SRS 202

“Eek…!”

Meanwhile, the moment the miracle took effect, students and professors alike lost their balance and staggered before grabbing onto whatever was nearby. Even Yohan, who was in the sky, was caught up in the aftermath. It felt as if the entire space were shaking, so Yohan clung tightly to his griffin’s neck to steady himself, but the nauseating sensation made him reflexively close his eyes.

Coo…

Shine, who had been carried into Yohan’s arms along with Manno, cried in distress. Manno’s drooping leaves made it clear that even and plants were not immune to this phenomenon.

“Ugh…!”

“I think I’m going to throw up…”

Sounds of the students struggling below could be heard continuously. How much time had passed since those sounds began?

The quakes that had engulfed Fantasiademia gradually subsided. Once the nausea faded, Yohan opened his eyes. He gaped at the scene before him. Neither the Dimension Destroyers nor the rifts were visible. Even though the barrier erected by the headmaster and vice headmaster still enveloped Fantasiademia, he could feel it.

The school was no longer located in the Nameless Realm.

A completely different flow of energy was emanating from beyond the defensive barrier, so as he surveyed his surroundings, the faculty members were the first to regain their composure and check on the students’ conditions.

“Is everyone alright? No one’s hurt? Wait… Lisa Hor! How did you get that cut near your eye?”

Professor Shinbi rode a wind spirit through the air to identify the injured students.

“Anyone who’s injured, please come this way. I have healing potions here.”

Professor Will took charge of treating those students, while Professor Homern rushed to the Griffin Hall to check on the griffins.

As the atmosphere settled down, those who had been cowering began to relax.

“…Is it over? Is it really over?”

Someone mumbled.

“…Where are we?”

“Well, it doesn’t seem to be where our school used to be…”

Only then did the students look around and notice something amiss. Beyond the protective barrier, they could see nothing but an endless expanse of pure white fog. There was no sky, no land, and no mountain ranges here. Since only a foggy expanse surrounded Fantasiademia, those who were beginning to feel frightened again looked at the faculty.

Yohan took in the scene, but then he turned his head back in surprise upon sensing an immense energy in the air.

“My… the school’s in a real mess. I wonder how much the Witch of Space will charge to fix all this…”

Who would have thought the day would come when they’d actually welcome that voice?

The students’ faces brightened at the sight of someone with such an unmistakable presence and laid-back charm. Even though they’d often wondered during school days whether he was friend or foe, in a situation visit our sitelike this, he was definitely a reliable presence. The Nameless One descended from the sky at a leisurely pace.

Beside him stood Vice Headmaster Serdik Agor. The demon, dressed in immaculate attire, exuded an aura completely different from that of the Nameless One. The vice headmaster glanced down briefly, and a sigh escaped his lips.

“The damage is less than expected, but it’s certainly not negligible. … I’d like to thank the faculty for their hard work in ensuring the students remained unharmed.”

Serdik bowed his head and set foot on the ground.

As the two leaders descended to the ground, Yohan couldn’t very well remain floating in midair all by himself.

“Let’s go too.”

The griffin flapped its wings and set Yohan down among the students.

“Yohan!”

Upon seeing the traces of blood at the corners of his mouth and bloodshot eyes, his first-year classmates rushed over in horror.

“Are you alright?”

Mikael was the first to reach Yohan. He channeled divine power into him as he checked his condition. Mikael must have sustained severe internal injuries himself from channeling the divine power of the other priests to Yohan, yet he was tending to Yohan first.

Yohan gave him an apologetic look and nodded.

His stomach felt a bit queasy, but it wasn’t unbearable.

“…Thanks to the divine power you all gave me, it’s not the worst it could be. Thanks, everyone.”

“‘Thanks, everyone?’ Why did you, who isn’t even a professor, have to end up like that just to protect all of us?”

Suhyeok’s complaint was laced with resentment. His gaze swept over the faculty, the headmaster, and the vice headmaster. The first-year students exchanged glances of solidarity.

Unable to take it anymore, one of them stepped forward.

“Headmaster!”

Yohan’s eyes widened so much they almost popped out at this bold act. He was even more surprised because it was a friend he knew well.

“Um, Melissa….”

As was evident from the way she always calmed down the rowdy Kitty, Melissa had a peaceful disposition. Seeing such a friend calling out to the Nameless One with such an angry expression left Yohan both flustered and worried. Just as he reached out, someone grabbed his wrist. It was Kylus.

Kylus, whose expression was just as stern as usual, shook his head from side to side. Upon realizing this was a signal not to block her path, Yohan hesitated and fell silent. Meanwhile, Melissa pushed past the faculty members and stood before the two leaders of Fantasiademia.

“I’d like you to explain exactly what’s going on.”

With her fists clenched tightly, Melissa enunciated each syllable. As if they’d been waiting for this moment, the first-yeats joined in to voice their complaints. When they saw the first-years suddenly rise to their feet and create a commotion, the upperclassmen, who had been sitting hesitantly, also scrambled to their feet.

“It would be ridiculous for us to just stand by while our juniors are acting like this.”

“Headmaster! As the head of this school, take responsibility for this situation!”

“We have a right to know too!”

As the upperclassmen joined in one by one, the outcry grew louder.

By now, everyone had, if not fully adapted to, at least understood and accepted that classes at Fantasiademia were a bit unusual.

However, there was a difference between the school conducting dangerous classes and the school itself becoming dangerous. Perhaps the frustration that had been accumulating ever since the barrier first broke and dimensional monsters appeared finally erupted, and voices demanding an explanation filled the air.

“Give us an explanation!”

“Give us an explanation! Give us an explanation!”

“Explain!”

“Explain, explain!”

Since these weren’t first-time protesters, seniors and juniors alike soon became entangled in a chorus of shouts. Even the faculty, who had initially tried to intervene, were left helpless and turned to look at the Nameless One and Serdik.

“Hiding the truth isn’t the only solution.”

“It’s time for the students to know the truth.”

“More importantly, this isn’t a situation where ignorance will keep them safe any longer.”

With even the faculty finally lending their support, the vice headmaster and the headmaster exchanged glances and sighed simultaneously. It was Serdik who stepped forward to quell the situation.

“Enough.”

“Explain… mmph…!”

At that single word, the students who had been shouting fell silent. It was an eerie silence.

After silencing hundreds in an instant, Serdik smoothed his disheveled hair and spoke.

“Even without such a protest, We were planning to tell you all soon enough. Since the day of prophecy has arrived, there’s no need to hide it any longer.”

The day of prophecy?

Yohan tensed as the prophecy from his god came to mind. At that moment, Serdik’s gaze fell upon Yohan. More precisely, it landed on Shine, who was cradled in Yohan’s arms.

“The awakening of the divine beast of Fantasiademia signifies that a crisis is upon Fantasiademia.”

“…….”

“And for tens of thousands of years, there has been [stolen content]only one group that has posed a threat to Fantasiademia.”

“That would be the Dimension Destroyers.”

The Nameless One added with a chuckle, even in this situation. That laughter deflated everyone’s spirits, causing the shoulders of the students, who had been seething with anger, to slump. Some clicked their tongues, while others let out sighs. Even though the curse of silence had been lifted, the students couldn’t bring themselves to speak and instead looked toward Yohan.

Coocoo.

Embarrassed, Shine, the center of everyone’s attention, burrowed into Yohan’s embrace.

-I shall shield you.

As Manno used his leaves to hide the divine beast, Serdik spoke again.

“Once the divine beast awakens, it won’t be long before those who disrupt order appear, seeking to extinguish the flame.”

“…….”

“This is the prophecy of the Divine Realm.”

“So that’s why you said the divine beast needed to grow quickly.”

The headmaster gave Yohan a wink. To be precise, it was the light on his head that flickered, but Yohan interpreted it as a wink.

Once Serdik had explained this much, the professors stepped in to persuade the students.

“Those who seek to extinguish the spark are the Dimension Destroyers. Since Fantasiademia trains heroes to keep them in check, they come to attack the school.”

“Something like this happened once before, ten thousand years ago. This is history repeating itself.”

“The power of the Dimension Destroyers grows stronger over time, and once that power crosses a certain threshold, the gods who have strayed from providence attempt to destroy entire dimensions. In the process, they attack Fantasiademia as well.”

As the explanations continued one after another, the students’ faces grew tense.

“…So, are you saying the Dimension Destroyers attacked the school because their power grew too strong? And that the dimensions themselves are under attack as well?”

“That is correct.”

“Th-then, how are we supposed to….”

“Is my dimension okay?”

“What about our dimension….”

“…Father, I hope he’s doing well?”

Worry clouded everyone’s expressions. Seeing that the students were becoming anxious, the Nameless One snapped his fingers.

Whoosh!

An invisible wave swept through the area where the students had been standing. Those who had been in an uproar calmed down slightly. Yohan was stunned by the flow of divine power passing through his body. Such refined divine power that could calm everyone in an instant was an awe-inspiring ability.

The headmaster looked around at the now-calmed students and announced.

“There’s no need to panic. Everything is proceeding as it should. However, given the urgency of the situation, we will suspend all classes until the territory stabilizes and use this place as a temporary base. Please bear with us for about one to two months.”

“We’re staying here?”

“…Where exactly is this place?”

Before that question could even be answered, Serdik stepped forward and dropped a bombshell.

“Furthermore, while we’re staying here, you will all be mobilized for dimensional missions. This applies to students of all grades, and I ask that you recognize this as the destiny you, as future heroes, must bear, and cooperate accordingly.”

At those words, a ripple of shock spread through the students, who had just calmed down.