Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Weaknesses Can Be Found in Unexpected Places (1)
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Weaknesses can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.
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BOOM!
"Is this really happening!?"
The principal of Hero Academy, Parus Remnant, slammed his fist down on the desk and shouted in a voice thick with fury.
"Three dead, five critically injured... and half the students couldn't even take down ten orcs?!"
The reason for his rage was none other than the results of the new students' first practical exam.
The outcome was nothing short of disastrous. Three dead, five with injuries so severe they'd never recover. And only half had met the goal of slaying ten orcs.
There were six heroes in this class, and the previous graduating class had posted exceptional scores, so expectations from all around had been sky-high. Yet here was this result.
No, actually, it wasn't even that bad by historical standards. Hero Academy had always produced multiple fatalities and permanent casualties every year. The incoming students and the dignitaries sending them knew to expect it.
In fact, this class's performance was pretty good for a first practical. Only eight dropouts, and a solid 50% success rate.
Yes... up until three years ago, that would've been considered a great outcome.
But over the last three years, Hero Academy's death and injury rates had plummeted dramatically. The most recent graduating class had almost no fatalities and boasted the highest graduation rate in history.
Watching these steady improvements, dignitaries from every nation had started raising their expectations.
'No need to worry about deaths or injuries anymore.'
The trials one must endure to become a hero or a true champion. Of course, they all knew that.
But no parent in the world wants their child to die. They sent them off hoping they'd become great heroes or champions, resigned to the risks.
But what if those risks vanished? Naturally, they'd be thrilled and full of hope.
And yet...
"How... how am I supposed to explain this?"
To the families of the dead. To the nations of the critically injured. What could he possibly say?
'The students you sent were worthless, so they died?'
He couldn't say that.
'The academy's curriculum is flawed?'
No, that was impossible. They'd stuck to the time-honored, legitimate methods all along.
He'd just thought those methods were finally shining over the past three years.
'Was I wrong? Was it just luck?'
No, if it was luck, graduation rates wouldn't have climbed for three straight years. There had to be a reason.
Something had gone wrong this year. Something was... off.
'What changed from three years ago?'
Then, a certain man's face flashed through Principal Parus's mind.
'...Kane.'
The thing that appeared three years ago. And the thing that vanished recently.
Lots of things fit that description. Jenny, who'd posted record-breaking scores, came to mind immediately.
Her presence had undoubtedly been a huge motivator for the students. Now that she was gone from the academy, maybe their drive had faded without that visible goal.
But for some reason... Despite all the other major factors.
In Principal Parus's mind, only one face lingered stubbornly: Instructor Kane.
And with it came the uneasy feeling he'd had watching Kane walk away when he left.
"No, that's ridiculous."
Principal Parus shook his head vigorously to dispel the thought.
It was absurd. A powerless commoner like that, having such a massive impact on the academy?
"No way."
He couldn't accept it. The world's premier educational institution, which had produced countless heroes and champions over its long history... Controlled by some lowly commoner?
Even if it were true, he could never admit it easily. The hero's blood etched into his bones. The noble blood that refused to yield.
"...There must've been some issue. With the students or some irregular environmental factor..."
He refused to believe the academy's management or its instructors were at fault. Admitting that would mean conceding the academy itself was broken.
And conceding that would mean acknowledging Kane, the insignificant commoner the academy had rejected.
"...The academy isn't flawed."
The long, storied history of heroes and champions could never be wrong. If it was... then every principle upholding this world, led by those heroes and champions, would crumble. Principal Parus knew he couldn't bear that.
'Please... the academy must not be flawed...'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ CRUNCH!
"Grraaak!"
A crude, massive greatsword dropped from the sky.
Slicing straight through the neck of a beast that resembled a wild boar.
"Hoo~"
Behind it, a woman with long red hair tied back in a ponytail dropped from the sky as well.
The glamorous beauty in light adventurer's gear—Scarlett Harkur—yanked the enormous greatsword from the ground where it had pierced the beast, lifting it effortlessly with one hand.
"They're not getting any stronger, but they just keep coming. Annoying."
Her slender frame—save for her ample chest—made the sight of her hefting a greatsword too heavy for most grown men look wildly unbalanced.
Scarlett surveyed her surroundings with that bizarre pose.
Scattered everywhere were beasts like the one she'd just skewered—bodies shattered or bisected.
"Hang in there just a bit longer. It's almost done."
At that moment, Jerome, who was finishing off a mantis-like beast from another direction, pointed toward Ron diligently channeling holy power behind them.
He knelt at the center of the blackened earth, hands clasped in prayer, muttering continuously.
"How much longer, Ron?"
Arna, firing arrows infused with blue mana, asked him. He snapped back irritably.
"I'm focusing right now, so don't talk to me. Almost at the final stage."
Up close, sweat poured down his body.
He looked utterly drained, and for good reason.
He was handling a purification ritual that normally required several mid-level priests—alone.
Right now, he was cleansing the heart of land showing demonic precursor symptoms.
The rest of the party held off the beasts swarming from all directions toward the center.
Only animals that hadn't escaped or unluckily wandered too close had mutated, so their numbers weren't overwhelming.
And being low-grade beasts twisted merely by demonic energy, they weren't particularly strong.
The problem was they kept appearing periodically from every side.
Aiming to attack Ron as he purified their territory.
As Scarlett, Jerome, and Arna fended off the charging beasts...
"Hup...!"
FLASH─!
"Grak?!"
"Kieeeek!"
A brilliant light flashed out from Ron, filling the entire cave chamber in an instant.
"......"
Moments later, the blackened earth had returned to normal cave floor.
The beasts lunging at the party lost their strength, collapsing one by one and reverting to their original forms.
"Phew, finally over."
Knowing it was done, Scarlett sheathed her sword in the scabbard on her back.
"...Took a while."
"Whew~ Yeah."
Jerome and Arna stowed their weapons and let out sighs of relief.
"Ughhh... I'm dying..."
One person couldn't relax.
Ron, who'd poured every ounce of strength into the purification and couldn't even twitch a finger.
"Hey, Ron! You okay?"
"Whoa, he's completely wiped."
Knowing it was just exhaustion and not life-threatening, the party didn't seem overly worried.
"...Next time, just call in some priests from the church."
Ron knew it too and cracked a weak joke with a smirk.
"Good work. When we get back to Rvascal, take a few days to rest up."
At Scarlett's words, the party's expressions hardened slightly.
"We don't need to check on Big Bro Kane?"
"......"
Troll anomaly.
Troll lord confirmed.
If not nipped in the bud, a troll invasion would start before long.
Scarlett bowed her head, lost in thought for a moment.
Kane.
A presence like an older brother since childhood.
Her real older brother, Sain, had always been cold and curt, so Kane was someone she'd leaned on even more.
He'd given her advice and teachings that shaped who Scarlett Harkur was today.
Of course she wanted to help.
The second biggest influence in her life after her parents.
A man she admired endlessly.
For him, she might even give her life.
'But that's my issue alone.'
She couldn't drag her party into it.
Of course, these good people would offer to help.
But they'd been roaming caves nonstop for nearly two weeks, and Ron was so drained he couldn't walk without days of rest.
Forced march to Hasler without a break in this state?
Even as an S-rank party, they'd be mentally and physically exhausted.
If they arrived to face a troll horde right away...
They'd be useless in battle, and she might lose precious comrades.
Of course she was worried.
Her condition was shaky enough against goblins, let alone trolls.
But at the same time, she had faith.
Faith that even against foes they couldn't beat physically...
Kane would find a way.
Between worry and faith, which weighed more?
"Don't worry. Big Brother Kane won't die if we're a few days late."
She chose faith—and her party's safety.
But she couldn't stop her voice from trembling.
Truth be told, ever since hearing about the troll anomaly, Scarlett hadn't been able to focus on this mission.
It was weighing on her.
The party knew it well.
How much Scarlett treasured Kane, and the turmoil in her heart right now.
"Yeah, if it's Big Bro Kane."
"Kane'll be fine."
But that's why they didn't add anything else.
They wouldn't shake her resolve now.
They knew who was hurting the most.
"Alrighty, let's head out?"
Jerome hoisted the collapsed Ron onto his shoulder.
Having resolved the demonic precursor symptoms, they returned to Rvascal, the central city of the marquis's territory.