Vol 2. Chapter 35: The Decision of the Higher-Ups

The original timeline had changed—and not just a little. It had been dramatically altered, possibly beyond recognition, to the point where Aesphyra no longer recognized the world around her.

In truth, Aesphyra had realized this back when the confrontation between the Rage Dragon Knights and Vinny happened ahead of schedule, with its entire nature altered, and when Vinny hadn’t used a dark Soul Armament.

At that moment, she understood—the timeline was becoming increasingly uncontrollable. Even though she could predict what was supposed to happen next, she had no idea how many new variables had already been introduced.

Aesphyra was well aware that knowing the trajectory of the original timeline wasn’t necessarily a good thing anymore. In fact, her understanding of the original plot could lead to preconceived assumptions, causing her to lose the sharp insight she ought to possess.

And yet... it still happened.

But Aesphyra couldn’t figure it out. She was sure she hadn’t overlooked any additional details.

Then why? Where had such a massive deviation come from? Was it because Vinny had “turned over a new leaf” in this life, and his old role had been replaced by someone even more dangerous than the original Vinny?

Aesphyra didn’t believe that was the case. After all, just like how no one could imagine a person capable of predicting the future and steering its course, it was equally impossible for anyone to have noticed her subtle precautions against Bronze Blood.

And when she spiked their potions with the antidote, she had used Divine Favor to freeze time itself—there was absolutely no way anyone could’ve been aware of that.

So then... who?

Judging by Bronze Blood’s reaction, they didn’t seem to be aware of her interference. But still... what if, in this timeline, Bronze Blood had someone hidden among them, a masterful individual she hadn’t accounted for?

Aesphyra’s thoughts tangled in frustration. She couldn’t figure out at which link in the chain everything had gone wrong, revealing her plan to sabotage Bronze Blood’s scheme.

Vinny, standing beside her, watched her fall into silence and grew visibly anxious.

“Oi, come on, Big Sis, say something already, would you? Now’s really not the time to just clam up like that!” Vinny blurted, his voice urgent.

“This bunch of freakish rejects are mocking you right now—saying you’ve got no plan left! You gonna just let them talk like that? I’m your number one little fanboy, I ain’t standing for that crap!” Vinny thumped his chest dramatically.

“Vinny, if I’m not mistaken... that friend of yours, the one you often play cards with, wasn’t he showing flu symptoms recently?” Aesphyra finally spoke, her voice calm after a brief moment of thought.

Vinny’s heart seized at her words.

Indeed, he could brush aside doubts about Aesphyra’s personal feelings for him—but her instincts as a protagonist? Those couldn’t be ignored.

If even Aesphyra was saying Fred might be in danger... odds were, the situation was dire.

“Then... you should probably go help your friend,” Aesphyra said quietly, her slender fingers brushing along the hilt of her holy sword, her silver eyes lowering half-closed.

“Huh? Wait... you can’t handle this?” Vinny froze in disbelief.

“I’ll stay and deal with him. You go help your friend. Go save Mirexia,” Aesphyra answered, gripping her sword behind her back, all her usual teasing and playful banter gone—replaced with a suffocating, deathly calm.

She began walking toward the Fanatic, the night wind carrying a faint, sorrowful chill as it lifted her beautiful silver hair. The only sound within the vast cathedral was her steady, oppressive footsteps.

Even knowing the original timeline’s events, some accidents still blindsided her—like this tragedy.

Aesphyra was done holding back.

She needed to get to the bottom of this. She needed to know who was manipulating events from the shadows.

“My friends... will they be okay?” Vinny asked, his voice wavering.

“...I can’t guarantee that.”

It wasn’t an unexpected answer. But what surprised him was what Aesphyra said next.

“...I’m sorry.”

Vinny’s eyes widened in shock, lifting his gaze to her unwavering silhouette, radiating pressure as the wind howled around her.

Aesphyra... apologized?

He never imagined he’d live to hear that. This was someone who, in another life, had once hated him so much she wanted him dead.

She was blaming herself for failing to save those students, wasn’t she?

Even Vinny understood—this wasn’t Aesphyra’s fault. Trying to control the future was nothing but a pipe dream. And in that regard... she wasn’t so different from him.

She could never truly trust others.

Sure, Aesphyra always acted poised, outgoing, with flirtatious charm to spare—but maybe... not a single person had ever truly gotten inside her heart in either of her lifetimes.

After all, who would willingly reveal their deepest secrets to someone else?

In that, Vinny and Aesphyra were remarkably alike.

And along with that... came an unwavering confidence.

Aesphyra was the kind of person who, once she set a goal, would carry it through no matter what. That sort of determination often made people act on their own, convinced they didn’t need anyone else.

Aesphyra never explicitly showed it—but for some reason, Vinny could see it clearly.

“No... this isn’t your fault. Thank you for trying to help my friend, Aesphyra,” Vinny called after her, his gratitude genuine.

In that moment, Aesphyra finally felt just a little more... human to him.

Only now did Vinny truly understand why she was the protagonist.

Forget that flirtatious green-eyed playboy image—the one crafted with a hefty dose of player projection.

At her core, Aesphyra had real morals. Real character.

That’s why, even at the peak of her hatred, when Vinny was at his most vulnerable... she never chose to silently snuff him out with Divine Favor, despite wanting to stab him a thousand times.

That’s why she fought so hard to save lives with her knowledge of the old timeline.

That’s why, when she failed to save them all, she blamed herself and carried that guilt alone.

Aesphyra didn’t reply. She didn’t even turn around. But Vinny knew—she heard him.

And for her... this was the first time hearing him say thank you.

Virtue +20

Current Virtue: 324

“You be careful, alright? I know how strong you are—but that’s still a Fanatic. He could stand among Elrunas’ strongest followers. Even Master-rank warriors can’t handle him. Who knows what hidden aces and ultimate attacks that guy’s still holding back?” Vinny warned.

But he also understood—staying here would only slow Aesphyra down, forcing her to waste energy protecting him.

He dispelled his Armor Fortress and sprinted for the exit.

This place... was Aesphyra’s battlefield now.

Besides, Carillian Academy was probably already in total chaos.

Vinny dashed out of the Saintess Selina Cathedral. The students and instructors who had been gathered inside moments ago had all vanished—Shikondell included.

But Vinny wasn’t too worried about her. With Milian around, Shikondell wouldn’t be in any real danger.

Milian might be emotionally unstable, but her entrance exam score was top five—and her feelings of guilt and protectiveness toward Shikondell ran deep. She’d protect her, even at the cost of her life.

BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!!

Another deafening roar echoed from the cathedral. The sheer shockwave made Vinny’s scalp tingle.

He ducked his head, rubbing his ears, knowing full [N O V E L I G H T] well that Aesphyra and the Fanatic had started going all-out.

Unlike the Fanatic, who only cared about destruction, Aesphyra had to protect the cathedral while fighting—a massive handicap.

All Vinny could do now was pray that fate’s protagonist wouldn’t lose.

It was probably the first time he’d prayed for Aesphyra to win—prayed for her complete victory.

Vinny ran toward the floating, blood-red altar in the sky, fragments of the past flickering in his mind.

“Those loudmouthed bastards better not die on me...” he cursed under his breath.

They were his first real friends at the Academy.

They were different—small-time nobles, overlooked second sons, the types who didn’t care about status, reputation, or rankings.

They’d bonded over their Goddess Cards. Pure friendship.

“Dammit, Fred... you still owe me two packs of cards. You better not die on me. I’ll drag your ass out of a corpse pile if I have to!” Vinny growled at the blood altar overhead.

“You better hold on, got it?!”

But before he could make it out of the cathedral courtyard, a massive, flaming pillar collapsed in front of him, blocking his path.

“Dammit! You idiots seriously can’t tell the timing?! I’m on a damn clock here!” Vinny cursed as several black figures dropped from the sky, landing around him.

But as the firelight revealed their faces... they were all human. They wore the Carillian Academy uniform.

“...What are you doing? It’s bad enough you mess with me normally—now, of all times? You idiots timing your tantrums to perfection or what?” Vinny frowned, immediately sensing something was off.

Sure enough, their expressions were blank, eyes vacant and dull, like puppets on strings. If not for the faint signs of breathing, they’d seem entirely lifeless.

They raised their Soul Armaments, targeting Vinny.

“Damn it... it’s true, then,” Vinny muttered under his breath.

These students... they’d been drugged by the cult’s potions. Their bodies hijacked by the Demon God.

No wonder the male student from earlier never returned with instructors. The Academy’s battle instructors were stretched thin—rooting out traitors, evacuating students, fending off Fanatics.

Who could’ve expected Bronze Blood still had one final play—controlling virus-infected students to cause havoc?

The instructors were overwhelmed. The puppet-like students were sabotaging everything.

“Hey! Get the hell out of my way! Don’t you remember who you are?!” Vinny shouted, gripping Frostfang tightly.

The students didn’t respond—moving with stiff, zombie-like steps toward him.

“Shit...” His only options were transforming into Vanessa or unleashing Frostfang’s Roar.

But Frostfang’s Roar was too dangerous. The sheer power would likely freeze these students to death.

As Vinny stood trapped, a fierce gust of wind swept through, forcing the controlled students back.

A familiar scent of citrus struck him—he looked up to see the golden-haired girl with dragon horns, wings, and eyes descending under the moonlight.

“Vinny, take my hand.”

Without hesitation, Vinny grabbed Milian’s hand. She pulled him into the air.

Below, the controlled students stared blankly, swaying like broken marionettes, unable to react.

Milian carried Vinny to the top of the Saintess Selina Cathedral.

The fierce air currents left Vinny pale, but he didn’t care.

“Milian, what the hell is going on? Those blood-red altars floating over the Academy—what are they?!” he asked, gasping for breath, urgency overriding any other questions.

“...A large number of students have turned into monsters. Cause unknown,” Milian replied gravely, keeping her words brief.

“They’ve gathered before the Order Spire, forming a ritual. Looks like they’re summoning... something.”

“I knew it... damn it!” Vinny slammed his fist against a pillar in frustration.

“Do we have any spare combat forces left?” he asked.

“It’s dire. Even academic instructors have taken up arms. Senior students, too,” Milian’s tone was heavy.

“Then... what about the higher-ups? What are the Academy’s leaders planning to do?!” Vinny demanded.

Things were falling apart—surely the higher-ups had issued orders by now?

“They’ve made their decision. A solution to this situation,” Milian exhaled sharply.

“Then why aren’t they carrying it out?!” Vinny’s instincts screamed at her expression—he sensed something terrible coming.

“The higher-ups... regretfully concluded that those students, infected by an unknown virus, may still appear human on the outside... but internally, they are no longer human,” Milian forced the words out.

“Their vital signs, life force—everything matches the Demon God Pillar’s followers. In other words... they’ve all become Demon God Pillar familiars.”

“They died... the moment the virus was triggered.”

Vinny collapsed against a decorative pillar, sliding helplessly to the rooftop floor.

“...How? How... could this happen?”

“What’s the decision?” His voice trembled.

“...To eliminate them all,” Milian replied, her words like a death knell.