Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Floating Island's Calm Before the Storm
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"......"
"......"
"......"
"......"
An hour had already passed in utter silence.
The awkward hush filling the space was unbearably uncomfortable.
The place I was currently in was the instructors' exclusive lounge.
When you think of a lounge, you picture a few sofas, chairs, tables, and maybe a vending machine.
But this was Prynar Academy, after all.
The area was vast enough to fit five regular lounges, boasting luxurious interiors with magical automated massage devices and countless other furnishings.
I'd figured there wouldn't be a vending machine, but it went beyond that—a magic circle would open and pour a drink if you held up a cup and wished for one.
They even said you could summon a servant to order proper food if you wanted.
Normally, I'd revel in these perks, but right now, I had no head for it.
And that was all because of the man slumped in front of me, head hung low in dejection.
His name was Blurt.
Yeah, that Blurt grandpa.
The one who'd picked fights with me at every turn, treated me like a parachute drop, and lost a bet to me.
The reason he'd shown up here after fainting and waking was due to negotiations.
Negotiations.
Of course, it wasn't about me compensating for the dragon's corpse.
It was an unfortunate incident during the exam; they couldn't expect that.
The school side would offer compensation and consolation, and Alfred had tipped me off that they'd handle the negotiations properly so Blurt couldn't complain afterward.
But why leave us hanging for an hour?
Shoving awkward people into one room and not sending anyone—was this some kind of stunt?
I recalled the principal, who had beckoned me over with a flick of her finger without a word and then vanished somewhere.
Actually, the room wasn't just me and Blurt.
There was Witch Emily, an unknown woman in priestess garb, and Yapuno.
But we all know.
I'm a total loner.
I couldn't just casually strike up a conversation with people I wasn't that close to, especially as a mega-loner.
I'd hoped Yapuno, with his sly, roguish vibe, might liven things up, but he sat there grim-faced, lips sealed tight.
"...Hooo."
"......"
Another sigh.
Blurt let out long sighs now and then, his resentment and anger palpable.
But what could be done?
My only "fault" was exceeding his expectations by far.
Besides, he'd already said something that left him unable to complain to me.
All he could do was sigh deeply into the floor.
And it was working.
This was fucking uncomfortable.
Did he not know how precious that dragon corpse was...?
I'd sliced it so easily, I half-jokingly thought it was some mass-produced lab experiment fake...
Prostia truly lived up to her fame as the vanguard of the Monster King; she was on another level.
Even going all-out against her only left scratches.
"Hoooaaaa..."
"Jeez."
I finally snapped and reacted to the sigh.
But Blurt remained curled up, head bowed.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't think it'd slice so easily."
It wasn't Blurt who flinched—it was Yapuno.
He glanced at me briefly before looking away.
He's been off since earlier. I don't know his deal, but his friendly vibe turning sour wasn't welcome.
First things first, let's soothe Grandpa Blurt.
"Others are saying I held a grudge and deliberately wrecked the corpse, but that's absolutely not true. I just thought the audience's reaction was lukewarm, so maybe I needed to smash it completely."
This is so unfair.
I have ears too; I heard the professors saying I'd intentionally dismantled it.
They saw me grinning like I'd grilled a dragon or something.
I was just relieved the exam went well.
Unfair.
I kept offering words of comfort afterward.
Five minutes of that, and still no change.
Feeling awkward, I scratched my head.
"Uh, later I'll get you something similar. Cheer up a bit."
"...Something similar?"
Blurt's eyes, unresponsive until now, lit up like they were on fire.
I flinched and leaned back as he jabbed a trembling index finger at me.
"Y-You brat! Dragon corpses that intact are a once-in-a-century find at best. How the hell do you plan to procure an adult dragon?!"
"Well... opportunities arise, right? I mean, didn't I fight one already? It could happen again..."
"Eeeeek! That rumor is unbelievable to begin with! For the past three hundred years, aside from the Plague Dragon Malakia, no dragons have appeared except decayed ones out of their minds! Even those decayed dragons hide away quickly once spotted—where the hell did you even meet one?!"
Huh?
No proper dragons in three hundred years?
Then what the hell was Prostia?
"Hmm..."
"Hmph. As an Outsider popping up in weird places, maybe you could run into a decayed one. But an adult dragon? A living one at that? You think you'd even survive a meeting?"
I probably could survive.
"It could happen, right?"
"Shut up! The point is, what you casually dismantled was a one-of-a-kind treasure in this world! Do you even grasp its symbolic value and experimental worth?!"
"Hmm..."
Experimental treasure, huh.
That Malakia guy thanked me.
Even something presumed to be a god promised recompense.
He probably didn't want his corpse abused in experiments after death.
Blurt didn't seem malicious, but I felt pity for the dragon.
"No! As an Outsider, you'd never understand! Selfish rogues who only care about themselves!"
.....
I'm starting to get pissed.
Fucking hell, Grandpa called me a parachute drop first.
He put that damn corpse out for the exam assuming it'd hold up, right?
My only crime is being too damn good.
"Wasn't it you, Blurt, who doubted my skills and provoked me?"
"What?"
"If you'd just tipped me off beforehand to preserve the corpse intact, I'd have done so. But you treated me like a parachute and dismissed my abilities, leading to this mess—isn't that on you?"
I said it clearly in a stern tone.
For a moment, our gazes clashed like sparks in the air...
"Waaaah..."
Or so I thought—it was my imagination, and Blurt soon burst into sobs.
No, Grandpa.
Crying is cheating.
"Mr. Blurt."
"Waaaaaah!"
Calling his name made him wail even harder.
"I-I know I messed up. I know, but... waaaaaah!!"
They say the older you get, the more stubborn...
But this guy's just a kid...
So, he knows he's wrong but hates admitting it.
Losing his prized treasure, that dragon corpse he cherished— the sense of loss must be huge.
I get it. People can't always act rationally.
Seeing a man Grandpa's age shaking and crying like a child weighed on my heart.
At a loss for words, I just patted his back.
I worried he'd shrug me off, but his sobs only grew louder.
Ugh.
What the hell do I do?
Like I have a way to get a dragon corpse...
...Huh?
Wait a sec.
Prostia is a dragon too, right? And way higher class than the one I sliced.
She hasn't gone back home yet, has she?
Oh ho!
"Mr. Blurt. Not certain, but I might be able to get you horns or claws—not the full corpse, but something."
"Where's this half-assed lie coming from... waaaah..."
"......"
How do I even explain this?
Just spill about Prostia outright?
But the Ten Great Families are keeping it secret, and they asked me not to say anything...
Then I sensed a few people approaching the lounge.
The door burst open, and in strode a black-robed mage who looked straight out of a shadowy conspiracy.
"Principal."
Yapuno stood and bowed slightly; nearby Emily... was looking at me.
A beauty like that eyeing me? Fucking nice.
The witch who'd met my eyes quickly turned away, bowing lightly to the principal.
Blurt was still bawling.
"Sniff."
A voice distorted like the one from the auditorium, utterly enigmatic.
But Blurt kept weeping pitifully, and the principal sighed.
"Ah, cut it out, Blurt. Or I'll strip you of your chief instructor position?"
At the principal's stern tone, Blurt's sobs stopped dead.
But now his face turned beet red, steam practically pouring from his head like a boiling pot.
"No!! Principal!! Is that what you say to me after losing my priceless treasure?!"
The principal shot him a piercing glare from unseen eyes in the darkness.
"You're the one who confidently put out Malakia, Blurt. We all debated it in meetings and concluded even an adult dragon corpse wouldn't be fully destroyed."
Her tone implied it was an accident from complacency—what now?—and Blurt trembled more.
"Still! There are limits! If Alfred, Emily, Mullin here, and even Pafnil went all-out, they couldn't destroy the corpse, right? Even if they could, considering its academic value..."
"Chief Instructor."
Her lowered voice and changed title froze Blurt.
"Did I ever teach you to be so stubborn?"
"Uh, n-no, that's not..."
For a sec, I wondered if the principal was actually as young as she looked.
Youngest loli genius—could be a trope.
But from what I'd heard, she'd lived nearly five hundred years.
So, she's a grandma.
Blurt was just a kid to her.
"B-But."
"But what?"
"...I'm sorry."
Blurt finally backed down.
Tears still pooled in his wrinkled eyes, but no more arguments.
Honestly, he looked pathetic as hell.
This guy's ragged on me plenty, and even I feel pity—says it all.
The principal seemed to soften too, letting out a weak sigh.
"It was the school's exam and a successful ad, so we'll compensate properly. But as you know, an adult dragon's value is incalculable for us—we can't pay it off at once, and you wouldn't want that anyway?"
"...Right. If anything, support with materials or funds from research inspired by it would be better."
His voice was weak, but Blurt clearly knew what he wanted.
That's an adult for you.
"Good. I'll take responsibility and make sure you're compensated. We'll hunt for a dragon corpse too. And... Dre?"
"Uh. Yes."
Am I in for a scolding?
Getting chewed out by a loli feels kinda nice.
...
Not that I'm a lolicon.
I mean a pleasant feeling, nothing sexual.
As I muttered excuses to no one, unexpected words came.
"Impressive."
"...?"
Praise out of nowhere?
"You proved your instructor credentials splendidly. We don't know your teaching style yet, but your skills speak for themselves—no need for empty talk. No one will doubt the Dragon Slayer title anymore."
Serious atmosphere.
The surrounding instructors gazed at me in agreement.
Being acknowledged by top experts... didn't feel bad.
"Dragoongun."
"?"
Did she just say my name weird?
"What you told Blurt earlier—was that serious?"
"Earlier...?"
"About procuring dragon parts."
"Ah. Yes. Not certain, but there's a chance."
"......"
Her face was shrouded in black shadows under the robe.
Hell, does she even have a face in there?
Given the loli size, maybe the real body's mid-robe, and the head's empty.
Anyway, being eyed by the abyss... felt good.
Shouldn't it be creepy?
Ties to the abyss sound cool.
As I had dumb thoughts, the principal spoke meaningfully.
"The dragon you killed would be hard to meet."
"...?"
How do you meet one you already killed?
Everyone wore that expression.
Words only I could grasp, excluding me.
The dragon I "killed."
Prostia, obviously.
Everyone stared at the principal's contradictory statement.
"Yawwwwwn~"
"......?"
Turning to the yawn, only the priestess woman stared blankly ahead, uninterested.
Her own pace.
"Anyway. I like your sense of responsibility, but it was a fair bet and exam outcome. Dre, you owe no compensation."
"......"
"But Blurt has to uphold his promise. Right?"
"......Yes."
"Answer promptly."
"Yes."
Blurt's completely under her thumb.
Have they known each other since childhood?
"Now, Blurt. Apologize."
"......"
Blurt whipped his head to glare at me, eyes full of resentment and sorrow.
Easy to get the apology, but then nothing left.
More grudges? Hassle.
He started it, but I get it.
The older you get, the harder to bend your pride.
Easy to crush him now, but... nah, don't feel like it.
Of course, if he disrespects or holds grudges later, I won't hold back.
For now, I'll yield.
"Mr. Blurt."
"......"
"No need to apologize to me."
"What? Really?"
He'd ignored me at first, then lit up.
Really hated apologizing, huh.
I get it.
Like I said, if my treasured item vanished overnight, I'd hold a grudge—even if my fault.
That's human nature... gotta understand to some degree.
The parachute suspicion was natural too.
Now that the misunderstanding's cleared, I want smooth relations and practical rewards.
Let's see, what could I get...?
Blurt's from Igula and chief instructor—must have killer knowledge.
Tech's the best.
"Instead of an apology, how about you teach me a technique you think suits me?"
"Hmm...?"
Blurt pondered briefly, then Yapuno jumped in.
"Hey, hey. That's asking for someone's secret technique for free—no shame?"
"......"
Is it...?
"To you, it's like asking for that strong sword skill you used on the dragon..."
"Mr. Yapuno. Jealousy is ugly."
"Wh-who's jealous, Principal?!"
His dialect slipped—Principals's right?
Jealousy means Blurt has some awesome technique Yapuno envies!
"Misunderstanding, but I'll leave it. Dre."
"......"
Aha.
He's jealous of my Severing Sword.
Severing Sword—used it without thinking, but damn powerful skill maybe.
Yeah, in any game, if you can use it, you spam it.
"Wise choice. Preferring practical rewards over emotional ones. I like it."
"Th-thank you."
Imagination?
Her gaze felt full of goodwill.
Can't see eyes in the dark robe, but it felt that way.
Then Blurt, done thinking, spoke to me.
"You. Not much tied to magic?"
"Uh... probably not."
"Vague answer. Anyway, take this first."
He must've been mulling what to give me.
Blurt held something in his palm—a key.
*Ding!*
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Omniscient Insight activated. Interpretation: A key linking to a high-level space magic realm that manipulates time.] Omniscient Insight helping me again.
But, what?
Manipulates time?
"This is..."
"Connected to some space, right?"
"Hmm?"
Blurt's eyes flashed briefly.
"You knew it's a sub-space key? Simply put, a training room."
"Training room?"
"Has a max usage time, but basically: 1 second outside is 100 seconds inside. Got it?"
"......"
Hyperbolic Time Chamber???
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Normally, after an instructor qualification exam, the class buzzes with chatter about it.
Seeing the pinnacle students aim for ahead of time, and a new side of familiar teachers, makes for great gossip.
But now, it was weirdly quiet.
I know why.
A new supernova swept the exam.
'Heh heh heh.'
Ashita grinned as if she'd won herself.
Well, she kinda did.
The pre-exam bet paid off big.
After repaying Clarit the principal, she still had multiples left.
Enough to live luxuriously for a year.
'No need to beg that damn Medeus! Hehe. Thanks, Dreng!'
She thought of the absent man who'd shone brilliantly.
Her heart raced oddly.
It wasn't just her.
Excluding El's haughty pout and Liyet's anxious face, those who didn't know Dre pondered him each in their way.
And prouder yet guiltier than anyone was Gold.
'How could I doubt big bro.'
Thinking back, he'd clashed head-on with Prostia and inflicted so many wounds—why hadn't he believed?
Guilty, proud.
He wanted to shout to the ignorant masses gawking like he was an alien: that's my big bro!
And the chance came quick.
"Gold~"
A pint-sized girl with vivid pink twin-tails exuding a wildly erotic aura.
"Insers. What."
"Gold, you said you live with that Dre instructor guy?"
"......"
Gold felt eyes gathering.
El's mouth flapped in displeasure.
Savoring it, Gold smirked.
"What're you curious about?"
Gold usually kept a distant aura, polite but not chatty.
But now, classmates swarmed him like clouds.
Far off, Clarit pretended to study, ears perked.
A soft smile played on her lips.