Divine power was indeed the power of God, and the God of Light was undoubtedly a generous god.
‘Lightmen!’
Back in Korea, Julian had followed no religion. Even after transmigrating, he had lived with the thought, ‘I was thrown into this world without so much as a language patch. What does God have to do with me?’
Now, faith blossomed within his heart.
‘Divine power solved everything! Praise the God of Light! Lightmen!’
Until now, he had regarded the God of Light merely as someone else’s ancestor.
However, since the owner of this body was a descendant of God, even the sheer volume of his divine power was on an entirely different level.
‘From this day forward, I shall revere You as my ancestor as well!’
His body had been exhausted by the excessive use of divine power.
His eye pressure had risen while he poured out that power, forcing him to rest with compresses over his eyes.
Nevertheless, his heart had never felt lighter.
Half-reclining, Julian issued his orders.
“For now, let us enjoy our victory. Beginning tomorrow, we will resume driving out that wicked demon.”
“You need not tell us twice!”
“Eradicate the demons!”
“Liberate the academy!”
The Liberation Army responded with bright expressions.
Their commander, the Third Prince, possessed an abundance of divine power, and they had confirmed that it was highly effective against demons. Their enthusiasm was only natural.
“Are the students who were wearing the burlap hoods unharmed?”
“Yes. They are weakened, but they were practically bathed in divine power during the explosion. They should recover their health soon.”
In attempting to prevent the explosive vests from detonating by flooding the lobby with divine power, Julian had inadvertently healed the captives as well.
He nearly smiled in satisfaction and thought, ‘Divine power is the best!’ before regaining his composure.
This was Arpad Academy.
It was a place more familiar to him than anywhere else, but it was also territory occupied by demons.
‘Besides, I think I recognized the first student whose hood was removed.’
The student had been so emaciated that Julian had struggled to recognize the face.
This was not the time to lose himself in the exhilaration of using an unfamiliar power for the first time.
“Ahem.”
He cleared his throat and spoke solemnly.
“I am relieved that we rescued the students safely.”
“Yes. All glory to the God of Light. This is the first great achievement of the Arpad Academy Liberation Army.”
“What of the Liberation Army’s injuries and losses?”
“They are minor.”
“You have done well. I knew I could rely upon you.”
Despite the praise, Theodore wore a sullen expression.
“Did you truly have to use such a method?”
“What? The Divine Power Explosion?”
“Yes. Your Highness already suffered because you possessed too much divine power. You must have placed a severe strain upon your body even now.”
Julian grinned.
“Still, everyone quieted down after seeing it, did they not?”
“…….”
“You understand it too. At the beginning, you have to put on a proper show of strength.”
It was one of the truths Julian had learned while dealing with countless students as an assistant.
‘The opening contest of wills determines the entire semester!’
Theodore also fell silent.
Having risen to the position of Deputy Commander of the Order of Holy Knights at such a young age, he had undoubtedly learned that lesson through bitter experience.
Julian smiled as though to say that he understood Theodore perfectly.
“The Liberation Army may possess conviction and adequate skill, but it is still a ragtag collection of people.”
“If only I possessed two bodies. One could remain beside Your Highness, while the other maintained discipline throughout the Liberation Army…….”
“I told you not to say that.”
Julian narrowed his eyes sternly, and Theodore bowed his head.
“Please always remember that both I and the Order of Holy Knights stand behind you.”
“Of course I know that.”
Julian wore an expression of complete trust as he patted his personal guard’s arm.
“It may look like excessive showmanship to you, but our enemies are demons. I must become the army’s center and demonstrate my abilities.”
“……I believe in your intentions and will follow you.”
Theodore sighed before continuing.
“However, please understand that Your Highness’s safety must come first. If anything happens to you, all our efforts will have been for nothing. Who among us could possibly fulfill your role?”
“Hmm. Regarding that matter.”
Julian spoke seriously.
“To lead the Liberation Army properly, I believe we should select elite members from each group.”
“Elite members?”
“Yes. Just as you command the Order of Holy Knights, we should choose representatives from among the mages and mercenaries. We should also select individuals with exceptional abilities.”
He continued.
“I am particularly interested in Sion Etain. His magic power was practically on the level of a dragon. Since he is known as a future Archmage, he should be able to coordinate well with my divine power and…….”
“Y-Your Highness.”
“What is it?”
“You had used a great deal of divine power, and I was concerned that the news might shock you, so I did not tell you immediately.”
Theodore hesitated briefly before speaking.
“……It appears that the demon abducted Sion Etain.”
“……What?”
Of all people, it had abducted Sion Etain?
Julian tried to spring to his feet, only to collapse back into his reclining position.
“Ugh.”
“Your Highness!”
“I am fine. Ugh. I will recover after resting.”
The moment he moved, he felt a familiar sensation.
It was the feeling he experienced after squeezing himself beyond his absolute limits—the world turning yellow as he suddenly realized, ‘Ah. I just shortened my lifespan to accomplish that!’
‘I cannot use that technique frequently.’
Julian reflected upon his mistake.
‘Theodore was right. I should not depend entirely upon divine power.’
Every small movement drew a groan from deep within him and caused cold sweat to bead across his skin.
Apparently, even the God of Light did not distribute His power entirely free of charge.
‘Haa. What was I thinking, saying “Lightmen”? In the end, life is a solitary battle.’
In any case, this was a battlefield.
There was only one person capable of resolving each problem as it arose.
Julian groaned and clenched his fist.
‘I believe in the only person capable of overcoming this situation—my magnificent self. Me-men!’
Theodore watched Julian’s gaze change from moment to moment with an uncomfortable expression.
“……Your Highness, are you certain you are all right? Perhaps using too much divine power has affected your head—”
“I am still perfectly sane.”
Julian dismissed Theodore’s concern and asked a question.
“What happened? What do you mean the demon abducted Sion Etain?”
“It appears to have taken him while escaping during the Divine Power Explosion.”
Julian was dumbfounded.
“It took hostages, attempted an explosion, fled without hesitation, and even abducted someone on the way out. What sort of demon resorts to every underhanded trick imaginable?”
“Demons are contemptible by nature. I intended to pursue it immediately, but Your Highness’s safety was more important.”
“Haa…….”
So this was what it meant to deal with a demon.
Sion Etain.
The man with magic power comparable to a dragon, a future Archmage, and the Flame of Etain.
He was one of the most powerful individuals in the Liberation Army.
“We absolutely need him.”
While Julian struggled with the problem, someone cautiously approached.
“Y-Your Highness.”
It was Arthur Blanco, his face battered and swollen in several places.
“I believe I may be able to assist you…….”
“Do you truly believe we need assistance from someone like you?”
Theodore sharply cut him off.
Arthur flinched but pleaded again.
“Please hear me out. I served the demon Paimon for five years. Listening to me once cannot possibly cause you any harm!”
“How are we supposed to trust you? You sided with a demon for five years and attempted to kill the Liberation Army.”
“I-it is true that I have done things that make me untrustworthy!”
Realizing that a half-hearted excuse would not work, Arthur hurriedly continued.
“However, I was struck by the Third Prince’s divine lightning and remained unharmed! Had I truly formed a contract with Paimon or become a servant of evil, I would have been burned black by now!”
“…….”
Theodore closed his mouth.
Divine power showed no mercy toward demons or unholy beings.
As Arthur Blanco had said, if he had truly contracted with a demon or become one of its followers, he would already be dead.
Several members of the Liberation Army who had wanted to accuse him of being a demon follower and execute him glared at Arthur with displeased expressions.
Julian slowly opened his mouth.
“So this time, you wish to attach yourself to our side?”
“……Y-yes!”
Arthur Blanco bowed his head.
“I know everything there is to know about the academy. Give me a single opportunity, and you will not regret it!”
Julian clicked his tongue inwardly.
The bastard possessed an uncanny ability to find any lifeline that might keep him alive.
What the Liberation Army lacked most was information about the interior of Arpad Academy and the demons within it.
Moreover, Arthur had been present when Julian died in his previous life.
He might know something about the result of the summoning.
‘Strategically speaking, taking him in and making use of him is the correct decision.’
Julian quietly touched his stomach.
He felt as miserable as though he had been stabbed only yesterday, and even his stomach began to ache.
‘Haa. But if I keep this bastard beside me, will my blood pressure not kill me first?’
Information or mental health.
After agonizing over the decision, Julian turned toward his personal guard.
“Theodore, do you have any talent for correcting a man’s character?”
“……Your Highness.”
The Deputy Commander of the Order of Holy Knights responded uncomfortably.
“Do you perhaps believe I am a thug rather than a holy knight?”
“So you cannot do it?”
“Ahem.”
Theodore hesitated.
He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Arthur Blanco.
‘He may not be bound to a demon or one of its followers.’
That only made it more infuriating that he had still acted as a demon’s subordinate.
It was also revolting to see him pretending to be pitiful after attempting to drag the Liberation Army, who had risked their lives to come here, into death with him.
Had it not been for Julian’s swift judgment and decisiveness, many of them would have been killed in the explosion.
Theodore cracked his knuckles.
“……I did not become Deputy Commander at my age without effort.”
The strongest holy knight stepped before Arthur Blanco.
Fear spread across the professor’s face.
Theodore spoke with utmost seriousness.
“I will do my best.”
***
Several hours later.
With half his mind shattered, Arthur Blanco wondered to himself.
‘Is this the Demon Realm?’
Or was it hell?
His spirit in tatters, he pressed his forehead against the floor.
“I-I have committed a crime worthy of death! Please kill me!”
Julian silently looked down at him.
Arthur Blanco seemed to have aged years in the span of several hours. Still lying prostrate, he cautiously raised only his eyes to look upward.
“…….”
The unwavering stare of Julian’s golden eyes made his hair stand on end.
Arthur hastily lowered his head again.
Julian asked in a low voice.
“Do you believe you deserve the privilege of dying?”
“N-no! I am not even worthy of death!”
“Then are you saying that you intend to live?”
“I-I have committed a crime worthy of death!”
Completely broken, Arthur Blanco gave contradictory answers and repeatedly struck his forehead against the floor.
At that moment, the prince before him terrified him even more than Paimon, the demon he had served for five years.
“A-a man like me should be hung at the academy’s main gate and pelted with stones after Your Highness reclaims it!”
“That concerns the distant future.”
Julian did not deny that it would happen.
Arthur Blanco felt his blood run cold.
At this rate, the Third Prince truly would retake Arpad Academy and hang Arthur’s head beside those of the demons at the main gate.
“I-I also deserve to crawl along the academy’s main road while the students spit upon me!”
“You understand your position well.”
“I deserve to spend the rest of my life being treated as human refuse throughout the Empire!”
“In the name of the imperial family, I guarantee that the story will spread to every corner of the Empire.”
You are ruined.
You will remain ruined forever.
I will personally ensure it.
The certainty behind Julian’s words made Arthur Blanco tremble like an aspen leaf.
“G-give me an opportunity to atone!”
THUD.
“Please take me in! Merciful Your Highness!”
THUD! THUD!
Arthur repeatedly struck his forehead against the floor.
“The demons will kill me and force me to labor at the lowest rank of the Demon Realm until the end of the world! The only person who can save me from them is His Highness Prince Julian Barnabas Istvan!”
“…….”
The silence stretched on.
Arthur Blanco felt as though his insides were burning away.
Even when Theodore had repeatedly struck the same bruised places.
Even when a priest healed him so that Theodore could resume the beating.
Even when the students, after recovering some of their strength, surrounded Arthur and trampled him.
Had Julian not repeatedly reminded him of how grievously he had sinned and how utterly hopeless his future was?
The prince’s silence now frightened him even more.
Julian slowly opened his mouth.
“Would that truly be enough?”