I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 657: Transformation (1)

After returning to the dormitory, Rene was lost in deep thought.

After meeting Catherine, the words she had said kept lingering in her mind.

'I can tell you what you want to know.'

If it had been just a probing remark, it wouldn't have been so deeply imprinted in her mind.

Above all, the fact that her eyes, which had been hurting since meeting Catherine, had gotten better, convinced Rene.

Rene closed her eyes.

She felt that if she just went to sleep, she could forget all this complexity.

Perhaps because there had been many tiring events today, Rene quickly fell into a dream.

And

"Huh?"

Rene froze involuntarily the moment she saw the landscape unfold in her dream.

"This is......"

All that could be seen around were the ruins of a broken city.

Realizing that the scenery she had seen briefly in passing was unfolding in her dream, Rene lifted her head.

The night sky pouring out full-color starlight and the light of the full moon.

In the center, a huge structure was seen floating in the air.

And connecting the structure and the ground was something twisted like white branches.

The ruins were filled with various plants.

Scattered petals and giant thorny branches.

"W-why......"

Explosions occurred here and there, and the sound of explosions echoed.

A giant dragon appeared in the sky, a localized typhoon swept across the ground, and the gloomy cries of beasts spread.

If this wasn't the end of the world, what else could it be?

People were lying collapsed everywhere, and there was full of sorrow and screams.

Although she should be running away from such a scene, Rene unconsciously walked forward.

At that moment, with a sensation felt on her shoulder, someone pulled Rene strongly.

"You, what are you doing right now?"

"Uh, huh?"

Looking back, Rene could see a familiar face.

"Julia? How did you get here......"

The person looking at Rene with complicated eyes was Julia Plumhart.

After the demon incident, Julia had not stayed in Theon for a long time due to matters related to the Dream Faction, and had gone to where the faction was.

She never dreamed she would meet Julia here again, who had been gone for so long.

"I came because there was an earthquake somewhere in the surface world of Dreamland. A huge dream that wasn't visible before suddenly appeared, and I wondered whose dream it was, but what is this?"

Julia had seen all sorts of dreams, but she had never seen the dream Rene was seeing now.

A scene that seems to signify the end of the world.

No, is this even a dream in the first place?

"You, what on earth happened?"

"I don't know either."

"This isn't like a dream. It's almost like reality."

Dreams usually reflect reality.

However, even dreams that reflect such reality have parts that deviate from reality somewhere.

For example, sheep suddenly flying in the sky, or a dog standing on two feet and speaking, or flower petals being scattered from the backs of cars that people ride.

A person's dream is where elements of reality are mixed up in misalignment.

But Rene's dream wasn't like that at all.

Although the scene itself was unrealistic, it didn't feel dissonantly misaligned at all.

"I've been hearing bits of news from outside, but what on earth is going on?"

"I......"

As Rene hesitated to answer, a pillar of light pierced the sky with a flash of light from the huge structure floating in the sky.

Julia, who took in the brightening surroundings, muttered in a trembling voice.

"Wait. This is... the Holy Nation of Bretus."

"Bretus, Holy Nation?"

"I've seen it in pictures drawn in books. The distinctive pattern drawn by the waterways around, and that white stone that looks like the ruins of collapsed buildings is a thing called Holystone."

Julia said to Rene.

"From my perspective, this isn't just a dream. A kind of future. Yes, this is a prophetic dream."

"Prophetic, dream?"

"Originally, a prophetic dream is a dream that appears based on accumulated data through all kinds of elements of reality, showing what is most likely to happen."

"But this isn't at that level."

"Right. That's the scientific principle of why prophetic dreams occur, as known to the general public. On the other hand, the dream you're having is close to a real prophetic dream. Think about it. Has such a scene ever actually happened?"

Julia looked at Rene, who had a complicated face, and tapped her shoulder as if she felt sorry for her.

"It seems you're complicated in many ways too. We've met again after a while, but it doesn't seem like we have much time to talk."

"...Yes. It seems so."

Rene answered like that, but she realized that Julia had changed a lot from before.

She who had always pushed others away and was cynical, had become more friendly and approachable than before.

The incident she experienced in Dreamland must have made her grow even more.

Even though she should be drowning in sorrow.

Perhaps because of that, Rene was able to gather her confused heart.

"Thank you, Julia."

"S-suddenly what?"

"Just. Thanks to you, my head has cleared up. I'll buy you something delicious next time we meet."

Rene smiled and bid farewell to Julia.

"You, do you know how to wake up from a dream......"

Although Julia tried to say she would take her there, Rene waved her hand and disappeared from the spot like a mirage.

As Rene disappeared, the world of prophetic dreams she had created disappeared like a mirage.

Left alone, Julia let out a sigh as if dumbfounded.

"You've changed a lot since I last saw you."

After muttering like that for a moment, Julia turned around and narrowed her eyes.

"Is that enough now?"

"Yes. That's sufficient."

In the dream space where no one was thought to be, it was Franz who stepped forward answering Julia.

"I didn't understand at first why you suddenly appeared and told me to carefully observe Rene, but seeing this scene, I think I understand now."

"Yes. Thanks to that, she would have been able to gather her heart. All thanks to you."

Now that the duty is over, I'll be going now.

Julia asked Franz who was about to leave.

"Don't you have thoughts of returning to the Dream Faction?"

Julia had been tipped for the position of master of the Dream Faction in the future, but she still considered herself lacking.

She was still young and couldn't handle things as skillfully as Grandmother Clara.

In Julia's eyes, Franz was much more suited for the position of master…at least for now.

"I still have things to do. Tell the faction members that I'm doing well."

Franz disappeared from the spot with a bitter smile.

"...Sigh. If I relay that message exactly, those old folks will get angry again."

Rene, who woke up from sleep, left the dormitory with a clearer mind.

The outside where night had come was calm and quiet.

Rene felt the warmth of the paper in her hand and walked unhesitatingly along the path led by that soft light.

'Oh? This is....'

The place she was led to was the garden cultivated by Freden.

Catherine was standing still in the center of that garden, showing her back while bathed in moonlight.

"You've come."

Catherine turned around, sensing Rene's presence before she could speak.

Without the cheerful appearance seen during the day, the woman in front of her now was the very image of the saint known to the world.

"Did you wait for me here knowing I would come?"

"Of course."

"How did you know for sure?"

"That's because of the power you possess. To be precise, the eyes."

Catherine's sky-blue eyes, which shone even in the darkness, curved like a crescent moon.

"The eyes I possess that see the future. You have the Judgment Eye, which can be said to be the original of it."

"Judgment Eye......"

"You must be hearing it for the first time. It's not well known, and it's virtually a legend of old. However, the fact that you were born with the real Judgment Eye, and that you are being led by that power, is not just a legend."

"......"

"Are you curious? The scenery you saw. What that power you possess is."

Catherine reached out her hand towards Rene.

"So let's go together to Bretus. If you go there, you will know all the truths of this world."

Rene looked down at the paper in her hand.

The paper that had fulfilled its role by leading her to where Catherine was, turned black and crumbled like sand scattering in the wind.

The deliberation was short, and the decision was even shorter.

"Let's go. To Bretus."

Rene gazed at Catherine with determined eyes.

Although Rudger had finished reorganizing the inner fortress, there were still many issues to be resolved.

"Soon this place will become a battlefield. Salesin will do everything to kill us."

Rudger spoke to his companions gathered around.

"It's a battle against the entire world."

"Wasn't that what we were prepared for from the beginning?"

Everyone nodded in agreement to Alex's quip.

"Good. Then I won't ask forceful intimidating questions anymore. What's important is to handle the small matters right away. Currently, outside the outer fortress, the remaining forces from the second checkpoint city have gathered."

"The elites of the inner fortress of Galahad Fortress have been crushed, but will they be enough with that level?"

"They must be trying to resolve it on their own level. Besides, their problem isn't the quality of their troops but their number."

"If it's about numbers......"

"The ordinary citizens living in this country. All of them can become our enemies."

All the citizens of the Holy Nation of Bretus can become their enemies.

Most of the people living in this country are followers of the Lumensis Order.

If they come rushing in while throwing away their lives, it's not just a common reluctance for those who have to face them.

Killing an enemy after a fight is less repulsive, but killing civilians who volunteer as meat shields was a bit much regardless.

"So first, we need to make the first move to prevent the remaining forces from inciting the citizens."

"What are you thinking of doing? Should the great demon, me, go out and intimidate them?"

"Rather, they will unite more strongly at the name of demons. Moreover, even if you went out in such a form, would ordinary citizens even be frightened?"

Surna shrugged at Rudger's remark.

"They need to be instilled with a more primitive and simple fear. To those who are deeply armed with faith and have nothing to fear in the world, we need to show them that reality is not easy."

"Does such a method exist?"

Hans asked.

The most he could think of was Helia summoning visions of ancient monsters to frighten people.

Rudger said to Hans.

"You have to do it. Hans."

"Me?"

"Isn't it time for you to properly handle that wildness dwelling in your body?"

Hans hesitated.

Thanks to the wolf sovereign tooth he received from Rudger, he now had two sovereign forms he could utilize.

Additionally, as if his abilities had awakened after the Dreamland incident, he could now implement both forms simultaneously.

So Hans thought he was done now.

He could fight well enough playing his role without borrowing that nightmare power anymore.

But that wasn't it.

Rudger was rather urging Hans to use the power of nightmares.

"I......"

There's no need to go this far, brother.

I'm strong enough now. I can fight properly.

"I......"

Why do I have to use that terrible power that can't even be controlled?

It's time to stop now. There are many other better things.

All kinds of dark and negative thoughts swirling in his mind.

Hans felt somewhat afraid of those gazes staring at him from all directions.

Still, I.

"...I resolved to fight."

Hans took out a dagger made from grinding teeth from his bosom while regulating his breathing.

Right. Come to think of it, it was strange from the beginning.

If he didn't want to use this power, shouldn't he have just abandoned such an ominous object?

Yet he carried it in his bosom, ready to use at any time.

He pretended otherwise, but it was himself who wanted to face original sin more than anyone else.

Rudger had seen through Hans's inner feelings, which is why he said such things.

Hans stabbed his palm with the tip of the dagger.

The beast's gene inherent in the tooth spread throughout his body through his palm, and Hans opened his eyes wide as his body shook.

The scenery changed.

The forms of his comrades and brother around disappeared, and all that could be seen was endless darkness.

Just as he was thinking it was a familiar sight seen somewhere, red eyes rose from the darkness.

The moment he faced those eyes, a primal fear that could not be resisted flowed out.

-Growl.

The monster was not hiding in the darkness.

There was no need to hide because this darkness itself was the monster.

Facing the huge black wolf, Hans wanted to turn his back and run away right away.

A forgotten nightmare came to mind.

It was a dream where countless black beasts rushed at him and tore his body to pieces.

It wasn't difficult to infer that the dream would be realized again.

-Awooo!

As the black beast howled, countless red eyes rose beneath it.

Here it comes. Death and despair, fear and nightmare.

This won't do.

It feels like his mind is being paralyzed with unbearable fear.

Hans had tried to turn around and run away.

-I believe.

Until he heard that voice.

"......"

Hans gave up on running away.

Instead, he walked towards the fear rushing at him with a stumbling light step.

When the distance closed the black beast's torrent that seemed about to bite Hans parted to the sides with a rumble.

Hans walked against the black torrent and finally managed to reach in front of the huge beast.

Only then could Hans see properly the true form of the black beast he had been so afraid of.

"I see. So this is your true form."

What replaced the now-vanished black beast was a very small and doll-like fragile child.

Hans said in a trembling voice.

"I'm sorry. For always running away until now."

The child he had first bitten to death in his childhood.

Although it was inevitable due to his wild nature, it was his only original sin from which he could not escape.

Hans knelt before the girl and cried.

"I will never run away again."

The girl responded to Hans's answer with a gentle smile and tightly hugged his head.

Hans, who had stabbed his hand with the dagger, stood still in place like a person who had lost his mind and after some time had passed Hans suddenly dropped the dagger in his hand and began to change gradually.

"This is......"

Everyone in the place was amazed as they watched Hans transform.