Please stop persecuting your students!

"This smell...did the teacher burn something?"

Lex, who was called outside by Saki, shrugged his nose and then frowned. Saki's body smelled like burnt protein at this moment. When he was sparring, he would occasionally burn the hair of a tiger or white tiger, and the smell was very similar to that of burnt protein.

In response, Saki turned his head and looked towards the sea of ​​clouds. After a moment of silence, he replied:

"It does not matter."

“Isn’t it important?!”

"Well, because there are more important things."

Saki paused, raised his hand and cast a soundproofing spell to cover the two of them, then moved his gaze to the world tree that was emitting fluorescent light in the night sky, like a pillar of heaven. It was the center of the underworld, the beginning of everything, and at the same time, it would also be the end of everything.

"Lex, how do you feel about your life now?"

"Emm...Is it good?"

Lex scratched the back of his head. Although he didn't know what Saki meant, since the other party asked, he would answer truthfully.

"When I was in school, the lessons taught by the teachers were very interesting, and my abilities were improving every day. Although I was not so used to it at the beginning because I didn't have to work, now I can live a happy and fulfilling life every day."

"Well, what is your goal now?"

"Goal? Let me think..."

Looking at the tall World Tree from afar, Lex said slowly:

"First...should we send Homura and Hikari to Paradise? That was our promise."

"and then?"

"And then? Then go back to school, continue studying, see other worlds... or something like that?"

Saki looked at Lex and smiled:

"And by the way, let's see if there are any alternatives for Paradise or other worlds that can serve as a new place for the people of the Netherworld to stay?"

"Hey, isn't that too utilitarian?"

"No, it's pretty good for a kid your age."

Saki was telling the truth. Lex could have lived an idyllic life in Misen Village and lived carefree until the end of his life. However, this fourteen-year-old boy not only left his hometown early to work and earn money to return home, looking forward to the day when his hometown would become prosperous, but he also realized the imminent crisis in the underworld and tried to respond and save it within his ability... What kind of spirit is this?

What does a normal fourteen-year-old do at a time like this? What does a normal nine-year-old do at a time like this?

"But it's not enough. Lex, you are not strong enough to achieve your goal now, nor can you bear the responsibility on your shoulders. Moreover, you have neglected many things."

"Not enough? Responsibility?"

Lex scratched the back of his head, confused, and couldn't figure out the relationship between the past and the present. He knew that he was weak, but it was just a responsibility... He was just an ordinary student of Tianshen Primary School and a salvage worker. What responsibilities did he have?

——This is also the difference. Rex, who was dragged into Tenshin Elementary School early and had a group of teachers in front of him, did not understand the burden that the Blade Master of the Holy Grail of Heaven had to bear and the trust of the people around him.

Saki took in Lex's confusion, turned his head, and continued to ask:

"I saw that the real simulated battle data I created in the simulation training ground was used by someone... Has it been used?"

"...No."

Mentioning this, Lex's face darkened. No matter whether it was the power of flame or the power of light, even if he relied on the law of causality to predict and use shield counter flexibly, he and Light were still chopped to pieces by Zhen. In the face of overwhelming strength, no matter what means they used, the two of them had no power to fight back. Even Siren's particle railgun was taken by Zhen with one hand.

Overwhelming despair.

If Lex hadn't thought about his incredibly strong friends like his teacher and Mel, he would have found it difficult to even think about returning to the underworld.

"Not only that, but even in hand-to-hand combat training with me, you basically always lose, right?"

"After all, the teacher and Nia are so strong..."

“That’s not a reason.”

Saki shook his head and patted his chest.

“I was just an ordinary person a month ago. Besides, Nia and Shin, although they are cannibals, they are just special blades after all. As the Blade Master of the Holy Grail, there is no reason why you can’t defeat us.

In other words, the Holy Grail that almost destroyed the Netherworld should not have only this much power."

"...Is it because I'm holding you back?"

"Someone is holding us back, but it's not you. Besides..."

Saki paused, took a step sideways, and revealed the Azure Dragon that had been flapping its wings and floating quietly behind him, with an expression more serious and solemn than ever before.

"Because you are not yet a true Blade Master of the Holy Grail of Heaven."

"Grandpa?! Why are you in——"

"Lex, I want to ask you, are you willing to become the true Blade Master of Flame and Light, the child, and shoulder the responsibility of being the Blade Master of the Holy Grail of Heaven?"

"That kind of..."

Lex's eyes were dazed for a moment, then became firm again.

"Of course!"

"...Then follow me."

"Where?"

"Go get what Adel left on this island, the true symbol of the Heavenly Holy Grail Blade Master... It's an extremely difficult trial, and only you can participate. Are you prepared for it?"

"Of course! I'll accept any test, no matter what it is!"

"Even if you die?"

"...Um!"

The young boy's eyes were as sharp as torches, and the light in his eyes was unwavering. Qinglong's brows raised slightly. Saki, who had not spoken since Qinglong appeared, suddenly stopped, turned around, lowered his head, and looked at Lex quietly.

“It’s a good realization.”

As he spoke, a streak of light shot out from the woods in the distance and landed on Saki. Green mist of light rose from his feet. He grabbed the back of Lex's collar with one hand. With a loud bang in his ears, Lex was dragged through the woods and appeared in front of a magnificent stone tablet in the blink of an eye.

Without giving any explanation, the young man grabbed Lex's arm roughly and pressed it onto the stone platform where flame patterns had already appeared. Light flowed on the patterns, and the mechanism was activated. The stone tablet, named the guardian angel by the villagers, quickly sank, revealing a staircase with no end in sight, which seemed to lead to the ground.

Putting Rex down and walking behind the dumbfounded boy, Saki's eyes revealed the coldest and most disappointed look ever.

“But, it’s not qualified.”

Then he kicked Lex down with a flying kick.

Really, disappointing.

......

Why are you disappointed? Correct...I didn't do it as usual at the beginning of this month,嘤_(:3」∠)_

Volume 629 Return to the Netherworld, the Day the World is Saved: Chapter Chapter The Holy Grail of Destruction

In a certain type of philosophical thought, only "humans" are considered to be animals with emotions. All other animals that seem to be considered as "behaviors with emotions" are, at best, judgments made based on the underlying genetic logic.

For example, sparrows are creatures that will call their friends to share when they find an abundant source of food. They have a strong spirit of sharing, but that is just to gather the group together to reduce the chance of becoming prey when encountering natural enemies...it is still the survival logic rooted in the animal's genes that is at work.

When food is scarce, they will no longer perform this seemingly generous behavior.

As the 'only' species with emotions, humans often behave in ways that other animals cannot understand.

For example, developing a longing for an individual who is not very powerful.

Admiration and worship, because of certain opportunities, this kind of mentality is generated and the other party is unilaterally idolized in one's heart, and is considered to be the "perfect person".

But the problem is, no one is a saint, so who can be a perfect person?

Therefore, when one discovers the unknown side of the idol - which is actually just the most ordinary side of human nature - the perfect impression is shattered, the hope that was unilaterally placed on the idol turns into a bubble, and then... one begins to feel unilaterally disappointed again.

In fact, it is not limited to idols. People unilaterally place their hopes on others and then feel disappointed when they ultimately fail to achieve that goal. Similar examples abound, and are most common in parent-child and teacher-student relationships.

Saki's disappointment with Lex is similar to the latter - the starting point is similar.

In order to defeat the powerful enemy that stands in his way and to achieve the goal of the most important person around him, the brave boy is willing to sacrifice his life in exchange for powerful strength - what a selfless spirit and courage! This is a classic approach that is clichéd but extremely effective in any work.

...assuming we ignore the fact that Lex and Flame are one and the same.

In order to save the dying Rex, Guangyan separated half of the eternal life of the Blade and gave Rex a new life. The price was that the two of them shared the damage and life completely.

It's not just the pain. If you cut a wound on Lex's body, a similar wound will appear at a similar location on Guangyan's body. It's true sharing.

Once Lex died, Guangyan - the two most important people to Lex - would also die.

However, although Lex clearly had powerful partners to rely on, he forgot about it after just two or three sentences. He did not try to find a better solution, nor did he make any additional preparations. He just wanted to rush in with a strong will, completely forgetting Saki's daily teachings and his own and others' safety. He was so reckless that he was willing to gamble his own life and the lives of his partners for a more powerful force.

This is no longer a question of the titles given to Rex by third parties, such as "idol", "blade master of the Holy Grail", "protagonist of Xenoblade 2", or "student". It is more fundamentally a question of his disqualification as a human being!

Saki is the type of person who prioritizes the safety of those around him no matter what he does. It is only natural that he would be disappointed and angry when Lex completely ignores the harm that his actions and recklessness will cause to those around him.

There are some for Lex, and some for myself.

I clearly knew about the problems Lex had before he suffered those two rounds of beatings, but I kept letting them go, unilaterally expecting him to figure this out on his own in the unreasonably peaceful life at Tenshin Elementary School. I am to blame.

But fortunately, it’s not too late and there is still plenty of time to make amends.

rustling...

A girl in a gorgeous kimono with long sleeves emerged from the bushes and stood behind Saki. She was in telepathic communication with him throughout the whole process and naturally knew about Saki's series of mental changes. She patted someone on the back and said casually:

"Don't worry, Lex is still just a child. Just like what the teacher said, when the teacher was fourteen years old, he must have been worse than him."

"...That's right, but let's use the third script."

"Do you really want to use that?"

The corners of Nia's mouth twitched. Saki designed three scenarios for Lex. If Lex's answer satisfied him, he would give him a lighter sentence. Otherwise... it would be like now.

"But won't we get hurt? If we attract Homura here, we'll be putting the cart before the horse."

"No problem."

Saki raised his chin, and a stream of spiritual power reached out and lightly touched the stairs, causing ripples to appear on the stone steps.

It took them nine hours to successfully carve out a slightly twisted path in the spirit cave that led directly to the storage of the third Holy Grail Sword, and turned it into a magic workshop.

That kick seemed enough to kill someone, but in fact, when Lex fell down, it was no different from landing on an air mattress... absolutely safe.

After calming down, Saki turned sideways and extended his hand to the girl who looked idle beside him.

"Let's go and see Lex's 'Second Life'."

"The teacher has a terrible personality~"

Nia smiled and stretched out her hand, placing her smaller palm in the hand of the man in front of her, and was led into the tunnel by him.

......

My consciousness was sinking, as if I was tied to a stone pier and jumped into the sea of ​​clouds, sinking continuously in the dark, deep space.

It was an absolutely silent space. No sound could be heard. Even the sound of one's own breathing became barely audible...or rather, there was no sound of breathing at all.

'What's this?'

The boy's brain gradually began to stagnate and struggled to send out signals of doubt.

Is he going to die?

His limbs gradually became cold, something was leaving him, and a familiar feeling came over him.

He...actually found death familiar?

Has he ever died?

After all... who killed him?

duang~~~~~~

The soul-stirring bell rang beside the young man's ears. The dark bottom of the sea of ​​clouds and his gradually freezing limbs all left him at this moment, and the scenery before him suddenly became clear.

It was a familiar meadow in memory. The breeze blew across the surface, bending the green grass and forming clearly visible waves of grass.

I looked up subconsciously, and saw an unknown evergreen tree swaying in the wind on a slope in front of me. Under the tree was standing... no, there was a beautiful figure sitting against the tree trunk, looking into the distance in the direction where the bell sound came from, with a hint of sadness in her back.

'She's waiting for me'

This thought suddenly occurred to the boy. Although this was his first time at the place, he felt inexplicably intimate and familiar. He subconsciously walked over. Following the inexplicable familiarity in his memory, the boy subconsciously opened his mouth and asked:

"Um...Excuse me, am I already...dead?"

"Yes, you are dead."