Chapter 165: Clown Union Club 12
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 165: Clown Union Club 12
BOOM! CRASH! KABOOM! THUD! ROOOOAR! BANG! KRA-KOOM!
The thunderous roar of Loki’s planted explosives showed no sign of fading, even as the seconds ticked by.
The Special Class students, who would normally have coordinated their attacks with Loki’s, could only stare at the scene with vacant eyes.
What in the world did this lunatic actually plant?
The sheer volume of bombs Loki had set was staggering.
“With that many, you could probably take down a dragon. Didn't he spend way too much money on this?”
The Special Class students, who usually didn't care what kind of magic tools Loki used, were actually starting to worry about the state of his wallet.
Of course, while Loki was a bit unhinged, he wasn't so foolish as to blow his entire fortune on Elicia when there were so many other people he’d have to deal with later.
“I developed these new models with Professor Idra’s assistance. As long as I can recover the casings, I can just recharge them with mana and reuse them.”
Naturally, manufacturing this many had cost him about 70% of the funds he’d received from the Emperor—and the bounty from catching Katsudo helped too—but it was a solid investment. He wouldn't have to craft bombs individually anymore.
If he hadn't received that windfall from the Emperor, he never would have been able to afford such a massive stockpile.
“They’re still going off. You’re not planning on having them explode until the end of class, are you?”
“If I wanted to prepare that many, I’d have to take off my mask and go find a real job somewhere.”
Most of the Special Class students thought, ‘There he goes again, talking nonsense just because he’s wearing that mask,’ but Sepia’s face quietly turned red.
“So, how much longer?”
“About three seconds left.”
Three?
As soon as Loki finished speaking, Elicia emerged through the thick, roiling smoke of the explosions.
The blast had been powerful enough to vaporize an ordinary person without leaving a trace, yet there wasn't a single scratch on Elicia’s body.
Loki, who had set enough explosives to kill even a high-ranking knight, voiced his grievance to Elicia as she strolled through the soot.
“Hey! I didn't expect to win with just this, obviously, but if someone puts in this much effort, shouldn't there be at least a tiny scratch? Even your clothes are perfectly fine! Augh! How am I supposed to use bombs if it’s like this? It’s so unfair!”
Elicia waved her arm once, the gust of wind instantly clearing the remaining smoke from the classroom.
“Loki, entering the classroom at night without permission is a violation of school rules. Follow me after class.”
“Entering the classroom at night without permission is a no-go, but secretly planting bombs on the podium is fine, right?”
“Hmm. Just don’t do it to the other professors.”
“Ah! Understood. I’ll only plant bombs on your podium, Professor Elicia.”
Is this really a conversation between a student and a professor?
The Special Class students watched the two with disturbed expressions.
One student was boldly asking if he could plant more bombs, and the professor was telling him to only target her. Not a single person in this room was normal.
Step.
Elicia, who had been by the podium just a moment ago, instantly closed the distance, appearing directly in front of Loki.
“Since someone dragged things out so much, let’s pick up the tempo today.”
Elicia threw a punch.
“I’d rather not.”
Loki swung his staff.
Cr-crackly!
Loki’s staff was sharp enough to slice through an ordinary sword like tofu, but when it collided with Elicia’s fist, it was Loki who was sent reeling back.
Elicia repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fist.
That last attack was at a speed the old Loki wouldn't have been able to react to.
It wasn't that Loki had gotten faster. It was that she had slowed down.
“A curse.”
“Bingo! And what’s the rush? Why pick up the tempo? It’s not like someone’s chasing us. Let’s take it easy and go slow.”
“It’s a stronger curse than usual. Have you been chanting since the bombs started going off?”
It wasn't that Elicia had missed it because she was distracted by Loki.
Ever since she emerged from the explosion, Elicia had been monitoring every student in the Special Class.
Naturally, that included Frederick. But Elicia hadn't seen Frederick chanting any spells.
She didn't need to look to know who the culprit was.
What a truly troublesome Innate Magic.
Loki, who had used illusions to hide Frederick while he chanted, spoke up.
“You don't think this is cowardly, do you?”
Elicia lightly parried the attacks of Kuran and Ren, who were charging with speed that belied their massive frames.
“Hardly. Did you forget what I said when I first started this class? Hunt me. And there is no such thing as cowardice in a hunt. Use any means necessary.”
Elicia kicked a desk, obstructing Lucas just as he was trying to find his stance to strike.
“But Professor Elicia’s body is a cheat! That’s what’s cowardly! You should be the one picking your means and methods! Do you really want to hit your students that badly?”
Loki shouted, even pointing an accusing finger at her.
Elicia thought to herself as she swatted away an incoming spell with her bare hand.
He was the first person she’d ever met who acted so flippantly despite knowing she was a dragon.
Should I actually hit him for real?
Of course, knowing that hitting him for real would actually kill him, Elicia refrained.
“Professor Elicia, pfft! Are you being quiet because you’ve run out of things to say? If you apologize now, I might just forgive you. Even though you’re a coward who keeps hitting the same spots you already bruised, I’m a generous person.”
If she only hits him once, maybe he’ll still be breathing?
The Special Class students poured their attacks onto Elicia without pause.
Except for one person.
“Mr. Lucas! Your opponent is Professor Elicia, who can juggle Trolls! She can catch your spear with her bare hands, so don't even think about trying a deep thrust. That’s it! Just like that! Attack as cowardly as possible! Wow! Mr. Lucas, you’re amazing! I didn't think you could attack in such a petty way!”
“Now that I think about it, Mr. Kuran, didn't you say your tribe decides the chief solely based on strength without using mana? Just in case, make sure Professor Elicia never visits your tribe. You might end up serving under her even after you graduate from the Academy. And just between us, the Professor seems to hold quite a grudge, so think carefully before you attack.”
“Mr. Ren, I heard priests describe death as 'going to the side of God.' In that case, wouldn't Professor Elicia’s fist be a VIP express ticket to God’s side? Hmm, I wonder. Oh my! I didn't mean for you to go and test it with your own body! Why did you get hit?!”
“Nice! Mr. Gashurin! That’s it, sneak up behind her! The Professor probably hasn't noticed you yet! Oh? She caught you. It wasn't because of me, was it? Hmm. But she probably would’ve caught you even if I hadn't said anything, right? Get up and show us that Eastern Swordsmanship!”
“Miss Sepia, surely you’re not planning to attack with Chirpy right now? If that misses and hits someone else, they’ll be cooked 'evenly.' Wait, I didn't mean you shouldn't attack at all. But then again, isn't it a bit too predictable to attack just because I said so?”
“As expected of Miss Clara! Using high-tier magic consecutively like that—an ordinary mage would have run out of mana ages ago! Even though our opponent, Professor Elicia, isn't using any mana, that’s none of our business. Whoa! The Professor is charging right through the fireballs! Do something about that, Miss Clara!”
““““““SHUT UP AND JUST ATTACK ALREADY!!!””””””
Finally, the Special Class students reached their breaking point and screamed in unison.
It was frustrating enough that Elicia was dodging or blocking everything without even using mana—while cursed, no less—but having someone in the back who wasn't attacking and just kept talking was driving them insane.
Loki, who had accidentally drawn everyone’s aggro, spoke in an aggrieved tone.
“No, I mean, you can't break through the Professor with normal methods anyway, so I was using my brain to try and distract her. Why are you guys the ones getting distracted?”
“I-Is that true?” Frederick, who was preparing a spell next to Loki, asked.
“No. Of course it’s a lie. There’s no way the Professor would be shaken by something like this.”
“T-Then why?”
Loki spoke in a serious voice, dropping the playful act.
“While we’re definitely learning how to deal with the strong by fighting Professor Elicia, I believe we also need to learn how to deal with the weak. Making an opponent lose their focus—that is also a method of the weak. I thought it would be much better to experience it now than to face it for the first time in a real battle.”
Frederick looked at Loki with wide eyes.
To think such a deep intention was hidden behind his antics.
“That’s also a lie. Actually, I’m just doing it because it’s fun.”
Naturally, this conversation reached the ears of the other Special Class students.
“AAAAAAARGH!”
In the end, the combat power of the Special Class students surged from pure rage, so in a way, Loki was right.
Of course, a few minutes later, they were all knocked out in perfect harmony.
The fact that Loki remained unconscious longer than any of the other students was probably just a coincidence.