153. The Ceremony Everyone Was Waiting For (1)

The atmosphere in the Academy quickly recovered. Although there were injuries, there were zero casualties because the perpetrators had been perfectly quelled.

Currently, people from the clerical faction, including Professor Stella, were treating the injured. Thanks to that, the treatment was proceeding rapidly.

Her abilities and actions were without flaw as a divine saint. Meanwhile, another saint could not show her face in front of everyone.

Before her appeared Professor Radian. What he requested was a one-on-one conversation, but there was no reason for her, who was all knotted up inside, to oblige.

“I have nothing to say.”

In the end, Nebia gave him the cold shoulder. After speaking coldly, she tried to leave gracefully.

What could Professor Radian even have to say to her? No matter how she racked her brain, there had never been any contact between them.

Besides, he was just a mere professor from the Combat Department, unrelated to her area of expertise. At least if he were the department head, she would have stopped, but he wasn’t.

If her direct clerics had been present, they would have immediately blocked Radian.

“Do you remember the Frozen Slums massacre?”

!!-

However, Nebia’s steps came to an abrupt halt. Her once somewhat bitter-looking eyes sparkled.

Nebia, chosen by the divine revelation of the heavens, was ironically born in the slums.

That place was called Frozen.

“What did you just say?”

She could clearly hear despite having walked quite a distance.

Her keen hearing was not just for show. She could precisely grasp the nuances in someone’s tone… and Nebia could not help but stop.

“Follow me.”

Radian moved toward an empty forest. Nebia was quietly drawn to follow him there.

Somehow, Radian’s words seemed to be compelling her to move. They were laden with an air as if he were about to confess a significant secret.

“This should be good enough.”

Finally, the two arrived at a deserted spot. Radian stopped in front of a river flowing through the heart of the forest.

“What do you want to say to me?”

Nebia asked, looking at him as he stopped. There was an innocent urgency in her voice, one she wasn’t even fully aware of.

She wondered if he’d summoned her for some nefarious purpose, but there was no need to worry. No matter how she examined his tone, Radian did not seem likely to do something like that.

He appeared to want to reveal something instead.

“I have something to say regarding the Frozen Slums that I just mentioned.”

“That means… you know where my hometown is?”

Generally, saints’ pasts were known by some and unknown by others.

No matter how embarrassing their past might be, as a chosen one of the divine, no one would dare to touch it.

Radian, too, had heard of her origin. To be precise, he was aware of the birth story of ‘Nebia, the Divine Saint of Melody.’

“The birthplace of the saint is a deserted village in the cold region of the continent. It is a place known as a den for those unable to adapt to the Empire’s environment.”

“Yes, it was a hellish place where crimes occurred frequently in an already cold and difficult living environment.”

It was hardly surprising what shape unmanaged areas would take. Geographically unfit and having a climate that couldn’t possibly improve, they were left to languish.

“Monsters abound there. It was a place rumored to be a gathering of poor-quality individuals forming criminal groups. That was the place where I was born.”

It was a place where not even a single flower could bloom. The only thing that could be born there was something less than wholesome.

But somehow, light shone in such a place. Someone from the heavens artificially allowed a ray of sunlight to miraculously bloom a single flower.

“Because of that, besides being called ‘the Divine Saint of Melody,’ people referred to me by various nicknames, all implying something positive.”

– A ray of light fallen in a beggar’s village.

– A flower blooming amidst a garbage dump.

– The only sunlight shining in the midst of harsh cold.

Though born in a wretched place, it marked the rebirth of a saint after 30 years.

People could not see that grand birth in a negative light. Thus, the expressions used to refer to the saint were as positive as possible.

“But people did not try to grasp my true essence. They were merely thirsty to extol the existence of the ‘saint.’”

It was indeed true that beautiful tree fruits grew on a sunlit land. Yet, fruits born in a terrible environment would undoubtedly numb the mind with their strange properties.

No matter how delicious the fruits had borne… considering the environment of the land they took root in, it would be unlikely for anything good to have emerged.

That was the essence of Nebia herself. A saint born who could hardly be called a saint.

“Until now, I too was unaware… but I’ve come to realize that essence of mine. Perhaps this incident will have revealed it to everyone as well.”

That is why she could not be by Angela’s side.

She couldn’t remain by their sides.

And also… could she really be by ‘his’ side?

“Considering you talk to me so boldly and even bring up my hometown, it seems like you have something on your mind.”

“….”

Feeling accurately pierced by Nebia’s perception, Radian felt his lips go dry.

The reason he even spoke to Radian, a professor he had no contact with, was entirely due to that.

The emotion behind his tone was ‘guilt.’

“I believe I know when you, Saint Nebia, started to feel this way.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It relates to the earlier mentioned ‘Frozen Slums massacre.’ Of course, not just me… but you, too.”

Frozen Slums massacre.

An incident where people gathered in that cold region attempted to rebel against the Empire and orchestrate a terrorist plot.

However, thanks to the swift actions of some Imperial troop, they were all subdued—completely exterminated, to be precise.

Yet, since it wasn’t clarified whether they were actually troops of the royal family, and with corpses left unattended en masse, it gained the designation of ‘massacre.’

“I found two individuals with the surname ‘Chromag’ on the list of those rebels.”

Upon hearing that, Nebia’s face went pale. Those two were none other than her father and brother.

Wait, but how did Radian know this fact? And what list was he referring to?

“Generally, lists of disposals quickly vanish, but if the subjects are fallen nobles or high-ranking talents, they tend to linger. That’s how I could remember those two for a long time.”

“Professor Radian… who exactly are you?”

When Nebia asked that, Radian fell silent. Then, after a moment, his lips moved and… an incredible revelation came.

“I am a former knight protecting the royal family… the leader of the eradication squad that immediately removes dangerous elements that go against the royal family. I am the captain of the ‘Black Squad.’”

“….”

Now she understood the source of the ‘guilt’ imbued in his tone. Yes, the enemy that killed her father and brother was standing right in front of her.

Her father had always been somewhat businesslike but tried hard to support the family, while her brother had been kind to her as a younger sister.

At that time, her mother’s anger hadn’t been particularly strong. Thanks to that, Nebia’s household was managing to survive.

Up until those two died, that is.

“Even though you grew up in such an environment, I believe there were people who cared for you, Saint. However, because of the squad I led killing them, I believe your essence got twisted.”

Gradually, Nebia began to see people as trash. Ever since they died, the number of people who vilified her increased.

In reality, her father and brother had raised a rebellion against the Empire and had been exterminated. But given that they were themselves lawless individuals from a poor slum… was it right for them to slander others?

It felt disgusting.

The more she saw and heard, the more her stomach turned.

How comforting it would be to incinerate all those ‘garbage’!

But she had no strength to do that, so despair had become a part of her daily life.

“So what do you want to say? Either way, my family are traitors to the Empire. You aren’t asking me to forgive you for that, are you?”

In name, they were villains. Would it not be absurd to apologize after killing villains?

As Nebia pointed out this contradiction, another truth reached her ears.

“No, they were not actually traitors.”

“Yes…?”

“It was all manipulated. They were only trying to improve the local issues without causing harm.”

Radian only discovered this after all events had concluded. The subjects he had dealt with had, in fact, been innocent people.

Despite knowing this, the royal family had instructed the Black Squad thusly: “Exterminate the treacherous rebels plotting heinous deeds.”

“Though you might not believe it, the royal family is quite a strange place. They always promote justice in their public stance, yet I learned while serving that it has cost many lives to achieve that.”

It was already clear what kind of person Jason was by the time he was put in the commander position of the first army.

With that odd sense, he had to leave everything behind and step down from his position directly under the royal family.

“Perhaps I may have killed innocent people aside from those two. It’s truly a wonder I’ve lived this long without paying the price for it. Perhaps…”

– I should have died long ago.

That’s why Radian felt something was unnatural throughout his life.

He had the feeling that the reckoning was continuously postponed… or perhaps ‘canceled.’

Yet he could no longer avoid it. He had called Nebia here to confirm that price.

“I have no intention of asking for forgiveness.”

He was the one who caused Nebia to lose her irreplaceable family.

Thus, he was the one responsible for bringing her essence to such a state.

“I simply want to entrust this life to you, Saint.”

To entrust one’s life… meant he could die right now. It sounded ridiculous to others, but Nebia couldn’t reproach him.

‘That man’s sense of responsibility is genuine,’ her hearing told her.

And what Radian wished to say was not limited to that.

“So what is it you wish from me by risking your life like this?”

Realizing his true intention, Nebia asked. What could he possibly wish from her, even if it meant risking his life?

“Please… would you befriend those children?”

At Radian’s plea, Nebia felt her body weaken. His earnest request was calm and pure, like the stream flowing beside them.

It was a radiance not in line with his imposing stature. Faced with it, she was trying to determine what choice she should make.

Her ‘essence’ twisted. No, it had already been twisted.

Unbeknownst to herself, she had been behaving oddly.

To survive, she had abandoned her desire for control, suddenly displayed an obsession toward a man, and now tried to cast her life away.

And she had joined hands with the fox she had held inferiority towards.

Moreover, why had she joined hands with Jason?

What had she sought in accompanying him?

At some point, that had become completely untraceable.

The reason was simple. She had thrown away her colored glasses formed by distrust of humanity.

Glasses that made people appear as trash. Having been overly sensitive, she wore them, but even after they vanished, both body and spirit felt relieved.

If she had still worn them until now, what would have happened?

Perhaps she too would have been destined to die long ago.

“I have no interest in your life. I’m not so oblivious as to sully the academy’s floor with the faculty’s blood in this situation.”

“….”

“But don’t get me wrong. I don’t have any further interest in your life.”

He was the enemy of her father and brother, yet she could not harm him. However, it also didn’t sit right with her to just leave him be.

It felt as if a strange blend of malice and belief stirred within her, but… she suddenly blushed and started to falter.

“And… it’s not that I’m uninterested in those kids.”

She was on the verge of dropping out. But after realizing that her essence had changed due to Radian’s desperate plea… she felt it unnecessary to do so.

Of course, she would face punishment because of this incident, but she did not care. She had become interested in the concept of ‘loyalty.’

“To do that… I need to apologize to that fox first.”

Having always intended to harm her, she needed preliminary measures to solidify the relationship.

Just as Radian was about to be satisfied with that display…

Suddenly—

The trees around them rustled. Just then, something beast-like jumped out, and they became extremely on guard.

But upon closer inspection, they were beings that were both beastly and not.

-Thud!

“Let it go! You worthless excrement!”

“Hah! To our master, it’s detritus, and to us, it’s waste—how vulgar of spirits to say so!”

“Yeah! You’re not worthy to eavesdrop on this important conversation!”

“You foolish spirit! You’ve been discovered already!”

“Huh?”

“Alari?”

Spirits and spirits.

The spirit was just a black snake, while the other spirits were two cats—a tiger and a lion.

The two immediately recognized who the master of the snake spirit was.

“Damn… Did you just reveal our position by fighting those guys?”

“You must be Radon’s…”

“Hello~”

Trying to defuse the mood, Muto grinned.

The spirits also took a dignified stance as if they were nobles’ attendants.

“Muto, come back! It was foolish of me to trust that stupid snake!”

“Hey, everyone, good job!~”

Suddenly appearing were a few boys and girls.

The snake spirit willingly nestled in the boy’s body, while the spirits settled in the littlest girl.

Radon Crawler.

Jenny Chain Silver.

Luska Mad Eye.

Mary Ryudshiel.

Having judged that there was no longer any need to hide, they emerged willingly.

And…

“To be honest, I have to say—I heard everything you just said.”

Finally, Angela Whitegreen stepped forward with shocking information.

At that, Nebia’s face turned extremely stiff. She looked as if she’d been caught revealing a very embarrassing secret.

“That’s why I said not to send the spirits.”

“Ouch!”

Radon slapped Mary on the head, scolding her.

Though he had sent out the spirit for eavesdropping first, Mary’s spirits suddenly crashing in had complicated things.

“Anyway, now Saint Nebia is a friend of ours starting from today, right?”

“No, that’s….”

As Jenny actively asked, Nebia turned pale.

“I know how you feel. You’ll get used to it soon.”

“What do you mean by ‘get used to’?!”

Luska felt great empathy but merely scolded her for saying something absurd.

“….”

“….”

Angela held Nebia’s gaze for a few seconds. The one to break the silence was Angela.

“Was that really what you meant?”

It was a query to confirm, and though her heart fluttered, Nebia tried to convey it.

“I’m sorry for everything that has happened.”

“….”

“What can I do to get along?”

Upon receiving that somewhat cliché apology, Angela smirked and replied.

“Show me your face.”

“Huh?”

“Show me your face.”

Ah, she was thinking of doing that.

It might sting a little, but Nebia complied without hesitation.

Then she felt something on her face… which was simply shocking.

…!-

Something moist touched her cheek and then fell.

It was quite a shock, even though it wasn’t what she expected.

“W-what are you doing?!”

“Huh? What’s up?”

Caught off guard by the strange indirect kiss, Nebia immediately became flustered, but Angela merely clung to her with a sultry smile.

“Isn’t this the least one should expect in return?”

“Shut up!”

Nebia wiped the spot where the kiss had touched, feeling angry. Yet, if someone asked if she would punch Angela in the face, she couldn’t say for sure.

Radon, watching them, thought to himself.

‘I’ve been through that myself.’

Just then, Mary proudly appeared in the midst of it all and announced.

“Hey, friends! It’s time to do that thing!”

Looking at her as if to ask what that meant… the corners of Mary’s mouth lifted with glee.

“What else could it be… it’s the ‘Friendship Ceremony’!”

At that, Jenny and Luska’s eyes lit up. It was as if the long-awaited moment had finally arrived.

Mary’s smile seemed unsettling for some reason.

Surviving as an Academy Scammer.