I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 638: Unforgotten Grudge (3)

Flora was shocked by the scene unfolding before her eyes.

It was surprising enough that Rudger suddenly appeared, but his magic was different from before, so excellent that it would be fair to say it approached the realm of divinity.

'This is, what on earth.'

Flora, who understood magic more intuitively than anyone, could tell that Rudger was now in a state beyond something human because of the sweet scent overflowing around them and the dazzling spectral display of all sorts of brilliant colors distorting her vision.

Although what it delivered was the death of the clergy, Flora found herself captivated by the magic Rudger displayed.

The excessive stimulation was enough to numb her senses of sight and smell, making her head unable to process reality.

But this euphoria was brief, lasting only a few seconds.

When Flora regained her senses, she was surprised to see that within those few seconds, the Order's trackers had become cold corpses.

There were no wounds on their bodies.

She couldn't understand what had just happened.

The magical power had raged like a storm, and then mysteriously, only the surrounding enemies died.

"Professor. What exactly..."

"Don't worry about Sheryl Wagner. She's safe. Her wounds have healed, so there won't be any aftereffects."

"T-that's appreciated, but. Have you really returned? Where on earth did you go?!"

"There's not enough time to explain."

"Ah, that's right! Lumos! My family's movements are suspicious! It's as if they're trying to rebel against the Empire..."

"That's actually why I've come looking for you."

Flora opened her eyes wide.

"For me?"

"Yes. It's time now."

"What time are you talking about?"

"The time for you to settle matters with your family."

"..."

At those words, Flora's body trembled.

Although she couldn't understand intellectually what Rudger was suddenly saying, she felt it in her heart.

"How am I... supposed to do that...?"

"I know it's a burdensome task for you. But it's not something you can avoid or run away from forever. Now is the time to settle it."

"But the distance to my family estate is far, and time is short. The practical constraints are too great."

"Not anymore."

As soon as Rudger finished speaking, Flora felt her vision shift from an outdoor area in Theon with no people, to the interior of a mansion.

Flora thought that the appearance of the mansion looked familiar.

'This is the place where father gathers people from the family.'

It seemed like a dream, but it wasn't.

In that brief moment, Flora had moved from Theon to the main house of Lumos.

What's more, her father, Kayden Lumos, was now staring at her in this place.

Flora regained her composure when Rudger placed his hand on her shoulder.

From the warmth she felt on her shoulder, Flora realized this was reality.

That she was standing at a crossroads in her life.

"Flora."

Kayden called Flora's name.

His voice was indifferent, as if calling someone else's child, without any fatherly affection.

If anything, there was even a hint of irritation in it.

"Do you dare to rebel against Lumos?"

"I..."

No. It's not like that.

Flora was about to make such an excuse out of fear but closed her mouth.

For some reason, she couldn't help but look back at Rudger, and when she saw him nodding toward her, an inexplicable courage welled up.

"...I am also a Lumos. So I have enough qualifications."

"An illegitimate child like you has no qualification."

"Even if it's half, I inherited your blood. That makes me a Lumos too. Flora Lumos. That's what people in the world call me."

"You..."

Kayden's brow furrowed at the sight of Flora behaving differently from usual.

"I know. That you're trying to rebel against the Empire. I also know that you're plotting something by joining hands with the Bretus Holy Nation."

"So what?"

"Give it all up and confess. Then receive proper judgment. That's the best proposal I can offer you, Father."

At those words, Kayden's lips twisted crookedly.

"You dare to make such a proposal to me now? An illegitimate child of the family to the head?"

"Being an illegitimate child or family head doesn't matter. What matters is that the head is making choices that put the entire family in danger."

"As expected, the Cardinal was right. You've been used by a demon."

"Is that what you want to believe?"

Flora glared sharply at Kayden and snapped at him.

"As a devout believer, you neglected me because you didn't want to leave the stain of what you committed in the past. Every time you see me, you're reminded of the mistake in your otherwise perfect life. Because it's painful."

"...What did you say?"

"What would people say? They would say you're no different from other nobles despite believing so devoutly in the Lumensis Order. You were also sensitive about that, so you pretended to care for me while abandoning me."

Flora knows that Kayden Lumos does not truly love her.

Nevertheless, she couldn't help but crave affection.

Her mother had passed away, and her only remaining blood relation was her father, Kayden.

She had come to realize how foolish she was.

Being connected by blood doesn't make someone a real family.

And until now, she had been running away, turning a blind eye to this reality.

"You said Lumos never forgets a grudge, right? So I'll return those very words to you. I haven't forgotten. The cruel and difficult indifference and coldness I received from you, Father. And even the humiliation I suffered from siblings who are siblings in name only."

"..."

"Simply not forgetting doesn't make one a Lumos."

Flora's voice, which had trembled at first, gradually became calm.

It was strange. She thought she would become more intense and emotional by blurting out like this, but her head became surprisingly clear.

As if she had finally discovered her true self.

Ah.

So this was it.

This was my true self all along.

"Head of the family. No, traitor to the Empire, Duke Kayden Lumos. This is the last mercy I can offer you. Surrender and pay for the consequences of your choices."

"It seems you've forgotten where you are and who I am. This is Lumos. And I am Kayden Lumos. The head of this family."

Kayden glared at Flora, subtly revealing his anger.

"I am Lumos."

"No. You are not Lumos. You're just a cowardly and timid man who's fallen into religion."

"Ha. Do you think anything will change by talking like that? Do you think the family members would listen to someone like you?"

"Not immediately, perhaps. But can't I make it happen?"

Flora turned to look at Rudger as she spoke scathing words toward Kayden.

"Right? Professor."

"Yes."

When Rudger nodded, Flora smiled broadly.

Having someone by her side couldn't make her feel more reassured.

"Don't presume to judge the family, outsider!"

Kayden roared.

The fact that he shouted, unlike his usual calm demeanor, meant his emotions had intensified.

"True. By pressuring Lumos with the help of Princess Aileen, you could certainly replace the head of the family. The influence of Lumos might diminish compared to before, but the foundation would remain, and it wouldn't be difficult to take control and transform it into your own Lumos."

Kayden realized what Flora and Rudger were aiming for.

Since they were preparing for rebellion, the Lumos Duchy would become traitors and could not complain if they were punished.

The justification was clearly with the Imperial family.

The cunning First Princess Aileen would have also calculated this situation perfectly.

"But if the Imperial family falls first, the story changes."

"That won't happen."

Rudger said with certainty.

"Because I won't let it happen."

"You? Right now, I, no, our entire family is being watched over by Lumensis."

Kayden released the divine power surging within his body.

That sacred power was so pure and powerful that it seemed almost indistinguishable from magical power.

The moment Rudger saw that divine power, he realized.

"I see. The curse placed on Rene was your doing, Lumensis."

Even if he didn't want to know, he understood the origin of that divine power.

After releasing the third seal, along with the voices of gods, knowledge and information traversing past, present, and future were bubbling up and disappearing like foam in Rudger’s mind.

Within that, Rudger understood how this had happened.

"To think you would mark those with the potential to escape the cage."

Spatial attribute magic power potential was limitless.

Lumensis wanted the birds to live in a cage. 

He who did not want them to leave his grasp oppressed them but human potential always exceeded expectations.

Among humans, there were those born with particularly outstanding magical power.

Time magic was one such power, and spatial attribute magic power was another.

Lumensis was wary of the latter.

In a cage, no matter how fast time flows or even if time stops, it's still within the cage but spatial attribute magic power was different.

It was a magic power with the potential to traverse beyond the world.

Because Lumensis was most wary of it, he left a curse in the name of blessing to those with this magic power for generations to ensure they died prematurely before spreading their wings.

"So, it was you after all."

As if sensing Rudger's subtle irritation, Kayden frowned.

"How dare you carelessly speak the name of Lumensis. Impious man. Are you mocking the name of God?"

"Mocking? Of course it's mockable."

Rudger sneered as if he couldn't stand Kayden saying such things.

"How could it not be ridiculous that gods serve a single human?"

"You!"

Even for the cool-headed Kayden, it was unbearable to have his deeply held faith insulted.

He tried to attack Rudger with the sacred power bestowed by Lumensis, but.

-Paaaat!

The white light he shot was too easily neutralized in front of Rudger.

Kayden widened his eyes as he saw the divine power scatter like sand.

"Don't you understand yet? The power you've received is merely at the level wielded by lowly creatures."

With a slight flick of Rudger's finger, Kayden, who had been sitting arrogantly, fell forward onto his knees.

Kayden tried to resist somehow, but his face only turned red while his body wouldn't move as he wished.

"W-what about the family members..."

Kayden started to speak but closed his mouth upon seeing Rudger's gaze.

The entire family had already been subdued by Rudger.

With transcendent power that could exist simultaneously across distant spaces, it wasn't an impossible feat.

Kayden's resistance was meaningless.

"If you oust me like this, what do you think will happen to the future of Lumos?"

Kayden glared at Flora as he spoke.

He genuinely believed that maintaining his position as head was right for the future of Lumos.

Flora felt great disappointment at the sight of such a Kayden.

In the past, she had thought he was truly enormous, someone she couldn't even dare to defy.

To think he'd look this foolish and shabby.

Have I grown? Or has he shrunk?

No, perhaps he was always like this, and I was just afraid.

Flora now looked down at the kneeling Kayden with a pitying gaze.

Kayden found that look from a daughter he had never acknowledged more painful than eyes filled with hatred and disgust.

"Honestly, I'd like to completely erase this name Lumos, that's my true feeling."

"Would you abandon one of the Empire's ancient families?"

"You were about to abandon the Empire first, yet you're still clinging to the title of Imperial Duke?"

"..."

"Don't worry. I'll make the Lumos you led with such a petty mindset even greater."

"Even if I step down, you have no legitimacy to become the head."

"Why don't I?"

Flora gently smiled at Kayden's resistance, which was close to being unreasonable.

"When both of my siblings have also participated in treason."

"You...!"

Kayden widened his eyes as he realized what Flora had said.

"Don't worry. Brother and sister will live well in the Lumos family. Just, they'll become much more humble than before. And Lumos will prosper more than during your rule. I can promise that."

Kayden couldn't say anything and just dropped his head.

Flora, satisfied with this sight, expressed her gratitude to Rudger.

"Thank you. It's all thanks to you, Professor."

"I only did what needed to be done."

"Are you leaving again now?"

"Yes. I still have work to do."

Flora gazed beyond the screen that Kayden Lumos was watching through the artifact.

Though Rudger was here, he was also there.

She couldn't intellectually understand exactly what was happening, but Flora said what she could.

"I hope you succeed."

"Thank you."

"And..."

Flora was about to say something but shook her head.

"...I'll tell you later."

Rudger nodded with a faint smile towards Flora and his figure disappeared from the spot like a mirage.

Flora stared beyond the artifact screen as if enchanted.

Rudger, who had refocused his mind on the crater, looked at the subjugation team around him and did not hide his irritation.

"So, because of the aftereffects of me opening the door, you too can exert power in this lower realm, is that it?"

The members of the subjugation team, who had been terrified of his power until just a moment ago were now emanating killing intent toward him, enveloped in white divine power regardless of whether they were mages, mercenaries, hunters, priests, holy knights, or knights.

"Yes. Having come this far, it would be boring if the fight were trivial."

Through the black hole torn in the sky, the energies of countless gods were felt and appeared one by one around Rudger.

Silver arm.

Golden vajra.

Sword of fire.

Massive club.

Shining spear.

All sorts of divine weapons orbited around Rudger.

"Let's begin the battle of myths."