Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Regressor
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While Deus and his group were resolving the incident at Elia Convent,
Aria Rias—the regressor who could proudly declare herself the protagonist of this continent—was in the midst of a rather unique adventure.
“Urgh.”
In the forest of Romethiu, far from the academy. A place so dense it went beyond mere lushness, exuding a mystical aura. True to that, it was home to hidden fairies and spirits.
In fact, they were benevolent beings who guided lost travelers to the exit or warned of approaching beasts.
Aria sat on a large, round boulder, unpacking her gear.
She set down the greatsword she had newly acquired—strapped to her back—leaning it against the rock, and began eating the lunch she had prepared.
“Nom.”
Looking around, she saw nothing but thick trees. Unlike her previous life when she visited here, the fairies and spirits now kept their distance, fearing her. It was a bit disappointing.
‘Would’ve been nice to have some company to chat with.’
She regretted not bringing a few old comrades, but realized they wouldn’t have made it this far anyway. With that thought, Aria filled her belly.
After finishing her meal, she sat dazed, gazing at the sky barely visible through the canopy.
Rustle.
At the sound of footsteps from the underbrush, Aria quickly reached for her greatsword.
“Hoo!”
Surprisingly, the one who appeared was a familiar face.
“Professor Erika?”
“Student Aria?”
An unexpected encounter.
Both were startled, wondering why the other was here.
Aria set down her sword and looked at Erika with a subtle expression.
She had been startled at first, but now realized why Erika was here.
“You came for a spirit contract?”
“...How did you know?”
Erika, who had been strolling through the forest moments ago, reverted to her cool professor’s demeanor.
Even on vacation, she didn’t forget her position as a professor—a stance that irked Aria all the more.
Erika’s attempt to form a spirit contract during break to improve her skills had happened in the previous regression too.
But the key point was.
‘Way too early?’
As far as Aria knew, Professor Erika’s growth required more time.
No way.
A stinging sensation at the back of her head made Aria awkwardly twist her lips into a smirk.
“The authority on light magic—do you really need a spirit?”
“That’s a separate issue. More importantly, you haven’t answered my question.”
Erika crossed her arms, pressing her.
“How did you know I came here for a spirit contract?”
It wasn’t for nothing that Erika was rumored among students to be unapproachable. A chill permeated the once-peaceful forest.
But she had picked the wrong opponent.
A regressor, no less.
Erika’s pressure was barely a massage, and Aria restrained the urge to twitch her fingers and swing her sword.
‘Just wanna kill her.’
Harboring resentment, Aria felt that impulsive thought.
Especially with the title of Deus’s fiancée—it nearly snapped her rationality.
‘But the professor wouldn’t like that.’
Clicking her tongue, Aria sighed. Did Erika even realize she had just danced on the edge of life and death?
“Professor Deus told me. He said you’d have good affinity with spirits.”
“...He told you too?”
‘As expected.’
She had tested the waters, and it hooked immediately.
‘No wonder it felt too soon.’
She knew Erika had good affinity with spirits, but this was too fast. Aria had suspected Deus’s involvement.
‘Come to think of it, in the last life, the professor told her too.’
The image surfaced: Deus, bedridden after discharge, urgently ranting to those around him about growth methods.
Alone, she might have closed her eyes to savor the memory, but sadly, she couldn’t now.
“So what are you doing here?”
Erika’s voice snapped Aria from her reverie. Aria scowled deeply, sighed, and propped her chin.
“Looking for medicine.”
“Medicine?”
“Yeah. I hear there’s something here that’s great for necromancers.”
“...!”
Erika faltered at Aria’s blunt revelation. For the first time, a crack appeared in her cool facade.
“I’ll bring it to Professor Deus. Maybe then he’ll like me.”
Aria grinned slyly, but it backfired. Erika’s crumbling expression snapped back as she declared firmly.
“He’s not someone whose favor you can buy with material things.”
“Tch.”
Spot on.
Aria had only said it to tease, but she was surprised at how well Erika understood Deus.
“Anyway, that doesn’t change what I’m giving him. Isn’t a fresh, young girl bringing nourishing tonic better than a ‘former’ fiancée who just sits around waiting for divorce papers?”
“...You’re still his current fiancée, for now.”
“Right. A relationship that ends with a signature on the divorce papers.”
Aria stabbed precisely at the sore spot. Erika bit her lip, holding back the urge to ask how she knew about the divorce papers.
She also found it odd that a student like Aria was this hostile over just one person, Deus.
“Have you met him somewhere else?”
Deus had been at the academy for a very short time—too little for a student like Aria to develop such feelings.
“Yes, a long time ago. With the professor.”
A loaded statement.
Erika was curious but didn’t pry. Stepping into that territory felt like inviting a beast to pounce.
Gulping, Erika nodded and resumed walking.
It was the first time being near a student made her uneasy, but Aria was definitely different.
Far more so than Elenoa Luden Griffin, the princess who could be called the most special among students.
She seemed to possess something extraordinarily unique.
“Since it’s vacation, I won’t interfere. Be careful on your own.”
As Erika turned to leave, Aria sighed and called out to her retreating figure.
“Wait a sec. It’s dangerous wandering the forest right now.”
“Hm?”
“There are some weird guys lurking around.”
Erika halted. Regardless of how Aria knew, if true, she had a duty as a professor to protect a student.
She closed her eyes, summoning golden mana to scan the forest. Small spirits, intrigued, began approaching her.
‘Annoying.’
Aria hated seeing Erika like that. It clearly highlighted the gulf between student and professor—her cold rationality grated.
As Aria grumbled about spilling the info, Erika’s eyes flashed open.
“You’re sure something’s there?”
She sensed nothing. Even the friendly spirits whispered no threats.
Was this girl toying with her? Just then—
Aria nodded toward a spot.
And from there, two mages in black robes and hoods emerged.
“...!”
A shocking turn.
Not far off—and close enough—yet they had evaded her detection magic.
They weren’t ordinary.
Unclear what they wanted, but their stealth suggested no good intentions.
“Aria, behind me...”
“Dante, right?”
Aria cut Erika off. The mages flinched at her words.
“Dante?”
“It’s like a black mage gathering. Step aside.”
Aria snapped irritably, rising from the rock.
“How do you know us?”
The man’s voice from under the hood was eerily distorted, as if his throat were shaped differently.
Aria smirked at his question.
“Do you really need to know? You’re here for spirits too, aren’t you?”
“...”
No answer. But their obvious intent made Aria chuckle.
“You think your goals are noble and pure, but you reek of corpses.”
Despite the insults, the two Dante black mages didn’t budge.
Such humiliation meant nothing to them.
“I know your purpose, and I won’t stop you. It’s repulsive, but what you’re doing is right.”
“We only bear the continent’s filthiest burden for its sake.”
“Yeah, yeah, do what you want. I’m just warning you.”
“...”
Aria gripped her greatsword—the reward she had claimed first this vacation.
“Don’t approach the necromancer. If you do, I might wipe out all of Dante before I know it. He’s not someone vermin like you can parasitize.”
“Anyone can talk big.”
“Go ahead, try.”
Aria bared her teeth, glaring murderously at the scoffing Dante black mages.
“Let’s see who’s right.”
A gulp echoed.
The pressure from this small girl exceeded the black mages’ expectations, leaving them hesitant.
“There—that was my warning to your leader.”
“...?”
Did this girl even know Dante’s members were linked?
Impossible in their betrayal-proof structure, yet she knew too much.
The two black mages considered retreating, but—
Aria’s greatsword thrust toward them menacingly.
“Now, time to grab the professor’s tonic.”
Grinning, Aria cleaved off both their heads.
The pair crumpled like ragdolls.
For a necromancer, nothing was as useful as a high-ranking black mage’s soul.
“Heh, wonder if he’ll like it?”
With a chilling smile, Aria shook the blood from her blade.