Magic Academy Bans Harem

Chapter 397 The Saintess's Ruins
"This is... the ruins of the Saintess?"

As night fell, Miriam stood before a massive, ancient temple, lost in thought.

Although he could see the massive white building that covered almost the entire area from a distance, the sheer grandeur he felt upon getting closer was incomparable to what he had seen from afar.

There was no door-like structure, only a dark entrance nearly ten meters high and several tens of meters wide, which made Miriam's brow furrow slightly.

"Did a 'war of giants' take place in the Western Regions in ancient times?"

Looking at this temple, which clearly resembled a functional building but whose components were all ridiculously large, Miriam suddenly asked a question.

Before Ritas, who was also observing the ruins, could answer, another figure who had been waiting at the entrance of the ruins walked gracefully to their side and answered for Ritas.

"That's not the case. The outermost layer of the 'ruins' you see now was actually built more than a hundred years ago. More than a hundred years ago, there were no giants ravaging this part of the Western Region."

After saying this, Mint Elson gestured for Ritas and Miriam to proceed.

"No need for greetings or pleasantries, and no need for future visits either. I don't like wasting time. That's why I admire your spirit of exploring the ruins at night. Although there are no lights or anything like that inside, it shouldn't be a big problem for a mage."

As Mint spoke, he took out a miniature staff, barely longer than a toothpick, from the inside pocket of his white coat, and quickly chanted an incantation, igniting a ball of light.

Having followed Ritas for so long, Miriam found it quite novel to see someone using a wand and chanting to perform magic.

After casting a spell to increase visibility, Ritas and Miriam followed Mint into the ruins of the saintess.

"Since you're pressed for time, you don't need to look at these useless things. Let's go straight to the core area."

As a relic managed by the "Sloth Research Institute," it is maintained, guarded, and studied year-round. Therefore, along the way, the group encountered several people still remaining in the relic.

Upon seeing someone heading into the ruins, those who had been engrossed in their work seemed about to greet them. However, upon turning around and recognizing Mint, everyone gave up the idea.

Clearly, the director of this research institute, the Elson family's personal physician, genuinely dislikes meaningless matters.

"Actually, Saint Marenu left very little behind. Then, a few hundred years ago, some busybodies unearthed it. Of course, the Elson family protected the ruins immediately. After all, Lady Marenu is our ancestor, hehe."

Walking through the long corridor of the ruins, Mint gave a brief introduction to the history of the Saintess Ruins.

Unlike some of the "Elsen" who spoke of their ancestor, Saint Marenu, with obvious pride, Mint's words carried a hint of sarcastic sarcasm.

"And the Saintess's remains were left bare and exposed, which was not a good look. So, the head of the Elson family at the time carried out the first expansion of the ruins. Then, some family heads with questionable ideas expanded the ruins for various reasons. However, it wasn't right to demolish the original parts of the ruins. So, with each expansion, the Saintess's ruins would become a size larger."

"?"

Faced with Miriam's confusion, Ritas subtly endorsed Mint's outrageous story.

"Although there are some rather complex reasons upon closer examination—for example, during wars or conflicts, those who ruled this territory might have fortified the ruins into a fortress—in short, there has indeed been a continuous process of expansion of the ruins."

Ritas added,
"If a family has a long enough history, it can see all kinds of people in it."

"Fortunately, in recent years, there have been fewer family heads who have fallen ill—or more accurately, fewer family heads who have fallen ill with the ruins. Or rather, even if they wanted to fall ill, the scale of these ruins is already too large to be expanded further. In short, it is precisely because these ruins are not just a continuation of the legend, but also retain many traces of the previous 'Elsons' that they have research value."

Mint concluded,

"However, your target is actually the 'legendary' part, isn't it? Is it only when our young master, who has been denying the saintess ancestor of the Elson family all along, realized that his prestige was insufficient and his legitimacy was unstable, that he thought of borrowing the power of the legend?"

Faced with Mint's question, Ritas remained silent with an ambiguous expression. Miriam, who sensed that the relationship between the two wasn't actually very good, could only manage a forced laugh.

Fortunately, Mint, who is quite talkative, immediately changed the subject, preventing the somewhat awkward atmosphere from escalating.

"Speaking of which, why didn't that little girl Xia Luoluo come? You and your brother should still be together, right? Don't tell me that you're the only one running around for Roland."

"Her absence will make the negotiations go more smoothly."

Ritas answered calmly.

"Hmph, that's true. Even though she didn't do anything wrong, her brain is so malfunctioning; just seeing her makes me angry."

Sometimes a leader's style can influence the entire organization. This is the case with the Sloth Research Institute.

Therefore, the more genuinely the members of the research institute admired Ritas, the less they looked down on Charlotte, who was still a student at the academy.

Minte had initially wanted to say a few words in defense of Xia Luoluo, since no matter how close they were, she shouldn't have directly criticized someone who wasn't even present. But the words of defense that reached her lips turned into a sigh-like "Indeed."

Although Xia Luoluo didn't come along, she couldn't stay still and didn't obediently wait at the guard team's base.

She planned to visit several of Roland's former close associates, known as "Elsons," to reason with him and appeal to his emotions, seeking his help.

Since she was accompanied by a entourage, and given that Charlotte herself was already clearly excluded from the position of family head, she held little value. Therefore, Ritas wasn't particularly worried about Charlotte's safety. But...
It can only be said that, unlike him who accumulated strength to sit at the negotiating table, Xia Luoluo's emotional appeal is also a viable strategy.

He didn't want to deny Xia Luoluo's best efforts, so even though he didn't think she would succeed, he just wished her well in his heart.

What if a miracle happens?

After some time, through the maze-like ruins that had been expanded layer by layer, Ritas and his group arrived at the core area.

"Look, that's probably what the real 'Holy Maiden' left behind. We haven't made any progress on that thing after all these years of research. Although it's probably unnecessary, I still want to remind you not to have any ulterior motives regarding that thing. If something really goes wrong, not only the 'Young Master,' but even the Patriarch might not be able to bear the responsibility."

Mint paused slightly.
"Also, when that thing was discovered, it seemed to have been in this shape already. I don't know if the missing piece was naturally missing or was deliberately damaged. Personally, I feel the latter is unlikely. That fool who built the fortress in the ruins seemed to have considered taking it with him when he was cornered. However, it's as if it was born here, and it can't be moved in the slightest by ordinary means."

As Mint spoke, Ritas and Miriam simply stared intently at the things left behind by Saint Marenu.

A gray stone slab, roughly the height of two people. And, as Mint had said, a corner was missing from the upper left, giving it a rounded cross-section. "From now on, I won't bother you anymore. When you feel it's about time, go outside and find anyone to take you away."

As Mint finished speaking, she was already on her way out.

Ritas and Miriam simply circled the stone slab and observed it.

In an effort to substantiate his theory and prove that the Elson family was not a descendant of a "saint," and even question the very existence of the legendary saint, Ritas had once toured the various saintly ruins, large and small, throughout the Western Regions.

Of all the things that left the deepest impression on Ritas, it is this very ruin that remains today.

To this day, Ritas still doesn't understand what this slab-like object is.

Rather, he couldn't even understand why the people back then were so certain that this strange, inexplicable object was left behind by the saintess.

The reason he and Miriam are here together is because...
“Professor, I’m certain! This stone slab is similar to what I saw in the holy site of the ‘Holy King Church’!”

After taking a quick look around, Miriam said with great certainty.

After a chaotic academy exchange meeting, Miriam found himself wielding a strangely shaped longsword.

The longsword, named "Holy Sword Kaom," possesses incredible power and can easily summon thunder, even allowing its wielder to transform into thunder to a certain extent.

Because of the origin of this holy sword, and because it was the only clue Miriam could trace to regarding the bandaged man who appeared at the exchange meeting, Miriam was extremely eager to know more about it.

However, after searching diligently for a while, Miriam found virtually nothing. The reason he even knew the name of the Holy Sword was somewhat inexplicable, as if he were born with this information.

Just as Miriam was feeling extremely distressed, he suddenly realized something.

What has he gained compared to the past?
professor!!!

Why didn't he ask the all-knowing professor?

So, after much deliberation, and even prepared to reveal his secret, Miriam discussed the matter with Ritas.

To Miriam's surprise, the moment he uttered the name "Holy Sword Kaom," the question that had puzzled him for so long was answered in the blink of an eye. But after one question was answered, even more questions arose.

What is the weapon of Marenu, the saintess of the Western Frontier legends?

Why would something like this end up in his hands through the bandaged man?

Ritas briefly recounted the part of the legend about the holy sword Kaum.

Specifically, the Holy Sword Kaom was originally a horn from a thunder dragon. After this horn touched the earth, it constantly emitted intense lightning, deeply troubling the people around it.

Just then, a wandering "sage" passed through this place and, after hearing the complaints of the local people, found a large obsidian and inserted the Thunder Dragon Horn into it.

The lightning was trapped inside the obsidian and could not spread out. Thus, the troubles of the surrounding people were resolved.

However, before leaving, the sage warned the people that obsidian could only temporarily seal the Thunder Dragon's horns and could not cure the problem. He also left behind a prophecy.

It is said that decades later, a "saintly savior" will pass through this land. Only she can truly tame the ferocious horn, which is imbued with the resentment of a dead dragon.

Sure enough, decades later, Saint Marenu led the army that liberated the western border through this land.

After hearing the prophecy passed down among the people, she boldly pulled out the thunder dragon horn stuck in the obsidian that was about to break.

In the end, Marenu turned the dragon horn into her own longsword and inherited the name of the thunder dragon, becoming the "Holy Sword Kaum".

"Professor, isn't the last part a bit hastily written?"

Miriam, who had been listening with great interest, had a rather subtle expression on his face because of this way of ending the conversation.

"Believe me, you don't want to listen to a young girl spouting lofty ideals having a heavily embellished emotional exchange with a dragon's remnant soul that can't even speak coherently."

Ritas sighed.

In order to glorify their "ancestors," the current version of "Saint Marenu" can only be described as being excessively nauseatingly embellished by the Elson family.

"Although we cannot be certain that the two are the same thing, we might as well try it according to the legend."

After telling the story, Ritas made the suggestion.

"Try it?"

"Miriam asked, puzzled."

"Although I can't get a large amount of obsidian in a short time, if the goal is simply to make it non-conductive, coal should achieve a similar effect."

"."

Miriam, who had many things on her mind that she didn't know whether she should say, ultimately went along with Ritas's strange idea.

Then, after the holy sword Kaum was plunged upside down into the coal pile, the once simple yet lustrous sword, which had been emitting a faint glow, instantly became lifeless, turning into a dilapidated longsword that would probably be abandoned on the battlefield and left unclaimed.

Seeing this scene, Miriam suddenly exclaimed, "Ah!"

“I remember you, Professor. I’ve seen this kind of old longsword stuck in the black stone before! Right here in the holy grounds of the ‘Holy King Church’!”

(End of this chapter)