Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance Chapter 91

“How did you know?”

 

Eileen’s eyes flickered with panic, and Cordelia, watching, sighed.

 

“So, it’s true.”

 

“Ouch.”

 

She was caught. Cordelia opened her mouth, watching the frustration wash over Eileen’s face.

 

“I kind of knew it.”

 

The temple had been strangely connected to her since she first received the Sword of Lorea. The hero who’d saved Eileen from becoming a saint. And the mysterious man she met at the ball on the last day of the festival.

 

“I wasn’t sure he was a hero, but the way you reacted to him, I can tell.”

 

Unbeknownst to Eileen, she had collapsed at the ball and cried for a long time afterward, groaning in pain and alternating between saying Aire and Cordelia’s names.

 

“What do I have to do with the hero?”

 

The hero of the ball looked nothing like his usual self, with jet-black hair and blue eyes. Everyone didn’t recognize him as Aire, but not Cordelia.

 

The only time she had seen him in person was at the opening of the festivities, but somehow, the moment she saw him, all her senses were drawn to him, like a gust of wind.

 

There could be no two people with such a strange aura. Cordelia knew he was a hero, and yet she drew him to her. The unfamiliarity and frustration of the unknown stirred her heart and made her impulsive.

 

“I need to know what’s going on in my heart.”

 

The ball ended in a blur, and she missed him. But Cordelia could easily see that Eileen was after him because of a secret she’d been hiding all her life.

 

“You two are eerily similar.”

 

His eyes were distant, as if he could see beyond the situation in front of him. The sadness and pain in them. And yet, the love that blooms.

 

The confused look in their eyes, as if they wanted to hide everything, but also wanted to know, was something Eileen and Aire had in common.

 

Until now, Cordelia had simply followed Eileen’s lead, but that changed when Eileen was almost venerated as a saint.

 

‘If I’m the reason she’s taking risks, I need to know.’

 

Cordelia gripped Eileen’s shoulder and spoke firmly once more.

 

“I’m coming with you.”

 

“But.”

 

Eileen hesitated. The image of Cordelia in the chilling ruins kept coming back to her. Swallowing dryly in nervousness, Eileen opened her stony mouth.

 

“It’s no big deal, I just thought it would be nice to see a hero after what happened to…”

 

“Eileen, I know you’ve always been trying to help me.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I know you see something I don’t.”

 

Eileen opened her mouth soundlessly. A brief, breathless silence passed between them.

 

“And I know you haven’t decided if you want to tell me about it yet, so let me go with you.”

 

Cordelia wrapped both hands around Eileen’s still-clenched hand.

 

“I want you to think about it until this trip is over. If you decide you can’t tell me what you see, I won’t be disappointed.”

 

‘So give me a chance to carry your burden with you.’

 

Eileen slowly rolled her eyes and looked at Cordelia. Her blue eyes shone brightly, without a hint of distrust. The calluses on Cordelia’s hands were clear as day. Eileen squeezed her hand, hard. She could feel the vigor of the living, so different from the fallen woman in the ruins.

 

“Yes, come with me.”

 

Cordelia smiled broadly at the barely audible answer. Eileen returned the smile, her eyes warming slightly, and she stammered.

 

“That’s nice of you to say.”

 

 

***

 

 

That evening. The two of them skipped dinner and threw themselves into devising a plan to meet with Aire. They were organized, unlike the younger days when they’d left the mansion in a huff. But they couldn’t put their plan into action.

 

“Everyone, meet in the great hall!”

 

Iris, the sophomore vice president, shouted as she rushed up and down the hallways of the girls’ dormitory. The time was well past midnight. One by one, students in their pajamas came out into the hallway to check on the situation with bewildered faces.

 

Eileen and Cordelia, who had fallen asleep together while making plans, were equally confused. Emma ran a hand roughly through her unruly hair and turned to Iris.

 

“Iris, what’s going on?”

 

“Go to… the professors will tell you.”

 

Iris’ fingertips were shaking as she said that, so no one asked more. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they quickly turned around and rushed back to the auditorium.

 

“Eileen! Cordelia!”

 

Lucian, Felix, and Laquerta greeted them as they gathered in the great hall.

 

“Where are the professors?”

 

“Not here yet. Oh, here they come.”

 

Before she could finish, the doors to the auditorium burst open and the faculty, led by Amanda, entered. Their faces were grim, their mouths tightly shut. Amanda stepped forward and spoke heavily as the students’ eyes shifted uneasily.

 

“This is urgent news. Three hours ago, Contra territory was devastated by a large beast.”

 

Before she could finish her sentence, a shudder swept through the auditorium. The student with Contra ties nearly collapsed. Glancing pitifully toward the source of the screams, Amanda continued.

 

“The Transcendent’s pincer attack has now removed the demon, but the damage is very bad and we are in desperate need of assistance, so at this short notice, you will be split into two groups and sent to Contra. The demon has been removed, but there is a possibility of additional medium and smaller demons in the aftermath.”

 

Albert, who had been standing behind her, stepped forward with a stack of papers. Amanda picked up one of them and spoke.

 

“I will not ask you, who have just passed the age of Winter, to make a sacrifice, but this paper confirms your willingness to face all the dangers you will encounter on the battlefields of practice, beginning with Contra. Departure time for the Contra is tomorrow at 10:00 am. If you are ready, please hand in this paper no later than 7:00 am.”

 

Professor Russo waved his hand and the papers scattered into the air, landing in the hands of the students.

 

Death in Practice.

 

Everyone read it white-knuckled, the words unreal, as if the water play of a few days ago was a distant past.

 

“Hmm.”

 

A snorting Laquerta was the first to finish signing and rise from his seat as the overwhelmed group fell silent in front of the sheet of paper that contained the occasional scream and death. Eileen, who had just signed, looked up at him, a little surprised.

 

“If there’s a patient, I’ll go. I’m a healer.”

 

It was a bold statement, but it made Eileen’s eyes widen, and those around him.

 

Many of the students knew what had happened to Laquerta earlier in the semester. Though the open hostility was mostly gone now, there were still some who were reluctant.

 

But Laquerta stood up first, seemingly unconcerned by the malice. The one who had been deemed inhuman had shown the most selfless heart. The students’ eyes lit up with encouragement.

 

“That’s true.”

 

Lucian and Felix nodded and grabbed their pens. Cordelia did the same, and Eileen, who had been watching them sign, grabbed a pen as well.

 

There was no need to ask each other if they were okay now. It was something they would have to work toward together.

 

 

*** 

 

 

“Thank you for coming.”

 

Elling, the imperial magical investigator, bowed deeply in front of Aire. Raising a hand lightly to help him to his feet, Aire asked,

 

“What happened to the Contra province?”

 

It was Orgen who answered, sitting back in his chair and rubbing the corners of his eyes tiredly.

 

“Bella Kamar and Tyrn have gone to reinforce them, so it’s none of your concern, Hero.”

 

Aire nodded without reply. A messenger from the imperial court had caught him as he was hurrying toward Contra with the news.

 

“The results of the interrogation of the prisoners taken alive in Verotanis are in!”

 

With the news of the information behind the scenes, all the Transcendents and Sages who hadn’t been dispatched gathered in the imperial conference room. The last to enter, a middle-aged blond-haired man, nodded.

 

“I see you’re all here.”

 

The Transcendent and Crown Prince himself, Ferdinand, held up the paper containing the results of the interrogation.

 

“Thank you for taking the time to gather. This is an urgent matter, so we’ll get straight to the point.”

 

He paused for a moment, then continued.

 

“From what we’ve learned from our interrogations, the current outbreak of unusual creatures in the Empire is the work of an organization called Nox.”

 

“Nox?”

 

“Yes. They are an organization of high-ranking demons with intelligence, and fanatics who equate heroes with gods.”

 

At his words, Olivia Herrero frowned, as if she’d heard something strange.

 

“You mean demons and fanatics work together?”

 

The room rumbled, as if she had asked the same question. The reaction was one of bewilderment at the idea of a fanatic who worshiped a clan of heroes as gods and their enemies, demons, being on the same side.

 

“This is no mere demon,” I said, ”their host has been identified as the demon who gave birth to the worst of demons, Noctra.”

 

One of the Transcendents, holding his head as if in pain, grumbled.

 

“What would a demon do with a cultist?”

 

Ferdinand answered the question that spoke for all of them.

 

“Their purpose, Nox, is the resurrection of the hero, Regia.”