All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 290

◈ Chapter 290

145. Side Story – The Great Witch – 2

The Sage of the Great Forest.

I had heard rumors, but I never imagined it would be the man standing next to me.

Kirke and Remilia stared at him, eyes wide with surprise.

But he remained indifferent.

“It is an honor to meet the Great Sage. I am Saltream, the master of this Witch’s Forest and protector of the witches.”

Saltream quickly knelt before him.

Before the two, still surprised by this sight, could say anything, Keltued casually waved his hand.

“That’s enough. There’s no need for formalities…”

“No, I heard that you saved the witches who entered the Great Forest, Keltued. As one who represents the witches, I had to express my gratitude.”

When the witch hunts began, countless witches had no choice but to flee.

To the slums.

To the mines.

To the places where the city’s lower classes lived.

Or to places where there were no people.

Among them, the Great Forest was also known as a place to escape.

A place with no people and abundant food.

Of course, it was difficult to enjoy the benefits of civilization, but when faced with being burned at the stake, would that be a problem?

That’s why many witches headed to the Great Forest in the north.

The Holy Kingdom of Haynes moved to capture them.

“I don’t stop those who come, and I don’t chase those who leave.”

“But you fought against the Holy Kingdom of Haynes.”

“They were just annoying.”

Keltued said it casually, but it was not something to be taken lightly.

A conquest in which the king of a nation participated.

The only reason for annihilating that expeditionary force was that they were annoying.

Saltream looked at Keltued with a desperate expression.

“Sage, please save our witches in this fight…”

“Salvation is something you earn yourselves.”

“…Pardon?”

“I have nothing to say to those who only run away without even thinking of fighting.”

Keltued was firm.

While Saltream was flustered, not expecting his reaction, Kirke looked at Keltued.

“But you saved me.”

“That was just a transaction. You sold your life to me. You have to live fighting for the rest of your life, until you die.”

He just gave her power in return.

Remilia, who didn’t know that fact, trembled as Keltued spoke calmly.

“K, Keltued? Kirke…?”

She made such a deal?

She has to fight for the rest of her life.

Does that mean her precious daughter will be fighting those who oppress witches for the rest of her life and won’t be able to feel the happiness of life?

“That… that can’t be. I’d rather do it. I’ll fight.”

Remilia pleaded desperately, but Keltued scoffed.

“Even as a parent, you can’t decide your child’s life. You can’t take that life for them. And Kirke, do you want that?”

Kirke shook her head.

This fight is hers, and this resistance is something she has to do.

She saved her mother and received power.

She had no intention of making someone else pay the price.

“Then, Keltued! I will fight too! I am the one who leads the witches! Of course, I have to fight!”

“Is that so? Then let’s make a deal too.”

Keltued smiled contentedly and spread his arms.

“Those who want to fight are qualified to make a deal with me.”

As they entered the Witch’s Forest, there was a village.

A village of witches who couldn’t fight and ran away.

Those who lacked combat ability.

Or those who hated fighting.

Or those who were tired of fighting.

A village where various witches gathered.

“Remilia, you can use the cabin over there.”

“I understand… Kirke, let’s go.”

“No, Mom. I’ll stay with Keltued.”

Kirke said firmly to her mother.

Remilia sighed deeply at the response.

“You’ll be a hindrance to Keltued.”

“I won’t be.”

“She says she won’t be.”

Remilia looked at Kirke with pitiful eyes.

That young child.

What will become of that child’s future, burning with revenge?

But as Kirke said, she was the one who decided to fight.

No matter how much she was her mother, she couldn’t stop it.

“…I pray that you will have victory. And Kirke.”

Remilia hugged Kirke tightly.

“Remember this: Keltued only said that he likes those who fight.”

Kirke tilted her head.

What does that mean?

Keltued, who was looking down at them, said calmly.

“That’s right. I just like those who fight against resistance and oppression.”

In other words.

It wasn’t a story about saving those who resisted and failed.

It wasn’t a story about guaranteeing victory to those who were given power.

“Whether you use the power you gained from the deal with me to win or lose is a separate matter.”

“…I see.”

Kirke nodded.

It’s already started.

She had no intention of losing.

As she firmly made up her mind, Remilia nodded and stepped back.

“If you fight… I won’t stand still either. Although I don’t have the ability to fight… I can prepare things like medicine.”

“I understand. Thank you, Mom.”

“Okay…”

That’s how the mother and daughter parted.

Saltream took Kirke and Keltued to the village square.

When he rang the bell there, the witches began to gather.

The faces of the approximately two hundred witches were filled with only fear and defeat.

“Everyone, listen. You all know about the Sage of the Great Forest, Keltued, right?”

Half know, half don’t.

Saltream, who explained about Keltued to them, said firmly.

“Keltued is the one who blesses those who fight. He will give strength to those who have decided to fight. Kirke, come out for a moment.”

Kirke, who made a deal with Keltued and received power, stepped forward.

The witches felt sorry for her as they looked at her holding a staff.

Even that young child has to fight.

Regardless, Kirke, who came forward, showed her power.

Telekinesis.

And the Dark Hound.

The witches, seeing that powerful force, looked at Saltream in fear.

“We must fight! We will fight and fight again to defeat the Seraphias Order!”

Few witches responded to her fierce cry.

They were all those whose will to fight had been broken.

“I don’t want to fight anymore…”

“Why are you talking about fighting in a place where we came because we didn’t want to fight…?”

“Saltream, this is like hitting a rock with an egg…”

No matter how much power she has, the Seraphias Order already dominates this world.

Unless they can defeat everyone in the world.

And as long as the Seraphias Order has divine power.

The witches’ magic and skills won’t work against them.

“We won’t be able to win.”

“It’s fighting against God.”

“These defeatists…”

The Sage Keltued himself said he would give power.

He, who wiped out the army of the Holy Kingdom in an instant, stepped forward.

The witches, already tired of long oppression and escape, could not rise.

Before Saltream, who was looking at them with pity, could say anything,

Keltued said calmly.

“If you are oppressed by God, shouldn’t you just resist God?”

“…That’s easier said than done!”

“How can we fight God!”

“It’s possible.”

“What…?”

“If you want to fight, you can resist anything, whether it’s God or anything else. You are ignoring your potential too much.”

Keltued took a step forward.

“Although there is a difference in the power you have, you and God are ultimately the same components that make up this world.”

“What does that mean…?”

“Fight. Fight and resist for the rest of your life. Then I will give you power.”

Keltued raised his hand.

At that moment, huge dark clouds began to gather in the cloudless sky.

-Thundering!!

His hand struck the air.

The air shattered, and space collapsed.

Something suddenly popped out of the dark dimension gap.

It was a sword.

“Arise, those who do not want to be slaves.”

Keltued, who pulled out the sword and plunged it straight down, smiled leisurely.

“With this sword, bring down God.”

None of the witches came forward.

That’s how long they had been oppressed.

Moreover, they had to fight Seraphias itself, not the Seraphias Order.

It was even harder to come forward.

“I know it’s not an easy choice. You must be scared, and it must be painful.”

Keltued grinned.

“Maybe someone other than me will do it.”

It’s like a group project.

Someone has to step up.

But who among the witches, who are soaked in defeat, will step up?

Keltued smiled once more at them, who were just looking at each other.

“I’ll give you a day.”

Leaving only those words, Keltued stepped back.

In the end, only the witches were left in front of the sword.

“To, to fight God.”

“Is that even possible…?”

The witches who had already wanted to fight had been defeated and painfully died, all burned at the stake.

Those who had seen it with their own eyes and barely escaped before being burned to death could not easily step forward.

But not everyone was like that.

Among the witches who were watching, a few rose from their seats.

And others also moved cautiously.

The moment the seeds of resistance were about to sprout in their hearts.

Kirke, who had already decided to resist, stepped forward first.

The girl, holding a staff taller than herself, firmly grabbed the sword hilt.

And pulled it out with all her might.

“I’ll do it. I’ll fight.”

“Hey, hey. You’re still young and don’t know much.”

“Yes. Give it to me instead. I’ll fight.”

“You’re still young. You don’t know how hard it is to fight them.”

“Leave that to us.”

The witches said worriedly, but Kirke shook her head.

“But we can’t do nothing.”

“That’s because you’re still young and don’t know. They are very scary…”

“I’ve already fought, and I’m fighting.”

Some were impressed by Kirke’s confident appearance, and some were sorry.

As the witches’ reactions were divided, Keltued, who was behind, came forward.

“It’s decided.”

Keltued looked at Kirke.

Like when they first met, she was full of challenge and resistance.

“It will be difficult.”

“I’m prepared.”

Keltued, who nodded, raised his hand over her head and said calmly.

“I will let you take this power on the day you bring down God. It’s not a power that an ordinary witch can withstand for long.”

At that moment, Kirke’s body trembled.

Numerous knowledge and information began to be sucked into her head.

“Ah… Ah… Th, this is… this is…?”

“It’s connecting to the truth. And so…”

Magic and spells that had disappeared until now.

Potion making methods.

In addition, she was able to learn numerous techniques.

Not only that, but she was also able to learn about this world.

Vast and precious knowledge that even the still young Kirke could hardly withstand was being sucked into her indiscriminately.

“Aaaagh! Aaaaaah…!!”

“You, who have connected to the truth and obtained the secrets of the world.”

Keltued, who slowly took his hand away, gently wrapped his arm around Kirke’s shoulder.

“From now on, you will be called the Great Witch.”