Beatrice actually dared to say that I was no different from her?
The claim was so absurd that I couldn't help letting out a cold laugh.
Her voice turned slightly chilly.
"Could it be that you are incapable of understanding my predation? Even though you engage in similar acts yourself, Sensei?"
"Heh."
I shook my head.
"It's only because you're such a hopeless fool that you assume everyone in this world must be as vile and despicable as you are, so you indulge in baseless fantasies."
At my words, all of Beatrice's dozen or so eyes narrowed at once.
Even through the projection, I could see her hand gripping the folding fan trembling with anger.
"...Baseless fantasies, is it? Perhaps. But even if that were true, to once again speak such crude words directly to me... Hehehe... How very rude. Your display of manners is truly beyond praise."
I raised an eyebrow.
"What? Did I hit a nerve? Isn't it common sense to use the kind of language that suits the kind of person you're talking to?"
[Speech that is sound and beyond reproach is like a shepherd's goad, like firmly driven nails.]
Even the murmuring voice softly expressed its agreement.
"Me? Crude!?"
As if struck at her weak point, Beatrice became so furious that her voice nearly cracked.
"How dare you use such vulgar language to insult a lady who always remembers and faithfully observes proper etiquette!?"
Rather than merely being off-putting, she was nauseating to an appalling degree.
Looking at this grotesque creature who lacked even the slightest self-awareness, a certain saying came to mind.
"You know petty etiquette but lack righteousness. You cling to trifles but possess no true virtue. You value superficial details but have no sense of shame. You fear power but do not cherish virtue... It couldn't describe you any more perfectly."
The instant those words left my mouth, the enraged Beatrice froze for a moment before quickly regaining her composure.
"...I see. Sensei, you truly are an exceptional adult."
She spoke with admiration.
"Beneath your dignified appearance and your constant talk of benevolence and morality lies humanity's deepest sinful desire. To you, deceiving others and deceiving yourself is as natural as breathing. Making those young girls, still inexperienced with the world, become infatuated with you is as effortless as eating or getting dressed."
What a joke.
When had I ever resorted to despicable means to deceive my students' feelings?
If I truly had, then with my appearance, reputation, status, and authority, the number of Authorities I possessed would probably be many times greater than it was now.
So I could say with complete honesty that between me and the thirty-four students I had won over, along with all the others I had yet to win over, every one of those relationships was one of genuine love.
As I had said before, Beatrice was merely projecting her own foul mindset, one that despised everyone except herself, onto my true intentions.
To believe even a fraction of those words would be an insult to me and to the girls who believed in me.
Suddenly, Beatrice changed the subject.
"Forgive my impertinence, Sensei, but what exactly is your ultimate goal?"
Before I could respond, she continued.
"What I seek is to offer the royal bloodline that I painstakingly raised as a living sacrifice to the gods, so that I may hear an incomparable revelation and thereby accomplish a great undertaking akin to yours. Indeed."
Her tone softened slightly.
"Even given our present positions, I must admit that you are my predecessor. For that reason, I am willing to forgive your offense and continue showing you respect."
Her humility was only superficial, her resentment obvious. Malicious intent practically seeped from every word.
Then Beatrice returned to her question.
"So I ask once more, what exactly are you trying to accomplish now? You possess something so utterly extraordinary, yet you insist on pretending before these children, who could be controlled far more easily through other means. You even seem to have immersed yourself in this childish game with them, adopting the appearance of someone who has willingly fallen into decadence..."
Sure enough, she quietly asked,
"Are you trying to shape Kivotos, that sacred converter where Mystery and Terror intertwine, into the world described by the [Eden Treaty]? A place where friendship appears capable of overcoming evil, simple, bright, beautiful, and perfectly suited to children's innocent fantasies... Yet in reality, nothing more than a so-called paradise created solely for you to indulge your own desires?"
Having reached that conclusion, Beatrice smiled with smug contempt, exposing her pale white fangs.
"Paradise is the root of countless original sins. Hehehe... In the end, you are merely an ambitious man who wishes to drag others into hell. Do you truly believe there is any fundamental difference between what you do and what I do?"
So she had assumed I was someone like her, hoping to probe my so-called true intentions while driving a wedge between me and my students. She was probably trying to stall for time as well.
I had to admit that Beatrice truly was a sophist skilled at twisting the truth.
Unfortunately for her, I wasn't some ignorant child. Even if my convictions could ever waver, it would only be because of students like Arius Squad, never because of some incomprehensible cur like her.
So my only reply was a calm sentence.
"You've talked enough nonsense trying to sow discord, idiot."
Beatrice stared at me for a while. Seeing that I remained completely unmoved, she sighed in feigned disappointment.
"It seems you have no intention of communicating with me like a civilized person. You won't even grant me the bare minimum of respect?"
"The moment you committed those unforgivable acts, any possibility of peaceful coexistence between us disappeared. Beatrice, I will never respect you, because your very existence is an ugly blasphemy. So I..."
I took a deep breath and made my vow with absolute solemnity.
"I will save Atsuko, destroy your scheme, and in the end, kill you with my own hands. No matter the cost."
It was a resolve I had to possess.
"...Very well. There truly is nothing left to say."
Beatrice answered just as seriously.
"I will be waiting for you at the Basilica. If you can reach this place, then let us settle everything once and for all. Sensei, the one I cannot understand... You are my enemy. Let us see whether I shall claim the final victory, or whether this world will sink into ruin beneath the selfish desires of a madman like you."
"Neither will ever happen."
As though guided by some subconscious impulse, I silently grasped the cross hanging against my chest.
"Is that so? Then let our abilities decide. Finish them."
After giving the order, Beatrice voluntarily cut off the projection.
How laughable.
Did she really think there was no reason I had listened to all that nonsense for so long?
Everything should be ready by now.
"Move!"
As halos appeared, my furious shout, carrying an invisible pressure, caused every enemy present to freeze for a brief instant.
Seizing that opportunity, Azusa threw a flashbang. A blinding burst of light and a deafening explosion stole the enemies' sight and hearing.
The next moment, with preparations already complete, every member of Arius Squad launched their assault.