Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy-Chapter 690: Four (3)

I finished conquering the fourth dungeon, and as soon as I stepped outside, I used Joy’s magic to head toward the Holy Grounds.

The village, which had been ordered to evacuate, was quiet. Recently, every time I arrived, people gathered to see my face, and I almost felt like I was losing my mind from the attention.

I thought this was better, so I hoisted Joy on my shoulder and shouted to Frey to carry Fabi.

"I can run on my own!"

"How long are we going to wait for a slow pig who’s gotten fat?! I can’t take it anymore!"

I know that Joy and Fabi did their best to catch up with me, but still!

They’re just a mage and a priest!

Compared to people who actually move, they’re bound to be slower!

Do you think we have the luxury to take it easy in a situation like this?!

"Holy Maiden. Excuse me."

"Ah... y-yeah."

Leaving behind the somewhat disappointed Fabi, I rushed forward.

As I got closer to the Holy Grounds, the air became thick with an unpleasant aura.

Something instinctively repelled me.

A vibe that no living being would welcome.

Is this the aura of the end?

It’s disgusting.

No wonder it smells foul—just like the evil god’s presence. With my brow furrowed in disgust, I rushed forward.

I saw the pillar that stood in the center of the Holy Grounds collapsing.

Given the clean cut, I figured it wasn’t the Pope’s doing—it must have been the Swordmaster.

Typical of a pervert targeting married men—he has no self-control.

I wanted to buy some time, and he couldn’t even do that right!

"...Great Lord."

"Blame that vixen for this."

"...What?"

Anyway, this isn’t my responsibility!

As I neared the Holy Grounds, I began hearing the sounds of battle in the air.

The sound of swords slicing through the air, swinging endlessly.

The sound of a heavy mace crushing flesh and bone.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

The sound of fists hitting shields.

And someone grinding their teeth, while another laughed.

"Apostle! Holy Maiden!"

Yohan and several other priests, gathered inside the Holy Grounds, were praying even amid this chaos, with the holy artifact placed in the center.

"We’re ready!"

"Useless Fabi!"

"Understood! Just give the word!"

After sending Fabi to activate the holy artifact, I rushed to the center, where I came face to face with the Pope, standing amidst the rubble of collapsed buildings.

A horrible stench was emanating from the crystal orbs surrounding him.

As the sun fled from the fear of the end, the sky turned black.

Even the moon and stars seemed to fear it, for no light existed in the black sky.

From beneath the earth, the aura of death oozed out, and the knights with sharp eyes stood proudly before us, wielding broken gear amidst countless deaths.

[The evil god Agras is about to descend into this world.]

[Progress 1%]

Seeing the blue light message appear before me after a long time, I smiled and raised my shield.

My hand holding the shield was shaking. This was nothing like the dungeons I had conquered before.

What lay ahead wasn’t a trial I could easily overcome if I wished.

This was a catastrophe. No tricks could help; I would have to surpass this trial with my own abilities.

One wrong step, and I’d be gambling with my life.

And that made me afraid.

The pain that would befall me was terrifying. I wanted to look away from the screams my friends might let out in fear.

But I had to move forward.

It was something I had to do.

As I tightened my trembling hand and moved forward, the blackened sky parted, and the sunlight shone on me.

Useless Lord. You’re not really thinking of saying you’re cheering me on with just this, are you?

If that’s the case, I’ll really be pissed off.

Well, the sunlight is warm, so I feel better for now. I’ll let it slide this time.

But get ready.

Once everything is over, I’ll make sure to drive a mace into your head.

As I grinned, the Pope, who had been staring at the sky, turned his head and faced me.

The Pope’s eyes, already wild, turned black, and they seemed to harbor an abyss.

Maybe that’s why.

Just looking at him sent chills down my spine.

It was almost as if my body was screaming that this wasn’t right.

"The age of myths has already begun. Apostle."

I know. I can’t stop the age of myths from arriving.

"So what?"

But so what? If I intended to stop the age of myths from coming, I would have already smashed your skull.

"Can you stop it?"

Hahaha. Idiot. Doesn’t he even think about the fact that he let me go?

Fine. I’ll at least play along a little. Let’s see how you like it.

"Why are you even asking? You’re as dumb as you look!♡"

The moment I confirmed that his gaze had turned toward me, I signaled to Frey with a jerk of my chin.

She immediately drew her sword and cut down the knights behind her.

Seizing the moment while Frey’s attention briefly shifted, I scattered some fairies around.

As the view shifted, I faced the Pope, surrounded by the aura of the evil god.

"Your subordinates are as useless as you, huh?♡"

"My physical abilities have reached their limit."

I raised my shield, hearing a phrase I had probably heard many times before.

Phase 1 of the Pope.

Using the power of the end to enhance his physical strength for close combat.

When we first met, I would have said, "What kind of trick is this?" but it’s not so different now.

When I failed to parry, I felt the shock and was pushed back.

Hahaha. Damn. This pig is faster than he looks.

But it’s not so fast that I can’t catch up.

After blocking his attack once more, my friends stepped forward.

Arthur, imitating the Swordmaster’s style, struck at his fist, and Joy’s created darkness interfered with the Pope’s vision, giving me enough time to raise my shield.

Let’s try to make the timing a little faster. And add some divine power to prepare for the worst.

Then.

Boom!

The shock definitely decreased, but it wasn’t perfect yet.

"My power has also reached its peak."

Already moving to Phase 2?! I haven’t even taken a hit yet!

I cursed inwardly as I raised my shield again.

Another wave of shock. My body was lifted into the air, with the Pope chasing me down.

"Hey, there’s still this side to deal with."

The Swordmaster’s sword cut through the Pope’s neck, and Grandpa’s puppet struck his torso.

Taking advantage of the Pope being sent flying, I landed, healing my body with divine magic and regaining my stance.

"I end this in your sights."

[Progress 10%]

With the Pope’s declaration, the world around me darkened.

"Useless Lord!"

As the power of purification dispelled the darkness, three knights appeared around me.

I caught sight of them, wielding their weapons with a hint of guilt, and I dodged their attacks with a leap, then used their weapons as a stepping stone to crush one knight’s head.

The feeling of bone breaking through the mace was horrifying.

"Apostle."

The distance between the Pope and me narrowed in an instant. He grasped the head of his shield with both hands, looking at me with his blood-red eyes as he grinned.

"You’ve been quiet today?"

"I don’t want to reward a pig, so I’m keeping quiet~♡ If you suddenly start twitching, I’d really be disgusted~♡"

"Is that so? To me, it looks like you don’t have any room to spare."

As Frey’s sword severed the Pope’s two hands, the scenery around us shifted.

We arrived in the high sky, so cold that even our breath froze.

"Ah! What kind of childish power is this?!"

Falling with gravity, I bit my lip.

I don’t have enough divine power to keep purification magic constantly around me.

If I do that in a place full of the evil god’s aura, I won’t be able to do anything in the real fight.

But if I let the power of the end move freely, that too is bothersome!

<Lucy.>

‘What?!’

<If he uses his power recklessly, why don’t you do the same?>

‘That pervert is practically the same as the evil god Agras! That’s why he’s able to do such things!’

<What’s different about you? Right now, you’re practically being treated as a divine being on this earth.>

I’m not just an apostle chosen by the Lord—I’m being treated as a miracle-working god on this earth.

Can that even happen?

<For now, put on a bold face and try it. Since the age of myths is close, exceptional things might be possible.>

‘I hope so.’

I thought I’d worry about it after I fell, but just as I thought that, the scenery around me changed again.

What now?!

As I landed on the ground, groaning in pain, I looked around at the fairies flying around and tilted my head.

What did they do? This isn’t a forest, is it?

[Progress 20%]

"Lucy!"

"There’s no time to celebrate! Move now!"

"I’m not dead, so it’s annoying."

Before I could fly back up, the knights who had been easily subdued were now pushing my friends back.

Thanks to the Swordmaster and the puppet, the frontlines were holding, but we were being pushed back.

Why have the knights suddenly become stronger?

Along with the confusion, I felt the aura of Agras within them.

Phew. Fine. I’ll do what the Pope does and go wild.

"Ugh~♡ This smell is so disgusting~♡ Just disappear, all of you!♡ Trash~♡"

This isn’t exactly what I had in mind for going wild, though.

I tried to act confident, but inside, I was sweating bullets as I gathered divine power to wrap around the earth.

Oh.

Oh oh.

This feels strange, but...

Is this really purification magic happening with just that?