you? This is interesting, Pharaoh.”

“What game are you playing?”

“I’ve found something entertaining. Should I tell Serrek about this?”

“Go ahead, and I’ll scatter your blood across the ground.”

“If you can.”

KOOOOO!

A rush of blood flow and sandstorm surged through the Dean’s office.

Numerous documents and objects were whipped about by the force. Leo used a wind spirit to huddle close to the ground.

“This guy is actually a tsundere…”

He still continues writing amidst everything.

“Stop it.”

“I’ve disliked you from the start. Being in the same situation, what gives you the confidence to interfere?”

“A statue shouldn’t talk so much. Do you honestly think you can beat me?”

“Right now, in our state, it’s possible.”

“…You. You’re dead.”

Lasty’s pale finger draws a red line.

The line manifests into an intricate sigil, then forms an intricate great magic.

Her Unique Ability, a grand magic composed of tens of blood seals.

This high-level magic that sends the target into Eternal Sleep materializes into this world.

“Rest (安式).”

A surge of crimson waves spread through the Dean’s office accompanied by the massive inscription.

KWAANG!!!

“Eeeek!”

“Stop it, I said.”

A pure white holiness pierced through Lasty’s magic, neutralizing her capabilities.

White wings spread out behind my back, along with a translucent mantle, emanating holiness.

The holy eyes encircle Pharaoh.

Naturally shattering the sand-made sword Pharaoh had been summoning.

“Pharaoh, stop it too.”

“…I believe now would be sufficient to suppress you.”

“It’s just three hours. I’ve already said.”

It’s merely a half-awakening with a limited timespan.

Moreover, an incomplete awakening with restricted offensive capabilities.

In the current situation, I might be able to suppress both of them, but not enough to overpower them.

Unless I faced them with my third stage.

“Wha-wha-wha…”

“Lasty, didn’t I tell you to stop?”

“Miaaah…”

Lasty, who appears quite intoxicated from the holy power.

Under normal circumstances, a vampire would be instantly purified upon touching holy power, but Lasty is the monarch and progenitor of bloodsuckers.

Not even ordinary holy power phases her.

Of course, the reason she feels no pain is because the holy power I emitted is the Holy Healing.

“Naau… I feel… weird…”

“It’s a punishment. Just endure it.”

“Whuh!”

“…Professor, aren’t you drunk?”

Leo stops mid-writing and looks up momentarily.

Still seemingly disoriented, Lasty.

“Hmm?”

This is the first time I’ve used the Holy Healing as a distinct power, so I can’t predict exactly how it would interact with others.

Not only myself, but Lasty is also a unique existence.

“…Anyway, let’s summarize. You like Serrek, and to prevent her annihilation, you want me to place her inside the Space of Despair, correct?”

“I’ve never said I like her.”

“Then let’s call it love.”

“No.”

“I might be able to help, but the issue lies with my power. In my current state, even if I deal with her soul, there’s no guarantee it would be sustained.”

The soul cannot be resurrected.

This is a truth I’ve painfully learned over a long time. Even at my peak, I never resurrected or perfectly restored a soul.

In the case of Myeosin, I didn’t really restore her but rather forcibly held onto her, much like what I did with the current Pharaoh.

“…Is this impossible then?”

“Until this awakening is complete or I gain greater power, it’s almost the same.”

“…”

“More importantly, Serrek wouldn’t wish for this.”

Whether Serrek is filled with loyalty or harbors forbidden feelings, she would likely not want to sever her connection with Pharaoh.

“Is that so.”

“Yes.”

“Right. I wouldn’t either in your place.”

Somehow already having finished the writing, Leo spoke with sparkling eyes.

“She’ll definitely pretend to understand but internally, she’ll be incredibly disappointed.”

“Whatever the reason, it can’t be done.”

“For now, yes.”

“I understand. I’ll go now.”

Pharaoh left the Dean’s office just like that.

Given his character, I expected him to push harder, but that was unexpected.

“Should we leave him be?”

“The situation will only escalate if we go further. We’re all aware of each other anyway.”

This is as far as we should nudge them.

Their relationship has lasted for a long time. Even though there was a brief separation, they returned to each other’s side after thousands of years.

No matter what anyone says from the side, the two who know each other best are themselves. This is enough.

To sit them both down and command: “Now, love each other!” would be quite ridiculous.

“…Wouldn’t that be interesting?”

“Ah, stop it. You stone-head…”

“Serrek isn’t that much smarter either. That’s why it’s entertaining.”

“Oh… Can I upload this then?”

Leo twirled his student ID, revealing the completed text below. The cursor hovered over the registration button.

Leo’s hastily penned story of “This Guy’s Heart-Tugging Love Story.”

“If you can endure ‘This Guy’s’ fury, then go ahead.”

“Considering what his specialty is, it probably doesn’t matter, right?”

“He offers it as an optional module, but haven’t you ever taken his class?”

“Yep.”

Leo, despite choosing my classes as his major, has taken Lasty’s twice, and the newly assigned Red Horse’s once, but never once Pharaoh’s.

Leo, whose job class could be somewhat related to summoning…

“Because it doesn’t appeal to me. Anyway, I’ll post it. Hehe.”

Now, all the academy students will come to know “This Guy’s” love story.

“Huh?! What will happen if he stops teaching his classes?!”

“He can’t.”

If he stops, the desert would have to be confiscated.

If the desert were confiscated, it wouldn’t be necessary for them to stay near the desert, and they wouldn’t have a reason to stay close together. Since Pharaoh wishes Serrek to remain near…

“Maybe this is for the best?”