I Became an Academy Counselor

Chapter 73

"Wow, it's really huge..."

We looked up at the massive black giant that had made a dramatic entrance by demolishing the papal palace. It was even bigger than I had imagined. I guess seeing it in real life is completely different from seeing it in a game.

The overwhelming sense of pressure from its immense size was incredible.

"Orca, does the demon inside you look as ugly as that? If so, I might have to reconsider our friendship."

"I'm beautiful, okay?! And besides, that thing isn't even that ugly! It's actually kind of cool!"

"...Is that so?"

"The aesthetics of demons, I guess..."

...Why are these kids so relaxed? That thing is the final boss of the church route, you know.

I asked the students who were joking around and observing the demon.

"Aren't you scared?"

"You're asking the obvious."

Stella, with a confident expression, shouted at me as if I had asked a silly question.

"Of course I'm scared!"

"Huh?"

"With a head that big, if we accidentally get crushed under its foot, we'd end up like bugs squashed by a palm. Ugh, I just imagined it."

"Hey! Why'd you have to say that?! Now I imagined it too!"

Normally, people don’t talk like that when they’re so confident...?

I was a bit taken aback by Stella's uncharacteristically vulnerable remark, given how she always spoke with such confidence.

"But, well. We've got some pretty decent folks here, don’t we? We've got two successors of the Sword Saint, someone who knows more about demons than anyone else, and even this princess here!"

"...So you trust your friends."

"Well, something like that. If I were alone, I would’ve run away, but with these guys here, I believe we at least won’t die! ...And if worst comes to worst, I'll just abandon them and escape."

"You little... You've been saying some questionable things for a while now."

"Haha, just forgive me, will you? This way, you guys can relax a bit, right?"

"..."

Watching the students banter warmed my heart.

The scene unfolding before my eyes was exactly what I had wanted to see.

Even in the face of adversity, they didn’t give up and worked together to overcome challenges.

This was a moment that wouldn't have happened if I had just stood by and done nothing.

...It reassured me that my actions weren’t wrong.@@@@

"Alright then. How should we deal with that thing? Anya seems to be holding it off well, but..."

"I'm not sure. Aileen, do you think you can cut it down?"

"Well, I’m not sure. I don’t have the strength to slice through clouds like I used to..."

"You could do that before? How did you slack off with such talent?"

"I was just copying my dad. I only made a tiny scratch on the cloud."

"That’s still impressive..."

However, no matter how well the students cooperate, there are always things they can't handle on their own.

That's when the teacher needs to step up and lead everyone.

"Alright, Haize. Stop standing around and tell us how to deal with that giant. You know, don’t you?"

"K-kgh... I won't tell..."

Haize, who shared a body with Orca, recoiled from me as if having a seizure.

Come on, why are you being like this? It’ll be hard to relay this information without you.

Of course, I know how to defeat that giant, having done it countless times, but if I explain it myself, it’ll look suspicious.

I’m already under enough suspicion as it is. If they suspect me even more, things could get really dangerous.

"It would feel pretty good, wouldn’t it?"

"Hey! What are you doing?! Your hands have stopped!"

"Y-yes! I’m sorry!"

It was such a magnificent sight that they felt as if they were participating in a mythological battle.

Everyone shared this sentiment, though not everyone was overwhelmed by the scene.

"...Damn it. Our attacks aren't working."

The high priest, who was directing the priests, broke out in a cold sweat.

He wasn’t worried about the papal palace, which seemed on the verge of collapse. A building can always be rebuilt.

The high priest was concerned not with the building, but with the people.

The demon hadn’t moved an inch, but several priests had already collapsed from overusing their holy power.

At this rate, they were all going to die.

The guardian was holding the line, but there was no telling how long that would last.

A quick glance around showed that even more priests had fallen unconscious.

He desperately wanted to defeat the demon who had mocked the church, but if this continued, defeat was inevitable.

...They would have to retreat.

Just as the high priest was thinking this, the demon staggered for the first time, struck by something flying at high speed.

"Damn... So close."

"Ah, a demon-possessed one...?! Quickly, all available priests—"

"Stop, there’s no need for that. We’re here to help, so just stay out of the way."

"What do you mean...?"

"Well, something like this."

Suddenly appearing from behind, the demon-possessed girl picked up a stone of suitable size from the ground, tossed it in the air a few times as if testing its weight, and then threw it hard.

"Argh!"

"Tsk, doesn’t seem to hurt at all... Hey, isn’t your friend exaggerating a bit?"

"Don’t be ridiculous. No matter how demonic they are, a sharp stone flying at high speed and piercing their skin is bound to hurt."

"Really?"

"Demons feel pain too, and they hate what they hate."

Whizz, whizz.

As if playing around, the demon-possessed girl continued to throw stones while talking to herself, completely ignoring the believers.

As if she had come here solely to defeat the demon.

"Who are you, really...?"

"Me? ...What was I supposed to say in situations like this again?"

"Can't remember? You're such an idiot."

"Ah, wait a sec. I remember now."

The demon-possessed girl, who was struggling to recall someone's words, finally answered with a clear voice.

"Oh, right. Just call me 'the Hand,' and you'll understand."

"...!"

The high priest stared blankly at the girl.

The divine had taught that even demons could be redeemed, but no one had ever believed it to be true.

It was simply considered a passage teaching the mercy of the divine.

But look now. The divine always reveals miracles that seem impossible, proving His existence.

He teaches foolish humans that nothing is impossible.

"Oh, Lord..."

"What’s with this guy? Why’s he acting like that?"

"That’s just how religious folks are. Let’s finish what we started."

The high priest fell into a state of reverent ecstasy.