133rd Chapter. Nebia Chromag (2)

Just as I was hoping to meet Nebia Chromag, she came right to me on her own.

That alone reduced the effort required to find her.

First, I had to walk over there on my own two legs and convince the clerics guarding her.

Of course, with Jason’s request, the hidden spy probably took care of most of that, but the clerics protecting her were no ordinary opponents.

Let’s not even get started on their skills; it’s just that when I arrived at Kreuz, the extreme followers who had blocked me were lined up in rows.

So it must have taken a while to persuade that spy.

‘The meeting of the saint and the spirit mage… this is a fateful encounter indeed! Though I’ve been close with the fox-like saint since before.’

On top of that, this snake was constantly slithering behind me.

The followers might be wary of me sensing Muto’s energy.

I’m just grateful she came to see me in person.

‘But weren’t you supposed to bring that to the fox saint?’

‘Plans have changed. Sorry, Angela, but I can’t do anything about it.’

I was busy kneading a rice ball for Nebia, who had finally come to visit.

Angela wasn’t fragile enough to starve just because she couldn’t eat a rice ball.

In the story, she’s someone who robustly eats everything, so I can’t imagine her suffering because of food.

‘By now, she’s probably eating something like cake.’

Was the first food that the protagonist Angela ate not a rice ball, but the sweets from Aligieri Café?

Anyway, now is the time to focus on Nebia, who is politely sitting in my dormitory.

“I’ve prepared the most edible thing.”

“….”

Nebia surveyed what I had laid out on the table.

Rice balls made with a mix of ham, eggs, tuna, and cheese.

Alongside them, conveniently purchasable cocoa from the cafeteria.

Although it was a meager offering that didn’t match her status, Nebia took a bite and smacked her lips.

“Surprisingly delicious.”

She said this while munching.

Contrary to what I expected, I could see Nebia eating my rice balls with a smile.

“I can see why that fox… no, Saint Angela likes them.”

“You seem to be enjoying it more than I expected.”

“Compared to the rotten apples I used to scavenge when I was a child, this is a feast. I’m not foolish enough to seek luxury in this shabby place.”

On the surface, she might appear that way. However, thinking of her revealing her true nature brings a sense of discomfort.

The reason she aimed to become the student council president was merely her ambition to wield the Holy Sword “Rozaria” and control the school as she pleased.

“Did the followers say nothing when you moved all the way to this shabby place?”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that.”

As Nebia placed her hand over her heart, a big change occurred.

It was as if the lush trees were wilting; her green hair slowly changed to brown.

Her long hair, once flowing, was now cut into a bob, and her eyes transformed into the same color.

“This is how I change my appearance to what I desire. I can even transform into an animal like a cat.”

With such a disguise, she could roam around unnoticed.

Only the clerics guarding her could recognize her disguise.

After all, that technique was developed in Kreuz.

“It’s all thanks to the relics developed in Kreuz. By absorbing the power of those relics, I’ve become capable of such transformations.”

She seemed to have integrated with some relic, much like how I trained with the Master White Tower.

“That doesn’t mean I can go out alone without the followers knowing. If I want to wander off, I have to report to them where I’m going.”

Location reporting… It reminded me of those military admin boards that kept track of movements.

I have painful memories of sneaking into the PX and barracks when I was under twenty years old and getting caught.

It’s quite commendable that a saint is doing this at such a young age.

“So, does that mean the followers allowed you to come see me at the three-star residence?”

“Well, usually they’d scold me for going there, but a certain high-ranking follower generously permitted me to go.”

I immediately guessed the identity of that broad-minded high-ranking follower.

‘As expected, it’s Jason’s confidant?’

For once, I felt gratitude towards Jason.

He’s an enemy for sure, but he seems reliable as long as I can use him.

But it was unexpected that she came directly to see me.

“Now, could you kindly tell me why you came all this way?”

gulp

As I calmly asked, Nebia swallowed what she had in her mouth and spoke.

“You probably know that the academy will be on break for five days starting tomorrow. For a candidate like me, this is one of the few opportunities to kick back.”

The candidates’ pledges have been announced for a while now, and the stage for political battles has been set.

As an example, there was the Royal Guard’s instigation during the joint training.

Since that training, Angela and Crona’s support ratings have dropped, while Nebia and Princess Mirona’s ratings have risen.

In reality, the original story depicts Nebia comfortably enjoying her break at this time.

“So, what’s the point?”

“During this break, would you accompany me? Senior.”

I was taken aback for a moment, but I could grasp what she meant through my ‘Perception’ skill.

This school anniversary event is one of her few leisure times.

No matter how high her status, it’s strange for her to suddenly drop by a man’s room and make such a request.

“Why me of all people?”

“You mentioned by the lake that you’d help me out once.”

“….”

I definitely remember that. I had said she could ask me for help anytime she needed it.

“I didn’t refuse back then. I simply said I’d think about it.”

“Then have you decided on your answer?”

“Of course. Once I target something, I never let it slip away.”

Nebia, saying this arrogantly while sipping her cocoa.

I mustn’t forget.

If she finds something she likes, she’ll use every means to acquire it, that’s her nature.

“It doesn’t matter who you have around. After all, you’re the one who said you’d help me, Senior.”

Nebia grinned slyly, showing a cunning fox-like expression. It was a rare villainous smile.

“You don’t get a choice, Senior. And it doesn’t matter who’s sticking around you.”

As she spoke, Nebia suddenly glanced around the room. She seemed to have realized with whom I was sharing my dorm.

Moreover, she probably had a rough idea that I was with the blue-haired princess and the small quirky magical girl.

“So, what will you do?”

She was making that request knowing full well they were next to me.

In fact, Nebia was expecting I would be flustered.

Of course, even if she expected it, it didn’t matter.

“Fine.”

“What?”

“I’ve been wondering what to do during this break anyway. Jenny, Luska, and Mary are going to be holed up in the mountains for these five days, so I was getting a bit bored, so thank you for the offer.”

I spoke the truth as it was. At that, Nebia looked dazed.

However, it seemed she was relieved that it wouldn’t interfere with her plans.

“It’s quite lucky, I must say. Of course, it’s obvious whom you will be looking at.”

“Moreover, that instructor Jason won’t be around the academy for a while.”

“Really? Jason, that…”

Upon hearing that name, Nebia’s eyes widened.

He was the main culprit who got her into this situation.

“Did something happen to him?”

“It’s nothing major. He’ll just return with severe burns.”

A question mark popped up over Nebia’s head.

Burns? That’s the only clue, so I had no idea where Jason went.

“Anyway, that means he went to a dangerous place, right?”

“Yes, but he went there voluntarily, so there’s no need to worry.”

I don’t know for sure, but Nebia seemed very satisfied to hear he wouldn’t be at the academy and smiled.

Since it was a dangerous place, she probably wished for him to not return at all.

“So, what will you do next?”

We decided to focus on our plans going forward while ignoring Jason.

*

Soon, a festival will be held in Aligieri Town.

It’s a ceremony to give thanks to the Great Sage Dantia, who cultivated this land into a place of learning.

However, there will likely be a minority who won’t be taking part in such festivities.

While some students immerse themselves in training, believing it’s not the time to celebrate, there are those who move for their personal desires.

“Cough. It’s hotter than I expected.”

Jason was walking on the scorching land.

Sweat dripped from his forehead beneath the heavy backpack, and the ground he stepped on was right in front of a volcanic crater.

“Cough! But I must achieve this. For that, this much is…!”

While others were taking a break, he was anything but still.

After the elections, the ones he planted at the academy would take care of things. Meanwhile, he moved for his grand mission.

“For Professor Stella…!”

The things he wanted to do and dreams for the future—he long since cast aside with his humanity.

However, after visiting the academy’s infirmary, he felt strange about himself.

“Just as rumored, this Purgatory Volcano lives up to its name. I haven’t even entered the crater yet and it’s already like this.”

An almost unbearable heat that suggests no living creature could survive.

Because of that, it was designated as a danger zone, and access was forbidden, but Jason could enter due to his privileges as part of the royal family.

Even so, he bravely stepped foot in this place. For one woman.

“I will make her mine. That angelic smile will be mine alone!”

He recalled the face of Stella Vermillion, the infirmary professor, and solidified his resolve.

His goal was to retrieve the Demon Flower blooming on this volcano to win her heart.

Once he sets his sights on something, he ensures it becomes his own. Especially Professor Stella, who possessed an allure unmatched by any he had seen.

“Wasn’t the location information provided by Radon Crawler supposed to be this way? There’s no doubt about it! This is it!”

The information regarding the Demon Flower had come from a student in the Combat Department.

That student knew a lot about Professor Stella. He was a dependable friend as he was the rightful successor of Elder Enviel.

According to that student, Professor Stella had been struggling to obtain that flower.

It was said to be famous in the medical field as a flower that heals all wounds.

How happy would she be if he brought it to her directly?

His heart raced with excitement already.

“The Demon Flower Rishbel. It blooms only where the extreme heat and beautiful light harmonize. This place is perfect for that.”

Indeed, while there have been sightings of it found at the volcano, it’s not something that can be easily discovered.

Even if one goes to the location, it’s said they would have to toil like searching for iron in a sandy beach.

That’s why he had no intention of returning for five days and packed plenty of supplies.

“Wait for me. I will surely… fulfill my love!!”

With his will ignited, Jason charged deeper into the volcano.

Lava flowed like a river around him, but it could not match the heat of his resolve.

The insane love of one who revels in slaughter was as terrifying as an erupting volcano.

*

“Are you referring to the Demon Flower Rishbel? If so, I’ve already given up on that long ago.”

Professor Stella was politely conversing with someone.

The student who entered the infirmary was none other than the being called the Saint of Melodies.

As a cleric, Stella had to show due respect.

“I once struggled to obtain that during my school days to impress you, Professor, but I don’t even remember when that was. Did you happen to…”

“No, it’s not that I particularly wanted it. I just asked because it came to mind.”

Jason had gone to climb the volcano to gather the Demon Flower.

She was merely curious because of Radon Crawler’s testimony.

But the reason she entered the infirmary was different.

“Then, what brought you here?”

There was something she wanted to consult with Stella.

She was one of the few vibrant young women among the faculty who was also a cleric, so it posed no burden to ask her.

“To get to the point…”

Nebia brightened as she revealed the question she had prepared.

“If you had some time just for the two of you, how would you use it, Professor?”

“Well…”

Stella thought for a moment.

Though people might overlook the fact that she was a saint, Nebia was still a girl who hadn’t reached adulthood yet. It wouldn’t be strange for her to have such interests.

But was it really necessary to come all the way here to ask?

Stella’s womanly intuition noticed Nebia’s suspicious aura.

Observing the saint’s fidgeting, Stella smirked gently and replied.

“That’s my specialty!”

It was something she had firsthand experience with.

The life of an Academy Scammer.

 

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