I'll Smash Everything with Passive Skills-Chapter 93: 0. The Holy Kingdom, The Pope (1)

"Damn it."

It was a curse uttered by a student.

In the square filled with countless people late at night, that one curse echoed back.

"Is this really... war?"

Many students had not returned to their families. But now, it seemed they were finally feeling it, as quite a few were trembling all over.

Flash!

Even at this moment, the light flashing from beyond the distant mountain ridge to the south of the academy was simple in its meaning.

Magic, the powerful and mysterious force, was a clear sign of its eruption.

The military forces of the Holy Kingdom had now reached close proximity. Most of the nobles were defending their territories. They were resisting the Holy Kingdom with their lives.

"Who is justice?"

The student council president, Valten, murmured in the quiet square.

The military forces of the Holy Kingdom were near. Now that it was night, by morning they might be close enough to be seen with the naked eye.

"Tsk tsk."

The square was waiting for the prince's speech. As the emotion of fear began to sweep through like an epidemic, Veris clicked his tongue and stepped up to the podium.

The lazy prince had yet to show his face. Standing around like this would only have a negative impact, so Veris intended to show something.

Swish!

"It's Veris."

"The Sword Master of the Academy!"

"Hey, you didn't return! I believed in you!"

A lamp powered by mana. Underneath it, Veris revealed himself.

The students cheered. The fear was enough to make one lose their mind. That was the terror brought by war.

What Veris did upon stepping onto the podium was simple. He drew his sword.

"Do not be afraid."

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"...!"

At Veris's calm voice, most of the students flinched.

No, that phenomenon was not limited to the students. The professors who held their ground. The lords gathered from various parts of the Empire. The soldiers following them. The knights commanding the soldiers. The mages affiliated with the academy. The spirit masters.

Different individuals were staring blankly at the scene.

── Wooooo!

A tremendous mana began to dance around Veris's entire body.

The shimmering white light made one forget that it was a dark night.

Mana. That unfathomable mystery was blooming along Veris's sword.

"Beautiful...."

It was a murmur from a female student. But that small desire that blossomed in the quiet square soon turned into a thunderous roar.

"Wow!"

"We have strong allies!"

"Damn it! I'll tear apart that bastard from the Holy Kingdom...."

Different reactions. But one thing was certain: they were now ignited with fighting spirit, not fear.

"I am your light."

...The square, which had now become the stage for Veris, not the prince preparing a speech.

A few students, unable to contain their boiling blood, had drawn their weapons and were roaring.

The great nation, Vera. The peace threatened by the fanatics to the south.

They would protect it. No matter what bloodshed they had to endure.

"Interesting!"

"...?"

"Who is that old man?"

It was a scene that inexplicably warmed the heart. But soon, all eyes were drawn to the voice coming from above the square.

It was a short, low voice. But it contained a faint mana.

"Impressive! It's only natural for that old man to be on guard!"

It was an old man dressed in a blue robe. He was descending into the square with incomprehensible words.

"Ah...."

Beatrice trembled greatly at the sight.

"Beatrice, do you know him?"

"Who is he? That old man."

Arwen and Cecilia tilted their heads and asked.

Beatrice, shaking unusually and with a pale complexion, swallowed hard and said,

"The Tower Master, that person is... the ruler of the Magic Tower. The progenitor of human magic, Tower Master Heimdall."

"The Tower Master?"

Beatrice's voice was low. But the meaning contained within was so shocking that Arwen and Cecilia stared blankly.

The Tower Master, that old monster, why had he suddenly appeared at the academy?

Moreover, judging by his reaction, it didn't seem like he had come with friendly intentions.

"Not bad?"

Veris's eyes sparkled as he looked at the old man who had descended into the square.

Having seen many strong individuals in his life, Veris recalled that the strongest person he had recently met was the sword master he had formed a bond with.

However...

Looking at the old man in the blue robe now, he felt he needed to revise that thought.

"You brat. You dull-witted brat."

"What is that old man saying?"

"Ha, haha. You're more talkative than I expected."

"Are you the Tower Master?"

Veris's voice was filled with suspicion. The Tower Master, Heindal, could only look on in surprise.

"What a grotesque level of insight!"

"How could I not recognize the mana you've cultivated, which is swirling so vividly?"

"...!"

The Tower Master glared at Veris with a face of astonishment.

To see mana. Right now, the Tower Master was not leaking any mana at all.

Yet that damn young man had pierced through his mana!

"Ah, so it was you. The one who enchanted my dear disciple."

The Tower Master slightly turned his head. There, Beatrice, terrified, was being supported by Arwen and Cecilia.

"Rotten girl. If you were going to be so afraid, you shouldn't have left the Magic Tower."

The Tower Master's voice was filled with regret. Retrieving his mana and sheathing his sword, Veris slowly approached him.

"It's dangerous!"

A few students, having grasped Veris's intentions, shouted.

But Veris did not stop. He walked closer until he was at a distance where they could clearly see each other's faces.

"What is your business?"

"Ha ha! Business. I was just curious. You who stand against the Cult."

"Curious? More than that, you were also a member of the Demon Cult."

"Wouldn't you be curious? The faces of foolish children who turn away from the truth and flee in fear."

"Hmm."

Veris nodded and stroked his chin.

Having already heard the secrets of this world from Yunafint, he did not know whether they were true or false. But one thing was certain.

"So what?"

"W-what do you mean?"

"So what? Whether the truth you pursue is real or false, I don't like you, so what?"

"...Ha, ha ha! Ha ha ha ha!"

The Tower Master laughed like a madman.

After all, had such a being ever been treated like that by a first-year student at the academy?

"Alright. Let's say the secrets of this world you speak of are true."

Veris murmured coldly. The Tower Master, with a face that seemed to wonder what he was trying to say, frowned as he looked at him.

"Did you think the murders, arson, human experiments, and kidnappings you committed would be forgiven?"

"Hmm! The sacrifice of a cow for the /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ sake of the generations is sad but can be forced."

"Well, I don't think so."

Veris's attitude was bold.

The Tower Master felt displeased.

According to his intentions, the students stationed at the academy and the lords from various regions should have trembled in fear upon seeing him.

But...

For some reason, he felt as if he was being suppressed by the student with blue hair standing before him.

"I intend to kill you."

"W-what did you say?"

"You all. I intend to kill every last one of you. Then I will judge whether this world is false or wrong."

His cold expression matched his cold voice.

Why was that?

The emotion the Tower Master felt now was... absurdly close to 'fear.'

"Insane."

The wrinkles around his eyes drooped.

"How can you speak so calmly?"

Blue mana began to surge from the Tower Master's entire body.

What did that signify?

Magic. That damn mystery was about to unfold right here.

"Don't you understand what that means! Even the fact that you and I are having this conversation. That damn celestial trash is listening to everything!"

In an instant, the Tower Master's eyes began to turn red with rage.

Projecting his full power here was not his intention.

But for some reason, seeing Veris's calm demeanor made the Tower Master feel an overwhelming sense of urgency.

"That may be so."

The Tower Master displayed tremendous mana. Veris responded with his own mana.

Veris's mana, receiving the corrections of numerous passive skills, surged like a tsunami.

"Then it's simple. Just kill that celestial being."

"Ha! Ha ha! Ha ha ha!"

Upon hearing Veris's response, the Tower Master laughed like a madman.

Then he withdrew his mana. At that moment, many breathed a sigh of relief, but the Tower Master spoke in a cold tone.

"Can you keep that promise?"

"Keep it?"

"Yes. I felt a sense of expectation. I'm saying that this Heindal is placing his hopes on you, a foolish brat."

The Tower Master's actions made Veris withdraw his mana as well.

And he shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, I guess we'll find out when the time comes."

"Ha ha... How did such a person manage to come into the world without being noticed by you?"

The old man looked at his disciple with weary eyes.

The future candidate for the archmage. His frail disciple, who had yet to see a fragment of the truth, was looking at Veris with worry-filled eyes.

"I..."

In that brief moment.

But it seemed the old man had made a decision, and he opened his mouth with a heavy atmosphere.

"I am one of the Twelve Black Seats and an apostle of the Holy Order. Yes, I am someone who can be called the head of the organization you refer to as the Demon Order."

At the shocking declaration of the Tower Master, everyone looked at him with astonished eyes. The sudden emergence of the storm's core had brought a whirlwind.

"From now on, I will withdraw from the affairs of the Order. I will stake everything on you."

It was an absurdly significant matter to decide with just a few words.

But in the eyes of the Tower Master, there was an oddly confident belief.