Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Final Rankings
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[■■■■■'s quest, [Investigation of Mythical Era Traces], second objective completed.]
[Final objective unlocked.]
1. Acquire 'Shadow Cloak' (Complete)
2. Acquire 'Hydra's Egg' (Complete)
3. Make contact with 'Hero's Sword'
[Reward: Mythic-grade skill unlock]
'...The Hero's Sword.'
The final objective for the finally revealed mythic-grade skill.
It was to make contact with the Hero's Sword.
In [Stella Academia], the Hero's Sword referred to the sword of the 'First Hero.'
The legendary hero who defeated the Demon King and brought peace to the world. The sword said to have been used by him.
But something felt a bit off.
It didn't quite fit the pattern so far.
Both the Shadow Cloak and Hydra's Egg had acquisition methods deeply tied to 'sloth.'
The trial for the Shadow Cloak ruin had to be cleared in a slothful way.
And the Hydra's Egg could only be obtained by dozing off with sleeping incense during the trial.
So, the Mythical Era quest's connection to the Demon of Sloth was more or less confirmed.
But suddenly, the Hero's Sword?
The First Hero I knew had little to do with sloth.
Moreover, contacting the Hero's Sword wasn't slothful at all.
'Hmm....'
I pondered for a moment, but no clear answer came.
I'd think about it step by step.
It wasn't something I could solve right now.
I picked up the Hydra's Egg on the cloud and tucked it into my bosom.
Rustle.
The surrounding cloud hills began to scatter like mist.
Time to wake from the dream.
"......"
Opening my eyes, the cave came back into view.
[Awake, human? You slept like you had the luck of kings.]
Kerr spoke as if chiding me.
'Hmm.'
I rubbed my eyes in a daze.
It felt like I'd gone and come back in an instant, but reality showed quite some time had passed.
[But what's that? An egg suddenly in your bosom...?]
'Oh. Got it earlier.'
[You got that while sleeping?! What the hell are you...?]
Kerr was dumbfounded, lost for words.
As she said, an egg had astonishingly materialized in my bosom.
This was how eggs from the dream world were brought to reality.
I carefully stowed the Hydra's Egg in my Subspace Pouch.
[Human, being with you has made me think—you're truly peculiar.]
Kerr's voice turned serious.
[Different from other humans. Acting like you know everything, always so composed, with the air of my old master....]
She paused, then quietly added,
[...Are you even human to begin with?]
'Who knows. I don't even know what the hell I am.'
This was somewhat true.
Even as a veteran, I knew next to nothing about Jeron Airgia's true identity.
Was this body connected to the Demon of Sloth somehow?
[Hmph, shameless.]
Kerr grumbled but didn't pry further.
Anyway, business was done.
With the most important goal achieved, all that remained was finishing the trial.
'Yawn....'
I stretched languidly with a yawn.
'Time to head back.'
***
The third trial course was divided into two main sections.
Up to the mountainside was a simple check of mobility and stamina.
Climbing, plain and simple.
But that could disadvantage some cadets.
Everyone excels in different areas.
So past the mountainside, sections with obstacles and traps began.
Rolling boulders, sudden thorn bushes, gusts from the sky, and more....
A course that would stump most cadets.
But I passed all those trials with ease.
'Kerr, do it!'
I had an SSS-grade mount, after all.
Flying leisurely like that, I was nearly at the summit when—
'Huh? Yuria.'
I spotted Yuria's back as she crossed the finish line.
'Haa... haa...!'
Finally finishing, Yuria clutched her knees, panting hard.
Her body was drenched in sweat, and beside her, spirits slumped, heaving too.
As a Spirit Sorcerer, she'd climbed with their help.
But one spirit looked fine.
Seolbaek, perched atop Yuria's head.
( ˙ ˘ ˙ )v
It was awake for once, wearing a proud expression.
Good job... you made it to the top of Yuria's head. Must've been tough.
Thud.
I landed right after her, crossing the finish line.
"Hi."
"Huh...? Jeron?"
Yuria, catching her breath, blinked wide at me.
"You started way ahead, didn't you? I thought you'd finished ages ago."
A natural question, given my overwhelming early sprint.
It was for the Hydra's Egg, but no need to say it straight.
I put on a grave face and spoke.
"Got caught in a massive trap midway, so I was delayed."
"Really? A trap even you fell for...?!"
Yuria paled.
Worried about how vicious it must've been if even I struggled.
She scanned me up and down.
"Your body's... luckily no injuries."
'Whew, it was a scary place.'
I shut my eyes tight, pressing my forehead.
"What was it?"
Yuria swallowed, staring.
I paused, then said quietly,
"There was a cave around the mountainside."
"Oh! I saw that too. It was off-course, so I passed it. Did something pop out?"
"That cave looked so cozy, I couldn't pass without a nap...."
"......Huh?!"
She stared blankly, then wobbled as if her legs gave out.
"Oh, dear.... Jeron...."
She clutched her forehead, pretending to collapse.
Ding!
[Slothful excuse!]
[Sloth Meter +15!]
'Heh heh.'
Cute reaction savored, Sloth Meter points gained.
Delicious.
But the price was steep.
"Seriously, Jeron! You said trap, so I thought something huge happened!"
Yuria puffed her cheeks, yelling.
"Napping during the trial! If you'd tried just a bit harder, you could've aimed for first! I want you to do well...!"
She scolded earnestly, truly upset.
"Your usual lazy self is fine too...! But when you get serious, it's cool. Like when you saved me last time... A-anyway! You really shouldn't have!"
In the end, I got an earful from Yuria.
"S-sorry...."
I hadn't really wronged her, but I had to apologize.
Any more scolding, and my Sloth Meter might drop.
***
With the third trial done, the comprehensive evaluation results were next.
Top 10 would be announced publicly.
Cadets buzzed with interest.
"Who'll be first?"
"Probably the Saintess?"
"No, factoring team scores, maybe Jeron. He dominated."
Most expected Justina or Jeron for top spot.
Right then.
On the base camp auditorium's massive illusion magic screen.
The top name appeared.
[1st — Justina]
Cheers erupted.
"As expected, the Saintess."
"No ups and downs in team or solo."
She'd held top ranks in the first two team trials and followed Leonhardt in the third solo, showing flawless results.
A perfect all-rounder.
Next up: second place.
"Then Jeron's second, obviously?"
"Yep."
Cadets assumed.
But—
[2nd — Artel Rosendal]
The screen showed a total upset.
"......Huh?"
"Not Jeron?"
The hall murmured.
A-Rank Artel beating Jeron and S-Rank monsters for second.
An anomaly.
But it made sense on calculation.
Jeron's team had massive team scores, and Artel placed high in the third trial, so totals held.
"Then Jeron's third?"
[3rd — Leonhardt von Orsia]
Not Jeron.
"The Crown Prince?"
"Second trial was rough, but he recovered in the third."
Overcoming early elimination, with blazing climb speed.
Rankings continued.
[4th — Karen Stark]
[5th — Ciel Ifrit]
Fourth and fifth: Karen and Ciel.
Poor team scores, but stellar personal skills pulled top trial results.
Sixth to eighth: Cain, Ascal, other S-Ranks.
Ninth: Yuria.
B-Rank hitting ninth was huge, but attention elsewhere.
"But... where's Jeron?"
He'd dominated the first two trials.
Right then.
[10th — Jeron Airgia]
Bottom of the top 10.
"10th...?"
"Team scores that high, how's overall 10th?"
Cadets tilted heads.
Math didn't add up.
Some knew.
"Hey, didn't you hear? Jeron napped midway in the third trial."
"...What? Slept during? And still 10th?"
"Then if he'd stayed awake?"
"First was possible."
"Too lazy for first, just settled for 10th?"
"Sounds like Jeron...."
Word spread: Jeron could've taken first if he wanted.
Just lazily aimed for 10th.
But Jeron himself seemed utterly indifferent to results.
"......"
Just staring blankly into space.
Cadets thought: Classic Jeron.
However.
[Main quest completed.]
[Trial conducted with extreme sloth, additional reward granted!]
[Skill]
[Hatching Ritual (Legendary)]
'Wait. Isn't this... the skill to hatch the Hydra's Egg?'
Jeron was just flustered by his new skill.