Chapter 7 : Relief

Dozens of gazes in the classroom snapped onto Via at once.

Even students who had been dozing widened their eyes, speechless with shock.

“Via, what did you just say?”

Professor Anima pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone filled with astonishment and confusion.

“I… just now…”

Via was dumbfounded.

Why had she been acting stranger lately, blurting out dangerously reckless statements beyond her control?

What on earth was happening to her?

“Via Sheliford!!”

Anima’s volume spiked, his face darkening.

“Are you defending the evil Demon King?!”

“I’m not… no…”

Via’s mind went blank.

The other students realized the gravity of the situation.

“Has Via lost her mind?”

“Such heretical words—she’d absolutely be arrested for investigation!”

“I never thought someone would defend that damned Demon King. A scourge has appeared in the Holy Land!”

Via heard the whispers; her blood nearly froze.

Being labeled a heretic and tried meant the end.

Holy knights would purify all heretics with sacred flames.

“U… uu…”

Via wanted to explain, but crushing pressure silenced her. Her social anxiety prevented her from facing their doubts; she only wanted to flee.

“Via, you’ve made a grave error. Your thoughts are corrupted. I must report—”

As Anima prepared to act, a voice interrupted.

“Please wait, Professor Anima!”

A girl with braided pigtails raised her hand and stood.

“Mary?”

Anima’s gaze shifted to the student named Mary.

Mary’s grades were decent. Though from an ordinary background, she was diligent; many teachers praised her highly.

A student without notable backing or family resources sitting here among noble heirs was a genius in itself.

Thus, Anima, also of common origin, paid special attention to Mary and held high hopes for her.

“Professor Anima, please listen,” Mary said earnestly. “Via is Lady Sylvia’s daughter, one of the current saintess candidates… Given her upbringing and education, there’s no reason she’d side with the Demon King!”

“Hm, that’s true.”

Anima acknowledged it.

The other students thought the same—no matter how poorly Via performed, such treasonous words shouldn’t come from the perfect saintess’s heir.

“So, please don’t jump to conclusions. Let Via explain first. Otherwise, what happened in class today could severely damage the Holy Land’s reputation.” Mary requested.

“…Very well. Via, I was hasty earlier. Do you have anything to add about your statement?”

Anima looked at Via again, his tone much softer.

Via glanced at Mary, seeing her smile, and felt deeply grateful.

She thought quickly and chose an excuse.

“Professor Anima, what I meant was—the Demon King Viel’s ambitions definitely weren’t limited to humanity. He… wanted to destroy the entire world!”

“The entire world?”

“Exactly! He was an evil, damnable Demon King with unprecedented ambition and desire. He wouldn’t be satisfied with just war against humans—he was far more terrifying than we imagine!”

Via was clearly cursing the Demon King, yet she felt profoundly uncomfortable.

“Professor Anima, you know Via’s usual personality,” Mary reminded. “She’s not good with words. Her intentions are good; we just misunderstood.”

“That’s right.”

Anima didn’t want the Holy Land to actually seize Via—then he’d be the teacher of a heretic.

After the public judged Via, they’d question how he taught such a student; he wouldn’t escape unscathed.

“Sit down, Via, Mary. Next are crucial knowledge points—key to the assessment. Everyone listen carefully. Failing has consequences you all know!”

Anima barely restored order.

Via sighed in relief, but she could feel the others’ gazes growing more distant.

“I messed up again…”

Back in the dorm, Via hugged her knees, sitting on the floor like a soft rice cake, dejected.

The classroom fiasco had drained all her strength and resolve.

Creak—

The dorm door opened.

The braided girl entered.

It was Mary, the student who spoke for Via today.

“Mary!”

Via stood quickly, walked over, clutched her skirt, and smiled.

“Thank you for defending me in class today!”

“It’s not something worth special thanks.”

Mary replied.

She and Via were roommates—one of the few people Via could talk to at school.

Mary was like that—kind and friendly to everyone, taking on troublesome tasks others avoided.

At the start of term, no one wanted to room with the notoriously useless Via; Mary volunteered to become the failure saintess candidate’s roommate.

“If not for Mary, I wouldn’t have known what to do,” Via said gratefully. “You’ve helped me so many times.”

“Others are too harsh. There’s no need to target you like that.”

Mary placed a hand on Via’s shoulder, gauging her mental state and health through the touch.

“Focus on the upcoming assessment. Don’t overthink. That’s what matters most.”

“Mhm, okay!”

Via nodded; her mood improved considerably.

“Via, do you need the bathroom next?” Mary asked.

“You go first, Mary. I’ll wait until you’re done.”

“Alright.”

Mary returned to her room, changed, and entered the bathroom.

She turned on the faucet, pulled a letter from her clothes, and read it.

Amid the rushing water, her eyes changed—losing their usual warmth, turning cold as she scanned the contents.

Water splashed onto her legs, marked with old scars.

“…Heh.”

It was a secret order.

After reading, Mary dropped the letter to the floor; it dissolved upon touching the water.

She approached the bathroom door and quietly opened it a crack.

Through the gap, she watched Via’s back, her lips curving into a dangerous arc.

“The operation can finally begin.”