Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Duel (1)
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“Haah...”
Aren returned to his room and flopped down onto his bed.
Today was just the first day, with only orientation, but he felt inexplicably exhausted somehow.
Was it because he had to go through the same tedious school life all over again?
Some kind of mental and physical drain?
Of course, compared to fighting demon cultists out in the world, it was practically paradise... The problem was that he just didn't feel like studying.
‘Academic probation... If you fail half or more of your enrolled classes, right?’
Pretty lenient.
There were no mandatory credits to fill, so as long as you took one major class and kept decent grades, you could graduate just fine.
That's why almost everyone graduated from this academy.
Of course, it seemed tacitly frowned upon to take just one class.
‘Besides that, you have to join at least one club, and majors sometimes involve dispatches outside.’
Orientation said clubs were mandatory. His guess was that since the mainstream here was nobles, they were probably like social gatherings.
Dispatches to the outside...
“Hmm. This seems the most dangerous.”
He'd heard there were quite a few deaths on those dispatches.
Of course, he didn't know the details. But he'd overheard people talking about it.
The academy's policy favored real combat over a cozy greenhouse, so even nobles had sneaky fatalities.
“Of course, it won't matter to me...”
Still, he didn't want the women who might become his future wife dying on dispatch.
‘Gotta stay sharp.’
Mm-hmm.
...
...Anyway.
Aren glanced at his wrist one last time.
On his wrist was a black watch that looked like a smartwatch from Earth.
‘...This thing is seriously amazing.’
Yeah, that one.
The smartwatch.
It was something Professor Sierra had distributed to everyone during orientation.
This smartwatch's official name was <Cellular>.
Originally developed as military comms gear, but still in testing, so the academy was piloting it as a magic tool.
“......Whoa.”
[Academy Community]
A translucent window floated up before his eyes as he fiddled with the Cellular.
‘Status screen?’
He'd hoped for the cheat-of-cheats status window, but disappointingly, no.
Instead...
A list of posts like some kind of gallery.
‘...Is this for real?’
A community exclusively for academy students, accessible via the Cellular devices everyone had.
Apparently, it was for sharing class info, exam tips, or all sorts of student collaborations...
Damn, classes already starting...
What do you think of this year's freshmen?
Why are they all so pretty??
Lonely commoner freshman looking for lunch buddy...
If I bomb this semester too, my family will really kick me out;;
I'm a commoner, how do I get a scholarship?
Gongdu just chilling like this~
I wanna get stepped on by the Student Council President...
Tried soap but it won't come off, what is this?
.
.
.
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Back from dispatch during summer semester
“...It's just a gallery.”
Surprisingly, it was straight-up a gallery.
What collaboration? Info exchange? Not a single trace.
“...Mild gallery.”
That was the only rating he could give it.
...Wait, what genre even is this place? Not dark fantasy?
Why the hell a gallery...?
Aren clicked on one post for kicks.
— Anonymous
To dodge failing grades, I pushed myself through summer semester and even went on dispatch.
But fuck, half my classmates from dispatch died.
We were raiding an underground dungeon, but it was a demon cultists' altar—sudden ambush.
We fought like hell to survive... fuck.
(Photo of a corpse with limbs torn off)
(Photo of a demon cultist dying, tentacles writhing)
(Photo of academy uniform remnants)
Way too many died.
The knight order arrived late, so half survived including me, but if they'd come sooner, maybe everyone?
I know it's pointless blame, but still pisses me off...
“......”
He felt foolish for doubting the genre even briefly.
...Yeah, this was dark fantasy alright.
Magic tools advanced enough for a gallery-like thing didn't change that this was still dark fantasy.
Otherwise, students wouldn't die like this.
“...Ha.”
And it wasn't a one-off; comments were already buzzing.
My condolences to the deceased.
Doesn't the academy need to reform its policies? Too many deaths on practicums and dispatches. Shouldn't they at least send a professor, instructor, or knight along?
True, but tough times right now, no choice.
Demon cultists have been more active lately.
Plus magical beasts pouring from the north, border tensions rising—no spare forces.
Sigh...
Scared I'll die on dispatch too.
For real...
Fucking vermin demon cultists.
We gotta wipe out all the demon cultists.
If not for them, this world would be at peace.
Hang in there...
...Leaves a bitter taste.
“...Tch.”
Better check some other posts.
I'm a commoner, how do I get a scholarship?
Gongdu just like this~
I wanna get stepped on by the Student Council President...
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— Prettiest Bunny Gongdu
(Photo of her in baggy pajamas making a V-sign, showing only from the neck down)
Gongdu just chilling like this...
Too late for new semester orientation?
Cafe time today! ^_^
“Oh.”
A gasp escaped him.
Even in baggy pajamas, that volume was impossible to hide... By Aren's experience, those were top-tier, rivaling Veronica, his master, or Lydia.
“Not a freshman, probably an upperclassman.”
Now he was curious about her face. Gotta remember those breasts in case he runs into her later.
A busty (important) beauty upperclassman calling herself Gongdu in the gallery... Honestly intriguing.
What if Gongdu turned out to be the Student Council President or a cool beauty student council secretary?
‘Possible...!’
Earth studies showed high-status people often vented desires in anonymous spaces.
Thinking that way... Gongdu could really be Student Council President Agnes?
‘The princess was pretty cute.’
Aren still couldn't forget locking eyes with her at the entrance ceremony.
As he scrolled posts, fantasizing about Gongdu's identity, a post caught his eye.
Heard freshmen are dueling?
“Duel?”
He clicked immediately.
— Anonymous
Heard magic department freshmen are dueling? Don't know who's fighting tho.
...Isn't this about me?
Not many duel right at the start of term. And magic department...
‘...Yeah, definitely me.’
Checking comments confirmed it.
Prime entertainment from day one!?
Magic Tower Lord's disciple vs. this year's top freshman. Top fresh is commoner btw
Both mages?
Yup
Magic Tower Lord's disciple wins? Golden Generation and all.
Commoner's top rank tho? Disciple didn't get top, so commoner better?
Hmm... Neutral for me.
Know when it is?
Day after tomorrow, probably main training grounds?
Oh, gotta go watch.
These freshmen are full of passion!
Passion??
Lol yeah, this counts as passion.
Old batches fought in streets, duel is clean passion fr.
Top loses = quits, disciple loses = grants one wish
Oh
Quit? Bit harsh?
Idiot? Fun is what matters.
Lol true.
Hope no one gets hurt~
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‘Interest is hot.’
The duel bait was already on the hot posts.
With the academy community used by every student, rumors would spread fast across years, and since student council approved, even professors might watch.
A massive bomb dropped on the academy.
“...Might as well crush him properly.”
Chance to dominate the gallery—how could he pass?