Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Hell Is Just Beginning (5) / Their Circumstances: Aris Lil Retia's Circumstances
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# 49
6. Hell Is Just Beginning (5)
#7 Their Circumstances: Aris Lil Retia's Circumstances
In my sixteen years of life, I can confidently say I've lived without shame as the eldest daughter of the Retia Marquis Family.
Though I was born into one of the Empire's most prestigious houses, known as one of the Ten Great Families, I've never used the family's reputation to get by, unlike other nobles.
Until now...
"Mother, it's too hard."
-Oh, Aris?
My mother's startled expression.
She seems quite flustered by these tears, which I never shed even during the family's grueling training.
I'm a bit surprised myself by Mother's shocked face, usually so composed, but I can't back down here.
Not if it means escaping that devil!
"As the eldest daughter of the Retia family, it's embarrassing to cry like this about how tough the academy is, but... it's just too much."
A weak side of me that's not like me at all.
Mother looks shocked by this fragile, timid, fearful version of me.
But there's no turning back now.
"Hic... Mother..."
-Aris. What happened at the academy?
I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand, glancing behind the video magic device.
1. Cry.
2. Don't speak first.
3. Pretend to speak only if she asks first, then cry pitifully.
4. Sob and just repeat that the academy is too hard.
5. End the Night Self-Study.
I steel myself looking at option 5.
My roommate holds up a paper with the five goals listed, waving it like she's cheering me on.
This is our student council's plan—my execution of the final measure.
Borrowing our parents' power and the family's influence to end this infernal Night Self-Study once and for all!
I've endured until now, but the moment that silver creature struck me, I couldn't take it anymore.
It was far too much for any human to bear!
"No, nothing happened at the academy, hic... It's just that I'm not good enough... I couldn't keep up with the classes. Sob... I'm sorry."
-That's right, Aris! Cry more! More! Squeeze out those tears! If we can just get rid of that damn Night Self-Study, I'll use every power at my disposal as a goddess!
Thanks to the goddess's fierce determination, even sadder tears flow.
And with that, my all-out performance ends. The next day...
This time has come again today.
7 p.m.
The hour when our hellish ordeal called Night Self-Study begins.
"Proceed as usual for now! Quickly pack up..."
"Uwaaak!"
Same time as always.
But a scream unlike any other.
"What, what is it?"
"P-Professor?"
And there's only one reason.
"Ah, sorry about this. Professor Niserwin assigned us some unusual duties."
"So don't hold it against us too much."
Unlike usual, professors are stationed at both the front and back doors of the classroom—two at each!
-N-No way?!
-What's going on, Goddess?
-Those professors... they've finally started using the terrain.
-Terrain... Oh!
-Yes, the reason you students could beat professors who are far superior in skill was simple! Each professor had to face nearly ten students or more.
-But in this situation...
-Exactly. They just need to block the few trying to pass through those small doors...
It was so obvious—they were professors used to fighting in the academy's wide corridors compared to other schools, and we'd grown too complacent.
That's why they caught us off guard and seized the classroom doors. And since it's Professor Niserwin's orders, this isn't just our classroom.
-For now, we break through one side, let some escape to hit the rear.
-Can we do it?
-Without those soldiers on the second floor and the silver devil, yes. Breaking through one classroom could return things to normal!
I borrow the goddess's power to summon my spear. No need for a shield.
What we need now is a swift breakthrough!
"Some of you, out the windows!"
First, distract the professors. The doors leading outside are barred with sturdy black iron grilles that no summon can break, but the windows between classroom and corridor are ordinary.
Narrow, but big enough for a normal student to climb through.
"Alright, I'll go!"
"Ugh, that guy?!"
"Climbing out windows violates school rules!"
Perhaps caught off guard, as the flustered professors watch, one male student charges full speed at the open window.
"Professor Niserwin clearly said it! Use any means to escape... Uwaaaah!"
But unlike his confident leap, his body gets stuck in the window frame.
He's smaller than average for a student, yet he got wedged. The reason...
"Right up to the classroom wall..."
I knew this academy wasn't on our side.
No, I'd realized long ago it was an obstacle.
Walls popping up in corridors, arrows and magic flying when we jumped over them, staircases full of traps.
Even a normal academy turns into hell during Night Self-Study time—I knew that well.
But... for even our last sanctuary, the classroom, to turn against us!
Watching the wall chew on the living student like some beast sends an inexplicable wave of terror through me!
"Well, you're so predictable, rushing in like that."
"After all that, you still lack learning?"
We can't summon large beasts through the narrow doors.
Only summoners with small summons or armament users can break through those professors, allowing large-summon students to move after.
-One strike to break through.
-Yes, dragging it out only hurts us!
I move to the back of the classroom and grip my spear with both hands.
My skirt-clad legs spread wide, but I'm in gym clothes anyway, so no issue.
Wearing gym clothes for Night Self-Study is routine now!
"Professor Mazirek, Lady Aris is heading your way!"
"I know!"
"Retia Style: Mounted Spear Technique."
The Retia family is more famous for swordsmanship than spears.
Thus, our spear arts are limited to mounted spear techniques, but their power is first-rate!
"First Fang!"
Normally, I'd use minimal mana, but today is different.
So I pour over half into the spear tip and charge desperately.
"Follow right behind if you break through!"
The classroom length is barely under 30 meters.
The moment my mana-reinforced legs kick off, a small wolf-like summon awaits at the front door.
"Block her, Rayfit!"
"Not enough to stop the fangs of House Retia!"
The wolf is the symbol of the Reias! I bat aside the blocking wolf's fangs with my own fang (spear).
First clash is a draw. But a wolf's weapons aren't just fangs!
"Retia Style: Second Claw!"
Using the rebound, I spin and slash the summon's side.
Spears excel at centrifugal force over swords.
Space is tight, so no big swings, but it lands— the wolf yelps and staggers. I seize the moment to break through.
"Good, now together... Huh?"
After breaching the front door, aiming for the professor's back, there's someone who shouldn't be here beside me.
"Why...?"
"Are you asking why I'm here, Lady Aris?"
Smiling and watching me is Professor Arhan, who always blocked us on the second floor.
"You look very surprised. Well, as a professor, it's my duty to answer a student's questions."
Expression unchanging, Professor Arhan draws a spear like mine from thin air and begins speaking.
"Some students misunderstood, but we professors didn't repeat the same actions every Night Self-Study because we're idiots. We had to follow Professor Niserwin's plan."
He spins his casually summoned spear and drops a bombshell on me.
"To explain: What you've faced so far was Night Self-Study Plan C. Professors handling their assigned years. Those of us without year assignments handled duties or waited on the second or first floors. But from today, it's Plan B."
"What's different about Plan B?"
"Simple. No floor restrictions for professors. We can move freely like you students. So now we can intercept your key threats like before."
He stops spinning, assumes a stance, and aims his spear at me with a spirited smile.
"Under these circumstances, the professors unanimously assigned me to you, Lady Aris. I hope you won't refuse just because I'm from commoner stock."
"I'd love to refuse vehemently, but if it's the professors' will."
This is bad. Professor Arhan, the trickiest for me in this academy, is here. Probably the same for other key students.
And Plan B from Plan C!
-Something tells me there's a ton more different from Plan A too, right? Am I wrong as a goddess?
-No, I think so too! That Professor Niserwin definitely has more!
Even breaking Plan B feels like it'll lead to something else!
-Aris, your talent is outstanding, but you're still young! Your opponent is average but seasoned with experience! One-on-one is tough!
-I know!
-So attack the professor in the back instead, let students escape. Him being here might mean the second floor is empty! Use the others as bait and run!
-Are you saying abandon the others?
I'd be lying if I said it didn't tempt me for a second.
But we've all worked together to break through the academy. For me to run alone!
I couldn't do something so shameful!
-Who was it that did the tearful act to Mom just to skip Night Self-Study?
Temptation grows!
-B-But is that okay?
-Who cares? Just escape. If Plan B means professors can move freely, that silver devil might show up anywhere.
-Right!
Yes. The living must survive. Luckily, my classroom is on the third floor.
Among student classrooms, it's the quickest to escape from.
Clang!
Our spinning spears clash, producing a heavy sound unlike swords.
"Not just the tip—mana throughout the shaft too. As expected of Retia's princess."
"If you're here, it means the professors guarding the second floor moved elsewhere too, right? So without your usual defensive formation, doesn't that give us a chance?"
Our spears clash.
I aimed for the professor blocking the entrance from behind, but Professor Arhan gives no opening.
"Correct. Second floor's empty. First floor too. All professors... went to the eighth floor."
"What?!"
The eighth floor—where most of the student council is, our strongest forces.
No, before that!
"If the first floor's empty too, even Professors Muam and Harian?!"
"Indeed. So if you can't break through me soon, there's no hope, Lady Aris!"
Our spears clash again. I pour in unknown amounts of mana unlike before, but the result doesn't change.
-This guy... was he always this strong?
-Goddess, no choice!
-Fine, ditch the others and we two escape!
-Goddess, grant your contractor a sturdy body and mind.
I swing my spear while chanting inwardly.
Divine Possession. The ultimate tool for a goddess's contractor—housing the goddess's soul in the body!
It didn't work on that devil, but against a human? It has to!
"Well, well. The goddess herself?"
"Impressive strength. Care to play with me too?"
"An honor to fight alongside the goddess."
I didn't notice at first, but divine possession changes part of the body.
My trait: red eyes turn blue. Professor Arhan notices, sighs deeply, and resumes his stance.
-Go for it, Goddess!
-Trust me!
Same physical specs, but she wields the spear lightly one-handed.
She's shown poor form against the silver devil often, but our goddess is the Goddess of War!
"Come at me, human!"
The goddess swings her spear boldly, and the professor responds.
"Understood."
"What?!"
Not Professor Arhan's voice—another professor's.
"Regrettable, Goddess. Seems your beauty drew other flies."
"D-Damn it..."
I turn toward the voice—sharing vision, my eyes catch countless professors descending to the third floor.
"Damn it all..."
Ten minutes later.
Despite the goddess's fierce resistance, I end up battered from fighting multiple professors—just like what they'd endured before.
-Aris... let's just quietly do Night Self-Study in the classroom...
-Ugh...
Too drained to move, back against the corridor wall, seriously pondering Night Self-Study.
"Is this how you educate every day?"
"Yes."
"Oh, Father?"
There, naturally approaching with Professor Niserwin, is my father—the current head of House Retia.
"Good work."
"Ah, Father..."
The ever-cool father strokes my head tenderly, and tears flow unbidden.
Perhaps seeing his daughter suffer like this! Father!
"And keep pushing forward."
...Pardon?
My falling tears feel like they're crawling back up into my eyes.
Father? What did you just say?
"I've learned much observing Yuglasia's education."
"An honor, milord."
Father? Why gaze so earnestly at that devilish professor?
"There's glory in hardship and suffering. I, a Legion Commander of the Empire, forgot the words of the Great War Hero. As family head and Imperial Army commander, I've grown complacent in peace."
Father? Um, Father? Your battered daughter is right here—how can you say that?
"Keep up the good work ahead."
Fatherrrr?!
"Yuglasia will live up to your expectations, milord."
And from this day, fewer and fewer students tried escaping Night Self-Study, ushering in what students later called the Age of Despair.