Chapter 168
Chapter 168
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: Midterm Evaluation Imminent
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Austria's suggestion for rest had worked wonders.
Krash certainly felt much more refreshed than before.
'Its effects are solid.'
Maybe he should visit her whenever fatigue pushed him to the limit.
It seemed like a pretty good idea.
As Krash walked along, he happened to lock eyes with someone coming down the hallway.
And it was someone Krash knew reasonably well.
Glen Diana, Mary Diana's younger brother and a fellow first-year student.
Glen's face lit up the moment he spotted Krash.
Ever since Krash had clashed with the imperial faction, Glen had been exceptionally friendly toward him.
But though Glen started off with a bright expression, it soon darkened.
"Something wrong?"
Glen was usually cheerful despite his gruff demeanor.
With a puzzled look, Krash asked, and Glen pressed a hand to the back of his neck.
"Krash, do you know that my sister's gone into secluded training?"
Of course he knew.
"After getting involved in the princess assassination plot, her condition took a sharp turn for the worse. She's been half out of it ever since. All her old sharpness is completely gone."
Sorry, but he didn't think she was particularly sharp before either.
Even so, Krash held his tongue and listened to Glen continue.
"And it's the same now. She's been living like something's chasing her."
He hated Mary for what she'd done.
But it seemed Glen didn't hate Mary herself.
Then again, she'd once been the sister he admired and followed so proudly.
Glen couldn't just hate her outright.
It fit the saying perfectly: hate the sin, not the sinner.
"And yesterday, I ran into her by chance."
Krash narrowed his eyes at that.
Thanks to Austria's kindness, he'd gotten a full day's rest.
In the meantime, it looked like Mary had emerged from her seclusion.
"There was a venomous glint in her eyes, nothing like before. And at a glance, it didn't look like a good change."
Krash understood why Glen's face was so grim.
It was hard to accept seeing his admired cousin sister so changed.
'Venomous, huh.'
It was a word that didn't suit Mary at all.
"But the aura radiating from her was the real deal."
Glen clenched his fists tightly.
Just thinking of Mary brought beads of cold sweat to his forehead.
That night.
For the brief moment he'd brushed past her, the aura emanating from Mary had choked the breath right out of him.
She was far stronger now than when she'd been a candidate for the empire's spear prodigy.
Not even if he thrust his spear ten thousand times would a single strike reach her.
She'd only been in seclusion for a few weeks.
Yet she'd changed so much in that time.
"This midterm exam won't be easy."
Glen warned Krash.
Never to underestimate Mary Diana.
Hearing that, Krash slowly smiled.
"Don't worry. I've never underestimated her, not even once from the start."
The Spear Prodigy, Mary Diana.
Krash remembered better than anyone just how strong she was, born with her Heavenly Martial Body.
She was a rotten woman laden with that damned curse.
But her martial prowess had reached perfection.
The only one besides Arthur who could face the Worst alone.
That was Mary Diana.
So Krash had never underestimated her, not from the beginning to the end.
Even fallen, she was no pushover.
And Krash had to break that Mary completely.
"Thanks for the advice."
Krash patted Glen's shoulder and moved on.
Tomorrow.
The day Raheln Academy's first midterm exam would begin.
Raheln Academy's midterm exam.
Normally, for the second-year class, it would be a test to pass the six-month training period.
But this time, something unusual had arisen at Raheln Academy.
A special elite class.
One that could be deployed into real combat without further training.
With plans to select additional members for that elite class during the midterm evaluation.
The second-years were training with fire in their eyes.
But they vaguely knew.
That they wouldn't be the center of this midterm exam.
"Mary, it's been a while."
And as the midterm loomed.
One figure knelt on one knee before the Empire's Third Princess, Sigrin Epania.
Her name was Mary Diana.
The one once called the Spear Prodigy in her previous regression.
"Yes, Lady Sigrin. I've completed my secluded training and come to pay my respects."
Her face looked utterly haggard compared to before.
Of course, even that weariness couldn't mar her inherent beauty.
If anything, the frail air replacing her usual fierce energy gave her a fresh allure.
But in Sigrin's eyes, as she looked down at the bowing Mary, there was only pity.
She propped her chin like she was eyeing a card long discarded.
Wondering if she could salvage any use from this discarded piece.
But what had to be done, had to be done.
"Mary, you know how crucial this midterm evaluation is, right?"
Krash's name rose higher by the day.
And Charlotte, who had taken him in, rose with him.
Especially after the Hardenharts incident had blown up big.
They'd defeated a World Erosion entity and sealed an 8-star World Erosion.
An immense feat, perfect for building fame among the later students.
Especially as the Valheim siblings, drawing all eyes—their stock had hit an all-time high.
Grind.
Sigrin ground her teeth as Charlotte's face came to mind.
She hadn't been idle either.
She'd been pulling strings left and right to advance her grand plan.
But the Hardenharts matter? She hadn't touched it at all.
'I barely found the Sword Emperor's legacy. And in the meantime, the academy's power balance shifted.'
The Sword Emperor, former Heavenly Supreme Sword who had crumbled fighting World Erosion long ago.
While she'd been hunting his legacy, Raheln Academy's factions had shaken up massively.
'Ever since that cursed bastard showed up, everything's gone wrong.'
Suppressing her rising irritation, she looked at Mary.
This might truly be her last chance to crush Krash.
With his name at its peak.
If Mary could beat him and take first place, public opinion would flip in an instant.
"I expect you to exceed my expectations."
"Yes, I will meet them without fail."
Mary answered Sigrin vigorously.
Her raised eyes burned with fierce emotion.
Showing just how seriously she was taking this.
But Sigrin didn't know the anxiety lurking beneath.
Sigrin played innocent, but Mary had sharp instincts.
So she sensed, subtly, that this was her last shot too.
"Do your best, Mary."
At Sigrin's encouragement, Mary bowed and left.
Staring at her retreating figure, Sigrin slowly opened a drawer with a creak.
Inside lay a single vial of medicine.
Her eyes curved into crescents as she gazed at the transparently glowing liquid.
"Of course you will. Or else you'll have to serve as a broodmare."
That sly, slit-eyed smile carried the meaning that she'd discarded Mary long ago.
Sigrin no longer saw Mary as Arthur's comrade.
After all, a broken spear had to be thrown away.
She would simply find a new one to replace it.
The long-awaited day of the midterm dawned.
Krash tied his necktie while gazing at the unusually brilliant sky.
His condition, restored thanks to Austria, was at its absolute peak.
The feeling was perfect.
Ideal for snatching Excel's spot.
[Seeing that smug look, I almost wish you'd get smacked down.]
"Not like you're the one taking the exam."
Krash grumbled at Crimson Garden as usual and reached for his desk.
The corpse rat on the desk scurried up his arm and into his pocket.
According to Evelask, the Corpse Emperor's reanimation was imminent.
Once the midterm ended, they could dive into the Ixion meeting.
'So first, snatch Excel's position.'
With firm resolve, Krash started walking.
Just then, Aslan appeared.
"Hey, Krash. How's your condition?"
Aslan asked with a very relaxed expression.
"How about you?"
"Same as always. Compared to when I had the Moon Yin Body, I feel great anytime now."
His Moon Yin Body was with Krash now.
So Krash understood.
"Good luck on the exam. Let's meet as first place again."
As a magic academy alum, he headed to the magic hall.
They parted with a greeting midway, and as Krash walked on, a familiar silhouette came into view.
Well, everyone was heading to the martial hall, so it was easy to run into familiar faces.
Krash suppressed his presence and approached slowly.
Then he sidled up beside her as she walked, lost in thought.
"Haring."
"Eek!"
Like startling a cat deep in focus, Haring let out a scream, her eyes wide like a frightened feline.
Maybe it was the first time he'd heard her scream so loudly.
Krash blinked in bewilderment at her reaction.
"What're you so startled about?"
"K-Krash."
Haring calmed her pounding chest, faced him, then averted her eyes.
She started subtly backing away again.
It was a sight he'd seen often lately.
But this time, he had no intention of letting her slip away.
Krash grabbed her wrist firmly.
Haring's hair bristled, her eyes rounding wide.
Her ears had turned bright red before she knew it.
"You've been avoiding me lately."
"Th-that's..."
Haring's face showed clear panic.
Her eyes spun like whirlpools.
Ever since realizing her feelings for Krash.
She'd been avoiding him, just as he'd said.
He had a fiancée, and she thought these emotions were wrong.
Of course, she planned to repay her debt to him steadily.
But she needed time to sort out these feelings at least.
Yet lately, Krash's condition seemed to worsen by the day.
It nagged at her, so today she'd resolved not to avoid him and ask.
But then Krash had approached first, throwing her into a fluster.
Resolve or no, facing him blanked her mind white.
She worried he could hear her heartbeat through the gripped wrist.
"You're still hung up on what the Poison King said last time."
Haring flinched.
Because it wasn't wrong.
Krash released her wrist.
"Don't worry. I'll take responsibility for you. I'll make sure the empire's no issue."
This was him again.
Shouldering all the burden without hesitation.
Haring bit her lip hard.
She'd spent plenty of time with Krash.
So she knew well that when he saw something, he'd charge ahead without vanishing into his own body.
Maybe that's why.
Krash often seemed ignorant of how to protect himself.
That tugged at Haring's heart.
Now that she'd realized she liked him, she didn't want to see him choose hardship.
"Or did you... hear something?"
Misreading her gaze, Krash rubbed the back of his neck.
Puzzlement rose in Haring's eyes.
Krash gave a wry smile.
"Don't worry about that either. I won't take another wife or anything. Don't take the Poison King's words to heart. I'll resolve it cleanly for you."
At that moment, Haring's shoulders twitched.
'What the hell did Father say?'
She'd known Krash and her father had stepped out to talk back then.
Too flustered after realizing her feelings, she hadn't eavesdropped.
But from his words now, she pieced it together.
Father had noticed her heart and told Krash to take another wife.
He showed no sign of giving up her fiancée spot.
In that instant, a corner of Haring's heart shook.
What if, just what if.
If it was that direction, then really...
Such thoughts began swelling wildly in her mind.
"Anyway, no need to fret."
Krash said not to worry and started walking.
But he didn't get far.
Because Haring's outstretched hand had grabbed his collar.
"Haring?"
Krash turned, as if asking if she had more to say.
Then Haring realized belatedly what she'd done.
Startled, she yanked her hand back and clutched it to herself.
"I-I mean, good luck on the exam."
Hearing that, Krash chuckled in disbelief.
"You're taking it too. That's what you say to a rival?"
With that, he resumed walking.
Gazing blankly at his back, Haring looked down at her hand.
This hand that had unconsciously reached for him moments ago.
Her greed contained within it.
Haring pressed down on her racing heart.
A greed she'd never indulged in her life.
She wanted to indulge it just this once.
"So this is who I am."
Admitting it somehow lightened her heart a bit.
With that resolve, Haring's long legs, peeking from under her skirt, strode forward.
Even as she realized she no longer had a way to cure her poisoning herself.