Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: The Nightmare Has Returned (3)
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‘When something precious is taken from you by someone else, how should you act?’
For Lania, who had spent her entire life not just never having anything taken from her, but actively taking others’ positions, this was an incredibly difficult question. Unable to find an answer from past experiences, Lania pondered deeply.
She had realized something amid the series of events.
In just over a month, the students had forgotten all about her. This wasn’t something to blame them for. It was a problem Lania herself needed to reflect on.
‘I was only worth that much.’
The time that had passed, the events that had unfolded.
She would regret it, but she wouldn’t drown in regret. The events had already happened, so she needed to find answers.
A week spent in regret and obsession.
At the end of it, the correct answer Lania discovered was remarkably simple. So simple it was appealing. Lania pronounced it aloud.
“A stronger stimulus.”
Yes, stimulus. That was exactly it.
There hadn’t been enough stimulus.
To make them unable to forget her, to engrave in their minds that she alone was their rightful professor... she needed a stronger stimulus.
‘And periodic stimulation.’
No matter how strong the stimulus, one massive hit would eventually fade from memory. The key was regular exposure to it.
Nod.
Lania nodded emphatically and leaned against the corridor window. Her gaze fell on the academic bulletin board.
[Mana Trading Studies (Basics) Assignment Notice.]
And the notice she had posted.
Gazing at the assignment she had planned through the night with a deeply satisfied expression, Lania imagined the students’ reactions upon seeing it. Just that thought brought a smile to her lips.
‘You can look forward to it.’
I’ll show you my best.
I’ll make sure you never dream of another professor again.
“...Where do you think you’re running off to?”
Her muttered words echoed softly down the corridor.
Like it or not, Lania was the obsessive type.
2.
『The Nightmare Has Returned.』
After Professor Lerthia’s final class ended, the students bolted down the corridor toward the restaurant where they had promised a farewell party.
「Starting tomorrow, classes will begin, so please check the academic bulletin board by the end of today.」
Aphria’s Nightmare had whispered those chilling words.
They needed to verify if they were true. While a few sharp ones trembled in fear, they arrived at the bulletin board.
“Oh, you’re all here quickly.”
There was already someone ahead of them at the board.
“P-Professor Lania.”
As always, Professor Lania nodded with a faint smile. She stepped back a pace and gestured to the bulletin board.
“Take your time looking.”
Gulp.
Swallowing dryly, the students checked the board. There was a new paper there that hadn’t been up yesterday, and the Nightmare’s name was written on it.
[Mana Trading Studies (Basics) Assignment Notice.]
[Instructor: Lania van Trias.]
The students’ eyes darted rapidly.
As they read down the notice, their expressions changed one by one. Some widened their eyes, some rubbed their eyes... and others gasped.
And then, as if on cue.
“P-Professor Lania?”
Their gazes turned to Professor Lania.
Leaning by the window, she tilted her head while brushing back her hair fluttering in the breeze.
“What is it?”
“Th-this is...”
“What else could it be?”
She smiled.
“It’s exactly as it looks.”
Stepping closer, she pointed at the notice on the board. Tapping the paper lightly with her slender finger, she spoke.
“The assignment deadline is the end of the semester.”
A soft, gentle voice.
But to the students’ ears, it began to sound a little different.
“It’s a two- or three-month period, so it should be manageable if tackled steadily. Cramming it would be tough, I imagine.”
Don’t think about resting for two months.
Isn’t one month of slacking enough?
“The theme, fitting for Mana Trading Studies, is to create a perfect trading formula. I assume you ‘well’ learned from Professor Lerthia over the past month.”
You got by fine without me, huh?
I’m going to test you once.
“Everyone knows a mana trading formula means ‘spell creation.’ You’ve already experienced it last semester as a group project, so this time, it’s best done individually.”
You’ve done it once before.
You can do it, right? I believe you can.
“Of course, I’m not asking for a perfect spell. In my ‘Understanding Spell Trading Formulas’ class, where you’ll learn from me, I’ll explain the assignment in more detail. No need to tense up so much.”
It’s not that hard.
You can do it if you try.
Don’t worry.
I’ll make sure you can.
“Once you complete the assignment, I believe you’ll achieve significant growth.”
This isn’t just for my sake.
It’s all for you.
“Of course, if it’s too hard, you can give up.”
“...Pardon? Give up?”
“Yes. If you say you can’t, how could I stop you? I’ll help as much as I can, but if you give up, there’s nothing I can do.”
Her intent was unreadable.
As the students blinked in confusion, Lania continued in her soft voice.
“But it’s the assignment with the highest weight this semester... so if you skip it, it’ll be hard for me to give you good grades.”
Only then did the students grasp her intention.
Their pupils shook violently as they hung on her words.
“Well, so what if you get bad grades?”
If you’re quitting, go ahead.
“You can retake it.”
If you want to take it again next year, be my guest.
“Any more questions?”
No one answered her question.
Lania alone smiled brightly. Before the Nightmare’s widest smile yet... the students despaired.
‘Mana Trading Studies Basics is...’
A required course.
Mandatory for graduation.
You can’t drop it just because you don’t want to.
And of all people, the instructor was Professor Lania, called Aphria’s Nightmare. An inescapable, unavoidable nightmare engulfed the students.
“Let’s work hard for the rest of the semester.”
She nodded slightly and left.
The students stared at her receding back for a while. The soft click of her heels echoed down the corridor, lingering in their ears.
The Nightmare had returned.
Returned more spectacularly than ever.
“Wow.”
Someone let out an exclamation.
“This is insane.”
Sensing that the routine they had barely reset would be shattered again... the students closed their eyes. All they saw in the darkness was pitch black.
‘A long, endless darkness.’
It felt like they were glimpsing their future in that gloom.
3.
“...They’re so rowdy.”
Back in the office, I rested my chin on my hand and gazed out the window. Outside, Kelrhalhm and students heading somewhere with him filled the view.
‘Farewell party.’
I think I heard they were doing that.
“Tch...”
Watching the stream of students, I smacked my lips for no reason. As I glanced out, my master spoke up.
“If you want to go that badly, why don’t you?”
“I-I don’t want to go.”
“Think I haven’t seen you sulk once or twice before, Raniel?”
My master shot me a look that said she wasn’t surprised.
“Just say you want in and join that group. You’ve always been oblivious, but you pick now to read the room...”
“No, really, it’s not that...”
I don’t want to join that group.
I just felt a bit envious... but that’s it. What would I even do there?
“I was just thinking they do stuff like that.”
I hadn’t gotten a farewell party when I fled the Mage Tower at night, nor a proper goodbye when I quit the Hero Party.
‘Though I didn’t want one either...’
Watching the students head to theirs now, I felt envious. Curious what it’d feel like.
‘Still, tagging along would be weird.’
So I decided to just watch.
As I counted the students filing out.
Knock knock.
Someone rapped on the office door.
My master, seated near it, opened it. Seeing the visitor, she continued in a slightly flustered tone.
“...What brings you here?”
...Polite speech?
‘Who is it?’
I couldn’t see past my master’s back. Turning to look, a familiar voice reached my ears.
“I thought Professor Raniel might be inside...”
A student poked her head in.
Our eyes met. Her eyes narrowed the instant they did.
“There you are.”
A girl with platinum blonde hair, symbol of the royal family.
The 4th Princess, Aila.
She looked at me with eyes twinkling with mischief. My master stepped aside, and Aila entered with a few students.
“...Princess? What’s this about?”
I tilted my head.
I couldn’t guess the purpose. Aila tilted hers slightly too.
“What else? Just came to say hello.”
“...Pardon?”
“You’re back from vacation. I meant to come sooner, but preparations took time.”
She gave a wry smile and pulled Chloe forward by the shoulder from behind her. Chloe flinched.
“Chloe here and I...”
Aila glanced back.
“...planned it with Resti.”
Resti nodded silently.
‘Plan? What plan?’
As I blinked blankly, Aila pointed outside.
“We’re heading to Professor Lerthia’s farewell party. Care to join, Professor?”
“...Me?”
“Yeah. I already told Rak beforehand.”
Chloe nodded vigorously at Aila’s words.
In a stammering voice, Chloe said,
“Belnoa’s helping prepare too! And battle mage department students...”
So, what preparations?
I couldn’t follow, so blinking, I asked,
“What preparations...?”
“What else? A thank-you gesture.”
...Thank-you?
“Officially, it’s recorded that you were injured protecting us and took a month’s leave... but we never properly thanked you.”
That was still on record?
Kalt said he’d “handle it well,” so I didn’t know details. I just saw a big deposit and figured that was it.
“So we’re doing it now.”
Aila pulled an envelope from her bosom.
It had a red rose emblem.
“Not just me—my sister too. She said she’d stop by the farewell party briefly.”
“...Pardon? Princess Leryuel?”
“Yes. She wants to thank both Professor Lerthia and you. Though she’s so busy these days, she’ll probably just show her face quickly.”
Handing me the envelope, Aila smiled.
“So, wanna come? The party’s gonna be huge.”
With her usual mischievous grin, Aila leaned in and whispered,
“You looked pretty bummed earlier.”
“No, when did I...”
“You put so much emphasis on ‘farewell party,’ then pretend otherwise.”
She giggled and stepped back a few paces. My face heated up; as I couldn’t retort, my watching master chimed in.
“Quit playing hard to get and go. You’ve been obvious about wanting to since earlier...”
“No, when did I...!”
“Sure, sure.”
Pfft, Aila stifled a laugh.
I glared, but it had no effect. Holding back giggles, she grabbed my arm.
“Just come with us, Professor.”
“No, really...”
“Okay, okay, got it.”
Half-dragged, I was pulled out of the office.
‘...I wasn’t sulking, seriously.’
I protested my innocence to the end, but Aila, Chloe, and even Resti just laughed it off.