A week ago, Lucy used her History Check skill to uncover the plans of the Void Followers.
At that time, she couldn’t exactly confirm what was happening because of the Evil God’s interference.
However, she was able to figure out where the events were taking place.
The presence of strange symbols in the history check indicated that the Evil God’s followers were wreaking havoc in that location.
If it’s possible to find out where something is happening, it’s not too hard to guess what might be occurring there.
Based on her deduction, Lucy made several plans, most of which she entrusted to others rather than handling herself.
The three people now rushing through the academy grounds—Kal, Erin, and Lina—were given one task.
That task was to destroy the golems being prepared for the Soul Academy’s dungeon.
“It’s strange. Why is there so little interference?”
Kal, running with Erin in his arms, voiced his concerns about the eerie calmness around them.
The Void Followers had planned a grand scheme to seize control of the academy. Yet, as they ran through the outer grounds, no interference came their way.
Kal had expected many to try to stop them, so he suspected there might be a trap waiting ahead.
“Don’t worry. They’re just busy dealing with outside interference.”
It was Lina who eased his worries.
She had spread small mist foxes around, and through them, she observed that the external forces—the Void Followers and the priests of the Holy Church—were engaged in a fierce struggle through the widening holes in the barrier.
“The Evil God’s power is strengthening the Void Followers, but the external forces are also growing. For now, we don’t need to worry about their interference,” Lina explained.
The balance was slowly tipping in favor of the Void Followers.
Even though reinforcements from outside were arriving, the number of powerful individuals among them was small. There would be no dramatic changes.
On the other hand, the Void Followers were growing stronger with each passing moment, so it was only natural for the balance to shift in their favor.
“We just need to do our part.”
“I understand.”
As the trio entered the Dungeon Studies building, Lina furrowed her brow. The space was filled with the power of the Void.
It could be managed with her mist, allowing them to distinguish truth from illusion, but that would take time.
“Knight, please go right.”
“...The right?” Kal asked, puzzled.
“Yes. That way is less... disgusting.”
Though Kal hesitated at Erin’s confident words, Lina did not. Knowing who had blessed her, Lina smiled and moved in that direction.
“Did Lucy predict this situation too?”
She had wondered why Lucy insisted on bringing her maid along, but now it seemed there was a reason.
“Lina?” Kal asked.
“You fool. Follow the child in your arms. It’s your master’s plan,” Lina chided.
“...I understand. Erin, please continue guiding us.”
“Yes!”
Erin’s directions were precise. In a space where truth and lies mixed, she always found the correct answer, much like how she had pierced through the Evil God’s power in the forest during their previous trial.
When they reached their destination, they were greeted by a few Void Followers and a group of golems beyond them.
“Are you here to stop the plan?”
The leader of the Void Followers, standing at the front, smiled as he faced the trio.
“If you were going to stop us, you should have arrived sooner. It’s too late now. You’re nothing but trash.”
As he spoke, the Void's power filled the golems around them. Just moments ago, they were lifeless metal constructs, but now they began to take on human-like forms.
The Evil God’s power gave them a semblance of humanity.
Kal, witnessing the hopeless scene, gently lowered Erin to the ground and drew his sword from his waist.
A white aura emanated from him, pushing back the surrounding darkness.
“Lina, please take care of Erin.”
“Don’t worry. If anything happens to this child, Lucy will never acknowledge me,” Lina replied.
“Ha. She’ll probably do worse than that.”
Seeing their casual conversation, the leader of the Void Followers narrowed his eyes.
“Are you out of your mind? Don’t you see what’s right in front of you?”
“Don’t worry. I see it. I have eyes too,” Kal responded calmly.
“But...”
“There’s no need to be nervous. It just didn’t seem like there was a need for concern.”
Kal chuckled lightly, which made the Void Follower grit his teeth. He ordered the golems to eliminate the obstacles ahead.
Without hesitation, the golems, now infused with the Void’s power, charged forward.
They were willing to sacrifice themselves to eliminate the interference.
However, their charge was unsuccessful.
Before they could even reach their target, Kal’s sword cleaved through the golems, cutting them in half.
“They’re really soft, aren’t they?”
As Kal’s laughter grew deeper, the Void Followers could feel cold sweat running down their backs.
Kal, once hailed as a promising member of the Alrn Knight Order, had proven his worth. Despite his talents, he had always worked diligently to protect his master and stand by her side. Now, his sword, honed by experience, shone brightly.
Phew. It’s a relief. It seems Kal arrived just in time. When Luca had been talking so confidently, I thought there might be a twist, but it was just a delay.
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“Hey♡ Hey♡ Keep talking! Hurry up♡”
“...”
“Didn’t you say the golems would kill the people?♡ But now those weak golems are getting destroyed?♡”
Trying to hide her anxiety, I chuckled and mockingly looked at the confused ones.
“You thought I wouldn’t notice your flimsy plan?♡ Ha ha! You really lack a sense of reality! You’re such an idiot♡”
The sharp gazes from Luca and the Void Followers pierced me, but I straightened my shoulders.
It’s not because I’m confident I can overpower them all.
Actually, it’s the opposite.
I want them to think there’s something waiting behind me, so they won’t attack.
“I’ve been waiting for months, wondering what those bugs would prepare, and it turns out they’re just bugs after all♡ Playing in the palm of a little girl’s hand♡”
Most of the things I planned are coming to fruition, but that doesn’t mean everything’s going perfectly.
The problem is Arthur. That perverted bastard, now sleeping like a prince underground, hasn’t woken up yet, and it’s throwing off the foundation of my plan.
“Why are you frowning?♡ Aren’t you crawling in the palm of a cute girl’s hand?♡ Shouldn’t you be happy?♡”
Damn it. I’ve been trying my best to delay things, but he still hasn’t woken up.
If things go on like this, if the magical circle is completely overtaken before he wakes up, things will get complicated.
I’ll have to move myself!
“Ah~♡ Are you disappointed because you can’t climb up my arm?♡ Heh heh♡ You filthy perverts♡”
If I keep this up, even if everything gets resolved, it’ll still go the way Luca wants it.
I’ll have to watch him grin as he reaches enlightenment!
This is still a relatively good scenario. In the worst case, people might end up dying in blood. Because of my negligence, people will die.
“Should I show you with my eyes?♡ Want to climb up with my gaze?♡”
I need to drag this out. As much time as possible, until Arthur wakes up.
“You’re trying to delay, aren’t you, Lady Alrn?”
Luca cut off my provocation, speaking up.
“Something’s not going according to plan, is it?”
“You’re the one who’s not going according to plan♡ Your incompetence is ruining your plan, isn’t it?♡”
“Aha. I admit it.”
Luca’s eyes, which had been narrowed moments ago, now glimmered with amusement.
“The things I prepared aren’t going as planned, it’s true.”
A sense of ease crept into his tone.
“Lady Alrn, you’re a much more capable person than I thought.”
...Why is he suddenly acting like this?
Why is he suddenly admitting defeat?
Could it be...
“However, in the end, the core of this plan is still proceeding as expected.”
As Luca smirked, darkness enveloped the hallway.
Not the darkness created by Adrienne, but the darkness of the Evil God’s power.
“Lady Alrn! Fire ahead! And Faeby!”
Yuden heard Joy tightening her voice and inwardly marveled.
Wow. The way Lady Partan is commanding is quite impressive.
What kind of training does the Duke family give to their children that even a child who hasn’t become an adult yet can command like that?
At my age, I could barely charge forward like a beast.
Having worked with so many people, Yuden couldn’t help but admire Joy’s leadership.
Yuden, having worked with many people, couldn’t help but admire Joy’s leadership. It was refined to the point that even Yuden, who had vast experience, was impressed.
Thanks to her, the three of them, despite the constant interference from the Void Followers, made their way quickly to their destination.
The place where the great wizard, Erginus, had left his magic circle.
It was where many of the Evil God’s followers had gathered, and where the power of the Void was at its most concentrated.
And the center of all this, the one who was at the heart of the plan:
The Apostle of the Void was in that room.
"It’s been a while, Sword Saint. How many years has it been since we last met?"
"I don’t need your pleasantries, trash."
Yuden, meeting the enemy she had missed years ago during a mission to hunt down the Evil God’s followers, didn’t even bother to hide her disdain.
"Ahaha. But we’re connected, aren’t we?"
"Don’t talk about connections. You’re just another dead man waiting to happen."
"No, Sword Saint. We are connected. You, the Saint, and Lady Partan. Our connection will last for long years, through eternity."
Beneath the robe of the Apostle of the Void, his smile could be seen.
"The Evil God will make sure of that."
Behind him, the magic circle glowed dark—pitch black.
"Can you clear the way for me, Sword Saint? And Faeby..."
Yuden couldn’t help but admire the way Joy was commanding. Even though she wasn’t even an adult yet, she was handling the situation well.
"What kind of training does the Duke's family give to their children?" Yuden mused to herself, impressed. At her age, she was only capable of charging forward blindly.
As she worked with Joy, who was so refined, Yuden had to acknowledge her leadership abilities. It was the mark of someone with a great future.
With that, the trio quickly reached their destination despite the constant hindrances from the Void Followers.
The place they had arrived at was a room filled with the power of the Void, where the magic circle left by Erginus, the great wizard, was located.
They now had to face the culmination of all their efforts: the room where the Void Apostle was waiting.
The Void Apostle stood, waiting for them.
“Ah, Sword Saint, it’s been quite a while, hasn’t it?” he asked with a grin.
Yuden was quick to respond with scorn. "Don’t waste my time, trash."
"Ahaha, but we’re connected, aren’t we?" he repeated, almost smugly.
Yuden’s eyes narrowed. "You’re already dead, so why bother pretending to be important?"
The Void Apostle’s laugh only grew louder. "You’re mistaken. We are bound by the Evil God’s will, and this connection is eternal. This is just the beginning."
The black magic circle behind him pulsed ominously, signifying the culmination of all the plans of the Evil God’s followers.
"Go ahead and fight, Yuden," said Kal with determination, his hand on his sword. "We’ll take care of the rest."
But the Void Apostle’s smirk didn’t falter.
The room, bathed in the dark aura of the Void, now seemed to take on a life of its own. The final battle was about to begin.