I headed to the conference without even a moment to shake off my fatigue.
Since I delayed the schedule significantly from the original plan, I cannot delay any longer.
"Rit."
"Yes? Yes! Professor."
"Is it certain that there are no demons in Glasco besides you now?"
This was a question I could ask because this Magic Carriage was equipped with a perfect soundproofing system.
Because this is a world where merely interacting with demons makes one a public enemy of the entire continent.
"To my knowledge, that is correct."
"I see."
I do not trust Rit's words 100%.
However, I needed confirmation.
Mental and physical fatigue that doesn't go away even with 'Super Recovery'.
I needed some comfort to feel even a sliver of hope.
The mental damage given by the bastard I encountered at the last moment was that great.
'I have to survive against things like that?'
He was a bastard who emitted tremendous energy even within the barrier that restricts the power of demons.
During the invasion of Glasco, the barrier will be destroyed, so wouldn't he appear with his true power?
Above all, the most fearful point is that the thought of running away doesn't cross my mind when facing them.
'This is the biggest problem.'
Survival instinct should take precedence over all instincts, but whether it was Baltan or that bastard, the thought of killing them was greater than the thought of pulling out.
It is a phenomenon that became prominent after obtaining Aura.
The only hypothesis I can come up with right now is that the 'Evil Crushing Energy' is having an influence.
'This is troubling.'
Until now, my priority was survival.
But behaving like this, wouldn't survival be difficult?
Even so, I cannot discard Aura either.
Also, I don't think my probability of living will increase just because I discard it.
The best answer is growth.
Growth is needed.
Not only the disciples I refer to as meat shields, but I, myself, also need exponential growth.
"Ah, Professor. And regarding the broken sword, I will put in a request to the school workshop."
"...."
And weapons.
For some reason, they end up becoming disposable.
They cannot withstand my Aura.
Well, the power constituting my Aura is a concept different from the 'magic' of this world.
'Then ordinary weapons won't do.'
It means that entrusting the production to a workshop would be nothing but a futile effort.
"Leave it."
"Yes? But…"
Even if Glasco's workshop is of an excellent level, mass-produced goods are mass-produced goods.
It is impossible with those.
"I will procure it myself."
Not only must it withstand my Aura, but considering my greatest advantage—the Teaching and Learning Grow Together skill—it must possess various utility.
There is exactly one weapon that comes to mind.
***
"Where is Professor Lucas's current location?"
"Currently, he is understood to be passing through the Tegran Plateau."
"He will arrive in half a day."
"That is correct."
"Do not slack on surveillance. Professor Lucas hasn't noticed the surveillance, has he?"
"Seeing that there are no particular movements yet, it seems he hasn't noticed. Furthermore, we are monitoring through a Divine Artifact. He can absolutely never notice."
"Good. Our goal is the live capture of Professor Lucas. You must absolutely not fail. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Saintess!"
"Everyone, please do your best in your respective positions."
"Yes!"
The knights of the Holy Empire Bert also attended this conference.
However, their goal is securing Lucas's person.
'Surely, that was a demon's ability.'
The beginning was the
In it, Professor Lucas fought brilliantly against a suddenly appearing demon.
The problem is that he fought too brilliantly.
As if it were staged.
Didn't the opposing demon even fail to succumb to his own technique?
Detailed processes cannot be confirmed due to the limitations of the video, but it was suspicious enough.
In the first place, Bert was keeping a sharp eye on the strong individual called Lucas who suddenly appeared.
Why Lucas gained the prestige of being a hero of the Eastern Front, why there is no one who witnessed that saga.
Everything was full of suspicion.
Just then, the only information to confirm Lucas's prowess, the video of
Suspicion was amplified in that video.
The 'Conclave', Bert's highest decision-making body, approved securing Lucas's person.
However, since he is Lucas, revered as a hero of Aeroc, one cannot hope for Aeroc's cooperation in this arrest operation.
Therefore, it is proceeding secretly at the conference, a third zone.
The person in charge of it all is Karin, the Saintess and Paladin of Bert.
'We must finish it before he enters the conference.'
She has to face the unknown strongman called Lucas.
The lives of her subordinates depend on her shoulders.
Failure, does not exist.
***
'How long do they intend to follow?'
From the moment I left Glasco, I haven't relaxed my tension for a single moment.
Although tired, I had
A group of people chasing as soon as we left Aeroc's border.
Their massive presence couldn't be ignored even if I tried.
'Well, I can see them because I have good eyes.'
Normally, one wouldn't even be able to notice their pursuit.
The only relief is that they are not demons.
No, rather, it's the Holy Empire side on the opposite end.
It seems they have no intention of hiding the holiness smeared all over their attire.
However, I could also clearly tell that there were no good intentions.
'The Holy Empire is a bit of a headache.'
The Holy Empire.
Literally, a group of fanatics established a nation.
Their Aura characteristics all bear the Holy attribute, and their magic is also Holy-attribute magic, making them the antithesis of demons.
They are quite reliable allies now that the war with demons is in full swing, but the reason they are annoying is because of their insane black-and-white logic.
They are unconditional 'Good', and everything opposing them is all 'Evil'.
Due to the characteristic where faith becomes martial power, they possess powerful martial force, but getting involved becomes a huge headache.
Still, since they are existences close to 'Good Roles' in the end, they cooperate with the protagonist…
Lucas isn't the protagonist, is he?
It means the probability of getting involved in a headache with them is quite high.
The fact that good intentions are not contained in that pursuit also adds weight to the suspicion.
I disabled the soundproofing system and asked the driver.
"…Did you say this carriage is the latest model from Dust Industries?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"Is that so."
That answer was enough.
"Then…"
I secretly asked the driver for one favor.
***
"The target will soon enter the objective range."
"1km to objective range! 700m, 500m… Uh, uh?"
Arrival is right around the corner.
It was a situation where they just had to surround him soon.
"The vehicle Professor Lucas is in is escaping the pursuit at a ridiculous speed!"
"We cannot catch up!"
However, as if he expected this situation, Lucas started rapid acceleration with 100m left to the objective range.
He truly shook off the pursuit in an instant, and by the time they came to their senses, he had arrived at the entrance of the conference.
"Damn it!"
With 10km left to arrival, Dust Industries' new technology, Sonic Boost, was activated.
Truly supersonic.
He disappeared at such tremendous speed that the sound followed later.
"I, it seems he accelerated rapidly because he was late for the lecture schedule."
"Isn't the lecture tomorrow?"
"That is true, but…"
"Are you sure he really didn't notice our pursuit?"
"Y, yes."
"Then you're saying it's just a simple whim?"
"Currently, that is the only…"
It was strange.
It was a move as if he had noticed the pursuit.
However, it was a pursuit using a Divine Artifact, and the distance was also outside the range of human perception, so noticing it would be impossible.
Surely, thinking rationally, that is the case.
However, Karin felt an unknown sense of incongruity.
Still, the operation is not a failure yet.
As long as Lucas is at the conference, a sliver of possibility remained.
***
"How is it. Isn't our Dust Industries' technology amazing?"
"Indeed."
"If I may speak about this latest Sonic Boost…"
The driver burned with company loyalty, reciting the vehicle's new technology like a dealer.
But there is no way it would enter my ears.
"I was really surprised, Professor! It's super fast, but the ride comfort is so good!"
"Right? The teaching assistant knows something. If I were to speak about this ride comfort…"
Now, the presence of the Holy Empire knights has disappeared far away.
"Phew-"
I shook off the thick tension with a sigh.
The driver, perhaps feeling unnecessarily pricked, cleared his throat and changed the subject.
"Ah, I talked too much. I apologize, Professor. Anyway, where shall I take you? Since you haven't eaten yet, shall I take you to a famous restaurant? I know a restaurant that received 3 Mashlin stars."
"I would like you to go straight to the hotel."
"You must be tired from the long journey! Then I will take you straight to the hotel."
The hotel I reserved is one I booked looking only at security, needing nothing else.
The reason was that being pestered by reporters is cumbersome, but actually, the worry about my safety after leaving Glasco was the biggest.
I didn't know the target would be the Holy Empire of all things, but anyway, I don't have to worry about their pursuit even at the hotel.
As the car stopped in front of the hotel entrance, hoteliers poured out.
A level not shameful to be called 'Protocol'.
"We will serve you with the best service, Professor. Thank you for visiting our hotel. Check-in procedures are all completed. Shall we escort you to your room right away?"
"Do so."
"The assistant's accommodation is…"
"Yes? Me? I will just find a motel outside…"
…Damn it.
I couldn't think as far as Rit.
No, in the first place, people from the Holy Empire pursuing me was the biggest variable.
Rit would be the most mouth-watering prey for the Holy Empire.
Tracing me means the influence will reach the driver or Rit who are with me, and the driver doesn't matter, but Rit, who is a demon…
"Rit, stand there."
"Yes?"
Rit, who was unloading my luggage and trying to head to her accommodation, stopped at my call.
Leaving her alone is dangerous.
To be precise, dangerous for me rather than her.
"Follow me."
[A new notification has arrived.]
[Dordong has donated 100G.]
[k2929 has donated 100G.]
No, why suddenly at this timing?
***
"Follow me."
"Y, yyyyes?!"
Rit asked back in surprise at Lucas's words.
She was surprised as if her heart would pop out.
However, Lucas grabbed her arm and pulled her without changing a single expression.
That force made her heart pound.
"Let's use it together."
Use it together.
What kind of! Lewd!
"T, thththat…"
"Will you use it with your assistant?"
"Would there be a problem?"
"No, no problem at all. The VVIP room the Professor will use this time consists of three bedrooms alone, and separate bathrooms are installed in each room for pleasant use. Also, a meeting room is configured separately inside the room, so I am confident there will be no great difficulty for the Professor to prepare for the lecture."
Three bedrooms alone.
Relief and disappointment mixed and surged.
"Let's go up."
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
A tremendous heartbeat is felt from Rit's tightly held wrist.
"Don't tremble."
Lucas's voice softly tickled her ear.
"I will protect you."
At that one word, Rit forcibly blocked a nosebleed that was about to come out.