Chapter 52
Chapter 52
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Fake Knowledge, Fake Sage☆ (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The sky had grown dark.
A wasteland, with Mimir Industrial High School visible in the far distance.
A faint golden light glowed from the hundreds of encampments surrounding the massive gray fortress city. The light flickered, intermittently illuminating the surrounding landscape.
Numerous dark elf students stood guard where armored puppets and magitech weapons were installed.
The dark-skinned students of Svart Industrial High School. Accustomed to the darkness of their own subterranean fortress-school, their vision was unhindered even in the gloom of the wasteland.
The security surrounding Mimir Industrial High School was formidable. Yet, for reasons unrelated to the darkness, the dark elf students’ guard was slowly slackening.
“…”
“…”
Vroooom—
The three-meter-tall suit of armor stationed beside them periodically let out a low hum. Each time, the dark elf students in black armor turned, their eyes gleaming.
An unconcealable excitement.
A black base with gold accents.
Their favorite colors.
Finally, a third-year dark elf student in overalls, her blonde hair in a braid, muttered to herself. It was the unique dialect of Svart Industrial High School, spoken as if chewing on the words.
“Damn…! Look how slick that thing is.”
She hadn't been a big fan of this invasion, which had begun under the pretext of midterms… but she had found one thing to like. The fact that she got to stand duty with this heart-poundingly cool automated weapon.
The student in overalls, unable to hold back any longer, continued.
“To think I’d live to see our school’s dream project, the ‘Slick Armor,’ finally completed with my own two eyes… How in the world did President Andrea do it? Where did she get something this slick…!”
Her exclamation, using slang that high-ranking officials and certain students considered vulgar, was met with subtle agreement from the other dark elves on guard.
“It is pretty slick. I guess I wasn’t the only one staring at it.”
“Damn, look at that golden sheen…”
“How much did they say this cost?”
The student in overalls answered with a grin.
“I heard they poured enough ether-conductive ore into the output core of one of these to equal five ether trains… They’re charging it right now by transferring the blessing from the dungeon gate over there to the ore.”
All eyes shifted.
To the cable connected to the ‘Slick Armor’s’ core.
“With that thing.”
Just as she said, a slick cable attached to the body of the ‘Slick Armor’ ran from the entrance of a dungeon gate. Seeing this, the armored students let out a collective gasp of admiration.
“Damn…!”
“Damn…!”
The armored students, who had now completely opened up, continued to pepper the student in overalls with questions about the ‘Slick Armor’ weapon.
“How many hours has it been charging?”
“Since this afternoon… so about three hours? It’s soaking up enough of a blessing to power ten Stage 2 [Vibration Ether] users flying around.”
“It’s practically a walking power plant. Should I scrape off a few bits?”
“Go ahead, if you want President Andrea to personally scalp you.”
“…Never mind.”
The armored students shivered, the mere thought of Andrea’s wrath terrifying them. Wasn’t it because of Andrea’s immense power that they, who only loved money, had been dragged into this unwanted fight in the first place?
The girl in overalls continued speaking, still with an air of pride.
“This is the pinnacle of magitech engineering, something those lanky bitches could never make in a million years. What would those lanky bitches, riding around in their blocky toys, know about the romance of a moving suit of armor?”
“Damn… How much do you think one of these is worth?”
An armored student asked cautiously.
Hearing this, the blonde in overalls covered her mouth with her hand and replied playfully. It was taboo among the money-obsessed dark elves to carelessly reveal an item's value, but right now, it didn't matter.
“If you managed to run off with just one of these, you could set up your own small school in Academy City.”
“Damn…”
“Damn…”
The armored students slapped their foreheads and cheered.
They had already forgotten that they were trespassing on another school's grounds, completely captivated by the ‘Slick Armor.’
For the dark elves, who worshipped mammonism, a comparison to something expensive was the highest form of praise. And among all things, the ultimate value in Academy City Yggd was to rule a school of one’s own.
The immense power of ruling a district.
It was a treasure that shone brighter than any gold.
The armored students spoke in dreamy, entranced voices.
“If you could set up even a small school in Academy City Yggd… you’d basically be a king there.”
“That’s a heart-stoppingly romantic thought…”
“Damn… to be the king of a neighborhood…”
The dark elves gathered there trembled with thrill.
“…”
Swish—
And that is why.
They never noticed the hazy, mist-like figure that vanished soundlessly into the shadows of the bonfire.
“If you had your own school, what’s the first thing you’d do?”
“Pile up all the money I made without lifting a finger in a vault, then have fun throwing it around.”
“Damn…”
“Damn…”
The dark elf students in armor and overalls passed the time, rambling on about all the things they could do with money equivalent to the value of the ‘Slick Armor.’
***
Greta returned from her reconnaissance. After reporting to Vel and Sigrun, she gasped for breath.
“Haa… haa…”
Greta had used her vampiric power to conceal herself like mist in the darkness, pushing it to its absolute limit. For a first-year, her skill was quite impressive.
I watched Greta, the youngest member of the Investigation Team, with admiration.
‘She’s better than most of the second-years at Haze Girls’ High School… This is how mist concealment is supposed to be used, but that one girl…’
Seeing Greta’s mist concealment reminded me of an old acquaintance who used her vampiric powers in the most absurd ways. Among my unique and colorful peers, she was the one who used her powers most strangely.
‘Just two more to meet, and I’ll have seen all my old connections.’
[The Verdant Greatbow] and [The Amber Mist].
Ironically, the two I had yet to meet were among the most moderate of the fighters, at least in their relationship with me.
‘I never thought I’d run into the deadly Eir or the picky Freyja first…’
While I was lost in thought,
Greta finally caught her breath and spoke, her red eyes shining.
“Huff…! Huff…! Anyway, that seems to be how the Eastern Alliance’s encirclement is operating.”
“I see.”
Vel, who had nodded at Greta’s words, looked at Sigrun, a dark elf. She was an anomaly, a dark elf who pursued justice over money.
‘Even in Gjallarhorn, kids like her were treated as oddballs and separated into the Investigation Team…’
A pure smile from one of the Investigation Team girls flashed through my mind—the one who had laughed and vowed to protect the main gate of Mimir Industrial High School at all costs.
“…”
Vel questioned Sigrun.
“Sigrun, how well can you see in this darkness? Is it good enough to gauge their field of vision?”
“Yes! I can see the expressions on the faces of those fools giggling next to the golden armor, Secretary Vel! I suspect that if we don’t hide well here, they’ll be able to spot us right away—!”
“I get it, just please lower your voice…!”
“Ah, my apologies, Secretary Vel!”
“Hey…! Please…! I’m begging you…!”
“Mmph.”
Sigrun covered her own mouth to stifle her uncontrollable volume.
‘That Vel, always acting so composed, but she’s flustered now…’
Did it remind her of how Sigrun had drawn Eir’s attention back at Scarlet Academy?
Vel’s face turned so pale it was visible even in the darkness as she tugged on Sigrun’s sleeve. For all her tough act, it seemed she still got scared when things got scary.
Shuffle.
Shuffle.
We pressed ourselves deeper into the ditch we had dug somewhere in the wasteland. The damp, earthy smell of the wilderness wafted up.
As I carefully backed up, I heard Lotha’s timid voice behind me. Her elbow was about to stick out from behind our cover.
“S-Senior…”
“Hm? Ah, sorry—☆ There☆ This way we can hide nice and snug, right?”
“S-Sorry…”
“No, no—☆”
I instinctively pulled Lotha, who had almost exposed herself, into a tight hug and tucked her deep into the shadows. Surprised by my action, she ducked her head low.
Lotha spoke quietly, still held in my arms.
“You don’t… always have to do so much for us, Senior.”
“Hehe—☆ Are you sure about that☆”
“Always giving everything, giving everything up… and your hair got all brittle… and you got that scar on your neck… And… that…”
Lotha hesitated, unable to voice the ominous thought.
‘[The Faded Spiral]…? That’s nothing now…’
I had a feeling I knew what she was going to say, so I cut in first.
“That’s all nothing now—☆ You all help me a lot, too♪”
“…I’m… sorry.”
“In times like this, you should say thank you—♪”
“…Okay. Thank you.”
Lotha pressed herself against me, her small hands hugging me tightly.
We remained hidden in the warm, moonless shadow. Hearing our conversation, the others made various sounds of distress.
‘…I never thought a stray cat would worry about me.’
Among them, I was particularly surprised to see Freyja looking at me with such sad eyes.
‘Honestly, they worry too much… Anyway, I never thought I’d be using concealment and cover again after my military service.’
Vel, Lotha, and I, being the shortest, were behind a rock.
Alvitt, Greta, and Sigrun, of average height, were on the slope of the ditch.
And Kara, boasting the largest frame, was at the bottom of the ditch.
Freyja, who was in the middle of formulating a plan, was lying flat at the very front of the ditch.
Twitch.
Twitch.
As if she had made a decision.
The purple cat ears in front of me moved.
Even in the darkness, the movement was vivid.
Freyja finally spoke in a timid voice.
“…I-In my opinion, the ruffian should come with our group.”
“Ruffian? You mean Clara? Why?”
“Weren’t we supposed to protect Senior on this side?”
Vel and Alvitt questioned her in turn.
Freyja answered them with a firm tone.
“W-With just me… and Orange-ears’ amplification skill, the combined firepower of everyone here… w-will be much stronger…”
“…”
“I-If that’s the case… it’s… s-safer… and f-faster… for the fleet-footed ruffian to carry me… than for her to flit about on that side…”
“Ooh…☆”
I nodded in understanding, recalling Freyja’s speed, which was slower than a typical student's despite her being a [Unique Ether] user.
‘You’re pretty smart, stray cat…’
She was right… In my current state, where I couldn't produce overwhelming combat power, it was far more efficient for me to act as a component that completely compensated for Freyja’s weakness, rather than awkwardly trying to combine my strength with Vel and Sigrun.
‘People usually assume that strong fighters are also fast… This is something I hadn’t considered.’
If all I had left were my raw stats without any ether, then it was better to use me as a speed-boosting support.
She was a maverick, a cunning strategist. She had no hesitation in proposing the kind of daring, unorthodox plan that a more conventional mind would never conceive. Her reckless, all-or-nothing scheme was, for the current situation, judged to be extremely effective.
As I was thinking this, Alvitt approached me and spoke.
“Lotha, Senior…”
“Yes?”
“…You have to be careful.”
“Okay! I’ll take good care of Senior!”
“Hehe, thank you—☆”
Alvitt’s face was grim.
Though we had come this far together as comrades,
the fact was she had to entrust the safety of her companion to someone far more skilled than herself.
‘We’re only splitting into two groups for a bit. We’ll meet up again on the Golden Road after the diversion is over.’
I gave our ever-responsible Alvitt a comforting pat on the head and spoke to Kara, the only other frontline fighter who had joined us.
“Kara, watch Alvitt’s back for me—☆”
“Hehe, of course. You too, Comrade Senior… Please… please don’t get hurt this time.”
Kara quietly extended her long arm toward me. I returned the gesture, giving her large-for-a-girl fist a fist bump.
Thump!
Watching the solemn pledge of the Central Prism Academy students, Vel spoke up.
“Um… we’re going with you, you know.”
“Secretary Vel! Ruining the mood is unbecoming of a leader—!”
“Hieeek?! Fine, just lower your voice…!”
Silence returned.
Freyja quietly declared.
“L-Let’s begin. Orange-ears, cast that thing.”
“Yes…!”
Lotha swung her wand, casting a skill on Freyja.
[Ether Link]
A buff skill that amplified ether usage several times over,
making it far more menacing and swift.
Freyja chanted the incantation she had been preparing.
“[Eternal Spindle], activate…!”
Whoosh—!
In an instant, a glowing purple spindle appeared behind Freyja.
And the panicked voices of the dark elves who spotted it followed.
From within the spindle, now much stronger under Lotha’s buff… a massive purple bow emerged. A colossal purple laser shot out from it.
Krakoom—!!
[Emergency!! Emergency!! We are under attack!!]
[Concentrate all fire on the central sector!!]
[Attacker identified!! Presumed to be [The Violet Spindle]!!]
Screeeech!!!
A piercing alarm tore through the air.
Amidst the chaos, Freyja looked at the diversionary attack team that was about to break through the flank of Svart Industrial High School.
“I-I’ve drawn their attention… N-Now run.”
“Let’s go!! Attack!!”
Vel, Sigrun, Greta, Alvitt, and Kara charged forward.
Then Freyja looked at me and said.
“P-Piggyback.”
“Okay—☆”
I hoisted Freyja onto my back.
In that moment, the fastest student in Academy City and the student with the strongest firepower had become one.