I Possessed the Heroine’s Teacher

A sense of unease crept over me. I felt as though someone had called my name, so I quickly took the children and rushed upstairs. However, waiting for me at the top of the stairs was a blood-soaked Squall.

“Sis, are you okay?!”

“I’m fine. It’s not my blood; I just ran into some enemies. But, hey… why did you bring these kids with you?”

I explained the situation, and Squall nodded as if she understood. Despite her appearance, she was a caring person—both the Celestial Mage and Squall were. They were the ones who had given a surname, a name, and many other things to an orphan like me, Werner.

“Alright. First, we need to get the kids outside. If it’s the Celestial Mage, he’ll handle things inside. Let’s go out first. This place doesn’t feel right; we’ll bring the others next time…”

“No, sis, you take the kids out first. I’m going to find the Celestial Mage. I agree with you; something feels off.”

I couldn’t ignore the ominous feeling that had been surrounding me since earlier. It felt like black, sticky tar was wrapping around my body—this unpleasant sensation. My instincts were warning me. Or maybe it was this damn glove? What the hell did my mother do to these gloves?

“No, hey!”

“Sorry, sis, take the kids out first!”

“You know how strong that monster is! He’s second only to Zig! If he’s a traitor, you’re dead! And even if he isn’t a traitor, if he’s in danger, what can you do?! If he can’t beat the enemy, why are you going?”

“I have to go!”

“You idiot, dumbass!”

I might really be an idiot. Even though I knew it was dangerous, I couldn’t help but rush in. Was this the influence of Werner’s personality? Or was it just my instincts? I didn’t know. Right now, Werner and I were like sugar in coffee—blended together. Whatever it was, my instincts were guiding me, and that hadn’t changed.

I ran straight down the hallway where the Celestial Mage had gone. It was an incredibly long corridor. Why did these black round table bastards make such a building underground? But I didn’t care about that unnecessary stuff.

After running for about 20 minutes, a huge iron door blocked my way.

“Wind, tear down the barrier before me!”

A fierce wind blew and the heavy iron door was thrown open. I had already used up about half of my magical power in the previous battle, casting spells left and right, so I was already exhausted. The iron door was unexpectedly heavy, consuming more of my energy than I anticipated.

“Master! Are you alright?!! Why haven’t you come out yet…?”

I couldn’t believe my eyes. The Celestial Mage, who was supposed to be second only to the Holy Sword hero Zig, was lying there with his chest pierced. I rushed over to the Celestial Mage.

“Master! Open your eyes! Who did this to you?! Damn it, we need to get out of here and treat you first! Can you stand?”

The Celestial Mage said nothing. His heart was gone. I could feel the wind flowing through his gaping chest and touching my hands.

“Clinging to a corpse… truly a tear-jerking melodrama.”

It was a familiar voice. That damn Rocket-dan-like bastard.

“Hey… Lancelot, is that you?”

“Indeed, Lancelot is one of the names I’ve received. But I would appreciate it if you’d clarify your question.”

“You damn, fucking, pointy-eared bastard. I’m asking if you killed my master!”

Tears automatically began to fall from my eyes. This was surely the influence of Werner’s personality. For me, the Celestial Mage was just a character in a game and an old man I had known for a few days. But for Werner, the Celestial Mage was like family.

If Zig was a brother, Camellia a sister, and Media a first love, then Squall was like a mother, and the Celestial Mage was like a father.

Automatically, Werner’s countless memories spent with the Celestial Mage flashed before me like a panorama.

.

.

.

One day, Werner heard some merchants from the East laughing and talking in their language while pointing at him. Although he couldn’t understand the Eastern language, he could remember the sounds of certain words.

“Master, I think it’s from the East… What does the phrase ‘child raised without a father’ mean?”

“Why are you asking that suddenly?”

“The merchants from the East were laughing and calling me that. I don’t know their language well.”

Then the Celestial Mage smiled gently and patted Werner’s head.

“Ah! Damn it! You’ll mess up my hair!”

“No, you little…”

Werner, who had just been playfully hit on the head, rubbed his scalp and the Celestial Mage coughed and spoke to him.

“Next time someone says something like that, just ignore it. Don’t you have a good older brother and me around? If you really want, I can be your stepfather…”

“Oh, I don’t need that. Master, you have no inheritance to leave behind, and I might have to take care of you when you’re sick later on. And what do you mean by that? What’s with the cringe-worthy nonsense…?”

At that, three consecutive flicks to the head hit Werner. Grabbing his scalp, Werner rolled on the floor while the Celestial Mage crouched down and asked in a chilling voice.

“By the way, who… who were the ones who said such things to you?”

“Uh, it was the old men near the Eastern ships at the harbor.”

“Heh, they came from my homeland, so we should give them a warm welcome.”

That day, several ships from the Eastern continent sank for an unknown reason, but the Celestial Mage claimed that he had no knowledge of it and flatly denied any involvement.

.

.

.

“Master… no, Grandfather…”

Whose question was that?

But the Celestial Mage gave no answer. Just like that foolish child, he remained silent.

Whose pain is this, tearing at my heart?

It felt like the pain was mine, but I couldn’t dismiss it as merely Werner’s, for it felt like my heart was being torn apart.

“I’ll kill you. I swear, I’ll kill you with my own hands.”

“Heh… I hope you stop misunderstanding. I only took his left arm. His life was taken by Mordred, one of the traitors among you.”

“Yeah, go scream that nonsense to your mother’s grave, you bastard.”

“Such barbarity. Have you abandoned the dignity of a mage?”

“I left your mother’s grave behind, you piece of shit.”

Lancelot remained unfazed. He still showed no expression, even as I exuded killing intent, and he continued to stand with his back against the wall, not drawing his sword. I didn’t care how much he looked down on me.

“I’m going to kill you. After you die and go to hell, beg for forgiveness… You’re the reason people lost everything. Give it all back and die!!!”

You took away the meaning of life from Werner.

You took away the family from that poor man.

You took away a man who might have become my closest friend.

You took away the man I (Werner) regarded as a father.

At this point, whose tears, cries, sorrow, and anger it was didn’t matter anymore.

Werner, your tears are mine. My cries are your cries, Werner. Your sorrow, Werner, is my sorrow. And this anger is our anger.

“Horn of the Thunder Dragon, pierce the evil and judge them—”

“Horn of the Thunder Dragon, pierce the evil and judge them.”

Before I could finish the incantation, Lancelot’s fingertip glowed, and the shape of a dragon’s horn, like a lightning bolt, pierced my stomach. A warm liquid spilled over my cool body, and a high-voltage current flowed through my body, making me feel as if I were burning alive.

“Ugh…”

“When you’re angry, even incantations shake. Magic is an art that praises knowledge, it’s at odds with petty emotions like anger.”

“Shut up, you psycho bastard…”

“The Spirit King and the Archmage… to think they can’t even control their own emotions and end up like this… How disappointing.”

He clicked his tongue as he looked at the blood staining my body.

“I came here today to punish that foolish idiot who was trying to steal the test subjects… but I guess he died first. Pathetic.”

He spat on the death of Olag.

“Shut up, he’s a hundred times better than a piece of shit like you!”

Damn, breathing is getting harder… I need to find a gap, somehow…

“Those so-called moderates must have thought they could change the Round Table by joining forces with that Tristan… But sadly, that person hates this world more than anyone else.”

“I don’t care if it’s Tristan or a Christmas tree… just die already.”

I took out the dagger Olag had left behind and tried to stab Lancelot.

“What a pathetic struggle.”

Lancelot easily dodged my attack and stomped on me.

“To think this is the result of denying me… truly pathetic. Just here, in this place…”

Just as his sword was about to take my life, the sound of swords clashing rang out, and Lancelot’s attention was diverted elsewhere.

“You’ve come.”

Standing where Lancelot’s gaze shifted was Camellia.

“Move right now, Father. If you’ve already taken away my comrades… if you dare touch someone precious to me now… I will take your life.”

But Lancelot didn’t even blink.

“How many times must I say it for everyone to understand? I didn’t kill him.”