༺ Angel…? ༻
Dame Ophelia, the Supervisor of the freshman dormitory, was a gentle person in many ways.
She always had a warm smile and didn’t get angry, maintaining a lovely squint.
She was also a beauty with rich blonde hair, which made her all the more popular among the students.
However, the fact that she received the title of Dame showed that she wasn’t an easy person, especially considering that she was a Knight on active duty.
She was almost a heavenly existence for greenhorns who had just entered the Academy.
Being a regular Knight was an enviable job that required one to be at least a fifth-year, which was the minimum standard to even be considered.
“Is everyone here-?”
Of course, that wasn’t really apparent right now, especially with her being so soft-spoken.
With a wry smile, I followed Dame Ophelia, who was leading the freshmen from the front. The atmosphere was reminiscent of that of a mother duck leading her little ducklings behind.
We were currently on the highest hill in Elfante Academy, the Grande Hill, where you could see all the nearby facilities.
It was the best place to introduce new students to the overall structure of the Academy.
“That’s the dormitory. I think everyone is familiar with where it is, right? The facilities used by each School is different —over there is a physical training room mainly used by the Knight School, while over there is the magic training hall used by the Magic School…”
As for me, these explanations were just a repeat of what I already knew.
Elfante’s curriculum was divided into five Schools, with each representing a field.
Knight, Magic, Utility, Crafting, Theology.
This wasn’t just exclusive to Elfante; the Tribal Alliance and Holy Land also followed the same system.
Starting from the welcome party that would be held in a few days, the freshmen would choose their majors and minors, and the same went for the main character.
‘… Actually, the Schools here are different.’
They may be calledSchools, but looking at the facilities and their size, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that each was a small city of their own.
True to its reputation as one of the best educational institutions on the continent, the amount of land and budget allocated to each School was staggering.
The same applied to the Holy Land and Tribal Alliance.
Elfante Academy, Great Temple, and the Forge of Struggle.
These neighboring educational institutions were the best in the continent.
They were called the Golden Triangle.
‘And, that’s that.’
I checked the items I brought while listening to Dame Ophelia’s explanation with one ear.
In my bag was an incense burner and various materials to light the incense.
I also brought some extra… offerings to use.
This guided tour event following the entrance exam served as a tutorial for players, explaining the world and the functions of the Academy. However, there were things that could only be done during this time.
“Uhm, is that the famous Void Zone over there?”
Yes, that’s a good question.
When one of the students asked such a question, Dame Ophelia looked troubled.
Then, her squinted eyes turned to the huge gray sphere that the student was pointing at.
Even from this distance, its eerie and ominous aura could be clearly felt.
“That is true, but~ that is a restricted area~ you’ll be in big trouble if you go there~”
It was a dome-shaped sphere of enormous size that was embedded in the center of the three educational institutions that formed a triangle. Inside it, a massive tower-shaped building can be vaguely seen.
Dame Ophelia’s comment was not an overreaction. In fact, the words restricted area were even too mild.
It was the Void Zone, a product of the Great War of Gods and Devils, also known as the most horrible war in all of history.
This was the place where the Messengers of God and the Hero, who inherited their power, fought the final bloodbath against the Devils and sealed them.
Hundreds of years have passed since its discovery, but the clash between the demonic and divine power lingering around it, showed no signs of subsiding.
There was a 100% chance of dying if you were to get close to it. Even someone powerful wouldn’t come out unharmed.
‘In the first place…’
This was the reason why the three Academies, the Golden Triangle, were close to each other.
The “Great Treaty,” created after the Great War of Gods and Devils, between the three continental powers— the Empire, the Holy Land and the Tribal Alliance, had a clause that required each power to send a certain number of manpower to help manage the Void Zone.
Such a promise was still valid today, hundreds of years after the Devils last appeared.
The Devils had been sealed thanks to the sacrifice of the warriors of the past. But if it was freed, that place would definitely be the starting point.
The reason why there were so many high-quality staff among the academy faculty was because their main job was monitoring and guarding the Void Zone. And as to not waste manpower, they also served as teachers on the side.
“…”
However, thinking about the main scenario, it wasn’t entirely impossible for real Devils to be released.
I feel like shit just thinking about it.
“Isn’t it a famous place recorded even in myths? Can we go closer and take a look?”
“Uh-um~”
Seeing several students, whose eyes were burning with passion for learning, Dame Ophelia pursed her lips and scratched her cheek.
Seeing this, I calmly zipped up my backpack.
Part of the reason why Dame Ophelia was called Mommy by players was because she wouldn’t reject a request from the students. What would follow was already obvious…
“Then, shall we only go as far as the Seraph’s protection allows~? It’s safe as long as we’re inside~”
Right.
●
There was another word for the Messengers of God in mythology: Angels.
As existences that appeared together when the Devils awakened and began to plunge the world into chaos, the angels delivered various blessings and knowledge to humans.
It was said that an angel’s power could boil the sea and overturn mountains.
A Seraph was a name given only to special beings among the angels.
It could be said that they had a status that was almost equivalent to that of a demigod in the worldview.
“Then we’ll have lunch around here—”
And such an existence had set up a protective barrier with enough stability that people could have a leisurely meal near the Void Zone.
In fact, the reason the Academy could exist near this place was thanks to this barrier.
The radiant lights floating around the vicinity alone made it a sightseeing spot. All the students were in awe.
After settling down and taking out their lunchbox, one of the students asked Dame Ophelia another question.
“Oh, I heard that priests often visit this area. This is one of the few pieces of evidence we can use to study the power of angels, right?”
“That’s right~?”
“Then, have you ever seen an angel in person?”
The student continued to ask with sparkling eyes.
Well, it’s understandable. Usually, angels resided in the Astral Realm and only revealed themselves to humans when they bestowed blessings or gifts.
Each one was extremely powerful, and it was said that the blessings and gifts were recorded in history.
The reason why a majority of theologians or priests desperately try to see an angel just once was also because of this.
As far as I know, it was a legend based on facts.
Of course, there were naturally some conditions.
“Well, I’ve seen numerous fancy ceremonies and rituals performed while I’m on duty, but there was never a case where an angel appeared~”
The student who asked Dame Ophelia the question nodded in understanding at her answer.
After all, it’s an angel we’re talking about here. Can such an existence just be summoned at will?
However.
‘…Actually, it’s easier than you might think.’
I muttered to myself silently and approached Dame Ophelia.
“Excuse me, can I eat a little further away?”
“Hmm~?”
Dame Ophelia tilted her head, her expression asking, ‘Why?’
“I feel a little uncomfortable eating here.”
“…Ahh~”
However, after hearing my words and looking around, she nodded her head.
I had defeated Iliya with one punch and was also at the scene of the crime during the attempted assassination of Lady Tristan. My reputation naturally skyrocketed after such events.
Of course, most of the gazes on me didn’t look so pleased. In fact, there was a high possibility that they were more on the negative side.
Furthermore, me subduing Hasmed during the entrance exam and simply letting him go could lead to a lot of problems. That was why Iliya and Eleanor, who witnessed it, also remained silent.
So, in the eyes of the public, not only had I cheated to suppress the next Hero Candidate, but I was also seen as an onlooker who did nothing while Lady Tristan was being assassinated.
Rumors tend to be blown out of proportion. However, those who followed and believed such gossip without a second thought were people who didn’t like me in the first place.
It was likely that the no-name baron had become the center of attention, not because of his accomplishments, but because of the drama.
“Try not to go too far, okay~? It’s dangerous~”
“Yes.”
Of course, what they said or thought was none of my concerns.
On the contrary, I was grateful for such opposition since it made Dame Ophelia agree to my request to leave.
‘Let’s see…’
I walked somewhere far enough where I wouldn’t be bothered by anyone.
There was nothing good about showing others what I was about to do.
Uh.
Primarily in a theological sense.
“Alright.”
I began setting up the things I brought in my bag.
The Divine’s Ultima and the materials needed to light it.
I poured the unicorn horn powder into the incense burner and lit a fire with the phoenix feather.
After adjusting the flame’s intensity using the coral fan, smoke began to spread.
The smoke soon reached a light cluster floating nearby and promptly started to mix and clump together.
The Divine’s Ultima’s function was simple. Like how I compared it to a phone before, it allowed me to contact beings that I would never normally be able to communicate with.
To materialize beings from another plane of existence into the human world. That was what the Divine’s Ultima was capable of.
‘If you think about it…’
Theologians and priests were not wrong for making all sorts of fuss here.
The presence of angels was undeniably stronger here, and this was the divine barrier set up by the Seraphs themselves.
The problem was the misconception these people had about the nature of angels.
In myths, they were often described as noble and divine existences.
Dignified and virtuous beings revered by many.
However…
That wasn’t true.
I kid you not.
— …..
The smoke combined with the light clusters floating nearby, and soon, the forms of several burly men began to appear one after another.
Behind them were pure white wings, and golden halos floated above their heads.
No matter how you look at it, they were your cliché angels.
But.
“How did these little motherfucking pieces of shits do the preliminary work? Where are those bastards in this quarter’s construction cooperation unit from?”
“Um, Dominion. They’re probably from Garion.”
“Those sons of bitches think they’re slick, huh? Should I just break their heads open to make them come to their senses? Hey, call up those fuckers. If the Seraphs sees this, we’re all screwed. Got it?”
No matter which angle you look at it, this conversation was neither noble nor virtuous.
In the first place, carrying rough items like a hammer or a military shovel wasn’t exactly what you could call elegant.
“…”
These angels look more like… the military.
An extremely male-dominated society. A thorough rank system. A top-down hierarchy. A rigid and violent atmosphere.
Basically, if a Seraph created or ordered something, those under him had to roll around like nuts to maintain it or do it.
“We don’t have enough holy water compound to plug the gap in the barrier! Can I borrow some?”
“You can’t do one thing right, can you, asshole? Give me the brush, I’ll do it myself. Zoomers angels these days can’t do anything right. Back in my day—”
“…”
Listening to the conversations from nearby, I couldn’t help but think that I had made the right choice by coming here alone.
If devout believers saw this scene, they would have passed out, foaming from their mouths.
“Um, by the way, Dominion. You know that human over there?”
“Yeah, what about him?”
“He’s been staring at us for a while now.”
“It’s probably just a coincidence. But at least he’s quiet. Those idiots who come here periodically and cause trouble… every time I see them…”
Alright, let’s think about this.
What would be the point of conducting grand ceremonies or rituals in front of these guys?
They were being dragged out for manual labor that they didn’t want to do. They rolled around like dogs, feeling like shit and wanting to die. They were in a sensitive state where they wanted to kill anyone who constantly tried to talk to them.
What would happen if dozens or hundreds of people flock to them and recite Buddhist scriptures or Bible verses over and over, and over again?
There was a reason why angels did not show themselves. All of the above mentioned was just annoying to them.
In that respect, people were lucky that a disaster hadn’t befallen them.
On the contrary, what they want is something very simple and primitive.
I sighed and took out the offerings I brought from my bag.
Generic alcohol with high alcohol content and lacking subtlety, but with a strong and distinct taste. There was also meat I bought for a reasonable price at the market.
These were rough and rugged tastes favored by commoners, but there was nothing better to accompany this kind of alcohol.
It was a kind of special set for construction workers.
This was probably the best way to rejuvenate from doing intense labor.
Pyeonyuk (sliced meat) with a glass of makgeolli (rice wine) after a serious sweat session.
What more can you want?
“…The guy got good taste. Did he pick what we like?”
“Should I ask for a little…?”
“We cannot descend to the Material Realm without the acknowledgment of the human who called us. The conditions aren’t met, so what’s the point of asking…?”
“Hey, Misters.”
When I quietly uttered those words, the chattering angels around me fell silent.
They seemed to have realized that I was aware of their presence.
With a smile, I continued.
“If you just work and don’t eat, you’ll eventually wear your bodies out.”
The angels’ eyes rolled back.
