Academy’s New Guard is Unusual - Chapter 66

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 66
To use Magic, two things are necessary.
A Mana Stone that contains Mana, and a Spell Formula that converts that Mana.
As Magic increases in Rank, the Spell Formula becomes exponentially more difficult.
A Magic Circle is a kind of principle that assists the Spell Formula—it felt like something akin to the Pythagorean theorem or the quadratic formula.
By using a Magic Circle, one can dramatically reduce the margin of error between the Spell Formula and the actual casting.
And the time required for the Spell Formula could be reduced exponentially as well.
That’s why I memorized the Magic Circle.
“You’re saying you just… memorized it?”
Andy asked with a look of disbelief.
Of course, I hadn’t simply memorized it. Even as someone from Korea, a nation famous for its rote-learning education system, memorizing a Magic Circle wasn’t easy.
“Black Magic has a Curse called Imprinting.”
“…Imprinting? Isn’t that the Curse Black Mages use when creating minions?”
“Normally, yes. But if you use Imprinting correctly, you can literally brand desired memories into your mind.”
“But… that’s a Curse.”
“Even poison becomes medicine if used well.”
“Using a Curse just to remember things? That’s completely witch-like—”
Andy muttered in a tone of exasperation, almost whining.
It made sense to call it witch-like. After all, I’d learned Magic and Black Magic in the first place because of the Witch.
Still, I had no intention of explaining such tedious circumstances.
“Alright, I’m done. Can you fill it in?”
I pointed to the Magic Circle and asked.
Andy stared blankly at the Magic Circle. On the floor, only the outline of the Hell Rain Magic Circle was drawn. If it were a painting, it was at the sketch stage.
“Hmm, one Magic Circle seems to be missing?”
“I lowered the Rank by one.”
Andy would become a Grand Mage, a genius—but for now, he was just a novice.
No matter how much groundwork I laid, Andy couldn’t yet perfectly complete such a high-Rank Magic as Hell Rain.
So I deliberately reduced one Magic Circle, lowering the Rank.
At this level, Andy would be more than capable of casting it.
“Why lower the Rank—oh, you adjusted it to match my level.”
“That too, but mostly because it’s sufficient this way. It’ll be more like a Hell Shower than Hell Rain. Can you manage it?”
“…I’ll give it a try!”
Andy’s eyes gleamed intensely as he beheld the high-level Magic. They were brimming with passion.
Andy quickly set to work on the Magic Circle.
“Milo, guard this place. Don’t let anyone in.”
“Understood.”
Milo nodded with a firm expression.
He seemed quite reliable.
“Once you’re ready, cast it immediately.”
“Can I be the one to cast it?”
Andy asked eagerly.
“Don’t leave it only to Milo.”
“But why am I—”
“Leave it to me!”
Andy beamed and buried his head back in the Magic Circle.
I gave a light nod and turned away.
‘Hmm.’
I checked my own condition.
My Aura, depleted by the Sword Formation, still hadn’t recovered. I’d poured all my Mana Stones into the Magic Circle until only a handful remained, and this was a Rift with Holy Power attributes, so Black Magic was essentially useless.
What remained was essentially just Holy Power and a handful of Mana Stones.
‘Sufficient.’
I tucked a Mana Stone into my pocket for easy access and headed toward the Chapel.
* * *
“Glory!”
As I neared the Chapel, a strange chant thundered across the ground.
Thud-thud, the sound of stamping feet echoed.
The roar of acclamation grew steadily closer.
The moment I opened the Chapel doors—
“Glory! Glory! Glory!”
Hundreds of fanatics were cheering.
The enormous Chapel was sweltering with intense heat.
At the center of the cheering fanatics stood Evangeline.
“Do you believe?! DO YOU?!”
Evangeline stretched out her arms and shrieked. The fanatics responded in kind, roaring approval.
“Glory!”
“Louder, louder!!”
“Glooooory!!”
“Is that all the voice you have?!”
…This was madness.
I raised my hand and pressed hard at my temples.
‘Evangeline is a Saint.’
It sounded like a joke, but there were indeed versions where Evangeline actually became a Saint.
Evangeline’s problem was that she was susceptible to atmosphere and attention. The bigger problem was that once attention focused on her, she went to extraordinary lengths to meet those expectations.
Just like now.
“When I say glory! You say—glory!”
“…?”
The fanatics fell silent in an instant.
To catch even the fanatics off-guard—it was impressive in its own way.
Regardless, I had to prevent Evangeline from becoming a Saint.
Just then, Evangeline locked eyes with me. She grinned and threw up a peace sign.
She looked absolutely thrilled.
“Join in the glory!!”
At that moment, the Golden Masked Figure bellowed, voice straining. There was a hint of urgency in that cry.
“All those who would join the glory, stand now!!”
The Golden Masked Figure cried out again. In unison, a thousand fanatics rose to their feet. Not a single one was missing.
Evangeline glared at the Golden Masked Figure. She seemed to think it was some kind of attention-grabbing competition.
“How glorious this is! Truly, what a glorious day!”
The Golden Masked Figure extended his hand in a wide arc. Following that gesture, Holy Power streamed forth in a torrent. Fanatics touched by the pure white light began to burst into flame, crying out Glory as their flesh burned.
“Glooooory!!”
Ten of them ignited in seconds.
Even as their skin melted away, they continued shrieking Glory—as if they’d received a blessing.
In that moment, the light flowing from the Golden Masked Figure’s hand grew even more intense.
It wasn’t only the Golden Masked Figure. The Holy Power of the remaining fanatics shone more vividly as well.
It was a trait of the Holy Empire. Each time these creatures burned themselves, the Rift accelerated.
With so many of them, and now burning each other to further accelerate the Rift—
These were truly deranged creatures.
I clicked my tongue and climbed the dais.
“You’ve arrived. I was just finishing the sermon.”
The Golden Masked Figure spoke while glaring at Evangeline. He looked eager to sacrifice her immediately. The other fanatics bore similar expressions.
To shift the atmosphere so completely in just those few moments—Evangeline was remarkable in her own twisted way.
However, time was still short.
“I didn’t catch it. Start from the beginning again.”
“…Are you asking me to repeat the sermon?”
“You really are stupid, aren’t you?”
Tsk. The Golden Masked Figure glared at me.
Through the mask’s openings, his eyes glinted. He’d burned many already—his Holy Power was far more intense than before.
‘He’s measuring me.’
He seemed to be comparing his Holy Power with mine.
Fortunately, my Holy Power still burned more brightly than his.
“Understood. This is far more glorious work for me,”
The Golden Masked Figure turned away with a hiss.
I brushed off my hands and moved to Evangeline’s side.
“Damn it! I almost had him beat!”
Evangeline burst out in frustration, glaring at the Golden Masked Figure.
I had no idea how she’d interpreted the situation.
“This isn’t an attention-grabbing contest.”
“…It wasn’t? But with all that ‘glory’ stuff and the way he was trying to interfere, I thought—”
“It’s not.”
“Seriously?”
I didn’t bother answering. Evangeline clicked her tongue sharply.
“So what’s the plan?”
This time, Evangeline spoke with weight, as if playing some kind of spy game.
I had no intention of telling Evangeline. She was unreliable.
“It’s a secret.”
“Why?!”
“That’s also a secret.”
“What?! That’s so childish!”
I waggled my finger.
“Glory! Glory! Glory!”
Then the Golden Masked Figure openly pointed out a fanatic. The designated fanatics set themselves ablaze as if they’d been waiting, and the light pouring from the Golden Masked Figure grew steadily thicker.
This was not good.
“Why are these people doing this? Setting their own bodies on fire—how incredibly stupid are they?”
“These creatures believe that when they die, they become one with God.”
“What? They actually believe that? That’s insane—”
“They actually do become one.”
“…Seriously?”
I gave a light nod. Evangeline swallowed hard.
My gaze remained fixed on the Golden Masked Figure. His pure white light was now as thick as my own Holy Power.
Time was running short.
“Shouldn’t a god prevent this kind of thing?”
“Take that complaint to God directly, not to me.”
“How would I do that?”
“Make the sign of the cross and speak.”
Evangeline solemnly made the sign of the cross.
“Please save me first! …He’s not answering?”
“Must not be business hours.”
“God has business hours?”
“Who knows.”
“Well, I suppose even God needs rest.”
Evangeline nodded repeatedly, as if understanding. I felt myself growing equally ridiculous.
Just then, the Golden Masked Figure looked toward us. Behind him, pure white light surged and roiled. It was several times more intense than before.
Stronger than mine—
“It seems the prayer is concluded.”
“Yes. It’s over. Now comes the offering.”
The Golden Masked Figure spoke, his voice dark and menacing, eyes fixed on Evangeline. His words were considerably shorter than before.
Evangeline quickly ducked behind me.
“I’ll buy you time. Let’s go.”
“…Are you planning to say that while hiding behind me?”
“I’m conserving my strength. I’ll count to three. Let’s go. One, two—. Three!”
Surprisingly, Evangeline stepped forward immediately. She seemed serious about buying time.
I grabbed her by the scruff of the neck.
“Don’t overstep.”
“…Huh?”
“You’re a student. I’m Security Corps. It’s the Security Corps’ job to protect students. Don’t overstep your place.”
“I was just worried about you—do you have to get so serious?”
“Worried?”
A laugh escaped me unbidden.
Evangeline’s eyes narrowed.
“I don’t lose.”
“But there are so many of them?”
Evangeline pointed backward.
Hundreds of fanatics stared at us.
The numbers were certainly overwhelming.
But all they wielded was Holy Power.
I withdrew a Mana Stone from my pocket.
Most of my Mana Stones had gone to Andy, leaving only two.
The enemy numbered a thousand, and I had but two Mana Stones—
‘Sufficient.’
— Child, you are my Homunculus.
The sharp, crackling laughter of the Witch rang in my mind.
* * *
“A Rift has opened in the Forest of Disappearance.”
At Elena’s words, Karel rose urgently.
“I’ll head out immediately.”
“You need not rush. The Headmaster and the Dean won’t be able to move anyway.”
“Why can’t the Dean move?”
“Because the Dean has no Homunculus.”
“…Homunculus?”
The ominous-sounding word made Karel furrow his brow.
“A Homunculus is a creature the Witches created to oppose Holy Power back when the Church was actively hunting Witches. A Mana Stone and a demon’s heart are implanted in a human, giving it specialization against the Holy—”
“A demon’s heart implanted? That’s horrifying—”
“From what I’ve heard, they strengthen themselves by casting Curses upon their own bodies.”
To enhance oneself through Curses cast upon one’s own body—at this gruesome notion, Karel swallowed hard.
“That’s why a Homunculus is called a dog that devours God. To a Witch, a Homunculus is both husband and slave, knight and beast. The Dean has no Homunculus, so he cannot move.”
Elena spoke with absolute certainty.
Yet Karel remained uneasy.
Last time too, they’d said something similar, only to have her slip away.
“Still, I’d like to hurry, just in case.”
“Understood.”
Elena readily agreed and withdrew the Rift Compass from her breast pocket.
When Karel stared at it intently, Elena let out a somewhat embarrassed cough.
“There was an error last time. I’ve confirmed it’s functioning normally, so there should be no problems this time.”
Elena made a bold declaration.
At her overly confident demeanor,
Karel found himself growing anxious.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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