༺ Full Stop ༻
[Exorcize me?]
“Yes.”
Angel, as if unable to believe what she had heard, wiped her face with her hand to make sure she wasn’t mistaken.
[You?]
With an expression full of disdain, she stared at me.
[It was just a few months ago when I saved you because you couldn’t even protect yourself against evil spirits. I even told you how to learn necromancy.]
“…”
[But now you want to exorcize me? You want to classify me as an evil spirit?!]
Angel’s hair filled the entire rooftop instantly, densely occupying every inch of the floor, as if it was now painted with black ink.
[I killed a full-fledged Necromancer in an instant, and she was much stronger than you. Did you think it would be difficult for me to kill you?]
She?
The Necromancer Gideon brought… wasn’t that person a man?
But then again, it could be a disguise to deceive the kingdom.
Ignoring my inner confusion, I calmly spoke while facing Angel’s threatening aura.
“What was the reason you were able to display that kind of power?”
[…What?]
“I have already heard about the Necromancer. I know what she was planning to do in this academy.”
I’ve said it many times, but being able to see spirits was not something all necromancers can do. It’s a blessing and curse only unique to me.
Normally, other necromancers would materialize or control spirits by harming them.
They had an extremely similar concept as summoners. However, finding spirits filled with grudges was more difficult than on paper.
From the perspective of these necromancers, this academy must have been an irresistible prey.
She must have coveted the numerous spirits in the academy as her own.
“She clearly had hostility, which was why you were able to display power above your own. She was someone who tried to seize the spirits of Setima for herself.”
A person’s soul was influenced by motivation and psychological factors more than one might think. It was especially so for Angel, since she was an existence composed of desires.
“That is why you were given that level of power. Because you were protecting them; you had to be strong.”
[…I’m still their guardian angel.]
“No, that is not true at all.”
On the contrary, the current situation was the opposite.
“Right now, it is not you, but I, who is continuing Setima’s will.”
The black sword I held in my hand was proof of that. The spirits of Setima’s villagers accompanied me to support this statement.
[Why…!]
‘They, Setima, don’t acknowledge what I’m doing?’
From the moment she realized that, her power gradually began to fade away.
[No, that’s not it! It’s not like that! Even though you died so unfairly! Even though you died in such agony! Why wouldn’t you be dreaming of revenge?!]
As cracks began to form in her belief, Angel’s hair, which was ominously raging, began to wither away.
[The goddess you cried out to remained silent until the end! Forget her teachings! It’s meaningless to forgive sinners!]
After placing the sword on the ground, I walked towards her through the now open path.
The Bushi and Angel shared many similarities. He also sympathized with Angel’s beliefs, but he kept his mouth shut because he prioritized the wishes of Setima’s villagers.
[I exist because you created me! Because I said I will grant your wishes! For you who died unfairly and couldn’t leave even a single name behind! I’d leave an eternal scar on the kingdom!]
Angel, who was desperately sobbing, had a pitiful appearance.
She, too, was heading towards her own annihilation.
[I will do it! You just have to keep your mouth shut, and I will alleviate your grievances! Why! Why! Why…!]
“……”
[Why! Why are you standing by that man’s side! Why are you still trying to forgive them?!]
“Stop.”
I couldn’t understand it either.
I was not a saint who appeared from the scriptures.
A complete understanding of Setima’s decision was impossible.
However…
“Do not deny their wishes.”
The numerous spirits transformed into blue flames by accepting my magic. They circled around Angel.
[You all…!]
Distorting hope was an act of trampling on the opinions of the parties involved. It could be seen as a disregard for the wishes of these individuals.
And yet, the spirits of Setima…
Comforted and embraced Angel.
Apologized for their own inadequacy.
Thanked her for enduring all this time and venting her anger on their behalf.
[Ah, aaah!]
The blue flames wrapped around my hand. Since she was a soulless entity, her end would be complete annihilation rather than eternal rest like the other spirits.
“Let go of that burden. However, I cannot comfort you by saying I will take revenge on their behalf, as they do not desire it.”
A hand wrapped in blue flames rested on the head of the sitting, weeping Angel.
My flames extended through the girl’s hair, illuminating the entire rooftop brightly.
“But I assure you, their nobility and brilliance will be known by everyone on this continent.”
[…!]
“Deus Verdi. No…”
Slowly, I knelt in front of the girl, hoping that I could give her comfort through reassurance.
“As Kim Shinwoo, I swear.”
[Kim… Shinwoo…?]
“My real name.”
When I smiled and nodded, the girl looked at me blankly and wiped away her tears before asking.
[Just tell me one thing.]
“Anything.”
[The child who created me…. Where is she now?]
The girl, who proudly called her an angel, and claimed that an angel would make them happy.
In a way, it could be said that the existence of Angel was shaped and created thanks to her.
“Her name is Leia.”
Leia… the unforgettable name of the child I first met on the day I came to the academy.
“She entered eternal rest a few months ago.”
Through our first conversation, she found peace and entered eternal rest.
[I see.]
Thump.
Angel’s head trembled slightly, and hot tears streamed down, carrying a sense of relief.
[Thank you.]
“…”
[I will believe in you.]
The Angel burned brightly and suddenly disappeared. Eventually, the entire rooftop was swept away by blue flames, and after a moment…
The darkened sky began to shimmer with silver as the cold moonlight shone through.
Amidst the screams of the evil spirits echoing from all directions, the sounds of people cheering could be heard.
The obscured view of the academy, as if covered in fog, unfolded, revealing the familiar rooftop scenery that hadn’t been seen for a while.
The blue flames extinguished.
And the souls of Setima’s villagers, who comforted Angel, closed their eyes one by one and began to find their eternal rest.
“Unlike you, I cannot provide forgiveness instead of revenge on my enemies.”
I had simply agreed to help them without hesitation because forgiveness was what they desired.
“But the direction and belief in the life you showed…”
The flames that faded when they floated up into the sky looked like divine stars that graced the land.
“It was undoubtedly so noble, one that I could not comprehend.”
Raising my head, I could only pray for their peaceful eternal rest.
* * *
“What’s wrong? Is it over?”
Findenai, who had come to the rooftop, looked at Deus. He was currently praying for their souls.
Having heard that a powerful necromancer had died facing the evil spirit, Findenai rushed to find him after saving the students, fearing he might be in danger.
“Hmm.”
Surprisingly, he looked perfectly fine without any visible injuries.
Rather, he seemed relieved, and there was even a slight smile on his face.
“I don’t like it.”
Findenai was upset that her efforts had been wasted, and it made her uncomfortable.
“Is it all over?”
Looking up at the bright moon, Findenai asked and Deus nodded gently in response.
“Yes, this incident at the academy is completely resolved.”
“Hmm?”
Something about his words sounded strange.
Instinctively, Findenai felt that there was some clever wordplay involved, but she couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong with it.
“Are the injured students going to be okay?”
“Any injuries or damages that occurred after the barrier was created would have returned to their original state.”
Because the boundary between life and death was not fully established, anything that happened during the barrier would be unable to materialize and simply vanish.
“That doesn’t mean they’ve lost all their memories, right? It will be quite complicated for a while, won’t it?”
“It will, indeed.”
Deus didn’t deny it. In reality, the path ahead for the academy would become quite challenging.
“Well, Master got paid a lot and good things happened in the end, right?”
The reason Findenai deliberately continued to awkwardly speak was because of one thing.
She wanted to find the contradiction she felt in Deus’ words.
She forced herself to think and ponder, but the answer wasn’t coming.
However, at that moment…
Deus revealed the answer.
“The reason you’re feeling uneasy is because ‘this incident at the academy’ is resolved.”
“What?”
“Findenai.”
Slowly standing in front of the railing, Deus looked at Findenai with a slight smile.
Even though his expression was calm, his black pupils, for a brief moment, were enough to freeze Findenai’s body.
Then, Deus uttered words that she could not comprehend.
“Do not save me.”
* * *
“Wow!”
“It’s finally over!”
As the barrier broke, the bright full moon greeted the academy’s students. They all shouted, shedding tears and expressing their gratitude.
The professors, who had gathered the students on the field and fought evil spirits to protect them, wiped their sweat and let out a relieved sigh.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
When Professor Caren, who had stood alongside them, extended her arm for a handshake, Erica smiled and shook hands with her.
Both of them were today’s MVPs, showing that the academy professors were not only teachers in name, but also capable in practical situations.
“Is everything resolved now?”
“I believe so.”
As Caren spoke, Erica let out a sigh. The burden that had lingered in her chest completely melted away like a snowflake.
However, her relationship with Professor Deus had become completely estranged now.
‘But at least he’s safe now.’
Since the spirit who possessed him must have vanished now that the situation’s resolved, Erica felt a sense of relief in her heart.
From now on, even if Deus remained in Loberne Academy, he wouldn’t get possessed to attempt suicide like before.
“Oh.”
Just then, Deus appeared on the rooftop railing of the main building.
Seeing that, Caren burst into hollow laughter.
“What’s with him? Did he expect us to praise and thank him since he rescued us?”
“…”
The moment Erica heard Caren’s words, she felt surprised, not knowing that Deus had such a side to him…
DIEEEEEE!
She remembered the scream that echoed in her memories.
It was a cry of resentment, one filled with bitterness deeply rooted in the heart like a trauma.
Before she realized it, Erica was running forward in a hurry.
She attempted to conjure her mana, but it had been depleted from facing evil spirits for a long time. Her attempts only dwindled like dust, dispersing into air.
And then…
Deus threw himself off the rooftop.
Thud!
Without any interference, he collided with the floor… right in front of her.
Erica discovered herself kneeling, her white-gloved hand soaked in blood.
“Nooooo!”
And with her desperate scream, the long and exhausting incident at the academy came to a close.
