Rosgini and Masugaki Princess realized, upon hearing Elder Magni’s words, that a Warrior Party without a Saintess couldn’t face Dark Mana.
However, Myung So, who was secretly watching Destroyer’s Warrior, had different thoughts.
“The Holy Sword contains the power of purification. How is it that the true warrior closest to the one chosen by the One True God, [Sofemia of the Sun], could not borrow the power of purification? I do not understand.”
“There must be some backstory we are unaware of, just as we are secretly watching the Destroyer under the Principal’s orders.”
“To be precise, I am protecting Oknodie, not the Destroyer.”
“Regardless of the reason, do you really think it’s okay to leave that alone?”
Grabs tightly, whoosh!* Destroyer yanked Oknodie’s wrist, who squirmed in protest.
Unable to bear her light weight, he drew her up against him using a significant amount of arm strength, subduing her neck in a decidedly un-thief-like manner.
Truly, such barbarity could not be tolerated.
“Destroyer. I understand your concern for your disciple, but surely it has gone far enough.”
“Myung So, can you not discern when the Principal’s dog should bark and when it should not?”
Swish! Was it a side effect of unleashing Dark Mana?
Perhaps it was because of the intense battle just ended.
Or maybe it was because he was worried about his disciple.
Destroyer extended the territory he had just displayed to Orde Taco toward Myung So as well.
The monk’s expression hardened as he brought one hand together in a prayer position, while lowering the other hand with an edged palm downward.
Destroyer understood the meaning of that action.
“Long ago, a person named Hyega sought to be accepted as a disciple by the Great Master Dalma. To prevent disturbances to his training, Dalma promised he would accept him as a disciple only on the day when red snow fell from the sky, a day that was utterly impossible. Hyega then cut off his own arm to stain the ground with blood, turning the snow red.”
“You are quite knowledgeable about shameful pasts.”
“One-handed prayer. It signifies a willingness to lose an arm.”
Myung So smiled faintly.
“Would you like to test it?”
“Reconsider. Hyega lost an arm but achieved his intent. You will lose your life.”
“I won’t allow that.”
Buzz!
With an almost fearsome intent, Professor Minerva appeared, aiming her bow upon the rocky surface.
Her green eyes, free of a cumbersome beast headpiece, radiated a ferocity more threatening than any beast.
“Put that child down. If it’s a Dark Mana poisoning, Myung So can heal it.”
“Is this the trust the Principal shows me?”
“Think whatever you like. I have no interest in your treaty with the Principal. My mission is simply to ensure Oknodie returns to the Academy in one piece.”
Three arrows of wind spiraled and focused with evident lethal intent around Professor Minerva, causing Destroyer to ease the pressure in his arm.
With her feet back on the ground, Oknodie took a breath.
“Come here, Oknodie.”
“Listen to Professor Minerva, Oknodie.”
Myung So, rather than growing anxious or raising his voice at her unmoving stance, spoke gently to her.
“Destroyer is acting out of concern for you. If we can mediate this on our end, I can adjust the report to the Principal. But for that to happen, Oknodie, you must cooperate with us.”
It was a matter Myung So could not overlook. The fact that a warrior had concealed this much Dark Mana could not be ignored.
So he was well aware things wouldn’t simply resolve as he was saying.
Whether the Principal knew the secrets of Professor Destroyer or not would change how he would treat him entirely.
“Professor is not bad! He just wanted to help me!”
“You were forcibly captured and subdued. You may not even be in your right mind, what with the excessive Dark Mana you’ve conjured.”
“That’s not true! Professor Destroyer is fine! He might not be healthy, but at least his mind is!”
Minerva’s eyes narrowed further.
Myung So realized her patience was nearing its limit.
He could feel her
“Step back.”
“No!”
With the situation tense, conflict seemed inevitable.
“The external interference you say you abhor has reached a point where we can no longer pretend it’s not happening.”
Elder Magni raised his large staff.
“The Magic Tower has thwarted the plot with the help of the Thief Guild’s Rosgini, her friend Oknodie, and the Destroyer Professor, their mentor. If they try to oppress these priests and forcibly take them away, we will consider it injustice and will gladly confront them.”
“Tch. An old man who can’t even distinguish the front from the back is messing with things.”
Minerva’s clones halted, having recognized that the mages of the Magic Tower were aiming at her, followed by members of the Thief Guild taking the mages’ defense positions.
The standoff was resolved.
Now no one could stop Professor Destroyer.
Feeling this, the Destroyer finally spoke.
“Stand aside. I will extract the Dark Mana I absorbed after defeating Orde Taco.”
“No! You are the one who’s a weakling with low affinity for Dark Mana! Don’t act all tough!”
“…”
Shock spread over the faces of the two professors and Elder Magni who were trying to stop him.
No matter how determined they were to impede him, they could not muster the courage to hurl abuse at Destroyer.
He was an ally of the previous hero Ni’alatotep who saved the world.
He was an individual revered as a hero in his own right, accompanying the warrior, not merely as a companion.
Only Oknodie would dare speak of “weakling” to such a colossal figure.
“Wow♡”
…Aside from Masugaki Princess, who looked at her in admiration, there was no one else.
But Oknodie did not disrespect Destroyer out of a lack of reverence for him.
“Professor mentioned it before. Ni’alatotep exposed the evil plots of other sects, tarnishing the authority of the 24 Divine Class and the church, and drew more ire than previous heroes.”
This was a conversation that only Oknodie, who had attended the lecture and Destroyer, who had given it, would remember.
– Society distrusts those with Dark Mana. Those of lower social standing may lose their lives. So, you must learn the techniques to conceal your Dark Mana compliance, just as the companions of previous warrior parties did.
– I have a question!
– …Don’t worry. I walked the same path. I do not classify you as an evil entity or discriminate against you.
– That’s not it! Is the reason for the mandatory inclusion of classes like Priest, Cleric, or Saintess in a Warrior Party due to the need for someone to verify whether they are socially safe individuals because of Dark Mana?
The reason for needing a priest.
– That’s correct. And there are also political reasons. The One True God, [Sofemia of the Sun], who elects warriors, earns recognition through her overwhelming power, but the twelve benevolent deities and twelve evil deities selected warriors who are essentially regarded as divine apostles and are treated differently from warriors themselves.
– A poor imitation!
– …The foundation taught you well. To avoid being called imitations, the 24 deities have roles in detecting or purifying the Dark Mana in Warrior parties, praying to ensure they do not fell into malicious corruption and certifying they are not harmful individuals.
The role of a priest serving the 24 deities.
– But there was not a single priest in your warrior party, Professor!
– That’s true. Ni’alatotep exposed the evil plots of other sects, tarnishing the authority of gods and the church, and since he was the warrior of Sofemia, claiming to be the One True God, he drew even greater ire than previous heroes.
This explained why Ni’alatotep’s Warrior Party could not include such priests.
Oknodie remembered everything about the reasons for wanting to teach the first-stage technique [Pain Block] and the second-stage technique [Dark Block] to someone exposed to Dark Mana—even if it was an education completely unnecessary for her.
“Although unable to purify Dark Mana, you continued your hero’s journey against all odds until you sensed your limits and stopped. Yet, you have kept this Thief Guild close because you have something left to accomplish.”
“You… from the very beginning…”
“Of course I knew! Havi kept saying that—how could I not understand? That’s why I’m saying I want to help. With my high affinity for Dark Mana, I can endure a lot more than you can!”
“That’s the kind of thing you don’t need to do! There is Ishtar! There’s a current hero! Who would be grateful for a non-warrior like you to try and collect Dark Mana!”
“Professor should be the one grateful!”
Even amidst the heated exchange between the priest and disciple, no one dared to intervene.
They understood the seriousness of the conversation and that this was not their place to step in.
However, continuing such a sensitive discussion in front of everyone was also not feasible.
“If you refuse to gather the Dark Mana, then as your mentor, I must at least ensure your safety. We will go to a specialized facility to measure your claimed affinity for Dark Mana. Accepting the inspection is the only condition under which you may proceed without collecting Dark Mana.”
“And the Academy?”
“Relay this to your Principal. The reason Oknodie is unable to return.”
Minerva gritted her teeth, but Myung So shook his head at her impending reaction.
“I will take care of the oversight. You should report to the Principal.”
“Are you sure? Will you be okay going alone?”
“Don’t worry. I have means to protect myself. Minerva, you are a ranger of the forest. Do not place your life at risk outside of it. As long as the Great Forests exist, unlike me, you must never die, no matter how unlikely a scenario unfolds.”
Rosgini, feeling somewhat dazed, finally asked.
“Where is Oknodie going?”
“Myung So will handle it.”
“We want to go back together.”
“That will create complications, I believe?”
“…Are you saying we can’t go back together unless we fight and defeat the professor?”
Minerva let out a hollow laugh.
“It’s shocking that you would even think to challenge me, but let’s address the practical issue first. You two came out for a tryst. And you are also illegally extending your outing.”
“Uh…?”
“The penalty for unauthorized extension doubles daily. Are you sure you can handle it?”
Rosgini’s face went pale.
“M-Masugaki… They say we’ll have to pay a fine.”
“It’s fine♡ I can just buy points with money♡”
“…”
For that reason, Masugaki audaciously declared.
“I’ll pay the fine and follow Oknodie♡”
