Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy-Chapter 648: Distress (2)

When I mentioned that I didn't know how to use the Power of Purification, Grandpa audibly sighed.

<You’ve already experienced the Power of Embrace, so you should know. It’s the same ability, just used in different ways.>

‘Is that so?’

When I first used the Power of Embrace, it felt much more natural.

The moment I decided to embrace the resentment and lamentation of others, I instinctively knew what to do.

But in contrast, the Miracle of Purification was completely elusive. I had no idea what I was supposed to do.

<When you used the miracle before, didn’t you do it well enough? >

‘That was a simple technique, though. To be honest, I didn’t really do anything.’

The prayer I spoke during the Miracle of Purification, the divine energy flowing through my body, or the resulting phenomena—none of it was perfectly in line with my will.

It was barely half of my own intention. Asking me to do something like that again is like comparing pulling a trigger on a crossbow to aiming and shooting an arrow.

<Then just specify the details. Say you want to purify the power of Agras.>

‘Right. That should work.’

Nodding at Grandpa’s words, I placed my hands on the fairies again.

As I focused and decided to purify the power of Agras, the divine energy within me surged, but it ultimately failed to manifest any effect in the world.

The power of Agras blocked the Power of Purification. More precisely, it was my power being suppressed by the power of Agras, which the Pope controlled.

‘Grandpa?’

<It’s unavoidable. The Pope must have taken a fragment of Agras. The power he wields is practically that of an evil god.>

‘That’s not what I asked. I need advice on what to do next.’

Normally, the boss should be stronger than the player. If the boss were as strong as or weaker than the player, it wouldn’t make sense.

Even if we step outside the game logic, it’s correct that the Pope is stronger than me.

It doesn’t make sense that I would be stronger than that lunatic who has survived since the era of the gods.

But there must be a way. As Erginus said, divine powers are a bit more encompassing. If I could master the Power of Purification properly, surely something could be done.

<If you’re being overpowered, then you should think in finer details. Even the strongest things can collapse if you find their weakness.>

‘Details, huh.’

Sitting in the snow, I continued to think, eventually lying down on the ground.

To put it simply, I felt lost.

The dictionary definition of purification is “to make something clean by removing impurities.”

I had looked it up when I first obtained the Miracle of Purification, so I knew this for sure.

It wasn’t a hard concept.

Purifying a polluted lake and returning it to its original clarity is purification. Cleaning up a messy place is often called purification work, and purifying a wicked person’s impure heart is also considered purification. In movies, they might even call bombing an alien-occupied area a purification operation.

Anyone could call something purification if they thought they were making something dirty clean.

So the Power of Purification should be an incredibly versatile and amazing power.

<So you know that. What’s the problem?>

‘It’s too vague!’

What exactly counts as “impure” or “dirty”? You need to define that first!

Of course, I know what’s dirty or impure.

Animal waste, or my room after pulling an all-nighter for three days—those are definitely dirty.

A foolish fox waiting under my bed, or a swordsman who rushes to steal someone else's husband—those are clearly impure.

But that’s not what I’m talking about.

For example, look at these fairies above my head, not moving at all.

They’ve fallen asleep because of the power of the evil god.

Exactly where are these fairies impure?

Where should I purify to erase the power of Agras?

<You’re thinking about useless things.>

‘Useless? This is important! You need to look at the details to find the weakness!’

Of course, you can't stop thinking just because something seems obvious. Otherwise, you'd fall behind everyone else.

To be number one in a speedrun, you need more than just superior physical abilities and luck. You also need creativity like this.

At first, an idea might be hailed as brilliant, but later, everyone follows suit, so it loses its value. But the key is being the first one to come up with it.

Anyway, from my perspective, the Power of Purification felt too ambiguous.

<Just focus on the power of Agras. If you keep thinking about impurity, you’ll never find an answer.>

‘But if I can’t figure out what counts as impurity, I won’t be able to find the detailed path to purify! Think about it! Some people even deny the very existence of fairies as non-humans! If that’s the case, I might be able to purify the fairies!’

I said that half-jokingly, but half of it was sincere. If I used the Power of Purification recklessly, who knows what would happen?

Even the mischievous nature of the fairies could be seen as impure to a conservative person. If I’m not careful, I could end up purifying even that playfulness.

‘To prevent the worst-case scenario, I need to figure out exactly what to purify! I need to understand what effect Agras’s power has and what my power can actually do!’

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Hearing my desperate plea, Grandpa chuckled as if he found it absurd.

<You’re the one who has to decide that.>

‘...What?’

<When you used the Power of Embrace, didn’t you shout, “This is what my embrace is like”? If you want to question it, you should ask the god who gave you the power.>

‘Right?’

<It’s the same thing. The Lord gave you the Power of Purification, meaning it’s up to you how to use it. What you consider impure is impure, and what you consider dirty is dirty.>

At the realization that I am the judge, I lifted my head slightly but then collapsed back into the snow.

In the end, if I can’t make a firm decision, it means nothing.

Argh, now I’m even less confident. At this rate, I feel like I won’t be able to do anything with the Power of Purification.

<Looks like you’re destined to walk through this snowfield until it’s over.>

‘If I keep running, something will come up, right?’

<I’d wish for it to be a beast. That way, you could fill your stomach.>

‘Huh? Why would we hunt? There’s plenty of food in my inventory.’

Right now, my inventory has enough food to last five people for a month.

I had stored it just in case we ended up in a dungeon of medium size or above.

From the game’s text, sometimes people cook and eat the monsters inside dungeons, but I can’t even think about touching that. That’s just disgusting.

<You should’ve been a hero.>

‘Have you ever been stranded in a dungeon, Grandpa?’

<I told you. That hero can’t find his way. If he can’t navigate even a dungeon of a few floors, imagine what would happen in one with dozens of levels.>

Following Grandpa’s advice, I walked through the snow with instinct and moved without hesitation.

I’ve already felt what it’s like to rely on luck over and over.

This time, I don’t think my instincts will be wrong.

Walking in the snow was nothing new. One of the things I was trained for in the Alrun family was marching through snow.

Having my feet sink into the snow wasn’t a big deal.

But then I thought, why do I have to do it this way? If I used the fairy’s light steps, I wouldn’t have to worry about sinking in.

When I tried it, it worked.

From then on, I ran as if walking on solid ground.

But then, at some point, I started feeling something strange.

Even though I was running faster than most words could keep up, nothing was happening. Isn’t that odd?

<Is this really the real world?>

‘It doesn’t seem like an ordinary place.’

I had a thorough understanding of the continent’s geography.

But there is no place on the continent where, after running until sunset, nothing appears.

Something is wrong here.

‘Grandpa, have we encountered a place like this in the dungeons we’ve entered while facing Agras?’

<No. It’s impossible. To create a snowfield this big, how much power would be required?>

‘Right? I’ve never seen a dungeon like this either. So, I’m kind of excited.’

If this place is a vast snowfield twisted by the power of Agras, then it wouldn’t be completely impossible.

Does that sound unbelievable? Well, it’s the power to stop death and grant eternal life, so erasing the end of a dungeon would be nothing.

For someone who wants to torment others, it’s an incredibly efficient dungeon.

You can torment those trapped inside forever with no preparation at all.

It’s not that there’s no way to conquer it, so it’s not too far from the definition of a dungeon.

‘My heart is racing because I’m so excited.’

Yeah. It’s a disgusting place because it’s too efficient.

With a bitter laugh, I watched the sunset and felt like I might be able to restore the end of this place.

It felt completely different from when I was trying to purify the fairies.

I truly believed that this place shouldn’t exist and that the world should not be like this.

At that moment, when I hoped that this place would return to its rightful shape, the crimson snowfield disappeared, and a brown-lit plain appeared.

I’m not sure, but this seemed to be the right world.

The smell of grass brushing against my nose in the wind seemed to tell me so.