Magic Academy Bans Harem

Chapter 365 "Ritas"

"cooperate?"

Ritas looked up at the "wanderer" who seemed to be on the outside of the world.

This wasn't the first time he'd encountered a wanderer.

When Ritas was first drawn into the fairy tale world, he tried to break free using the power of the golden apple. It was the Wanderer who appeared from the sky and intervened in his actions.

Therefore, Ritas separated his body from his soul. This was not only to provide a "root" for the goddess of bathing, who might be in danger, but also to free himself from the constraints imposed on him by the wanderers of the time.

After that, Ritas's actions always seemed furtive, and the enemy he was hiding from was the Wanderer.

At first, Ritas might have been irreplaceable.

Vayne's primal power can only be activated if he is the target. And as long as he is the "protagonist" of this world, he is destined not to be truly erased.

But afterwards, Ritas felt that it was hard to say.

If the Wanderer isn't foolish, once she realizes that Ritas, the "protagonist," is destined not to act according to her wishes, she will set out to find a replacement.

But now that the Wanderers have proposed a cooperation...
"In other words, the person who is currently manipulating Cortelne to destroy the entire world from within is not you? Or perhaps you can only influence her will to a certain extent, but cannot truly make her act according to your wishes."

"To call it manipulation is a misunderstanding. His Holiness the White Pope seems to have a great prejudice against me. All my actions are solely based on the wishes of those I deeply love. And Miss Cortelne Elson is also someone I deeply love."

The wanderer spoke these words, his voice gradually growing somber.
"I felt her pain, more clearly than anyone else. So, I just wanted to say, 'You don't really need to be in pain,' and 'Human nature isn't meant for enduring.' I just hoped she could embrace herself and face her true self. I never imagined she would be swallowed up by the darkness within her."

As the wanderer's voice faded, she looked as if she could start sobbing at any moment.

"So, you're saying you tried to use your authority in this world to manipulate Cortriene. But even if you could, the power distribution among the regional leaders is inherently unbalanced. Therefore, Cortriene couldn't fight against the regional leader who protects the core."

As Ritas spoke, he raised his hand. The golden particles surrounding his illusory body gathered in his hand, forming the shape of an apple.

"My actions of using the power inherent in this world to fight against this world inspired you. So, you used these powers to stimulate the so-called 'darkness' in Cortrinet's heart and tried to strengthen her. But unfortunately, although the strengthening was successful, Cortrinet gradually showed an unusually strong power, which made her almost break free from your control."

"."

"I suppose you won't just sit idly by and wait to die. And making amends is probably beyond repair. The current out-of-control Cortrinie is the best answer. So, if you can't regain control of Cortrinie, what will you do? I guess you'll try to use the power of this world itself, along with your limited control over it, to cultivate a new 'agent.' However, cultivating a new agent probably won't go very smoothly, will it? Or perhaps there's not enough time. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here to discuss this with me now."

As Ritas spoke, he closed his palms slightly with force.

The illusory golden apple seemed to explode, transforming back into particles that surrounded him.

"It's like someone who controls everything behind the scenes, has authority over the world, and possesses some cheat-like abilities. But in the end, you've created this predicament for yourself. Isn't that a bit too ridiculous? Wanderer."

With his eyes wide open in his soul form, where he no longer needed to blink, Ritas stared directly at the Wanderer and sneered.

"Truly a brilliant imagination, Your Holiness the White Pope."

As if forgetting his previous persona, the once compassionate wanderer continued speaking with a beaming smile.

"There might really be a very serious misunderstanding between us. The reason I'm here, in the Westerlands, is all for the sake of the 'Daughter of Original Sin,' to fulfill Vayne's heartfelt wish—"

"Perhaps, cooperating is a more rational choice."

Having apparently gathered enough information, Ritas, clearly losing patience with the wanderer, directly interrupted her insincere words.

"After all, neither you nor I want this world to be destroyed from within. Although the world's 'goal' has been achieved, what awaits us is also the crisis of annihilation. But in any case, it is still more of a chance of survival than to be completely destroyed along with this world. As for the 'primordial' power that you think you unleashed on your own, you are just a tiny existence who has been running an organization for many years with laughable gimmicks like 'worshiping sinful blood,' but has always kept your organization in the shadows."

As Ritas spoke, his raised hand made a gesture that, from a certain angle, resembled a heart shape—a gesture of "tininess."
"Was it John? Did he provide you with help? What did he provide? Tools? Secrets? Knowledge? Power? Manpower? Or did he provide you with everything, and you're just an empty shell after the cicada has shed its skin?"

"So, His Holiness the White Pope truly has a rich imagination."

"Since he provided so much for you, and his only requirement was to unleash the power of the 'Primordial,' yet you still delivered a failure, it seems rather unreasonable, doesn't it? Think about it carefully, this was a task that anyone other than you could easily complete. And others didn't need any outstanding abilities; they just needed to do nothing. As long as this world successfully unfolds, its inherently purposeful and fixed script will complete itself. The power of the primordial will also attract the wills that control the world, like the only bright flame in the pitch-black night."

"My relationship with Lord John is merely that of collaborators."

Faced with Ritas's sharp words, the wanderer, who probably needed to expend a lot of energy to control his emotions, responded a step slower.

"So you're just a collaborator? If you were John's subordinate, your incompetence and failures could be attributed to his poor judgment of character. But since you're just a collaborator, I'd really like to see what kind of interesting expression he'll have when he discovers that his collaborator is the type who can mess up even the simplest tasks."

In a steady, rapid, yet remarkably clear voice, Ritas delivered his decision.

"So, my answer is no. It's not just because your very existence makes me feel nauseous. It's also because I don't think there's any bright future in working with a woman who can mess up even the simplest things."

Ritas's voice fell heavily, and the wanderer seemed to finally have a chance to respond.

"Hehehehe. Hehehehehehe—"

A slightly strange, low laugh echoed through the sky of the fairytale world.

"No matter what outrageous things you say, I will listen with the utmost reverence. If I am truly at fault, I am willing to apologize and correct my mistakes. Because, no matter how I am treated, I only want to fulfill the wishes of my beloved 'Daughter of Original Sin.'"

"Since you value her so much, where were you when she shut herself off after her mother's death, when she was creating a false self to complete fairy tales?"

Now that they have a clear understanding of Ritas's past, they are asking him pointed questions that go straight to the heart of the matter.

"Perhaps, when her mother fell ill, your actions did indeed help her. But what was that soul contract you signed at that time? Only someone as greedy as you would truly believe that a single act of charity, like scraps of food, given to someone on the verge of despair is enough to buy them their entire life."

"He thinks he's a chess player, but when things don't go his way, he'll just pounce on the chessboard."

"Greed, ignorance, hypocrisy, incompetence, insignificance. A single mask cannot conceal so many ugly faces, wanderer!"

"."

The wanderer, whose last fig leaf seemed to have been torn away, maintained his smile, but suddenly opened his devilish eyes.

Instantly, the fortress city that Ritas had altered was filled with red clouds.

The crimson rain poured down, turning into human figures soaked in blood as it hit the ground.

In the blink of an eye, the red soldiers, who had almost filled the city, roared and raged as they charged madly toward the tower where Ritas was standing.

"."

It was clearly you who initiated the cooperation. But were you provoked by the other party's words and then used all the energy you should have used to mend the mess to vent your anger?

Ritas looked up at the wanderer staring at him. Although the situation was now extremely precarious.

But Ritas still sincerely hoped that this kind of opponent, who could be "dealt with" with through words, could stay by the side of the person who could truly be his enemy for as long as possible.

"Mother."

In her own home, Wein would sometimes go outside to look in, and sometimes look out the window into the distance, calling out to her mother with great concern.

This day should have been the day her brother, her last family member, came to visit and reunite with her.

But suddenly, everything seemed to become inexplicable.

From the window, one can see that everything in the distance appears to be broken and fragmented.

Meanwhile, in the distant fortress city outside the gate, an ominous, blood-red rain was falling.

"With such unstable weather, is it because it's time for the changing seasons again?"

"real or fake!"

To avoid unsettling Vivien, Sofia, who remained calm throughout, gently embraced her "daughter" from behind.

Where Wayne couldn't see, Sophia, her brow furrowed, spotted a dark figure appearing in the distance.

"coming."

Sofia, her brows slightly relaxed, looked at the gradually becoming clearer figure and breathed a sigh of relief.

Wayne's gaze immediately focused on the figure slowly approaching.

Something unusual was clearly happening outside. But the moment she saw that figure, Wayne felt that everything else had become insignificant.

In her dream, the illusory yet real figure standing atop a distant cloud, seemingly separated from her by a different world, constantly merges with reality.

"He's my brother?"

Wearing a dark hood that resembled a raincoat, the black-haired boy climbed the low slope in front of Wayne's house and came to the front of Sofia and her daughter.

"Nice to meet you, I am Ritas Mischi Berengrom. There was an unexpected incident on my way here, which caused me to be a little late. If you need my apology, I can offer my sincere remorse."

Inside the room, Ritas, still wearing his dark cloak, introduced himself in this manner.

Upon hearing the other person's words, Wayne quickly waved her hand, somewhat flustered, indicating that "there's no need."

Wayne's first impression of Ritas was undoubtedly that he was somewhat frightening.

Aside from his slightly bloodshot eyes, which made one wonder when he would blink, Ritas's overly rigid movements also made Vayne uncomfortable.

This was the first time Wayne had realized that if every detail of a person was as standard as a textbook, then he would give people a strange feeling of being a "pseudo-human".

"So what do we need to do next?"

Ritas, standing straight in the hall, asked somewhat awkwardly,
Even if they suddenly say they want to introduce me to a younger sister or something.

Ritas sighed softly.

Feeling a little awkward, Wayne introduced herself and pointed to the square table by the window, gesturing for the stranger to sit down first.

But it was at this moment that Ritas, who was trying to continue into the house, encountered a hand outstretched towards him.

"What does it mean?"

Sofia, who had been standing still the whole time, stretched out her right arm in a gesture that resembled "stop".

Just as Wayne thought her mother might be angry because Ritas was late, and was about to say something to comfort her...
Suddenly, light green particles, almost solidified, surrounded Sophia.

boom!
A powerful gust of wind, like a cannonball, suddenly shot out from her palm, sending the unsuspecting Ritas flying outside.

"Eh, eh eh eh eh—!"

Completely bewildered, Wayne was momentarily speechless, unsure whether to say, "Was it really necessary to get so angry?" or "Mom actually knows magic!"

Ritas, who was thrown back by the sudden gust of wind, lay on the ground for a moment.

A strange sound, as if sand and gravel were collapsing, emanated from his body.

Then, in an instant, half of his body shattered completely.

At this moment, Wayne was so shocked that she couldn't even make a sound. She simply covered her mouth with her hands in terror.

Ritas, now only half a body, actually stood up and tore off his cloak, throwing it aside.

As the spherical crystal occupying the location of his heart on his remains trembled slightly, it began to slowly rotate. The surrounding particle-like substances gathered together, forming a translucent solid that completed his body.

"That's strange, how did they get recognized?"

"Ritas" muttered in confusion, pushing his stiff neck with his hand.

There's no specific reason. If I had to say, it would be 'motherly love'.

Sofia, who had also come outside after crossing the threshold, put her hands on her hips and said...

"Motherly love? How could there possibly be such a thing between you two? If we have to pinpoint a connection, then we're more likely to have some. After all, I was almost killed by your foolish daughter because of you!"

Suddenly, he also aimed his palm at Sophia's "Ritas" and unleashed a powerful magic that was no different from Sophia's previous wind elemental magic.

Sofia, who reacted quickly, used a wind wall to protect herself and Wayne behind her.

boom!
A deafening roar, far more intense than before, erupted. The sudden gusts of wind, splitting into two after being blocked by the wind wall, continued their trajectory, instantly destroying Sofia and Wayne's house.

"Handing her over to me is for everyone's good."

"Ritas" stared indifferently at Wayne behind Sofia.

(End of this chapter)