“I think it would be a good idea to compare the trends in the past four days.”
After a moment of looking as if she stepped into dog poop, Nella regained her professionalism and calmly continued her report to Edwin. He flipped through the pages of Nella’s report and nodded.
“The Meteor is no ordinary celestial body. We don’t know how it moves…And the best we can do is to assume it’s a magical phenomenon and use our magic to track it in real-time, so it would be better if we spend our time and efforts on that…But these are interesting pieces of data you gathered.
Nella’s eyes had never left Edwin’s face. It’s as if she’s decided not to include me in her line of sight. Meanwhile, Edwin seemed to have decided to look past her initial rotten expression and gave a small smile toward Nella.
“I see. You’ve done a good job, Vice-President. I look forward to your next observation.”
“We shouldn’t relax. Well, I’m sure you’ll do fine, Professor, but just because a collision is certain doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make observations.”
Nella didn’t seem too pleased by Edwin’s praise and merely added her opinion with a grim expression. I exhaled sharply as I watched her surprisingly enthusiastic participation in the Disaster observation. She had forgotten my presence and was now engaged in a heated discussion with Edwin. I tore my gaze away from her and looked around the terrace.
“Before there was such a thing as astronomy, astrologers preferred to look into the sky with their bare eyes.”
Edwin said, coming up beside me. I looked at Nella, who was glaring at me intensely but not moving from place.
“Well, that’s what we’re doing. As for the Sixth Disaster, I’ll give you a chance to check it out for yourself later, though I fear the weather will be bad tonight…”
Edwin shuffled through the report and found what appeared to be an illustration, which he gave to me. It was a map of different planets and a red arrow moving between them.
“At this rate and trajectory, the Meteor will collide in months. The continent’s leading wizards are meeting to discuss what to do, but… Now, I can only think of one thing to do: rely on you.”
At Edwin’s words, Nella’s expression turned grim. Perhaps her pride was bruised at being told she would have to let me handle it.
“I’m still not sure how we’re going to stop it, because even if you were to cut it down, the debris would rain down and could cause even more damage. Thats why its destruction is our last resort.”
At that, Nella took a step forward and spoke up.
“It’s not as if there isn’t a way, Professor, and if the wizards put their heads together, I’m sure we can find a method.”
Nella jerked her head toward me, and I could see the flame in her eyes. A fire that burned with pride as its fuel.
“I believe we can solve this Disaster without leaning on the Hero… We’ve put in the work, haven’t we? And I feel like I can’t let it go to waste and leave everything to the Hero.
Nella spoke loudly, making sure I could hear her. Daphne glared at her from the side, but Nella didn’t seem to mind.
“So, please, Mr. President, cooperate with us. If we can defeat this Disaster, not only will we receive all the honors, but we could also become the next Tower Masters.”
Edwin laughed uncomfortably as she spoke so ambitiously in front of Laura. Has Nella grown up, or has she become a devil worshipper?
“It would be interesting to hear more, but I don’t think I should stay in the observatory too long. I’m sure Mr. Edwin has some research to do.”
Laura said, standing up.
“Now, I think I’ll introduce you to some other departments. Mr. Edwin, thank you for all your hardwork.”
“Wait, Hero, no, Elroy.”
Nella’s voice stopped me as I turned to leave. I looked back with a deliberately grim expression, and Nella frowned again when she saw my face.
“…Take your time. I need to talk to you later. And bring that wizard with you.”
Her tone was still bossy. When I stared at her without answering, Nella looked away.
“I’m not going to ask you why you kicked me out of the party because it doesn’t matter now.”
With that, she stalked off to the terrace, passing me and Daphne, who was the first to leave the room. Daphne stared in disbelief at where Nella had left, and I sighed with mixed feelings. If it was true that she’d become a doomsday cultist, then so be it.
“I wonder what’s on your mind, Hero.”
Laura asked, coming up beside me. Perhaps the Holy Sword was right. An old fox. Laura wore an unreadable expression as she stepped back onto the elevator.
“I hope you didn’t make that list just to fluster me.”
Laura turned to me and smirked.
“I do have a taste for embarrassing people.”
“At this point, I’m starting to believe you’re the only one I have to check.”
Laura giggled at my joke and shook her head.
“If I were one of them, you’d have a tough time stopping the Sixth Disaster.”
“I know; I’m just telling you how bothersome you are.”
I sighed, staring at the flickering lights of the eleventh floor. Dealing with the evil god’s worshippers was always more complicated than the Disasters.
“It will probably collide by the end of this spring semester. We will likely face a lot of resistance as it nears.”
Laura laughed as she swung back around.
“The worshippers are very unhappy with how the Disasters have died. They’ll be scrambling to ensure the Sixth Disaster succeeds.”
With a small laugh, Laura reached the next staircase. I wondered how old she was to be able to laugh like that at a time like this. Perhaps when the Sixth Disaster comes, she will become the primary target of the heretics.
“Okay, next floor. This is the research building….”
I looked at Laura, who began to lead the way nonchalantly.
“This is where we’ll assign you and Daphne your private rooms. You’ll be doing three things while in the Tower. Instructor, Meteor Observers, and, crucially, weed out the rats lurking.”
Oh, how much will I miss vacation?
“This semester should be fun.”
Laura gave one of those witchy smiles and walked away.
***
“…I wonder if they know how far they’re going.”
Bishop Andrei said in a cold voice. The trail he followed continued uninterrupted. It was as if they were leaving a faint clue every time, inviting them to follow. Andrei sighed as he crushed the head of a fallen “mutant” at his feet. The bluish blood of a locust slowly pooled beneath.
“I feel like this is getting worse by the minute. I can’t even figure out what their true purpose is. What the hell are they making these mutants for?”
At Andrei’s side walked the robed inquisitors. Their clean clothes were stained in the same blood, causing them to glow in the crypt’s violet light. He glanced around with a cold glare and ordered.
“Light your lanterns, and put out all those violet torches. If you see anything in the cellar that catches your eye, collect it and report it to me.”
At his command, the inquisitors moved in unison. As a yellowish-white lantern replaced the violet light, the cellar door burst open, and a figure rushed in.
“You damned Puritan shits-! What the hell do you think you’re messing around here!”
Standing at the top of the stairs with a distorted expression, the worshipper shouted for all to hear. Andrei glared at him with narrowed eyes.
“I know you killed all my brothers and sisters outside. You will die today, even if it means burning my life to the ground, to appease their spirits!”
Andrei stopped the inquisitors from launching themselves at the worshipper. His flesh began to tear as Andrei saw an all too familiar process.
“Aren’t you afraid?”
Andrei shook his head. Tentacles stretched out from the worshipper’s body. It was more than anything he had seen before.
“■■■■”
The worshipper screamed in an unintelligible rage, transforming into a full-blown monster. Tentacles shot out from the creature, knocking down the Inquisitors’ lanterns on the wall and plunging the crypt back into darkness. The inquisitors began to light them again, but Andrei’s face was relaxed.
“You’re late.”
As Andrei spoke, the tentacles reaching for the inquisitors were torn apart. Dozens of slashes, literally in the blink of an eye. The inquisitors stiffened in surprise as they stared at the crimson line drawn across the space.
“For what? You’d have cleaned this up even if I hadn’t gotten here.”
The creature collapsed with the sound of the sword returning to its scabbard. It didn’t even stir from its feet to the sword strike. Arjen descended the stairs, a mercenary with an even sharper edge.
“I don’t think there were too many doomsday cultists out there, but it seems to have taken you a while to clear them.”
“Well, I did catch a glimpse of something suspicious. I interrogated them before they died. Did you find anything useful?”
Arjen strode into the crypt, kicking aside the body blocking the stairs. Andrei summoned a fire, illuminating the entire crypt.
“There are signs of them trying to make something. What do you think this is?”
Andrei sent a ball of light flying into a corner of the crypt, and Arjen narrowed his eyes at the scene that emerged.
“…Is that slime on the floor?”
Arjen moved to Andrei’s side and stared at the green liquid soaking the floor. Andrei prodded it with a stick and shook his head.
“Nope. It’s not acidic, and I don’t think it’s as harmful as it looks. Aside from that, we found a glass tube with something inside. There may have been more, but a handful of them stopped us.”
“Tsk. Was that all a distraction?”
“Yeah. Looks like this raid was a bust.”
Andrei looked around and blew out his cigarette smoke with a sigh.
“I’ve spent weeks of my life trying to catch this lead, and it looks like it’s all for naught.”
“I’m afraid it won’t be all for naught.”
At Arjen’s words, Andrei raised an eyebrow. Arjen fumbled in his bosom and pulled out a blood-soaked piece of paper. Andrei took the paper and stiffened.
“…How did you get this?”
“When I interrogated someone, they just laughed, as usual. However, with a hint of pain in their voice this time.”
Andrei chuckled hollowly, glanced at the shattered glass tube, then returned his eyes to the paper.
“It seems we need to send an urgent message to the Kingdom.”
“I’ll leave that to you.”
Arjen said lightly and took the cigarette from Andrei’s hand. Sighing as he lost his cigarette, Andrei carefully folded the paper.
“…I wonder if these guys are about to show their teeth.”
The words on the bloody paper were mostly obscured, but Andrei could still recognize it.
Notice of admission to the Academy in the Kairos Kingdom.
Bishop Andrei couldn’t even guess what they were preparing.
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