Chapter 13
Chapter 13
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Color of the Star in Your Heart☆ (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Life.
I thought it was like winter.
A quiet, empty… kind of winter.
When, as always, another winter had passed.
I met a girl.
She was a strange girl, for some reason.
Her voice, which chirped ceaselessly like a lark.
Her movements, as scattered as dandelion seeds in the wind.
A warm and playful girl, so different from my cold, empty self.
Appearing out of nowhere at the end of a desolate winter.
She shook my heart with her vibrant colors.
For some reason, I thought she was like a cherry blossom blooming in spring.
My name's Clara! I'm the girl who's gonna beat you someday—☆
Futile.
What meaning was there in determining victory or defeat?
The result was always the same.
Ahaha—☆ Today's fight was fun, wasn't it!
Empty.
The process of fading away was just longer for me than for others.
It would be the same this time.
All I had left in the end was my duty.
Yeah! You look like you're having fun too—☆ I'm so glad!
Me?
I looked like I was having fun?
‘You're the one who just latched onto me.’
Let's have a real match next time—☆ Of course, I'll win someday! 'Cause I'm a girl who never gives up—☆ I'll challenge you, the strongest, forever—!!
“…”
If, really… if that were truly the case.
I thought that wouldn't be so bad.
“In that case, I will wait here forever.”
As the strongest, for you to challenge.
As the strongest, who will never be broken.
“I will wait… forever.”
Forever.
Forever…
As long as the winter's wait had been.
The spring that arrived so suddenly was warm and beautiful.
'Hilde,' that's what my mother called me when I was little. You... can call me that too.
Nickname exchange time~? Then you can call me 'Lara' for short—☆
…Lara.
Hilde! See you next time—☆
“Yes.”
Tomorrow.
The day after.
Next year.
And.
Eternally.
Forever.
Forever…
‘I wish this spring would last forever.’
A memory I always cherished in my heart.
-Guh…!
A noise from beyond the memory.
The sound from beneath my feet pulled my mind back to reality. I turned my head to look at the source of the noise.
It was a fiend, bleeding green blood atop the ruins and spewing curses.
“You…! How, how dare you touch an 'Apostle' of <Ratatoskr> and expect to get away… with… cough…! Our Priest…! He'll…!”
“Where is he now.”
“Khahaha… you… think… I’d tell… you…!”
“Then die.”
Crunch!
“Aaargh!!”
The culprit behind the kidnapping incidents that had shaken the western district of the Academy City since the new semester began. The one who called himself an ‘Apostle’ of <Ratatoskr> was impaled on a spear, letting out a final scream.
A fiend who, aside from the dragon horns, looked no different from a human.
When the investigative net cast by the students of <Gjallarhorn> had located his hideout, he had suddenly transformed his upper body into that of a dragon and summoned dozens of Chaos Bugs with some unknown power.
Just before the fiend and his dozens of Chaos Bugs could annihilate the <Gjallarhorn> students in the ruins, they were subdued by a single student.
And now, the ‘Apostle’ was writhing, impaled on a spear coursing with azure-white lightning.
A female student with silver-white hair, the hem of her black <United Student Council> coat fluttering in the wind. She simply watched it in silence.
Her silver-white eyes.
What was reflected in their depths was not the opponent before her.
“In… incredible…!”
The ultimate battle in the Academy City.
And the overwhelming result it produced.
Everyone gathered here had watched with bated breath, and now they trembled at the outcome.
“That… that fiend, all by herself… We couldn't catch it even when we all attacked at once…”
“Who’s the real monster here…”
“And to think she defeated dozens of adolescent Chaos Bugs by herself, the kind you'd only see as a mid-level dungeon gate boss…!”
“As expected of Brynhildr, the strongest in the Academy City…!”
Rumble—
Beneath the dark sky, a soft thunder rolled as light flashed within the clouds.
A pale, chillingly bright lightning.
CRACK—!
The flash illuminated the dozens of Chaos Bug corpses scattered around. Hundreds of craters dotted the area. In them lay the beasts, charred black by the lightning.
Dozens of beasts.
A fallen fiend.
A single victor.
It was truly the image of an absolute ruler.
“…”
“I… curse… the World Tree…”
His tenacious life finally extinguished, the fiend gazed at the sky and muttered a final curse before the lightning disintegrated him into dust.
Fwoosh…
“…”
Silence.
As everyone stood in awe of the overwhelming battle that had unfolded in the ruins, one student approached.
Step.
Step.
A student with two sharp wolf ears and a mane of black hair approached, her gait disciplined. She, too, wore the emblem of the <United Student Council> on her black coat.
“President.”
“…”
Brynhildr remained still, her gaze fixed and indifferent. The wolf-eared student, as if accustomed to this demeanor, continued speaking.
“What is it.”
“We've received intelligence that Skadi, the student council president of <Mimir Industrial High School>, is making some unusual moves. The analysis suggests she's preparing a massive rally for this new student welcoming ceremony, aimed at the surrounding schools… and perhaps even all of <Academy City Yggd>.”
“…”
The sudden appearance of the kidnapping culprit. His attacks, scattering dozens of Chaos Bugs, and his ever-changing abilities were tricky. But Brynhildr had been able to counter the familiar patterns of his abilities swiftly.
“…”
My [Red Flower Dazzling] is a super-ultimate secret technique that pressures the opponent with unpredictable moves☆
Even you, Hilde, would let out a cute little yelp if my hearts pressed you from all sides like this—♡
“…”
Again.
Again, you come to me…
Perhaps finding Brynhildr’s silence strange, the wolf-eared student took a step toward her, but stopped when Brynhildr’s gaze fell upon her.
“President?”
“The report.”
“Yes. We dispatched <United Student Council> agents to investigate, and they found that a number of individuals within <Mimir Industrial High School> have been advocating for secession from the union for some time now.”
“The Eastern Alliance… and furthermore, the excavation rights to the eastern ether conductor mines, I presume.”
“Yes, that's correct.”
“…”
A rumor had recently been circulating among the student councils of the major schools in <Academy City Yggd>.
The formation of an Eastern Alliance.
This news signified the union of <Public Vana Boarding School> and <Svart Industrial High School>.
An alliance between two major schools located in the eastern part of <Academy City Yggd>.
This union was tantamount to a gesture of rebellion against the <United Student Council> and <Aesir Girls' High School>, which dominated the central social circles of the Golden Street and held political power.
The black-wolf-eared girl continued her report.
“The <Public Vana Boarding School> has promised <Svart Industrial High School> exclusive excavation rights to the eastern ether conductor mines in exchange for the alliance.”
“The fact that we know about it means it's already well underway.”
“I apologize for the delay in our assessment.”
“…”
For a long time, students from <Aesir Girls' High School> had served consecutive terms as the president of the <United Student Council>, effectively acting as the true rulers of <Academy City Yggd>.
A solid tower of power, maintained for ages.
Now, a movement had appeared to challenge that solid power.
This was a move that would disrupt the balance of <Academy City Yggd>.
<Mimir Industrial High School> must have foreseen the chaos that would erupt in their territory. So they chose to abandon their affiliation with the union and prepare for a full-scale war with <Svart Industrial High School>.
“…”
If they merely advocated for independence, they were fated to wither away under the pressure of the two major schools' Eastern Alliance.
They must have something to rely on to be preparing for independence.
Excluding <Holy Alfheim High School> and <Aesir Girls' High School>, which were too distant to exert any meaningful influence, there was only one best option for <Mimir Industrial High School> to reach out to.
The Northern Slums.
“<Scarlet Academy>.”
The pyromaniacs.
The problem children.
A bunch of lunatics who, despite being part of the union, genuinely screamed about burning it down one day.
A major school that had relocated to the slums because its students just couldn't mix with those of ordinary dispositions. If they started running rampant in the central district, the chaos in the Academy City would become uncontrollable.
“To think they’d try to join hands with those slum rats.”
The black-wolf-eared girl responded to Brynhildr’s murmur.
“Yes. Since the beginning of this semester, slum students have been spotted on the grounds between <Mimir Industrial High School> and the central district.”
“I’ll have to go to <Mimir Industrial High School>.”
The collapse of the union and the suspicious movements of the major academies.
As the hegemon of the Academy City, she had to step in and stop all of this herself.
“I’ve already arranged for an express ether train to <Mimir Industrial High School>. Secretary Vel will accompany you.”
“Understood. You will clean up the remaining scene. Sieglinde.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Click!
As Brynhildr departed immediately, the black-wolf-eared girl, Sieglinde, saluted her with the utmost respect. She had long since abandoned her school pride for her alma mater, <Public Vana Boarding School>, so there was no hesitation.
Flutter—
As Brynhildr strode forward, her black coat fluttering, the name of a school located near <Mimir Industrial High School> drifted through her mind like a cherry blossom petal.
“Central… Prism… Academy.”
Perhaps…
What waited there was.
No.
Let’s not indulge in such absurd fantasies.
That was not the vow they had shared.
‘I am here.’
She had grown stronger since then, becoming truly the strongest, and was waiting. So, she would come to challenge her at any time.
The day of her defeat.
A single phrase she heard through a hazy consciousness.
…that was a good fight… Hilde… I also… you…
She had left, disappointed in her weakness.
If she knew how much stronger she had become, she would come to challenge her again.
Spring will surely come again.
It will… come.
So, I will wait.
Forever.
Forever…
I.
You…
“…”
Brynhildr paused for a moment.
But she started to exit the ruins again.
She walked toward the ether train station where her subordinates were waiting.
***
“I'm busy, so get lost. How long are you going to keep showing up like this, [Spiral]? Do you know how many festival prizes you've ruined? You're a third-year, are you still going through a rebellious phase?”
“Whoa—☆ I told you not to say that epithet out loud—☆”
“I really don't get why you're hiding your power.”
“…”
“Well, Skadi would have a heart attack if she knew you snuck all the way in here. That would be a sight to see.”
Maya, who had seen me hiding in a locker just moments ago, let out a sigh.
“Haa… fine, whatever. You were always a crazy one, but you never hurt people or did things without a reason.”
It seemed the only things that had increased for Maya over the years were the scars on her face and her sighs.
I had infiltrated the main building, its security far tighter than I remembered, and found my way to her private office, which was far dirtier and more worn-out than I recalled. There, Maya and I were having a happy reunion.
*Gulp.*
*Gulp.*
Maya, dressed in work clothes that looked even more worn than I remembered, had both her feet up on a steel table as she opened a metal flask and drank an energy drink.
She casually offered the flask to me, but I refused, as high-caffeine drinks didn't agree with ‘Clara’s’ body.
“…So, why are you here.”
“Hey—☆ Think I could borrow a vehicle after the event's over—☆”
“You know the atmosphere at our school has been tense lately, right?”
“Nope—☆ Give me a ride!”
“Tsk. Fine.”
*Gulp.*
*Gulp.*
“Also, I'm taking one of your first-years back to my school, so help me with the paperwork—☆”
“Pfft!!! *Cough*!! Are you completely insane?!”
Maya sprayed orange energy drink from her nose.