Chapter 223
Chapter 223
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 223
Chapter Title: The Nightmare Returns (2)
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The Star Cup, the vessel that holds the stars.
On the way back from Arcadia, I got a more detailed explanation about the Star Cup from Cardi.
「The 'trial' conducted through the Star Cup is basically the same as the Star's Trial. You enter an artificially created otherworld and achieve certain conditions—that's the process of the trial.」
I already knew a fair bit about the Star's Trial myself, so it wasn't hard to understand what Cardi was saying.
「But the form of the trial is completely different.」
However, the explanation that followed made my eyes widen. It wasn't that I couldn't grasp the meaning—it was just that I couldn't fathom how it was even possible.
「Wait, that's actually a thing?」
After hearing the full explanation, I asked in disbelief. Cardi just shrugged with an infuriatingly smug look on his face.
「It works if you do it.」
It works if you do it.
Hearing those words—ones I'd made a habit of saying myself—come out of someone else's mouth wasn't exactly pleasant. A few days prior flashed through my mind, and I muttered under my breath with a sigh.
"I really wanted to smack him one..."
"Glad you finally realized it, even if it's late."
"You want to get hit?"
I raised the hand holding the Star Cup, and Kalt flinched, hunching his shoulders. He glanced at me cautiously before speaking up.
"So, what exactly does this 'trial' entail? If even you're puzzled by it, Senior, it must be pretty unique..."
"It's different from the Star's Trial. Similar, but different."
I turned to Kalt.
"How much do you know about the Star's Trial?"
"...I heard about it from Gallahal. He said it was a trial where you had to fight through endless hordes of demonic beasts to 'rescue' someone."
"Sounds just like Gallahal."
I nodded without thinking.
Recalling the role he'd played in the operation alongside Gallahal, it really did suit him perfectly.
"In Kyle's case, the trial was about cutting down everything in his path until he reached a destination."
"...So the personality and goals are tied to the Star's Trial."
"Right. The Star's Trial throws you into a set 'environment' and makes you fulfill the conditions."
But, I added,
"The Star Cup's trial isn't an environment."
I tilted the Star Cup.
Platinum liquid sloshed inside.
"What the Star Cup summons is a human."
Not an environment—a human.
「In the otherworld created by the Star Cup's trial, what appears is a wall shaped like a human.」
That's what Cardi had clearly said.
The Star Cup summons humans, not environments.
「I couldn't reach the miracle realm of creating 'nonexistent' things like a star. All I can do is 'recreate' by borrowing the user's memories.」
Recreation, not creation.
「After striving to reach the wall, standing before an overwhelmingly powerful foe, facing the wall... The souls of those who've felt the wall naturally engrave the form of the 'strong one' they envision.」
The ideal they picture in their minds.
The ultimate goal they yearn to reach.
Cardi said that influences the shape of the wall.
「The Star Cup makes it concrete.」
「Starlight holds faint records of all life that has lived in this world. The Star Cup uses those faint records, combined with the user's memories, to make it concrete.」
'Honestly, it doesn't make any sense.'
Even now, recalling the explanation, I could only let out a hollow laugh.
'It's in the realm of the impossible.'
I have no idea what process it involved or what trickery made it possible. Only Cardi could do it, and something tied to the first saintess was contained within this Star Cup.
「It temporarily summons that concretized figure into the isolated space. You confront that figure and achieve conditions to your satisfaction—that's the Star Cup's trial.」
That was the extent of Cardi's explanation.
I relayed it all to Kalt as best I could. From the way my tongue felt tangled at points, there were a few bits of censored info mixed in.
"Anyway."
I shook the Star Cup to wrap things up.
"The point is, it summons the person closest to the goal you're aiming for."
"...Hmm."
Kalt fell silent after hearing it all.
After a brief pause, he gave a wry smile. Even after pondering, it seemed only one figure came to mind.
"Then there's only one person who could be summoned."
The figure Kalt aspired to.
The one he admired and wanted to emulate.
I knew that person's name too.
"Kuntel, the Sword's Superhuman."
To me, he was more familiar as Uncle Kuntel.
"That's gonna be rough."
"Yeah, it will."
Kalt let out a sigh.
"Last time, in the city at night, even against his weakened self, I had to risk my life. If he appears in the final form I remember from Kuntel..."
What Kalt remembered.
Uncle Kuntel's final form that I knew.
"Exactly."
Kalt said,
"If he appears before me just as he was when he stood against the Sword of Death... I'm confident my head would fly off in a single exchange. For real."
I thought the same.
In his final moments, the Uncle Kuntel I'd glimpsed while fleeing was on par with the Sword of Death. The realm reached by a man who'd devoted his life to the sword had undoubtedly touched upon calamity itself.
'Kalt holding his own against Uncle Kuntel from back then?'
It seemed utterly impossible.
Forget achieving conditions—even surviving the first clash without losing his head would be lucky.
"So here's the thing."
That's why I said,
"Just go in once, die once, and see."
"...Pardon?"
Kalt's eyes bulged.
"When you said earlier it was time... you didn't mean the afterlife for real, did you? Senior, your foreshadowing skills are no joke..."
"No, let me finish."
Crack!
I whacked Kalt on the head with the Star Cup again.
"You don't die in the Star Cup's trial. You can keep challenging until your soul tires. They say you can handle about three rounds if you endure well."
"Only three chances?"
"You can keep going even after failure. Just with about a year in between."
Once the weary soul recovers, you can challenge again.
Cardi estimated that interval at around a year.
"So, wanna give it a shot?"
I dangled the Star Cup in front of Kalt.
"I'm curious how it works myself. Right now?"
"...Now? Here?"
"Why not. Should we step outside?"
"Whoa, hold on. I need to mentally prepare too."
Kalt groaned.
"Three days. Let's try after three days."
It wasn't a tough request, so I nodded. I had my own things to do anyway... Three days was no big deal.
"Three days from now, then?"
"Yes, three days..."
Just as I was about to leave Kalt's office.
"By the way, Senior."
Kalt called me back.
I turned with a tilt of my head.
"You seem in a good mood today?"
"...Do I?"
In a good mood, huh.
I was in a good mood, so it made sense. I shrugged and replied.
"Today's the day I return from vacation."
"...And you're happy about coming back from vacation?"
"Of course I am."
I grinned brightly.
"I'm so excited to see the students, I couldn't sleep a wink last night. I pulled an all-nighter making this."
It had been a while since I'd stayed up all night.
But I wasn't tired. Just imagining their reactions when they got this had chased away any sleepiness.
"Ah, I see..."
As Kalt eyed me strangely, I hummed a tune and left his office.
2.
『Peace has come to Aphria.』
That's how the students described the past month. Looking back, it really had been peaceful days.
'No more sleepless nights!'
No nightmares haunting them every night.
No torment from excessive assignments, no need to endure nosebleeds until dawn. They could sleep at sunset and wake at sunrise—a perfectly healthy routine.
There were still assignments from other professors.
Plenty, in fact. But to students worn out by nightmares, such light work was no issue.
Just one professor on leave, and suddenly life had breathing room. The students shed tears of gratitude and began praising the one who'd banished the nightmare.
『Professor Resti is the best professor ever.』
The replacement for Aphria's nightmare.
Not only were her lectures top-notch, her personality was nearly perfect. Assignments were few, and most got done in class anyway.
No real homework.
Lectures were easy to follow.
Miss the flow? A few key lines on the board got you right back in.
And every class offered insights—truly perfect teaching. The students enjoyed a dreamlike month.
"...That's the end of today's lecture."
And now, time to wake from the dream.
On the final day of the promised month, Professor Resti tapped the board twice from the podium.
"I hope my lectures helped you over the past month. Teaching someone after so long was quite enjoyable. I hope it leaves good memories for you too."
The students nodded vigorously.
Some clapped, others dabbed tears with handkerchiefs.
Ding, dooong.
The bell signaling the end of class rang... Professor Resti exhaled briefly. Then students began gathering at the podium one by one.
"P-Professor Resti."
"We prepared a gift for you..."
"And we set up a farewell party..."
Professor Resti gazed at the students' crude gift with a faint smile. For someone who rarely showed emotion, that smile meant the world to them.
"Thank you. I'll treasure it."
The student who gave it looked ready to cry.
As applause filled the room and Professor Resti packed to step down,
Creak, click!
The classroom door opened.
Students and Professor Resti alike turned to the sudden intruder at the door.
Swish.
A breeze scattered ash-gray hair.
'Lania van Trias.'
Aphria's nightmare swept back her fluttering locks and spoke.
"Thank you for your hard work over the past month, Professor Resti."
Her voice was soft as she continued, shifting her gaze to the students around Resti.
"And hello, everyone. It's been a while."
Still that soft voice.
But the chill hidden beneath made some students shudder. Rak in the front row started hiccuping; Belnoa beside him rubbed her eyes.
"Really, it's been a while."
Her tone carried an inexplicable sense of grievance.
Yet her face showed none of it. Her skin even smoother after a enjoyable vacation, Aphria's nightmare smiled radiantly.
"Classes resume tomorrow, so please check the academic bulletin board by end of day."
...Academic bulletin board?
Leaving a heavy unease among the students, she nodded slightly.
"See you tomorrow, then. Enjoy your farewell party."
She'd somehow heard about the party too, emphasizing "farewell party" as she stepped back.
Step, step.
Then she walked down the hall and vanished.
Only after the echo of her heels faded did one student mutter. The voice echoed lowly in the room.
"...She's back."
What had returned?
『The nightmare has returned.』
The line floated in the students' minds.
No need to ask who the nightmare was.
It was the moment the curtain fell on their beautiful youth.
Author's Note
Regret and obsession, yes—but despair is for the students.