My whole body feels like it’s on fire.
It’s a completely different energy, sothing that isn’t even part of my mana elents.
“You… What is this…!?”
And yet, it belongs to Gaia, the Goddess of Earth.
I am forcibly making it mine, circulating it through my circuit.
Originally, this energy should be flowing outward, purifying the filth of the world.
But I am pouring it into myself and making it circulate as if it were my own.
If the goddess were to be enraged, I would have no excuse.
“That is an energy that must not be contained. It does not belong to humans. Stop. I will help you, so cease this at once. Your body will burn away.”
Even so, I am undeterred.
I have already experienced purifying elents using divine power several tis.
Back then, I briefly imbued divine power into the circuits of my hand.
Of course, it was only possible because I had strengthened my hand.
‘I will endure.’
In short, I am attempting to contain the power of a god within a human body.
And yet, I have a gut feeling—I can withstand it.
This is not arrogance. It is objective truth.
My mana circuit has already been strengthened by circulating the purest earth elent.
If that elent’s origin is the energy of Goddess Gaia herself, then I should be able to endure it.
I circulate it carefully, ensuring it does not directly touch my circuits.
Every ti it does, it feels as though my organs are burning away.
But I endure.
The consequences of failing to remove the Bloodstone Cult’s Blood Seal would be far worse.
‘If I fail to remove it, I will be forced to obey the cult leader.’
Obey the very one I must defeat?
Not a chance.
“… Urgh.”
I swallow down the groan escaping from my lips.
The most important thing when circulating mana through the body is maintaining composure.
Otherwise, I will succumb to madness.
Just like Ian Blackangers, when he lost control and nearly destroyed the academy.
“…”
A slight wavering in my body is fine.
As long as I keep my mind steady.
Fortunately, I have my title.
No matter how painful it is, I can endure.
With that thought, I carefully guide the goddess’s energy to the side of my dantian.
Near the Blood Seal.
It is like a massive monster.
To it, divine power or not—anything that dares to raise a blade against it must be devoured.
The Blood Seal opens its maw, as if to consu the divine energy.
— Squirm
And then it flinches.
Even though it is just energy, it reacts as if it were a living being.
A sudden thought crosses my mind.
Could it be that the Bloodstone Cult’s leader possesses the ability to shape energy into sothing akin to life?
No. That thought is irrelevant right now.
I shake off my distractions and thrust the divine power into the Blood Seal.
Does it have instincts as well?
The way it recoils, as if startled, almost makes it seem so.
It begins to pound against my dantian, trying to escape inside.
“Urgh…!”
It feels as if soone is pumling my internal organs with heavy fists.
But I endure.
With my dantian’s gates firmly shut, I fearlessly control the goddess’s energy.
And then, I thrust it directly into the Blood Seal.
— Bang!
The Blood Seal slams into the gates of my dantian, as if demanding they open.
A tremor shakes through my core as though it will shatter.
I fortify it even more.
At the sa ti, I stab the divine energy into it once again.
— Bang!
“Khak!”
A mouthful of blood bursts from my lips.
Perhaps more than just a mouthful.
I don’t know—I haven’t opened my eyes.
I can only infer from the brief, roughened breaths of the Blood Witch nearby.
I don’t care.
Once again, I drive the divine power into it.
— Shhhk.
Sothing pierces through.
— Flash!
With overwhelming force, the divine power rips through the Blood Seal.
It tries to consu it, as expected.
— Screeeeech!
A shrill, deathly wail.
Probably just an auditory hallucination.
For a brief mont, I feel an expanding pressure.
— Pop!
And then, I feel it burst apart, unable to withstand the force.
The Blood Seal is destroyed.
The energy, which seed to have its own will, soon lost all of it.
The malice was gone, leaving behind only pure energy.
Suddenly, an idea struck .
The Blood Seal was imnsely powerful, capable of absorbing anything.
What if I coated my mana circuits with its energy, as if layering it like a protective film?
I released the divine power and, at the sa ti, circulated my mana circuit once more.
“… Hoo.”
With my task complete, I opened my eyes.
A pair of large, crimson-red eyes slowly blinked, staring at .
They belonged to the Blood Witch.
She was looking at with an expression that was half concern, half exhilaration.
“You… You…”
She stamred—sothing uncharacteristic of her.
The mont she confird that my eyes were moving, exhilaration overtook all other emotions.
“You are truly… splendid.”
Her voice was filled with heat.
She must have realized that I had destroyed the Blood Seal.
If she wasn’t angry about it, that was already a relief.
If word reached the Cult Leader, well…
It was certain I wouldn’t receive any kindness.
“If you had simply accepted it, it would have led you to a higher realm. The Blood Seal grants a unique transformation when it nests inside your body.” R̃Äɴ𝙤฿Еs̈
“I have already reached a higher realm.”
“… Sotis, you really are insufferable.”
The Blood Witch pouted.
But soon, a smirk tugged at her lips again.
“And yet, I still find it precious.”
The way she treated was as if she were handling sothing truly valuable.
Throughout my ti here since regaining consciousness, she had never neglected .
To be honest, it was unexpected.
When I was collapsing against that wooden pillar, I thought I was going to die.
The Bloodstone Cult’s treatnt was far beyond my expectations.
Even the Cult Leader had been protecting .
‘Those who tried to kill …’
Perhaps there were differing opinions even within the Bloodstone Cult.
But among them, the Blood Witch’s attitude stood out.
Almost as if… I was sothing precious to her.
But thinking about it carefully, it was likely because she saw as a valuable prey.
The way she acted before the Cult Leader was unmistakably possessiveness.
“…”
It didn’t matter.
I lowered my gaze to the table before .
Choosing one of these techniques ca first.
After all, even the Cult Leader must have honed his martial arts based on these techniques.
Understanding them could be a key to deciphering him.
“If it were , I’d choose this one.”
— Srrrk.
A glimpse of her pale thigh was revealed through the folds of her clothing.
At so point, the Blood Witch had approached and perched herself on the table, speaking as she did so.
She pointed to the [Blood Demon’s Shadow Arts]—a book detailing the use of Blood Arts.
“From sword techniques that harness blood energy and shadow force, to various martial arts—anything that blooms fully is endlessly beautiful. If you were to master this… I wonder what kind of bloom you would achieve.”
With a deep sigh, she rested her chin in her hand, a blissful expression spreading across her face.
By this point, my curiosity was piqued.
The three martial arts manuals that every Bloodstone Cultist craved were right in front of her.
How could she not desire them?
“You’re not going to master any of them?”
“I cannot.”
“… What?”
At my question, the Blood Witch ran her fingers through her raven-black hair.
— Srrrk.
Her hair flowed like a smooth wave, shimring as it cascaded down.
It contrasted beautifully with her crimson lips.
“I have no need to sully myself by drinking the filthy blood of others.”
She doesn’t consu blood?
That ans she doesn’t absorb life force either.
That defies all logic.
Every Bloodstone Cultist feeds off the life force of others.
“… Then how—”
“Curious?”
Her eyes curved seductively, as if enjoying my confusion.
Her lips slid down toward .
◆
“Hurry, hurry! Move quickly!”
“Yes, Vice President!”
Lichten Academy.
Newspaper Club Office.
There was once a ti when this place had only a single remaining mber—who also served as its president.
But things were different now.
At a glance, more than a dozen mbers were busily moving about.
Among them was Brody, the Newspaper Club President.
In her hands, she held a pre-print newspaper page.
One entire page featured a large, prominent portrait of a single individual.
The person in the image was Ian Blackangers.
With his nurous exploits and scandals, he had played the greatest role in reviving the Newspaper Club.
And now, his face was appearing in the newspaper once more.
However—
This ti, the context was different.
“You don’t need to include too many personal details about the missing person. Just list key physical features and a few of his notable achievents! That way, word will spread faster!”
“Understood!”
The club mbers bustled around, all working tirelessly to distribute the breaking news about Ian Blackangers’ disappearance.
But this wasn’t just because it was a hot topic or sothing that would sell well.
‘This is the least we can do.’
The Newspaper Club, which had been revived and restored to its forr glory thanks to Ian—
For Brody, this was a duty that had to be fulfilled.
That was why, the mont she heard of Ian’s disappearance, she had sprung into action.
“We need to print as many copies as possible! We’ll distribute them not just in the academy, but throughout Lichten City! Secure additional printing facilities!”
“But, President! The printing costs—!”
“The Student Council has agreed to cover the costs. The Vice President personally approved it.”
“Understood!”
From what Brody had heard, Ian had gone missing three days ago.
The pri suspect behind his abduction was believed to be the Bloodstone Cult.
That ant all hope was not lost yet.
It typically took the Bloodstone Cult about a week to fully assimilate a new captive.
‘There’s still ti.’
Her role now was to spread the word, gather information, and organize all the reports.
Beyond that, the Student Council, the Church, and Laurent Trading Company were already taking action.
She needed to stay focused on her responsibilities.
“President! I think you should take this call!”
“Why? Who is it?”
“I-It’s Schwab, the Senior Editor of the Imperial Gazette…! He says he wants to talk about Ian!”
The Imperial Gazette—the most prestigious newspaper in the empire.
A voice, seemingly belonging to a middle-aged but not yet elderly man, ca through the voice transmission device.
— I heard Ian Blackangers has gone missing. If you have any relevant information, please share it with us. We will compensate you handsoly…
“We don’t need compensation. But can you publish the article as soon as possible?”
—“Of course. That’s precisely why I reached out. I have a personal connection with Ian.
“… Ah. Understood.”
Just how far did Ian Blackangers’ network extend?
Regardless—
He had to be found.
Already, the Lichten Academy Student Council, the Laurent Trading Company, and even mbers of the Dessert Research Society were doing everything in their power.
“I just need to focus on my role.”
Muttering to herself, Brody rolled up her sleeves and got back to work.
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