48

“Guegh?!”

“Kugh-?!”

Golems and demon worshipers, the two groups clashed. A fierce battle
of destroying and killing broke out throughout the great temple. It was
meaningless to hope for mercy and forgiveness from the heartless golems,
 but the demon worshipers didn’t have the words peace and retreat in
their dictionary.

The graduates embroiled into the mess didn’t go unharmed either;
after all, the disparity in standard was much too great. The watchmen
guarding the deepest regions of the festival were ridiculously powerful,
 but the heroes that were imprisoned in those depths were even more
monstrous than them. It wasn’t a place for the likes of the graduates to
 fit in—they were swept away like dust.

“Wh-what on earth is-… Uargh?!”

“Big Bro?! Kyagh-?!”

While I did feel like I heard the voices of Virgin A and his girlfriend, it was all just a trick of the mind.

I didn’t stand around idling during this time either.

Ting!

I had attempted to drink some potions like Boss K, reaching out a
hand towards one of the glass bottles, but I failed. My hand failed to
make contact, blocked by something formless.

“… A crime prevention system, is it.”

It seemed there was a certain restriction placed on those not natives
 of this world. Since it was said that everything would be retrieved
after the festival, aside from event rewards, it wasn’t a situation I
couldn’t completely understand.

Then what about Saintess H?

“Rice Cake, do you think you can collect the event rewards?”

“I’ll try, Master.”

There
 was no longer any need to hide or hesitate, and so we reverted to using
 the title and manner of speech that we had in that pitch-dark garden.

Ludicrous: Calling the festival mascot as Rice Cake…

*‘Why? I think it suits her.’*

But as Miss Trainee Teacher was highly against it, the address of Rice Cake was abandoned.

In any case…

“I don’t think I can do it either.”

Saintess H had reached out towards an item on display nearby, and
like how it was with me, she failed to touch it as a repelling
phenomenon occurred.

Only the K father and daughter could freely touch the rewards.

“Can’t be helped if it’s not possible.”

I ordered the K pair to go shopping in the treasure storehouse. What would be the point of just leaving them there?

“Gulp.”

“Gulp.”

The myriad kinds of Skill increasing potions that were prepared by
the teaching staff for the festival’s progress disappeared into the
bellies of Boss K and Elf K. With this, hundreds of events would be
scrapped due to the absence of rewards.

Lament: Looks like the festival this year is completely over.

*‘Miss Trainee Teacher, there’s something I’m curious about.’*

Ears Perked: About what?

*‘Where are all the teachers?’*

While it wasn’t my place to say this, the Hero Festival looked on the
 brink of a break down. Wouldn’t it be normal for them, the teachers, to
 show themselves to get things under control or punish me whatever the
method? Yet not even a glimpse of them could be seen.

It’s
 the education policy. While it is possible to make adjustments at the
starting stage, like how another student was paired with Student Kang
Han Soo, it’s strictly forbidden for the teaching staff to interfere in
the middle of things, and that goes the same for the festival.

In short, the teaching staff had to suck on their thumbs watching no matter what kind of emergency occurred.

This was, at the same time, good and regrettable news for me.

“Pity. I was thinking of sticking a pole into Professor Morals if I saw him.”

But this wasn’t bad either; if the teachers who possessed absolute
authority didn’t meddle in, then there would be as less unexpected
variables. It would be safe to interpret that the strongest force the
teaching staff had prepared was the 3,141 units of golems.

If so, there was nothing to fear.

The demon worshipers under me drove forward like a tidal wave.

Crash, Crunch!

The sturdy golems were destroy row after row. While they undoubtedly
possessed superior performance, their Skill sets and combat style were
fixed like mass produced models. On the other hand, the demon worshipers
 had clear unique characteristics, and had abundant battle experience
that lived up to their past as heroes. As long as they got the hang of
defeating them, the golems were nothing at all.

“Kugh?!”

“Kyauh?!”

But even so, the losses among the demon worshipers wasn’t small.
There were clear signs that this battle would end in mutual destruction
should it continue at this rate, but I still had an ultimate card yet to
 be played.

“Resurrect them all.”

“Yes, Master. Ahh~𝅘𝅥𝅮”

Saintess H put her hands together and began to sing a wordless song.

This was wasn’t a hymn for the Fantasy God. Like a canary bird, she
sang a beautiful melody towards the sky, and immediately following that…

Flash-!

A divine ring of light began to spread from Saintess H.

Having stopped singing her sweet melody, she then shouted, “Rise! My warriors!”

And a miracle took place.

“Kuohh!”

“Is this resurrection…!”

“Waah!”

The demon worshipers who had been laying on the cold earth shot to
their feet as one. Their loss in Level varied according to the state
their corpses had been in, but there was meaning in that they could
fight again.

Boom! Crunch!

The last golem was destroyed.

There was no way to deal with the numerical superiority of the demon
worshipers, who were endlessly recycled through Saintess H’s special
ability—the defeat of the great temple’s side was decided from the
start.

This was the moment the core facility of the Hero Festival, the great temple, fell within my grasp.

“My followers! Arm yourselves with the treasures of the great temple!”

The real game would start from here on.

“Yes, O King.”

“Ohh! Thank you!”

The demon worshipers fell under the category of fantasy world
natives, which was why they could freely take the great temple’s
treasures like the K father and daughter could. While the potions were
already cleared out by the K pair, there still remained many of weapons
and armors, accessories and so on.

Clink, Clank.

The rewards which were supposed to have been given the winners of the
 big event were provided to the demon worshipers, free of charge—their
performance and quality had no room for doubts. It was like having given
 wings to the demon worshipers, who were already strong enough as they
were. These former heroes had come to possess even greater power than
before.

And this wasn’t the end of it.

“Ahh~𝅘𝅥𝅮”

Saintess H sang a hymn from behind them, and the Saintess’ blessing
was granted unto all the demon worshipers who followed me. As a blessing
 that only the Hero’s party could receive, its effect was guaranteed to
be good.

Even stronger! Even sturdier! Even faster!

The might of the demon worshipers multiplied by folds.

Pale-white: It’s the birth of a really terrifying combination…

*‘Miss Trainee Teacher, just being strong is the best thing.’*

The aura surrounding the demon worshipers was utterly fear-inspiring,
 having become fully armed and received Saintess H’s blessing.

They marched towards the outside of the great temple—to kill all the Heroes that came into sight.

“Uargh?!”

“R-run away?!”

The demon worshipers weren’t homicidal maniacs; they were former
heroes. While not all of them were the same, the common root cause of
them changing sides or converting to demon worshipers lay in
‘disappointing Heroes’.

And Heroes there were, as far as the eye could see. The graduates’
Job was no longer Hero, but their colorful and distinctive fashion,
which contrasted with that of the natives, made it so they stood out
wherever they went.

“Punishment to the hypocrites!”

“Die! You sex-loving trash!”

“Repent by my iron mace!”

The demon worshipers lit a fire in their eyes and proceeded to kill
the graduates. They showed no mercy even if the other party looked
virtuous or pretty.

A massacre without exception!

They were all cleaned up without even having to step in myself.

“You wicked demon worshipers! Take my swor—Gueh?!”

“I won’t forgive you by the power of love and justic—Kyagh?!”

Although there were some graduates who thought it some manner of
event and attempted to bravely fight back, it was a futile struggle.

Of course, had they at least had Holy Sword 1 in their possession,
the battle would have turned out largely different; its ultimate move
which drew on the power of friendship was just that powerful. They
didn’t have that Holy Sword 1, however; right now it was a pure fight of
 Status.

▷Race: Arch-Human
▷Level: 845
▷Job: Warrior(Battle→Stamina↑)
▷Skills: Stamina(A) Interpretation(A) Military Arts(B) Endurance(C) Agility(C)…
▷Condition: Courage, Fighting Spirit

This was the Status of a fellow who was the master of some guild.
Perhaps even such soybean-level individuals were considered strong on
Earth? There were many henchmen and pretty things following him.

“The demon worshipers are coming!”

“Don’t retreat, but fight!”

“Maintain the defensive formation!”

The demon worshipers, fearless down to the last one, plunged towards
the jam packed formation of all the guild members including their
master—like frenzied, enraged wolves!

▷Race: Dark Human
▷Level: 999+
▷Job: Champion(Crisis→Fighting Skill↑)
▷Skills: Dark Energy(SS) Fighting Skill(S) Stamina(S) Martial Arts(S) Agility(A)…
▷Condition: Blessing, Divine Protection, Doping, Empowerment, Enhancement

The guild and its members were blown away in a refreshing manner,
like dust before wind. A guild made up of dozens of members was
massacred within an instant—a fight wasn’t even established in the first
 place.

“Their Status is outrageous! Run!”

“The enemy has guys as strong as top-level demons all over the place?!”

“We can win if we join streng—Gueh?!”

“I, I give up!”

This sort of situation was playing out here and there across Start
City. According to Passerby 56’s explanation, there were many famous
guilds that had set up a guild office in this city, which was the most
bustling location in the festival continent.

But it was futile even when these guilds joined their strength; a
gathering of dust couldn’t turn into a boulder. The disparity in
fighting power was much too overwhelming.

“I give!”

“I wanna give up! I give!”

“I give up too!”

It wasn’t the time to be twittering about love and friendship. The
graduates, who didn’t want to be horrifically murdered by the demon
worshipers, shouted their surrender row after row and left the festival.

“Hah! And they call them Heroes.”

A burst of wry laughter escaped my lips despite myself at the sight.
So my graduation was put on hold because I fell behind the likes of
those schmucks? The back of my neck began to ache.

Melancholy: I wonder where things had begun to go wrong?

*‘Huhu! Miss Trainee Teacher, lay back and enjoy it. A festival’s just a festival, right?’*

▷Fretful: Please enjoy a festival like one should! It is said that
trying to satisfy your desire through possessions is like trying to put
out flame with a straw! Student Kang Han Soo, it is not too late to stop
 this horrible slaughterfest now!

*‘Oh! It’s been a while, Professor Morals.’*

▷Skip: Save the greetings for later! One who covets everything is
said to lose everything. This is not the right way. Ruin lies ahead of
arrogance, and destruction lies ahead of a proud mind. There is no
benefit to be had for you by wrecking everyone’s festival.

*‘Your lecturing is very awesome like Saintess H’s ass!’*

Just hearing it caused my stress to build up.

I couldn’t agree with his claim of my wrecking the festival, however;
 I was merely enjoying it like the other graduates. The fault lay in
that weak bunch.

“I can’t play with them since they’re not on the same level~𝅘𝅥𝅮”

While I went on a leisurely stroll humming to myself, the demon
worshipers who had dealt away with all the graduates present in Start
City dispersed in every direction—to kill even more Heroes!

Of course, even they weren’t invincible. The number of demon
worshipers who were vanquished under the graduates’ cowardly power of
friendship wasn’t few, and some of them had picked fights with powerful
event heroes, ending up defeated.

Nevertheless, I wasn’t concerned by this. The great temple’s demon
worshipers… my relationship with them was a trivial one where I called
them by the numbers 1 to 514. It wouldn’t matter to me even if they were
 to be entirely wiped out. I would only feel gratitude if they took care
 of one more graduate to lessen my work.

▷Despair: The festival I poured my heart and soul into…

Professor Morals’ preaching gradually died down; he seemed to have become exhausted by himself.

Had he gone away?

Peek:
 Yes, he’s gone. Whew! Senior’s always strict no matter when. Student
Kang Han Soo, while it hasn’t been confirmed yet, I think my assignment
as your teacher in charge will be extended. If that happens, then I hope
 for your cooperation in the 6th Playthrough as well!

6th Playthrough, huh…

I sighed first thing upon hearing Miss Trainee Teacher’s words.

Encourage:
 Cheer up! You’ll be able to easily complete your education if you
steadily go through it all with me. I do feel uneasy due to the rumors
saying the education process will be revised, but I’m sure I’m just
imagining it!

*‘I really hope that’s how it is!’*

“Sir Hero! Sir Hero! Take a look at the sky!”

Having involuntarily looked upwards at Elf K making a fuss as she pulled at my sleeve, I was able to witness a rare scene.

“Could that possibly be…?”

It was a gigantic flying lizard of jet-black scales. There was
something like a bridle and a silver leash being worn on its long neck,
the end of which was being tightly held onto by dozens of angels.

The likes of angels didn’t matter at all—the problem was the dragon they had dragged over.

“Chaoooo~!”

A yearning melody reverberated in the world, as the earth shook and sky fell silent at the supreme aura and majesty of a dragon.

I knew well the owner of this roar.

“Oblivion Dragon King Noebius…!”

It seemed that a Five Disaster was also mobilized for the festival.

▷Race: Chaos Dragon
▷Level: 999+
▷Job: Supreme Ruler(Conquest→Battle Spirit↑)
▷Skills: Chaos(SS) Destruction(SS) Oblivion(SS) Battle Spirit(S) Deadly Venom(S)…
▷Condition: Bridled

But it wasn’t the ‘bus driver’ that I knew. The one before me was far
 smaller in size compared to the Oblivion Dragon King that was dying
back then, and its Skill ranks were on the lower side overall. Perhaps
it should be called a young Oblivion Dragon King? Nevertheless, there
wasn’t much difference between the time in the aspect of danger, as the
young dragon king wasn’t farsighted due to old age and had an extremely
high accuracy.

“Noebius, let the iron hammer of punishment fall upon the filthy earth!”

Having received the order of the angel that looked haughty like a
commander-in-chief, the Oblivion Dragon King opened its maw wide, and
spewed out pitch-black air.

“Chaoooo…!”

The young dragon king’s venomous breath descended upon the earth.

Pwwrfsh!

The venom didn’t discriminate demon worshiper, graduate nor native.
After pouring down from the sky like a waterfall onto the ground, it
became a great black flood and washed away everything in the area.

“Ku-kuugh…!”

“Deadly venom…!”

“I, I can’t brea-…!”

The entire place was turned into a land of death within an instant.
Horrifying corpses that were either turned coal-black from being
poisoned or melted down lay everywhere.

“Are the two of you alright?’

“Yes.”

“I give you my thanks.”

Saintess H was fine as she possessed Immortal(SSS), and the K father
and daughter who were protected by her divine protection were also able
to come out of it safe.

The rest, however, were completely eliminated.

“Guh…”

“How regrettable…”

The demon worshipers who I had gone to such lengths to reform were
also wiped out. As the state of their poisoned corpses was too bad, they
 couldn’t be recycled even with Saintess H’s Resurrection. The early
exit of the muppets who were supposed to help me in the massacre event
was a bone-aching loss.

“Really now…”

The timing was simply too marvelous. Was a teaching staff the one
behind the angels who had lead over the young Oblivion Dragon King?

Firm: No.

*‘Uh, Miss Trainee Teacher? Don’t you usually hear people saying that you can’t take a hint?’*

That sinister Professor Morals had to be the one behind this!

Shiing-

I summoned forth Holy Sword 2.

But it was then that…

“Chaooo…?”

The movements of the Oblivion Dragon King, pitch-black venomous breath held in its wide-open maw, unbelievably came to a pause.

The dragon’s eyes were fixed on Holy Sword 2.

“Noebius, what is the matter? Quickly serve them punishment!”

“Chaoo.”

The jet-black dragon didn’t budge even at the command of the angel
tugging at its leash and making noise—its murky eyes only continued to
gaze at Holy Sword 2.

“Hooh…?”

I abruptly recalled then the plot bait Demon King Pedonar had thrown
at me. Show Holy Sword 2 to the Oblivion Dragon King, was it?

An unexpected event suddenly occurred.

Saint→(Chaos=↑)