I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 678: Approaching Light (2)

Catherine's appearance drew people's attention from the start.

Beginning with the ship she arrived on.

While others came on dull, grayish warships, Catherine arrived on a pristine white vessel.

This wasn't an ordinary warship but one belonging to the Bretus Holy Nation, typically used by someone of at least Cardinal rank when traveling abroad.

Because of this, Catherine had already attracted the soldiers' attention before docking at the shore.

And by moving together with the white-clad sisters she led, she managed to capture everyone's remaining interest.

Just as everyone's attention and expectations reached their peak,

Catherine used sacred magic.

It was a tiny golden flame that could be likened to a candle.

Compared to the massive thorn vine wall blocking their path, it was merely the size of a firefly before a tidal wave.

But the moment that flame touched the thorn vine wall,

-Whoosh!

With tremendous expansion, it instantly engulfed the thorn vine wall in golden flames.

The soldiers who had initially been disappointed by the flame's size opened their eyes wide.

"W-what is this?"

"Am I seeing things?"

The thorn vines that couldn't be completely removed even with gunpowder, bombs, steam golems, magic, and aura were turning to ash and disappearing in an instant.

Some thorn vines shook violently, trying to shake off the flames, while others burrowed into the ground, trying to extinguish the fire with soil.

But Catherine's flames were the kind that rendered such struggles futile.

Even when they burrowed into the ground, the fire didn't extinguish, but spread to the entire vine, burning even the roots that had penetrated deep into the earth.

The modified species, which had built resistance to flames and magic with the World Tree's power, couldn't withstand even 10 seconds before turning to powder and dispersing.

The sight of the thorn vines struggling before turning to powder and scattering was like watching demons burning away in hell.

The wall of thorn vines that filled their view and was growing in real-time disappeared in an instant.

With the saint surrounded by holy power standing at its center a wide-open view

"Oh, oh God!"

"The Saint is with us!"

Cheers erupted from the tents gathered along the shore.

The scene was so powerful that even soldiers without regular faith showed such reactions.

Regardless, Catherine moved forward through the cleared path.

Behind Catherine followed sisters dressed in white garments wearing tiaras, and behind them, the soldiers.

In this increasingly heated atmosphere, people didn't notice at all that among the sisters led by Catherine was one more person.

'They really don't notice me.'

Rene quietly marveled at the fact that no one had discovered her.

In a way, it was natural.

The priestess sisters surrounding Rene were all wearing clothing of identical color.

Moreover, they stuck close together as if maintaining a formation.

As a result, from a distance, they appeared as nothing more than a white mass.

The faint glow they emitted also played a major role in blurring visibility.

This was why no one noticed a new person squeezed in among the sisters.

'It's stifling.'

Rene internally groaned at the feel of the garments on her body and the tiara covering her eyes.

Like the priestesses, Rene had changed her attire.

For someone who usually only wore the Theon uniform, this was quite awkward but she couldn't express this complaint externally.

One way or another, without this method, she wouldn't have been able to set foot on this battlefield.

Rene wanted to confirm whether what she had seen in her dreams was real, where exactly this power of hers originated from and above all else.

'Brother Heathcliff.'

What Rudger was trying to do beyond there.

Perhaps her greatest desire and motivation was to meet him and have a conversation.

That's why Rene had come this far, taking the risk.

How should she describe the battlefield she had reached?

'What a strange place.'

The battlefields she occasionally encountered in the media were described as terrible places where blood and death were rampant.

It was said that the larger the scale of the war, the greater the aura of death lingering on the battlefield but she didn't feel that strongly now.

There were injured and dead people, but not as many as one would expect for a crusade gathering forces from across the continent.

Even with the gloomy weather, overcast with dark clouds and without a breath of wind, it felt that way.

Rather, Rene felt strangely familiar with this weather.

She didn't know why herself. Why did she feel this way? Perhaps this too was related to her dream.

Rene's gaze turned to the back of Catherine's head.

Though she wore a tiara over her eyes, it wasn't enough to obstruct her vision.

Perhaps it was due to her awakened judgment eye.

Before the power to see the future, even a single tiara couldn't hide everything.

'Sister Catherine. What exactly do you want?'

Rene wanted to ask Catherine, but had to refrain due to the surrounding attention.

Meanwhile, golden flames flashed again in front of Catherine.

After burning all the thorn vines, she raised sacred fire again, this time toward the flower field they reached next.

"Is what I'm seeing real?"

Violetta asked, and Vierano nodded.

"Yes. It seems so. The thorn vine barrier, strengthened by the World Tree's power, has all turned to ash and disappeared."

At Vierano's words, Violetta rubbed her eyelids, realizing that what she had seen was real.

"I wonder if this is even possible."

"It's natural, given that one of the most prominent from the Order has stepped forward."

Vierano's face turned serious as he received information brought by the wind spirits.

"A saint has appeared."

"...A saint."

"It seems priestess sisters are with her as well."

"Since she never appeared until now, I thought it was just an empty position. But seeing this scene, I realize I was mistaken."

The flower field was burning away.

Though slower than the thorn vines, the disappearance of the sleep-inducing scent that blocked ordinary infantry meant the collapse of the most important defensive line.

And Violetta had no intention of standing by and watching.

-Whoosh.

Her will manifested as the surrounding atmosphere touched by the waves emanating from Violetta's brain stirred.

At first it was a gentle movement, then gradually growing stronger, creating a single flow.

The wind was flowing fast and strong.

It engulfed the sacred fire burning the flower field and pushed it outward.

-Pwhaaaash!

The sacred fire that seemed capable of burning everything was pushed outward and fluctuated greatly.

Considering how it had completely burned the thorn vines earlier, Violetta's wind was powerful enough to block flames that defied common sense.

Conversely, when the golden flames spreading beyond the flower field were about to reach Catherine,

With a single gesture from Catherine, the flames extinguished too easily.

Like gently blowing out a candle with one's mouth.

The scene of the sacred fire, which seemed about to dye the entire world golden, subsiding in an instant felt like a dream.

It almost seemed as if what they had seen until now was an illusion or hallucination.

But the erased flower field where the sacred fire had passed proved it was no illusion.

"Hmm. It seems someone formidable has appeared."

Catherine sensed the wind that had blown away her sacred fire and instantly realized that her opponent was no ordinary skilled person.

Though it appeared simple, this was sacred fire used by none other than a saint.

And it had been blown away by wind.

Even if it were wind using magic, it would be difficult, which meant this wind was of a different nature than ordinary magic.

"The power of will is imbued in the wind. That means they could be considered a wizard of colour."

No sooner had Catherine finished speaking than countless cutting techniques flew from far away.

Wind sharpened and compressed to the maximum and shot as blades, each with cutting power capable of slicing through steel like bean curd.

Of course, it was useless before Catherine.

-Swoosh!

Wings made of light spread behind Catherine's back.

Unlike ordinary bird wings, these wings with each feather composed of dazzling golden light flapped once grandly.

-Thudududu.

Golden feathers shot with the flapping wings collided with the blades of air and cancelled each other out in midair.

No, the power of the golden feathers was actually stronger.

Some feathers broke through the air blades and flew beyond sight.

And naturally, beyond sight were Violetta and Vierano hiding among the plants.

'She accurately pinpointed our location?'

Violetta widened her eyes in disbelief.

The wind she controlled had gone completely unnoticed by other crusaders who had passed through the flower field.

No, it would be more accurate to say they knew there was a source creating the wind but couldn't figure out where it was coming from.

Wind is very free, blowing from anywhere and in any way.

By changing direction several times, people couldn't pinpoint Violetta's location.

But Catherine was different.

Despite the distance, she knew their exact location and shot feathers accordingly.

In place of Violetta, who was too slow to respond to this unexpected situation, Vierano Dentis stepped forward.

With white energy enveloping both hands empowered by wind spirits, Vierano threw punches at the feathers.

-Dudududududu!

Fists moving so fast they left afterimages, like firing a machine gun.

Each time a fist connected with a golden feather, it exploded with dazzling light, filling the void.

After deflecting the last feather, Vierano took several steps back.

"Kuuk!"

"Mr. Vierano!"

"Don't worry. It's just a small scratch."

Vierano's fists were covered in tiny wounds.

For Vierano's hands, trained for years despite their delicate appearance, to be injured meant the feathers' power exceeded expectations.

"It seems this won't be an easy fight. Perhaps we should retreat from here for now."

"If we retreat, who will protect the flower field?"

"Sometimes there are moments when one must retreat rather than defend."

"That may be true. But I don't want to."

Hearing the intense will in Violetta's voice, Vierano sighed.

He was well aware that if this point was breached, all the soldiers waiting beyond would pour in.

In a way, it was a strategic point that had to be defended at all costs.

"...Is there a method?"

He sensed a strange confidence in Violetta's voice, making him doubt words would dissuade her.

Confidence that they could somehow stop the saint.

"Of course there's a method. For unskilled me to become a proper wizard."

Violetta thought she needed to go beyond imitation to become 'real.'

"That could lead to an irreversible disaster. You might even die if you're not careful."

"I know that too. But so what?"

Vierano was left speechless at Violetta's question.

Years of experience made him realize, whether he wanted to or not, that this wasn't bravado but sincere words.

"...I see. You're serious."

"I've always been serious."

"...Very well. Then I'll help too."

"You could just retreat, you know."

"When a comrade I've fought with refuses to give up, how could I retreat? Despite appearances, I am an adult, after all."

Smiling as he said this, Vierano looked like a benevolent grandfather gazing at his granddaughter.

Violetta chuckled at the sight and nodded.

"Alright. Let's go."

Wind rose, lifting Violetta's body.

Vierano also enveloped himself with wind spirits and followed her.

Gone were the days of hiding and playing tricks with the wind.

Given the opponent, they too had to give it their all.

Seeing the two flying in from beyond the dark clouds, Catherine spoke.

"Remia."

"Yes, sister."

"Can you handle this?"

"Of course."

"However, since there are two of them, it's fitting for two of us to face them. Anisha."

"Yes, sister."

The priestess called Anisha stepped forward.

"Join Remia and face those two."

"Understood, sister."

"The rest of us continue breaking through. Understood?"

The answer came in the form of wind blowing from far away.

"Who do you think will let you pass as you please!"

Violetta's wind, revealing even stronger sincerity, formed a vortex targeting Catherine.

The vortex itself appeared to move like a living snake.

At that moment, Priestess Anisha stepped forward, clasped her hands together, and offered a prayer.

-Flash!

A massive light burst forth, and behind Anisha appeared a giant golden knight over 30 meters tall.

A golden knight holding a spear of light in one hand and a shield of light in the other.

The knight defended against Violetta's vortex with its shield at the forefront.

Meanwhile, Catherine led the other priestesses and Rene ahead.

Violetta tried to stop them, but Anisha wouldn't allow it.

The giant golden spear thrust forward.

Violetta narrowly avoided it and glared at Anisha.

‘A naturally formed battle.’

Confirming this sight, Vierano, wearing a wooden mask on his face, stared at the other priestess.

Priestess Remia, who had visited Leathervelk before.

"Hehe. Will you go easy on me?"

Instead of answering, Vierano raised his fists and assumed a stance.

Seeing this, Remia smiled as if resigned, then enveloped her body with holy power.

Golden energy formed on her two fists and transformed into gauntlets as Remia also took a stance like a boxer.