Chapter 229
Chapter 229
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: Where is Shirone? (4)
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They asked other students about Shirone's whereabouts, but the only response they got was that nobody knew. They figured he would show up if they waited, but they decided exploring the school wouldn't be a bad idea and set out to find him themselves.
As they wandered around, they found the facilities to be surprisingly decent, contrary to their expectations. The campus grounds were vast, rivaling even the Royal Magic Academy. Still, it was a place they couldn't bring themselves to like.
Unable to find Shirone anywhere, Sabina grumbled.
“Seriously, what’s so hard about just telling us? Making us search for him ourselves. He must be pretty trusted, huh?”
Closer burst out laughing.
“Pahahaha! Country folks are always all about loyalty. They’ve got no skill, so they act all high and mighty about stuff like that.”
“But Iruki is here too.”
At Dante's words, Closer’s laughter died. Even he thought it was strange for Iruki to be here.
“I don’t get it. Why is the Mercodine family holed up in a backwater place like this?”
“He used to be at our academy. I heard he caused some trouble and disappeared, whether he was expelled or dropped out. I never expected to run into him here.”
Dante decided not to overthink it. He was an opponent they would have to face eventually anyway.
“Doesn’t matter. The one our master singled out is Shirone. Let’s crush that bastard first and think about it later.”
Arriving at the cafeteria, Dante watched a scene of seniors and juniors greeting each other.
It was a common sight under the class system, but as someone who had clawed his way up from the bottom at the Royal Magic Academy, he couldn't help but scoff.
“Seriously, what era are we in? A class system? This Alpheas person must be a real fossil.”
“I know, right? I read in a magazine that they only use a ranking system for the graduating class.”
“Heh heh, that’s why these kids have no spine. Did you see that soft-faced kid earlier? One punch from me and he would’ve been out cold.”
Dante put the conversation aside and walked toward the students. In any case, if this was the system, shouldn't they enjoy its privileges?
At Dante’s appearance, all the students turned to look at him. Was there any magic academy student who didn’t admire Dante? The fact that the biggest star was attending the same school was simply amazing.
Dante stood with his hands in his pockets, waiting for a good while. When there was still no reaction, he scowled and spoke.
“What are you doing? Your senior is here. Aren’t you going to greet me?”
The juniors, who had been staring blankly, belatedly came to their senses and bowed.
“Ah, greetings, senior!”
It was childish, but being greeted felt pretty good.
As Dante scanned the faces of the juniors, he spotted a woman who looked at least two years older than him.
Normally, she should have been in Class Four, but the sight of her standing shoulder to shoulder with these runts was pathetic.
“Hey, you.”
“M-me, senior?”
Maria from Class Six pointed at herself.
“Yeah. How old are you?”
“Nineteen.”
Dante’s expression was one of pity. She was so meek, no wonder she was hanging out with kids at her age.
“You know someone named Shirone, right?”
“Senior Shirone? Yes, I know him.”
“Where is he now?”
“I-I’m not sure about that.”
He hadn’t expected anything from a woman like her in the first place.
Thinking he should head into the cafeteria, he started to walk, but Closer stepped forward as if taking the baton.
For Closer, who boasted numerous female conquests at the Royal Magic Academy, Maria was the perfect prey.
“Ooh, cute, aren’t you? What’s your name, my pretty lady?”
“It’s Erlang Maria.”
A look of displeasure flickered across Maria’s face. Having attended a magic academy since she was young, she had no complaints about the class system, but she couldn’t help but feel offended when someone emphasized the age difference like this.
“You even know how to frown? This is hardly proper respect for a senior.”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
Closer was satisfied. Why were the students at this school so naive? Gaining even more confidence, he grabbed Maria’s wrist and leaned in close.
“No need to be sorry. Come on, let’s go have some fun. How frustrated must you be, hanging around with these greenhorns? I may not look it, but when it comes to being hard, I’m the best.”
Maria’s face flushed beet red. She couldn't just endure this, so she tried to pull her hand away, but Closer’s grip was too strong.
Just then, Mark approached and grabbed Closer’s wrist.
“That’s enough, senior.”
Closer’s face twisted. The strength being transmitted was considerable. It was rare for a mage to train their body, so he looked up and saw a young man with a build that rivaled his own.
“Is there a junior who grabs his senior’s wrist? This school is a complete mess, isn’t it?”
“And what are you doing, senior? Harassing a female junior must also be against school rules.”
“Harassing? This isn’t harassment. It’s the natural push and pull between a man and a woman.”
“Maria is uncomfortable.”
“What does a kid like you know about handling women? A woman her age, you pull her in hard, and she’ll pretend she can’t resist and fall into your arms. What else could it be? Don’t tell me you were planning to make a move on her?”
Mark lost his grip on his reason.
“This bastard, I’ve had enough of you…”
“Pahahaha! This little brat is really pissed off! Don’t tell me you actually like her? Is that why you’re so anxious about someone taking her away?”
Mark wanted to shout out that it was true, but he swallowed the words that rose to his throat. He was still nowhere near Shirone’s level. But someday…
“Maria is my friend. And I don’t let anyone who insults my friends get away with it. I don’t care if you’re a senior or a teacher. If you want to be respected, then act respectable.”
Closer’s expression changed. The smile vanished from his face, leaving only the look of a cold-blooded man.
“Is that so? Then I’ll make you respect me. You’re going to be rolling on the ground.”
The two separated without another word. Using magic on school grounds was forbidden, so the students watching were naturally tense. But neither Closer nor Mark entered the Spirit Zone.
“A real man uses his fists. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“To hear the word ‘man’ come out of your mouth is laughable.”
“Heh heh, you’re really asking for a death wish. Come on, kid.”
Closer took a boxing stance and beckoned with his fingers.
Infuriated, Mark lunged forward. He didn't want to think about the consequences of fighting the man who had harassed Maria.
At that moment, Closer sidestepped and retreated.
Mark seethed with anger. The guy acted like he was ready to fight right away, but what was with the backstep?
Mark feinted an attack to the face, and as Closer ducked, he immediately followed with an uppercut to the stomach with his other fist.
*It landed!*
A heavyweight of 80 kilograms had swung with all his might; there was no way he’d get back up.
“Keuk!”
But it was Mark whose face contorted in pain.
His fist throbbed as if he had punched a rock. This wasn’t a human body. He must have something hidden under his clothes…
In that instant, Closer’s counter slammed into his face.
Mark’s pupils shook violently.
*What is this?*
A single blow had paralyzed the nerves connecting his head and body.
He was interested in martial arts and had sparred with powerful fighters before, but this was a different kind of power.
“Pahahaha! You’re a total weakling, aren’t you? How about it? Feel like respecting me now? Huh?”
By the time Closer’s voice registered, he was already curled up on the ground, being kicked repeatedly.
“How’s this? Fun? Is it fun getting stomped on like a dog by your senior?”
Even through the surging pain, Mark couldn’t bear the humiliation.
His mind wanted to get up and fight back, but his body couldn’t even lift a finger.
Maria ran over and hugged Mark.
“Please, stop! He’s going to die at this rate!”
“Heh heh, what are you talking about? Who are you trying to pin this on? This bastard clearly hit me first.”
Maria realized why Closer had let him throw the first punch.
If this continued, it wasn’t just about getting beaten up; Mark could face disciplinary action.
“I’m sorry. I’ll apologize. I’ll even get on my knees and beg, so please stop.”
Dante stepped in to resolve the situation. Blowing things up on the first day would only cause trouble down the line.
“Listen up, juniors. From now on, whenever you see us, you will bow a full 90 degrees. Look at this guy and remember exactly what happens when you disrespect your seniors.”
As Dante’s group left, the students let out a sigh of relief. The kingdom’s greatest star seemed to be the best at instilling fear as well.
Maria, her eyes welling with tears, checked on Mark.
“Mark, are you okay? You idiot, why did you do that?”
Mark had already regained his senses. He had simply let his mind go blank, as being held in Maria’s arms felt like a dream. But not wanting to worry her, he quickly sat up.
“I’m fine. This is nothing.”
While Maria checked him for broken bones, Mark glared at the retreating figures of Dante’s group.
“Those guys are seriously dangerous. What are they trying to accomplish by acting so recklessly?”
“I don’t know. I heard they’re Headmaster Olivia’s disciples. Maybe they’re acting out because of that. The kingdom’s greatest star, my ass. They’re complete thugs.”
With the change in headmasters, everything was changing. The other students might see today’s events as a simple incident, but Mark, who had once been like them, had a gut feeling. What happened to him might just be a prelude to a much larger disaster to come.
@
Walking down the corridor of the advanced class building alongside Olivia, Thadd felt like he was dying.
Alpheas had given him the special task of helping the new headmaster adjust, so he was stuck playing the role of her secretary.
“Um, Headmaster. Why don’t we have a meal first and continue the tour later? Our academy’s food is famous for being delicious.”
Olivia paid him no mind and continued to look over her documents. It was a mystery how she could walk so fast while doing so.
“Why are there so many 8th-grade teachers at this academy? In this day and age, how can you expect an 8th-grade teacher to teach students? Students with a name in the kingdom are considered unofficial 9th-grade, and prospective graduates reach the official level.”
Thadd wanted to ask what good it did for a magic aspirant, not even a full-fledged mage, to make a name for themselves in the kingdom.
But recalling his master’s advice to approach this with the mindset of a monk in training, he tried to persuade her gently.
“Most of the 8th-grade teachers are experts in fields other than magic. We’ve assembled a faculty of philosophers, artists, and technicians with specialized skills for the students’ character development.”
“This is a special-purpose academy. Miscellaneous education should be left to the families; magic must be the top priority. Who are the current stars at Alpheas? The Royal Academy has Airhine Dante, Oris has Miko Raina, and even Florang Municipal, which isn’t one of the five great houses, has Exion Cavael, a star the students are crazy about.”
“But Headmaster, how many students like that are there in the entire kingdom?”
“That’s not important. The fact that they exist is what’s important. The fact that other academies have them and we don’t, that’s what matters. This way of thinking is why this academy has been at the bottom for the last decade. Aren’t the teachers here too set in their ways?”
Olivia asked a question but gave him no time to answer.
“The faculty needs a sense of urgency too. An academy that’s part of the five great houses should have a diverse roster of young, genius teachers. Even Oliper Shina wouldn’t be considered top-tier by the Royal Magic Academy’s standards. Honestly, isn’t Romy Etella the only teacher here who’s recognized across the kingdom?”
Thadd wanted to sew Olivia’s mouth shut. He believed that a great teacher was one who taught students with sincerity. But she was trying to rank even the teachers by their skill.
“We just need a few more. Or we need to develop them. Ah, holding regular seminars would be a good idea too.”
Letters began to form on the notebook floating to Olivia’s right. It was a type of Spirit Language Magic called Dot Scription, an ability that transcribed speech into text.
She spoke so fast he suspected she was using Supersonic Speech—a Spirit Language Mage’s technique of high-speed pronunciation—yet the speed of the transcription didn’t fall behind.