Chapter 175
Chapter 175
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: Sigrin's Plan Shattered
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After Lavados met its end.
A notification of its defeat appeared in the sky above.
Krash, who had been gazing up at the heavens, let out a hollow chuckle.
He had a vague sense of what that message implied.
'Take down the top rankers before they can recover their strength.'
What a vicious ploy.
But that was the nature of World Erosion.
Defeating one threat didn't mean the danger vanished in an instant.
It was a warning not to let their guard down.
Krash glanced at the scoreboard.
Sure enough, just as he suspected, the points had been evenly distributed.
Because all five of them had climbed into the top ranks.
And naturally, Krash held first place.
Not only had he racked up points from the Erosion Beasts he'd taken down on the way here, but he'd also earned a hefty score from defeating Mary and her 6-star Erosion Beast.
"Krash!"
At that moment, Darling came rushing up to him in a panic.
As Krash blinked at the sight of her, Darling hurriedly scanned him up and down.
Then she looked up at him with concern.
"You okay today?"
Meaning, you're not going to collapse, are you?
Krash's body ached a bit, but he waved it off reassuringly.
"I'm not planning on dropping every time."
As proof, his body was stabilizing faster than expected.
Ignis had flared up around his overheated form, rapidly normalizing his temperature.
In truth, this was one reason Krash had mastered the Extinguishing Frost Erosion.
To suppress the overwhelming heat from Blazing Erosion before his body gave out.
The Extinguishing Frost Erosion had been an unexpected byproduct of that process.
'With this, I can sustain Blazing Erosion far longer than before.'
And sustaining it longer meant pushing his limits even higher.
Crimson Garden seemed to be getting sharper at reading him as time went on.
"Krash-nim."
"Wahaha, that was fun!"
"My spear's a mess."
Meanwhile, the other three approached.
Karandis looked half-dead, bruises mottling her arms.
Ballak swung his twin swords around with his usual bright grin.
Glenn, on the other hand, stared regretfully at his spear and Lavados.
They'd fought admirably against a 7-star Erosion Beast, but he'd felt the limits of his own power.
"What now?"
Darling sidled up close to Krash and asked.
She seemed much less distant than before.
"Just wait here till the exam ends."
"But the other students will come rushing in."
Darling glanced worriedly toward the forest beyond the frozen lava.
She was right; the other students would surely head this way.
Toppling Krash's group was their biggest shot at points.
But Krash shook his head.
"They can't."
This was the Red Line.
Reaching it meant breaking through countless lines of defense.
Like the Orange Line, which was infested with 6-star Erosion Beasts.
They'd be wrecked just getting through those.
No way they'd arrive fresh.
Krash had only made it this far easily because Mary had cleared the 6-star blocking his path.
"And even if they bulldoze through, you think exhausted guys like that can take us on?"
If anything, he'd welcome them handing over their points.
His group was untouchable.
Darling nodded in agreement.
"Unless some of them gun for first place."
Krash looked up at the other three.
They met his eyes, and he grinned.
"Any of you want first? Come at me. You're tired too, but now's your chance."
At his words, the three exchanged glances.
Ballak was first, lacing his fingers behind his head.
"I'd love to, but nah! I don't care about first place."
With his innocent smile, Karandis chimed in.
"Why bother? It only matters if my future husband Krash-nim takes first!"
Not worth dignifying.
"Everyone has a place that suits them."
Glenn gripped his ruined spear and stared at Krash.
"And yours is up front, leading the way."
Recognition shone in Glenn's eyes.
For some reason, it left Krash feeling pretty good.
It meant Glenn would back him even at the lead.
"Me too."
Darling raised her hand enthusiastically.
He'd never even considered she might turn on him.
'This...'
Looking at the four who supported him, Krash felt something profound.
If they all grew like this, they'd surely become the Generation of the Sky.
These four acknowledging him meant...
It was a major stepping stone for him to lead that generation.
A laugh escaped him.
"You idiots."
His natural temperament meant no flowery words.
But they knew there was no malice in his teasing.
Krash's gaze turned skyward.
Volcanic ash darkened the sky, but it couldn't block the sunlight piercing through.
It somehow mirrored his heart.
'Coming to Raheln Academy...'
Was definitely the right choice.
He reaffirmed it today.
"Sigrin."
Krash whispered the question and chuckled shortly.
Someone he'd coordinated with in advance had moved.
The serial killings during Raheln Academy's midterms.
The man he'd asked to stop Professor Jenicalen, the culprit, had acted.
'Pelay.'
Krash exhaled softly, eyes on the sky.
Sigrin would have stepped in eventually, but only after the murders started.
Not Pelay.
He, more than anyone, didn't want Jenicalen killing students.
'So I'll leave that to him.'
Show them what the Hero of the Commoners really is.
The same time.
Somewhere in Raheln Academy.
A boy opened his eyes.
The 17-year-old first-year magic department student winced at the throbbing headache.
"Ugh, what the hell's going on?"
A noble's son, he realized post-headache that his body wouldn't move.
Soon, he noticed he was bound.
His eyes widened in terror.
"W-what? Why am I tied up?!"
He screamed, thrashing futilely.
He quickly realized the place was pitch black.
Turning his head revealed an abandoned building vibe.
The sky outside the window was ominously dark.
No light seeped into the space.
Confusion etched his face.
Then he sensed he wasn't alone.
There were his noble friends from the magic department, still unconscious.
A bad premonition hit.
He tried to summon mana for a spell.
But it lay dormant, empty.
"Magic won't work?"
"P-Professor Jenicalen?"
A voice made him jolt and look up.
A familiar hunched figure stood there, staff in hand.
Unimpressive in appearance: Professor Jenicalen, one of the magic department's assistants.
His magic talent was poor.
But his knowledge was exceptional, earning him the post.
Still, his weak talent made him a target for the haughty, noble-heavy magic students.
They belittled and mocked him relentlessly.
His knowledge meant nothing to them.
Jenicalen was fragile to mockery.
Born ugly and constantly scorned, the young students' barbs broke him.
And so.
He touched the forbidden.
Contracting with the World Erosion's Demon Star.
As its thrall, mana overflowed like never before.
He paid with his eyes, but it didn't matter.
The world was full of horrors anyway.
He wanted to burn them all.
If those abominations weren't erased, his skin crawled unbearably.
So he'd come here to enact his justice.
To cleanse the world.
"Professor Jenicalen, I shouldn't presume to speak lightly of your achievements, but please recognize your own efforts and worth."
During the contract, he recalled a boy's words.
A much younger commoner, called the Hero of the Commoners.
Not flashy, but his steady gaze explained the commoners' adoration.
One day, he'd saved Jenicalen from student bullying.
Stepping in against noble magic students without hesitation, using his own magic.
It sparked thoughts.
If someone like him had been there in his youth, maybe he wouldn't have shattered.
Too late now, having touched magic's dark side.
"What the hell are you doing?! You think you'll get away with this? I'm the eldest son of the Bios family!"
The student shouted at Jenicalen.
Jenicalen smiled slowly.
"What does that matter? Do I, a thrall of World Erosion, fear your petty family power?"
"W-World Erosion thrall?!"
The noble screamed.
As a Raheln student, he knew what that meant.
Those who crossed the uncrossable river.
Thralls of World Erosion.
Jenicalen had crossed it.
He'd kill without hesitation.
Those with nothing to lose feared no consequences.
"I-I'm sorry! I was a fool! Professor Jenicalen, forgive me this once!"
Realizing the worst, he begged frantically.
Jenicalen felt nothing.
He smiled serenely, enlightened.
"Why not just curse me like usual?"
He approached the student.
The boy thrashed and screamed.
But the binding spell held firm.
His innate magic knowledge, amplified by vast mana as a thrall, showed its true power.
No ordinary Raheln student could break free.
Jenicalen's hand neared.
"It'll hurt quite a bit. A unique spell that crushes every nerve from toe to scalp."
The boy's face drained white.
The spell reeked of malice.
I'm dead.
I'll die here.
As tears streamed down his dazed face—
Slash!
A blade sound echoed.
Crash!
Glass shattered from the window.
Sunlight flooded the room.
Jenicalen frowned.
There stood a boy.
The one called the Hero of the Commoners.
Pelay.
Breathing heavily, he stood firm.
"Professor Jenicalen."
Jenicalen slowly straightened his hunch at the call.
"Student Pelay."
He instantly knew why Pelay was here.
After a pause, he asked flatly.
"Please don't try to stop me."
Pelay swallowed hard at the plea to avoid conflict.
In an instant, Pelay's front foot shot forward.
Thousand-Li Stride in a flash.
He was suddenly before the noble student.
Jenicalen's brow twitched.
"Pe-Pelay!"
The noble cried out like seeing salvation.
But Pelay's move shocked.
His swung leg smashed the noble's head.
"Gahk!"
The boy rolled, unconscious.
Jenicalen stared wide-eyed in disbelief, his empty sockets gaping.
"......"
"Your hands don't need to get dirty for trash like this, Professor."
Pelay lowered his leg and met Jenicalen's gaze.
"I can handle as much of it as you want."
Pelay's earnest eyes turned to him.
"I'll change the commoners' view. The nobles' view."
His eyes shone brighter than ever.
Straight-backed, like he'd made a vow.
"So please, Professor Jenicalen. Don't ruin your life over scum like this."
Like a true hero.
Still a boyish one, but he declared it so.