End of the Semester (3)
The monster charged, snorting hot breath from its nostrils. Its massive body and savage movements alone whipped up a storm—enough dust to blot out the sky, enough shaking to mimic an earthquake.
I drew up mana to steady myself and cloaked my sword in sword aura. The distance closed fast. Just as its bulk filled my entire field of view, I dropped low and dove under its legs, swinging my blade horizontally in a wide arc.
Schluck! Flesh tore. The sharpness layered with sword aura and Carsa sliced clean through legs as thick as logs.
With its mobility crippled, the beast tumbled forward.
“Kreeeek!!”
It thrashed in agony, rampaging wildly. I unleashed a barrage of strikes, each one landing with impact. Wounds bloomed across its hide, and moments later, the flesh absorbed the shock, quivering faintly.
The precursor to its special ability activating. Most would panic here, fumbling without a proper response. It was subtle enough to miss entirely, and even if spotted, you needed exceptional observation to exploit it.
But I saw the weakness plain as day. Its right flank. The only spot where the vibration frequency differed from the rest.
I recalled my sword, sharpening fresh sword aura, then thrust Carsa forward like a spear. The blade pierced without resistance, blood spurting in a gush.
“Kwiik...”
It had punctured lung and heart besides. The monster collapsed without even a proper death rattle.
“Kyle Arden! Hunt time: 1 minute 59 seconds!”
The professor's voice boomed from above. As if on cue, the monster's form dissolved into mist. The surrounding landscape shifted to gray walls. All that hyper-real illusion? Just a test chamber prepped for this exam.
This class was designed to pit us against a variety of monsters, after all.
I left the arena. Dozens of eyes locked onto me.
“Whoa... 1 second shy, but he hit under two minutes.”
“Another top score this exam... screwed.”
“Heard he aced the others too. Tch, give it a rest.”
A chorus of awe and groans. But no suspicion like before. Credit the library incident and crafting contest. Proof was in the pudding; they'd grudgingly accepted it.
Of course, some still harbored grudges. Taylor Kaust, the guy I'd demolished in the retake, glared daggers now and then. Lingering humiliation.
“To break it down briefly: your hunting methods weren't much different from his. The gap comes down to superior observation and judgment.”
The professor dove into analysis. After about five minutes, he wrapped up.
“That's the exam. Tomorrow's your last one—rest up and give it your all.”
He sent us off with encouragement.
As he said, finals ended tomorrow. No wonder the air buzzed with excitement. Four straight months of grind deserved a break.
I stepped outside. The sun blazed down, skin prickling with heat. The temperature-regulation enchantment on my uniform didn't block sunlight.
“Cafeteria it is.”
Throat parched, I headed to the student dining hall. Elraim and Rana were out—sis on her monthly report, Rana mid-exam.
“One iced coffee.”
Ordered my usual, slurped it at an empty table.
Grades drop this weekend—write Father then. Once Senior finishes the magic tool I commissioned, enchant it...
I mulled my schedule. Semester's end meant some breathing room. Vacation included the Founding Festival—a chill episode in Akacheonma, rated the most laid-back arc. No dangers like this term; just smooth sailing.
Of course, it was just downtime before next semester's chaos.
I finished my coffee. Then:
“Guess who~?”
Familiar hands gently covered my eyes. Rana's voice, tone, presence—mana pattern matched.
But instinct screamed warning. I didn't ignore it.
I growled low. “Cloi, cut it out. If you have any shame, don't mimic Rana.”
Hands yanked away. Cloi, in perfect Rana guise, plopped down opposite.
She propped her chin on interlaced fingers, eyes seductive, and purred slowly. “Kyle. Don't you like me?”
“Drop it.”
One curt word. Seeing her pull that act on Rana's innocent face turned my stomach. And the total mismatch with real Rana drew stares.
Impersonating her at the academy was poison. Akacheonma even had a scene where someone got reamed for magicking into Rana.
Best not to tempt fate with Rana Heytald.
Cloi pouted. “Thought the big sis look would work...”
She grumbled, dispelling the spell. Red hair and eyes emerged—her signature.
People nodded in realization and looked away.
“Don't wanna die at the academy? Never pull that again.”
“Aw? Worried about me?”
“Advice, not worry.”
“Hehe~ You're kind in the weirdest ways, senpai.”
I ignored her hum and sipped coffee. As the straw slurped:
Whoosh! The world inverted.
The bright cafeteria vanished, replaced by inky darkness. I'd seen this void before. Sticky shadows clung from below.
I didn't resist—let it in. My mind drowned in it, voices echoing. Time dragged: 5 minutes, 10, 15...
I sat unfazed. Then:
“Try all you want. Won't work.”
World flipped back. Summer-vibe cafeteria. Cloi, pouty-faced.
“Senpai~”
“What.”
“C'mon, show some mercy for your cute kouhai's effort?”
Ridiculous. “Told you: do your best. Don't blame me if it flops.”
“It never works on you. That was Master-level!”
I shrugged it off.
Curious now, she leaned in. “Senpai, what are you?”
“You know. Ordinary wastrel.”
“Pfft~ Ancient history.”
True. My rep had shifted academy-wide.
“And shrugging that off? Not ordinary. If you're ordinary, we're all idiots.”
“Means you're weak.”
I set down my cup.
“Wow! Only you'd trash the department topper like that!”
She clapped in mock shock, then pondered.
“Senpai.”
“What now.”
Her low murmur grated—usually she bailed after fails. Persistent today.
“I've been thinking...”
“Spit it out.”
“Don't be prickly. Your mind's abnormally strong. Unnaturally so.”
“Yeah?”
Nonchalant reply. But she pressed on casually.
“Even innate talent has limits. Yours blocks intrusion entirely—impossible without...”
She grinned. “A rock-solid ego. Which requires zero inner darkness. And to reach that? At minimum...”
Pause. “Transcendent realm.”
“How do you know that?”
“Hehe~ Woman's secret.”
Her hand layered mine. Signature eye-smile poured on.
“So, after deep thought... Senpai, are you...”
Seductive lilt. “A reincarnator?”
The word dropped. Reincarnation existed in Akacheonma—natural in a world of life-death cycles. It happened here too. But only top elites knew. Modern era: maybe four humans. More with other races, history.
“Couldn't think of anything else. Your skills, actions—post-trial timing?”
I smirked—absurdity-induced.
“Ah! You smiled! Admit it!”
She lit up, convinced.
I snorted. “Admit what?”
“C'mon~ Not just that. Your heartbeat spiked—just a tad. Unfazed by my charms, but reincarnation pings you? Suspicious.”
Hand for pulse-checking, huh. I yanked free.
“See? Guilty conscience.”
“...”
“Advice, senpai: live true to yourself. Villains as villains, heroes as heroes. Fake it, and it'll bite you~”
Not wrong. If you can handle fallout, authenticity rules. But her business, not mine.
“So...”
“But Cloi.”
“Yeah?”
I cut her off deliberately. She just beamed.
“Doesn't change a thing.”
“Huh?”
“Agree—live your nature. But me showing mine, spilling secrets... alters nothing between us.”
Would baring my soul draw her in? Hell no. Might push her further away.
Her words were a dead end.
“I know!”
“?”
No despair—instead:
“I get it. This way, I'll never have you. Don't know your villain past? Makes it harder.”
She knew, then. Figures.
“So! Changing tactics.”
“To what.”
“Duh. No tricks—go straight. Love conquers all, right?”
“Bullshit in moderation. Won't happen in a million years.”
“Never say never~ Might ditch sis for me.”
She winked, sidling close, clinging.
“So, senpai. Date me!”
“No.”
Zero hesitation.
“Harsh! Crushing a brave kouhai's plea.”
She fake-wiped tears. Laughable.
“You take me for a sucker? After your stunts?”
“Fresh start post-this. Plenty of ways.”
Ominous premonition hit.
“...Not what I think, right?”
“Hmm~ Maybe, maybe not?”
“...”
Finally some peace...
She eyed me, giggling. “Senpai's got cute sides? Don't worry~ Won't crash your sis-date. But!”
“...Out with it.”
“You know? Post-Founding Festival, the imperial ball.”
Five-day Founding Festival. Last night: palace ball. Invitees galore—nobles, commoners with clout. Adventurers, merchants, guilds. Academy top 5 per year/department too.
“Yeah. Top 5 invited.”
“Yay! So you know my ask?”
“Escort duty.”
“Bingo!”
No obligation to attend—'self-improvement' excuse. Opt out anytime.
“What's the point.”
“Just... wanna see the palace. Empire citizen's gotta, right?”
“Sure you will.”
“No sarcasm! Pure intentions.”
True—novel had her go, nothing major. Minor teasing at worst. Palace chaos from it? Spoiler-ish secret.
“Thanks, senpai!”
She lunged for a hug; I blocked.
“Taking sis but rejecting me? Mean!”
“Quit yapping. Study for exams.”
“Fiiiine~ Mission accomplished anyway.”
She bounced off.
“See ya at the ball, senpai!”
I ignored the farewell.
“Pain in the ass.”
Sipped coffee. Irritating, hated her—but couldn't despise. Still soured my mood.
“Time to check on Rana.”
Drained the rest, stood.
Two days later. Morning after the final exam.
All grades posted.