Chapter 162
One of the Seven Mysteries of the Academy... 'The Music Festival of the Dead.'
The tale goes that in the music room, non-human shadows hold a concert, and anyone who listens to the performance to the end becomes a shadow like them and joins in the performance.
And... if the performance is interrupted midway, shadow monsters attack, leading to a battle.
Just like what is happening to Clael right now.
"""""Ooooooooooooooooooooooooh!"""""
The shadows charged at Clael, who had carelessly stepped into the music room, raising voices filled with resentment.
They must have been furious about having their performance interrupted.
Letting out grotesque voices that sent chills down the listener's spine, the shadows tried to engulf Clael.
"Kuh...!"
Clael raised his hand, trying to activate a spell.
The shadows here were Ghost-type, monsters of the dark attribute.
The Holy Arts Clael used were the opposing attribute. If he could land a direct hit, it would deal massive damage.
"Holy..."
"'White Nova'!"
However, before Clael could activate his Holy Arts, Reina moved.
From behind Clael, pure light radiated out, dyeing the approaching shadows white.
"""""Ooooooooooooooooooooooooh......"""""
The shadows were engulfed by the overwhelming 'white' and were purified.
Resentment, hatred, regret... all of it became meaningless before this light.
By the Saint's divine power, the shadows were completely eradicated.
"Whoa..."
Clael froze in place, still holding his hand up like an idiot.
He hadn't even had time to react. It was just too overwhelming.
The shadows here were by no means formidable foes. Even Clael alone could have handled these ghosts.
However... that didn't mean he could defeat them this overwhelmingly.
(Once again... she's shown the difference in class...)
Having become a Saint, Clael had thought he'd grown considerably stronger as a priest.
But still, he was nothing like Reina, the Saint.
It felt like witnessing the unbridgeable gap between a protagonist and a background character.
"Lord Clael, are you alright?"
"Y-Yes... I'm fine."
Reina rushed over to Clael and held out her hand.
Clael took her hand and stood up.
"Reina... why are you here?"
"Today, I had a break from my duties at the Grand Shrine. So I was studying for the midterm exams with my classmates."
"Ah... I see."
That made sense.
Even the Grand Shrine might reduce Reina's workload before exams to ease her burden.
In the game, the priests of the Grand Shrine often treated Reina poorly, but for some reason, they were fairly considerate in this world.
Of course, it might also be because Reina was too strong and beautiful to be mistreated...
"More importantly... what were you doing, Lord Clael?"
"Ah... well, let's see."
How should he explain this?
He came to retrieve something he forgot in the music room. He came to prepare for tomorrow's class. And then, he happened to witness a supernatural phenomenon.
It would be easy to lie like that.
(But... why do I feel like she'd definitely see through it...?)
Reina's eyes were so clear, it was as if they could see through everything.
Being stared at by those jade-colored eyes made it hard to even utter a lie.
(Back during the gang incident too, I ended up lying...)
That lingering guilt made Clael slump his shoulders.
He decided to tell the truth without deception.
"To be honest... during lunch break, something Reina said about a book in the library came to mind. Have you ever heard of 'The Seven Mysteries of the Academy'?"
"No... I haven't..."
"Well, to tell you the truth..."
Clael briefly explained about The Seven Mysteries of the Academy.
Once he finished explaining—without mentioning the game—Reina, unusually, raised the corners of her eyebrows in anger.