I Became The Academy Necromancer

Chapter 182: Pride

The woman who represented the opinions of a being who lived in the heavens.

Even though the being she called God reclaimed her power and the tragedy that ensued was cruel, the pure white power began to surge in response to Stella's will, as if to reward her unwavering faith.

Just like the well-known Holy Being¹, who was said to have resurrected three days after being placed in a tomb…

The Saintess, who awakened from her slumber, had returned to purify this place where evil and murderous intent ran rampant.

Just as the Bible promised, that there would be judgment by fire on the day the Son of God returned, the pure white flames that flared from Stella were ready to judge the evil.

"Th-this is dangerous."

"Eek!"

"..."

Valkyria folded her wings and stepped back. Meanwhile, Feyron curled up, hiding his nine tails in his embrace.

Even Dune broke out in a cold sweat as he looked up at the boundless Holy flames.

It didn’t matter how pitch-black the darkness was, when even a small candle flame was cast upon it, it had to retreat.

The appearance of Saintess Stella was like the sun rising slightly earlier than usual in the wee hours of the morning.

[Are you okay?]

"Y-yes."

Naturally, unlike the Holy Being from the Bible, Stella had not resurrected with a body.

Just as I had used Velica’s power through her soul, Stella was aiding me in a similar manner; I was the one supplying the mana to wield the Holy Power.

Of course, it would have been impossible without practice.

Just as I had to practice synchronizing with Velica as it was impossible to use spontaneous techniques, no matter how well the minds of two people were aligned.

However, after practicing to coordinate with Velica, I managed to finish practicing to coordinate with Stella as well.

If you asked how it was possible, it was an unexpected achievement obtained during the period when Deus prolonged his control over the body.

People might claim that controlling the soul of Stella, who had lost her Holy Power, would be useless. However, if I were to indirectly harness Holy Power by using the Holy Grail in this manner, things would be different.

Using Stella’s experience and skill, I drew Holy Power through the mana expanding outward, without letting the power touch her body.

[For a soul like me, it’s a forbidden power to wield.]

Even for Stella, touching Holy Power would inevitably lead to her annihilation.

Moreover, Holy Power was a tricky power that couldn’t be wielded for long.

[A brief moment is enough.]

However, even with the few minutes allotted to her, Stella was confident in our victory.

The white flames occupying the central space of the banquet hall finally began to move.

The flames, initially the size of a person, gradually increased as they flew, shooting straight towards the Demon Lords.

The reaction of the tense Demon Lords was so desperate, that it resembled fleeing rather than avoiding.

They showed pitiful movements, frantically rolling on the ground or barely beating their wings to take off.

"Huh? Oh!"

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"Wait a minute!"

In the place the Demon Lords had now fled from, were my companions who were previously fighting them.

Due to the extensive reach of the pure white flames, none of my companions could avoid being hit by them.

"Huh?"

Findenai's dumbfounded voice indicated that she had not suffered any harm.

Deia and Eleanor were looking around their bodies, which were gradually being healed by the flames.

Saintess Lucia, who had been sitting down, had a look of utter shock as she looked through the flames.

[Driving away the evil.]

Stella slowly turned her head towards the stunned Lucia.

The former Saintess and the current Saintess locked eyes. Lucia's lips trembled as if she had a lot to say.

Stella smiled warmly as she imparted wisdom.

[Healing the injured.]

"L-Lady Stella…"

[That is who we are, right?]

The power that could kill Demon Lords instantly, with even the slightest touch, had now become a blessing that healed and revitalized the humans completely.

That was what a Saintess should be.

They were someone whose power was solely reserved for humans.

Stella turned her gaze back to the Demon Lords. Lucia burst into tears as she absentmindedly watched her back.

She had always followed that back.

In difficult situations, she had always asked herself what that person would have done.

That person was a fully matured Saintess, who had borne all her burdens and then retired.

Lucia seemed to look towards that ideal, hoping that one day, she too would reach that level of maturity.

Stella, who once again displayed her brilliance to her successor following after her, turned her gaze back towards the Demon Lords.

The ground, resembling a field of autumn reeds, was already set ablaze with Holy Power's flames spreading at an enormous speed, preventing the Demon Lords from moving about carelessly.

This wasn’t just about driving away the Demon Lords or making an intention display of her power.

I realized that it was Stella's determination to protect all the humans present in this place.

Thanks to the flames of Holy Power spreading and surging in all directions, my companions standing within its embrace were safe from the Demon Lords' threats.

She is so impressive.

She was able to make a quick judgment in such a brief moment.

I felt sorry for Lucia, but it seemed like she would have to work really hard to catch up with Stella.

Not only did Stella have extensive experience in fighting demons, but she also knew how to protect others while battling them.

The Demon Lords clenched their teeth as they looked down at the burning ground.

Valkyria could escape anytime with her wings.

However, Feyron and Dune were either clinging to the walls or hanging by holding onto a lamp with one hand.

In order to escape, they would ultimately have to take the risk of getting injured and run outside the building.

"I'm escaping!"

Feyron broke through the wall after realizing the danger posed by Holy Power. He thought he must at least try to survive and threw himself through the hole he had just made.

"Stop!"

"Feyron!"

The other two demons tried to stop his reckless action, but it was too late.

The pure white flames pouring through the hole Feyron had created swallowed him entirely.

"Arghhhhh!"

The Demon Lord, who was engulfed in the flames, clutched his face with both hands in burning pain. Unable to maintain his balance, he eventually fell from the wall.

Thud.

The living flames welcomed Feyron's fall and consumed him.

The scream did not last for long.

The Demon Lord, who had tormented humans and arrogantly received their worship with his ten tails, met an unexpected futile end.

And it wasn't just Feyron's problem.

This was the power of Holy Power.

An unprecedented power bestowed by God upon a single person among humanity.

Valkyria and Dune swallowed hard as they witnessed Feyron get annihilated completely, leaving no physical body or even a soul at rest.

The threatening heat could be felt from outside.

The two demons had already known that Stella's flames had spread outside the banquet hall's walls like a fishnet.

They also realized that they had indeed become insignificant pawns in the hands of the woman who followed God.

They were once the top predators of the continent.

Soaring endlessly as if there were nothing above their heads, the Demon Lords now realized the true height of the ceiling above them.

Thud.

The shadows of defeat loomed heavily, and the bitter sense of centuries-long defeat weighed over them.

However, what made it feel even more unfair was that they were being defeated without any chance to resist.

As a species of demons, they must have enjoyed various privileges as beings who sought war and pride.

The title of Demon Lord was akin to having a black card² that worked everywhere, granting legitimacy to all their actions, as if it were a type of right.

However, now…

That very title had the ankles of the two demons firmly in its grasp.

"O’ Saintess… with lofty pride."

Hanging from the chandelier and looking down at Stella and me, It seemed like Dune had to eventually give in and asked in a low voice.

If this was to be their end, at least as the Demon Lord who held the epithet of Pride...

It seemed like he had the desire to close his eyes while still holding onto his pride.

"Please, show me your conviction."

Dune requested once again, having the impulse to confirm if we were worthy adversaries.

I wanted to let the gentleman, who had come to terms with reality and accepted his death in such a hopeless situation, feel the disparity clearly with his eyes and skin.

[Deus, is it okay?]

If it were the former Stella, if she were still alive, she wouldn't have given the demon even a sliver of hope.

From what I heard before, the old Stella was known for her infinite mercy towards humans, while being equally ruthless to demons, maintaining a balance.

But now, having considered the Demon Lord of Deformities as a friend, she acknowledged that they, too, had their own convictions and ways of life.

"Fine, as you wish."

As she received my permission, Stella calmly looked up at Dune and nodded.

[I will accept.]

The moment Stella's words reached the edge of his ears, Dune’s body began to thicken.

The third eye on his forehead opened wide, and tears of blood began to flow. The lower body of Dune that resembled a ram, began to transform, his entire body gradually becoming covered in coarse, steel-like fur.

Kuooooooooooo!

The final roar of the Demon Lord echoed through the night sky. Though insufficient to encapsulate the long years, he immediately gathered strength in his legs, stepped on the wall, and leaped towards Stella and me.

Crash!

The impact of his leap caused the wall he stepped on to collapse, and the ceiling of the banquet hall began to tilt.

Even as the banquet hall, which had precariously maintained its balance, was collapsing, everyone's eyes were fixed on us.

Dune was leaping towards Stella's white flames like a moth drawn to a flame. Just a mere touch began turning his body into black ash.

Yet, the momentum from his leap still persisted.

He flew through the swirling flames that threatened to engulf him.

"I have witnessed the pride of thousands, tens of thousands! The convictions shown by those who lived on this land were truly magnificent and boundless!"

Even though his eyes had already decayed and he could no longer see anything, his third eye remained focused on us.

“I, Dune, the Demon Lord of Pride, in response to your impressive performance, will show you the pride of great evil!”

The moment he approached us, Dune twisted his waist. He planned to secretly swing his right fist.

One blow.

If it were the current Dune, just one blow would be sufficient to crush us ruthlessly and make us his companions on the journey to his death.

[You have taken pleasure in preserving the desperate yet noble convictions of the people of the Republic's.]

Stella bid a meaningful farewell to the Demon heading towards his end.

[Isn't the so-called pride that you keep asserting about nothing but an embarrassment?]

Dune's right hand was no longer visible.

"Ah."

Before long, Dune gazed down at his body, which was now ashes. He let out a burst of uncontrollable laughter of realization at the end, before closing his last eye.

1. He's referring to Jesus from the Bible2. It is an ultra-exclusive credit card reserved for the incredibly wealthy who have immense spending power and an exceptionally high net worth. It is the symbol of status and reputation.