Chapter 20: The Eldritch Godness Hates Cults

About an hour after fainting, Felix finally stirred.

"Ngh... Miss Iris...?"

"Ah, good. You're awake."

I smiled gently as he shook his head, trying to clear the fog.

"What... happened?"

"Nothing at all. Just a swarm of rats startled us. That’s all."

I delivered this with my most dazzling moe smile.

"Is... that so?"

Felix muttered, scanning his memories. Then, summoning flames again, he surveyed our surroundings.

The abomination’s corpse was gone—only a faint, foul-smelling puddle remained.

"Let’s head back. We need to report this to the faculty."

"Right. Are you injured?"

"Perfectly fine!" I twirled for emphasis.

"Good."

He exhaled in genuine relief before ascending the stairs. I followed, savoring the fresh air as we emerged into the old school building. Ahh, oxygen never tasted so sweet~.

"I’ll inform the faculty. You?"

"I’ll report to Lord Klaus."

"Meet up later, then."

Klaus had ordered us to stick together, but splitting up was necessary now.

Because—

"Why save that fool?"

Claudia reappeared, her voice dripping with amusement.

"You claimed to yearn to understand me. Put in the effort yourself."

"Hmph. How intriguing."

I’m angry. Figure out why.

"Oh Queen, your mere existence drives mortals to madness. Blasphemy incarnate, draped in chaos—yet here you play human."

"It’s fun, isn’t it? Playing human? I adore it."

"Hah! I look forward to the day your little friends learn the truth. This pathetic dollhouse drowning in blood, rot, and screams..."

"Not today."

Admitting "I’m an outer god!" outright would just get me laughed at. Ah, the irony~.

"Very well. As your loyal seeker, I’ll spice up your little game."

"...You’re sending more of your failed experiments, aren’t you? Drawing too much attention will backfire."

Her cult operated in the shadows. Exposure meant annihilation by the military. Even she wouldn’t risk that—

"Fear not, my Queen. I’ll gladly be your martyr. The world’s fate is already written in fire and steel. Ahahaha—!"

"Wait, you’ll just cause me troub—"

Poof. Gone.

Ughhh! Now I’ll have to deal with more flesh monsters!

"Sigh. What a headache. First, Klaus."

My peaceful school life... where did it go~?

I returned to the student council room to report to Klaus.

"Lord Klaus, I'm back."

"Ah, Miss Iris. Where's Felix? Not with you?"

"Well... we made a significant discovery."

Carefully omitting any mention of Claudia or the flesh monstrosity, I explained about the hidden staircase in the old school building and the heretical shrine beneath.

"There was such a space beneath the academy...?"

"Yes. Lord Felix went to inform the faculty."

"Understood. I'll inspect it later myself. Good work, Miss Iris."

There shouldn’t be any monsters left down there. If there were, Claudia would’ve sicced them on us earlier. So Klaus and the teachers should be fine... probably.

Just then, a timid knock sounded at the door.

"What is it?"

"It's Emilia, Lord Klaus. We've returned."

Emilia and Leonhardt entered, their faces pale as if they’d seen ghosts.

"What happened?"

"Let me explain," Leonhardt said. "We investigated the dorm room of that student who attempted suicide. Behind the wall, we found... countless rat carcasses. And Lady Emilia discovered this symbol carved into the surface."

He showed Klaus a sketch of the same sigil from the underground shrine—a series of glyphs resembling primitive writing.

"...Can anyone read this?"

Klaus asked half-heartedly. We all shook our heads.

Even I, an actual evil god, can’t decipher this nonsense.

"Troubling. This academy hides more shadows than I thought."

"I don’t see Lord Felix. Did you two find something as well?" Emilia asked.

"Indeed. Miss Iris and Felix discovered a hidden chamber beneath the old building. He’s reporting it now."

Emilia and Leonhardt exchanged stunned glances. Glad we can share this shock.

"This suggests a cult may be operating within the academy," Leonhardt muttered grimly.

True. It’s unlikely Claudia’s acting alone. She must have accomplices here.

The door swung open.

"I'm back."

"Felix!"

"What’s the faculty’s response about the shrine?" Klaus asked.

"They’ll investigate immediately. The State Military Police may intervene."

"Good. And you’re... unharmed?"

"...I suppose so."

His memories haven’t returned. Better for him if they never do~.

"Any other updates?"

"None here. Klaus?"

"Only that these nightmares aren’t isolated to our academy. They’re occurring in cult-affiliated groups nationwide. Even doctors interviewing patients are losing their sanity."

Oh dear. So it’s not just us.

"But the epicenter may still be here. We continue investigating."

"Understood."

Our youthful detective adventures shall persist!

Though if there really are other cultists here besides me and Claudia... ugh. Stay away from my school life, weirdos. I hate cults~.

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