Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: 10. I Came, I Saw, I Won (2)
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#2 Their Circumstances: Some Student Council President's Circumstances.
A massive hall in Yuglasia Academy that was several times larger than the grand auditorium.
It was filled with all sorts of ornate decorations and exquisite delicacies from land and sea.
"Mmm. This is delicious."
"Yeah, the wine's top-shelf too."
And we, the stars of this hall today, were wandering around, hunting down and devouring the food.
"Hey, but why does this delicious meat taste worse than those sandwiches I hunted down during break?"
"Hey, Riseng. Is that something you say out loud? You found them and ate them alone, so of course they tasted good!"
"Right, yeah. But didn't sharing bites make them pretty tasty too?"
"Totally. I sometimes crave them and go buy sandwiches from that shop, but they never taste the same."
But the flashy decorations and furniture, the mountain of delicacies.
Even the distinguished guests who had come to meet us.
None of it satisfied our hearts.
"Damn, this is boring."
"Yeah, let's just get the Imperial Tournament started already. They always do this stuff on the last day anyway."
"Nah, they go even bigger then. Like, 'it's the finale, blow the whole budget' vibes."
"Yeah, yeah. Not really in the mood right now anyway."
"""""Until we win.""""""
Exactly. Our goal was victory in the Imperial Tournament.
And not just any win—a crushing, historically legendary triumph for the empire's records.
Anything less, and hell awaited us.
"Hmm, it's been a while, Nerkia."
As I moistened my throat with some low-alcohol wine, impatiently awaiting tomorrow, someone approached me.
"Grand Duke Jear."
One of the empire's two pillars.
The head of the Jear Grand Ducal House, alongside the Raina Grand Ducal House.
But more importantly, this Grand Duke Jear was once part of Arsia's golden generation and was overseeing this Imperial Tournament.
In a way, our enemy!
"The students of this year's Yuglasia give off a strange vibe."
I accepted his outstretched hand for a shake, and the probing began immediately.
Hmph, typical Arsia alum.
They've probably rigged the matches to subtly favor Arsia.
But Professor Niserwin said luck is part of skill.
And if luck counts as skill, then school ties, regional ties, blood ties should too!
The world runs on that stuff anyway, so if you're bitter, climb the ranks and build your own faction—that lesson was still burned into my memory!
Right—don't whine about Arsia getting grand ducal favor; make it so their kids want to join Yuglasia next year by clinching a flawless win here!
It'd be unfair—er, a massive loss to the empire—if only I endured this hellish—er, elite—training!
"There have been many changes at Yuglasia this year. Our students' skills have improved as a result."
Thinking of our transformed academy life, my mana flow flickered for a moment.
Huh? Cold sweat on my handshake hand? The grand duke pulled away his slightly damp palm.
Damn, my mistake.
"Sorry, I got lost in thoughts of academy life and..."
"Th-that grueling, was it?"
Gruelling? Could words capture it? We'd have rather fought the king of hell!
"Don't students grow by overcoming trials?"
Of course, we never wanted those trials.
They say heroes rise above trials and hardships to a happy ending.
But we learned through our own ordeals.
Without hardships and trials, you're already happy, right?
We realized, at great cost, that doing nothing and gaining nothing beats sacrificing everything for some hard-won prize.
If I could meet past-me, I'd scream not to revive Yuglasia—just don't bring Professor Niserwin! Too late now.
"Looks like it was rough."
"No, Your Grace. How can we turn back time? I just want to tell anyone thinking of joining Yuglasia next year: don't."
But human greed is endless, doomed to repeat mistakes.
Foolish moths drawn to our win will flock to Yuglasia anyway.
No skin off my back!
"I see..."
I waited as the grand duke pondered.
Taking awfully long, though? What's up?
Ah! Strategic stall, maybe?
It's normal for the organizer—especially the grand duke—to greet student presidents, but normal students would buckle under the pressure from this sky-high noble.
I'd faced death's terror multiple times, so it didn't faze me, but last year's me would've trembled, paranoid about screwing up.
He's faking deep thought to exploit that.
Classic Arsia!
Assume the whole battlefield's enemy territory.
"Sorry, I've held you too long."
"No, Your Grace."
Did he realize I'd clocked his ploy?
He retreated with an awkward look. I gave a slight bow, but inwardly:
'Yeah, squirm all you want! Victory's ours anyway!'
Conviction in our win.
#3 Their Circumstances: Some Organizer's Circumstances.
The Imperial Tournament's hottest draws? Swordsmanship tourneys drawing empire-wide elites, and clashes between Empire's Four Great Prestigious Academies students.
As this tournament's overseer, I attended the pre-tournament party to see all the students at once, exchanging brief greetings with each academy's student president.
Encouragement for my Arsia juniors, courage for Marsis challengers.
Even kind words for Mercaria, despite their mismatch for the event—urging them to do their best.
Then, heading to Yuglasia's student president...
'Wh-what?'
Before grand duke status, as one of the empire's prized swordmasters with countless battles under my belt, even I halted.
This space reeked of alien vibes.
Tournament rivals usually stuck with their own academy mates, barring close friends.
So these kids were likely Yuglasia—and that rumor's-only academy didn't match this aura.
It was the bloodlust and valor fused from battle-hardened troops who'd crossed countless fields and had more ahead.
Could a Yuglasia on the brink of expulsion from the Four Greats emit this?
"F-First, meet their student president."
Rumors said legendary summoner Professor Niserwin drove massive reforms, but student councils around the president really shaped things.
"Hmm, it's been a while, Nerkia."
My hunch was spot-on.
"Grand Duke Jear."
Last year, at Raina Grand Duke's closing ceremony, Yuglasia's president looked nothing like this.
They'd exceeded expectations against stronger Arsia and Marsis—memorable to me—but paled next to now.
"This year's Yuglasia students give off a strange vibe."
He extended his hand without hesitation for the shake.
Not your typical low noble's kid reaction.
Even Arsia's upper-noble president trembled gripping my hand.
But Yuglasia's president? No flinch, just poised courtesy and a smile.
"There have been many changes at Yuglasia this year. Our students' skills have improved as a result."
The smile matched, but the aura didn't.
A momentary mana surge like the old emperor's霸道霸气.
My hand slicked with sweat from a mere student's presence.
"Sorry, I got lost in thoughts of academy life and..."
Covering my slip gracefully?
He apologized calmly.
"Th-that grueling, was it?"
I stammered uncharacteristically in fluster; he seemed unbothered.
"Don't students grow by overcoming trials?"
The air shifted instantly.
His words unleashed every nearby Yuglasia student's mana, savagely crushing the space!
Not for show.
Like a veteran's unconscious killing intent when foes who stole something dear come up.
Nearby parents startled; the kids stabilized their mana in surprise.
"Looks like it was rough."
"No, Your Grace. How can we turn back time? I just want to tell anyone thinking of joining Yuglasia next year: don't."
Yuglasia already had the Four Greats' lowest enrollment.
Even with Lady Retia and top nobles joining on Niserwin hype, no strong showing here could end them.
Wishing away future students? As president, pre-graduation, unthinkable.
"I see..."
Was Yuglasia that dire for him to say this?
Rumors might suggest so, but this aura screamed otherwise.
Had they forged this caliber in half a year?
Impossible for me to whip soldiers into this in half a year.
Students, no less—only Her Imperial Highness could manage that in the empire.
'Wait... no way!'
Chill racing down my spine.
Seeing the untouchable princess's shadow in these students!
"Sorry, I've held you too long."
Realizing I'd grilled one kid forever.
"No, Your Grace."
Even social nobles would tense here, but not him.
My farewell and encouragement led to one noble.
"Long time, Grand Duke Jear."
"No, Marquis Retia."
Father of Lady Retia—Yuglasia's change catalyst—and legion commander of one imperial legion.
He guarded the interior; I, the exterior. We chatted often, had rapport—straight to business.
"Heard your daughter joined Yuglasia."
"Yes."
"And became a god-tier summoner thanks to their training. Military sent heavy support too."
"Correct. Summoner legion vets became professors there."
"Yeah, retirees sure, but active duty? Stirred buzz in the ranks."
He nodded—Yuglasia intel seemed limited.
"So, besides god-tier summoner, did your daughter gain anything else?"
He'd know more, being her dad.
My casual probe hooked an unexpected reply.
"Gain...? Yes. I saw my daughter cry—first time since childhood."
"Lady Aris's tears?"
The tomboy icon of high society.
Everyone's future star knightswoman—crying?
"And she learned to surpass death at Yuglasia."
Wait, what?
"Surpass death?"
"Exactly. She thanks Professor Niserwin for safely teaching battlefield lessons in class."
I'd thought we clicked, but his words baffled.
"That's Yuglasia for you."
To the end, just vague insights on their "enlightenment" and legion prep—no answers.
"Can't make sense of it."
"Watch Yuglasia's matches starting tomorrow—you'll get it."
Curiosity piqued, I pressed more questions.
No dice.