Chapter 6: Regression (5)
Every year, nearly three thousand new students passed through the gates of Arpentia Academy.
Located in the capital of the Empire at the heart of the continent, it was undeniably the largest educational institution in existence.
People came here to hone and refine themselves over the span of four years.
At first glance, one might think that would mean well over ten thousand students were enrolled at any given time, but reality was far from that.
Due to a lack of skill resulting in being held back a year, voluntary withdrawal or expulsion, canceled admissions for various reasons, and even “unforeseen accidents” that caused vacancies…
For all kinds of reasons, people dropped out one by one, and by the time graduation came around, the number that had entered as roughly three thousand was cut nearly in half.
Survival of the fittest through competition.
This had been one of the Academy’s unchanging principles ever since it first became a true educational institution.
It was through this policy that Arpentia Academy had produced countless talented individuals, and despite various controversies, it still claimed the title of the greatest educational institution on the continent.
‘Though that all went down the drain in the year I entered.’
Yes, it had.
When I enrolled, there had been over three thousand students, but by the time I left the Academy, barely a few hundred remained.
Except for the one class in the past where most students had left for the battlefield, it was one of the smallest numbers in history.
‘…It was horrific.’
So many incidents and accidents.
Even now, recalling them made my skin crawl.
‘Really, truly horrific.’
Among them, one of the most unforgettable events was the very first tragedy that had occurred—
the “Dungeon Collapse Incident,” which left nearly two hundred dead or injured.
“……”
The Dungeon Collapse Incident had happened during the freshmen’s very first practical training. The dungeon crumbled apart, and one inexplicable phenomenon after another occurred in quick succession.
To make matters worse, the monsters being used for practice broke loose, throwing the situation completely out of control.
The worst part was that most of those monsters were insect-type.
Insect-type monsters typically preyed on humans.
In other words, nearly two hundred students died during class, and their bodies couldn’t even be recovered because they were eaten.
This devastating incident was the final blow to the already precarious position of the headmaster and the faculty.
As a result, the headmaster stepped down, and a large number of professors resigned as well.
It also became the decisive event that allowed the Holy Sun Church and the Imperial Family to increase their interference.
…At least, that was the official story known to the public.
‘But…’
But I knew the hidden truth behind it.
The reason was simple.
I had been one of the few survivors inside that collapsing dungeon that day.
‘In reality, it was because of Rahma’s human sacrifice ritual.’
A forbidden ritual so vile that even demons shunned it, and only a rare few worshippers of evil gods would dare perform it.
The result it brought about was… truly beyond words in its horror.
‘…And we’d been far too complacent.’
Back then, those of us who knew the truth—myself included—had dismissed it as nothing more than a tragic accident caused by a delusional madman.
Even I, who knew what had happened, forced myself to think of it that way and pretended not to know.
But after a few years had passed…
“Oh my, are you a freshman?”
Shaken out of my thoughts, I looked up.
Rahma, the archbishop who had approached without my noticing, was wearing a smile so benevolent that no one could possibly suspect him.
“If you’ve lost your way, I could offer my help.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Archbishop.”
I returned his smile just as gently.
“But I’m not lost. I came here on Senior Lancia’s recommendation.”
“Lancia? Do you mean Lancia Jintia?”
Roberta, the nun standing nearby, stared at me in surprise.
When I nodded, she tilted her head as though unable to understand.
“Why would Lancia…”
“She told me to meet you, Sister. Said you could help me with a problem I’m struggling with.”
“Hmm… Could it be for the reason I’m thinking of?”
“Yes, I believe you’re correct.”
Sister Roberta was a renowned powerhouse, well-known even to me.
Her skill and methods in handling holy power would certainly be of great help to me.
“Hmm, and at a time like this… Still, if you came on Lancia’s recommendation…”
Muttering under her breath, she looked at me.
“I’m sorry to say this to someone who’s come all this way, but I probably won’t be able to make time for a few days. Is that alright?”
“Yes, of course. I can wait as long as needed.”
“I like your spirited answer.”
She smiled, though this time it was a smile that could almost be taken as combative.
“Oh, right.”
She seemed to remember something, clapping her hands with a snap before pulling something from her robes and handing it to me.
It was a proof plaque.
“With this, you should have no trouble using a private room.”
She gave me a quick wink and whispered.
“You must have come all the way here instead of staying in the training hall because you wanted a quiet place to train alone, right?”
“That’s exactly right.”
As I fiddled with the plaque—which was basically a special privilege—she burst into laughter.
Then, smiling, she turned to Archbishop Rahma, who stood beside her.
“Archbishop Rahma, you don’t mind, do you?”
“If anything, I’d be grateful if you made me an accomplice as well.”
He also smiled as he spoke.
On the surface, he looked like the very picture of a compassionate and understanding man.
“How could I possibly block a devout, hardworking young seed from diligently honing himself? I’m sure Lord Ilionel will turn a blind eye to our little deviation.”
Slipping the proof plaque into my robes, I bowed to the two of them.
“I sincerely thank you both for your consideration.”
Returning their smiling send-off with a polite farewell, I headed toward the training hall.
And then—calmly, quietly—I let out the breath I had been holding back.
“Haa…”
Up until just now, I had vaguely thought that I would either uncover Rahma’s identity and schemes or, if I had no other choice, simply kill him myself.
But only after coming face to face with him—
Only after returning from one death—did I finally realize.
‘…A monster.’
Rahma.
He was a monster.
The kind of monster that not only I, but even a group of capable people attacking together, could never hope to defeat.
“Haa.”
I quietly clutched my trembling arm and let out another sigh.
‘If I could, I’d abandon the Academy and run right this instant.’
But knowing that I couldn’t, all I could do was give a bitter smile.
Even if I avoided him for now, I knew full well the end result would be the same as before.
Let’s be honest.
If I pretended to know nothing and holed up somewhere safe on the day the incident happened, I wouldn’t be in any danger in the short term.
But after that?
‘It would still play out no differently than before.’
The catastrophe would happen again.
The interference of the Holy Sun Church and the Imperial Family would become blatant.
And eventually, events would snowball until the Second Princess Velita once again took the Emperor’s throne.
And once again, my family and I would be trampled underfoot by her mere words.
‘…And more than anything.’
Those nearly two hundred innocent lives.
Even knowing everything, I couldn’t just let them die.
“……”
Truly.
I really wanted to stop that, no matter what.
I already knew all too well how painful and terrifying it was to die.
‘…So what should I do now?’
In the end, I had to stop his plan somehow.
‘But how?’
Asking the Academy for help was out of the question.
Right now, I was nothing more than the third son of a newly risen noble family, a student who had just joined the Holy Sun Church.
Without evidence or a witness, accusing Rahma—the Archbishop and a professor at the Academy—would get me nowhere.
‘A man who’s both an evil god worshipper and an Archbishop wouldn’t leave sloppy evidence lying around in the first place.’
And more than that, all I knew was that Rahma was the culprit.
I didn’t know if he had acted alone or had accomplices.
With the possibility that there were collaborators inside the Academy, I couldn’t afford to act recklessly.
Which meant I had to start from scratch, investigating and uncovering the full truth.
‘Obviously, I can’t do this alone.’
Seeking help from the Imperial Family or the Church was out of the question.
With the former, the best I could hope for was to escape with only a public beating for requesting an audience without cause; with the latter, I’d likely be accused of false charges instead.
‘I need someone I can trust completely, someone strong enough to fight him, and someone willing to accept my request.’
A few names floated to mind.
Allen Amiel.
Lancia Jintia.
And the one at the center of the incident, whom I had yet to meet—Cecilia Everglenn.
But I shook my head again.
‘Right now, each of them has… issues.’
Allen Amiel, after what had just happened, raised too many questions.
Lancia Jintia was in a different year, making it difficult to act together on the day of the incident.
As for Cecilia Everglenn, I hadn’t even met her yet, and if she could solve the problem on her own, the incident wouldn’t have happened in the first place.
‘Not that persuading the three of them would be easy, either.’
I gave a small shake of my head.
And then, when another name surfaced, I couldn’t help but frown.
Princess Velita.
Certainly, if it was her, the problem might be solved easily.
But…
‘I’d rather draw my sword and die.’
Other names continued to pop up, but none of them were suitable.
In the end, I was wondering if I’d have to force it and somehow rope those three in, when—
“…Right.”
Just one person.
Someone who perfectly fit all the conditions flitted through my mind.
‘The Demon Hunter.’
Yes, if it was them, it would be more than possible.
And with the enemy being an evil god worshipper, there was hardly anyone more suited to the task than them—aside from perhaps Lancia Jintia.
“Alright.”
Having reached my conclusion, I nodded and looked around the private room.
As expected of something the Academy had built with great care, it was truly the perfect place to train.
“For now, I should start with what I can do immediately.”
Picking up the crystal sphere used for control training, I muttered to myself like I was making a vow.
* * *
“…And so, I could not resist my own temptation and ended up bringing wine into the dining hall. I ask that you please forgive my sin.”
The kneeler in the confessional.
Kneeling there, I ended my account in a detached tone.
On the other side of the screen, someone responded with a gentle voice, delivering a brief sermon of encouragement along with my penance.
“For the next three days, pray with a devout heart and an upright posture. Spend much more time than you usually would—however long you can manage.”
“I will do as you say.”
“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I absolve you of your sins, as well as those you have not yet realized…”
I was about to leave when I hesitated, then spoke again.
“There is one more sin I have yet to confess.”
“What is it?”
“I…”
Dragging out my words, I fell silent.
It was only after a long moment that I managed to speak.
“…I am sorry. It may sound strange to say this after bringing it up, but… would it be alright if I returned after I have decided for myself how to put this sin into words?”
“The merciful Lord Ilionel opens His arms to everyone,” said the voice from behind the screen.
“And He will open them to you at any time. For He is always watching over us.”
“I will take your words to heart.”
“I will wait forever for the day you have your answer and come to see me again.”
The voice.
A soft voice whose gender or age I could not guess spoke to me once more.
“Forever.”
When I carefully stepped out of the confessional, the first thing I saw was a small statue of a saint placed at the cathedral’s entrance.
Perhaps because of what had happened a few days ago, the statue was being maintained with excessive care. I passed by it and stepped outside.
Waiting for me at the entrance, Lancia Jintia waved lightly.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting, Senior.”
“No, not at all.”
Dressed in a simple outfit for going out, she looked at me with a face even brighter than before.
“You look like you’re in a good mood.”
“Hmm, do I?”
When I met her pleased gaze and asked, she covered her mouth with her hand and laughed.
“To be honest… yes, I am. I didn’t expect you to remember the promise we made before, much less act on it so quickly.”
“Ah, I see.”
“And on top of that, you said you wanted to join me in weekend volunteer work… I’m really glad to have met someone as devout and generous as you.”
“Hahaha…”
I laughed at her moved words.
‘This is the only way for a freshman to confidently go outside during this period.’
It also helped that the one in charge was Sister Roberta.
She seemed to like me well enough to let me join the volunteer group without any fuss.
“Is there anywhere in particular you’d like to go?”
“Yes. I do have a place in mind.”
“You’ve already decided? May I ask where it is?”
“There’s no reason you can’t.”
“Where is it?”
I answered with a smile.
“An orphanage.”
More precisely, an orphanage in the slums.
That was exactly where I intended to go.
‘The demon hunter, Yuran.’
She should be staying there by now.