Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Welcome to the Summoner's Academy (7)
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# 42
#4 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of a Certain Student Council President.
Alright, to make my excuse.
I like practical combat.
To be honest, while my theory scores are in the upper ranks at the academy, I'm right on the border between upper and middle tier.
I do study diligently in my own way, but theory just doesn't stick in my head, you know?
Truth be told, I don't understand a single thing from the materials Professor Niserwin assigns.
...That's my excuse! But my soul is screaming! Run away from this damn Night Self-Study!
And today of all days, I had a date planned with my girlfriend.
That's why I chose to bolt.
But the moment I started my escape, I hit a literal wall.
Pretending to head to the bathroom and making my move,
A barrier only up to my ankle height in the hallway suddenly shot up to the ceiling.
"What the—?"
Anyone would panic if a wall popped up out of nowhere.
And in that instant, professors poked their heads out from every classroom in the wing.
"Nerkia's escaping!"
"Grab him!"
"If we let him go, our paychecks vanish!"
Professors charging out in a flash.
The classrooms right in front of the wall are probably the same.
-Just get caught and take the class, Nerkia. You're the student council president, aren't you? Set an example.
An angel in my mind said that.
-No, run. Just run. You want to run. And this is official—Professor Niserwin said it himself. This is practical training. You're setting an example as student council president by doing practical training.
And the devil in my mind said that.
-Right?
-Exactly.
Soon enough, the angel agreed with the devil. For now, at least.
"Time to bolt."
I made up my mind and chanted a spell. Target: the wall.
The spirit to summon: an intermediate earth spirit.
"Smash it!"
The earth spirit's strike demolished the barrier easily.
But the debris from the broken wall vanished into a magic circle on the floor.
Probably a type with low durability but easy to repair.
Meaning the wall would reform soon.
I started moving fast.
Boosted my mobility with the blessing of a wind spirit on my shoes.
Used the earth spirit to smash rising barriers and put distance between me and the professors.
Or at least, I tried to...
"Why are arrows flying around in the academy?"
In that moment, the low-level wind spirit I'd summoned got hit by an arrow and was forcibly unsummoned. Not a sniper— an attack from the hallway lights!
The academy's traps aren't just barriers.
"Got you, Nerkia!"
"The student council president!"
The second I hesitated, professors appeared right behind me. Complete with their own summons!
"No way, summoning beasts against a student? You serious?!"
"Every time you run, professors' salaries vanish in unimaginable amounts! We have no choice but to get rough if you resist!"
Ah, they're dead serious.
Those eyes are serious!
I'd been at this academy over three years and had no idea the professors were suffering such low pay!
But that's their problem! I've got mine!
"I've gotta go meet my girlfriend!"
"We respect that. But... we have families to protect too!"
And so, a showdown between those with things to protect began, and I got subdued in four minutes, dragged back to the faculty office.
There, I met the culprit behind this mess: Professor Niserwin.
"Why'd you make something like this?"
To my serious question, he smiled and replied.
"I want you all to improve. For that, you need to boost either theory or practical skills. Now, student council president, let me ask you. Which do you think I prefer more—theory or practical?"
"Practical?"
Satisfied with my answer, he smiled.
"Exactly. That's why I said it's fine to run. No, honestly, I hope you do run. And as student council president, you excellently led by example, just as I wanted."
Ah, this guy's a devil.
He just needed an excuse.
Night Self-Study was merely bait to make us run, letting professors legally use force on us.
But even knowing the goal, could I give up escaping?!
And the next day. And the day after.
I kept trying to escape but got caught without leaving my floor—that became routine.
Just as despair built and I considered quitting.
"We've seen your resolve!"
"President, let's team up!"
"If we're together, we can beat the professors!"
The student council, who'd been watching, finally rose!
Each one a top summoner at Yuglasia! With this firepower, we could break through!
We analyzed trap patterns, scouted professors' weaknesses.
Prepared countermeasures, and the moment we thought we'd pierced the professors!
"So, eighth floor wiped out?"
"But we're still here."
We realized.
Our floor was the top one—eighth floor!
Meaning we had to go down seven more to exit the academy!
"Come on, student council!"
The group gathered solely to conquer the eighth floor fell again to new summons and professors on the seventh.
A week later, we realized.
"This is a numbers game."
"We need more students."
"The student council alone isn't enough."
The council had 20 members.
Professors numbered nearly 200.
Specialized professors were fewer, sure.
But even just them outnumbered us.
Plus, we had to deal with academy traps, putting us at a stamina disadvantage.
After precise calculations, we figured we needed twice as many as the professors to escape without casualties, so we started recruiting.
Thus began the third- and fourth-year-led student escape movement.
Seeing our fierce resistance, second-years and first-years started forming groups to skip Night Self-Study too.
Even.
"Student Liberation Army?"
"Yes, that's right."
Red bobbed hair, neat appearance.
Eyes red like they could ignite any moment—this first-year newbie drawing everyone's attention.
Lady Aris of the Retia Marquis Family.
So, hearing the unbelievable, I held back my anger and asked again.
"The Student Liberation Army... for real?"
"Yes, for real."
Lady Aris nodded, cheeks slightly flushed in embarrassment, and I was speechless.
What nonsense is this!
What club is called the Student Liberation Army? Activity: Night Self-Study escape!
Fine, I could buy that, but the advisor being Professor Niserwin—the root of all this? He even suggested the name himself! How far does he plan to torment us?!
"Professor Niserwin—the de facto commander of all professors—really approved a club whose goal is Night Self-Study escape?"
"Yes. He said it's what he wants, and the academy's even providing support as an official club."
Joining gets you a personal summon contract with Professor Niserwin himself.
With only 100 spots, why'd a high noble like Lady Aris come to dying Yuglasia?
For Professor Niserwin, obviously. Him doing contracts personally?
Naturally, the Student Liberation Army boomed. 345 members.
All first-years, plus every second- and third-year without clubs—Yuglasia's largest club was born.
Some even quit old clubs to join, so the academy allowed dual-club membership just for them!
Their activity? Simple: escape Night Self-Study.
Meaning.
"Fifth floor neutralized! Fifth floor neutralized, repeat!"
"Seventh floor secured!"
"Eighth floor we can handle ourselves! Send fifth- and seventh-floor teams to sixth for a foothold—we're moving soon!"
The entire student body was now escaping Night Self-Study!
With more than double our target, we overwhelmed with sheer numbers and tactics.
Leadership—we controlled eighth-floor teams, grouping to push down once paths cleared.
"Fifth through eighth secured?"
"Yeah. Lady Aris's third-floor team's almost done. Fourth's struggling a bit, but sending these guys should wrap it."
Probably second and first floors have special new professors, not full-timers.
And Professor Niserwin too.
All heavyweights from a summoner's view.
No pushovers.
But we can't quit!
Months into Night Self-Study!
Weekends with my girlfriend start with nagging.
Even misunderstandings about other girls lately.
No more—time to end Night Self-Study!
"President!"
"Third floor cleared, Lady Aris?"
"Yes, successfully."
Lady Aris of the martial Retia family caught her breath, beautiful spear in hand, and smiled at me.
Sweat-damp hair, first-years leaning on walls exhausted—fierce fight, but victory's in sight.
I smiled back victoriously and shouted to the packed second floor—no, the endless line stretching to third.
"How long since Night Self-Study started? How much freedom stolen? But now, freedom's within reach. Do you want it?"
-We do!
The academy shook with their roar. Amid the cheers, I felt a thrill and continued.
"Then follow me!"
-Wooooaaah!
"Let's reclaim our freedom!"
Leading with me, the council, and Lady Aris's main force, the whole school descended to second.
Waiting there.
"Impressive, impressive. Like the legendary general of Her Highness the Princess or an Imperial Army grand marshal."
"Hahaha, what student council president rallies students like this? Yuglasia's future looks bright."
"Professor Maroon, Professor Arhan..."
As expected, two professors smiling at us.
Maroon Harsen.
And Arhan Ekede.
Both commoners who mastered summoning, rose to officer in the Imperial Summoner Legion—practical combat elites.
Veterans of the great war.
Plus 30 military summoners following them.
32 total.
But their combined might far exceeds 32.
We had 1,300, but frontline fighters limited.
"Whole school, so about 1,300?"
"Roughly 40 per one of us."
"Nah, even so that's tough. Grab half, and Professors Muam or Harian handle the rest."
"Haha, true. But we came at Professor Niserwin's request—getting knocked out too quick looks bad."
"Hmm, fair."
Facing 40 times their number without flinching—was it overconfidence, or battle-hardened poise?
"Oh, right—there's another win condition."
"What?"
"Hahaha, it's just past 8 PM, so we hold two hours."
"Right, Night Self-Study ends anyway—our win. No pay cuts. This place pays worse than the military."
"Docking fellow professors' pay? Niserwin's a devil."
Chuckling, the two assumed stances, grinning murderously at our charging force.
"Now, students. The Imperial Summoner Legion's famed defensive formation."
"It'll be tough."
We couldn't overcome their smiling selves.