Chapter 304
Chapter 304
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 304
Chapter Title: Academy Team Competition -1
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The Rose Family, one of the Empire's three great ducal houses, was a deeply rooted royalist faction.
While Redburn (publicly) championed the interests of the nobility and Northern Duke Julius held to neutrality, the Rose Family supported the Imperial Family, tipping the scales into balance.
Many hailed the Rose Family as the "Companion of the Imperial Family" with reverence, figuring that with the palace's protection, they must be the mightiest of the three dukes.
But just as a duck's feet paddle furiously beneath the surface, things weren't so straightforward when you peeked inside.
It was because currying favor with the Imperial Family was an incredibly tough job. Perhaps their noble bloodline carried a neurotic streak, but every Emperor across generations had been paranoid to the core.
('That' secret of the Imperial Family was known to only a tiny few, leaving genetics as the only conclusion.)
From the vantage of wanting cozy ties with the palace, too much power would spark the sovereign's suspicions, while too little made you expendable. The Empire always had plenty of 'boy knight'-level muscle anyway.
Offering counsel through knowledge? The imperial heirs were always prodigies.
Wealth? Redburn outclassed them there. No unique niche like the Northern Grand Duke's either. So how had the Rose Family endured, clinging to ducal prestige?
They gathered information.
Linked with the Imperial Defense Bureau, they scraped every scrap of intel from across the Empire and funneled it straight to the palace—a colossal human search engine converging a hundred streams into one.
And so the Rose Family earned the moniker "Hundredfold."
The current Hundredfold Duke—a doting father with no ambition—didn't push for more. He just scooped up the world's chatter and shipped it raw to the palace. That was it.
He kept minor trade caravans and knight orders on the payroll, but expanding them to build might? No such plans. The family's power stemmed from the palace, so avoiding their wariness came first.
Which meant the Rose Family's true heir, the Hundredfold Lady, had zero reason to hustle at the Academy.
Topping the class wouldn't shift a thing.
Breaking the limbs of some hero Bennett or whatever wouldn't magically boost her political clout. Grab a diploma and call it done.
The father-daughter bond was solid too. Unlike that trainwreck earl's brood, the Hundredfold Duke never demanded competence from his girl—just grow up bright and healthy, he'd say.
So the Hundredfold Lady figured she'd coast quietly through the Academy.
But...
"Don't stand before the Lady!"
"Clear the way! Clear the way! The Lady's shadow passes!"
"......"
How the hell had it come to this?
Long story. She barely recalled now. Seemed like it started from some trivial misunderstanding that snowballed... somehow snowballed into this.
Maybe the Academy's non-noble crowd dominated so hard they needed a noble rallying point.
Sometimes it grated—tailgating her to guard the bathroom door was straight-up creepy, and hollering to part the crowds every time flushed her cheeks.
But...
"『Glorious Mansion』 looms ahead, Lady!"
"Shadows stirring inside. Looks like squatters beat us to it!"
"Lady, your command!"
"Command-!!"
"Hmm..."
What was it?
These noble devotees gazing up with starry eyes now looked like fledglings chirping for food. Responsibility welled up.
She wasn't some prodigy—just a plain girl, really. But seeing big-shot talents pin infinite faith on her?
Made her want to give a little back.
That's why she pored over library books past midnight, why she swung the sword through grimacing muscle aches—to repay them. She could never match their dream leader...
But trailing 10%? That'd be nice.
So today, the Hundredfold Lady screwed up her courage.
"Scout slow first. Three days for the team showdown—tons of time left. Bennett's guarding the 『Crown』; won't lose it easy. Prep window's wide open."
"Prep how?"
"Mansion's indestructible... but nothing bars obstacles inside or out. Block the entrance?"
"Brilliant. Spot-on."
Cheers of "Classic Lady!" and thumbs-ups followed as the 『Hundredfold Knights』 geared up to retake 『Glorious Mansion』 and rig barricades.
While the noble kids felled nearby landscaping trees into logs, Luna Sterie eyed the lone-standing mansion and voiced a doubt.
She reported it to her leader, the Hundredfold Lady.
"Too long."
"What?"
"Three-day limit. Way generous for the terms."
"...You're right?"
The Hundredfold Lady mulled Luna's point. Odd timeframe, sure.
Hold 『Glorious Mansion』 with the 『Crown』 on? One hour. Full event? Three days. Leisurely.
Teams could just politely pass the crown around, everyone scoring. Relative grading dulled the impact, but...
"Nah. Means something. Alliances work."
"...Multiple teams team up to box out frontrunners. Allies rotate the crown for points. That it?"
Made sense. Gordius's mug flickered in the Hundredfold Lady's head. Guy's style—herding crowds? Par for the course. Tower of Trials proved it.
"Yeah. But irrelevant."
Luna Sterie fretted elsewhere. She flashed on the 『Illusion Magic Counter』 lectures and the Tower climbs. Mad wizard-touched content always packed gimmicks.
Hell, even the tentacle dungeon hid one: snag more victims, difficulty dipped.
Bet this had a secret twist too.
And...
Would that lunatic prof let alliances hunker in the mansion, fiddling thumbs?
Then it hit—Luna Sterie's brain zapped with a brutal spark. Legs went numb, gooseflesh prickled.
What if the mad prof's prep was...
Three straight wins.
"How d'you draw blood if you block every swing?!"
"Fine bout. Technique's raw, though. No DQ—you're done."
"So damn dirty and cheap..."
Bennett, paired with 『Beacon』 for orbital defense, snagged three-for-three effortlessly. Breath even. Foes were middling at best, but Bennett had hit mastery.
Three claps erupted from the stands.
"Oppa..."
"Handsome as hell, yeah? Your bro."
[Thrilled watching him grow. Heart's got room now too.]
Bennett's little sis Verda wore deep emotion. The village hunter kid scraping by on beasts had bloomed into a dashing holy knight.
Bennett had toiled ages to save her. But burdening Verda with that debt? No way.
That's why he entered the team comp.
"Next up?"
"You got steamrolled and you're scouting challengers?!"
"None? Then the 『Crown』 goes masterless."
Actions spoke—heart to sis.
See? I'm this strong now. Got a lover. Got a life. Chasing your rescue was my luck, Verda.
So drop the guilt, please...
Verda nodded, tiny tear dangling. Wordless, but message landed. Rampage validated.
As all cowered before crown-holding Bennett, Selbia—who'd lurked for her shot—boldly stepped up.
"Bennett! I'm ne—ugh, sloooow...?"
Languid.
Yet somehow, her speed halved. Forward step crawled like slo-mo.
Someone patted Selbia's shoulder, cut ahead.
"Cocky much, Bennett? Crown retrieval."
"You next, Snow."
"Hey!! Line cut—no, Bennett, you heard me first...!!"
Fur-clad girl, bitter chill swirling ironically—Selbia's archrival, Snow.
Selbia gawked at the hijack, shrieked.
"No shame?!"
"Sluggard's sin."
"You slowed me!"
"Time's precious. Skip the thanks, Selbia."
"......?"
Selbia blinked. Like: You'd lose anyway—I tagged in. Gratitude eternal?
"Gah...!!"
Fwoosh. Selbia combusted on sheer fury.
Bennett and Snow ignored, prepping coolly. Selbia griped forever, then plopped to spectate: How good can ya be?
Mad, pissed, envious to death—but backstabbing a fair duel? Nah. Craved straight win over Snow.
Force that narcissist to bow!
Swoooosh—
"Set?"
"I'd ask you. Steel your heart, Bennett. Hate wrecking lovebirds."
"Selbia. Missed the subtext? Decode? Warning I'll shatter before my darlings?"
"...Battles demand focus. Long looks. Might swoon for my looks—watch it."
"......"
Bennett hefted 『Beacon』 silent.
Snow: Azure Magic Tower sorceress. Ice magic repertoire.
And... pre-Bennett crisis, already sublimated titan. Her transcendence legendary.
Whiiiir—
Chill vortexed; Snow's right pupil spiraled blue mana. Vision-locked targets all slowed.
360° debuff.
"Sublimation, 『Turtle Can't Beat Hare』. Forfeit fine."
"...Surrender pitch half-century premature. Bit soon?"
Translation: basic slow.
Bennett finger-flicked to test. Actions lagged ~30%. Counter: mana-boost body, outpace penalty.
Straight effect, simple fix. Spec gap seals it—not unbeatable. Bennett's edge now? Crystal clear over Snow.
Thanks to guzzling seized ex-cardinal elixirs to survive sleepless nights.
Thud. BOOM!
Call made—Bennett blitzed. Ground buckled; arrowed the gap. Squash pre-cast, done.
Snow raised a finger serene, mocking the ploy.
Extended it to right eye. Pupil's world halved; slow scoped tight.
"『Clock Limit: Upper Crescent』."
Disarray.
Bennett's unaffected half motored normal; slowed half lagged. Friction born.
Internal hitch yanked trajectory awry. Snow's crisp incant followed.
"『Ice Needle』."
Shhink!
Split-second breach: needle-thin sliver grazed ankle. Bennett halted pursuit... dropped blade.
Term: 'one scratch'. Over. Hollow chuckle.
"...This caliber?"
"Said forfeit anytime. Wise mages spurned? Eat the L."
"Yield. Crown's yours—promised."
Fling. Tiara arced petite. Snow hopped, snagged. Inspected... dug the style, crowned herself.
Snow marched bold to 『Glorious Mansion』. Conditional or not, routing Bennett solo? One tail: Selbia.
She glued to Snow's flank.
"My turn next!"
"Sure."
"Mana topped? Full-power duel only."
"Not yet."
Snow sly-grinned unseen amid Selbia's chatter. Her company? Life spiced. Fire mage warmth bonus.
"FYI: I sublimated too. Clear? New me!"
"Shock."
"...Tch, starter chant now—fire wings whoosh..."
Figured she'd hit it eventually... ahead of schedule. Pal's surge? Joy. Silent cheers.
Selbia stewed over Snow's gains with pettiness, but big-hearted Snow? Pure delight. Proper hype.
No gabfest lately—linger today?
"...Mana good?"
"Nope."
"One needle barely..."
"Not yet."
Mana max ages ago, Snow fibbed smooth, milked the stroll. Time dragged. Selbia, wait-weary, yapped diet tweaks and steak temps.
......
Far off.
Farther still—something jiggled closer.
"Overcook meat, nutrition tanks inste—why?"
"That. There."
"Wha—uh?!"
Clack. Clatterclatterclack.
Eerie grind across turf: hermit-crab shape... dozens of legs. Zeroing in.
Selbia clocked it, blanched.
That? 『Mad Wizard's Great Labyrinth』.
Snow, Selbia, every cadet—swore off that pit forever.
"...Dungeon mouth walking itself?"
"Selbia. Slow call."
"Y-yeah?"
Thud.
Snow bolted opposite the creep.
"W-wait! Together!"
Selbia marveled at the razor judgment, then bolted. No way snared by ambulatory hellhole...!!