Broken Possessors of Infinite Regression Academy

“Are we really just going to stand here like this?”

“If you don’t like it, go help the professors. I won’t stop you.”

“How can I do it alone?!”

“If you know you can’t, then keep quiet. You’re annoying me.”

Grumbling inwardly, Rosalia moved even closer behind Priscilla. Already, there were easily over a hundred monster corpses scattered nearby.

Rosalia, as a supporter rather than a combatant, had contributed very little to this achievement. All of this was thanks to Priscilla’s prowess.

“Burn, flames, and make your enemies dance within the warmth.”

The yellow and orange-hued staff glowed brightly as Priscilla unleashed all the magic she had been forced to learn during her countless regressions.

Ashes that had already been burned ignited once more, and there were countless piles of bones and bodies with not a single fragment remaining. Within a 20-meter radius of Priscilla, it was a perfect killing zone.

However, despite their relentless efforts, hundreds of monsters still surrounded them, their numbers seemingly endless. More kept pouring in, outpacing the ones that fell.

As a result, the circle of monsters around Priscilla and Rosalia showed no signs of shrinking.

“Something feels off.”

“You think so too?”

Both of them had experienced the Academy attack event, which took place in their second year. Rosalia had lived through it four times, while Priscilla had endured it over a hundred times.

In their memories, the monster wave had been different. The demons’ plans had unfolded smoothly, like a flowing river, bringing the Academy to the brink of destruction in an instant.

If Brynhild hadn’t awakened as a hero, counting the survivors would have been faster than counting the casualties. The demons’ plans had been that meticulous and deadly.

“The numbers are much higher, but their movements are chaotic. They lack the systematic approach we faced back then.”

“It’s the difference between having a singular purpose and indiscriminately attacking humans.”

“As long as they’re united in their intent, it doesn’t matter. I think they’re just rushing things because they lack the time to make detailed plans. After all, they invaded almost a year earlier than they did in the original story.”

“Might be.”

Priscilla gave a brief response and continued incinerating the monsters that dared to approach, undeterred by their relentless assault.

Each of these monsters might have been stronger than the average knight, but in the face of Priscilla’s magic, they all met the same fate. The air was thick with the nauseating smell of burning flesh.

Still, the monsters kept coming, trampling over the corpses of their fallen comrades. If this continued, they would be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

“… I wonder where Mira is.”

Rosalia couldn’t help but mutter to herself, accompanied by the audacious thought that Mira would somehow resolve this situation.

In Rosalia’s mind, that was the kind of person Mira was.

“He’s probably handling this as we speak. It’s Mira we’re talking about.”

“Of course, I know.”

As Rosalia spoke those words, Priscilla, who had been fervently casting spells, suddenly snapped her head around. Her dark brown irises, contracted with fury, glared at Rosalia with murderous intent.

The sight of Priscilla in such a state was even more terrifying than the drooling monsters, causing Rosalia to involuntarily take a few steps back.

“W-Why?! Why are you looking at me like that?!”

“You… Don’t you trust Mira?!”

“Of course, I trust him!”

“Then why does your answer sound like you don’t? Who saved you? Who saved me? Who came to us? Why are you acting like you don’t trust Mira? Huh? Huh? Huh?”

‘What’s wrong with her?!’

Rosalia felt wronged. What part of her response, “Of course, I trust him!” warranted such an intense reaction? If anything, she had agreed with Priscilla’s statement.

But she dared not argue, as Priscilla’s current state was truly frightening. If she pushed back now, who knew what Priscilla might do.

In Rosalia’s eyes, no one was as broken as Priscilla. Her entire life’s purpose and reason for being were centered around Mira, and her psychology was impossible to fathom.

Sometimes she would say that as long as Rosalia stayed by Mira’s side, everything would be fine, and other times she would display jealousy towards Brynhild. Rosalia just couldn’t understand her.

“Alright, alright! I trust him! I do trust him! He’s probably busy dealing with something urgent right now!”

“Yeah. He must be. He’s Mira, after all.”

Priscilla’s expression softened as she returned to her usual self. Rosalia let out a sigh laden with many emotions, then raised her head again at the sound of the monsters drawing closer than before.

The monsters had seized the opportunity during their brief conversation, reducing the once 20-meter killing zone to just a few feet. The one at the front launched itself forward like a slingshot, narrowing the distance.

Crackle!

Lightning struck, and the purple sparks that spread from the point of impact instantly erased hundreds of monsters. A thunderous roar, as if tearing the sky apart, followed soon after.

The monsters closest to the blast site were turned into charred chunks, flung away or completely vaporized. Those at a moderate distance were electrocuted, their heads exploding, while those farther away were cooked or seared to death.

There were no more living monsters near Priscilla and Rosalia. The one responsible for this massacre emerged from the pile of corpses.

“Mi-”

Rosalia, about to call out to Mira with delight, paused. Mira’s appearance was drastically different from usual.

Aside from the eerie glowing blue irises, his skin was unnaturally pale, almost white, and a network of blue veins could be seen beneath it. Additionally, something blue seemed to be seeping from the corners of his mouth. As Rosalia hesitated, Priscilla rushed forward without a care for Mira’s unusual appearance.

“Mira!”

Priscilla’s body wrapped around Mira in a tight embrace. The perpetually cold expression on Mira’s face softened slightly. His pale, white fingers slowly stroked Priscilla’s orange hair.

[You held up well.]

“Huh?!”

Rosalia stumbled for a moment, and even Priscilla, who had her eyes wide open, felt a strong sense of dissonance. Seeing their reaction, Mira frowned and cleared his throat, adjusting his voice.

“Sorry, I was a bit distracted, and some mana leaked out.”

“…… What’s with that appearance? Why is your body like that?”

“Just think of it as the magic of the first world for now. I’ll explain it in detail later when we have time. I have something else to take care of at the moment.”

Mira glanced at the strangely shaped portal that was almost complete in the direction of the Bellium Forest. No further explanation was needed, as everyone present knew what that portal represented.

“Why didn’t you go to the shelter?”

“I tried, but I got trapped. If it was just me, I would have arrived easily, but with Rosalia… I didn’t think I could make it without being noticed by the professors.”

Protecting someone with no combat abilities against hundreds of monsters, each as strong as a knight or stronger? It was certainly possible for Priscilla.

But it would be impossible for a student, even one from Bellium Academy.

“From now on, your safety comes first. We can figure out the aftermath later.”

“Alright.”

Priscilla smiled brightly. Mira squeezed the hand that was stroking her hair and met Rosalia’s gaze.

“The situation now is much better than in the original story. The barrier hasn’t exploded, the monsters aren’t massacring the professors, and they’re not acting in a systematic way. If we do this right, we might be able to get through this without any casualties, just a few injured. That’s where I need your help, Rosalia.”

Knowing that potions would likely be in short supply, and even if they weren’t, they couldn’t match divine healing, Rosalia nodded resolutely. Just as she was feeling useless and struggling with self-doubt, a task that only she could do had presented itself, and her enthusiasm soared.

“I’ll open the way for you. Go.”

As Mira spoke, the blade of the Eternal descended from above, slicing through the air. Blue mana took shape and stretched out, forming a path.

Rosalia, walking determinedly on the blue mana, suddenly stopped and turned to Mira with a pout.

“Be careful. Don’t get hurt.”

“I won’t.”

“I don’t believe you, so prove it. I’ll be waiting here.”

Mira smiled at Rosalia’s sulky gaze. Soon, Rosalia’s figure disappeared beyond the blue mana. Only one person remained.

“Professor Ingrid is on her way to deactivate the barrier.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I’m going to deal with the monsters now.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“So, you need to protect the others. Make sure no one dies. Can you do that?”

Priscilla didn’t answer, but instead hugged Mira tightly, soaking in her warmth. Then, with a smile, she leaped into the path of mana that was slowly closing. Mira watched her leave, then turned away.

In the corner of her eye, she could see a golden light, indicating that Brynhild was handling things well on her own.

.

.

.

Cough!

A succubus who had come to deliver a message had her neck pierced by a sharp thorn. She clutched her punctured throat and writhed on the ground. Her arm reached out pitifully towards the Queen.

Even for a physically superior demon, it was extremely difficult to heal a wound inflicted by the Succubus Queen. Left unattended, the succubus would surely die, yet no one showed any concern.

“But the Demon King summoned you. Won’t she be angry if you don’t go?”

Maker stretched his neck as he asked the question, nervously biting and regenerating his fingernails. Astaroth glared at him, her eyes wide.

“Shut up. If we produce results, the Demon King will surely forgive us. I’m certain of it…”

From the moment she had refused to return as ordered by the Demon King, retreating was no longer an option. This time, they had to produce results, or they would face the wrath of the Demon King.

“We’ll see about that.”

Maker cackled. Although he had impulsively agreed to help Astaroth kill Mira Crate, he was now having second thoughts, as the one who had devised the plan seemed incapable of carrying it out.

He found it amusing to imagine Astaroth begging for her life before the Demon King, but his desire to kill Mira Crate was even stronger. So, Maker subtly tried to ease Astaroth’s anxiety.

“This time will be fine. With the Blast Dragon’s help, we’ve lured out Meligor, leaving the Academy defenseless. Surely you can handle those pathetic humans?”

Astaroth’s eyes gleamed at the mention of the Blast Dragon.

“Absolutely. As long as that guy shows up—”

“There is a dying life here……”

A deep voice interrupted Astaroth’s words. It belonged to a figure hidden beneath a black robe, with thin, emaciated limbs.

The figure’s thin hand rested on the succubus, who was barely clinging to life. Gently, the figure caressed the pale skin, then violently tore off one of her breasts.

!!!!!!

As the succubus’s dying life began its final struggle, the figure’s hands grew more frantic. The remaining breast was torn off, eyes gouged out, nose twisted, ears ripped, arms and legs severed, and skin flayed.

Unfortunately for the succubus, she remained alive until the very last moment when her bony fingers plucked out her heart.

“Arise…… vengeful spirit……”

With a chilling incantation, the heart, which had stopped beating, was squeezed between the fingers. The shredded corpse began to reassemble. The closed eyes opened once more, and the body creaked as it moved.

The undead succubus, now resurrected, kissed the foot of the being that had just torn her to shreds, showing reverence. The emaciated figure finally turned to Astaroth and Maker.

“How have you been…… Maker…… Astaroth……”

” How have you been?”

Astaroth scoffed, but did not push the matter further. After all, she had just received free assistance from this being, who needed a testing ground for his new undead creation.

It was indeed a rare opportunity to receive the voluntary service of Elder Lich, the Fifth Legion Commander of the Demon King’s Army.

“How is my creation…… What happened to it……”

“No! Why is it your creation?! I saved her, but I assembled her! I obviously have more stake in her!”

“Now that we can share our vision…… Almost all of them have descended……”

Elder Lich ignored Maker’s outburst and mumbled to himself, his empty eye sockets widening.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“……”

Elder Lich remained silent, his empty eye sockets fixed on Astaroth. After a while, he summoned a bead made from a human skull with his thin, bony hand.

“What, are you going yourself?”

“My thoughts…… have changed……”

The bead’s eyes shone black, and an unnerving portal began to open in front of Elder Lich.

“It’s been a long time…… since I found a suitable sacrifice for a Life Vessel……”