How to Teach a Hero at the Academy

Chapter 179 : Chapter 179

Chapter 179: What to Prepare Before Departing on an Adventure (1)

"Monika."

Monika's eyes snapped open wide.

Dense flames swayed in all directions. It was as if the entire ground had been soaked in red flower petals. Then where had the heat gone? Monika spread her hand. She stared at the sparks landing on her single palm. It was not hot. It did not hurt. As if she were wandering in a dream.

"Monika Lohengrin, look at me."

Monika raised her head.

A woman with darkish skin stood there. A woman with white hair fluttering as she smiled. Monika knew her name.

"……Noel."

The Saintess, Noel Hadebarim.

Noel, clad in a pure white Nun's Habit, was beside Monika.

There was no one but Noel.

"Everyone……"

Monika looked around.

Branches of flame distorting everything in all directions—the kindling was too numerous to count. Heaps of corpses, ownerless Weapons, Spell Formula exploding after losing their targets. Only Monika and Noel were breathing and alive.

"Tell me. What happened to everyone?"

"They died."

I will die soon too.

Noel murmured so.

"Look up, Monika."

Monika gazed blankly at the void.

The sun had hidden itself long ago. In the void where the sky should have been spread, there was the body of some being.

That is right. The body of some being covering the sky. The owner of the massive yet insolent body must be the Demon King. Monika stared at the Demon King's body in a daze.

"Lizer Leinhart."

Thus, she recited the name.

The names of the companions who had repeated the journey with her.

"What happened to Lizer?"

"There is no way he is alive. He has not looked after himself since losing his younger sibling."

"Kroni Dungrave. Is Kroni dead too?"

"Of course. Did you think that coward would still be alive?"

"Isaac Fordina……"

"He died too."

"You……"

Are you dying too?

At Monika's question, Noel laughed while covering her mouth.

"I told you. I will die soon too. The Demon King's Energy has contaminated my heart. To a level that cannot be Purified. So it is time to choose, Monika."

We have two choices.

Noel whispered so.

"One is to face the Demon King."

The probability of success is not high.

Will it be as much as the Mother God's Claw?

It is almost the same as none.

"The other is to regress to the past."

I will exercise the Miracle I was granted on you.

This also does not have a high probability of success. Will it be as much as the Mother God's Eye Crust? It can be regarded as nonexistent.

"There is not much time. You choose."

Will you face it, or will you run away?

Either way does not matter. The most plausible conclusion by probability is……

"Monika Lohengrin, Hero of Epezeria."

It will be nothing but your death.

.

.

.

Early morning, the Black Swan Building of Cia-Harphe Academy.

As the sunken air tickled the bridge of Monika's nose,

"……What kind of dream is this again?"

Monika muttered blankly.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the Hero's doll. The Hero's face wearing a fresh smile stood out. Embracing it, Monika raised her body. What kind of dream was that? To suddenly become a Hero. Was it because she fell asleep while reading last night? How absurd. Thinking so, she yawned.

'Training……'

I have to prepare for the damn training, and.

Monika thought while smirking her lips.

Her body was heavy. It was because she had been swinging a sword all day for several days. The Supplementary Lessons that began because she failed to pass the semester assignment. Abel's guidance continuing during vacation was brutish to the extreme. Ernst, Roberta, Monika. The three students were thrown into different training, but,

'Swing it in the Correct Stance until the sword talks to you?'

They were all equally absurd.

It was not even a joke. How could a sword talk to you? Even the Holy Sword would not talk to you. Thinking so, Monika got out of bed.

Hngh, and.

While stretching,

"Does it not look a bit more like a peer's room now?"

In the midst of the dormitory filled with Hero dolls, Hero pictures, blankets embroidered with the Hero and companions, dog food bags engraved with the Hero's emblem, life-size cutouts painted with the Hero smiling while raising a thumb, Hero teacups, Hero stoves, Hero deodorant, Hero canned goods and the like,

"……Fleur."

A glass bottle on top of the table.

Withered Petals filling the glass bottle.

Gazing at it, Monika smiled.

* * *

The same time, the Vice President's office of Cia-Harphe Academy.

Countless sheets of paper floated in the air. They were all documents demanding signatures. As an old quill flew about engraving signatures on each document,

[I heard the story.]

Konstanze opened her mouth.

Toward Abel, who stood facing the desk.

[A letter came from Iris. You will have to be away for some time. She said you have business in the west.]

"That is so."

Abel nodded once.

"It seems I will be staying for quite a while. I cannot tell you the exact duration."

[Will you return before vacation ends?]

"I will endeavor to do so."

[I would be grateful if you do so.]

Konstanze shrugged her shoulders.

She adjusted her glasses and continued speaking.

[It seems you are engaging in training with the children, but in any case, professors are treated as having been granted vacation during the break. There will be no problem even if Professor Argento is away. However, if I may ask a personal question……]

Has a mission you must perform as the Sword Saint arisen?

At Konstanze's question,

"I will not deny it."

Abel answered concisely.

"I cannot tell you the detailed circumstances but……"

[You need not tell me. I will respect it. However……]

Iris.

Iris will also be departing with you.

[Am I correct?]

"It is classified information."

[It seems I am correct.]

Konstanze sighed while resting her chin.

She was not worried about Iris. In pure martial prowess, there were few who could match her. It had been so since her days enrolled at CIAR. Even Drogo, counted among the greatest Barbarian, would concede a handicap to Iris.

Crushing stone walls with punches, swinging even building pillars as if they were rice stalks—where on earth did such strength come from……

[If it is a matter requiring the Sword Saint and the Duke to move together……]

It seems an unusual matter has occurred?

While asking so,

[Ugh!]

Konstanze's brow furrowed.

She bowed her head while pressing her temple.

[I apologize. I have been having frequent migraines lately……]

"You would."

It must be because her freedom of thought is being suppressed.

Thinking so, Abel nodded repeatedly. The Konstanze moving before his eyes was merely a doll, and was being managed through Iris's manipulation. Thoroughly faithful to the Vice President's role. Thanks to that, the context of thought was being blocked from time to time.

"Vice President."

Abel pressed the desk.

He continued speaking while looking down at Konstanze.

"Go visit Fabien."

[Fabien?]

Konstanze's eyes widened.

Who is that, and. She thought while moving her lips,

[Do you mean your Golem?]

She soon asked as if she did not understand.

"One of Fabien's former owners also suffered from severe migraines, I hear. Perhaps because of that, he knows various prescriptions. He will probably be of help."

[Is that so?]

It was a lie.

However, he would be of help in some way.

Iris wanted to maintain Konstanze as a doll, but Abel knew that was impossible. She was a doll made too poorly.

She would deviate from the command system each time, be recalibrated again, and if that series of processes repeated, she would certainly break. Konstanze was a defective product as a doll, but possessed a proper form as a human.

[I understand.]

Konstanze nodded.

[I will visit when I have time.]

By the way, if you leave, what about the students, and.

Konstanze murmured, and,

"Are you there?"

Thud, thud,

The sound of knocking on the Vice President's office door.

"We came after receiving a summons! It is Emilio Mackenzie and Dietrich Leinhart."

A youthful voice was heard from outside the archway.

[Come in.]

Konstanze said, and,

"Good morning! What business do you have with us……"

The archway opened and Emilio revealed himself.

Dietrich sat in a wheelchair. After looking around with an expressionless face, he soon met eyes with Abel. Abel and Dietrich's eyes narrowed simultaneously.

"Uh……, Professor Argento was here too."

"That is right."

When Emilio spoke, Abel nodded once.

"I am the one who summoned you two."

[That is correct. Professor Argento has business with you.]

Abel stepped forward.

There was something to resolve before departing to the west.

"You both looked idle."

One was Emilio Mackenzie.

Emilio's father was known as a Mage, but was revealed to be an associate of the Parousia Denomination. Based on the facts seen while performing the Exorcism ritual, he must have been a fervent believer. To the extent of offering his son's body to the ringleaders. Abel wanted to investigate Emilio's father.

"Thus I want to ask for help. Train together with my disciples."

"No, it is true that I am idle but……"

Emilio's eyes widened.

He shifted his gaze toward Dietrich. He did not know what kind of help was needed, but Dietrich was not in a condition to undergo training. Not only was his body uncomfortable, but despite having reached adulthood, he was less skilled at handling Mana than lower year students.

"……What kind of help can we provide?"

"You can provide much help."

Abel stood facing Dietrich.

"Emilio Mackenzie, I hope you will have a conversation with me for a moment."

And Dietrich Leinhart, and.

Summoning Dietrich, Abel bowed his body.

He closed his mouth while matching eye level with Dietrich.

"I cannot help you with anything."

Dietrich opened his mouth.

Father, was he a close friend of Marchen Blackmore? Or was he an enemy? Either way is fine. This person is not ordinary either. Thinking so, he continued speaking.

"As you can see, my body is not well."

"I know that well enough."

Abel placed his hand on Dietrich's thigh.

Inwardly he perceived. That this child being alive was itself a Miracle. That he was a being who should not have been born. No, because he was not born but made, it was a Miracle. Enjoying life itself should have been impossible.

"It seems you misunderstood my meaning."

Abel spoke in a calm tone.

"I certainly said. You two will be of great help to me. If you help me, it means I can also help you."

Dietrich Leinhart.

Do you not want to try walking on your own feet?

Do you not want to try handling the Mana within your body?

Abel asked so.

"If I help, it is possible."

Though it will be for only a very brief moment, and.

He murmured while wearing a faint smile.