Episode 92
Lucius woke up, sensing a familiar magical presence approaching the academy late at night.
He quickly activated his communication crystal earring.
As expected, they were still awake. The call connected almost instantly.
[Lucius? What is it at this hour?]
Felix, shirtless, asked irritably.
‘…My timing is terrible.’
This was why he hated making calls at night.
Lucius suppressed his annoyance and reported, his head bowed,
“It seems we’ve been discovered, Your Highness.”
Natalie had disappeared a while ago, but he had assumed no one could break the brainwashing, so he had left her alone.
But if Princess Elonia intervened personally, the situation would change.
Lucius, omitting certain details, continued,
“Supervisor Natalie’s brainwashing might be broken.”
[Tsk, they’re fast. I knew it would happen eventually, but not this soon.]
Felix clicked his tongue.
A pale hand appeared, soothing Felix.
[Your Highness, calm yourself.]
[Tristan.]
[Brother Lucius, you still have those items I gave you, right?]
Tristan asked, his voice languid.
It seemed they were finally retreating.
Lucius, relieved, nodded.
“I’ll dispose of them immediately.”
[No, there’s no need.]
“…Excuse me?”
[Humans can’t defy divine power. So it’s fine. In fact, they’ll be useful in the future, so keep them hidden. Well, if you’re in a hurry, you can dispose of them. I’ll send you more.]
“But…”
Tristan’s lips, usually a soft shade of purple, turned a darker hue as Lucius hesitated. His voice, no longer gentle, was chilling.
[Apostle, is something troubling you?]
“…”
[Is there someone powerful enough to break my brainwashing? A suitable sacrifice?]
“…No, there isn’t.”
[Are you certain?]
“…I swear.”
[On what?]
“…On my family name and my title as the Calamity God’s apostle.”
Tristan’s lips curved into a dark smile.
[Very well.]
Even if something happened, it wouldn’t matter.
Tristan, clinging to Felix, ended the call with a chuckle.
Elonia, bathed in a bright light, stared into Natalie’s eyes through the bars of the cell.
Natalie, as if trying to shield her eyes from the light, raised her hands, but it was futile. The light wasn’t the problem.
“Look at me, Professor Natalie.”
“Ah…! D-don’t do this to me…!”
“I’m going to bring you back.”
As Elonia’s mana pushed against the Holy Power controlling Natalie, Natalie began to convulse, as if undergoing an exorcism.
Artius, holding Elonia firmly, watched anxiously, finally realizing the extent of her power.
She was different from Caroline. She was enduring the strain much longer.
But it was still taking a toll on her. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead.
Artius, without a word, wiped away her sweat with a handkerchief.
Elonia’s efforts were working. Natalie’s brown eyes were starting to focus.
Julietta, overjoyed, was about to approach Natalie when Caroline stopped her.
“Not yet, Julietta.”
“Ah…!”
Julietta looked at Elonia with pleading eyes.
Elonia’s heart sank.
She wasn’t good at everyday magic.
If her usual magic was a raging storm, this brainwashing spell was like gentle waves.
She could summon a storm with a flick of her wrist, but controlling her power to create gentle ripples was difficult.
‘Rica is good at this kind of thing…’
She suddenly missed her troublesome disciple.
But Ricardo’s mana wouldn’t be enough. And since she had volunteered, she wanted to see this through herself.
Fortunately, the end was in sight.
‘Just a little more…!’
Her rapier trembled, the strain almost too much to bear.
Just as it was about to break, a sense of completion washed over her, like gentle waves finally reaching the shore.
Natalie’s eyes focused completely.
“I did it…!”
Elonia’s legs gave way, and she stumbled, but Artius caught her before she could fall.
“Elonia, you did well.”
Artius’s voice was filled with disbelief.
Elonia, who hadn’t been sure if she could break the brainwashing, was also stunned, but she smiled, proud of her accomplishment.
“See? I told you I could do it.”
“Yes, I was foolish to doubt you.”
Natalie, oblivious to their exchange, looked around the dark basement, confused.
The cold chains binding her felt unfamiliar, and she called out to Julietta,
“Julietta…! What’s going on?”
“Natalie, do you remember how you got here?”
“No, not at all… Julietta, I’m scared. Please let me out…!”
Julietta looked at Artius, who nodded.
“Just wait, Natalie. I’ll get you out.”
Julietta fumbled with her keys, unlocking Natalie’s shackles and chains.
But even after being freed, Natalie was still confused.
“Julietta, this is strange. Why was I locked up?”
“Natalie.”
“I’m scared, Julietta. I don’t remember anything from the past four years.”
Four years?
That long?
Elonia, pushing Artius’s face away from hers, turned to Natalie.
Julietta, holding Natalie’s shoulders, asked,
“Natalie, you were brainwashed by a Calamity God altar. Do you remember anything?”
She couldn’t show her the altar again, but Natalie flinched at the mention of it.
“An altar… I remember. Someone… gave it to me…”
“Who gave it to you?”
“It was… it was…”
Drip.
Blood trickled from Natalie’s nose.
“…!”
“Natalie!”
Julietta quickly tore a piece of her cape and wiped away the blood, but then blood started flowing from her eyes and ears as well.
“J-Julietta…”
“Natalie! Stay with me!”
Julietta frantically tried to heal her with Holy Power, but it was useless. Even Caroline’s healing magic didn’t work.
Elonia froze in shock, and a large hand covered her eyes. It was Artius.
Caroline’s voice, heavy with grief, announced,
“Your Majesty, Professor Natalie… is dead.”
Elonia gasped.
…That was impossible.
She had been fine just moments ago.
The brainwashing had been broken.
So why?
Natalie had died after Elonia broke the brainwashing.
Elonia had killed Natalie.
“…Dad, let go of me.”
“It’s best not to look.”
“I said let go.”
“…I can’t let you see this.”
It was the first time.
She had never killed anyone like this before.
She hadn’t expected to kill an innocent person, a non-combatant, a member of the academy, with the magic she had used to save someone.
Her hands trembled.
“Put me down.”
Her voice was shaking.
Artius, however, held her tighter, refusing to let go.
Julietta’s silence was unsettling.
Elonia was afraid to turn around, afraid of seeing the accusation in her eyes.
“Elonia, let’s go home.”
“Put me down!”
“Your Majesty, I’ll take care of this. Please leave.”
Even Caroline wanted her to leave, and Artius, as if fleeing the scene, carried Elonia out of the basement.
He held her tightly in his arms, refusing to let go even after they reached the carriage, until they arrived back at the Imperial Palace.
Caroline and Julietta, after taking care of Natalie’s body, left the academy’s main building.
Caroline patted Julietta’s shoulder comfortingly.
“Julietta, are you alright?”
“…Yes, I’m fine.”
“You don’t have to hide it.”
Julietta smiled faintly, but her smile seemed fragile.
“…You were classmates with Natalie, weren’t you?”
“Yes, we attended the Theology Department together and became professors together.”
It had been when Caroline was ten years younger.
Julietta and Natalie had been close friends.
“It’s not the princess’s fault. She didn’t know. Didn’t you see her face?”
“I’m really fine, Professor. I know it’s not her fault. It’s just…”
Julietta trailed off.
She looked up at the bright moon and continued,
“It’s my first time losing a friend like this. It’ll take some time to get used to this feeling.”
“Of course, there’s no rush. Take your time. Let me know if you need anything.”
Caroline patted Julietta’s back, her touch awkward but kind.
They stopped at the fork in the road, where the path split towards the Magic Department and the Theology Department.
“Go back to your dormitory, Professor Julietta.”
“Good night, Professor.”
Caroline smiled gently and walked towards the Magic Department.
Julietta watched her leave, then slowly walked towards the Theology Department dormitory.
The cool night air, the beautiful night sky, the rustling of her clothes – everything felt pleasant.
But there was one thing missing, one thing that made this night different from all the others.
Natalie was gone.
‘So this is what it feels like to lose a friend, a loved one.’
It was a feeling she would have to get used to.
But it was okay. Even if she lost someone now, she would gain something even greater in the future, as if rewarded for her trials and tribulations.
The thought lightened her steps, and she arrived at the dormitory in no time.
But instead of entering, she walked around the building and stopped at the back entrance.
There was a large tree, and beside it, a long shadow stretched under the moonlight.
Julietta spoke softly,
“You shouldn’t wander around at night just because the supervisor is gone.”
She approached the figure, her brown hair swaying in the breeze, and gently chided him,
“You should observe curfew, Lucius.”
Lucius, despite being caught breaking curfew, remained impassive. He frowned and said,
“Stop playing games. There’s no one here.”
“…”
Julietta’s smile vanished.
Her face hardened, and she straightened up.
She made the sign of the Calamity God, clasped her hands together, and reported,
“Natalie failed her mission and has been disposed of, Apostle.”