I Became the Savior of the Academy's Villains

Chapter 203

The sky inside the Different World, once stained by darkness, now cleared up.There was no trace of devilish power.

All that remained was silence.

'Is it over?'

Luca looked down at his own hand without much emotion.

The deep blue color was now almost faded.

It seemed he had finally reached his limit.

Pop!

At the same time, as the Different World was dispelled, the surroundings shifted back to the research building.

Luca slowly looked back.

There, Herote, struggling to keep her magic circle intact while kneeling and trembling, reached her hands forward with great effort, and Ravinia, who was breathing life force into her.

"... Herote."

"Haha... Is it over...?"

Seeing that Luca was the only one left, Herote let her arms drop limply.

The deep blue magic circle disappeared, and the Magic of Ideals was completely dispelled.

At the same time, her body slumped forward.

"Mage!"

Ravinia hurriedly caught her.

The pure white light radiating from Ravinia grew even stronger.

"Ugh..."

But even Ravinia seemed to be in poor condition, as she swayed for a moment and the white light weakened.

"... Tsk."

Watching them, Luca bit his lip.

'In the original, Herote... used the Magic of Ideals and perished together with the Devil of Wisdom.'

The Magic of Ideals, a miraculous power that could turn anyone into an ideal being, practically a god.

The cost for using it was always death.

'But...'

However, unlike in the original, the current Herote did not use it on herself to battle directly with the Devil of Wisdom.

And now, Ravinia was also present, transmitting her life force through the power of Waypoint.

'If it's now... Maybe she can live?'

Luca, too, was a person with emotions.

Someone who showed him goodwill, who was pleasant to be around though sometimes annoying—Herote had become, in her own exasperating way, someone he cared for.

He would not just tell her to die by using the Magic of Ideals.

After all, if things stayed as they were, everyone would die at Agreas's hand.

So it was better to choose the way with even the slightest chance of survival.

Yet, perhaps it had, indeed, been too much.

Luca approached Herote and met her eyes.

"Herote."

"... Hehe."

"Herote."

He called her name, but Herote only let out a weak laugh.

There was no focus left in her eyes.

Her life visibly draining with each passing moment.

"Get a hold of yourself, Herote."

"... I know my body best. I'm already done for."

"Enough nonsense. Regain your strength so we can leave this place."

Despite Herote's powerless words, Luca remained impassive.

Whether she found his attitude absurd or genuinely amusing, Herote let out a faint, hollow laugh.

"I actually knew the moment I activated the Magic of Ideals. The life force I'd gathered till now wouldn't be enough. So I poured in all my magic, willpower, and life force."

"You're speaking a lot for someone on the verge. Let's save your words and move to somewhere safe."

Luca cut off her words and lifted her up into his arms.

At being held, some focus flickered back in Herote's eyes, but it faded quickly.

She smiled faintly.

"Wow, this is my first princess carry. It's more exciting than I thought."

"I'll humor such nonsense once we're out. For now, keep quiet."

"Hehe... If not now, you might never hear my nonsense again..."

Herote's voice was growing weaker.

At the same time, the warmth Luca felt from her was fading.

"Ravinia!"

Luca urgently looked at Ravinia.

But Ravinia didn't seem to be faring much better.

"I'm sorry... Angel... I can't... anymore..."

Her transcendence had already ended.

She looked barely able to support herself.

Luca bit his lip.

"Still... thanks to you... my lifelong wish..."

Herote's words trailed off, almost like mumbled ramblings.

She closed her eyes with a peaceful expression.

As if she had no lingering regrets at all.

'Is this really how it ends?'

Luca bit his lip and racked his brain—the way to overcome this.

A way for Herote to escape her fate.

"..."

But there was no time to think.

Herote was already dying, and no solution was readily apparent.

[You have completed the hint for the Original Sin of the Magi.]

"!"

Then, a notification popped up in his mind.

Luca immediately took out his phone.

[Original Sin of the Magi]

― Complete one or more of the precursor hints ???, ???, or Shadow Over the Academy. (O)

― Reveal that ???, ???, or Marquis Kisen is connected to Demonz. (O)

― Find the hidden magic laboratory of Demonz. (O)

-(Special condition met; this step has been omitted.)

-(Special condition met; this step has been omitted.)

― Eliminate Agreas, the Devil of Wisdom. (O)

* Hint Completion Reward: 〈Original Sin of the Magi〉 exclusive effect, 300 exclusive effect points, 10-ranking information search ticket.

[Exclusive Effect: Original Sin of the Magi]

― You can use the special skill 'Transcended Mind'.

"!"

A simple exclusive effect.

But Luca knew that this one surpassed any exclusive effect he'd received so far.

There was no time to hesitate.

― Transcended Mind

For a moment, time seemed to flow slowly.

Countless thoughts flooded Luca's mind at once.

'I must recall it, no matter what—a way to overcome this...!'

Amid the flurry of flickering thoughts, Luca recalled something.

'The power of the Sun...!'

The protagonist's symbol of salvation—the Sun Stone and the power of the sun.

It was the power of salvation, the final hope for those on the brink of death.

Luca possessed a similar power.

'Whistle!'

Luca was still harmonized with Whistle.

Since falling under the Magic of Ideals, Whistle had been silent, but Luca now called for him.

― You are right, master. With your current self, you should be able to use the power of the sun, and with that, you can save that mage.

Thankfully, Whistle answered immediately.

'In that case, right away...'

― But master. Saving her now will only leave deep scars for both you and her. Are you sure about this?

'...?'

Luca was about to try to save Herote at once, but Whistle checked in with this question.

Luca paused for a moment.

But, as one dwelling in the world of the Transcended Mind, he could quickly reach an answer.

'Could it be that Herote already...'

― There is no reward without cost in this world. For the price of making you—a body and soul not fully matured—into a Transcendent, she already can no longer use magic. And to save her, just like with Bella, you will have to make a tremendous sacrifice.

'...'

Luca was silent for a moment.

But soon, he spoke.

'Without her, I'd be dead already anyway.'

Determination was reflected in Luca's eyes.

'Whatever I lose, it won't be a waste.'

At the same time, light radiated from Luca's body.

"A-Angel...?"

Seeing this, Ravinia's face was filled with surprise.

The light emanating from him was warm, gentle, beautiful—

Like the sun, bestowing its warmth upon all living things.

How much time passed?

The light from Luca faded away.

At the same time, Herote, who had been cradled in his arms, slowly opened her eyes.

"... Idiot."

She muttered quietly, her face brusque as she opened her eyes.

Even with her groggy mind, she could tell what had happened.

She slowly lifted her head to look at Luca.

"So you saved me for nothing. To respond like this to your savior—"

"..."

Herote's eyes, looking at him, were filled with sorrow.

Luca's words were flat, but his eyes now seemed unfocused, just as hers had been before.

He had used up his mental strength beyond his limits.

"Why... Why did you go so far to save me...?"

Herote couldn't understand.

Luca's mind was dimmer than a dying candle.

If he pushed himself any further, he'd truly be reduced to an empty shell.

She could not comprehend why he'd go so far to save her.

Luca slowly answered her question.

"You asked me to."

"I asked...?"

Herote didn't understand.

But then a conversation from before they came here flashed through her mind.

—Would you do the same for me if I were in danger?

—I honestly can't imagine you ever being in danger.

—That's beside the point...! Suppose I hypothetically was!

—It's easy to say words. But as for the truth, you only know it when the time comes. If you're curious, try getting into some danger.

—... Hmph. Sly as ever.

Luca slowly shifted his gaze downward to meet Herote's, giving her a faint smile.

"Does that answer your question?"

"You foolish...!"

Thud!

Just then, Luca collapsed.

At the same time, Herote, whom he'd been carrying, rolled to the floor, but she didn't feel any pain.

"Luca!"

But more important than anything was Luca's well-being.

Herote checked on Luca and bit her lip.

"He's in bad shape. We need to get back to the academy now!"

"Y-yes! Mage!"

Herote wanted to move Luca with magic right away, but right now, she could not use any magic.

'Or maybe... never again...'

Herote felt a pang in her chest but soon looked to Ravinia.

"Help me carry him!"

"Yes!"

Herote and Ravinia slung Luca's arms over their shoulders and lifted him.

Then they hurried toward the exit of the research building.

But with just a few steps left to the exit, a magic circle flared up beneath their feet.

― Binding

"!"

Caught off guard, both girls' eyes went wide.

"Unbelievable. The Devil of Wisdom actually vanished."

Standing at the exit was Gardaf Kisen.

Although he seemed rather shocked by Agreas's destruction, he looked at the three with a hint of newfound interest.

"To be able to use a human who destroyed the Devil of Wisdom as a test subject... This is a good day."

"..."

It was a moment of absolute crisis.

They no longer had the strength to fight.

No hope for reinforcements, either.

Gardaf Kisen was an 8th-tier mage.

Under normal circumstances, Herote wouldn't even consider him a threat, but in her current powerless state, he was insurmountable.

A mage of the eighth tier was someone even the continent's greatest would struggle against.

"Haha, good. First, let's take that marvelous tenth-tier mage—"

Bang! Crack!

Just then, a loud noise rang out from afar, shaking the whole laboratory.

Gardaf Kisen frowned and looked back.

"What now?"

Thud!

As the ceiling caved in, debris fell where Gardaf Kisen stood.

He dodged quickly, then glared toward the Hyperhemia experimental wing.

"Could it be... that failure...?"

As his attention flickered, the magic binding Luca's group was released.

At that moment, Luca opened his eyes.

Shing.

"?"

When Gardaf Kisen turned his head, it was already too late.

Luca, having drawn his sword, was slicing him down.

Slash!

"!"

Gardaf Kisen's eyes went wide.

He didn't even have time to scream.

Before he could utter a sound, his head had already hit the floor.

"L-Luca...?"

"Angel?!"

Herote and Ravinia's eyes widened at this sight.

"Tsk."

Then, with an unfamiliar, slightly duller tone, Luca—

No, Luca Traverse—clicked his tongue.

"I'll carve a path. Follow me."

He appeared in place of the unconscious Luca.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Luca Traverse for the assist...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】