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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“Does it really have to be blood?”
Allen grumbled, eyeing the syringe stuck in his arm.
Aerius rapped him on the head with her staff.
“Ow!”
“Don’t whine about a little blood draw, you big baby. It’s necessary to analyze the curse.”
“I was just curious…”
Were mages allowed to be this violent?
“It’s not just the curse. It’s also to analyze your abnormal body. You know better than anyone that you won’t live long at this rate.”
“Well… I thought it would be okay since I became a Master.”
“Being a Master isn’t a cure-all. You can’t regain lost lifespan. Especially after absorbing a curse…”
Aerius withdrew the syringe, placing his blood into a vial and storing it away.
She then handed him a small bottle.
“This medicine was made for the Princess. Take it when the pain becomes unbearable.”
“The pain is fine. It’s the involuntary tremors that are the problem, but even those are manageable.”
“Tsk, so stubborn…”
Clicking her tongue, Aerius turned towards the bookshelf.
A thick tome floated towards her and stopped in mid-air.
Flipping through the pages telekinetically, she relayed information about the Heretics.
“The Heretics suffered a major blow from this incident. They won’t be able to operate openly for a while.”
Anyone even remotely connected to the Heretics had been dealt with.
One Archbishop was sealed, and another had entered the Demon Realm through the Hell Gate.
Aerius wasn’t sure what their plan was, but she doubted they would be able to return easily.
“Couldn’t the other Archbishops open it for them?”
“Well, although it was a paltry passage, like a worn-out back door, if it was opened once, it can be opened again. However, the Demon Realm, like this world, is a vast dimension. Unless they know the exact coordinates of the Archbishop of Sloth…”
“It’s nearly impossible to open a gate to a specific location.”
“Exactly. Unless they open a passage from within the Demon Realm itself. That would take considerable time. With two Archbishops gone, they can only resort to minor schemes. Like when you dealt with those two.”
Aerius finally found the page she was looking for and placed her hand on it.
“Fruit of the World Tree, Blood of a Vampire Lord, Tears of a Fairy…”
“…?”
Allen didn’t recognize the ingredients, but they sounded extraordinary.
He vaguely recalled the Fruit of the World Tree being a treasure of the Elves.
What is she looking for?
“…and finally, a Dragon Heart. Such troublesome ingredients.”
“What are you making? What requires those ingredients?”
“The dream, future, purpose, and hope of every alchemist in the world. The Elixir of Life.”
Aerius closed the book, her eyes gleaming.
“These are the ingredients for the Elixir.”
“…The Elixir?”
Something he had only heard of in games actually existed in this world?
He had never heard of it before.
“Of course. This recipe has been lost for ages.”
“Then why mention it…?”
“Knowing the details won’t do you any good. Just know that it’s so difficult to gather the ingredients that it’s become a legend.”
“Right… sure.” Then why bring it up at all?
Aerius returned the book to the shelf.
“Only something like the Elixir could restore your body.”
“…Are you telling me to give up hope?”
“Is that how it sounds? Who knows? There might be an Elixir hidden somewhere in this world.”
“That’s… optimistic. Well, since we’re done here, I’ll be going.”
Aerius’s words made him realize how precarious his life truly was.
All that struggling to survive had led to this.
Even I thought my life was tragic.
“At least you won’t have to worry about the Heretics for a while. Enjoy life, however long it may be.”
“I’m enjoying it now. It would have been more enjoyable without the recent Heretic incident, though.”
I hoped it stayed enjoyable.
Allen sighed, heading towards the portal that would take him back outside the Mages’ Tower.
The storm had passed; it was time to focus on his duties as a professor.
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Aerius watched the portal after Allen disappeared, shaking her head.
“He’s still so positive after facing death… Just how optimistic can he be?”
Only Allen could act like that after receiving a terminal diagnosis.
Perhaps it was a defense mechanism.
Aerius turned her attention to the table, examining the vial of Allen’s blood.
“The blood of a man fused with countless otherworldly traits. This might lead to a breakthrough in my research.”
Aerius’s lifelong goal was to create the Elixir.
To fulfill her master’s will and create the perfect Elixir was her reason for living.
“And that weapon he obtained from the Imperial Palace… could it be a ‘Star Relic’? Coincidence, or fate?”
Aerius recalled the serpent bracelet coiled around Allen’s wrist, a smile playing on her lips.
The portion of the curse she had extracted from Lux had undoubtedly been absorbed by the bracelet.
Star Relics possessed such power.
It was still underdeveloped, but if it were to fully awaken…
“He might become a Zodiac.”
A familiar landscape flashed through her mind.
Aerius smiled and resumed her experiment.
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If Allen had gained anything from the recent incident, it was this bracelet—
—Humm!—
—or rather, this unidentified weapon, and the Imperial permit.
What permit?
“Attention! Capital Defense Force, Gate Management Officer, Sergeant John Fury reporting for duty!”
“At ease, Colonel Allen.”
It was a permit granting him unlimited use of the gates.
He could now travel anywhere in the Empire with ease.
Thanks to this, he could easily return to Minerva.
“Destination: Minerva Academy. Correct?”
Allen nodded.
Sergeant John picked up a crystal ball from his belt and whispered something into it.
“…Understood. Confirmed. Commencing connection. Please enter when the light turns blue.”
“Thank you.”
“Have a safe trip.”
So the Capital Defense Force manages the gates.
Since I was in the capital, I should have visited Master Robert.
A blue light began to shimmer in the center of the massive gate.
Next time, I’ll take my time and enjoy the city.
Pushing aside his slight regret, Allen stepped into the gate.
The transfer was instantaneous.
He blinked, and the familiar scenery of Minerva came into view.
He stood before the Minerva gate, the starting point of the midterm exam he had missed, thanks to Aerius.
And someone was there to greet him.
“It’s been a while, Professor Allen.”
“Headmaster!”
A long, flowing beard.
A tall, pointed hat.
A voluminous robe that reached the floor.
The elderly man, with the quintessential appearance of a wizard and the aura of a mountain spirit, was Heinz Campbell, the Headmaster of Minerva Academy.
Allen greeted him warmly.
“It’s good to see you again. How are you?”
“Ho ho, I should be asking you that. I was merely along for the ride, wasn’t I?”
“That wasn’t your fault, Headmaster. It was Sagittarius who acted recklessly.”
“Hmm…”
Heinz stroked his beard awkwardly.
Allen realized his slip-up.
“Ah, you said to call you ‘Master,’ didn’t you? I spoke out of turn.”
“It’s alright. I consider you as such. My master, however, has much to reflect on…”
“I’m sure she has. I heard from Leo that she stood before His Majesty with her hands raised in apology.”
“Hahaha! As expected of His Majesty! Haha!”
Heinz burst into laughter, the heartiest Allen had ever seen from him.
It was clear how much he had suffered under Aerius’s thumb.
“Ho ho… Ahem, please keep my laughter a secret from my master.”
“Understood.”
“Shall we go then? I have much to tell you.”
Allen followed Heinz, eager to hear what had transpired.
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“…And that’s what happened.”
“I see.”
Allen nodded, processing Heinz’s explanation.
In short, due to the incident on the Isle of Wisdom, two professors had died.
With numerous injuries and the psychological trauma suffered by the students, the Imperial Family had decided to temporarily close Minerva.
“What about the midterm exam results?”
He was most concerned about his students.
Heinz stroked his beard.
“It was deemed impossible to re-administer the exam, so after much deliberation… We held numerous meetings. The parents’ protests were so intense that the Imperial Family had to send someone to mediate. Can you imagine how serious the situation was?”
Heinz’s exhausted expression spoke volumes.
Dealing with the noble families must have been a nightmare.
Well, what parent wouldn’t be upset about their child nearly dying?
Allen corrected his thoughts and nodded.
“Any parent would be concerned about their child’s safety. It’s understandable.”
“That’s true, but… Haa~”
Heinz clearly wasn’t upset with the parents. He was probably cursing Aerius.
The Heretics were expected to be troublesome, so there was no point in complaining about them.
Heinz sighed and continued.
“Anyway, to get to the point, the midterm exam has been replaced with several assignments.”
“What kind of assignments?”
“There are written and practical exams. You’re familiar with the written ones, so I’ll explain the practical ones…”
Tests conducted under the supervision of each professor.
Clearing the artificial dungeon within Minerva.
Achieving excellent results in the upcoming Inter-Academy Competition two months from now.
“…That’s all.”
“I’ve never heard of the Inter-Academy Competition.”
“Ah, of course. You’re a special professor. Ho ho, I’m so used to you being here, I forgot. You were a soldier until recently.”
Heinz chuckled awkwardly, realizing he had forgotten Allen’s background.
“Originally, there were occasional friendly matches between academies. With the recent incident dampening the Empire’s morale, the Imperial Family decided to expand the scale of the competition.”
“Oh, like a national tournament?”
“Precisely. You’ll have to check the official notice for details, but it seems it won’t just be student duels this time. I believe they’re calling it the ‘Olympiad.’”
It certainly sounded more interesting than the midterm exam on the Isle of Wisdom.
This wasn’t about recruiting soldiers; not every student needed to be proficient in combat.
As they neared his quarters, Heinz pointed ahead.
“Hmm? Ho ho, it seems you have devoted students, Professor Allen. I’ve never seen students come to greet a professor before.”
Allen saw Ariana and Sena waiting for him.
Did they miss me that much? He smiled.
“Haha, I’m fortunate to have such students.”
“I envy you. Well, I’ll be going then. I wouldn’t want to interrupt a reunion between master and disciples.”
“Yes. See you later.”
Heinz vanished with a flicker of magic. Allen hurried towards his students.
As he approached, he noticed Sena muttering something.
“…Something feels off…”
A sudden chill ran down his spine. A memory flashed through his mind.
‘Break a promise, and face divine punishment!’
—Ominous shiver—
He remembered the promise he hadn’t kept.
“…Deliver divine punishment!”
Sena’s sharp voice rang out, and—
—[Divine Magic: Divine Punishment]—
—Crackle!—
A bolt of white lightning struck him from above.
“…Gah!”
Smoke rose from his mouth.
The jolt was so powerful he momentarily lost his breath.
“…Wasn’t that a bit excessive…?”
“Hmph! The sin of breaking a girl’s promise is grave!”
“Indeed!”
His reunion with the two spirited girls was far more thrilling than he had anticipated.
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[Thats a cool ahh bracelet]
Thanks for the chapter
Great chapter!!!!!