Chapter 36: Our Little Cutie

“This is the place.”

Thanks to the newly acquired earring, Bisus sensed the hidden dimension and slashed at its boundary with his sword.

Zing

A line formed along his sword’s path, revealing the interior.

Step

Bisus walked through the gap.

Ripple

The tear shimmered and sealed itself behind him.

Fueled by Diabel’s boundless energy, the hidden dimension repaired itself quickly.

“Restores faster than I expected.”

As long as Diabel’s infinite power sustained it, breaking the dimension with brute force alone seemed impossible.

He’d either have to defeat Diabel or destroy the dimension’s core.

“No way I can take down Diabel with my current strength.”

Bisus recalled Diabel’s overwhelming power from [Eclipse].

“But destroying the core? That’s doable.”

He stepped deeper into the hidden dimension.

“What are these guys doing?!”

“Stop them!”

Sounds of combat echoed from afar.

Approaching, Bisus saw academy students fiercely battling masked “organization” members.

“We won’t go down easily!”

“Where did these guys come from?! An attack inside the academy?!”

The students had formed a defensive formation, holding off the attackers.

Despite the lack of a proper commander and the sudden assault, their effective response showcased why Lichten Academy housed the continent’s elite.

But the environment worked against them.

Boom

“My strength… it’s not working!”

“My mana…! Argh!”

Periodic waves from the hidden dimension disrupted their mana patterns.

Thud

“Urgh!”

Seizing the moment of weakness, the organization members overwhelmed them.

Diabel’s corrupted minions aren’t affected by the dimension’s interference.

Boom

“Kyaa!”

Soon, all the students were subdued and collapsed.

“Take them to Alice.”

Alice.

Robina’s codename within the organization.

A pseudonym she used as a masked executive in the shadows.

As expected, they’re taking the students to Robina.

The attack’s goal was clear: capture academy students and corrupt them with Diabel’s power.

Diabel possessed an otherworldly ability called “erosion,” incomprehensible for a human.

Most organization members were puppets, their minds unconsciously controlled by her.

This assault aimed to secretly corrupt the students and turn them into her pawns.

But…

Thwack

“Guh!”

Bisus leapt into the group organizing the captured students, striking the leader with a powerful kick.

The organization member crumpled, unable to withstand the blow.

“…An attack?”

“The senior’s down! Stop the intruder!”

Realizing they were under attack, the organization members charged at Bisus.

Thwack! Thud!

Without even drawing his sword, Bisus knocked them all out.

They’re enemies, but also victims.

The mercenary Bisus within him urged him to eliminate all threats to prevent future trouble.

But knowing these members were victims manipulated by Diabel, the archangel and hero Bisus held him back.

I can’t take the lives of victims. If I dismantle the organization, they’ll return to normal.

Just as in the ending of [Eclipse].

The one I need to take down is…

“Robina.”

Bisus sensed a murky flow of mana in the direction the organization members were heading.

Likely the manifestation of erosion.

He moved toward it.

Vrrr

Somewhere within the isolated dimension, separated from the continent’s reality by Diabel’s power…

“Wait! Stop! Do you know who I am?!”

Robina placed her hand over a captured student’s head, activating the erosion artifact infused with Diabel’s power.

“Who you are…”

She muttered, staring blankly at the male student.

“Why would I care about your identity?”

Once eroded, they’d all become the president’s puppets.

Their identities were irrelevant.

“Stop! Arghhh!”

“No need to worry. It won’t harm your body.”

It would only turn them into puppets obeying Diabel’s commands, retaining their rationality and unaware of her influence.

Boom

The student, overwhelmed by the erosive energy, collapsed to his knees.

“Done. Good. Go.”

At Robina’s command, the student rose and walked in the direction she indicated.

“Bring the next one.”

“Let me go!”

Soon, masked organization members brought another student, one of the hundreds swept into the hidden dimension.

“Be quiet.”

Robina raised her hand over the student’s head, activating the erosion again.

Just as it was about to take effect—

BOOM

A massive explosion blew the entrance door apart.

Startled, Robina instinctively pulled her hand back from the female student.

Through the smoke, Bisus stepped forward.

“Found you, Alice.”

“You… know me?”

Bisus Grangnole? Why is he here? …Could the saintess and princess be here too?

He was always with Sofia and Artoria.
If he was here, those two powerhouses might be as well.

I deliberately avoided spaces with strong opponents when activating this dimension.

Behind Bisus lay scattered organization members, likely neutralized by him.

This was veering far from the plan.

“Oh, I know you very well.”

Bisus advanced, drawing his holy sword.

“‘Organization’ executive, Alice. Or rather…”

He knows about the organization?

“Robina Kartesia?”

!!!!

Robina froze at the mention of her real name.

He knows my identity? How?! My face is hidden by a special artifact mask, and my voice and mannerisms are disguised!

“Didn’t expect a senior trying to recruit me into her club to be such a villain. This is beyond my imagination.”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play dumb.”

He knows who I am. …No matter. This is a hidden dimension, and he’s the only one who knows. If I take him down here, it’s fine.

“Play dumb, huh?”

Robina slowly removed her mask.

“How did you know?”

Zing

Bisus raised his sword.

“Beat me, and I’ll tell you.”

“…Fine.”

Robina’s shadow suddenly expanded violently.

“You’ll regret this.”

BOOM

Her shadow attacked Bisus’s position, triggering a massive explosion.

He dodged?

But the attack missed.

“Haa!”

BOOM

Bisus struck from above.

Robina’s shadow curled around her, blocking the attack.

Thud

Bisus landed on the opposite side, stepping off her shadow.

“…Hm?”

His eyes widened as an unfamiliar memory flashed in his mind.

No way…

“I won’t let you escape!”

Robina unleashed her mana.

Roar

Her shadow materialized into a massive demonic form, its sharp claws lunging at Bisus.

She expected him to block or dodge, but—

Pierce

Bisus stood still, pierced by the demon’s claw.

“…Huh?”

Robina was stunned by the unexpected sight.

And then—

“Haa… Our little cutie’s gotten so strong, hasn’t she?”

His words made her reel.

“…No way.”

She gasped in shock.

“No… it can’t be. S-Sir?”

Bisus grinned at her.

“Our… little… cutie…”

“No…”

Tears streamed down Robina’s face.

“No, no, no, no, no, NO!”

Thud

“Sir!”

She rushed toward the blood-soaked figure collapsing before her.

Flash

Bisus’s holy sword began to shine brilliantly.