Chapter: 194
Amidst the commotion from the Theology Hall, the children were buzzing like buzzing bees.
“Everyone, don’t move recklessly. Just stay put,”
Professor Ganon Sarsha of the Unnamed Academy’s second-year class tried to reassure the kids to not act too hastily.
‘Why did this have to happen when the Dean is away?!’
Ganon clicked his tongue internally, signaling the vice professors with his eyes to get a grip on the situation.
The vice professors dashed out, picking up on his urgency.
In the meantime, Haring was peering around, looking a bit like a cat contemplating an escape route.
“Haring, you’re not seriously considering going out there, are you?”
Karandis picked up on Haring’s body language, concerned she might get in trouble if something went wrong.
“This incident could be what Kraush was talking about.”
“Kraush?”
Karandis raised an eyebrow, intrigued about what Kraush had hinted at.
“He said something might go down at Rahern Academy, so be ready for anything.”
“That’s just great, he doesn’t tell me,” Karandis huffed while still listening carefully to Haring’s words.
“So, the explosion we just heard could be related to that, huh?”
“It’s possible.”
There were vice professors and professors inside the academy. They should be the first to respond, but Haring’s suggestion to prepare beforehand didn’t seem bad, given what had just happened with Vice Professor Jenicalen causing a ruckus.
Still, jumping the gun could lead to chaos.
“Let’s just wait a bit longer. The vice professors have already moved. We’ll get news faster than if we act rashly. Once we get the info, it won’t be too late to act.”
Karandis calmly urged Haring to hold her horses.
“You don’t want to look ridiculous out there, do you?”
While saying that, Karandis pointed to Balak in the distance.
“Whoa, explosion! Let’s go!”
Seeing Balak bouncing around excitedly, Haring couldn’t help but agree to hold back her own enthusiasm.
Indeed, she didn’t want to look childish like Balak.
Meanwhile, Karandis’ gaze fell on Glen nearby.
Glen Diana, cousin of Mary Diana.
His expression was darker than usual.
He had been particularly less active than before.
‘Heard he got a proposal from Sigrid Ephania recently...’
Is that why he looked this way?
Karandis pondered, feeling concerned.
—
The temple, adorned in white and gold, was the Theology Hall of Rahern Academy.
A hub for those studying theology, it even attracted students like the Holy Maiden Astoria from the Holy Kingdom Freeman, making it quite the prestigious place.
Yet, the recent explosions were unexpected.
“Ugh, what the...?”
Amid the explosions, a male theology student gasped.
Beeeeep—
The ringing in his ears grew louder as he lifted his head.
What met his eyes was a bizarre sight.
A woman, draped in black tentacles, hovered in the air like a spider.
Her long hair cascading down, obscured her face.
The light filtering into the hall reflected off her blue hair, something he recognized all too well.
“Uh, uh, Mirei Beakis?!”
Mirei Beakis—
The youngest cardinal in history.
The icon of the theology hall was now in a ridiculous state.
As the student stared in shock, her head slowly tilted to the side.
In that moment, he realized—
Her eyes, now pitch black and empty, indicated she was no longer rational.
The moment he tried to flee,
KWHAM!
A dark tentacle flew in front of him.
He realized the strength behind that tentacle could easily shatter the hall’s walls.
[ Yes, her artifact’s reputation has tanked. ]
Thanks to a recent event where students and vice professors were injured because a student lost control of an artifact that summoned their own body’s burning capabilities.
Because of that incident, no one sought out her artifacts anymore.
However, knowing a bit about the circumstances, Crimson Garden could only regretfully shake their head.
Because for Rona, that incident had been quite an unfair event.
Rona had always taken commissions to create magical artifacts.
The creation of those artifacts was rare.
Due to her extraordinary craftsmanship, many sought her out for work.
However, Rona had also made a number of her personal creations.
Many of those were dangerous, and most resided in her private workshop.
Just like any other day, Rona had taken her leave after crafting magical artifacts.
On that very day, a student had visited her workshop.
He was one who had recently commissioned Rona to create an artifact and planned to use it in the upcoming mock battle.
But because the crafting took longer than expected, mock battle day was nearing, and in desperation, he took one of her artifacts without permission.
And so, the chaos ensued, with multiple students and a vice professor getting hurt.
The problem was, the student wanted to pin the blame solely on Rona’s artifact.
And oddly enough, this “student” came from quite a notable family.
Rona was notorious for being the weirdo of the academy.
As a result of being bizarrely eccentric, she openly tested her artifacts.
The rumor spread through the students like wildfire.
Later, the academy verified the incident and declared Rona was not at fault.
But by then, her reputation had already taken a nosedive.
“Rona’s artifacts? Who would use something so dangerous?”
“That’s still true, what she created is dangerous. How can you be so sure?”
“Even the injured folks are still suffering aftereffects. That’s real magic!”
Rona merely expressed apologies and didn’t actively defend herself.
She cared little about the accusations thrown her way.
After all, similar incidents weren’t completely unheard of.
But there was one thing Rona couldn’t stand.
That was seeing her artifacts belittled.
This was something she absolutely couldn’t tolerate.
In Rona’s eyes, news about the aristocrat student kidnapping incident caused by Vice Professor Jenicalen came through.
The Devourers of Worlds.
They were the fear and enemies within society.
Plus, the existence of these beings made for shocking tales spread among people.
The knowledge that someone connected to the Devourers was nearby incited panic.
If she could take down the Devourers of Worlds with her artifact, wouldn’t her reputation skyrocket?
With that thought, Rona quickly created an artifact to find the Devourer.
After perfecting the artifact, she boldly declared her intentions.
Right now, the Rahern Academy was home to the Devourer of Worlds.
She made a point to alert the students.
The goal was to draw out the Devourer’s attention, making them come for her.
But the Devourers didn’t make a move.
So reluctantly, Rona had to take action herself.
“I need to create a new artifact.”
And what she crafted was an artifact triggering World Erosion itself.
As the Devourers didn’t act, she aimed to bring them forth through her artifact’s chaos and deal with them.
This was Rona’s plan.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Taria bit back her frustration.
Underestimating the Devourers of Worlds was no joke.
Even with her artifacts, mishaps could lead to her losing her own life.
‘What in the world is she thinking?’
Weirdo.
‘And why on earth did she have to complete it like that?!’
Genius.
Taria felt the tightrope she was walking become all too real.