Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Midterm Exam (5)
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The forest... had vanished.
"......Huh."
"What is this..."
"Ah, no... is that right?"
It was only natural for the watching professors to feel dazed.
"The forest... the forest... do you have any idea how much it'll cost to restore that...?"
"Hahahahaha."
A few professors in particular had lost their minds at the mere thought of repairing the ruined forest.
Yeah.
I should have realized it from the moment Jethua and Darsen pointed their swords at Aren.
Those two were already famous members of the Golden Generation, talented enough that they could be thrown into real combat right now with no issues—and Aren was a step above them, someone who had reached a considerable realm of skill.
To the point where you had to wonder why he even bothered attending the Academy.
When three people like that got tangled up in a fight, it would have been weirder if the forest had come out unscathed.
"B-but... is it okay for Jethua and Darsen? They've lost all their points..."
"...It should be fine for now. They lost their points, but there's still time left. If they hustle, they can hold onto the top ranks."
"...And if he steals them again?"
"......Then... uh."
They were at a loss for words.
If Aren stole their points again?
That would truly be an unprecedented crisis. Multiple representatives of the Academy's Golden Generation would plummet to the bottom ranks at the same time.
"And the Crown Prince's team hasn't arrived yet. If Aren isn't satisfied and goes on a rampage..."
"......Haha."
The professors had a gut feeling.
That's when the Academy would turn upside down.
"...We can only pray it doesn't come to that."
"We need to revise the rules next time. We left some leeway thinking light scuffles between students were fine... but this is too much."
"...Yes. I agree."
The professors sighed in unison, as if by prior agreement.
Meanwhile, a professor from the Magic Department, watching another screen, quietly spoke up.
"By the way... was Veronica always that strong?"
"......!"
Right.
Veronica.
The professors had been so fixated on Aren that they'd forgotten about her.
"She's not falling behind at all against Ferris—the Magic Tower Lord's disciple—and the other six students."
"...Huh. Now that you mention it. Was she always that level?"
"No. Not to that extent."
"So you're saying her strength suddenly skyrocketed?"
"...Looks like it."
"No—"
—Isn't that too much of a jump, even so?
He swallowed the rest.
"...Of course, she's getting support from Lydia, and she's gradually being pushed back... but holding out against Ferris and the others is miraculous. Especially that multi-casting—if she refines it properly, she could become a top-tier battle mage."
"...Indeed."
Everyone nodded.
Aren was one thing, but Veronica exceeded expectations too.
Aren was so far beyond norms that words failed, but Veronica's growth was astonishing within the realm of common sense.
"I'm really curious... how did she get so strong all of a sudden...?"
"Kuh...! How dare you...!"
Ferris gritted his teeth.
Points?
Midterm exam?
The brief alliance with Jethua and Darsen?
None of it mattered anymore.
How—how could Veronica hold her own against him, the Magic Tower Lord's disciple...!
And not just him—with his six teammates plus Jethua and Darsen's members, seven students total were piling on her at once, yet she endured.
She should have been crushed outright. How...!
"......"
"Damn it!!!"
Ferris drew up even more mana.
His computational power overloaded, giving him the illusion of his brain burning. But he couldn't stop here.
With his pride already in tatters, Ferris unleashed the same ultimate spell he'd used against Aren—his most powerful magic.
Kwarung—!!!
A rain of lightning poured down.
The bolts split, split again, and split once more, overwhelming the sky as they crashed toward the ground.
There was nowhere to dodge.
But.
Crang—!
"Kuh...!"
"...Hoo."
Ferris's spell ultimately failed to pierce Veronica.
A multilayered barrier, deployed in an instant—over ten layers thick—blocked it. His magic pierced only seven.
Witnessing this, Ferris ground his teeth harder, feeling his pride crumble.
Meanwhile, Veronica was starting to struggle too.
Thanks to Aren, she'd grown strong enough to hold off seven without being overwhelmed, but she lacked a decisive blow.
'This won't work.'
Lydia, supporting her, was nearing her limit. At this rate, Lydia would fall first, and without support, Veronica would follow.
But...
'...Even so, we'll win.'
Why?
Because...
————————————………!!!!!!!!!!!
Kugugugugugu—!
"......!"
"Wh-what...!"
"......Looks like it's finally over."
...we have Aren on our side.
Veronica gazed at Aren striding toward them, the forest obliterated behind him.
It was a sight that left her mind reeling. To think he'd not only beaten those two but razed the forest as well.
Unbelievable power.
In her mind, she figured even ten of her couldn't take one Aren.
......
And so, with Aren joining Veronica after knocking out Jethua and Darsen, they downed Ferris too, ending the battle.
What followed was a delightful harvest.
"Th-the points are insane...!"
"Yeah. At this rate, first place is guaranteed."
"Hehe! It's all thanks to Aren...!"
I patted the head of Lydia, who beamed while hugging the points haul.
She nuzzled into my hand like a puppy.
'Not a puppy—a squirrel?'
Hugging those points, she looked more like a squirrel gathering acorns.
'A pink squirrel... oh.'
Something like that.
Anyway.
"...You. Good work."
"You too, Veronica. I didn't think you'd hold out like that against seven."
I knew she'd gotten stronger after I expanded her mana circuits, but honestly, even I hadn't expected this much.
Seemed like her efficiency was especially high... though without other samples, hard to say.
'Should try it on Lydia next.'
Might give a decent comparison.
"...You watched me fight?"
"Of course. How could I not pay attention?"
"...You sure watched closely while fighting Jethua and Darsen."
I shrugged.
"Because I'm stronger. But you—did you watch my fight?"
"...Yes."
"Feels good knowing you were watching."
"I only did because we're teammates."
"I know. Teammates, right."
"......"
Unfortunately, her words were probably true.
Would be nice if she'd watched because she was rationally drawn to me, but anyone could see the fight was too flashy to ignore.
Veronica let out a small sigh and glanced at the obliterated forest.
"By the way... was that really necessary?"
Lydia nodded timidly beside her.
Apparently, it seemed a bit excessive to them...
"No choice. They started it."
"Huh? Started what?"
"Aren? What do you mean?"
I casually recounted what had happened in the previous battle.
They'd swung with killing intent—one slash could kill. Aiming for heart, head, throat was standard, and they'd even cloaked their blades in aura.
If it had been any other student grazed even slightly, severe injury would be the minimum—high chance of death.
"Got a bit heated and went all out. They probably thought I wouldn't get hurt... but it pissed me off."
"......"
Veronica's brow furrowed.
She hadn't realized Jethua and Darsen had gone that far off the rails.
Lydia clung to my arm, looking up cautiously. Her eyes trembled like she might cry.
"A-Aren? You okay?"
"Not a scratch. Don't worry, Lydia. I'm fine."
"Still..."
"Really, I'm good."
I patted her head.
Meanwhile, Veronica, pondering something, met my eyes squarely.
"...I'll file a complaint after the exam. Even for you, this can't slide. Who swings killing blows in an exam...?"
"No need on my account."
"No. We have to protest this."
Veronica was resolute.
To her, Aren might rub her the wrong way—just a tiny bit—but he was the one who'd made her stronger and her teammate.
Letting a teammate suffer injustice like this—
"No... more importantly, we did something too, didn't we? Better to let this one slide for both sides."
"......Ah."
Veronica was speechless.