Magic Academy Bans Harem

Chapter 271 Goodbye
"Is there anything I want to do?"

In the empty building, Ritas repeated Ann's question, staring intently at her.

Even through the mask, Ann could almost feel the cold gaze emanating from Ritas.

"This must be the most ridiculous question I've heard in all this time. Aren't you the ones planning to do whatever you want in this academy?"

"."

The irrefutable argument left An speechless.

"So, if I don't do anything, this is probably what the situation will be like. As a class mentor, I will wake up in the morning as usual. Then, I will wash up, get ready, review the day's schedule, and check what work remains. After breakfast, I will leave the dormitory. Then, I will probably meet up with the students to attend the few remaining college exchange meetings. Since the students are not participating in any specific projects, we will probably just watch the competition as spectators. During this time, I will probably think about what to do after the exchange meeting ends."

"Even though this is a grand event aimed at learning and exchange, the undeniable fact is that students have almost two weeks of extra vacation during the semester. Therefore, to curb this lax attitude, I'll consider whether to set aside time for a class-wide meeting. Or, in preparation for the upcoming final exams, perhaps hold a last-minute study session—"

"However, all my thoughts will be unnecessary. I don't need to worry about the trainees wailing incessantly. Because... there is no 'after it ends' at all."

"During a project exchange meeting, 'bang!'"

Ritas made an exaggerated gesture of lightly clenching his hands and then stretching them out, depicting the scene of Erles Academy exploding.

"At that time, there won't be any worries. After all, the academy itself will probably no longer exist."

As he finished speaking, Ritas's emotions gradually calmed down.

Because, given the current chaos within Earls Academy, it would be unfair to blame only Anne.

"Instead of what I'm doing, let's talk about what Ms. An plans to do."

When Ann tried to respond, Ritas simply gestured for her to remain silent.

"Ms. An is indeed seriously injured, so please don't force yourself to speak. Since things have already come to this point, why don't you keep it a secret until the end and let me continue to speculate on your purpose."

Ritas paced back and forth a few times, then began to speculate.
"First of all, Ms. An's ultimate goal must be to completely inherit your clan's special power from your mother's side. However, this inheritance ceremony seems to defy common sense."

"It seems you need to die completely to fulfill the conditions for this ritual. But... that shouldn't be accurate, right? So, the real condition is your 'complete disappearance,' is that right?"

An, who was being interrogated like a prisoner, widened her eyes slightly.

"However, as the Third Princess, it's impossible for you to completely disappear. Even through the mysterious power of those rituals. After all, this identity carries too much weight. That's why you became 'Anne'. In that case, the Third Princess Adelinea will still exist, and the only thing that will completely disappear is the inconspicuous maid beside her."

Ritas continued speaking, while Ann coughed lightly and spat out some more blood.

It takes about a semester.

Based on information observed in reality and information about the "star pattern" world provided by the goddess of bathing.

Ritas finally managed to deduce to some extent what the Third Princess's faction and Anne were doing.

"Of course, there are some details that don't need further discussion. For example, if you were just going to disappear quietly, there would be no need for this assassination. So, what kind of perception are you trying to create for everyone? And why must the assassin be a 'Darkborn'? Are they very authoritative in certain areas? Or is it that only they can truly kill you?"

Ritas observed Ann's condition.

Although her injuries were fatal from any angle, she had not yet truly lost her chance of survival.

"Regarding the 'Darkin,' I lean towards the latter. Because, even before the ritual was completed, your vitality far surpasses that of ordinary people. I was prepared at the time that it might actually cost you your life. But in the end, you won't die just by using a sword. So, is it necessary to perform that kind of 'blood ritual' unique to high-ranking members of the 'Darkin'?"

After a long silence, Ann's soft sigh echoed in the room, as if confirming the accuracy of Ritas's various guesses.

"Since the professor knows everything, why is he trying to stop me?"

An asked again.

Her question seemed similar to the initial "What exactly are you doing?", but they were clearly two completely different questions.

“Those were my personal goals and promises. I don’t want to involve others because of them. Perhaps now, my words can no longer gain trust. And my promises are fragile and worthless. But, Professor Ritas, I can promise you that no matter what happens today, as long as I have fulfilled my long-cherished wish, everything will return to peace.”

Ann's words contained both pleading and determination.

Ritas, on the other hand, felt that these claims offered no guarantee whatsoever and sounded like vague, unreliable words.

The information from the goddess of the bath suggests that regardless of the success or failure of Ann's plan in the game world, the resulting ripples were ultimately limited. Even with its stumbles and setbacks, Erles Academy eventually held on until the day its fate was decided.

In the real world, Ritas sensed Ann's "restraint".

Although Ann hinted at wanting help on several occasions, despite the fact that Ritas knew too much and was practically an accomplice to Ann, she ultimately didn't involve this "outsider" in the incident.

Ms. An

Ritas simply shook his head.
"Since I couldn't fully deduce the necessity of this 'assassination,' I proceeded with it. But for everything else, I will do it my way."

Ritas felt that Ann was oversimplifying things, or rather, she was just fooling herself into thinking things were "simple."

Because reality differs from the game, the "Tree Witch" exists. The development and premises of many things are fundamentally different.

“Even if we hand you over to the Darkborn now, you will only die in vain. Whatever your previous plans were, with the intervention of the Tree Witch and the Pioneers, all that exists in this academy now is the plans of the Four Sages.”

Hearing Ritas's words, Ann did not show any surprise or realization.

Clearly, she was well aware of these things. But perhaps she couldn't turn back, or perhaps she was willing to risk her life for one last chance.

But now, even this last chance to fight...
"And your doomed plan, or rather, your already failed plan, is now my plan as well."

They followed the trail of magic relentlessly.

The fireworks maker eventually found the trail of his target.

Entering the dimly lit building, in a rather spacious hall, the fireworks maker saw the "extraordinary colors" that seemed to have been waiting for him for a long time.

In the empty hall, only Yi Cai stood alone. Not far away, there were obvious bloodstains left recently on the wall.

Considering the various powers that Yi Cai had previously displayed, the firework maker, somewhat wary, did not display his usual impatient and irritable temper. He stopped and maintained a certain distance from the other party.

"Welcome, welcome."

A strange smile appeared on his lips as he gently clapped his hands and spoke to the fireworks maker.

The fireworks maker, who had paused slightly, showed a hint of surprise at the dazzling display.

"Who exactly are you? What is your purpose? Where is the princess?"

"Oh? It's that kind of question again. I have a feeling I'll be asked this a lot more times today."

Yi Cai helplessly spread his hands and said, "Speak!"

The fireworks maker, who had already given Yicai enough face with just a little caution, couldn't help but start a fight.

With a loud bang, black smoke immediately billowed into the hall.

Amidst the scene of the dilapidated building and the surrounding sand and gravel collapsing, a solid magical barrier stood before Yi Cai, easily withstanding the firework artist's powerful probing attack.

"Stop, don't rush into action. I think we can talk."

As Yi Cai spoke, she first wiped her face with her hand, magically changed into a different mask, and then took out a sticker from her waist that was no longer sticky and stuck it on her hand.

"Minister Fireworks Craftsman might not pay much attention to the company's internal affairs, so he might not know. I'm actually a low-level employee who recently joined the company's Third Market Development Team. My code name is 'White Pope'."

Sure enough, only half of the sticker was stuck to my hand, while the other half was swaying, with the numbers "0102" written on it.

"."

The fireworks makers, who had already taken the White Pope's actions as a joke, began to launch a massive and violent explosion attack.

In the blink of an eye, the building where the two were located began to collapse in large sections.

After adding another battlefield shrouded in thick smoke to the already engulfed Erles Academy, the firework maker, who had temporarily ceased his attack, and the White Pope, who was still simply activating his shield, were revealed amidst the ruins as the wind dispersed the surrounding sandstorm.

Where is the princess?

The fireworks maker questioned again.

"That's strange. I completed the task for the company, shouldn't I be rewarded? Why does the minister seem so angry? Someone as important as you shouldn't care about stealing credit, right?"

"You have not completed the mission."

Perhaps annoyed by the White Pope's constant strange and eccentric remarks, the fireworks craftsman responded to the other party's words.

"I see. So you do have a way to determine if the target is still alive. But why are you still chasing after that princess? Wouldn't it be better to consider it done? You're just doing work for others, it's okay to slack off a little, there's no need to work so hard. Or do you want to obtain the princess's 'sin blood' through the 'sin blood ritual'?"

"You also know about the 'Sin Blood Ritual'?"

Upon hearing the fireworks maker's response, the White Pope paused for a moment.

The name "Sin Blood Ritual" was chosen by him because he suspected that there was a ritual within the "Darkborn" organization where people competed for sin blood.

Surprisingly, the naming of various terms in the actual Darkin organization is also so straightforward.

"It's really strange. No matter how you look at the Third Princess's bloodline, it can't possibly be the bloodline of a 'sinner.' So, for the organization's top members, the true meaning of 'sinful blood' has never been 'the blood of a sinner'?"

"As a three-digit number, you know far too much!"

As the fireworks maker spoke, the ground beneath their feet suddenly emitted a burst of intense red heat.

boom!
The next moment, a scene resembling a pillar of fire shooting into the sky appeared.

The blazing firelight, which shattered everything around it, seemed capable of devouring everything except a figure still surrounded by a protective barrier.

"How can there be such a strong protective magic?"

The fireworks maker murmured to himself as he watched the White Pope, who had been blasted into the air and was now landing safely.

Admittedly, the current battlefield was chosen by the White Pope. Therefore, he has many ways to prepare in advance, establish positions, and enhance the magic he is about to unleash.

Even so, the magic displayed by the other party was still subtly beyond the scope of the firework maker's understanding.

Moreover, unlike the firework artist's guess that he was an academic mage, the White Pope's protective magic was clearly tested in actual combat, as even the most vulnerable spot, the ground beneath his feet, was well protected.

"What can you do with the princess's 'sinful blood'? You're so determined to have it, but you're not using it yourself. Will her 'sinful blood' become the key to something?"

Based on his knowledge of the various secrets hidden within the academy, the White Pope continued to probe for information from the fireworks craftsman.

"How do you know that I didn't use that 'sinful blood' myself?"

The fireworks craftsman, unsure whether this was a genuine temporary halt or another apparent pause in preparation for "fireworks," asked rhetorically.

"Because the power you've been using and relying on is 'magic,' isn't it?"

"."

The fireworks craftsman, whose true power had been revealed, was taken aback.

Now, he is even more certain of the identity of the White Pope.

But before he could speak, as if anticipating his actions, the White Pope slowly and deliberately removed his mask.

Undoubtedly, beneath the mask are Ritas's incredibly unique eyes.

"It seems you're not too surprised by my identity."

After removing his mask, Ritas, who was no longer flamboyant or frivolous, seemed to have completely transformed, and asked the firework artist with a calm demeanor.

"Initially, I was 30% confident, and later it rose to 50%. So, there's nothing surprising about it."

"Only 50%?"

Ritas looked at the fireworks maker,
"I'm about 90% sure about your identity."

"Oh?"

The voice coming from the fireworks maker's gas mask carried a hint of interest.

"We meet again. So, has your family completed its assessment of me?"

Ritas drew his wand from his waist and aimed it at the firework maker.

"Ms. Rita Gabrielle."

Faced with Ritas's criticism, the fireworks maker paused for a moment, then slowly removed the gas mask he had been wearing.

Unburdening her long hair from under the hood, the fireworks artist tossed it slightly to the sides, her beautiful face gazing at Ritas with a smile.
"Our second matchmaking event was quite special. Professor Ritas Elson."

(End of this chapter)