An Angel Lives in the Academy
Chapter 93: The Angel That Touches the Hearts (5)

Bethel, watching Soya who was silently shedding tears, muttered in surprise,

“To think she'd endure for so long… despite having a past like that…”

Bethel, as one of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings, her mission was to break the minds of the enemy.

Knowing what would break a person's mind, Bethel quickly targeted Soya, whom she believed to be Leffrey's weakest link, then…

…She planned to use Soya to launch her trap to other kids.

“I need to devour this witch quickly… before that little angel catches on… Just how did she obtain such a strong mind?”

Bethel became anxious.

Her ability was something that even the professors, those who dared to stand up to the Demon King, weren’t aware of, but a true angel could notice her presence.

Because that's just how angels are.

Bethel thought if she was given a few days, that little angel would start catching on.

“I have to devour this witch today.”

And this witch, although Bethel initially thought that Soya would be easy pickings because of her loneliness and her tragic past… but the determination she showed today was practically on par with a hero.

If they let her live, she’ll surely become a nightmare for the demon army.

She had to devour her today.

“Today. I must!”

Bethel, channeled more of her dark power, strengthening her ability.

Her Ultimate Skill, bestowed upon her by the Fallen Archangel himself, a true testament that defiles this world.

Bewitching Dreams.

Under Bethel's cruel grasp, Soya's nightmare grew increasingly vivid.

* * *

Have you ever had a nightmare?

Nightmares of being chased by monsters. Nightmares of experiencing those scenes in horror movies. Nightmares of facing your trauma, and nightmares of an inescapable past approaching you in a more horrific form.

In those moments, did you realize that you were having a nightmare?

Only after waking up would you be able to perceive it as a dream.

Most people don’t realize they are having a nightmare. Even those who have reached the level of superhumans find it difficult to recognize their nightmares.

If those nightmares were part of a Heavenly King’s Ultimate Skill…

It would be impossible to escape.

Even Soya, who recognized this as a nightmare with her great mental strength, couldn't resist the evil power emanating from a Heavenly King.

“I said let's break up, didn't I? Why are you still here? Do you, do you not know the way out?”

Leffrey's cruel voice echoed in Soya's ears.

‘Think, Soya, think!’

Soya tried to fight back, clinging to logic, but…

‘I need to snap my fingers, like a certain club president. Or spin a top or something, like in a movie.’ (TL Note: Inception reference and another reference that I don’t know)

Knowledge was just knowledge, reality always goes beyond our understanding.

‘I have to do something...!’

And the nightmare that was unfolding before Soya… was a true nightmare.

“You’re such trash. Why are you doing this to me? This all started when we first met too, you know.”

The boy mocked the collapsed Soya.

That boy, with flowing blonde hair and cruel eyes, uttered those hurtful words.

“The way you were struggling like a drowned rat… It looked so pathetic. I should have just…”

Tiny tears had formed in Soya’s eyes.

“…Left you to drown.”

Soya couldn't hold back the tears that welled up in her eyes at those words.

“Sob, sob…”

Soya couldn’t accept this as a mere dream any longer.

“Stop it, stop it! Just leave!”

Bethel smiled cruelly, hearing the girl cry.

“…You have incredible mental fortitude. I acknowledge it.”

To think she would immediately sense the unnaturalness of the nightmare and realize this was a succubus’s trick, just by seeing her past.

Her judgment and mental strength was professor level. No, even greater.

“But in the end, you're just my prey.”

This was Soya.

Soya in the future.

Was a guardian who protected others despite being betrayed by the world, a hero who never abandoned her duty and sacrificed herself for others.

A hero incomparable to Yumari, who abandoned the humans and fled, or Hongwol, who was a villain from the start.

This child was Leffrey's first hero candidate.

This girl, was the Black Magic Princess.

Underestimating Soya, was Bethel's first mistake.

If Bethel hadn't targeted Soya first, Leffrey would have been unable to protect another girl, eventually tasting despair.

But Bethel targeted Soya first.

A major mistake.

"You are nothing but trash. A weakling who cries over being betrayed by someone she loved. Pathetic."

Bethel, to quell her anxieties, muttered those mocking remarks about Soya.

“No.”

A voice came from somewhere.

Ahead, behind, to the sides…

From everywhere.

“Soya isn’t trash.”

Bethel’s mind, her domain, a hateful, heavenly voice began to echo from somewhere.

“Because… because Soya is…”

Bethel, flustered, looked around.

“Who is it! How did you get into this mindscape?!”

But the voice continued,

“Soya… is precious. She's… she’s my friend.”

And so, that lowly succubus looked at the angel who was still on Earth.

"Just how?"

Bethel muttered in shock.

"It's only been a few hours. How did you find her so quickly?"

This was Bethel’s second mistake: being overly confident in her abilities.

She believed that her ability was undetectable, but Leffrey already knew about her, and so did Tantalus.

To think it would take a few days for them to catch on?

That was Bethel’s arrogance.

"…!"

Thus, Bethel watched as the angel slowly approached.

The angel had no wings.

But a halo, created by the power of the Light of the Ruling Archangel, shone behind him, and on his hand, Sanctus, that most divine of gloves, shimmered.

At his waist, Flabellum, the Archangel’s holy weapon, exuded an air of authority. Leffrey, all those combined, no longer looked like a mere young angel.

He was like…

“An archangel… He no longer looks like a young angel but an archangel.”

Bethel, overcome with awe, muttered about her master's former rank.

“It was a slip of the tongue! Demon King!”

And then, overcome with terror, tears welling up, she apologized.

“The only true archangel is the Demon King! The only true archangel is the Demon King! The only true archangel is the Demon King!”

“…….”

Leffrey, seeing that, muttered,

“Why are you following the demon king if you’re so terrified of him?”

“Shut up! He’s not someone a mere child like you can casually mention.”

Bethel, snapping out of her panic, pointed at Leffrey and said confidently,

"This works out better. Foolishly crawling into my nightmare..."

And she said what all Heavenly Kings say.

“Do you think you can face me alone? A Heavenly King that even your teachers can’t defeat one-on-one?”

“Drewmark thought that too. Remember what happened to him?”

Bethel shouted angrily,

“Drewmark was the weakest among us!”

“Hehe, the weakest? Every single one of you Heavenly Kings always says that. What are you, cartoon characters?”

Leffrey, the Provocation Angel.

He couldn't help but provoke that annoying succubus with the overused cliché.

"You..."

Bethel's face crumpled, and then…

“Just like a Heavenly spawn, you’re unbearably arrogant.”

…she muttered those words.

“But… Little Angel, I smell a nightmare from you.”

And she suddenly smiled.

“The darkness in your heart. Haha, it seems you’re an easier target than that witch.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Stop changing the subject. I can feel it. The deep sorrow, the darkness, and the loneliness within your heart.”

Bethel grabbed Leffrey's face and whispered in his ear with a dark, murky, yet alluring voice,

“Bewitching Dreams, Ultimate Technique: Dream Within a Dream.”

Dream Within a Dream.

It was Bethel’s secret technique, something that could only be activated within a dream.

“Now, let’s sink together into limbo.”

A succubus is strengthened within a dream.

And the deeper, the darker the dream, the stronger she becomes.

So in limbo, which is a dream within a dream, Bethel was practically a god.

If Leffrey was dragged there, he would be utterly defeated, he would be forced to kneel before Bethel.

“How’s this form? It’s really beautiful, isn’t it? I’ll give you… an unending pleasure. Come with me. Now, now.”

Bethel, now taking the form of someone who looked like a grown-up Mari, beckoned seductively with her hand.

“A-Ahhh.”

And so, Leffrey was dragged into the Dream Within a Dream, led by Bethel’s hand, and then...

...He didn’t disappear.

“The new technique worked!”

Because there was a friend(?) who was dragged instead.

“Friend Shield! No, I mean, Archangel Shield!”

Leffrey clenched his fist and nodded with a proud look on his face.

‘Just as planned.’

This was Leffrey’s plan.

Instead of facing Bethel, the Heavenly King whom even the professors would have trouble defeating, provoke her and make Leffriel deal with her.

‘It can’t be helped. My heart is full of past trauma. If I was properly hit by Bethel’s Ultimate Skill, I…’

…would have been completely crushed.

Then there was no other way.

‘Leffriel, honestly, is really similar to me. Bethel, who doesn’t know about Leffriel, would naturally be oblivious to whether she dragged Leffriel or me into her Dream.’

He had no choice but to send out Leffriel in his place.

Leffrey, the moment Bethel tried to drag him away, relinquished control of his body to Leffriel.

“My… My body is… back?”

Leffriel, who was happy about this… was dragged into the Dream Within a Dream by Bethel.

He could still see Leffriel’s bewildered expression as he was being dragged away.

‘He’s the legendary archangel… He'll be able to hold out until I come and rescue him!’

Leffrey, looking at the confused Leffriel being dragged away, apologized to Leffriel in his heart.

Anyway, this was Leffrey's plan.

Truly it was a devilish… no, an angelic plan!

...Well, whatever, let's go with that.

Thus, when Bethel and Leffriel disappeared into the Dream Within a Dream, only Leffrey and Soya remained in this dream.

‘I managed to get rid of Bethel for now, so I can quickly wake up Soya from this nightmare.’

Leffrey hastily approached Soya, who was crying.

It was time to wake up.

Now that Bethel, the master of this nightmare, was gone, rescuing Soya would be a piece of cake.

"Soya!"

"..."

Soya didn't respond.

Leffrey, suppressing his rising anxiety, slowly approached Soya, who was curled up.

"Soya, I’m here.”

"..."

"This is a little hard to explain, but… we're inside a dream. Let's wake up. I know how to wake up. With me..."

Leffrey reached out to Soya.

But Soya didn't respond.

Instead, Soya raised her hand and skillfully formed a hand seal with one hand.

“Soya-style Black Magic. Darkness Chain.”

Black chains wrapped around Leffrey's arms and legs, with a rattling sound.

“It doesn't matter anymore.”

Soya finally raised her head.

The light had completely drained from the girl’s eyes, and her face was utterly blank.

Like staring at a lifeless doll.

“Leffrey… If you abandon me… then… this world… means nothing to me.”

“Soya?”

Leffrey muttered.