Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Dragon's Essence
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[ Neru ]
Favorability: 【Friend】
Status: 【Positive】
■■■■■■■■■■ (10/10)
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“Nom nom….”
Neru popped a churu into her mouth, her face overflowing with emotion.
The moment those tiny jaws bit down.
“Hyaahhh….”
A sound escaped her—somewhere between a gasp of delight and a moan.
Her ears twitched wildly, and her tail shot straight up into the air with a whoosh.
“Grrr….”
Even her eyes grew misty, her cheeks flushing with heat.
Her tail swished left and right before curling and uncurling repeatedly.
[Is it that good?]
“Truly… now I get why Tuttarai’s churu is legendary, nya….”
Mid-sentence, emotion surged through her again, and Neru slurped at the churu greedily.
“Churu-nim… thank youuu….”
Pure ecstasy, reverence, devotion.
‘Scary.’
Really scary.
Wasn’t it just one churu?
Yet that single treat had upended this catgirl’s entire life and worldview.
[Want to know something scary Neru?]
“Nom…? What, nya….”
Neru perked up her ears.
[We’re late.]
How’s that? Scary, right?
“...”
Silence.
And then…
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[ Neru ]
Favorability: 【Friend】
Status: 【Positive】
■■■■■■□□□□ (6/10)
✦━━━━━━━━━━━━✦
‘Whoops.’
Apparently it was scarier than I thought.
***
We were lucky, I guess.
Somehow, we avoided being late.
The thrill of bursting out of the gray zone, and sprinting at full speed through the school gates was immense.
‘Is this the power of 11 stamina?’
Just moments ago, this body had E-rank stamina.
But I am Adel.
Right now, reborn in this moment as D-rank Adel.
‘If it were still E? I’d have collapsed right at the gates.’
Just a single point increase, and stamina overflows.
‘It was definitely overflowing.’
Is this the placebo effect?
“Hey~ our top student, why do you look so wiped out?”
Yep, placebo confirmed.
Serros’s words made my body slump like jelly.
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[ Serros von Spade ]
Favorability: 【Interest】
Status: 【Positive】
■■■■■■□□□□ (6/10)
✦━━━━━━━━━━━━✦
‘…Why’s his favorability so high?’
At least it’s not negative.
But this comes with its own pressures.
‘Something’s… off.’
We haven’t even really talked.
We were not close, and we had no shared memories.
‘What did I even do in front of him?’
I was racking my brain…
‘Ah. Right.’
The cafeteria.
He was the one who messed with me amid that chaos.
[Hey.]
“Oh~ hey, top student. Is this your first time greeting me?”
Was that sarcasm? Or am I imagining it?
“Yeah, yeah? First time’s the charm.”
Yep, sarcasm confirmed.
Right then.
- Thwack!
“Guh!”
“Why are you messing with the top student again, you jerk!”
Laphia popped out of nowhere and slammed her fist into Serros’s side.
‘Whoa….’
That looked fatal.
Serros crumpled to the floor, twitching.
And then.
- Rattle.
“Hey, everyone to the next cla— what are you doing?”
The door to S Class slid open, and in came our homeroom teacher—and academy dean—Veronica.
Laphia was startled, yanking Serros to his feet.
“Ex, exercise…!”
“Oh? Really? Good then. Anyway, head over to the next class… wait, the one after? Come on.”
- Rattle, click.
Veronica dropped the words and shut the door…
- Rattle.
“Oh, and Adel. Newbie, come see me a sec?”
…Oh dear.
‘Me? Why?’
What’s with our dean?
***
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[ Veronica ]
Favorability: 【Possessiveness】
Status: 【Positive】
■■■■■■■■■■ (10/10)
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Holy shit.
“Eyes front?”
…Yes ma’am.
“Move and you’re dead?”
Right now, I’m sprawled flat on the hallway floor in push-up position.
“And? Shaking already?”
Atop my back sits our dean.
Veronica herself.
The pressure is insane.
“Hey, Adel.”
What’s this about, Dean?
Surely there’s a reason for tormenting a student like this.
“I saw something fun this morning.”
Rustle.
Veronica leisurely turned the page of the newspaper in her hand.
“Cafeteria riot. Mystery masked man draws sword.”
Oh… I made it in to the papers.
Our newspaper club works fast.
I was not a compliment.
“Who could it be?”
I’m curious too, Dean.
If you’re that desperate to know, maybe just forget it…
“Hmm? I wanna rip that masked bastard apart.”
…No need for that.
“Who in Yuram would wear a mask…?”
You’d find one if you looked.
Yeah, weirdos are everywhere.
“Hey, what’s this?”
Still perched on my back, Veronica unfolded a page and shoved it in my face.
[Top Student’s Three Great Mysteries.]
[Hearing the top student’s voice three times or more is fatal…]
[The top student is…]
“Pfft. Urban legends now? They are super popular, huh?”
…What the hell.
You die if you hear my voice three times?
‘No… 【Word of Command】 is dangerous, sure….’
But I’m not some mumbling lunatic wandering around…
Plus, regular students don’t even know I use【Word of Command】.
Even if they noticed, they’d think it’s some weird spell—not a degraded 【Dragon Tongue】.
“Wow… I just noticed, you’re not even in uniform?”
…No defense there.
“You can’t talk anyway.”
“You know how precious Yuram uniforms are? Auction one off, and you could buy a small mansion.”
Oh… that's pro tip, thanks.
I’ll try that next time.
“…You little shit, stop nodding and talk already!”
With that.
- Thud!
Veronica stomped on the back of my hand.
Pain shot through me, body collapsing.
Yet Veronica floated midair, posture perfect.
“Learn to talk by next week. If not, you’re done.”
…I’ll try, but no guarantees.
- Thunk.
Casually, Veronica grabbed my nape, flung open the classroom door, and tossed me inside.
Note: S Class is tucked in a corner, there were plenty of empty rooms nearby.
“See? Mess up, and that’s you.”
I barely caught myself on the floor and stood.
“Kukuku, our top student got rekt.”
“Knew she’d do that.”
Serros and Laphia nodded like they’d seen it coming ages ago.
Annoying.
“Haa….”
Rufus just sighed as usual.
“...”
“...”
Charlotte and Lev remained blankly expressionless.
And.
“Nom nom.”
Neru was still reverently nibbling her 【Tuttarai Churu】 bite by bite.
‘How long are you gonna eat that?’
You're sucking up every last drop, huh.
- Thud.
I plopped into the empty seat next to Lev.
“...?”
Being next to the saintess really clears the mind.
Soul-purifying vibes.
Sacred, noble…
‘This is saintess power.’
“...You okay?”
[What?]
Tears streamed down.
Only Lev worries about me.
“...Yesterday.”
Was this about the cafeteria thing?
Honestly, I’m fine.
If anyone should worry, it’s that expelled girl… what’s-her-name.
Gres? Grape? Whatever.
‘No.’
Thinking it over, there is no need to worry.
She earned an expulsion.
[I’m fine]
And.
“Alright, enough chit-chat?”
Veronica clapped twice, sharp, drawing all eyes.
“I'm sure you're curious why I gathered you here?”
Nod.
S Class nodded in unison.
Good reactions.
“Nom nom.”
Neru still munching churu amid it all.
‘Not really curious.’
I already know.
She’s gonna test the whole S Class here.
‘Veronica flattens everyone, end scene.’
I’ll just hide quietly.
No point stepping up—only pain.
“Time for a test.”
The words left her mouth, and I activated 【Silent Stepper】 instantly.
I should dodge hits for a bit.
Probably.
“All of you, come at me.”
“...?”
Everyone tilted their heads.
“...Oh? Then I’ll go first?”
Veronica raised one finger, flicked it lightly.
“Pew.”
A sinister whoosh, laser beam began lancing out.
“Wah!!”
“Guh…!”
Chaos errupted from Serros’s side.
Lucky or not, Laphia shielded him and survived.
Serros got launched, though.
“Damn… fuck….”
“Whew… I lived.”
The other side looked dead, but whatever.
‘Stay still.’
I hate pain.
***
“Charlotte’s… too honest.”
- Whoosh.
Veronica dodged Charlotte’s sword effortlessly, eyes shifting.
“Erwin? Overthinking?”
- Pow!!
Veronica’s fist sank into Erwin’s gut.
“Guhk…!!”
Erwin was folded in half, flying back.
He might not be out cold, but him getting up? Doubtful.
‘Oof… that hurt.’
Looked like a clean hit—hope he’s not dead.
Next up.
- Whoosh!
Rufus hefted his massive greatsword.
Traced a beautiful arc with it, charging Veronica.
“Wow~ princey. All flash, no substance?”
- Clang!
Veronica blocked with her nails.
- Swoosh!
Seizing the gap, a spear nearly grazed Veronica’s head.
“Huh?”
Veronica tilted away, dodging.
“Hey, idiot! You can’t even do that?!”
Laphia yelled from behind.
“This ain’t on me?!”
Serros yelled back, face red.
Laphia summoned spirits to support Serros, but their teamwork sucked.
“You guys… have zero synergy.”
Veronica shook her head pityingly.
And right then!
“Nya!!”
A cat lunged without warning.
With the churu finished, Neru pounced at Veronica’s opening.
- Whirl!
Veronica spun, high kick flying.
“Hm?”
But the cat was gone.
“Gotcha, nya!”
Neru was behind her now.
Twin daggers gleaming, aiming for Veronica’s back.
“Nice one, kitty?”
Mana coiled from Veronica’s fingertips into thin threads.
- Whoosh.
The threads snared Neru’s ankle, yanking her airborne.
“Wak!”
Snap.
Veronica grabbed Neru’s tail as she spun and bounced midair.
“How’s that? Neat trick I copied ‘cause it looked fun.”
Veronica eyed me.
‘…Was she talking to me?’
More importantly, mana threads?
‘…Ridiculous.’
Wrapping them around someone else?
The mana circuits inside freak out and disrupt it.
The cafeteria mess worked ‘cause that Grape guy’s drugs wrecked his circuits.
In a normal state? It'd be impossible.
…For normals.
‘…But does “normal” apply to dragons?’
Nah… it doesn’t.
“Our saintess…”
Meanwhile, Lev silently healed the folded Erwin.
“Whatever.”
Veronica’s face screamed dissatisfaction.
“Why only this much?”
Silence.
No one rushed to answer.
“I picked you with my own eyes.”
Was there disappointment in those eyes?
“Or… is it a lack of motivation?”
Oh, this might get interesting.
“Then… here.”
Subspace opened; Veronica pulled something out.
‘That…?’
A glowing orb dangling from threads.
“No way….”
“That’s mine… don’t touch.”
“...”
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【Dragon's Essence】
Rank: Legendary
The essence of dragons, called the strongest beings.
Crystallized within.
: Awakens the ‘power’ most needed, based on user’s state.
That essence restarts a stopped heart.
✦━━━━━━━━━━━━✦
“Who should I give it to~?”
Veronica’s draconic eyes tore into me.
“Want it? Come take it.”
Greed.
A dragon’s instinct.
That gaze fixed on me.
“...”
The fallen students rose one by one.
Their eyes werestained with greed.
‘Ha.’
Not in ‘Akarejang.’
‘Was my talent that desirable?’
What do they see?
This 【Stigma】-ruined my body—how can they look at me like that?
Yet to a dragon’s eyes, my talent shone that bright?
‘It doesn’t matter.’
It awakens the most needed ‘power.’
Whatever I need most.
I’m getting it.
‘Even if my body breaks.’
It’s a trap, obviously.
I'll be walking into the dragon’s jaws.
Still…
‘I can’t resist.’
A free legendary item?
Why pass it up?
- Step.
I deactivated 【Silent Stepper】, and took one step.
“...?”
All eyes were on me.
But I stared only at Veronica, lips curving.
‘Always the same words.’
Every 【Word of Command】was identical.
‘Kneel’… ‘Stop’… this one too.
Always halting motion.
I kind of want to try others.
…The backlash scares me.
Anyway…
“Freeze.”
I spoke.
My sealed lips parted; a shockwave burst out.
――――!!
An invisible impact swept the room in waves.
“What…!”
“Huh…?”
“...What?”
“Ngh….”
All frozen.
- Crackle…
I drew 【Leviathan】 from my inventory.
- Whoosh.
I sliced the threads of 【Dragon's Essence】that touched my hand.
“...?”
But Veronica grinned.
Chillingly so.
“But…”
- Whirr.
‘…Protect spell?’
Mana enveloped me.
Veronica’s mana.
Simultaneously.
- Bam!!!
“It's not over yet~”
I was launched airborne.
- Crash!!
And was smashed into the wall.
‘No….’
That's cheating, right?