215 Dekan’s Noble Character
“Cough, cough.”
Dekan stifled a couple of light coughs and feigned deep thought as he murmured,
“It seems that this Harbinger of Doom is even more troublesome than I had imagined…”
“Indeed, it’s atrocious!”
Teacher Cat chimed in from the side.
Dekan resisted the urge to knock some sense into it, instead turning his attention to Alice with a serious expression as he asked,
“Alice, aside from through the astrologer, are there any other methods to confirm the identity of this Harbinger of Doom?”
“Hmm… I’m afraid not. The Harbinger’s methods are far too bizarre. The Kingdom Union’s searches have turned up not a single trace of him, and it’s uncertain whether his very existence can be confirmed.”
Alice sighed in resignation.
“Tell me everything you know. I won’t sit idly by.”
“Hmm…”
Alice nodded and then began honestly detailing all the intelligence gathered thus far to Dekan.
A few days ago, her father was cursed, causing much concern for Alice. Fortunately, the harbinger of doom quickly moved on to curse other kings after that, which strangely calmed them down a bit, but also made them more apprehensive. Through his actions, the Harbinger demonstrated that he could easily curse any king without a trace.
Judging by the cursing route, the Harbinger had cursed the kings of various northern countries, moving southward to curse kings from the central countries, and finally setting his sights on the southern kings.
From what could be seen, the Harbinger had the ability for long-distance curses and likely possessed some sort of high-speed transport—perhaps a high-tier bird or beast mount, or even a dragon summon.
Though there were suspicions that the Harbinger could curse without regard for distance, this did not align with modern magical theories. Based on estimations and calculations, it was surmised that the curse had a distance limit, which explained the clear cursing route.
“Hmm, hmm.”
Dekan listened to Alice’s words with a grave expression, stroking his chin and nodding frequently. Thankfully, he had meticulously planned out the curse route beforehand, calculating a complete set of distance and speed parameters to create the illusion of a magician being restricted by distance as they moved from the north to the south.
“Without a trace, coming and going, indeed, this is a difficult opponent…”
Dekan sighed with a tinge of helplessness in his voice.
“Indeed, this level of enemy proves challenging even for you, doesn’t it…”
“Indeed, I’m not all-powerful.”
Dekan offered a bitter smile.
“So Dekan, we must have the astrologer help us divine the identity of the Harbinger of Doom! This opportunity must not be missed!”
Alice clenched her fists tightly, her gaze firm and uncommonly determined.
“It seems there’s no other way. I’ll have to sacrifice my travel plans and enter the competition.”
Dekan sighed worriedly and stated.
“Indeed.”
Teacher Cat nodded along from the side, trying its best to play its part even as it panicked inwardly.
Each time it saw Dekan’s calm, utterly unflustered appearance, it couldn’t help but feel a bit overwhelmed.
Even to the point of wanting to curse itself.
You’ve really started thinking of yourself as the good guy, haven’t you?!
Teacher Cat now deeply regretted pestering Dekan for his purge plan back in Tristin City. If it hadn’t known, it could’ve been happily deceived by Dekan!
Curiosity really can kill the cat!
“Dekan, I understand. Given the choice between being a judge and being a participant, who would willingly be the latter…”
Seeing Dekan’s troubled expression, Alice displayed a look of regret. Obviously, she too had fantasized about sitting comfortably in the guest seats, occasionally critiquing the battles and offering professional opinions from afar.
But now, Dekan, for the sake of justice, had to personally come down to compete.
“Most of the main competition participants are likely going to be seventh-tier, and there may even be eighth-tier individuals. Moreover, Dekan, you’ll be facing continuous battles and targeted decks… conditions won’t be favorable.”
Alice added.
“No problem. I’ll make sure to study the competition rulebook thoroughly.”
“Eh…”
Alice momentarily lost her words.
While reading manuals was a commendable habit many lacked, Dekan’s meticulous study of the book likely had less-than-honest intentions.
“Alice, defending the kingdom’s honor is our inevitable duty. This time, I’ll win it all—trust me with this.”
Dekan declared with utmost righteousness, his eyes clear and pure.
He looked every bit the noble patriot.
“Hmm! As expected, you’re the most reliable in times of crisis! Very reassuring!”
Upon hearing Dekan’s affirmation, Alice finally calmed down completely. She immediately relaxed her posture, leaning back on the couch and reverting to her usual carefree princess self.
“Actually, Dekan, I was quite worried before I came to see you. I even feared that the Harbinger of Doom would find out about my plans against him and encounter his true form mid-journey… in that case, I probably wouldn’t know how I died, just like a horror movie…”
Now relaxed, Alice finally voiced the anxieties that had troubled her earlier.
Teacher Cat: “…”
Dekan: “Indeed, the scariest horror movies always become terrifying suddenly.”
Alice: “Right, right, exactly like a nightmare without logic! Last time I dreamed about… uh, I forgot what it was, but it was pretty terrifying. Anyway, I won’t think about it anymore. Hahaha.”
Alice laughed innocently, and Dekan followed suit.
He finally began to feel a touch of guilt.
Alice was truly a good person!
She shouldn’t be harmed any further!!
Dekan silently vowed within.
And so, Dekan and Alice conversed a bit more, agreeing to start their journey to the Hero Festival during the vacation period.
Subsequently, Dekan escorted Alice out of the dormitory.
Standing at the door, Dekan waited until Alice was far enough before closing it.
He walked back to the sofa and lay down with a sense of weariness.
“Well, Teacher Cat, looks like I’m truly the villain in this.”
“…Dekan, you must win, or we’re done.”
Teacher Cat collapsed onto Dekan.
There was a sense of surrender in their posture.
“There’s no choice but to win this one, even if I use every underhanded trick to secure the opportunity to ask in the divination.”
“Wow! You weren’t planning to play fair at all, were you?”
“Or how else am I supposed to fight seventh or eighth-tier? Do you think I have archbishop-level combat strength? Even if I ascend another rank, my frontal combat capabilities may not reach the sub-archbishop level.”
Recently, a vague concept had been circulating around campus, leading many students to argue about power levels, thus giving rise to notions like sub-archbishop-level strength and super-archbishop-level strength.
For instance, Evans, Fahim, and Krey were all recognized as possessing archbishop-level strength—they could easily beat an average eighth-tier and even take on multiple opponents.
Yet, the legendary End Bishop could overwhelm other bishops and hence was deemed super-archbishop-level strength.
Dekan’s power level was harder to define. Though from his accomplishments, it was claimed he had eliminated two bishops, and some called him sub-archbishop-level strength.
Moreover, there were increasingly more individual eighth-tiers who, though unable to defeat a bishop in a one-on-one fight, could restrain a bishop alone and were also rated sub-archbishop-level strength.
It was almost giving Dekan a sense of being on some random internet forum.
“Indeed… but when it comes to harmfulness, you’re undoubtedly super-archbishop-level.”
Teacher Cat critically commented.
“You’ve also been spouting these concepts… I feel they themselves at the Rebirth Church don’t even understand what sub-archbishop-level means…”
“But since you’re not planning to play fair, I’m oddly relieved…”
In a face-to-face battle like a tournament, Dekan, whose style was already well understood by the world, couldn’t easily overcome multiple ranks.
Moreover, tactics couldn’t be reused.
Even if Dekan had new tricks up his sleeve, they could likely only be used once.
In a multiple-round competition, no matter how many tricks he had, they wouldn’t suffice.
So, all possible tactics would have to be used both on and off the field.
Regardless of whether Dekan was taking the moral high ground or disregarding ethics, he was clearly an exception.
This reassured Teacher Cat.
“By the way, Dekan, if Alice were to suddenly find out that you are the Harbinger of Doom, would she cry…?”
Teacher Cat, relaxing, recalled Dekan’s virtuous behavior and then remembered Alice’s complete trust in Dekan earlier.
It struggled to imagine how Alice’s sanity would hold if she were to discover the truth in some highly inappropriate situation.
“Let that be. It’s not that bad. It simply won’t come to that.”
Dekan shook his head.
He still had a conscience.
Her Highness had cried enough as it was.
If Alice were frightened again, or worse, the consequences could be irreversible.
Even the capable Mia might not be able to undo it.
“Let’s go. Cornelia shouldn’t be kept waiting.”
Dekan lifted Teacher Cat, placing it aside and stood up with a significant stretch.
But as he picked up his books and water cup, intending to leave again, he hadn’t walked two steps down the corridor before seeing Cornelia and Chloix approaching.
Flora was also with them.
Dekan: “What’s up? Planning a party at my dorm today?”
Chloix: “A new seventh-tier Shadow World has appeared that we can attempt to match.”
Cornelia: “If we succeed this time, our final exams can be postponed to a dedicated time after a Shadow World ends.”
What they needed to do now was prioritize participation in this matching process. The school always placed the highest priority on Shadow World challenges.
Dekan nodded, then looked at Flora.
“So, have you finished studying for your finals?”
“Me? I’m doomed! If you enter the Shadow World this time, who will help me study?”
Flora expressed despair. Though she disliked studying, she didn’t want to become the failed idol everyone talked about.
Dekan handed over two books.
“Everything I could guide has been covered. The rest is in these two books. Pay attention to my notes. Ultimately, it’s up to you.”
Dekan sighed helplessly.
None of his charges were worry-free—one was socially awkward, one was an idiot, and the other, Judith, seemed fine but might cause problems if she ends up with Mr. K in the future, leading to extra work for him as their manager.
Flora gratefully accepted the books, then curiously asked,
“Hey, Dekan, what were you doing earlier? I didn’t know you could be late.”
Chloix received a notification via the [“Super Long-distance Communication Magic”] and found Cornelia in the library. They waited for a bit, and when Dekan was late, they went straight to his dormitory.
“Ah, Alice just came by and asked me to represent the Norton Kingdom…”
Dekan descended the stairs together with his friends, walking in the direction of the Shadow World entrance while explaining the contents of her visit.
Their team’s schedule was about to change, as they would now travel with Norton Kingdom’s royal delegation. With Flora there, she could directly pass the message to the accompanying idol group.
“Harbinger of Doom…”
Upon hearing that term, Chloix frowned deeply.
Alice’s bad news clearly worried him.
“Speaking of which, Chloix, do you think the Harbinger of Doom could be a disguised high-profile individual? It’s quite rare for a hidden master of such strength to suddenly appear in the world, isn’t it?”
Dekan took the opportunity to test everyone’s suspicions on the Harbinger of Doom’s identity.
Whoever was suspected most by them, Dekan could manipulate into taking the blame.
“Speaking strictly, I feel Bishop Fahim Carlos could be a strong contender, given his great power, mysterious methods, and fitting motivation.”
Chloix gave his deduction after a moment of thought.
“Looks like we share the same sentiment. I also find Carlos to be a strong suspect.”
Dekan positively agreed.
Flora and Cornelia seemed to have no other ideas.
Dekan thus planned to close the conversation.
“I feel… The Harbinger of Doom must be incredibly adept at hiding, maybe even someone from within the Kingdom Union!”
Flora suddenly had a stroke of insight and blurted it out.
“!”
Dekan’s expression didn’t change, but he was internally startled.
Flora, as an idiot, had an uncannily accurate intuition.
“Who do you think it is?”
Dekan asked.
“I bet it’s Astrologer Shien! Doesn’t that sound unexpectedly plausible?”
Flora proudly grinned as she put forth her idea.
Dekan: “Shhh! Such talk can’t be made lightly! Idols must be careful with their words!”
Flora: “Oh.”
Dekan sighed with relief.
Thank goodness that guy was an idiot.
Clearly, this scandalous accusation was better aimed at Bishop Fahim Carlos.
Perfect arrangement.
Upon concluding, Dekan instinctively glanced at Cornelia, who was still thinking deeply.
She seemed to be pondering something following Chloix’s and Flora’s words.
But Dekan reckoned it would take her some time to reach a conclusion.
Cornelia: “…”
Yet, the moment Dekan’s gaze met Cornelia’s, her eyes shifted from surprise to a look of sudden clarity, as if all her lingering doubts had been instantaneously resolved.
Dekan: “!”
In that instant, Dekan understood.
His ability to read Cornelia’s heart informed him.
Cornelia had figured out that he was the Harbinger of Doom!
“I also feel it’s Bishop Fahim.”
Cornelia suddenly interjected.
Upon hearing her words, Flora grabbed her head, feeling like everyone else was smart except her.
Dekan offered no comment, only looking at Cornelia.
Cornelia, in turn, seriously met his gaze.
And so they stared into each other’s eyes for a while, both nodding slightly.
…
“Still, Chloix, I think it’s best not to hope too much.”
By the time they reached the entrance of the “Gate” structure, Dekan thought it wise to warn Chloix ahead of any disappointment.
“This time, I feel confident. A few of the teams with higher points than us were selected by the Kingdom Union, but since the Shadow World did not successfully open, and one team can’t seem to match, it’s looking like we’ll get a chance.”
Chloix explained.
“Selective Shadow World? In that case, there might be a chance.”
These selective Shadow Worlds were rare.
In such cases, candidates rejected by the Shadow World wouldn’t match, and the opportunity would be passed down to other groups until one could make the Shadow World activate.
Typically, these selective Shadow Worlds were waiting for a particular group.
According to Kingdom Union rules, Beautiful Soul Squad had ample preparation time.
If the preparation exceeded the deadline, the chance would pass down further.
However, they had been ready for some time.
Always ready for an impromptu adventure.
When they arrived inside the “Gate” building, the scene felt different from usual.
Even Dekan’s mentor, Professor Arno, the principal, and the dean were present to see them off.
Even though there was still a chance Dekan’s team wouldn’t match, a seventh-tier Shadow World was already a tremendous event.
It felt like sending heroes off to battle.
“Let’s go.”
Dekan waved goodbye to the elders who had always supported and accepted him silently.
“Dekan, do not underestimate it. A seventh-tier Shadow World is a different concept from first to sixth tiers.”
Professor Arno, fulfilling his duty, reminded Dekan.
“Don’t worry, professor, look forward to my report!”
Dekan grinned back.
This time, let Chloix handle the report.
Professor Arno wanted to say something along those lines.
Dekan’s reports were quite eccentric, though already more restrained compared to Cornelia’s style.
It’s settled.
As long as they could pass successfully, any other matters could be overlooked.
Thus, watched over, the trio of Beautiful Soul Squad along with their feline companion stepped through the “Gate.”
This time, unlike last time when they were ejected from the Shadow World, their figures vanished together into the Void Gate…
