Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: 17. Other People's Stories (1)
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# 161
#1 Their Circumstances: Ria El Nermia's Circumstances.
A surge of emotion welled up in an instant, tears beginning to pool in my eyes.
But it had to end.
I had the duty to put a period on all of this...
"With this... the Yuglasia Academy graduation ceremony... is concluded!"
"Woooooo!"
Roaring cheers erupted.
Though it was just the shouts of a hundred people, the sound reverberated across the academy—no, the entire empire—like thunder.
"President..."
"I'm not the president anymore."
The next president watched them with eyes brimming with tears.
"I'm jealous..."
"Just endure one more year."
"Nooooo!"
I gently hugged the student council president, who had collapsed to her knees in despair in the auditorium.
"I'm going."
"Please stay just one more year."
"Shut up."
I was trying to end it on a warm note, but this kid kept spouting nonsense?
"Would you stay if you were me?"
"No."
The student council president shook her head at my cold reply.
"Not unless you're insane."
"That's exactly what you just asked of me."
"But if even you, Lady Ria, are gone, we'll..."
"It would've been the same even if I stayed. Just win the Imperial Tournament and coast through the second semester."
Yuglasia Academy, which we entered out of fear of the training instructor, was hell.
In small countries, even one swordmaster was a rarity, yet here there were eleven.
On top of that, the instructor's prized disciple, Rain, joined as a professor wielding a bat.
Lady Aris and I had to endure half a year of agony.
But that wasn't the end.
Women started charging in screaming Professor Rain's name, and soon massive crowds followed.
As a result, current Yuglasia had transcended a mere academy, becoming a terrifying powerhouse with national-level forces.
Twenty swordmasters, ten grand archmages, twenty-five grand summoners.
The empire even worried if they were plotting rebellion against the imperial family, with such power concentrated in one place.
And all of it to stop our night self-studies!
It was agonizing. Torturous.
Every year a grade graduated, thousands of students vanished, but the professors' forces only grew stronger.
By the time I reached my third year, we were down to four hundred students fighting that monstrous lineup.
And that wasn't all. Excluding them, the existing professors numbered plenty too, and some even unexpectedly powered up from battling students.
We were the only ones dying inside.
How hard did Lady Aris and I work to beat them?
And last year, when Lady Aris graduated and I became student council president, how many trials were there!
But those days ended this year.
I'm no longer a student.
No more night self-studies for me!
I'm free!
-Kuh... It's finally... over!
My summon, Surtr, began shedding tears of joy too.
Surtr had been the first sacrifice in countless strategies, offered up endlessly.
You worked hard.
"President..."
"I told you, I'm not the president anymore."
I patted the student council president, sunk in despair and fear.
When the god-tier summoners centered around Lady Aris all graduated, I looked just like that.
We had to win the Imperial Tournament to skip night self-studies for half a year.
But suddenly the main force vanishes!
No matter how mighty Yuglasia's power, it was bound to unsettle us.
"Don't worry. Yuglasia is strong."
Proof? Just count the Imperial Tournament banners won since the instructor arrived.
Five.
In under a year, the instructor transformed Yuglasia into a team capable of five straight tournament victories.
"The future from now on is yours."
"Lady Ria..."
I comforted all the students reluctant to see their chess piece—me—go.
With a bittersweet heart, I left Yuglasia.
Yay! I'm thrilled! Freedom at last!
"Finally liberated... Huh?!"
But then, at my side, a girl in the all-too-familiar Yuglasia uniform appeared.
Plain brown hair, plain brown eyes.
Her chest was a bit fuller than mine, but her outfit wasn't particularly striking.
An ordinary student. That's how anyone would see her—utterly average.
But I could never see her as ordinary.
Because...
"Th-Thousand Tiger?"
She was the one I'd shared highs and lows with during my Evil Organization days, unforgettable.
"Congrats on graduating."
"Uh-huh."
"And congrats on the job."
"...Huh?"
I happily greeted Thousand Tiger, who handed me flowers.
But she'd slipped a paper inside and thrust it at me.
"Celeb★First Imperial Princess's Subordinate★"
"N-No!"
"No choice."
She waved the paper declaring direct service to the princess, trying to shove it into my hands.
"Just give up. It'll be easier."
"I-I can't give up!"
Four years, and I'd finally escaped Yuglasia.
After all that suffering from professors sent by that princess, now to join her side?!
"Ah, there you are, Ria!"
"L-Lady Aris?"
That's when I saw her.
Lady Aris, beaming brightly and waving.
"Hey... Between us, you can just call me big sis now, right?"
"Th-there you are!"
"Wow, Lady Ria!"
"We only saw you as enemies, so we had no idea you'd end up at Yuglasia. Life's unpredictable."
Starting with Lady Aris waving as she approached, my seniors who'd begun at Yuglasia with me gathered, along with Nerkia and Lisens, whom I'd only faced as foes, all with joyful faces.
"N-Now I have to talk with them... L-Let's chat later."
I was forcing an awkward smile at No. 1000, who smiled slyly, preparing to bid farewell.
"No need for that?"
Unlike before, No. 1000 grinned like she'd raised a thousand foxes, giggling.
"I'm close~ with them too."
"You? H-How?"
"Like this~"
Her humming and smiling creeped me out; I unwittingly backpedaled three steps.
"Y-You... What are you scheming?!"
"Come on, Ria. Friends shouldn't fight."
When did she sneak up?
Lady Aris draped an arm over my shoulder, smiling, alternating glances between No. 1000 and me.
"We'll be working together now."
"Huh?"
Lady Aris's words blanked my mind.
Was it my imagination? The former Yuglasia crew closing in felt like encirclement.
"B-Big sis?"
"Oh my, calling me big sis now, Ria? Yes, be casual. We're coworkers forever after