Chapter 121
Returning to Crescent Academy after so long felt strangely unfamiliar.
The Academy had changed a lot during my absence.
The buildings destroyed during the festival incident had all been restored, and the Training Forest, damaged during my fight with Randgar, was completely back to its original state.
Even the Principal, Vinuar Christia, had returned.
‘It’s a relief there haven’t been any new quests.’
As I wandered around the Academy, avoiding heading straight to the lecture hall out of awkwardness, I reflected on my thoughts.
Had a new main quest related to the Academy started while I was unable to move, I might have been staring at a quest failure.
And with it, the unthinkable penalty: Penalty: End of Game and Reset.
‘I hope Elaine hasn’t spilled the truth to anyone.’
The only person in Crescent Academy who knew my true identity was Elaine Sinclair.
On the day I left to rescue Erica in the O’Neill Kingdom, Elaine had removed my mask and seen my face.
I could have avoided her if I’d wanted to, but I didn’t.
Even now, I don’t know why.
Since the day she discovered my identity, much had happened.
Together with Jacqueline, I had fought on the front lines of the Allied Forces and successfully infiltrated the Flora Kingdom’s royal palace alone.
Princess Arte Flora of the Flora Kingdom turned out to be a black mage.
Not just any black mage, but one of the high-ranking Elders of the Nameless Organization.
After rescuing Erica and bringing her to Yuria, I faced Arte again, and I lost control.
Maintaining composure in that moment was impossible.
Never before in my time on the Arkaria Continent had I seen one of my companions in such a broken state.
The anger that surged through me at the sight was overwhelming, even to me.
Princess Arte summoned creature after creature relentlessly, and I swung my Black Shadow Sword just as ceaselessly.
Honestly, I don’t remember much about what creatures attacked me or how I fought back.
All I know is that I fought with no regard for my surroundings.
The underground prison where the battle began, and even the Flora Kingdom’s royal palace, were almost completely destroyed.
Of course, not all of that was my doing; Arte’s summoned creatures contributed significantly.
I vaguely recall creatures unleashing devastating attacks with no regard for the palace’s destruction.
‘I should have captured her then.’
Despite a fierce and spectacular battle, I failed to capture or kill Arte.
Her ability to escape far surpassed even Randgar or the First Elder, Kilbis.
When the situation turned against her, Arte summoned dozens of creatures and fled.
If they’d simply been attacks, I could have teleported them to an isolated island.
But because they were living beings, that wasn’t an option.
If I teleported them to the middle of the island, they might have escaped and attacked people, causing chaos.
Many of them were flying creatures, making containment even more difficult.
While dealing with all those creatures one by one, I lost track of Arte.
In the end, I couldn’t even land a finishing blow on her with my Black Shadow Sword.
After the battle, I wasn’t unscathed either.
I’d overexerted my abilities in my frenzy, leaving me with a severe headache.
I nearly passed out on the spot where the battle had taken place, but I managed to teleport to the villa’s entrance.
That was as far as I got before losing consciousness, and when I woke, I was with Addy.
Thanks to Addy and Jacqueline’s care, I spent an extended period recovering at the villa.
I wanted to rush to Yuria’s home to check on Erica, but at the time, even simple teleportation was beyond me.
Thankfully, Yuria assured me that Erica was recovering.
Even while I rested at the villa, much happened.
Unintentionally, the Black Shadow Corps had become something of a hero organization.
Addy and Jacqueline stayed in the west, maintaining contact with the Lorelai Kingdom’s forces.
Addy worked tirelessly at the villa, calling it a golden opportunity to reform the Corps’ image.
Perhaps thanks to her efforts, even the O’Neill Kingdom, once our sworn enemy due to the Dragon Heart theft, had started to acknowledge us.
Addy, in a rare moment of praise, thanked me for making her work easier and asked what exactly I’d done in O’Neill.
The Black Shadow Corps, once a shadowy group, had transformed into a secret organization quietly sacrificing for the continent’s peace.
Although Yuria’s individual pursuit of black mages was unrelated to us, her public statements solidified the Corps’ image as a resistance group against “Dark Magic.”
Now, there was little need to hide or keep our activities a secret.
‘Time to head in.’
With my stroll and thoughts concluded, I headed to the lecture hall.
Coincidentally, as soon as I entered, I saw three familiar and missed faces.
Elaine, Cynthia, and Emily.
Even from behind, I could tell who they were.
“Oh, when did you get back…?”
“Today.”
“How did…”
“Ryu!”
The three of them, startled at first, quickly began speaking.
Cynthia curiously asked when I’d arrived, while Emily greeted me warmly.
Elaine, however, stared at me in disbelief, mumbling to herself.
“Haha. You’re all making me feel so welcome. But don’t you have class today? Isn’t it class time right now?”
“Do you even know what day it is?”
“What, is today some special occasion?”
“Today’s the first day of summer vacation.”
“Ehhh?”
This was unexpected.
I knew Crescent Academy operated on a semester system with two terms per year.
But how was I supposed to know exactly when vacations began?
And of all days, it had to be today.
If I had arrived just a day later, I might have missed everyone entirely.
“Did you at least see the professor?”
“Nope. I came straight here.”
Cynthia let out a deep sigh, while Emily chuckled as if finding the situation amusing.
Elaine, still unable to believe what she was seeing, kept staring at me with a curious expression.
“Was I supposed to go see her?”
“Pfft—”
At my response, Cynthia burst into laughter.
Emily, standing beside her, also smiled brightly.
The only one not laughing freely was Elaine.
She gazed at me intently, her lips slightly trembling, wearing an awkward expression.
Elaine probably had a lot to say.
She was the only one who knew I was the leader of the Black Shadow Corps.
‘We’ll talk later.’
I mouthed the words to Elaine, unsure if she understood.
Elaine frowned slightly but soon nodded and smiled.
Seeing everyone smiling made me feel good.
For some reason, I felt at ease.
***
Ouch—
“Argh!”
Arte instinctively clutched her right shoulder in searing pain.
Her left hand reached for a place that should have been there but was hauntingly absent.
“Damn it.”
Arte clenched the empty space where her right arm used to be, swearing silently.
Even though some time had passed since she lost her arm, the sensation remained alien and unbearable.
Step, step—
Clutching her shoulder, Arte walked slowly forward.
Almost three months had passed.
Three months was the time the Founder had specified it would take to complete his ritual and resurrect the Nameless Demon.
Arte had barely survived her battle with the leader of the Black Shadow Corps that day and was holding on by a thread.
She hid in a cave in the northern region, as instructed by the Founder.
Originally, sacrifices were supposed to be ready to channel the power of the Nameless Demon during its resurrection.
But neither the cave nor the surrounding areas held any such sacrifices.
The only offerings available were the few creatures Arte had managed to create and keep alive.
“You’re late.”
“…Ah.”
Arte, enduring her throbbing pain step by step, stopped at the sound of a voice.
It was a man’s voice, distinctly clear.
In this space, where no human voices should be heard.
Arte instinctively looked up in the direction of the voice.
There stood a man, stark naked, exuding an aura of power.
Wearing nothing, as if newly born into this world.
Looking at the man towering above her, Arte realized.
This man—no, this being—was…
Thud—
“I humbly greet the Founder!”
Arte dropped the food she was holding onto the ground and knelt, bowing deeply.
She had sensed the time for awakening was near, but she hadn’t expected it to be today.
Arte barely held back tears.
How much had she endured until now?
Although the time might be considered short, the days without her arm had been the hardest in her life.
“I need sacrifices.”
“I apologize. Things did not go as planned.”
Ssshh—
Arte replied, still bowing her head low.
At the same time, she summoned the creatures she had prepared for the Founder’s awakening.
“As an urgent offering, please accept these…”
Woooong—
Before Arte could finish her sentence, the presence of the summoned creatures vanished instantly.
“Hmmm.”
Gulp—
Arte swallowed nervously and cautiously raised her head.
The Founder clenched and unclenched his fist, a frown forming on his face.
“They’re adequate.”
‘Finally…!’
Arte felt a surge of emotion, both awe and elation.
At last, he had awakened.
The Nameless Demon had returned.
—
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