Chapter 109
Chapter 109
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: 11. Not a Legend, But a Legend (13)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
# 109
#16 Their Circumstances: Karen Rel Legrena's Circumstances.
“Senior Karen, we've got word from Squad 5. Mercaria secured.”
“Vice President, report from Squad 12! We've taken the castle in Mercaria!”
“Good. Just keep it up like this!”
I issue the next orders while listening to the incoming reports.
Normally, this would be Student Council President Nerkia's job, but that idiot went berserk trying to clear up a misunderstanding with his girlfriend and bolted to Arsia.
Thanks to him, dozens of our students and one castle were wiped out.
All I could do was give a wry smile, wondering if this was the price for my own outburst yesterday that I couldn't control.
“Senior, report from Squad 0. They couldn't take out the president, but they'll keep Arsia and Marsis's main forces tied down as a detached unit. Also, as expected, confirmation that the two academies are definitely allied.”
“Got it. Pass that along.”
The president is dangerous.
We, from the same academy, know that better than anyone.
Especially in group battles like this, rather than individual duels, the president's power is stronger than anyone's.
If Lady Aris can turn the tide as a swordmaster and god-tier summoner on her own, the president has the ability to dominate the entire battlefield.
That's why we let Risén go berserk.
Risén doesn't have the power to turn the tide single-handedly or dominate the battlefield.
But he has the mindset of a dog that can smash the back of an ally's head without a second's hesitation, and no one could match him when it came to screwing someone over.
Thus, the president, marked by Risén, was screwed.
Risén would send the president packing by any means necessary.
If it had been a student from another academy, we never would've let it slide.
We could've ended up with a default loss!
But since it's our own academy's president, some foul play gets a pass as an intra-academy matter.
The Imperial Tournament rules on friendly fire haven't been established yet.
Naturally, no one but Professor Niserwin would even think of infighting.
“Pull together five squads that finished with Mercaria and give Marsis a pounding. According to Risén's report, part of their main force joined up with Arsia.”
“Understood.”
So my role is to win the Imperial Tournament and end this damn Night Self-Study once and for all.
Starting with the weakest, Mercaria, and expanding territory one by one, victory is ours at this rate.
With both main forces absent, Yuglasia's students won't lose to any others.
We didn't spend this past year just slacking off.
“Everyone, let's do this. Time to end this Night Self-Study for good?”
“Yes!”
Everyone around me nods and responds in unison.
Yeah, it's almost over.
Once the Imperial Tournament ends, we're free!
Arsia, Marsis, Mercaria—they're all just sacrifices for our liberation!
No one can stop us, empowered by the Silver Devil!
“Vice President, the president just raided Mercaria!”
“Damn it, pull back now!”
Except for the Student Council President, also empowered by the same Silver Devil.
#17 Their Circumstances: A Certain Student Council President's Circumstances
“Why... why?”
A Mercaria student stared at me in bewilderment after I took down one of Yuglasia's numbers.
“Because I'm on Arsia's side now.”
“Huh? Uh? Uhhh?”
From their utterly confused expressions, it seems the talk of Mercaria students being the empire's future talents was all nonsense.
I kindly explained this obvious betrayal, and they still don't get it.
Any Yuglasia student would instantly judge a backstab—even from an ally—as betrayal and punish it without hesitation.
-Contractor, don't you think it's strange to consider that normal?
The Lightning Spirit King, who almost never speaks despite our contract, suddenly addressed me this time.
-How could I think the normal is strange, my king?
-...Never mind.
His voice sounded like he had a lot to say.
Rare for a spirit.
Maybe because he's a Spirit King?
“Urk... my back... gahk!”
“What, you weren't out yet?”
I stopped when a faint light started shining, but it must've been a fake-out.
He faked a teleport to the infirmary with light magic.
“Gahk... ack! W-wait! I'm dying. Dying, I said?!”
“Hey, as a Yuglasia student, dying from this? You need more training?”
Borrowing the Lightning Spirit King's power, I unleash lightning magic in rapid succession.
There's a crackling sound and the faint smell of singed flesh, but Yuglasia students can tank this much.
“Gaaargh!”
A minute later, I watch the Yuglasia student truly vanish to the infirmary in a burst of light, then turn to find the Mercaria students.
“Eek!”
“D-don't come closer!”
“Ugh... uhhh...”
Two guys and three girls total.
Huddled together shaking, I tilt my head.
‘Couples?’
They're pressed so tight not even a finger could fit, yet staring at me—wrong time and place for PDA.
If I were Risén, he'd actually try to kill them!
“So, where's Mercaria's Student Council President?”
“Y-you think we'll tell you where the president is hiding...?”
One guy, trembling, spoke up, but his last words were too quiet to catch.
“No, I told you I'm not the enemy.”
“Eek!”
“Hey, just tell me! Tell me!”
“Or it's electric torture!”
“Y-you wouldn't do that in the Imperial Tournament... right?”
I step forward, and one girl freaks out, scooting back on her butt.
I can almost hear whispers from behind...
“Over there...”
“Yes! The p-president... wh-where's the map?!”
“Desk! By the desk!”
“Ah, here. The president is in this area. In the food storage warehouse spot.”
Their detailed explanation reveals Mercaria's Student Council President's location.
I approach to give thanks, but why are they all running?
I'm not scary!
-I feel like I picked the wrong contractor...
Even the Spirit King is saying weird stuff. Why is everyone like this?
I'm just struggling to survive as best I can!
“This it?”
Farthest from Yuglasia territory, the smallest castle assigned to Mercaria.
Usually not used as main base, but allied with Arsia and Marsis, so they picked the spot farthest from Yuglasia.
“Alright then.”
They won't buy it if I go through the front gate.
Knowing from experience, I have the wind spirit fly me over the sky into the castle.
“Intruder!”
“Enemy in the air!”
“One of 'em—shoot it down!”
No, caught trying to sneak in.
“As expected!”
But I anticipated this.
Ever since spilling about Professor Niserwin three days ago, nothing's gone right for me.
Kidnapped by Professor Niserwin, beaten by demons, ensnared by Risén's evil familiar turning me into a scumbag who exploits even his girlfriend, chased by students who really want me dead for betraying the academy.
“But this is nothing!”
After that, I blocked 26 incoming spells, counter-dropped 82 on the ground for total devastation, or impaled the 23 students charging me on 23 earth spirit pillars, hanging them 10 meters up.
“P-please... spare me...”
I lightly touched Mercaria's Student Council President, who to the end wouldn't believe me and kept raging.
-Lightning?
-Yes, Yuglasia-style light, my king.
-Yuglasia-style...
“Gahk...”
“No, can't have the president down. Who'll lead the students if you fall?”
His body started glowing for infirmary teleport, so I hurriedly used a water spirit to heal.
Lately, Night Self-Study turned [Healing = More Beatings!] into a formula, so I'm not as good at it, but enough to keep him from bouncing back.
“Guhk... bast... ard...”
“No, I told you we're allies. I heal you and you still complain.”
I even kindly wipe the blood from his mouth.
“I'm just here to relay a message from Arsia's Student Council President, Kir.”
“No... why is Yuglasia's president delivering Arsia's president's message?”
Mercaria's Vice President, less shocked and speaking properly, radiated disbelief.
“I said it earlier—I'm with Arsia now?”
“That's what I'm saying! Why is Yuglasia's president with Arsia?!”
I tell him when asked, and he gets madder.
Weird guy.
“Hmm...”
Still, allies now.
Need to explain simply. What words to use...
“It's that. Yeah. That's it. Why am I with Arsia?”
“With Arsia?”
“The power of love!”
Silence blankets the room.
My perfect explanation leaves them speechless.
“So listen up. Kir's message: No point defending Mercaria. Bring everyone to Arsia's main base.”
“Everyone? Just hand Yuglasia 1,000 points?!”
The other Mercaria council members, heads bowed in stunned silence, start lifting them one by one.
Their eyes burn with fierce suspicion.
“It's true, right? Plus...”
Blazing fire. Gentle wind.
Chilly water. Stalwart earth.
“No reason for me to lie. If I did, I'd just wipe you all out—easy.”
I summon top-tier spirits of all four elements and smile.
If not for my recent Lightning Spirit King contract, I'd have made more top-tier pacts post-Professor Niserwin.
“Y-yeah...”
In the vast warehouse, Mercaria's council stares blankly at the massive top-tier spirits gazing down with mystical light, nodding.
“So, bring everyone?”
Everything after wrapped up quickly.
They sorted bases fast, used the magic comms to order retreats from all castles except those under attack.
“Alright, I'll head out first.”
I wave and leave Mercaria territory.
Behind me, Mercaria students sprinkle white powder-like stuff—what's that?
-Better not know.
-I see?
If the Spirit King says so, no worries.
Plenty else to focus on.
Like that...
“Hand over Nerkiaaa!”
“We told you he's not here!”
A massive flaming sword clashes with Risén's deadly branches, exploding massively.
“Hah!”
With Lady Aris's shout, dozens of Arsia students fly through the air.
Around them, heaps of Arsia students lie like corpses.
“Kehehehe...”
From afar, Riduan watches with a truly sinister grin.
At his gesture, Arsia students turn swords on each other.
Bored, he flicks at the few Marsis students—magic bombardments rain on Arsia heads.
“Groooar!”
“Awoooo!”
One side, a bear flings people; behind, a giant wolf howls skyward.
“Yeah, gotta wait a bit.”
I watch blankly, then stealthily descend, land, and quietly observe until Risén's group retreats for regrouping.