Chapter 70: Heist (10)

Elissa was a girl with the qualities of a great sorceress.

An enormous amount of mana constantly flowing out. Control over mana, automatically honed due to the mana that tries to run wild out of control.

If precise operation of mana is added to that, there was no student in the academy who could beat her.

So, honestly, Elissa was half in doubt.

In a state where her emotions were half frozen, the enormous amount of mana that pressed down on the space was a shackle that suppressed her. The curtain of water surrounding her was a prison that trapped her from the world.

There was no way a mere student could break through this barrier. So the will to resist that she harbored was quite weak.

Because it was a will forcibly patched together with the faint hope that remained in a state where her emotions were already frozen.

However, that was enough.

Sian’s second Stigmata shone.

[Activate Stigmata ‘Cherry Blossom Garden’]

Whoosh-

A pink garden unfolded around Sian.

The range of ‘Cherry Blossom Garden’ is not restricted by space. Even if there is a wall within the range, it can easily pass through the wall and give an effect.

The diameter of the water barrier surrounding Elissa was not very wide. When Sian approached right in front and unfolded the garden, Elissa was also included in that range.

The girl, who was blankly staring into the air with unfocused eyes, saw the cherry blossom petals falling softly.

“…?”

Suddenly, a small question mark popped up in Elissa’s head. It’s the season when cherry blossoms bloom, but… were there any flowering trees nearby?

She had no memory of seeing cherry blossoms in this academy. Besides, the flower garden was overturned by the aftermath of the battle. There was no way a fragile tree could have survived.

Did I check it myself?

Of course. A little while ago, when I was fighting Benedicto with Sian, I crushed it myself.

It’s a nuisance, but it can’t be helped because it’s Sian’s request. Because Sian was such a precious girl to Elissa…?

“Si…an?”

A name that suddenly came to mind.

At the same time, a warm spring breeze blew from somewhere.

It was a wind with a soft yet lovely energy that melted the girl’s coldly frozen heart.

The soft scent of cherry blossoms tickled the tip of her nose. The memories that had been frozen and forgotten began to return one by one.

Who the girl named Sian is. Why Elissa tried so hard to remember her. And, the feelings that Elissa had for her. Even then she couldn’t tell anyone.

Elissa’s body flinched.

Everything she had forgotten came to mind.

Who I am. Who the girls in front of me are. And the reason why I’m doing this.

A half-beat late, a burning pain was felt. As the restriction of the frozen pain was also released, the aftermath of having used the fake Stigmata indiscriminately came back.

“Ugh….!”

It feels like all the blood vessels in my body are burning. It was too late to try to control the fake Stigmata late. There was no stopping function in the Stigmata that started to run wild once.

At that moment, the figure of a boy came to her mind.

A while ago. It was a memory when I went down to the autonomous district. A strange boy who appeared in front of her, who was expecting a pleasant meal with Sian, and suddenly drew his sword.

The boy’s end was Sian’s sword. If I can’t control this, will I end up like that…?

“Ugh, no…!”

Elissa’s body trembled. Blue eyes resembling sapphires were filled with fear. But the lost control doesn’t come back.

All Elissa can do is to turn the direction of the swirling water mana. Fortunately, there was one suitable target far away.

“…”

…It seems like it’s about to end.

Benedicto, took out a pocket watch from his pocket and looked at the water pillar. It’s already been 3 minutes since Elissa started to run wild.

There was no way two ordinary students could withstand that attack. They may have been talented people who would become a threat to the Dark Cult if they grew up well, but in front of the angry water pillar, the two were just ordinary girls.

Benedicto stood still and calculated the gains and losses.

Almost all the magical beasts that were secretly hidden to avoid the eyes of the academy were blown away. Two Crusader-level executives were lost.

One path to invade the academy was blocked by this. If the academy side has any sense, they won’t be caught twice in the same way.

However, it wasn’t like there were only losses. First of all, two talents who would become a threat to the Dark Cult were dealt with. And finally, the experimental subject was successfully recovered.

With this, a great mage-level force is in the hands of the Dark Cult. It also succeeded in causing confusion within the academy.

Now, the principal who was on the front line and the academy executives will have no choice but to return. Then, various plans on the Northern Absolute Defense Line become easier.

It might be possible to cause internal strife inside the academy once more, and it was necessary to undermine the parents’ trust in the academy as much as possible.

“Well, then it’s time to retrieve it and go back.”

He muttered quietly and closed the lid of the pocket watch. It was no longer time to be leisurely.

Two Crusaders were lost. Except for the magical beasts surrounding this place, all the other magical beasts were annihilated, and only one gate remained in the sky.

Benedicto took out the ‘seed’ again.

And, a change occurred.

The figures of the two girls were swallowed by a huge water pillar. It was something I expected up to there. However, what happened next was something he didn’t expect.

A pink garden unfolded before his eyes. A warm and life-filled energy that purifies all evil energy filled the space.

“What is this…?”

However, he couldn’t continue speaking.

As the warm garden unfolded, the water pillar subsided. The Stigmata was still running wild, but the attack aimed at the girls was gradually fading away.

Something was wrong.

Five water pillars that had risen stopped still in the air. As if the caster was reluctant to attack.

However, he didn’t have time to continue his thoughts. The streams of water wrapped around the water pillars were all aimed at Benedicto.

“This…!”

He reflexively flicked his fingers.

The ground was overturned and bone fragments popped out. A small wall made of the remains of the past was completed, and at the same time, a fierce stream of water poured towards him.

There was no time to think about what was going on. In the surprise attack that was fired like a stab at an unexpected timing, all he could do was just be embarrassed and retreat.

A hole was pierced, and a feeling of not knowing how deep it was filled his eyes with embarrassment. He quickly pulled up his mana and examined the situation around him.

“Brainwashing, it’s not working…?”

The ‘seed’ was no longer doing its job. It was clear that one of the two girls, hidden in the water pillar and not visible, did something strange.

It was definitely a Stigmata, a warm cherry blossom-colored garden that was unpleasant to look at.

But, Benedicto had already seen both of their Stigmata. The power to bring winter, and the power to freely move through space.

No matter how you relate it, there was no way to match those abilities and this phenomenon. There were no other teachers nearby, so it wasn’t magic cast by someone else.

“…Stigmata, is it two.”

Benedicto muttered quietly and remembered the names of the two girls. The next guardian of the Absolute Defense Line, Yelena Frost, and the girl who suddenly appeared and interfered with him, Sian.

Instinctively, I could tell that I would meet the two again. Perhaps I’ll have to fight on opposing sides in the future.

“Tsk.”

Things went wrong. In this situation, it’s impossible to subdue them by force. It was impossible for a single Crusader to capture Elissa in a runaway state.

That’s why I tried to break her mentality. But it seems like it will be difficult because of that Stigmata’s effect.

The teachers were slowly gathering. If I stay here any longer, it’s dangerous. If even the last gate closes, there was no way to go back. He didn’t want to die here.

So he summoned one flying-type magical beast. A raven made of black bones descended from the sky, tearing through the sky.

“It’s become annoying.”

It was an unexpected situation. In this situation, I have to kidnap Elissa, but it seems like I’ve consumed a lot of troops. It will take years to raise this again.

Because of that, I will inevitably be disciplined for a while. Because all the troops were thrown away and only the vigilance was increased.

“But well. This result isn’t bad.”

Benedicto muttered quietly and smiled.

Annoying things will be waiting when I return, but something more interesting happened.

A student who uses two Stigmata. I wanted to study it. More than Elissa, who I missed this time.

I wanted to know what principle made that possible. If something interesting happens, it’s a magician’s peculiar chronic disease to have to solve the interest.

So, as he rode the magical beast and disappeared beyond the gate, he did not take his eyes off the water pillar.