Chapter 24
Chapter 24
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Faculty Exchange Match - (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Throne of the Academy" is a game structured in six acts total.
Acts 1 through 4 focus on stories within the academy itself, true to the game's title. Acts 5 and 6 then shift away from the academy to spotlight the journey of thwarting the dark currents spreading across the entire kingdom.
So, while things feel relatively peaceful now, this Erebos Royal Academy is destined to devolve into utter chaos starting from the latter half of Act 3.
The stage right before that horrific Act 3 is the current Act 2.
The Ivory Tower and the Ashen Tower.
It's an incident sparked by dark forces meddling in the rivalry between these two towers, whose values stand in stark opposition. Extradimensional beings called Predators are summoned, chimeras rampage, and countless casualties ensue.
'Of course, there's still some time left.'
Act 2 is twice as long as Act 1. Unlike Act 1, which centered on a single event called the Full Moon Festival, Act 2 features a multitude of major and minor events.
And this week, one of Act 2's events was about to unfold.
"Priest Leo, the faculty exchange match is just three days away already."
"Are you planning to go watch too, Priest Lowen?"
"Of course. Where else can you find a spectacle like this?"
The Faculty Exchange Match.
It was one of the Erebos Royal Academy's annual events.
The rising stars of the academy's three core faculties—the Knight Faculty, Magic Faculty, and Divine Faculty—would compete to test their skills and strengthen their bonds...
Well, that was the official line, anyway.
In truth, it was more like an all-star showdown where the kingdom's future leaders, each brimming with pride, staked their reputations.
Naturally, it drew massive attention from beyond the kingdom's borders as well.
"That said, this year's exchange match is apparently closed to outsiders. Can't be helped after that attack during the last Full Moon Festival."
"...Yeah, makes sense."
Anyway.
The Faculty Exchange Match in Act 2 was the event where each protagonist properly got to know one another.
In particular, there was an event where Magic Faculty's top student Isolde befriended Sword Saint Sophia and Saintess Elise—a crucial foundation for later plot developments that absolutely couldn't be skipped.
"Would it be possible for me to observe as well?"
"Hm? You didn't seem interested in events like this, Priest Leo. That's unexpected."
"...Who knows. I've just gotten curious."
Truth be told, I had no desire to go.
But based on what I'd experienced in Act 1, events often unfolded in ways completely opposite to my expectations.
So, to prepare for any potential accidents or confirm if the plot was derailing, it seemed best to stay nearby.
And if some unprecedented crisis arose, I could intervene.
Not that I wanted to risk my life like last time, mind you.
"Alright, I'll talk to the higher-ups and secure two tickets. They won't be pricey first-class seats, but they'll offer a decent view."
"Thank you."
"No trouble at all. When Priest Leo asks, how could I not step up?"
Priest Lowen seemed to like me a bit too much, always knowing just what to say.
The kind of uncle who'd grant any request.
As that thought crossed my mind, Lowen leaned in close and whispered.
"Speaking of which... that money from selling off the wind-up doll last time..."
"Ah, of course we'll split it. Got four gold coins for it."
"Heh heh."
Probably just eyeing the chapel's funds.
Still, thanks to Uncle Lowen, I could skim most of the offerings without the grand cathedral taking them all.
Good things were good, right?
"Oh, right."
"Hm?"
"Come to think of it, has anything happened in the Magic Faculty lately?"
I asked on a whim.
Lowen probably knew next to nothing about the Magic Faculty himself, but he'd know more than me, holed up in this remote chapel.
"Hm. From what I hear, nothing notable. They say it's been unusually peaceful since that collapse incident."
"...That's a relief."
I let out a sigh of relief.
I'd been worried that doll girl, hell-bent on fulfilling her family's grudge, might stir up trouble.
Fortunately, she seemed content focusing on her studies.
'Please just stay put.'
I murmured a tiny prayer of hope.
Three days later, Lowen procured the tickets.
Contrary to his talk of third-class seats, what he brought were first-class tickets.
"...What's all this?"
"Fewer spectators this year due to the Full Moon Festival mess, so even lowly folks like us get first-class. Plus, for some reason, the Divine Faculty ramped up ticket allocations for priests."
"Hm..."
Well.
Good things were good.
I took the first-class ticket from Lowen and headed to the academy's central arena.
As he'd said, the venue was sparsely attended. No helping it after Shades had turned it into an all-you-can-eat human buffet just a couple months back.
We settled into first-class seats—close enough to make out the participants' faces clearly—just as a blaring fanfare announced the event's start.
"...Feels like I'm at a baseball game."
As I muttered that simple impression, participants from each faculty entered the arena.
"Priest Leo, look over there. That red-haired student is the traitor's daughter you mentioned before."
Sophia Aquilova stepped out from the Swordsmanship Faculty booth. Her shaggy hair and jet-black sword at her side gave off an oddly chilling vibe.
Sophia even wore a red armband on her arm.
Mark of the Knight Faculty representative.
'...Sophia's the top student?'
Not that it was strange.
She'd drop by the chapel weekly, bragging about barehandedly crushing even her upperclassmen seniors.
"That's her? The one who supposedly stabbed that House Kreuz lady?"
"Yeah. Word is, the entire Knight Faculty got wrecked by her alone lately. She even snapped a senior grad student's leg without drawing her sword."
"...Whoa, she's seriously terrifying."
Murmurs rippled around us. Sophia, unfazed, stood tall, seemingly pleased by the mix of fear and condemnation in the stares.
Amid it all, Sophia glanced around. She sniffed the air like a puppy, then locked eyes with me and narrowed hers.
"...Hm."
Something felt ominous.
"Ah, here they come."
Meanwhile, Lowen pointed to one side of the arena. The Magic Faculty participants were coming out to greet the crowd.
And leading them was one standout figure...
"See that lovely young lady? She's the first commoner-born top student in Erebos history. Name's..."
"Isolde."
"Oh? You knew her too, Priest Leo?"
As if I wouldn't.
That woman with the chestnut ponytail was the Magic Faculty's protagonist character.
Isolde.
A genius mage of mixed commoner blood who crushed pureblood mages with sheer talent to claim the pinnacle of the Magic Faculty.
By Act 4, she'd earn the reverent moniker of Grand Witch.
At the same time, she was an indispensable figure for saving this world.
'...Just like in the original.'
Isolde was the protagonist of the Magic Faculty.
In terms of role and importance, she ranked right after Princess Ciris, on par with Sophia and Elise. As a mage, she handled the party's damage dealing too.
In short, a core pillar this world couldn't do without.
Moreover, Isolde was one of my favorite characters in "Throne of the Academy."
Chestnut ponytail, gray eyes, horn-rimmed glasses, baggy mage robes.
Her looks weren't flashy—rather plain, honestly—but her solid character as a hardworking genius really appealed to me.
"Today's big match!"
Meanwhile, the announcer bellowed through a megaphone.
The exchange had been underway for hours, with top students from the three faculties dueling one another.
Now came the climax.
"Next up... Magic Faculty top student Isolde versus Swordsmanship Faculty top student Sophia Aquilova!"
Gasps erupted around us.
The Divine Faculty, due to their priestly nature as non-combatants, wouldn't shine here.
This matchup was essentially the finals.
"Phew..."
I breathed a sigh of relief.
Everything up to this point matched the original.
In the original, this was where Sophia first met Isolde. They'd get acquainted, recognize each other through the duel, and bond rapidly.
In other words, the Faculty Exchange Match was the essential recruitment event for bringing Isolde into the player party.
They needed to bond here to join forces against villains in future crises.
——Thud, thud.
Shortly after the announcer's call, Sophia strode into the arena. Her shaggy deep-crimson hair braided up, Ink Sword dragging on the ground.
Her ominous appearance made even me grimace.
She was all innocent puppy at the chapel, but now she looked like a wolf.
"Ugh, look at those eyes. I'm gonna piss myself."
"That sword? They say it's the one the traitor used."
"Insane... Why hasn't the faculty expelled her?"
The crowd that cheered Sophia hotly in the original now hurled jeers laced with scorn.
Her reputation in Erebos seemed to have hit rock bottom.
Even though she'd been commended in the original for resolving the Full Moon Festival crisis.
Then again, House Kreuz's lady had died by her hand amid that chaos, so maybe it was inevitable.
"Hello."
As I pondered, Isolde flashed an awkward smile and raised a hand toward Sophia.
A friendly greeting.
Isolde continued with a beaming smile.
"I've heard so much about you, Miss Aquilova. Everyone else misunderstands you, but I know. I know how bravely you fought during the Full Moon Festival. So today, let's have a fair fight—no obsessing over win or loss—just a great match!"
'As kind as ever.'
One reason I liked Isolde. As her lines showed, she was approachable.
She had a big heart, embracing even the traitor's daughter others despised. And a big chest too, literally.
A hardworking genius with a great personality and figure. The perfect daughter material.
'Please become besties and smash through Act 2.'
As I silently prayed...
Sophia extended her hand.
"Ah!"
Thinking it an offer to shake, Isolde lit up and stepped forward.
In that instant.
Whack!
Sophia vanished from sight.
No, not vanished.
She accelerated—instantly.
No wind-up, just gliding forward.
Like a physics engine glitch.
Screech.
Sparks flew from her shoes as the distance closed in a blink.
"Eek?!"
Isolde was undoubtedly a fine mage. But no mage wins against a swordmaster once they let their guard down and close the gap.
Especially not against future Sword Saint Sophia Aquilova.
So...
Crack!
A crisp sound rocked the arena.
Everyone was baffled.
Wondering where that sound of a club smashing a melon came from.
The answer came soon enough.
"...Hoo."
Sophia stood with her leg raised high.
In other words, using the momentum from closing in, she'd spun and temple-kicked Isolde.
"Gurk."
Isolde staggered, then collapsed backward. Her shattered horn-rimmed glasses skittered across the arena floor.
She convulsed spread-eagled.
Then went still.
"...Huh?"
"...What? What just happened?"
"Wh-wh-what?!"
Even the announcer was too stunned to explain.
As everyone stared in confusion, a professor who grasped the situation rushed in to check on Isolde.
"T-to the cathedral! Now! Call a priest—healer!"
Isolde was carted off on a stretcher.
The crowd remained dumbfounded, struggling to process.
So, the traitor's daughter had feigned a handshake to lure her opponent off-guard, then charged and head-kicked her.
"Ch-cheater!"
"Traitor scum!"
"Disgrace to the Knight Faculty!"
Jeers poured down. Trash flew too.
But Sophia exhaled softly, as if savoring victory's thrill, then turned.
She looked straight at me and grinned.
A wordless plea for praise since she'd won without drawing her sword.
"..."
There stood the original protagonist, grinning proudly despite ambushing an unarmed foe barehanded—aiming for the head, no less.
...Right before my eyes.
"...Fuck."
You're the Sword Saint, you crazy bitch.