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Chapter 40. Bad Predictions Often Come True

"We are the Omnitorus Cult... We have seized control of this academy. Students, and the magic knights who were staying at this academy, we ask for your wise judgment. We possess the power to annihilate you at any time."

"...Are there really people attacking the capital?"

The day after entertaining Ivy's fantasies, I woke up to find the academy occupied by terrorists... no, by members of a cult. I don't understand why I wasn't awakened, but it seems other students have been gathered on the grounds.

"The Omnitorus Cult... I remember a name like that being associated with the demon god said to have created magic beasts... or something like that."

It's a common story, but I couldn't help but think about the people who actually believe in a demon god and how troublesome those who are truly obsessed with religion can be.

"Have we accounted for everyone who was let outside?"

"No, a few are missing from the roster. Theodore Anthem in the room ahead is one of them."

"That room over there?"

"Hurry and investigate. Without the Third Division Commander here, we're managing somehow."

Voices from outside could be heard clearly. They should be more discreet so those inside couldn't hear.

"Theodore Anthem! Follow without causing trouble... He's not here."

"He might be out. Apparently, students can go outside without needing permission from what I heard about this academy."

"Tch! Let's go back to the schoolyard."

Magic that blends one's body with the surroundings. It refracts light to blend one's body with the background... This is quite convenient. I can disappear from sight in an instant, and it's easy to deceive people like this as long as they don't come too close.

Now... what should I do from here? Imagining saving the school by demonstrating mysterious abilities in the face of terrorists and rescuing the school, is something I've done many times in my past student life... But I've never seriously thought about what to do if it actually happened. For now... the worst thing to do here would be to ignore everything just to save myself.

If we're to believe the words of those cultists, the only remaining high-level force, Commander Riester Noble, is not near this academy. Most likely... she's headed towards the capital. The distance from the capital to this academy isn't far, but it would still take some time to arrive by horse after hearing the news.

"Kyaa!?"

"I told you not to move! Did you think being a magic knight would get you out of this!? Ah!?"

Seems like there's some commotion in the schoolyard... Let's see if I can take advantage of the distraction and do something. The easiest would be if Commander Riester arrives immediately and resolves everything... but they've probably gathered many people as hostages for that purpose.

"We finally found them."

While confirming no one was moving around, I was suddenly addressed from behind, so I didn't hesitate to draw [Yaldabaoth].

"Waah!? W-Wait, it's me!"

"...Ivy?"

Standing in front of me, partially emerging from the shadows of the hallway, was Ivy. So, there's a way to use [Sariel] like that. It must mean she's been moving by hiding her body in the shadows.

"I had some business outside for a bit. When I came back, I found this situation... So, when I noticed some people missing from the schoolyard, I started looking for them."

"Some people missing? Who wasn't there?"

"Theodore, Jeremiah, and Elixira."

"What about Princess Elissa?"

"She was there. She was being held hostage in the front row."

"I see."

The most valuable person in this academy would be Princess Elissa. It's lucky that the others haven't been killed, isn't it?

"What are you planning to do about Theodore?"

"...I don't know about Jeremiah, but Elixira is probably in the library's depths. I'll try to confirm the enemy's positions."

"Shouldn't I do that instead?"

"You can't see outside from the shadows, can you?"

If not, there would be no point in appearing before me from the shadows and only showing your upper body. You should have a much easier time assessing the situation around us.

"True. Do you know anything about the Omnitorus Cult?"

"Omnitorus... Is that the cult related to the mythological Demon God? It was said to have been sealed after losing to the God of Light... I don't know anything about that cult, though."

"I see. That's fine then."

I thought it might be some obscure cult, but it seems not.

Seeing Ivy off, I checked the rooms in the dormitory... but it seems there's no one inside.

Jeremiah isn't in the schoolyard, but is he hiding like me?

"That should be everyone. There are no other students in the academy."

"Well... unless they're hiding with magic."

"That's unlikely. You can easily detect magic."

Hmm... There are a couple of guys chatting in the hallway heading towards the school building. I could dispose of one and interrogate the other... but it's probably futile. I doubt someone slacking off there would have any useful information.

As I ponder whether to get rid of them, Jeremiah suddenly appears where we are, distorting space.

"What!? Where did he come from!?"

"Was that magic!?"

"[Michael]."

Jeremiah, who quickly drew his grimoire, beheaded one of the believers before they could even raise their sword.

"Phew..."

"So, that's your grimoire?"

"Huh!? Oh... What, it's you."

What's with this guy?

"Are you interested in my [Michael]?"

"Well..."

"As you can see, this is a rapier. However... its power greatly depends on the severity of the wielder's sins."

That's... a pretty weird grimoire.

"I don't know who determines the severity of sins, but... my grimoire cannot be drawn unless facing a wicked person. So... you're the only one here."

As Jeremiah said that, he looked at the disappearing [Michael] in his hand with a wry smile.

"It's an inflexible sword even for my grimoire."

"That's your mental state, isn't it? Believing in justice but inflexible in practice."

"That's harsh."

But... it's immensely powerful with conditions. Just swinging a rapier and decapitating two people... What kind of power is that?