32 - The Victim of the Academy

Chain of Hate (6) Alright, let's break this down. What’s the root cause of all this chaos? How did things end up like this? “Tillis.” She, revered as a saint by the public, entered the Cradle, causing various groups, including Ex Machina, to start gathering. These people aren’t driven by profit or pragmatism, but by a revenge drama rooted in hatred that they cannot look away from. As always, our students at the Cradle are caught up in this vengeful cycle. “Especially when it comes to groups like Ex Machina, they would calculate the costs and benefits thoroughly… There’s no reason for them to risk danger just to harass Cradle students. This is definitely a matter of personal grudges.” Last year, Ex Machina hadn’t carried out any particularly aggressive terrorist acts against the Cradle. It felt more like someone absentmindedly unleashing an experiment specimen as one walks along the road. This constitutes another kind of terror. Anyway, Ex Machina used technology as bait to rattle the Cradle and escalate the situation to a political issue involving both the Imperial Family and the Cradle. Under normal circumstances, with important figures involved, security should be more stringent, but the Cradle’s security was essentially one individual, Olga Hermod. It was too much for one person to handle. As outsiders began flocking to the Cradle one by one, Emily, an executive from Ex Machina under Koran Rekias, spoke. She advised seeking out Professor Georg. Professor Georg, commissioned by the Imperial Technology Research Department, was researching the properties of metals, and guess what? The metal Professor Georg discovered was nothing special—just ordinary iron. And that’s where the problem begins. Consider the relationships among the parties involved and identify their correlations. (10 points) “Ah, damn.” If this were an exam question, I’d be failing spectacularly. There’s so much happening at once it’s impossible to piece it all together. All I know for sure is that an Ex Machina researcher holds the key to solving my problem. But I don’t know who this researcher is. I haven’t even a clue. Yet, if there’s one thing I’m certain of... “…It all leads back to Tillis.” The Ex Machina researcher’s target is likely Tillis. She’s the eye of the storm. Ultimately, everything revolves around her. The unease that’s been creeping in since the moment her existence was acknowledged. The tangled web of absurd accusations from Robelia and Curse, and the unreasonable malevolence the world seems to direct at me. “Seriously, what did I do wrong to keep getting hit with trials like this…?” I’m really struggling here… --- I check on Tillis’s condition. Of course, I’m not trying to spy on her like a thief. Even just being near Yuna gets me caught in a bind, so to delve into her business? That would be suicidal. Yuna says Tillis isn’t particularly perceptive, but isn’t that just based on Yuna’s standards? So for now, I decide to observe her through legitimate means. “Shall we get started today?” Yes, I’ve decided to attend a lecture hosted by Tillis. But considering I typically don’t even pay proper attention during regular classes, me voluntarily attending a special lecture after school must’ve seemed peculiar to others. “…Why are you here?” Ariel asks with a disgusted expression. It’s comforting to see how lively she looks with her eyes glaring like that. May you live that way forever. It’s nicely distancing. “I came to refresh my mind with some observation since the experiments have stalled.” I give her an excuse. To Ariel, it probably looks like the person who promised to brew her a life-saving potion is slacking off at a baseball game. Not sure if it’s actually like that, but I’d feel a bit let down if it were me. And even if it’s an excuse, it’s not entirely wrong. The experiments are stalled, and that’s why I’m here. The only one who can solve my problem is the Ex Machina researcher, and they're likely targeting Tillis. Ultimately, I need to check matters concerning Tillis. “Sir Yohan, you can quit if it’s too much. I'm not interested in extending my life by sacrificing others.” Nonsense. Ariel throws a pitying glance and blurts out something demotivating. Has she lost it? With encouragement already lacking, what’s she saying now? “At this point, I have to make it happen out of sheer determination, so don’t demotivate me unnecessarily.” “…Well, do as you please.” Unnecessary consideration. Is she worried I’ll feel guilty if I fail to create the potion in time? I’ve come too far for that now. Even if Ariel were to die, I cannot stop developing the potion. This has become my own issue. “Alright, let’s begin. Who’d like to start?” With Ariel and I exchanging banal words briefly, Tillis’s one-on-one tutoring session commenced. Dueling, a lecture focused on real combat. The term ‘saint’ barely aligns with such rigorous training methods. What fool labeled someone like Tillis a saint? There’s nothing about her that fits that title. Bang! A thunderous noise reverberates. It was the sound of a massive hammer swung by a student who challenged Tillis, hitting a translucent wall floating in midair. Tillis blocked the attack without batting an eye. “There’s no need for such formalities with me. Even giving your best, you won’t scratch me.” A provocation to boost morale. Tillis adeptly guided her opponent to exert their utmost effort. Without counterattacking herself, she leisurely deflected all assaults, compelling her opponent to go all out. Any concerns of things going awry would melt away like snow. As the roar echoing in the air gradually intensified to a daunting level... Only then did Tillis begin her counterattack. “Your strength is commendable. However, there are still crude aspects in covering the gaps when your attacks fail.” Whoosh! Following Tillis’s hand, a green glow seemed to radiate as she effortlessly repelled her charging opponent. Thud! After pushing her opponent back, Tillis stomped her foot. Immediately, thorny vines sprang up from the ground, ensnaring her opponent. “Moreover, your weaponry is limited. While I understand blunt weapons are your forte, how about carrying a blade for situations like this?” Swinging a hammer to ward off the creeping vines is a futile effort. The opponent, trying desperately to fend off the thorny onslaught with the force of the hammer, soon finds themselves completely ensnared. And then... “Otherwise, this is what happens.” With a snap of Tillis’s fingers, the thorny vines erupt into flames. Power that transforms freely, bound by nothing. It’s neither magic nor some supernatural ability. Upon close observation, an inexplicable, translucent something seems to hover around Tillis. These entities, often referred to as spirits in the world, manipulate powers beyond reason. “Ack!” Yet, even in the fiery descent of that process, the opponent doesn’t easily yield. Where on earth is that still a student? Emerging from the flames to immediately launch a counterattack—can we still call them a mere student? Thunk! But once again, the opponent’s attack is effortlessly thwarted. Not even a rumble echoes; the hammer, previously swung at tremendous speed, decelerates as if nothing contained it, subsiding into the pristine white wings hovering in mid-air. Wings formed of something unknown. Ariel, standing beside me, frowns. “That’s the technique I was taken down by. What exactly are those spirits?” “I see.” Something sacred. Rising in the air, it might well be called an angel. Swoosh! The wings that had enveloped the massive hammer unfurl wide and then gently wrap around the opponent. “Ugh…” The student collapses as if all the strength in their body has been drained away. Presumably, those wings possess the ability to dissolve the very concept of force. The outcome is decided. Tillis, having dominated the entire match, subdued her opponent. It was to be expected. “I appreciate your indomitable spirit—it was inspiring to see you fight on without giving up.” With a calm gait, as if on a leisurely stroll, Tillis approaches the opponent. There's a gentle smile on her face, and her demeanor is respectful. “But what fueled that determination? If I may guess, wasn’t it rooted in hatred?” “…” “You're fighting out of a desire to take revenge on somebody, aren't you?” “…Yes.” Their head hangs low. Is what they feel a sense of shame? Sorrow? Or perhaps a sense of helplessness. Maybe they’re recalling the very moment that gave rise to their need for hatred. There are many such people in the Cradle. Melana and Jeff, for instance, bear such scars, do they not? People here don’t survive because they’re strong. They become strong in order to survive. “…Hatred can indeed be a powerful motivator.” With a concerned expression, Tillis places a reassuring hand on the student’s shoulder. “But what happens if you achieve your revenge solely driven by hatred? Hatred breeds more hatred. The chain will remain unbroken unless someone consciously decides to end it.” Those words could easily provoke someone—to the extent of smashing their opponent's head in. If someone unaware spouted such nonsense, it would only ignite anger. However, the words that followed were neither stale nor clichéd. “Can you become strong enough to swallow that whole chain of hatred? Can you go so far as to annihilate even the closest kin of your enemy?” Tillis didn’t preach forgiveness for the opponent. Quite the opposite. She encouraged them to become someone thorough enough to encompass their very hatred. “If not, it might be wise to steady your mind a little. With half-hearted resolve, you’ll accomplish nothing.” If not, then give it up. She urged them to decide firmly between black or white. These words reveal her nature. “Negative emotions and the helplessness from unresolved issues…” In a way, it was ironic. Isn’t she the one who drags around a chain of hatred? She’s a monster. The title of saint doesn’t suit her at all. “They might invite something undesirable, which can’t be undone.” She only perpetuates hatred. Even as she dismantles gangs and crime organizations ruling the slums, she always leaves room. She leaves survivors, anticipating they’ll seek revenge on her. A deliberate cultivator of hate, urging others to seek vengeance—a mad, psychopathic murderer. That’s the essence of Tillis. “Hoo…” The duel has just ended. As the timing seemed appropriate, I rose from my seat to speak to her. As I took a step forward, Tillis’s gaze met mine. Just meeting her eyes made me want to retreat. To mask that fear, I quickly bowed my head and began to introduce myself. “Hello, Lady Saint. I am Yohan Damus.” “Oh, I remember… from the other day…” “Yes, we crossed paths back then. Though both of us were quite flustered at the time, I wanted to thank you. Thank you for saving us.” “Oh my, so it was you! And I see your girlfriend is with you too? Nice to meet you. Did you make it back safely?” “Yes, thanks to you. But, Lady Ariel is not my girlfriend. I do have a sense of who I choose.” Really now, this is too much. How can you speak to someone like that? “Isn’t this something I should feel slighted by?!” Ariel scowled and shot me a glare at my unexpected remark. Look at that viciousness. "And by the way, speaking of which, Sir Yohan has always been…!” “Ugh?!” Flinch! Ariel and I were about to start a dissing contest against each other, but that grand ambition was quickly thwarted. Tillis closed the distance between us in an instant. In that sudden turn of events, Ariel clutched her hat and hunched over, while I met the impassive gaze of Tillis. “You.” “Yes.” “You seem to be favored by the spirits?” “…Is that so?” “Yes, it’s a rare trait.” I always suspected she would take an interest in me. That’s why I had been avoiding any contact with her. But circumstances have changed. “If it’s alright with you, may I request a spar with you today?” So now, let’s reverse our approach. While Tillis explores what kind of person I am, I’ll use this opportunity to gauge the malevolence that hovers around her. A mutually beneficial time in this hellish setting.