The Genius Professor Wants An Easy Life - Chapter 160
The weather was gloomy.
The sky, as if aware of the day’s events, offered weather unfit for the sacred feast day.
The heavily clouded atmosphere seemed poised to spill sorrowful tears.
And in keeping with the sullen weather, something entirely unfit for the noble feast day occurred.
A terrible event, completely at odds with the solemnity of the sacred festival.
“Arrest the traitor Mikhail!!”
It was during the ceremony at the Heavenly Fountain.
At the climax of the feast day, when countless eyes were fixed on the event.
Mikhail faced the most wretched downfall.
“What? Was Demon Blade really the leader of the Three Evils?”
“The plague spreading through the capital recently is also Demon Blade’s wicked doing!”
“Look at that hypocritical face. He’s the incarnation of the devil!”
“Burn Demon Blade at the stake!!”
“Burn him!!”
The royal family had spread unfavorable rumors about Mikhail for a long time, leading the general public to despise him as a dreadful demon.
‘It isn’t so bad.’
Mikhail looked at the numerous crowds glaring at him.
Everyone was calling for his death; what reason was there to live?
“Do you admit your guilt?”
Mikhail quietly looked at the knight questioning him.
Someone from his memories.
A knight close to his father, the Emperor.
Once, he had been tasked with surveilling him.
For reference, Sir Giselle, the guard knight who had somewhat wished well for Mikhail, had been demoted a while ago.
It was a fortunate event.
Had he remained by his side, he would have been implicated and killed alongside him.
“Do you admit your guilt?”
The question was mechanical.
The reason for asking again was simple.
Treason allowed for immediate execution.
Of course, denial would change nothing.
He would simply undergo a more miserable trial process before being executed.
In that case, being executed here and now might be better.
‘After all, there’s no reason to live anymore.’
Just as he was steeling his heart against the gazes of all those wishing for his death,
Suddenly, a part of the crowd caused an uproar.
“Wait? Look up there, what’s that?”
“Something’s shining?”
“Wings? A bird?”
“No! It’s a person.”
The commotion spread like wildfire.
Mikhail also looked up and his eyes widened.
Indeed, something was slicing through the sky, heading towards them.
As it got closer, its form became distinguishable.
It really was a person.
Enveloped in a brilliance like a halo.
Against the dark sky, a person surrounded by radiant light began to descend.
Everyone gasped at the sublime sight.
“Wings of light? It’s an angel!”
“No, you fool! It’s Saint Patricia herself!!”
“The saint has descended to bless us!”
Some were so moved they kneeled, ready to worship.
But they were all wrong.
As it got closer, a face became visible, a familiar one.
An annoyingly arrogant expression.
Despite descending from the sky, there was a pretentious air of dignity.
It was Van!
THUD!
When Van landed next to the Heavenly Fountain, the large square fell silent, stunned by the unexpected arrival.
Sssss!
Something black slipped under Van’s feet, but no one paid it any mind.
Everyone was holding their breath, focusing on Van.
Then.
Van turned his head.
Towards the royal knight who was about to arrest Mikhail.
“Are you arresting His Highness?”
“Yes, for treason.”
“I object.”
“…Excuse me? What did you say?”
“I said I object.”
“!!”
Van repeated, his face as cold as ice.
“I, Van Legend, stake my name to reveal all lies concerning His Highness Mikhail here and now.”
* * *
‘Ah, I thought I was dead. Am I alive? I won’t forgive you, Sword King!’
It wasn’t dangerous.
When the Sword King threw me, she also launched a condensed protective aura, which unfolded near the Heavenly Fountain.
Thanks to that, the protective aura acted like a parachute, allowing me to land safely.
Only something the Sword King could pull off.
It also made for a spectacular landing.
But it was terrifying. So terrifying!
I was so scared that even if the cutie scurried on my shoulder, I wouldn’t have noticed.
‘Where did the cutie go? It’s not clinging to my feet, is it?’
I wanted to check, but it was hardly the time for that.
With the aftereffects of the flight and the fear that a cutie might still be clinging to me, I spoke with an even stiffer expression than usual.
“I will reveal all the lies concerning His Highness Mikhail right here.”
The hall stirred.
Was Van Legend turning back into the derided Van, having gone mad? That was the reaction.
The most vehement response came from Mikhail himself.
“Do you wish to die? Shut up at once!”
“Your Highness? Do you intend to just give up and die like this?”
“What choice do I have? The whole world wishes for my death. It might be better to die.”
Mikhail spoke with a pained expression.
I sighed.
“Don’t talk nonsense, Your Highness. The whole world wishes for your death, you say.”
“…It’s the truth.”
“Here stands someone who does not wish for your death.”
“!!”
“Your death, I, Van, will not allow it.”
If Mikhail dies, it’s game over. In other words, the end of this world.
And,
You’re my friend right?
‘If Mikhail is alive, I can boast about having friends to those arrogant Kanshir and Balas!’
I looked at the royal knight.
A face without distinct features, but he was a significant figure.
A knight close to the Emperor.
Precisely, a person who pledged loyalty directly to my father, Duke Huam.
Sir Welricks.
“What do you mean by revealing lies, Lord Van?”
Sir Welricks looked troubled.
It would be difficult for him to act rashly towards me, the son of the Duke Huam to whom he pledged loyalty.
“Are you talking about the investigation results? There’s conclusive evidence…”
“No, what I intend to talk about is not that. It’s about the prophecy concerning His Highness Mikhail.”
“!!”
A confusion incomparable to earlier spread.
This child will drench the entire royal family in blood and become the great Emperor.
No one doubted this prophecy.
After all, it was a prophecy made by the Guardian.
For hundreds of years, the Guardian had become almost a religious figure, and doubting the Guardian was considered more blasphemous than insulting the Emperor himself.
“Are you doubting the words of the great Guardian? Even as a Young Duke, you should know that’s an unforgivable sin.”
“No, I’m not doubting. Rather, I wonder if we’ve misinterpreted it.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Could ‘drenched in blood’ not mean what we think it does? And the same for becoming the Emperor.”
“What? How could there be any room for interpretation in that phrase?”
Not just Sir Welricks, but everyone looked as if they were hearing nonsense.
But,
“Do you know by what nickname Saint Patricia was known during her lifetime?”
“!!”
Sir Welricks flinched.
The Saint Who Walks the Path of Blood.
The Sovereign of the Suffering.
These were Saint Patricia’s nicknames while she was alive.
“Perhaps the Guardian’s prophecy meant that His Highness Mikhail would save the royal family from crisis and become a great saint.”
“That’s impossible. It’s a far-fetched argument. Besides, His Highness Mikhail is nothing like Saint Patricia, is he?”
“We can find out right here and now.”
“…What?”
“Please tell us the conditions for activating the Heavenly Fountain, as passed down by the royal family.”
Sir Welricks responded as if wondering why he would ask such a thing.
“The royal family doesn’t know the exact conditions. However, it is said that the Heavenly Fountain can only be activated by someone born with the destiny of a saint who will save numerous lives.”
“Then it’s simple. If His Highness Mikhail succeeds in activating the Heavenly Fountain, it will prove he’s not the ominous being rumored to be.”
“!!”
The hall buzzed with murmurs.
I looked at Mikhail.
“Your Highness, please try to activate the Heavenly Fountain.”
“Me? How could I? I’m not even close to being a saint, let alone a healer.”
“It’s okay. Just place your hand on the center of the fountain. I’ll take care of the rest.”
In fact.
I knew exactly how to activate the Heavenly Fountain.
Because it was an important hidden piece.
As Sir Welricks mentioned earlier, one must be born with the destiny of a great saint destined to save numerous lives.
The issue is that the standard for this ‘destiny to save numerous lives’ is incredibly high.
Among the 16 protagonists, only 2 meet the criteria.
Demon Blade Mikhail.
And the villainous merchant, Senin.
It might be an unexpected list.
Not Johan, born with holy power, but Mikhail and Senin?
It’s true.
‘Among the 16 protagonists, those two are the ones destined to save the most lives.’
Of course, the other protagonists also save numerous lives.
Especially Johan, who becomes a grand saint healing countless people.
But he fell short compared to those two.
Even though they are despised as Demon Blade and a villainous merchant by everyone.
In the future, they become the Sovereign of the Holy and the Merchant of Salvation, protecting humanity.
If not for them, countless lives would have been lost during the 4th year’s ‘Apocalypse’ scenario.
‘That’s why the game ends if Demon Blade Mikhail is disqualified. And if Senin is disqualified, a significant loss occurs.’
“Hurry up. Let’s finish this and go have beer as friends.”
“You really are…”
Mikhail shook his head as if to say there’s no helping you.
“If I fail, just forget all the things you’ve said on my behalf. I’d rather just die like this…”
The moment Mikhail placed his hand on the fountain with no expectations, something unexpected happened.
Ssshh.
Water began to spurt from the previously dry fountain!
“What, how is this happening?”
“The water is shining, it’s holy water!”
The most shocked was Mikhail himself.
“This, how? Why?”
“Just keep your hand there. Do not remove it.”
The Heavenly Fountain hadn’t fully activated yet.
Precisely, it was just like using a ‘key’ to open a ‘vault.’
“Leave the rest to me.”
The second activation condition for the Heavenly Fountain requires the combined effort of four protagonist mages of the Magical Department.
Libel of the Elemental Manifestation realm.
Joanna of the Manipulation Transformation realm.
Bern of the Dark Magic realm.
And the protagonist of the yet-to-appear Summoning Incarnation realm.
All four of these individuals had to join forces.
You can imagine how tremendously difficult this would be.
‘It’s okay. I can do it all by myself. I’ve diligently studied the activation solution in prison.’
In truth, I’m still a novice in the Summoning Incarnation realm, but Mari, who studied hard with me, agreed to serve as the summon.
And the final condition.
The caliber of an Ascendant.
Something I half possess.
With all conditions met.
A miracle occurred.
The dark sky was split, and a new sky began to open.
Coincidentally.
It was the same scene as my artwork ‘Joy’ that I had submitted to the Dark Art Museum.
* * *
Then, someone murmured while looking at the sky.
“Wondrous.”
It was Duke Alfonso.
A twisted madness flickered.
“Wonderful indeed.”
Beside him, a mask engraved with the inverted character for heaven (天), the symbol of the King of Contrary Heaven, was placed.
