All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 98

98. On Curses – 2

To not age and to escape death.

Immortality is the ideal that anyone who is an absolute being dreams of at least once.

Nevertheless, there was a reason Ian called it a curse.

“It must be quite painful.”

“I am used to it now. I can’t feel anything, and I can’t even sleep… but this is also my duty to bear.”

The curse of frozen time is incomplete immortality.

It’s merely that the body has stopped.

Because it has stopped, one cannot feel any sensation.

One cannot even rest, so one cannot sleep.

It is, in a word, a state akin to death, only moving.

What great difference is there between this and being undead?

As Ian looked at him with pity, the boy smiled gently.

“My introduction was late. I am Eustace.”

“Saint Eustace. It is an honor to meet a saint.”

Saint Eustace.

A saint of the Solar Order who fought the Great Demon three hundred years ago.

Ian had read the Solar Order’s history books, so he knew his name.

As he slightly bowed his head, Eustace waved his hand.

“I am not such a great figure. I am still just a priest. One who couldn’t even catch a single demon…”

According to the records, Eustace defeated the Great Demon Volsche.

But looking at his current state, it seemed that it was not that simple.

“After fighting Volsche, you cast a curse to bear something.”

“Haha. Yes.”

As he defeated his contractor and was about to defeat the awakened main body, Volsche cast a curse.

He said that the day Eustace died and the curse disappeared, he too would be resurrected.

Therefore, he cast the curse that had been passed down only through tradition upon himself.

Only to prevent the resurrection of the Great Demon Volsche.

“That is not important. What is important is now.”

As he smiled, the entrance to the Whistlewind Unit became noisy.

When Ian turned his head, priests of the Lunar Order, including Out, were entering.

“Brother Ian.”

Out smiled brightly and ran to Ian to greet him.

And he was surprised to see Eustace standing in front of him.

“Saint Eustace? I can’t believe it. It’s an honor!”

Even though he was from a different sect, he was a person who sacrificed himself to seal the Great Demon.

As a priest, he respected him, so Out politely paid his respects.

“I am Out of the Lunar Order.”

“Nice to meet you, Priest Out. And…”

Eustace smiled gently at the woman walking from behind.

“It’s been a while, Eribin.”

“…It’s been a while, Eustace.”

A fox beastkin wearing a black priest robe.

Eribin, the High Priestess of the Lunar Order, nodded slightly and greeted him.

“You seem to age every time I see you. It’s good to see.”

“You are always the same.”

Could there be some story behind this?

The gazes they exchanged seemed quite complicated.

“And Brother Ian.”

Slowly turning her head, Eribin politely greeted Ian with her hands together.

“Thank you for donating a temple to the Lunar Order and for giving us many offerings. I am sorry for greeting you so late. I am Eribin, the High Priestess of the Lunar Order.”

“It’s nothing. I received the price for it.”

“I hope the Holy Moon Sword will be of great help to you.”

While they were exchanging greetings, Veriswell snorted.

“Just a bunch of bugs receiving the energy of the sun and moon, playing well together.”

Ian approached after hearing Veriswell’s sneer.

Seeing that, he slyly avoided his gaze and muttered.

“I, I just said one word…”

“If you open your mouth before I allow it, it will hurt a lot.”

He didn’t want to experience that pain from yesterday again.

As Veriswell shut his mouth with a dissatisfied expression, Ian grabbed his horn.

“Why? Do you hate it?”

“N, no, it’s not that.”

Veriswell, who used to act all arrogant and exude demonic energy when Ian wasn’t around, was as docile as a lamb.

Watching that, Eustace couldn’t help but be amazed.

“You are truly amazing. You are the first person I have ever seen handle a demon like that.”

“Demons are also beings who cry when they are in pain and rejoice when they are happy.”

“You seem to know a lot about demons.”

*I have no choice but to know well.*

*Because I once lived as a demon.*

As he smiled instead of answering, the final preparations for the interrogation were completed.

As Eustace and Eribin also took their seats, Willis approached Ian.

“Brother. Can you help us?”

“Of course.”

As Veriswell, who had escaped from the cage, was dragged out, Ian stroked his head.

“Hic…”

“Let’s do it like yesterday. Don’t make things difficult for people.”

“Ah. I understand.”

“Then let’s start right away.”

The interrogation results were the same as yesterday.

The priests who heard everything Veriswell said had serious expressions.

“The Gate to Hell is open…”

According to his testimony, the location where the Gate to Hell appears is random.

So, they couldn’t go to a specific area and wait to prevent demons from coming out.

“It would be nice if even the timing was accurate…”

It’s just that it opens about four times a year.

Even the timing is not accurate, so there are quite a few demons waiting in front of the Gate to Hell.

“We can’t prepare for a holy war… It’s a headache.”

As Eustace said a word, Eribin nodded.

“We have no choice but to be more vigilant than we have been until now.”

This kind of thing is, in the end, a game of whack-a-mole.

Since they don’t know which side it will come out from, they can only prepare.

“We must further train and discipline the paladins. I will report this to the Pope.”

As the interrogation seemed to be almost over, Veriswell looked around and said.

“A, am I being released now?”

Ian stroked his head.

“Keep your mouth shut before I blow you up.”

“I said everything! I said everything I know!”

“I didn’t say I would release you if you talked.”

“You heinous bastard…”

“Who are you calling heinous?”

After hitting him on the head and shutting his mouth, Ian checked the time.

By now, the cooperative combat training would have ended.

“Then I will be on my way.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“Yes. I have a class.”

This afternoon, I have to participate in the monster hunting class.

As Ian spoke, Eustace called a priest.

As the priest brought a luxurious box, he handed it over without hesitation.

“This is a reward for what happened on Mount Killedee last time and for this time.”

“What is this?”

“It’s a Solar Whistlewind Stone. You said you like holy objects, right?”

As he said, what was inside was a Solar Whistlewind Stone.

Four of them, no less.

While Ian was satisfied with seeing that, Eribin also approached.

“The Lunar Order has also prepared something.”

What was contained in the box he handed over were two Full Moon necklaces.

It’s quite a lot for just stroking a demon.

Ian accepted the holy objects without hesitation.

“Please call me anytime if there is anything like this in the future. Ah. And Eustace.”

“Yes?”

“If you want to undo the curse, please call me anytime. I will help you.”

“Thank you for your words.”

But the Gate to Hell has opened, and the Great Demons called the Seven Deadly Sins are waiting.

In that situation, the curse of immortality would be of great help in fighting the demons.

And if that curse is lifted, his time will come again.

And that would cause Volsche to resurrect, so he had no intention of lifting the curse now.

“And I can undo this curse.”

“Then that’s a relief.”

There was nothing more to say.

As Ian packed up the holy objects and was about to leave, Eribin grabbed him.

“Have you ever thought about becoming a paladin?”

“No. I haven’t.”

As he walked away after refusing outright, Eribin and Eustace looked at each other.

* * *

When Ian, who had gone monster hunting, returned to the dormitory, Osnen had also returned.

He was talking to Philoah with a serious expression, and he glanced at Ian when he came.

“Did things go well?”

“Um. His Majesty has decided to move directly.”

“Then you’ll catch all the No Face [assassins].”

“Yeah…”

But Osnen’s voice didn’t sound very good.

When Ian was puzzled, Philoah smiled bitterly.

“Because we know who the person suspected of commissioning No Face might be.”

“Why? Is it your family?”

Osnen looked at him silently and left.

At that sight, Philoah scratched his cheek and answered awkwardly.

“As you said, a member of the imperial family may be involved in this.”

“Originally, there is no family in front of power. Could it be that Osnen doesn’t know that?”

“He knows. But he won’t be happy to have to strike his own blood-related family.”

“Then he should give up the Crown Prince position.”

As Haryun walked over from behind and said, Philoah was saddened.

But he couldn’t deny it.

As he said, if you don’t like fighting, it’s natural to give up something.

“Anyway, the empire won’t be quiet for a while. As those related to No Face are revealed, a bloody purge will take place.”

In the process, the empire may lose a lot of power.

But you have to cut it off when you have to.

“So? Is Osnen going back?”

When Haryun asked, Philoah nodded.

“The exchange event is not a problem now. The exchange event is over as soon as the cooperative battle is over.”

“The Imperial Academy’s nose will be smashed.”

The original schedule is ending awkwardly due to the circumstances within the empire.

Of course, they won’t hear good things.

But what can I do?

There was something more important, so it was natural to do that.

While Philoah was explaining the situation, Mei came in with Wilde and Oerina.

“Hey. Philoah. You said we’re leaving in two days? What’s going on?”

“That’s…”

As he explained the situation, Ian sat on the sofa in the lobby.

Sitting next to him, Haryun said seriously.

“Still, it’s a relief that we’re doing the cooperative battle and leaving. We’ll be able to show the dignity of the Fredon Academy.”

“That’s right.”

The next day came.

When they arrived at the cooperative combat training ground, Osnen said to Ian.

“I heard that Class B’s tactics are that you defend alone, and everyone else attacks.”

“That’s right. Why?”

Osnen stared at him intently and said.

“If I beat you, let’s go to the empire. There is something I want you to take on.”

He heard that Ian had obtained the title of Baron Brandon during this vacation.

But since he had sold off even the territory, he was ultimately just a noble in name only.

Then there were plenty of things to suggest.

“I propose a territory and a baronetcy within the empire as compensation. How about it?”

Ian smirked at him.

“If you can win, it wouldn’t be bad.”

Of course, that won’t happen.