Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: The Eight Strongest
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The Eight Strongest.
A title that originated with the eight companions of the first hero.
A member of the Eight Strongest must be powerful and must never refuse a challenge.
It was the minimum promise required to avoid tarnishing the honor they carried.
However, to say the Eight Strongest were the most powerful would be an overstatement.
There were certainly others of comparable skill, including several who were hostile or neutral toward humanity.
Among them was the director of Galshdin Academy.
A woman who had held the position of director since the academy's founding.
A powerful figure who maintained neutrality while outwardly showing favor.
It was officially known that two of the Eight Strongest resided at the academy.
Unofficially, however, including her, a total of three such powerhouses were present within its walls.
“Are you planning to just leave that be?”
“It’s just a child’s game. Is that something this old man needs to worry about?”
The Beast King Gaion, a pillar of the Eight Strongest who, as a beastman, had held his position for a long time, answered as he downed expensive liquor like water.
His white-furred ears twitched, his face clearly showing his annoyance.
“Making such a fuss over something so trivial… Tsk.”
Zaqnir, his expression soured by the response, spoke bluntly.
“But to see such a suspicious display and still…”
He pointed, and on the large screen, Julius could be seen inhaling a red powder.
And afterward, he was shown participating in the entrance exam.
“Is it normal for someone to use a drug to deliberately lower their skills!”
Despite his shouting, Gaion’s attitude remained unchanged.
If anything, he covered his fluffy ears with his hands as if Zaqnir’s voice was too loud.
“Adults don’t interfere in children’s fights. Whatever may happen as a result, it is a necessary part of the process.”
A vein bulged on Zaqnir’s neck at his indifferent words.
“You, one of the Eight Strongest! Are you saying you’ll just stand by when something could happen!”
“Whelp.”
“…What did you just say!”
Gaion let out a sneer at his anger.
“Just because they call you one of the Eight Strongest, you think you’re something special?”
Zaqnir.
Known to the world as the Shield of the Heavens.
He was the youngest of the current Eight Strongest and had held the title for less than three years.
But even his reputation failed to impress Gaion.
“You’ve got some nerve for someone who strong-armed their way into the position.”
“What?”
“I’m saying you talk too much for someone who beat the old geezer before you in such a cowardly way.”
As he continued with a snort, Zaqnir could no longer hold back.
*CRASH!*
“You crazy old man…!”
Hundreds, thousands of orbs of light materialized around Zaqnir, spinning at high speed.
Even with this threat, Gaion didn’t so much as bat an eye.
“What, was I wrong?”
What Gaion had mentioned was a sore spot for him.
Something that still lingered in a corner of his heart.
“Isn’t that matter already settled!”
“I never agreed to it.”
Despite his shout, Gaion replied with a bored expression.
“The others have already approved of it!”
To ascend to the position of one of the Eight Strongest, one needed an achievement that all could recognize, as well as the approval of a majority of the Eight. The simplest of these achievements was to defeat a current member.
He had the skill to contend with one of the Eight, but his true strength lay in defense rather than offense.
During his fight with the previous member, he realized he was short that final, decisive move and instead trapped his opponent in a confined area.
After a day, his opponent ignored him.
After a week, he tried to escape by any means necessary.
After a month, he attempted to negotiate with Zaqnir.
After three months, he began to rage like a madman.
And finally, after five months, his opponent admitted defeat.
The cause of his loss was not a difference in strength, but starvation from months of continuous isolation.
“Regardless of the process, I received the majority’s approval, and I am a member of the Eight Strongest, just like you! I expect you to watch your words!”
“You are?”
At those words, Gaion finally met his eyes, baring his long canines as he asked.
“Yes, so I demand an apology right…”
Zaqnir stopped mid-sentence and instinctively spread his orbs wide.
*BOOM!*
“Oh? So you do know how to bark?”
A massive greatsword was now in Gaion’s hand.
A powerful wave of energy surged from behind the crude blade. A crimson aura, matching its nature, blazed to life.
*Grit—*
His face visibly hardened, Zaqnir held back no longer.
“Hah, you started this. Don’t regret it.”
He had come to the academy with a heart full of excitement for his turn after just becoming one of the Eight, but had he known this old man would be here, he would have surely postponed.
“Right, I suppose I need to teach you that there’s a pecking order even among the Eight Strongest.”
Gaion burst out laughing, as if delighted.
As one who adhered to the survival of the fittest, he had no fondness for Zaqnir, who had won through unjust means.
Just as they were about to clash, a gentle voice came from between them.
“Everyone, please stop.”
“…Anastasia.”
“Old hag.”
Along with her voice, a wave of magical power instantly overwhelmed the room, and Zaqnir sighed as he retracted his orbs.
“…Hah. I will defer to you this time.”
As he backed down, Gaion also put away his greatsword, looking thoroughly deflated.
“Tsk, a man with no backbone.”
Zaqnir was about to retort, incensed by the comment, when a mysterious woman stepped between them.
“Enough, enough! You are here to fulfill your duties. I will not tolerate any more fighting!”
“…I had no intention of fighting in the first place, if not for him.”
Gaion sized up the woman before him.
‘I’d like to fight her at least once, but…’
Fighting here, in a place she had designed and cultivated herself for hundreds of years, would be difficult even for him.
This city was, for all intents and purposes, her personal domain.
On top of that, with magical power comparable to a dragon’s and all the academy’s knowledge having passed through her hands… even Gaion couldn’t precisely gauge her strength.
‘Is it worth all that?’
After a moment of consideration, he finally raised both hands in surrender.
“Alright, alright. This old man will stop, fine?”
He shouted in a clearly sulking tone, but no one present paid it any mind.
“…So, what were you two fighting about this time?”
As the director of Galshdin Academy, she suppressed a sigh at their constant conflicts.
“I will explain.”
At Zaqnir’s words, Gaion simply lay down again and tipped back his bottle, as if telling him to do as he pleased.
“During the entrance exam, one student—no, several students including him—entered while hiding their true skills. We don’t know his intentions or his purpose for being here, so we need to investigate.”
Thinking about it, it was strange.
“Besides him, there are too many problems with the academy’s system. No, with your skills, you should have been able to prevent such issues from the very beginning…”
As he looked at her with eyes full of doubt, Anastasia gave a faint smile.
“No, we will take no action.”
“But that’s…”
“Even if an incident occurs because of it, that incident is for the students to resolve, not for us to interfere in.”
At her answer, Zaqnir’s expression turned thoughtful.
“Wait, does that mean all the problems up until now were also intentional…?”
“We are raising warriors, not hothouse flowers.”
He wasn’t foolish enough not to understand her meaning.
“To think you let these things happen to strengthen the students, to train them…”
He, who had run himself ragged trying to solve these problems, couldn’t help but look somewhat crestfallen.
“Threats like infighting among students or attacks on the academy serve as ample motivation for growth.”
“Does that apply to spies within the academy as well?”
“Appropriate trials, when overcome, become the very fertilizer that enriches the soil.”
For that reason, despite its name as the world’s top educational institution, Galshdin Academy was never short of incidents throughout the year.
“But if something too big happens…”
“This old man has no reason to indulge an adult who meddles in a child’s squabble.”
Anastasia nodded as if Gaion’s words were correct.
“So that was the reason…”
Gaion pulled a new bottle of liquor from a shelf and replied.
“That’s why you’re still a whelp.”
“If you had just explained from the beginning, I wouldn’t have been made to look so foolish…”
“Did I have a reason to?”
Zaqnir’s face fell slightly.
“So, let this matter unfold on its own as well. If it gets out of hand, we can step in. We’ve already identified the suspicious individuals, so there is no need for concern.”
“…Yes, thank you for letting me know.”
As the conversation concluded, Anastasia spoke with a bright smile.
“Oh, and if any of the students here catch your eye, you are free to take them as disciples. We can adjust schedules if needed, so it might be good to have a look.”
“Hmph.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Gaion snorted as if he had no interest, but Zaqnir’s eyes momentarily darted to one spot on the screen.
“You have plenty of time, so please take it slow. Your duties are not limited to what happens within this city.”
With those words, she vanished from the room.
Gaion glanced at the screen before shaking his head.
‘A few of them look decent…’
But none had yet caught his eye.
Unless, of course, they met the special conditions he was looking for.
* * *
“…That’s Philosophia Hall, where you’ll be staying, and the one on the opposite side is Trasos Hall.”
The clear sky was cloudless under the warm sun, and the academy was quiet, awaiting the start of the new semester next week.
“Trasos Hall is for those involved in close-quarters combat, while Philosophia Hall is assigned mainly to students like you, the mages.”
The entrance exam had concluded yesterday.
Allen was following Rachel as she gave him a tour of the academy.
“If you use the back path of Philosophia Hall, you can get to the research complex or the library quickly.”
Behind the dormitories to the east lay the research district, where ancient artifacts, texts, and magic were studied. To the south, a large commercial district had formed.
“If you take the subway on the east side of the academy, you can get to any district easily.”
To the north was the industrial district, where various daily necessities and weapons were produced, and to the west was the residential district filled with inns, where Allen had first arrived.
“Allen, why are you so quiet?”
“I was just thinking for a moment…”
“Why? You didn’t even call. Are you going to ignore me now, too?”
“…I apologize.”
Allen opened his mouth, a troubled look on his face.
The moment Rachel had met Allen yesterday, she had immediately set up a date for the next day.
‘My appointments have overlapped.’
Today, he was scheduled to meet not only her but someone else as well.
He had also wanted to meet with Haizel if he could, but Rachel’s fiery persistence had left him no choice but to be dragged along by her.
“First you ignore my words. What’s next, pretending you don’t even know me? Hmph.”
“No, I can assure you that will never happen.”
“How can I believe that?”
Rachel turned to face Allen.
Her eyes held a firm resolve, demanding he prove it somehow, right now.
‘I did plan on contacting her.’
He had intended to meet her after the entrance exam was over.
He hadn't at all considered that her telling him to meet at the academy meant he should contact her the moment he arrived in the city.
In short, this was a misunderstanding born from the difference in their timing.
Allen spoke with a serious expression.
“I will prove it to you, whatever it takes…”
“…Hee.”
Just then, a small laugh escaped her. Her eyes curved into beautiful half-moons.
“Heehee. I’m kidding. Just kidding!”
“…Kidding?”
At her laughter, Allen’s face hardened as he looked down at her.
“…Uh, were you upset? If you were, I’m sorry, but I was on edge, too…”
She glanced at Allen, her voice growing smaller and smaller. Her head drooped.
“Allen, I wanted you to know how I felt…”
“……”
“…I’m sorry.”
“……”
“Allen? Allen?”
When he didn’t respond, she slowly raised her head.
“Say something. If you’re going to get mad, then just get…”
There, she saw him.
“No, I’m just kidding, too.”
Allen was smiling awkwardly, as if he had never been angry.
“…Allen.”
Her body trembled. Her wide eyes and slightly parted lips were adorable.
“I thought I’d try joking for once…”
“I don’t care!”
She stomped forward, deliberately showing that she was angry.
“Wait…!”
When Allen called out, she glanced back for a moment and boldly held out her hand.
“If you’re sorry, then hurry up and hold my hand!”
“Is there nothing else you need?”
“O-Other things…?”
A faint blush bloomed on her cheeks.
As Allen pulled her hand, Rachel was drawn toward him in a daze.
“Yes, for instance…”
Allen whispered in her ear.
She looked around with a startled expression. After confirming no one was there, she looked relieved.
“It’s embarrassing… Suddenly, out here.”
“I don’t know… I seem to recall someone saying we should do things much more intense once we got to the academy.”
As he spoke with a low laugh, her face turned as red as an apple.
“Ah, aaah! Aah! Don’t say it! I told you not to say it!”
Allen caught her cheek as she tried to flee. Rachel’s eyes trembled violently.
*Peck.*
“Are you satisfied with this?”
Her lips moved several times as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she simply let herself be held in his arms and whispered.
“…Yes.”
“I’m glad.”
“Actually, I think it might be a little lacking.”
For the first time in a long while, a carefree smile graced Allen’s face.
*Rustle—*
Just then, behind them, a pair of eyes shimmered quietly in the shadows.
A moment later, a faint scent of wood lingered where the gaze had been.
“Allen, what are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”
“…No, it’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Allen quickly made his way toward the commercial district with her.
Neither he nor she had much time together today.
‘…Gathering talented people.’
That was something Julius often did.
Allen’s eyes turned toward a spot in the industrial district.
The time had come to harvest the seeds he had sown.