An Angel Lives in the Academy
Chapter 101: The Angel Who Meets the Headmaster (6)

Leffrey remembered seeing a scene like this in an old manga. A man kneeling before another man, and those around them chimed in, saying, “Th-That man...kneeling...?”

The man who was knelt before was satisfied and about to leave when the kneeling man shouted,

“I only knelt to gain momentum!” (TL Note: I don’t know what that old manga is, if anybody know pls give a comment.)

Just why...?

Why did he suddenly remember that scene?

Leffrey, looking at the golden-haired girl kneeling before him, thought this was a similar situation.

The girl was wearing a white dress, seemingly unarmed.

She fidgeted, as if uncomfortable being on her knees, wondering what the tyrant angel would say.

And her innocent, angelic face was perfect for lulling people into a false sense of security.

Leffrey could tell, because he himself was an angel, who had been lulling people into a false sense of security with his angelic face all this time.

That Headmaster Iriel was currently trying to make Leffrey lower his guard.

“Headmaster, please get up.”

Leffrey said those words, taking a step back.

“The celestial hierarchy doesn’t exist anymore. There are only three beings left in this world who are worthy of being called angels: you, me, and the demon king...and it would be strange to talk about a hierarchy between the three of us.”

Of course, if they were to follow the hierarchy, Leffrey was the lowest-ranking among the three.

‘...So I’ll have to get rid of it.’

If Leffrey had the power to command Iriel without Leffriel's help… would he have said those words, dismissing the celestial hierarchy?

‘Of course not. Just who do you think I am? I’m Leffrey, the Progressive Angel!’

Well, let’s just go with that.

Anyway, Iriel’s eyes softened slightly, seeing Leffrey’s response.

[Gaining a little trust from the Revived Angel is an angelic act.]

[You have gained Angelic Power.]

Unlike the message, Iriel spoke curtly.

“Tch, you're not falling for it.”

It was a relief. If Leffrey had started giving the kneeling Iriel orders… Iriel would have thought Leffrey hadn’t changed at all and would have instantly gone for a mutual destruction attack(Suicide attack).

Literally, her kneeling would be “to gain momentum”.

Leffrey, having seen something like this before, was fortunately not fooled.

“I’ve seen Iriel before. During the War of Annihilation, when the Central Superhuman Academy fell...”

After the Central Superhuman Academy fell, Iriel ultimately knelt before the Fallen Archangel. Just like she had done before Leffrey, she said things like, “Following the celestial hierarchy, I will obey,” and, “Please give me orders.” just as she had said to Leffrey.

Then, when the Demon King let his guard down, she attempted a mutual destruction attack(Suicide Attack).

Of course, even with that sacrifice, the Demon King didn’t die.

“….”

Leffrey looked at Iriel. Iriel, who still didn’t trust Leffrey, was pondering what to do with this archangel (imposter) who had suddenly appeared.

‘Those words about a sudden realization, a moment ago... It was probably all an act to lull me into a false sense of security.’

Iriel still didn’t trust angels and was still willing to sacrifice anything, even herself, to protect this world.

It was absurd to think he could change her values with a few simple words.

But Leffrey said once more,

“Iriel, none of us is qualified to sacrifice anything.”

Just like with the Mooncat Tribe.

Just like with Hexi.

And just like with himself.

But even by simply telling her that, Leffrey was able to gain Angelic Power. So, Leffrey’s words must have…

...reached Iriel’s heart.

“Archangel, don’t preach to me.”

“And if you’re thinking of sacrificing someone again for the sake of the world...”

So Leffrey had no choice but to say these words:

“Then, as an angel, I will stop you.”

“...Ha, you’re acting like a know-it-all, even though you don’t know a single thing about this world, despite being an archangel! You’re definitely an angel who won’t be helpful in protecting this world.”

Grumbling-

At that moment, a message popped up.

[Gaining the trust of the Revived Angel is truly an angelic act!]

[You have gained a large amount of Angelic Power.]

Leffrey, seeing that message, smiled.

“As expected, I get tons of Angelic Power when I say angelic things. This is Angel Wording!”

Leffrey, the Wording Angel. A boy who couldn’t earn even a single penny through words, but could easily earn hundreds of points of Angelic Power!

Anyway, Iriel, despite grumbling at Leffrey’s words and criticizing him for not knowing anything about this world,

Ultimately regained her trust in angels because of a single foolish statement from Leffrey.

Iriel was also an angel.

Although she had been betrayed, experienced death, and was revived by the greed of humans…

She was an angel with wings.

“And Leffriel, learn to respect me. You’re just a mere student, and I’m the headmaster of this massive academy. Do you understand?”

Leffrey nodded.

“And I don’t trust you at all. I’ll be watching you, so be careful. If you even think about judging this world…”

She said that, even though Leffrey had already read the message, [Gaining the trust of the Revived Angel…].

Iriel, acting like this, couldn’t help but look cute.

“And Flabellum and Sanctus? Where’s the other one? Really...”

Then Iriel, as if she had decided on something, told Leffrey to wait, then ran through the silver hallway.

Thus, as Iriel disappeared, Leffrey finally got a chance to look around this spacious room.

Everything was made of silver.

From the massive walls and ceiling to the tiny teacup, everything shimmered with silver. Shelves, chairs, beds, dining tables, all made of silver.

Although the castle was beautiful, it was so cold and lifeless that it didn’t feel like a place where people lived.

Leffrey gently stroked the wall of the castle.

The coldness of silver, even though the summer heat hadn’t subsided, this place felt like midwinter.

‘Just how cold would it be during winter?’

As Leffrey was having such thoughts,

[Being exposed to the power of blessed silver is an angelic act!]

[You have gained Angelic Power.]

He gained Angelic Power simply by being in this space.

‘Don’t tell me she built this entire castle out of silver because of this...?’

He could understand the principle.

Silver was originally considered to be even more sacred than gold, and blessed silver was known to be the most effective material against vampires, ghouls, werewolves, demons, and so on.

A space made of nothing but blessed silver. And if you added the Church’s secret techniques, this could be considered a pseudo-Heaven created by human hands.

In a space like this, any angel, even if only slightly, would be able to continuously gain Angelic Power.

‘Then…’

Leffrey finally understood why the headmaster didn’t go outside, why she never left this castle.

‘An angel, killed by the demon king, and revived through vile necromancy.’

It’s only natural for such an angel to be… not normal.

Perhaps she constantly consumed Angelic Power just by existing, and couldn’t live a normal life without this blessed castle.

Yet, Iriel endured.

The loneliness, within this cold castle, for so long. The grief that tormented her corrupted self. And the pain she felt as her Angelic Power was depleted.

All for the sake of this world.

She endured.

“To protect this world from the demon king, to atone for the sins of angels… She’s sacrificing herself.”

Leffrey’s heart ached.

Not even able to stop Iriel’s sacrifice, what on earth had he just said to her?

“Leffriel, here you go.”

A voice came from behind. Leffrey turned, and an angel-like, beautiful girl ran toward him, carrying something in her arms.

That something was a pair of small, silver shoes.

‘Silver shoes(Coin).’ (TL Note: Ok let me explain this, In the original raw it’s 은화(銀靴) and eun which means silver and hwa which means boots/shoes, Now hwa is also used in chinese as Coin)

Leffriel in his mind muttered.

‘Silver shoes? Are you talking about coins?’

‘No. Just like steel-toe boots or combat boots, I’m talking about shoes made of silver. Those are genuine silver shoes, created using a Heavenly technique.’

Shoes made of silver.

He had heard of glass slippers before… but today was the first time he had heard of shoes made of silver.

“They’re silver shoes created by a Heavenly technique…”

But Leffrey spoke as if he knew all about the silver shoes.

Leffrey, effortlessly deceiving Iriel.

Truly... well, he was the very definition of an angel.

Anyway, that wasn’t important.

What was truly important now was these silver shoes.

'What kind of item is this supposed to be used for?'

Leffrey cautiously touched the silver shoes.

A massive message instantly appeared.

Silver Shoes (SS)

Footwear Item

Item Attribute: Holy

In the age when legends and myths were recorded on maps.

Angels began to research the destiny that ruled this world in their quest to lead it to the right path.

Just who was determining fate?

Who decided the ending?

Just who was it?

Heaven declared,

“If there’s no one to decide, then *we* shall decide”.

“We will be the ones to determine the direction of this world.”

And so, an artifact was created, and they call it the Silver Shoes.

The Silver Shoes, an angel’s footwear,

Is an item that tracks karma.

Karma, a power you can’t see, smell, taste, or touch. It cannot be tracked by any means.

But if you walk alongside karma, you might be able to feel which direction it’s flowing.

[Angelic Power consumption is reduced when this item is equipped!]

[This item drastically increases your sense of karma!]

[This item is SS-rank and provides the wearer with significant protection!]

After reading all the messages, Leffrey carefully expressed his gratitude to Iriel.

“Thank you.”

Honestly, Leffrey had received many favors from Iriel. First, the grace of saving his life, and then this gift of the Silver Shoes.

Even Leffrey, who only ever thought about himself, couldn’t help but express his gratitude.

“Thank you, Iriel…”

“Wow, are you really Leffriel-nim? I can't believe it.”

Iriel, hearing those words, smiled for the first time, a truly angelic smile.

“I've truly lived to see something incredible. The legendary Leffriel saying thank you to me…”

Iriel gently sat on the stiff, silver chair.

The girl, sitting with her chin resting on her hand, looked really exhausted.

Leffrey said,

“I’ll visit again.”

“Yes?”

Iriel tilted her head, making an expression as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Ah, Is that not allowed?”

Iriel, at a loss for words, mumbled quietly,

“Do whatever you want. Hmph.”

“Then I’ll see you next time, Headmaster.”

Thus, Leffrey left. He left to meet the professors who were outside, comforted those who were crying, embraced those who were holding back tears.

And then came Leffrey’s friends.

Jack White and Soya, and a few other friends from the Magical Studies Department. Yumari and her martial arts classmates were naturally there, and lastly, Hongwol and the swordsmanship students.

Iriel watched this scene from her balcony, all alone.

“Leffriel…You truly…those people…”

Leffrey was surrounded by people. It was such a heartwarming sight.

What better proof could there be than this, the evidence that Leffriel loved this world, and was loved in return?

“...I’m a little jealous.”

Iriel said playfully, as if whining.

At that moment, a unified voice echoed,

“Thank you, Headmaster!”

“Thank you!”

“As expected of our headmaster!”

Headmaster Iriel, blushing, lowered her head and scurried away.

But one thing is for sure.

That the little angel would be smiling happily.

“I don’t deserve their gratitude…”

Surely…