“This means they want to use our cadets as cannon fodder, doesn't it?”

The Student Council President mulled over those words.

Cannon fodder...

Taking advantage of the President's contemplative silence, the Vice Student Council President voiced her opinion.

“They're running short on elite soldiers, so they want to mix in students... It seems they don't want elite soldiers to get killed by stray bullets, so they're asking the students to take those bullets instead. This should never be approved.”

Hearing this, the Student Council President took back the document from the Vice President and read through it again.

“Indeed... the Vice President is right.”

Although there was some exaggeration...

Regardless of the intentions of the 5th Division, it seemed difficult to avoid criticism that they were planning to use cadets as cannon fodder with such a deployment.

The Student Council President was about to draft a protest document based on these points.

-Knock knock.

There was a sound of knocking at the Student Council room door.

“This is Gardner, a first-year from the Disciplinary Committee. May I come in?”

The person knocking was Gardner.

“Gardner, the division has summoned you.”

In the Student Council President's office.

The President sat at a desk piled with documents.

She spoke.

“They want to award you a medal for your achievements in thwarting a Cultist invasion, handling the fallen Parasite Queen, and defeating the Purple Giant.”

A medal.

The sudden decision to award such a thing seemed suspicious.

Isn’t it the 5th Division?

It seems like they’ve never had a positive view of the Academy as an organization.

But now they want to award a medal to an Academy student like me?

There must be some hidden agenda behind this.

"Will the ceremony be held at the Division Headquarters?"

"No... It seems the 5th Division’s 12th Brigade will come to escort you, and the ceremony will probably take place there."

The 12th Brigade is at the very frontline.

It's the northernmost brigade where human territory ends.

Is it really necessary to call me all the way there just to award a medal?

The Student Council President seemed to share my thoughts and spoke to me.

"The situation is quite tense lately; the division keeps talking about conscripting Academy personnel."

"…"

"So be cautious when you go. If they ask for anything strange, just say you can’t do it, understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Try not to be too nervous."

Listening to the Student Council President, I relaxed my expression.

‘Conscripting the Academy…’

This signified that the front was losing its ability to wage war.

Soon, the front will collapse, and the Demon Beasts will invade.

Something needed to be done.

If we leave things as they are, the issue isn't just about conscripting Academy personnel.

The Academy itself might have to stand at the very frontline.

‘This shouldn’t be progressing this fast.’

Holding onto a slight sense of unease.

I greeted the Student Council President and left the room.

"They said they would come to pick me up this evening."

Before that.

I needed to try using the abilities I learned from Iscaliote last night.

Last night.

Around the time I was being assisted by the Health Teacher, Iscaliote and I were having a dialogue in my inner world.

"Are there such things as demons?"

"Demons? No, there aren't."

"There aren't? How can you be so sure?"

"Well, it's written in the Bible."

"The Bible... you mean?"

"Yes."

I couldn't understand what she was saying. It seems that the Bible in this world tells a different story than the Bible of the original world. I asked her, "What does it say in the Bible that makes you say that?"

"When the Lord ascended, He said, 'I will gather all the evil and trials I sowed on this land,' and thus, all demons disappeared as a handful of ash."

"…"

"When an angel asked why He was leaving us, the Lord said."

Iscaliote paused here. When I pressed her to continue, she gave me a teasing look and said,

"That's all that's written."

"What do you mean?"

"It's true."

I pondered her words before speaking.

"So... all that really happened?"

"Yes, it was written the same way in the original Bible."

"Huh..."

In this world, the Bible and holy relics are treated as real, and divine miracles can be reproduced in the form of magic. So there's a high probability that what's written in the Bible is true history. Furthermore, if these words were from the original Bible, not a mere manuscript, they're likely to be accurate and without error.

It's called the original because it's without error.

"How can one see that original Bible?"

"Why are you so interested in things like demons all of a sudden?"

"Hmm..."

I explained the situation to Iscaliote.

Ella, who, like me, received the Light of Heaven's Killing Star.

She kept hiccupping, and I wondered if it was a sign of being possessed by something like a demon.

When I asked about it, she said, "Isn't it just because it's cold?"

"Oh. Maybe."

It must have been because she got chilled during the fall.

While Iscaliote and I were discussing this, she said, "Well, it's unlikely... but if you were contaminated by Heaven's Killing Star... you could purify it with your Starlight."

"To purify... do you just push it in?"

"If that were the case, you wouldn't be susceptible to mental contamination, right? No."

She said that and got up from her seat.

"Alright, watch carefully. I'll show you how to use Starlight."

I found Hiro near the Vermilion Bird Hall camping area.

She was meditating on a sunlit rock.

Maybe because of that, her star was shining brightly.

I sat next to her and observed her.

Interrupting her training would be inconsiderate.

I slowly observed the star shining beneath her heart.

‘Hmm... this seems like a good time.’

Originally, I'd have done it after her training, but...

Now, with her star activated, it was actually the perfect time.

‘I have no choice, I can't let this opportunity slip by.’

I placed my index and middle fingers between her clavicles. Then, I pushed Starlight into her, connecting it with the Starlight sparkling inside her body.

She didn't react much, probably because she was deeply focused on her meditation.

I then reproduced the Starlight application method I learned from Iscaliote.

Iscaliote had said, 'As our souls, synonymous with stars, grow stronger, their presence increases. The more presence they have, the more they can influence this world.'

'For instance, igniting flames at your fingertips, transforming your Unique Armament, or even creating a new authority altogether.'

'The pollution of Heaven's Killing Star is an application of this. If you understand the principle, you'll be able to respond, right?'

'I believe I can not only respond but also apply it.'

For some reason, I was better at handling Starlight than Iscaliote. It seemed to be due to my 'trait.'

In any case, the application I learned was to indirectly guide the growth of characters using Starlight.

I knew the growth path of all the characters. While directly aiding their growth wasn't possible... I could at least guide them along the right path.

'Even this much should significantly enhance the Academy's strength.'

I recalled the skills Hiro needed to acquire.

Creating even one of those skills in advance would be convenient.

But ultimately, creating these skills was Hiro's task. What I could do was clear the way for her to reach those skills.

I used my Starlight to touch her soul, crafting it into various forms.

‘Star-Falling Slash.’

‘Sword's Nonexistence Realm.’

‘Causal Reversal Sword.’

The Starlight I carefully crafted began to take shape within her imagery. That Starlight soon settled within her inner world.

Someday.

When she becomes qualified, the softly gathered Starlight within her will absorb her light and guide her to obtain power.

This was the true nature of the 'Application Method' I had acquired.

‘Is it fine to leave it at this level?’

Things are progressing quickly.

But there's no problem.

I will sprinkle my unconventional methods to help everyone grow.

'Next is Laurent.'

I planned to create hints about power for everyone I was on good terms with, using Starlight. In this way, their growth would significantly accelerate.

“…What was that?”

In the place Gardner had left, Hiro muttered absentmindedly.

She had been meditating when suddenly a hand was placed on her chest, and she was so shocked she froze.

Should she be angry, or perhaps take it as a light-hearted joke?

While she was pondering her reaction, he left.

For Hiro, it was an incredibly bewildering event.

"The Starlight was brighter than usual too..."

It was so bright that it was dazzling just to look at.

The Starlight he possessed had grown remarkably bright.

“…What on earth is going on?”

Hiro was deep in thought.

And there were eyes watching this Hiro.

A member of the Newspaper Club.

Apophis.

She had a cast on one foot and a bandage wrapped tightly around one eye, but was diligently writing everything she observed with her good arm.

Her notes contained the following details:

[ Shocking Private Life of Disciplinary Committee Enforcer Gardner. ]

[ Spent the night in the same room with the Health Teacher today. ]

[ Molested a fellow student during practice this morning. ]

"Scoop... It's a scoop..."

The word 'scoop' she repeated like a mantra had the power to soothe the pain from being kicked by a Giant.

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