Chapter 221
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 221
A warm spring breeze drifted through the air, and vibrant petals danced across the Union.
It was March, and the campus was awash in the pink hues of cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Some three thousand new students had gathered in Valerian Academy’s newly constructed auditorium. They were exceptional gems, selected through rigorous testing, each possessing a natural talent in a specific field and boundless potential.
However, most of them were commoners who had never before enjoyed the privilege of a formal education. The auditorium hummed with the murmurs of the freshmen, as if their admission to the Union—the continent's largest educational institution—hadn't quite sunk in yet.
“Are we really gonna be goin’ here starting today?”
“That’s right. We’re Union students now.”
“You don’t think they’re gonna use us for some weird experiments, do you?”
“Free tuition for all freshmen? Sounds fishy, doesn't it?”
“Geez, you worry too much.”
The students chattered on, some buzzing with excitement for their new lives, others anxious about an uncertain future. Amidst the clamor, I stepped onto the stage and took the microphone.
Tap, tap—.
The mechanical sound echoed through the speakers, and the auditorium fell silent in an instant. The sparkling eyes of the freshmen were all fixed on me.
I took a short, deep breath and began to speak.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I am Roen Devalis, the Student Council President of Valerian Academy and the President of the Union’s General Student Council.”
“…”
The students didn’t react much to my name. It was to be expected; my infamy likely hadn’t reached remote mountain villages or small, backwater territories. They were too busy trying to make a living to know the names of anyone but their own local lord—if even that.
A small stir arose only among the students who had lived in larger cities and had heard of me before.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or why you knocked on the doors of this academy.”
It didn’t matter if their parents had pushed them here or if they had come looking for a piece of the pie. Nor did I care whether their status was high or low.
“Here at Valerian Academy, only your abilities will define you. You are talented individuals who have overcome fierce competition to become the monumental first class of the rebuilt Valerian Academy. You may walk with your heads held high.”
I scanned the students, who were listening to my speech in rapt silence, and continued.
“Here, you can study and learn whatever you desire. We will provide everything you need so that you do not have to worry about tuition or living expenses. If you wish, you may even take classes at other academies starting in the second semester.”
The students’ expressions gradually brightened. It seemed they had enrolled because of the promise of free tuition and board but had remained skeptical until now.
But my next words brought the shadows of concern back to their faces.
“Of course, the students from other academies won’t look upon you kindly. Most of them are nobles, after all.”
In principle, all Union students were free from the constraints of the class system and possessed equal rights. But that was only in principle. The Union’s student body, composed mainly of nobles and the wealthy, would undoubtedly clash with the students of our academy. One only had to look at the hardships faced by commoner scholarship students like Bell to know the reality.
I addressed the freshmen’s grim faces.
“But there is no need to fear their glares. After all, it’s not as if you have anything left to lose, do you?”
If they truly yearned for knowledge, the opinions of others were irrelevant. They would be too busy thinking about what to learn and what to gain. This was even more true for those who came seeking fame and fortune. Jealousy was an inevitable part of climbing higher—something they would have to face eventually.
Most of our freshmen have lived their entire lives under the weight of the class system.
If anything, entering the Union might be their chance for revenge.
“Learn more, grow stronger, and crush their arrogance. The Union holds competitive matches where you can openly thrash those insufferable nobles, and academic conferences where you can compete fairly based on talent and grades. It all depends on what you do.”
I clenched my fist and concluded my speech.
“If you want something, seize it for yourselves. Whether it’s wealth, power, knowledge, or freedom. That is human nature.”
*
After the orientation, the freshmen dispersed, led by the professors and assistants of their respective majors.
Normally, students would freely attend their registered classes at scheduled times. But it was difficult to immediately apply a university-style curriculum to these commoner freshmen, who were not yet accustomed to the concept of ‘education’ itself.
So, we decided to assign them to classes in the morning, similar to a typical middle or high school, to teach basic subjects like literacy, mathematics, and history. Only in the afternoon would they attend specialized lectures according to their individual talents.
They would be able to take lectures at external academies like Eredor or Ishtal starting from the second semester. It made sense to let them interact with other academies only after they had built a solid foundation. Most of them couldn't even read or write yet; attending lectures at other academies would be a waste of time.
However, there was one special class, excluded from this general curriculum, where a unique group of students had gathered.
“It’s good to see you again.”
The Special Talents Class.
It was a gathering of the most elite talents, specially managed by the academy regardless of age or origin. I visited the class with Roxana to observe the new students. The freshmen sat quietly at their desks, which were spaced far apart.
“Hehe.”
A familiar girl was grinning sheepishly, looking awkward in her school uniform. Lize was here, as was Joshua, the younger sister of Josephine, whose life I had saved with a potion I’d brewed.
There were twenty students in total in the Special Talents Class. They were all talents that Roxana had personally handpicked. I skimmed through the students’ personal information in the file.
[Lize]
Age: 14. From the underworld of the Meteor Archipelago.
Confirmed to possess a Mystic Eye that can replicate objects.
[Joshua Ingrid]
Age: 16. From Sierra, the capital of the Izelin Kingdom.
Ability: Prophecy. Has already authored many books using this ability, but detailed verification is needed.
[Podrick]
Age: 17. From Gallu Village in the Devalis Territory.
Confirmed to have a telekinetic ability to move objects.
[Eric]
Age: 15. From the Shuruz region in the southern part of the Sea of Trees.
Confirmed to have mastered a bloodline-transmitted curse.
[Semul]
Estimated Age: 16. Place of origin unknown. Confirmed to have the ability to manipulate magnetic forces.
I nodded after confirming the freshmen’s general information and traits.
Many of these traits are familiar.
Replication, prophecy, telekinesis, curses, magnetism manipulation—these were special abilities that were difficult to teach at other academies. Of course, it wasn’t easy for us either, but at least we could invite professors tailored to each student and flexibly design our lectures.
Above all, we had Roxana, who could recognize the talents of others and help them blossom, giving us a significant advantage.
I closed the file and spoke.
“You are students with particularly outstanding and unique talents, even for Valerian. From now on, Roxana, the head professor of the Special Talents Class, will be your instructor.”
Just as I was about to introduce Roxana, a cheerful voice echoed through the classroom.
“Can’t you do it yourself, Big Brother?”
Big Brother?
My gaze shifted at the odd title and fell upon the face of a smiling female student. She had calm platinum-blonde hair and blue eyes. Like her older brother Josephine, she was a classic beauty. Though she still had a youthful air about her, she seemed destined to grow into a beauty comparable to Elena.
Of course, that had nothing to do with what she just called me.
“Joshua, that title is inappropriate. Call me Lord Roen or President. Senior would also be acceptable.”
“You’re so cold. I’m just going to call you Big Brother.”
“…”
She was so brazen that I was at a loss for words. Utterly audacious. As Joshua put on a bold face, Lize decided to join in.
“Me too, then!”
What was this all of a sudden? She had been calling me Lord Roen so politely until now. With a troubled expression, I looked to Roxana, who was standing beside me, for help.
Roxana cleared her throat with a hem and said with a firm expression, “Miss Lize, Miss Joshua. You are not here to play. Please use an appropriate title for Lord Roen, who is the Student Council President and the Chairman of the academy.”
At that, Joshua went a step further and replied to Roxana in a friendly tone.
“Yes, Big Sister.”
“…B-Big Sister?”
Roxana, who was rarely flustered, seemed taken aback by the unexpected title. They were student and professor, with at least a ten-year age gap, yet the title ‘Big Sister’ rolled off her tongue so easily.
It seemed a rather unusual freshman had enrolled.
*
In the afternoon, after the day’s activities were over.
In the Valerian Academy’s student council office, which also served as the chairman’s office, I was having a meeting with the cheeky freshman.
“Please, make yourself comfort—ah, you already are.”
Before I could even offer her a seat, Joshua was already lying comfortably on the sofa as if it were her own home.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Joshua shot up from her seat, skillfully took out a teacup and teapot, brewed some tea, and presented it to me.
“Here you go. Please drink, Senior.”
Thankfully, Joshua had switched from ‘Big Brother’ to ‘Senior.’ It was much easier on the ears. I tasted the tea she had made; it was surprisingly good, comparable to Ciel’s skill.
I set down the teacup and asked, “Joshua, you know why I called you here, don’t you?”
“To be precise, it’s more like I called you. You could say this meeting was all part of the plan.”
“Are you saying you caused that commotion in the classroom on purpose?”
“Yes, because I wanted to meet you in person.”
Joshua, who had been stirring her tea after adding a generous amount of sugar, put down her teaspoon. Then she stood up and bowed her head deeply.
“Thank you so much. I’m alive thanks to you, Senior Roen.”
Joshua had once suffered from an incurable disease but had recovered her health thanks to the medicine I gave her. Because of that, the Izelin Academy had won the territory battle, and we had exchanged a few letters since then.
I spoke to the top of Joshua’s head as she remained bowed.
“Well… it was the natural thing to do. You can stand up now. It’s making me uncomfortable.”
Only then did Joshua straighten up and sit back down on the sofa.
“It wasn’t natural. I was originally supposed to die last year.”
“Supposed to die…”
To say something so terrifying so casually. Was this the power of a girl with the gift of prophecy?
“But then, the framework of the prophecy suddenly changed on a fundamental level. To be exact, it started on March 15th, Union Year 312. Thanks to that, all the books of prophecy I’ve written so far have become trash… but it’s okay. Because this sickly, prophetic beauty got to survive and stand before you.”
I took a silent sip of my tea and remarked, “You’re completely different from your brother.”
“I hear that a lot. But do siblings really have to have the same personality?”
“I suppose not.”
It was just that she was a stark contrast to the ever-serious Josephine. An unpredictable variable, one might say. There was almost no information about her in the game, making her difficult to read.
“Have you read any of my books? They’re bestsellers.”
“There are a few in the library. On the surface, they look like mere novels, but they’re said to be incredible books of prophecy.”
Though she had just said with her own mouth that those incredible books of prophecy had all become trash.
“Yes, it’s a bit much to say it myself, but my prophecies tend to be extremely accurate.”
I agreed with that. Even in the game, her prophecies had served as a benchmark that saw through all sorts of variables.
Click.
I finished my tea and looked at Joshua.
“So, what was your reason for causing a scene just to meet me in person?”
Since she said she had caused a commotion to meet me, she must have had a clear intention. In response, Joshua also set down her teacup.
“Well, there are several reasons. I wanted to meet you separately to thank you, Senior Roen, and I was also curious about the person who saved my life.”
“And what’s your impression now that you’ve seen me in person?”
“You’re handsome. The best.” Joshua gave me a smile and a thumbs-up.
“…”
I couldn’t quite keep up with such a bubbly reaction and simply remained silent. If only Ciel were here at times like this.
“Anyway, that’s not the main point. There’s something I needed to tell you in private.”
“Is it a prophecy?”
“Yes. I’m not supposed to say it so openly like this, but since you’re my savior, I’ll tell you.”
Joshua, who had been smiling cheerfully until now, wiped the expression from her face. She looked me straight in the eye.
“Senior, you’re going to die soon.”