Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Weaknesses Can Be Found in Unexpected Places (6)
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Weaknesses can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.
After the precursor signs of a demon's emergence appeared in a student... in other words, after the demon possession took hold.
The Hero Academy, naturally, was thrown into utter chaos.
A demon possession had occurred in one of the academy's students—no less than a student with the talent of a hero.
It was only natural that this sparked massive controversy.
The news spread like wildfire beyond the academy walls, hitting newspapers across the continent starting with those in the Empire.
📰 Breaking News On the Rise Until Last Year, Sudden Plunge to Rock Bottom This Year? 📰 Breaking News Sudden Scandal Rocks Hero Academy. 📰 Breaking News Hero Academy: Is This Really Okay? Of course, all the articles condemned the Hero Academy.
Up until last year, it had shed its image as a place demanding great sacrifices, establishing itself as a safe educational institution.
But this year, casualties piled up right from the first practical lesson, and now this demon possession incident on top of it.
It was certainly deserving of criticism.
But.
"These fucking bastards...!! If it were before, they wouldn't have dared make a peep!"
BAM!!
Principal Parus Remnant bellowed in rage, slamming his fist down on the desk.
CRASH!
Whether he'd forgotten to hold back or not, the expensive desk—crafted from fine hardwood—shattered into pieces.
His fury was understandable.
Indeed, up until last year, journalists from every nation wouldn't dare touch the Hero Academy.
Even when it was criticized for high mortality rates and dangerous training methods.
Because the world's power players and influential figures were mostly alumni of the Hero Academy.
No one dared speak out recklessly.
And three years ago, once its image began improving, even a single critical article would get you buried across the entire continent.
"The moment public opinion turns, they sink their teeth in...!"
Principal Parus ground his teeth.
Already, with freshmen casualties sparking complaints from influential figures across nations.
And now this massive bomb of a demon possession exploded.
In the old days, he'd have crushed those journalists criticizing the academy socially without mercy, but not now.
Public opinion was drifting away from them.
'No... The academy cannot falter.'
The influential alumni who'd graduated from the Hero Academy weren't seeing the big picture—they were just upset about losing manpower they didn't even need to spare, or about their own kids getting hurt or killed.
They weren't grasping that the moment the Hero Academy's foundation shook, people would start doubting the power players holding the world together.
'If the Hero Academy was flawed, then are the heroes and champions who graduated from there truly righteous?'
That thought was bound to creep into people's minds.
Of course, no one would say it outright to those far stronger and in power.
But the problem was that such notions would take root publicly.
"...We need to redirect the arrows first."
Casualties in practical lessons were unavoidable.
The academy had always been that way; they could spin the last three years as good luck.
Blame it on the inadequate students, not the academy.
The demon possession was the same.
"...The academy bears no fault anyway. It was an individual student's problem."
Lin Pacific.
Princess of the Pacific Kingdom.
If they turned public ire toward her.
Relations with the Pacific Kingdom would sour dramatically, for sure.
But that was fine.
It was a small kingdom with no real power anyway, and as the nation that produced a demon-possessed hero candidate, public opinion would crush it on its own.
"Call in the secretary."
Having sorted his thoughts, Principal Parus summoned his secretary into the office.
"You called for me, Principal?"
The female secretary entered, and Parus spoke to her immediately.
"Prepare an official statement."
An official announcement.
The academy's formal stance broadcast to the world.
"...And clear away this broken desk and bring in a new one."
"Yes, sir."
The secretary began slowly clearing the wreckage, as if accustomed to it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 📰 Breaking News Hero Academy Issues Official Statement. 📰 Breaking News [The Hero Academy has released an official statement on the recent demon possession incident. The student responsible had issues even before arriving at the academy, and it's believed they began succumbing to darkness back then. Beyond lacking hero potential, they were morally deficient and deceived the academy to enroll, so we acknowledge our failure to detect it beforehand.] 📰 Breaking News [The student 'Lin Pacific' responsible for the demon possession is the seventh child of the Pacific Kingdom, revealed to be a princess. Even as a princess, she was known for her flawed character and twisted obsession with her father's approval. Thus, the cause of the demon possession lies not with the academy, but with the Pacific Kingdom and Lin Pacific herself...] Following the Hero Academy's official statement, details about Lin Pacific—the culprit behind the incident—emerged one after another.
And public sentiment began to shift.
— Passerby "Well, well. Doesn't that make the academy the victim here?" — Onlooker "Yeah... Why'd they even accept trash like her?!" — Skeptic "Pacific Kingdom? What the hell kind of place is that?" This announcement could have escalated into a diplomatic issue, but with the Hero Academy backed by the Karr Empire and other nations' power players—who still largely supported it despite recent grumblings over casualties—the Pacific Kingdom had little clout.
It wasn't a strong nation, nor vast in territory; most people wouldn't even know it existed if asked.
That was why Principal Parus could push forward without hesitation.
But the funny part was the Pacific Kingdom's response.
📰 Breaking News Pacific King: "She Is No Longer One of Our Kingdom's People." 📰 Breaking News [The King of the Pacific Kingdom has officially stated, 'Lin is no longer a citizen of Pacific.' The demon possession is entirely her personal failing, unrelated to the kingdom. She is no longer a princess or even a Pacific national.] They'd completely disowned Lin.
Not only had she failed as a hero candidate, but she'd caused massive damage to the Pacific Kingdom with this demon possession fiasco.
— King "Filthy wretch. We told her to offer her body to the kingdom as a hero... and she dares offer it to a demon instead?" — Sibling "As expected of lowly commoner stock, Father. Incapable of anything better." — Another Sibling "Heh heh, was that whole 'hero aptitude' thing just some scam after all?" From the king to her siblings.
Not a single one defended her.
And Lin Pacific herself... no, just 'Lin' now.
"...Huh?"
She learned of it all at once.
The moment she regained consciousness.
The academy had kicked her out immediately.
But now, she had nowhere to go.
Her father had disowned her, and the Pacific Kingdom had cast her out.
"Wh-what... now...?"
Father, homeland, educational institution.
Nothing would take her back.
Everything had abandoned her.
"......"
The light in her eyes gradually faded.
At the same time, the sparkle of the jewels on her beloved sword 'Ice Break'.
Seemed to lose its luster entirely, turning a dull gray.
Soon, her sword—her world.
Lost all color, drowned in ash.
"Demon whore."
"Filthy..."
Behind her, the condemning voices of academy students rang out.
'Demon...? Demon...'
Suddenly, she recalled the pitch-black presence that had spoken to her in her mind.
And the light that had driven it away.
It was warm.
That much, she remembered clearly.
The one person she'd met just once... Jenny Harkur's light.
It had the same warmth.
"...Hassler."
Then, suddenly.
She remembered what that person had told her.
'How about heading to Hassler and becoming an adventurer?'
'You might meet someone there who can guide you right.'
Hassler.
The city south of the capital Carmen.
Maybe there.
'Even someone like me... could there be someone to guide me...?'
She simply followed her instincts.
Walking slowly through her ashen world.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Phew... This is tough."
Man, things have been rough lately.
It's been about a week since I started training.
After finishing work, straight to the training grounds for stamina drills.
And lately, Veronica's dagger lessons on top of that.
But this woman... she's seriously intense.
"Thrusts: 300 reps. Swings: 300 reps. Blocks: 300 reps. Any deviation from form, and it doesn't count!"
"......"
I'm not a machine... How's anyone supposed to nail the exact same form that many times?
Of course, I messed up repeatedly.
The visible count was 300, but I ended up thrusting, swinging, and blocking with the dagger nearly 400 times.
"Huff... huff..."
Still, there are definite gains.
Beyond stamina training, just the dagger practice has boosted my strength and endurance a ton.
A week ago, even a light jog left me wiped out; now, 30 minutes barely tires me.
And no matter how light, daggers aren't weightless.
Assuming positions with it over a thousand times naturally builds strength where there was none.
A week ago, it felt heavy in my hand.
Now? Like holding nothing. Proof of progress.
...Or maybe my arms are just numb?
Anyway.
I've learned a lot more about dagger techniques too.
"This stance is in the manual like this, but in real combat, it's better this way..."
"In this situation, you could use it like..."
"With more application, even..."
What I'd read in books was just the 'basics' from the manual.
Nothing beyond that.
But from someone with S-rank dagger aptitude, honed through real battles—practical uses, applications, etc.
Veronica shared incredibly useful knowledge.
"V-Veronica! How about using it like this?"
"Veronica! Check my form too!"
It's so useful that adventurers using daggers as main or sub-weapon started crowding around to train together.
"Ah, maybe I should try daggers? Looks awesome."
"Definitely handy... Could work great as a backup weapon."
It's even sparking a trend among adventurers, like some cult recruitment drive.
"...Tch, fine, look at this first."
Probably helps that Veronica grumbles about the hassle but teaches everyone anyway.
She might have a hidden talent as an instructor.
"People fixate on daggers' short reach, but if you do it like this..."
The training grounds were turning into something like 'You Can Do It Too! Veronica's Easy Dagger Class! (Advanced Applications)'.
"V-Veronica! Are you here?!"
Suddenly, a guild staffer burst in frantically, looking for Veronica.
He seemed desperate—what happened?
Everyone thought the same; the grounds went dead silent in an instant.
Focusing on the staffer.
And the shocking news from his mouth.
"...The, the trolls... have started their advance..."
...So, it's finally here.