Chapter 298
Chapter 298
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 298
Chapter Title: The Golden Lion
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Step.
Now, as I walked, finally free from the infirmary for a change, the sight of the academy was completely different.
Disorderly. Subdued.
That was the overall atmosphere.
“...”
It was something I'd often felt while looking out from the infirmary… a solemn atmosphere had blanketed the academy over the past few days, and it showed no signs of changing.
‘Perhaps it’s inevitable.’
After all, not much time had passed since such a tragedy occurred.
Incidents had been happening continuously.
Dangerous incidents, enough to put everyone on high alert, had occurred, and despite the instructors' constant vigilance and preparation, they were often met with strange circumstances that made prevention impossible.
And while, miraculously, there had been no casualties, that couldn't last forever.
“Was I just lucky?”
I muttered blankly, a strange feeling washing over me.
To be precise, the victims of the past incidents had been limited to me.
Because I was the one confronting the apostles, it was my body that was broken, my pain that was felt. The damage from these incidents had been primarily focused on me.
The reason was simple.
I know the future of this world.
Even if it wasn't a 100% accurate future, I tried to intervene and prevent the dangers that lay ahead.
Starting from the day I happened to meet Karite, I interfered to twist the fate of this world, getting involved in almost every incident. Sometimes I was forcibly swept up in them, but... until now, I had somehow managed to get through it all without any casualties.
However.
This time was different.
—A student had died.
Furthermore, the number of students who suffered injuries, major and minor, was incomparably greater than before.
The difference between facing danger and surviving unscathed, and someone actually dying, was bound to change the atmosphere this drastically.
‘Not everyone can be like me….’
Not everyone can face a crisis and survive. It wasn't their fault; it was simply an impossible reality.
The danger of the incident was just that immense.
Suddenly,
As I was heading to the appointed place to train with Dame Isabelle, the sight of a student outside caught my eye.
“...”
They were sitting on a bench near the academy's main thoroughfare, their blank face devoid of any vitality.
The academy's atmosphere, which had remained relatively bright even amidst past incidents, had changed in an instant.
I watched for a moment before shaking my head and looking away.
‘Don’t think too deeply about it.’
I can't protect every student in the academy.
Even if my growth has been on a steep upward trajectory, I'm still just a student. I couldn't possibly do what even the instructors couldn't.
‘And far from protecting anyone properly…’
The reality was that I could barely protect myself from the apostles targeting me.
“Hah.”
With a short sigh, I shook off the heavy thoughts of reality.
…….
Clank.
As I entered Adelia's private training ground, the same one I'd used for my duel with Leonhardt a few days ago, I inadvertently glanced at the woman beside me.
Her refined golden armor and lustrous blonde hair caught my eye.
"..."
As her calm gaze met mine, I carefully opened my mouth.
“Dame Isabelle. I'll be in your care for this training.”
“Since it's our first day, we'll keep it light.”
She had readily agreed to help with my training, and now here we were, ready to begin.
My body had recovered enough to be discharged from the infirmary, so I had no hesitation.
Step, step.
Dame Isabelle headed straight for the center of the training ground.
As if to say no other words were necessary, I calmly moved as well.
Shhhk.
I picked up a spear from a rack on one side of the room and took my position opposite her.
As our eyes met again, she spoke naturally.
“First, before I explain today's training, I want to make it clear that we will proceed without overexerting you.”
“Yes. I'll be sure to keep that in mind.”
“I understand your trait is Level 5 Spearmanship. Have there been any other changes?”
“No, there haven't.”
“Then let's prepare for the training right away.”
Shing!
At my words, she immediately drew her sword from its scabbard with an elegant grace. Even that minor movement drew my gaze.
Whoosh!
Dame Isabelle's form as she lightly swung the sword to set her stance was simple, yet there was something special about it.
The very feel of her swing was completely different.
‘Just how powerful is a Golden Knight…?’
I didn't know how strong Dame Isabelle was, but one thing was certain: her level was overwhelmingly higher than mine.
“Setting traits aside, the spear is quite a fine weapon. Though its effectiveness can vary depending on the wielder.”
“You seem to know a lot about the spear, Dame Isabelle.”
“I have some knowledge. A Golden Knight must be able to handle any situation, so we are familiar with almost all types of weaponry. Now, I will explain the details of the training we are about to conduct.”
As I listened to her calm voice and nodded, Dame Isabelle gave a faint smile.
...For me, who was watching her, it was a smile that felt a little strange.
‘It feels like it’s mixed with some kind of pity.’
Just as I felt it was a rare, emotion-filled gaze from the usually stoic Dame Isabelle.
“First, I have no intention of conducting a one-on-one duel with you for this training.”
“Then…?”
“Apostles.”
A beat.
As she mentioned the apostles in a heavy tone, I blinked.
Apostles? What on earth was she talking about?
“I intend to replicate the apostles' attack patterns and dangers for you. Unless there are special instructions, I will be spending a great deal of time with you from now on. And no matter what situation arises, I will protect you. But that's not why you asked me to train you, is it?”
“...That's right. Because I want to be able to protect myself.”
Her words hit the core of the issue, and I felt my perspective shifting.
I had naturally expected a training session where I would face a wall by dueling her.
But Dame Isabelle was looking beyond that.
She was saying I needed to prepare not for her, but for the apostles…
“Therefore, what you need is not one-sided training like a duel. And considering the comprehension bonus of your trait, your spearmanship is quite an excellent weapon for one-on-one combat; I believe Level 5 is more than enough to handle that.”
I found myself nodding at her words, which implied that one-on-one combat was not the problem.
“I understand completely.”
“Yes. Then from now on, focus on blocking or evading the energy I manifest. Let me repeat: do not try to overcome my energy. Focus on enduring, evading, or, when you have no other choice, blocking it.”
Dame Isabelle had set a firm goal for the training.
It was based entirely on the assumption of a situation involving an apostle.
She was telling me what I needed to do the next time I faced an apostle.
—To focus on protecting myself.
“Then prepare yourself. I'm coming.”
I nodded at the sight of her raising her sword and raised my spear in preparation.
FWOOOOSH!!
Just then, a great light erupted from Dame Isabelle's entire body, and a wave of gold began to pour out.
It was a sight bordering on the divine.
A dazzling, brilliant golden energy.
‘It feels like mana, yet completely different.’
It seemed to be a use of power that changed the properties of mana. I, too, prepared by imbuing my spear with a spiral current.
“.....!”
But in the next moment, my eyes shot wide open.
The golden energy began to coalesce, soon forming a distinct shape. It was the form of a beast.
Amazingly, a ‘golden lion’ now appeared before my eyes, as if it were alive and breathing.
It was merely a clump of golden energy that had taken a shape, yet its form was incredibly detailed and overwhelmingly intimidating.
“...”
Dame Isabelle, however, simply stood in her spot, sword raised, watching me. The reality was that the golden energy rising from her had merely taken the form of a lion, enveloping her entire body.
“From now on, the moment this form of energy is complete, I will immediately press the attack. Prepare yourself.”
As her lips moved to inform me, I tensed up.
Swoosh.
As Dame Isabelle swung her sword, the golden energy rippled and moved like a wave.
I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing.
And yet, the sense of crisis I felt was no different from when I had faced the apostles.
‘What in the world is this….’
An intimidating presence so strong my skin tingled, coupled with a sense of ferocity. The golden energy then exploded outward.
And just like that, the energy surged toward me.
‘I have to dodge!’
From the very beginning, I erased any thought of meeting it head-on with my spear.
This was not the kind of force one was meant to confront with strength.
Thud!
I urgently spread the spiral current from my spearhead throughout my body and leaped off the ground.
CRASH!
As the energy in the shape of a golden lion slammed into the training ground floor, its destructive power was on another level.
The deeply gouged floor made me realize just how overwhelming the power of the golden energy was.
‘The moment I face this head-on…’
My spear won't be able to withstand it.
I knew it instantly.
...!
Dame Isabelle, in the form of a golden lion, began to relentlessly press her attack in a bizarre fashion.