Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Beware as the End Draws Near (4)
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That day, it rained from the morning.
It was still too early for the rainy season that came every summer. Even the scholars who predicted the weather had confidently declared clear skies for the week. So this was probably just a passing shower.
The rain poured down refreshingly.
Water dripping from the eaves pooled in the cracks between the pavement stones of the plaza. The sun was hidden behind thick clouds, suggesting it would be a gloomy day.
Drip, drip.
The sound of rain hitting the window echoed softly in the lecture hall. There were no other noises. Even the professor who usually tapped the blackboard while lecturing remained silent today.
Scratch.
The only sounds were the occasional scratches of pens gliding over paper. Finally, a bell rang out—ding, da-ding. The teaching assistant at the podium spoke up.
"Exam's over. Please hand in your papers and leave the room."
Only then did the students set down their pens.
Sighs of relief burst out here and there. Some let out long breaths, while others stretched lazily as they stood from their seats.
Basic elective course: Mana Attunement.
The final exam for this course, which capped off the week, had just ended. And that meant...
All exams were finally over.
"It's finally done."
"Yeah. How'd you do?"
"Eh, so-so. Missed a couple, but... overall, not bad."
The students chatted as they filed out of the lecture hall. Despite the dreary downpour, their faces weren't all that dark.
A few looked sour over botched tests, but everyone's hearts felt lighter regardless.
The finals were over.
The short but grueling exam period had ended, and they were finally free from studies. It felt like a breath of fresh air after dropping the burdens of the semester.
"Man, that was tough."
They said it was tough, but smiles crept onto their lips. All that was left now was the end-of-term ceremony.
End of term, and then vacation.
Their steps quickened with excitement at the golden time ahead. It was a sweet reward earned after countless hardships—a treasure all the more precious for the struggle.
The long semester was finally drawing to a close.
The students relaxed at the thought.
And let their guard down.
"...Something's posted on the bulletin board?"
"Huh? What is it?"
And then.
"Vacation notice?"
"Doesn't look like it. Some event? Oh, an extracurricular points event."
"...An event?"
As always.
"Yeah. It's giving out extracurricular points, and there's time before end of term, so lots of people signed up. No details, but it looks fun."
"Extracurricular points events are rare anyway."
"It's competitive. Doesn't that sound fun?"
"Should we give it a shot?"
Disasters strike in moments of carelessness.
"Here it is. Looks like we just write our department, student ID, and name."
"Tons of participants."
"Extracurricular points are hard to get. Might as well grab 'em while we can."
"True, and the event itself seems kinda fun."
A crowd gathered in front of the bulletin board.
They glanced at the event notice posted there.
「Challenge! Aphria's Guardian!」
「Endure against a training golem! Rankings based on survival time. 1st place gets 50 extracurricular points plus a prize...」
It was a simple notice with round, childish handwriting and a crude drawing. The sketch was so poorly done it was hard to make out, but up close, it kinda looked like a cute golem swinging its fist.
"I signed up."
"Me too. Does this mean we're in?"
The list filled quickly with scribbled names.
Students added theirs without a second thought. After all, it was just a training golem.
'What's so hard about enduring that?'
They pictured the piles of training golems in the spell lab—golems in name only, basically punching bags.
"Minimum requirement's surviving 10 seconds?"
"Ten seconds? Dude, I could do that barehanded."
"Whoever planned this is underestimating us. Who can't last 10 seconds?"
The students snickered at the notice. It seemed like free points no matter how you sliced it.
"......"
And someone watched them do it.
Professor Mackhart from the Combat Magic department paused in the hallway and eyed the gathered students.
'...They're signing up for that insane event.'
He shook his head at their chatter. His mind flashed back a few days.
-Can I borrow a few of these?
The girl who showed up out of nowhere asking to rent training golems lingered in his vision.
-Can I mod these a bit?
A chilling smile.
Her hands dismantling the golem as she licked her lips.
-Ah, done.
And whatever monstrous thing emerged at the end.
"...Tsk tsk."
Mackhart clicked his tongue briefly.
'They're in for a rough time.'
He silently offered condolences to the students as he walked away. Those left in the hall laughed and chatted on, oblivious.
Kaboom!
Lightning flashed, windows blazing bright.
The glare lasted only a moment. The sky remained dark after. It was almost like... an omen of the students' grim future.
"I'll aim for 10 minutes at least..."
"Pfft, 10 minutes? I'll last an hour!"
Of course.
The students had no way of knowing.
2.
「Challenge! Aphria's Guardian!」
The day of the mysterious event arrived.
The weather was clear, as if the rain had never happened. Harsh sunlight bathed the fields.
Students gathered at the edge of a forest not far from Aphria, staring blankly at each other as they awaited the start.
Thud, thump.
Soon, heavy footsteps echoed.
Too weighty for any human. The ground trembled with each one.
"...Uh."
Someone raised an arm.
They pointed at something. The students looked and their eyes went wide.
Screech, thud.
The source of the footsteps.
A massive golem halted in the meadow.
"Oh, everyone's here."
The figure on the golem's shoulder hopped down with a light thud. No one failed to recognize her. Her signature ash-gray hair fluttered in the breeze.
"I'm Lania van Trias, in charge of planning and running this event. Nice to meet you all."
She beamed brightly.
A smile brighter than the blazing sun.
Lania van Trias.
At that name, the students paled. They'd suspected the event was poorly planned from the description, but if this nightmare of a professor was behind it... that changed everything.
'Poorly planned' event.
The adjective's meaning flipped. Their gazes shifted to the golem she'd ridden in on.
Hiss, whoosh.
Steam rose from the golem's joints.
This was no training golem they knew. Twice the size, overwhelming presence. Some already backed away.
"Hm."
Unaware or uncaring of their reactions, Professor Lania scanned the crowd with a smile.
"Lots of sign-ups. Great."
She nodded and began explaining.
"As written in the notice, it's simple. Use a 'Protection' spell to endure against this golem."
She patted it with a thud.
It responded with a hiss of steam, dark blue eyes glowing fiercely.
'...Endure that?'
The students blinked.
Their eyes shook violently.
'She wants us to endure THAT?'
Are you insane? The question was natural.
But some people treat the natural as unnatural.
"I planned it as a light event, but it'll help you all. I heard from a knight I know—they do this training on the battlefield often."
Professor Lania was the prime example.
She smiled innocently.
"Protection spells are the basics. They'll shield you in a pinch. No harm in training them, right?"
Her voice brimmed with excitement.
"Now, a demonstration from our skilled TA. Mack?"
"Y-yes, ma'am."
Someone dashed forward.
Mack, who'd failed the group project last time. He stood before the golem, tears of blood in his eyes.
'...I failed, so I need these extracurricular points. Only way to avoid a retake.'
He had his reasons.
'Above all, for my group...!'
Recently, Professor Lania had whispered in his ear: Step up first, and she'll give F-Group at least a token score.
A leader sacrifices for the team.
Mack steeled himself, standing before the golem to make up for past mistakes. Up close, its majesty was suffocating.
"R-ready."
"Good. Starting on three."
His teeth chattered as he replied.
Professor Lania smiled sweetly and counted off.
"One."
The golem thudded forward.
"Two."
It raised its arm.
Joints creaked, steam hissing.
"Three."
Whoosh—the air split.
The arm swung horizontally toward Mack's shield. He thought absently as it approached.
'Ah, we're screwed...'
Crack!
"Guhk!"
The arm shattered Mack's shield.
Not satisfied, it slammed into him. No dramatic impact sound.
"Urk... blugh..."
Mack dry-heaved and collapsed.
Students who'd expected him to fly blinked. That speed should've meant broken bones at least. But no visible injuries.
"See? Safety measures are in place."
Professor Lania addressed their confusion.
"We invested in impact-conversion magitech. All physical damage from this golem converts to mana disruption."
In other words.
"Just some mana turbulence. Mack? Can you stand?"
"Urgh... stomach's churning..."
"Good, you're fine."
She patted his back a couple times. Mack staggered up. She pointed him out demonstratively.
"Just a bit queasy, that's all. No need to worry."
All they felt was worry.
"Minimum is 10 seconds. Everyone, do your best!"
Professor Lania smiled.
Her usual bright smile.
No malice in it. She looked genuinely thrilled with her fun event. The students even felt chills.
"P-professor, I want to—withdraw..."
Someone wisely tried to bail, but a friend grabbed his arm and shook their head.
"...Why do you think there's a minimum for extracurricular points events?"
"......"
"Fail it and run, no more events. And you know how rare they are..."
"This f—"
It was meant to deter no-shows.
But now, it trapped them.
"Pardon? What was that?"
"N-nothing..."
The student lowered his hand.
Swallowing bloody tears, he memorized his turn.
What could he do?
He'd signed up himself. Only way was to tough it out...
3.
"Waaaah!"
"Hngh, urk, eek!"
"Blugh, uwaaaah!"
Wails echoed.
"Guhk!"
"H-hiiiick!"
Moans spread.
"I-I just wanna diiiie!"
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Screams rang out.
"Oh, you lasted pretty long."
And.
"Next student, please."
A cheerful voice carried over it all.
Professor Lania patted the golem, replenishing its mana. No sign of it running low. The golem brimmed with energy.
"Ugh..."
"My stomach feels weird..."
In stark contrast, students sprawled across the meadow. Not hurt physically—just queasy. They could stand if they wanted...
'But then it's my turn.'
No will to rise.
They lay there, treating the sun-warmed grass as a bed. The inexplicable comfort drew tears.
'What was I thinking...'
Extracurricular points.
One of Aphria's graduation requirements, earned through campus events.
'Seniors said they're hard to get, join every event... That's all I did.'
They'd been baited.
Hooked.
"I-I did iiiit!"
Someone cheered their success. Just 10 seconds before flying, but he grinned like he'd conquered the world as he left.
Students stared blankly at his back.
Envy in their eyes.
'Not completely impossible.'
That made it all the worse.
With will, you could try again. Success dangled tantalizingly close sometimes. Each attempt refined their spells.
Learning. Growth.
Professor Lania clapped, delighted by it.
Her happiest look yet.
'This'll be memorable.'
A great memory for the students.
Tough now, but later... "Remember that?" they'd laugh.
'I did.'
Recalling her battlefield days, Lania nodded to herself. Amid the wails, she continued judging.
"P-professor, my stomach..."
"Oh dear, rest and try again. Plenty of time left."
"No, I quit—"
"Pardon?"
"Nothing..."
Thus, 「Challenge! Aphria's Guardian!」 lasted until sunset. Participants gained deep insights.
The closer to semester's end.
The nearer something's close.
The more you mustn't get excited. Stay vigilant. No carelessness. Beware as the end nears. Lessons from experience stick.
'An event etched in their minds.'
In a way, it matched Lania's intent. Summarizing results, she muttered.
"What a rewarding semester."
It was a summer day before end of term.