Even Teachers Revel in the Festival
Even the teachers were enjoying Arcana's festival, not just the students. They gathered around a folding table in the park, leisurely sipping coffee and munching cake.
"The principal seems to be in a great mood."
"He got his wish— Celia lost, and the off-campus buzz is still all about Arcana. That student Zien really made a splash."
"Hehe, and now we even get a holiday extension because of the festival. How great is that? Nom."
The elderly history professor.
The intellectual magic studies professor with glasses.
The bubbly potion studies professor.
And then Jerome from acting studies, along with Romina and Karsen, who were always together as a set. Six professors in total sat around the table.
"In that sense, I'm so jealous of Karsen, the dueling instructor..."
Ocla, the potion studies professor, muttered in a whiny tone. Karsen set down his coffee cup.
"Jealous, why?"
"Weren't you proud watching your students this time? Hehe, it must look impressive to say you're in charge of dueling training—perfect for bragging, right?"
Romina nodded with a face like she'd had enough of it.
"Exactly. He was beaming the whole time, though now he's playing it cool... but whenever Zien's involved..."
Karsen silenced Romina's chatter with a slice of cake.
"Haha, exactly. Nothing beats the pride of seeing your students grow."
The history professor chimed in, and the magic studies professor adjusted his glasses.
"Especially Chris's magic art—it was truly impressive. To use an eye magic tool so proficiently in combat like that."
"And that's all because Zien taught him personally~"
Ocla leaned in close, eyes sparkling at Romina's words.
"Did you hear? He went straight to the principal and chewed him out, saying it had to be Chris, no substitutes with One Numbers!"
"He has an eye for raw talent. Plus, his loyalty—never abandoning comrades, proven by results."
Recalling that moment, Karsen felt a flush of embarrassment. Strangely, Ocla—who had no connection—blushed and stammered.
"F-friendship! Right? Their combo in the tournament was perfect!"
"Combat-type and support-type magic tools... Even as a professor, the balance was spot-on."
Ocla's "combo" and the magic studies professor's meant different things, but whatever—Romina felt proud anyway.
"Eh~ This is just the beginning. Zien's party activities haven't even hit two months yet."
"True. And right after the tournament ended, they scored another huge win."
The "huge win" Ocla mentioned was Metis.
A Rank 5 gate raid that students wouldn't even dream of. She was secretly thrilled it was Arcana's first case.
"This'll go down in history, right? And if they handle it well, it'll improve relations between Arcana and Celia too!"
The other professors nodded at Ocla's words, but Jerome from acting studies looked unimpressed.
"I'm a bit worried, actually. Sure, both parties are strong, but as you know, gates aren't cleared just by being strong..."
Ocla turned serious at Jerome's comment.
"Yeah, when I first heard about the Rank 5..."
"How crucial is zone history in gates?"
Jerome brought up history, leaving history professor Eastro flustered.
"Well, yes. Written exams are just as important as practicals."
"I'm rooting for Zien, an Arcana alum, to clear it... but with those written scores, it'll be tough realistically."
Jerome smirked triumphantly.
That was why he'd dragged Eastro in. Zien, with no memories recovered and no exams taken, had the lowest history score. Acting studies was failing level too.
"It's virtual, so no deaths... but sending an underprepared student to Rank 5 and having them flop embarrassingly would tarnish the school."
Jerome wasn't wrong.
But Romina saw right through his black heart.
'If you're gonna undermine him, at least be subtle. What kind of professor...'
Romina furrowed her brow.
Jerome was checking him—trying to lower Zien's evaluation in front of the staff to push his own favored student.
Jerome flashed a friendly smile.
"Just worried, that's all. What do you think, Professor Karsen?"
To Jerome's sudden question, Karsen replied slowly.
"Who knows. The exam's soon anyway—what's the point of this talk?"
Ocla, stuck in the middle, tried to lighten the tense mood.
"Uh... His year ranking shot up fast in a short time, so maybe he's prepped for written exams too?"
"Could be."
Unhappy that things weren't going his way, Jerome grumbled inwardly.
'Can't show my hand here...'
Jerome smiled kindly.
"But Ocla? Can you really master acting in a short time?"
To Jerome, acting was comprehensive performance art. Makes sense—gates assigned roles that required vast knowledge to embody properly.
"History first. Not knowing basic Zone 1 items or customs tips off even NPCs. Professor Eastro, what's Zien's history rank?"
Eastro glanced at Karsen before answering awkwardly.
"Last exam I saw... 5th from the bottom."
"157th, and with practical contention exams overlapping... no time to prep."
As Jerome laid out evidence step by step, gullible Ocla looked grave.
"Hmm... Yeah, especially with tournament prep too."
"That's why I say it—Zien's special privileges are ruining him. Skipping classes for tournaments means no written improvement."
That was Jerome's aim.
Zien was Metis's pick—no changing that. So strip privileges to force class attendance.
"What do you think, Professor Karsen?"
Jerome targeted Karsen directly.
He hated seeing Karsen shield Zien.
"Fair point. If exam scores are low, I'll suggest the same."
But Karsen's response was unexpected.
'Thought he'd oppose for sure?'
As Jerome puzzled, Romina piled on.
"Exactly. Tournament's over—if scores suck, no reason to keep privileges. I agree."
Zien's only written exam after regaining memories was Stigma studies—Romina's class.
'He doesn't know yet.'
'Digging his own grave.'
Romina and Karsen inwardly mocked Jerome.
Romina, smiling lightly, changed the subject as if shifting mood.
"Professor Jerome. Know about the perfect score on the recent Stigma studies exam?"
Romina's exam, infamous for brutal difficulty matching her prickly personality. A perfect score? Jerome laughed along.
"Haha, really? Why bring it up?"
Romina just kept smiling instead of spilling.
'That was Zien.'
Even after a century, a hero was a hero.
Student exams were no obstacle.
Back at the dorm, Zien checked his deposited prize money.
500,000,000 Coin
500 million coin.
Split with Chris: 250 million each. Plus, Selphis tacked on 10 million in "various bonuses."
Even for active Sabers, it was a fortune requiring a year in a guild to earn.
'No money worries for a while.'
No more bodyguard gigs just to afford potions.
'Unexpected perks too.'
SP (School Point).
Shop currency for second-years. Non-One Number students scraped for outing passes and amenities, but Zien's accumulation was on another level.
459 points jumping from 162nd to 9th. 500 from mage tower incident. 500 from battle survival. Plus 200 from misc.
Among first-years, Zien dominated SP. Embarrassing to even compare to second place.
Bricks stacking per plan.
'Next up: exams.'
Obviously, Zien wasn't content with current year ranking.
In the upcoming contention exam, he aimed for first—not just exam first, but year ranking first. Meaning Arcana's strongest first-year.
'Top of a prestigious academy.'
For Zien, still merely 9th, it was a tantalizing title.
Lucia. Demona. Kua.
The trio used outing passes to head off-campus. Morning at Ragna Beach resort, afternoon at Cornet City's famed theme park—all day fun.
Even stoic Demona looked flushed today.
Famous Lucia drew crowds post-tournament, hard to show her face.
So, casual clothes over uniform.
Sunglasses on all morning.
But flashy party-mates nullified the effect.
Final stop: Cornet City restaurant.
"AIA's security breached—Desire's no joke."
Kua gazed at the building beyond glass walls. AIA HQ storing high-grade artifacts from ancient to mystic. Yesterday, two Desires infiltrated, stealing artifacts.
"One was a Rank 6 Saber."
Kua neatly sliced steak.
"...Desire."
Lucia paused her knife, staring at the police-taped building.
"If I'd been there... could I have stopped them?"
Post-tournament competitive fire burned in Lucia. This question extended it. When Desire hit the mage tower, Zien was there—and stopped them.
'If it were me?'
Lucia kept questioning.
'Could I have stopped them?'
Doubt crept in.
But not a bad sign. Lucia burned to grow stronger than ever. No room for rivals—she craved overwhelming power to crush Zien.
Her innate competitive spirit.
Kua smiled slyly, deftly changing topics.
"Who knows~ Arcana's in a few days anyway—why not check in person?"
Bet won by Selphis.
Celia party, in the Rank 5 gate raid team, had to head to Arcana for alliance. Hate or fate—some sticky bond.
Lucia's voice echoed softly in the restaurant.
"Indeed. We'll meet soon."