Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: 9. Other People's Stories (1)
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# 77
#1 Their Circumstances: Some Students' Last Battle of the Year.
"You've worked hard."
Harian Professor smiled at his bowing disciple.
"Yeah... We lost..."
"As expected, the professors were strong."
"Heh heh... That doesn't sound right coming from students who took down those professors."
"You've worked hard all this time."
"Yeah, I think I've worked pretty hard too. So go on and win the championship now."
"Understood."
Chuckling, he turned his head and saw Professor Myuam floating like a corpse in the water he had summoned, with a silver devil beside him pounding away while chanting, "Live, live!"
"I didn't expect you'd contract with the Spirit King at the last moment."
"If we hadn't made that contract, we would've lost."
"Well, you did contract, so it's fine, right?"
Hearing a dignified Professor Myuam make a sound like "Kweeeek!" Harian Professor waved at Nerkia.
"Congrats on your first breakout. And this will be your last one, right?"
"Yes, I'll make sure this is my last breakout by winning it all."
"Good, good. Now hurry off. Even I don't want anyone else seeing what's about to happen next."
Watching the silver devil mutter, "Have I gone too far?" Harian Professor gave the students a benevolent smile.
"Understood."
As the students bowed once more and walked away, Harian Professor thought to himself.
'It really will be the last time, right?'
He couldn't endure it anymore, body or mind.
And how could he? The tiny creature unbinding its hands and grinning in front of him already filled him with dread for what was to come!
"Um... The students are all gone now. Can't we call it quits?"
"Hee hee, unnie-yam. Master said giving up is for counting cabbages. Not all the students have left the academy yet, have they-yam?"
Crack. Crack.
The tiny sounds from its finger joints rang like the knell of doom. Harian Professor paled and shouted.
"Um... I'm really at my limit here? Look at Myuam over there—he's down!"
At the tip of Harian Professor's finger was Professor Myuam, eyes wide open, mouth agape, repeating "Hee~" endlessly.
The blanking phenomenon that occurred when the blessing dwelling in Arcadia exceeded the body's accumulation limit!
Anyone who knew him would never believe this was the same person.
"No way-yam. Unnie can do it-yam!"
"I can't, I can't! Kyaaaaah!"
The horrific screams echoing through the first-floor corridor of Yuglasia Academy made the students wipe something from their eyes as they pressed forward.
"Over there..."
"No, don't look back. That would make the professors' sacrifice meaningless."
"But... it's too cruel!"
At one female student's tears, the others fell silent.
A moment of silence. Then, amid it, the clear crack-crack sounds.
As bodies remembered the terror and everyone began to tremble, Student Council President Nerkia shouted.
"We arrived here trampling countless bodies! And without a single straggler, we reached Avalon ahead on our own feet!"
Pointing at Avalon—the academy's main gate—Nerkia's words drew all eyes there.
"How hard did we work to get there? How much pain did we endure? With our reward right in front of us, what must we do now?"
The students fell silent at Nerkia's words.
"That is... to keep moving forward."
Breaking the silence filled only with crack-cracks and screams was Aris.
Biting her lip, Aris spoke clearly to Nerkia.
"No matter how pitiful they seem, no matter if we know their pain, they were our teachers and our enemies."
"Right. Enemies don't need mercy. And teachers even less so. We just grow from their sacrifice."
Most nodded at Nerkia and Aris's resolute expressions, but not all.
"No matter how you put it..."
"Then do you want to fight that devil?"
"Let's head out, to our Avalon!"
But at the Student Council President's follow-up, the head-shaking girl brightened and walked toward the main gate.
"Look! Feel it! And march down this path of victory! This is the result of our efforts, the road we carved with our strength! Use it to seize victory at the Imperial Tournament starting tomorrow!"
"Uoooooh!"
Like well-trained regular soldiers, the students advanced toward the academy gate in unison, shouting.
"Our victory!"
"Uoooooh!"
#2 Their Circumstances: Lia El Nermia's Circumstances.
Vacation began.
Despite countless temptations, anxiety about Yuglasia kept me training diligently at the villa, and I grew stronger for it.
Not as fast as during my organization days, but by normal standards—not the organization's—it was definitely beyond what a girl my age should achieve.
That confidence solidified as Student Council executive, with Imperial Tournament prep keeping me at the academy often.
'Nothing's changed...'
Sighing inwardly at the top-tier Student Council executives here at the academy.
Most imperial academies have nearly three-month vacations.
Three months twice a year—summer and winter—makes six months.
Half a school year's worth out of twelve.
Of four years as students, actual class time is two years.
Even then, subtracting everything else, how much real learning happens?
Is this academy life even meaningful?
Including trainee days, in under four years with the Evil Organization, did I learn even half of what they taught?
No, that one year-plus with the instructor probably taught more than four years here.
...Though if asked if I'd return to those days, I'd refuse.
Anyway, with the three-month summer break nearly over, the Student Council's "top talents" showed no progress.
Anyone above me, maybe—but these were far below.
No, the instructor would've called them trash and tossed them into a fire. Yet after three months, no change.
Are these really the empire's future?
I'd wondered in the organization—is the empire okay like this?
Not overflowing with patriotism, but as a citizen, it worried me.
"Is something wrong, Lady Nermia?"
"N-No. Nothing."
I barely stopped myself from yelling, "The problem is your level, you scrub!"
Damn. How is a guy who looks fresh out of trainee basic the Student Council President at the empire's top magic academy?
Was the organization that fell for the dumbest reason actually held to higher standards than I thought, since I wondered why it hadn't collapsed sooner?
-It's because that person lived there, right, Master?
-Yeah... If the instructor were here, it'd be different.
If the instructor were here, what then?
Would he elevate the academy to the top with unimaginable theories?
Or turn even these people useful with hellish training?
One thing's sure: Marsis wouldn't be rivals with Arsia.
It'd reign supreme among the Imperial Four Great Academies—nay, all continental academies.
If so.
"That's why this year is our chance to prove Marsis tops Arsia!"
He wouldn't spout crap like "With me here, Marsis is the best!"
Is every meeting just "Go out and sweep them"?
Interested in empire vs. magic tower politics, but not self-improvement?
Shouldn't there be talk of getting stronger to make Marsis number one?
"Anyway, with the Imperial Tournament tomorrow, let's wrap up for today."
"You've worked hard."
"You've worked hard, President!"
What did they even do to "wrap up"?
And what "hard work" are they thanking him for?
Magic tower faction clusters around their magic tower president.
Empire faction around their empire vice president.
Super suspicious.
Because...
"Um, Lady Nermia. If it's okay, I'd like to consult about tomorrow's Imperial Tournament..."
"No, I'll escort Lia. Ferel."
"Kyreil..."
Agh, so annoying.
Useless trash playing politics instead of training.
The president, fake-smiling farewells to magic tower students, approaches to bother me—just as the vice president swoops in from the other side.
"Ah, I still have training left today."
But both from count families—high nobility.
I'd love to blast them off and yell "Buzz off," but this isn't Evil Organization Howling.
Heaven compared to fighting comrades over meals, but can't just yeet annoyances—very frustrating.
So I plaster on noble smiles, haha-ho-ho-ing through, but today they won't leave.
"Tomorrow's the Imperial Tournament. I know you endlessly pursue magic, Lady, but how about resting today?"
"I hate agreeing with him, but this time I concur. Lia is Marsis's hidden ace—our greatest asset."
"With seniors here too, thanks for the high praise."
I curtsy slightly, and they shake heads, fawning.
Damn, wanna wear pants. Guys just nod!
"No, it's undeniable fact."
"Endlessly studying through break—model for Marsis students."
It's basic, not model.
Why so confident in that skill level?
Do they sleep easy?
Yuglasia makes their win chance look nil.
-They trust Master?
-Then they're crazy.
Instructor said: No strategy beats resource-based numerical violence.
In group vs. group, individuals are limited.
Even if I'm strong, stamina or mana runs out—I lose.
Mental recovery post-match is hardest.
And no usable Student Council support...
Forcing smiles, inwardly screaming "Get lost before I kill you"—they don't get it.
Dealing with the two clingy idiots, loosening up at the training grounds—sky darkened before I knew.
'Time to head back.'
Wiping neck sweat, debating academy shower or home bath—craved bath, so walked home.
"Our victory!"
"Uoooooh!"
"W-What?"
Sudden mad shouts.
Instantly grasped: Yuglasia.
The Imperial Four Great Academies are close, Marsis and Yuglasia separated by a mere wall—nearest city.
Homeward path passes Yuglasia automatically.
Realizing source, mana-boosted dash there: countless warriors.
Opposite of the slothful students I'd just seen using status as excuse!
What to do for uniforms—minor defense/clean spells—to rags?
Before that: How so many students voluntarily gathered this late?
Could I handle them all?
Reason unknown, watching tearful students exit—dry swallow unnoticed, I stared blankly.