Chapter 12 – Preparation

000

I have been proud to say that I have worked hard several times that of ordinary people.

A family of wizards secluded in the country selling herbs and stuff

To break the proud attitude of the old people at the academy who don’t acknowledge it.

In order to regain the glory of the proud academy that his grandfather had cultivated.

Lyla Flame Watch was willing to give her all.

For him, he needed performance.

Research. Paper. New magic. Discovered the recipe for alchemy.

Analysis of magical phenomena. Human experiment. Verification of the Witchbeast’s ability to adapt. Devil’s summons.

Before being a wizard or researcher

As a human being, she has proven her worth by walking the tightrope of a tight line.

In the process, a human she could call her friend was sacrificed.

But she had no time to grieve over the sacrifice.

[The academy is renewed day by day.]

New student. New knowledge. New study. New discovery.

This should happen naturally

Twisted by the tenacity of having to run at the top of the world at some point.

The heart of the proud academy has been corrupted from within.

`Elders of the 12 seats` `Execution Division` `Black Warfare`

They are symbols of academy corruption.

Lila didn’t like them. She was disgusted.

But when she came to her senses.

She found that the string she was riding on was also rotten.

Looking back, the blood of all the sacrifices so far has soaked into those lines.

I was standing on the verge of breaking.

Fall down.

It fails.

Mind and spirit die.

Being the head of the academy is just a title that looks good.

In the end, it just tells us how inhumanly twisted this human is for the advancement of magic.

She stopped visiting her grandfather’s grave.

Because she didn’t know what face to make.

But the academy didn’t care about that.

Lyla was nominated as a member of the next 12 seats.

The road to the darkest place.

I was definitely going to go up there to change the academy.

Because the darkness outside was so bright.

And ego.

How about looking inside?

Lyla Flamewatch was wise.

She did, so she acted.

She had no choice but to act.

Because she had no right to say no to her.

Whose fault is it?

Only laughter echoed inside her.

All that remains is darkness.

The time when even the rope supporting her feet became invisible.

A little light flew at her.

It was a very enticing light.

Adventure. Friendship. Colleague. Trust. Love. Achievements.

It was too much for herself.

Her light was slowly drying her to death, giving herself a bit of respite.

It was her job to erase that light with her own hands.

When she stretched out her hand to break her light, there was a darkness that came out like a thorn and blocked her.

Layla hated the darkness.

It was hateful.

Why is she in the same darkness as herself?

Can you exist within the halo of light?

If so, it should have been ruled out.

Chestnuts cannot be eaten while they have thorns.

Blowfish cannot be cooked in a poisonous state.

It was the same reason.

It must have been.

001

The basement of a mansion ruled by silence.

A girl lying face down with her head on the ground through the bars of a prison cell.

Feeling the pain as if the soul was screaming.

As if her head had been trampled on with a shoe.

It stood still, not moving.

How much time has passed

10 seconds? 30 seconds? No, 1 minute?

In the end, in despair, all of herself was pierced by a hateful thorn.

Lyla Flamewatch collapsed here.

Cleon looking at it.

Soon, without saying anything

He threw the necklace she was holding in her hand over the grate where Lila was.

“I hate you. Lyla Flamewatch. From the beginning.”

Cleon speaks softly.

Lila opens her eyes wide as she sees the jewel falling to the ground and breaking.

“I hate you more after knowing your past. I don’t feel sorry for you. You’re different from Quon and Sasha. You’re a villain like me.”

The horse’s blade lodges itself in Layla’s chest.

As he said, his voice was cold, unchanged from a moment ago.

“You’re not mine. You’re not worth it. That’s why. I won’t even forgive you.”

At the same time, a ‘click’ sound.

The door of the iron window opened with a grotesque scream because it was not oiled.

Layla lifted her head and looked up at Cleon.

And the sad-faced Quon next to him.

“But even if you’re like that. Quon still considers you a colleague. What keeps you alive is the mercy of Quon.”

“…I’m sorry…!”

Quon walks into the prison.

A group of lights gathers in her hand and heals Layla.

Its warmth was the same she felt in the light she had been so proud of.

“Then spend your life for Quon.”

Lila weeps, her face contorted like a child.

She lets out a sad voice slowly through her trembling body.

“Quon’s decision to save you may endanger her later.”

Quon quietly hugged Lyla by the shoulder.

Lyla doesn’t even dare lay her hand on Quon.

I was just sobbing helplessly.

“Aaaaa…!”

Lila has been around since the death of her grandfather.

She let go of her neck for the first time and cried.

These were the tears that a 16-year-old girl lacked.

“If that time comes. I will not take responsibility either. I will be responsible for letting you go.”

002

Cleon quietly climbs the stairs leading to the basement of the prison and returns to the mansion above ground.

While walking, there was a voice coming from the sword.

[Is this as planned?]

Galatea’s voice seemed a little colder than usual.

For what reason, Cleon guessed.

“…No.”

And he quietly admits his weakness.

It was an unnecessary part for him as a magic swordsman.

[Did he lose his miasma from being hit by the Quon? Cleon. You can’t do what you want.]

“My task will not change. Revenge on Alvein. Give him regret and pain.”

[Is that, as an avenger? Or maybe as an old colleague.]

“Don’t worry, Galatea. You are my only companion.”

Silence for a moment.

In an instant, Cleon’s shadow swayed.

Galatea appears from the magic sword.

In an instant, she pushes Cleon to the wall of the stairs and covets his lips.

As if to fill something that was lacking.

A long kiss.

There is a lack of oxygen entering the lungs.

Only at the moment when her head started to go blank did Galatea remove her face.

The face slightly loosened up with the pleasure from the kiss.

Hazy eyes. The ball mentioned. Glossy lips.

Every time she overlapped her master, she was getting more than pleasure from Galatea.

It was confirmation.

Even if it is not connected by magical power. What I know from being with this man for the longest time.

No matter how dark emotions you have, there is a light that won’t disappear in them.

“Whoops…”

Cleon is not taken aback by Galatea’s sudden act.

I looked down at her as she quietly finished her act.

A satisfied smile.

Although she had the appearance of a grown woman, she had the face of a girl she loved.

He pours his all into imprinting his existence on the body of the being he respects.

After that, Galatea went back inside the magic sword.

[What? It’s okay if you know. I know best that you are a soft human being.]

I can’t believe I have to entertain my own demonic sword.

Cleon sighed and climbed the stairs again.

003

“Miss Cleon!”

When I finished climbing the stairs, I saw Sasha waiting above.

Was it restless and kept walking?

Beads of sweat were beading on her forehead.

When Cleon approached Sasha, he said ‘Wow!’ And Sasha hugged Cleon.

“…”

When Cleon stops for a moment at her sudden action.

Sasha, too, was silent for a moment, then left, blushing.

“I’m sorry! Stop without me noticing!”

My, why did I do that?

Sasha fanning her face while saying the same thing.

Through magic poetry, Cleon saw the pattern on her shoulder fully manifest.

Is that effect?

Sasha’s gaze at Cleon was slightly more watery than before.

Cleon knows the identity of this eye.

Sometimes, it was similar to the gaze Quon sent to Alvein.

Although she felt a little complicated as Cleon, being looked at like this by a child five years younger than her.

Recalling Galatea’s act a moment ago.

Her guilt made her turn her head a little.

“Cleon…?”

“Ah, ah. Lyla and Quon are still underground. They will come up soon.”

Maybe he thought Cleon was a little strange.

Knowing the intention of Sasha’s question, who tilted her head, Cleon answered her.

Then Sasha stroked her chest as if she was lucky and gave her a bitter smile.

“I’m sorry. I told Laila-san about the incident…”

“No, it’s okay. I know you’re worried about Quon.”

At Cleon’s words, Sasha blushed once again.

The awkward silence comes once again.

Is it to change the awkward atmosphere?

Sasha took something of her own from a small bag slung around her waist.

Black jewelry box.

Sealed with her locks, it was what her gala had taken as her own reward.

Cleon also sees the box and his eyes change.

“This?”

“Gala-san wants to deliver it to Cleon-san…”

[The contents inside are what we talked about before]

Cleon quietly accepted the box.

Even if you look inside with your magic sight, you can’t see the inside.

Seeing Cleon like that, Sasha hesitantly opens her mouth.

“Hey, do you know Gala-san too… ?”

“Also?”

“Yes, yes… When Mr. Gala talks about Mr. Cleon. She looks like a friend she has known for a long time… “

[…

At those words, Cleon shuts up for a moment.

It would be easy to deny it, but since Cleon hated lying, he nodded his head here.

“Ah, we’ve known each other since a long time ago.”

“That’s right~”

She doesn’t try to show it off, but I can see her cheeks puffing out a little.

What was the complaint…

Unbeknownst to Cleon, he could hear Galatea laughing.

“Cleon? Oh, Sasha. Wait in the lobby.”

A voice intervened between the two.

It was Quon’s voice as he walked up from behind holding Laila’s hand.

Lila kept her head down and said nothing.

“Ha, but. I was worried about Mr. Layla.”

Sasha hesitated as she answered Quon.

Then, Quon smiled kindly.

“Don’t worry if it’s Lila. She’s just a little tired in many ways.”

She says that and she strokes Laila’s shoulder.

Lila murmurs in a voice that seems to be crawling.

“Sorry.”

“Oh, no! Should I rather say that I have to apologize!”

At Lila’s apology, Sasha jumped up and waved her hand her.

But Layla said no more. Led by Quon’s hand, he came to Sasha’s front of her.

“…What the hell happened down there? Perhaps, Cleon-san cast a brainwashing spell…”

“Nope.”

Sasha’s words were dismissed by Cleon.

Start walking towards the lobby.

“Cleon. You’re Albain now, right?”

Behind Cleon, Quon speaks quietly.

There was no need to explain what it was.

When Alvein’s name came out, Lila and Sasha also reacted with a ‘flinch.’

Cleon paused and looked back at Quon.

There was a certain amount of determination in Quon’s eyes.

“Yes. I have something to prepare for him.”

“…Okay. I’ll follow you. But promise me.”

Quon held Cleon’s hand and spoke quietly but with a firm will.

“…Don’t kill me.”

“I try.”

004

Everyone headed to the drawing room of the mansion.

As the noon sunlight coming in from the large windows reminds us that early spring is also spring.

A warm light was shining.

All around are high quality furniture.

Cleon acted as if he were the owner, but

Originally, it only remains because the humans who lived there before disappeared without a trace.

Cleon sits at the top of an old but large and luxurious table.

Sasha to the left of him. Quon and Lyla sit side by side on the right.

Cleon puts the jewel box he received from Sasha on the desk.

“…Ah. This…”

Seeing that, Lila reacts without knowing it.

Cleon turned his gaze to her.

Then, Lila said, ‘Hee-ik…!’ And shrank.

“Cleon.”

“No, just reflexively… “

In response to Quon’s voice admonishing him as if Cleon was bad, Cleon replied as if he was unfair.

Apparently, to Layla now, Cleon seems to be at the level of ‘a diabolical man who is always ready to kill himself’.

“Me, so. What the hell is this?”

It seems that Sasha couldn’t hide her curiosity.

He looked at the box curiously and raised his hand.

Cleon answers Sasha’s question

He spoke honestly about what he knew.

“It is the legacy of Count Gortian.”

“Golden spectacle…”

Lila reflexively spits out what she knows.

The head of an aristocratic family that ruled this area in the past.

A person who has accumulated wealth by enslaving dwarves and obtaining a lot of gold and jewels.

And the original owner of the mansion where they are gathered.

The abandoned mine that Alvein and the others found was also one of Gortian’s possessions during his lifetime.

However, both the dwarves and the count’s family were enslaved to the disaster caused by his limitless greed.

Caught up in the disaster and disappeared.

Cleon takes a small key out of his pocket.

It was the perfect size for a jewelry box.

“Could that be the key to this box?”

“Yes. I found it while cleaning this mansion. Gargoyles are guarding it.”

Cleon answered Quon’s question with a light heart.

“Gargoyle!?”

Lila chimes.

All eyes of the people around him were focused on him.

Then, Lila bowed her head again.

Gargoyles are golems of stone statues made with ancient technology.

Excellent magic resistance and vitality that is maintained even if the caster dies.

However, in modern times, there is no technology that can reproduce it.

She screams in her heart that she misses even the gargoyles whose instincts as a scholar have been destroyed.

Cleon quietly inserted the key into the box and turned it.

Then the box opened with the sound of ‘click’.

Inside is a small marble wrapped around something like a bandage.

The box is open, but the form of magic is not visible.

Just like a jewel.

However, Layla widened her eyes a little when she saw the bandage.

“──Sealing belt…”

“It seems so. It removes the magical power of what is inside little by little, and is suitable for sealing a long time.”

Cleon said so and removed the sealing band attached to the orb.

No special process was required.

Already, no belts, no beads.

Because I had lost all my magic power.

When Cleon tore the band in the way,

Then, Layla let out an’ah’sound and hesitated as if trying to grab Cleon’s hand her.

“Why, why, Lila?”

“Bo, a magic tool that can’t be reproduced even with the sealing band… If there’s even a sample…”

“… Ha.”

At Lila’s words, Quon sighs.

And let’s look at Cleon quietly.

Then, as if he couldn’t help it, Cleon said nothing and carefully removed the remaining band.

As if relieved by that, Layla calmed down.

Before long, the marble that was enclosed inside appears.

What came out was a perfect sphere.

Color is gray. There didn’t seem to be any special patterns or magical treatment inside.

However, everyone here is silent due to the lonely energy felt in the sphere.

Why?

“After all. What the hell is this?”

As Quon looked at the marble and talked, Cleon replied.

“It is the core of the sword.”

“…Sword? Is it a demonic sword, or is it that sword when using a holy sword?”

When Cleon nodded, Sasha tilted her head.

A sword is usually made of iron and iron.

Were there beads like this?

Alvein’s Holy Sword. Although Cleon’s demonic sword has a little fancy decoration.

I didn’t see any beads like this.

“To be precise, the core of the dead holy sword.”

At that, Lila opened her eyes wide and reached for the marble.

Cleon quickly closes her box, keeping her out of reach.

When Lyla’s hand cuts through the air, Cleon’s eyes return to Lyla.

Lyla clings to Quon and shrinks her body.

“Cleon.”

“No, that’s why… The face is drying up.”

Cleon put her marble back on her desk as if her head hurt her, and continued her story.

“What Count Gortian wanted after acquiring wealth was power. And that was not a small thing, but a power so great that it affected the entire country.”

Even Gortian, who had the greatest wealth of his time, had neither sword talent nor magic talent.

That’s why he wanted strong soldiers and weapons.

The legendary ‘Holy Sword’, which is said to bestow powerful power upon its owner.

Even at that time, warriors existed.

He was active in various parts of the continent, and all the legends of the hero were handed down along with the holy sword.

Gortian conceived it.

He himself did not receive the choice of the Holy Sword, but if that is the case, he just needs to take someone else’s Holy Sword as his own.

So at the time.

He attracted the warrior of the Holy Sword who also appeared in his own village to his mansion.

Mouthful compliments and sumptuous meals.

The boy did not have any doubts, but he was mistaken for goodwill and goodwill, and became the count’s scapegoat.

Paralyzed by a poisoned meal, amputated, and kept alive so as not to die.

The Holy Sword was stolen from him.

What happened as a result

The moment after the Holy Sword was held in Gortian’s hand, it reversed itself.

Disappointment, resentment towards a man who has suffered his own master to such an extent.

Originally, a holy sword moved by positive emotions.

It was corrupted by a demonic sword because of deep despair.

The demonic sword instantly controlled the body of Gortian who held it.

And to his family, to the dwarf wielded himself.

A lot of blood was shed in the manor.

It was another hero of the holy sword who defeated Gortian, who had turned into a demon.

By then, the boy had already lost his life.

The hero put the sword, which lost its master and despaired, into eternal rest.

When the sword broke, the core containing the sword’s soul fell out.

Seal it up

It was divided into keys and boxes and kept out of reach of people.

And, in order not to spread fear of the Holy Sword.

Gortian and his family were killed by demons released from the ruins. That told the story.

It was found with the warrior’s memoir that was kept along with the key.

Galatea seemed to be aware of the existence of the nucleus, but she did not know the details.

“A holy sword is a demonic sword… This is a phenomenon I’ve never heard of.”

Layla muttered and looked at Cleon.

It seemed that his curiosity about her about such a phenomenon grew more than his fear of it.

Cleon stars at Lila and hands her a box containing her marbles her.

“…Uh?”

“My demonic sword says… If you use some of the functions in the core. They say you can neutralize the power of the holy sword.”

The core of the sword is the corpse of the holy sword.

Its existence itself is like a symbol of death for other holy swords.

“Then, are you saying you can stop Alvein-san’s holy sword?”

At Sasha’s question, Cleon nodded her head.

“But as you can see… This core has completely stopped functioning. It must be because the sealing band is slowly draining its mana.”

“I can’t feel any magic inside. It’s completely empty.”

Lila picked up the marble and spoke.

“Lyla. Can you fix it?”

“Uh?”

At Cleon’s words, Layla turns to him with a look of disbelief.

Now what?

Are you going to leave this to yourself?

“What do you think I saved you for? If it’s simply because of Quon’s mercy, how fragile am I?”

At Cleon’s words, Quon said, “Umm…’ And looked at Layla.

Lila shook her head with her fists clenched.

“No, that’s impossible… Both the holy sword and the magic sword. The crystallization of an ancient technology that can’t be restored anymore… It’s an object that’s thousands of years older than the gargoyles…”

“It’s your academy’s job to research such things.”

At Cleon’s words, Layla shut her mouth for a moment.

What if it fails?

Could this be an opportunity to be forgiven by Cleon?

Thousands of thoughts filled her head.

The old wisdom has not returned.

Cleon, who was looking at Lila, opened her mouth again.

“What are you going to do? Lila Flamewatch. Are you going to end up pessimistic about yourself saying you can’t help it again? The head of the academy is no big deal either.”

Provocation bordering on verbal abuse.

Sasha and Quonon look back at Cleon in surprise.

Then Laila stiffened for a moment.

Soon, the light of magical power returned to her drooping red hair.

“I’ll do it… I’ll give it to you! You can just do it!”

Quaang! And the fire of the soul welling up.

She kicks off her couch and table and gets up from her seat, shivering in terror.

It was so powerful that the shock of it turned her table over.

In her eyes her, there was anger or shame. She’s a horror

She still had feelings that didn’t suit her.

But at the same time.

Her intelligent radiance, her ignites the fire

She was burning her long-forgotten, unknown expectation of ‘curiosity’.

“Be prepared, Cleon! If I really restore this completely. I will also neutralize the power of your demonic sword.”

As she says that, she raises her finger and points at Cleon.

Both Kuon and Sasha looked at Layla, a little taken aback by the force.

“Turn the table around and sit down.”

“Oh, yes.”

Leila shuddered again at the words of Cleon, who had veins on her forehead on the overturned table.