Spoiler Warning: Glan Braden
Who would've thought? On the very first day of the entrance ceremony, an incident exploded right in our faces.
"Glan, you attract trouble wherever you go. Planning to blow up the academy or what?"
I recalled the words of my mercenary comrade. Back then, I'd dismissed it as nonsense. But now? No room for argument.
A golem had plummeted from the sky, and to buy time for the other students to flee, I'd chosen to face it head-on. Thanks to the yellow-haired girl and the dark-haired girl with brown skin who joined me, we managed to stall the golem long enough. By enduring its slamming fists, we held out until the professors arrived and began restraining it, allowing us to pull back.
And that's when it happened.
Shring—Whoosh—!Slice—!
An impossibly clean severing sound echoed from the sturdy golem—something you wouldn't believe possible. It was just one strike. A single cut had completely neutralized the golem.
A girl landed lightly in front of it. Her uniform marked her as one of ours from the Imperial Central Academy.
"You... you're...!?"
"This ruins the plan. You're more useless than I thought."
Before we could even process the shock, she muttered something incomprehensible and leaped through the hole in the ceiling, vanishing.
All that remained were the yellow-haired girl and the dark-haired girl, standing there dumbfounded, clueless about what had just transpired.
Who the hell is she...?
Overwhelming power. The professors, caught off guard, had barely managed to restrain it—that was their limit. Yet this girl cleaved it in one strike. And she wore our academy uniform. Finally, her mention of a "plan."
The puzzle pieces were falling into place. Though I still lacked a few.
She's plotting something. There's something shady behind this.
Suspicion hardened into certainty. And she knew who I was. She called my name. She knew about me. Maybe even the origin of my power, which I myself didn't fully understand.
I need to find out what she wants—and what she knows.
At least I had one piece: she's an academy student. That was enough.
I gazed coldly at the man dying from a stab to the heart by my own sword. I removed his mask, revealing his face. A stranger. Ugly as sin.
"Why the hell do you wear that mask? Oh, to hide how butt-ugly you are?"
"Pfft... kuh... Funny joke. Not bad as a last laugh before death."
"Final boss dude. I didn't finish the original story, so could you spoil it for me—just once?"
"What...?"
"Why are you trying to fracture the empire from the shadows?"
"...!?"
"And why are you so obsessed with targeting the academy?"
"How far has it leaked? You... how much do you know?"
"Not gonna answer, huh? Shame. Should've held out till I saw the ending..."
I regretted possessing Celestia too early. Star-Eye Slash was fun... Anyway, he clearly had no intention of spilling, so I decided to end him.
No gains here. No adulation, no dopamine hit. Not even the ending spoilers I'd have enjoyed...
For final bosses, these guys were awfully weak, and their convictions too rigid. A little wavering for survival wouldn't hurt... If they channeled that zeal into independence movements or something, fine—but skulking after the academy? Pitiful.
"You look like you're with some group too... Why antagonize us?"
"Boring and dull. Oh, right—I ask the questions. Not that it matters now..."
Slice—!
I felled the second one the same way.
With all incidents resolved, I roughly wiped the blood from my clothes and sword. The uniform stains were unavoidable, but the blood on the Black Demon Sword came off surprisingly easily. No—more than that, this thing... it absorbed the blood bit by bit.
Oh... neat...
Human blood only, it seemed. First time slicing people, so new discovery; it hadn't absorbed the lindbloom's blood last time.
Thanks to the Black Demon Sword's quirk, cleaning was a breeze. One rinse with water, and it was gone—the blade had sucked it up and self-cleaned.
I sheathed the sword, resigned to some clothing stains, and returned to the dorm. Annette and Yuna rushed over immediately.
"Miss, are you alright!?"
"Miss! There was something scary!"
They worried about me first. Easy to guess why: news of the rampaging golem crashing the entrance ceremony had spread to the dorms.
An evacuation order had hit right after, and only post-resolution did details emerge.
I nodded, signaling I was fine.
"I'm perfectly alright."
"Miss... blood!"
"Ah, this isn't mine—it's from other students."
Not students—blood from the final bosses I'd killed. But admitting murder wouldn't help. I claimed it splashed from others. Golems don't bleed, so it was the most believable cover.
"Gasp...! How awful... You were right there!?"
"Miss... that was truly dangerous. We should protest to the academy."
Yet their faces darkened further. Why? I wasn't hurt.
The Imperial Central Academy issued an official explanation and apology for the incident. Hiding it was impossible with parents present, so they chose transparency: apologies, clarifications—but with suspicious undertones.
They implied a faction targeting the academy lurked behind it, publicizing the speculation.
"Heard about it, Celestia. You were at the entrance ceremony too?"
"Yes, brother."
"Not hurt? Wait—no need to worry about you. Anyway, do you buy the academy's explanation?"
Cedric, living in the general class dorms, had come over after hearing. He clearly didn't.
"Childish, right? Dozens of golems in the underground monster storage. One poorly managed, goes berserk. But they pin it on some mystery group? We're not kids denying wrongdoing."
"Most people will think so."
But I believed the academy. Why? I knew the original story. Not much on the final bosses, but their existence—and that they'd deliberately rampaged the golem.
I'd gotten my spotlight chance, but the golem fell too quick, botching the timing.
"Anyway, as student council, I get intel. The academy's spinning this to boost morale. Expect an offer soon."
"What kind?"
"Still dense as ever. Commendation ceremony. Awards for the brave few who stepped up."
"I'm not dense—I'm smart."
"Sure you are~"
Cedric stood, flipped me the bird in farewell, and slipped out quietly. Morality to Mars, that guy.
"Miss, more macarons?"
"Yes, please. And bring some comics."
Once he left, I dove into research. No more botched timings. Master it perfectly for real combat glory next time.
A few days later. First day of classes at the Imperial Central Academy.
Before heading out, I checked my uniform in the full-length mirror: bloodstains? Tears? All clear. I spun once.
Celestia really is gorgeous. As long as not next to Mariella...
Long, slender eyes, lush lashes. Rarely open them, but when I do—jewel-like pupils sparkle. Mirror time's addictive.
Good. This'll do.
Finally, I drew the Black Demon Sword, aimed at the mirror.
"I'll take you on with my eyes closed."
One hand's index finger raised cockily, the other casually levels the blade.
Kya~ badass level maxed. Insane.
This sword cranked my cool factor up. Perfect for adulation.
Shick—
"I'm off."
Needed a hit. Novelty's my drug. Anticipation surged.
I sheathed it and left the dorm. Checked time: late.
But I stayed chill. Can't lose composure.
Early story arc's passed... Next event...
Shame special class means no front-row to Glan's events. If memory serves, next is in a week: early antagonist picks a fight.
That house Dad tried selling me to. The Roishutent family's eldest son, Milon. First villain, exits pathetically to spotlight the hero crew.
Too bad. General class would've been fun...
Missing live story beats sucked. But I knew all key battles—steal Glan's shines, bask in praise easy.
Just watch, Glan. Won't let you snag another chance.