Chapter 137: The Start of the Second Semester (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 137: The Start of the Second Semester (1)
"Whew."
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
The scent of the room drifted straight into my nose. It felt a bit awkward after being away for so long, but I quickly grew accustomed to it.
Slowly, I opened my eyes. A single, cramped room came into view.
"I'm back."
The dormitory room was as quiet and peaceful as ever.
It lacked the sheer luxury of the hotel room I had stayed in during the Undead Dungeon expedition. Yet, this humble little room felt far more comforting to me.
I shoved my suitcase into a corner and stripped off the clothes I had been wearing for nearly eighteen hours straight.
From Switzerland to South Korea, and then from Incheon Airport to Joaquin Academy. It had been an incredibly long journey.
I hadn't noticed it at the start of the break because of the excitement, but flying really takes it out of you.
They don't call it travel fatigue for nothing.
Right before washing up, I collapsed onto the bed. I had missed the rough, rustling texture of the sheets.
I felt giddy, as if I had returned to my childhood home. Come to think of it, my very first break had been extraordinary in more ways than one.
...
Staring at the ceiling for a long while, my eyelids felt heavy, threatening to close on their own. It wouldn't really matter if I just fell asleep like this, but I forced myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
"Let's wash up and go for a walk."
Ssssshhhh.
As the powerful stream of water hit me, I organized my thoughts and future plans. The water pressure at Castle Sigurd had been as pathetic as a trickle of urine, so this finally felt like a proper shower.
The break really vanished in the blink of an eye.
My training with the Sword Emperor, the Undead Dungeon, the Sword Saint's Longing. Every single one of them had been a major event.
Though I had crossed the line between life and death multiple times, there had been unexpected harvests.
Namely, the "Immortal Magic Stone," the "Elevation of the Rank of Blessing of Regeneration," and the "Memory Fragments of 【???】."
Therefore, now was the time to review everything.
Moreover, the second semester was starting in just a few days.
Looking at it from another perspective, there were only two and a half years left before the war. The dark clouds were drawing near.
Having subjugated both Agor and Draugr, it was difficult for me to simply stand by and watch the massive upheaval that would be the 2nd Human-Demon War. The demons were formidable foes far beyond anything I had anticipated.
Especially the Demon King's Army Corps Commanders. In the game, a single one of them was described as being equivalent to an entire nation. In reality, that was no exaggeration.
Even the 5th Corps Commander, Agor of Flame, had been an absolute calamity.
Then what about the 4th Corps Commander Permush of Earth, the 3rd Corps Commander Vesna of Water, and the 2nd Corps Commander Kuarne of Sky?
Given that the Corps Commanders grew stronger the lower their number, those demons were bound to be transcendent monsters.
And on top of that, the final boss, the Demon King... It was a ridiculously unfair lineup.
The only saving grace was that the passage between the Demon Realm Gehenna and the human world was currently sealed, but there were only two and a half years left before it ruptured.
In short, we were fucked.
It was a stroke of luck that the Hero of the Origin had sealed the 1st Corps Commander, Lycan of Lightning. If even Lycan were active, I wouldn't see a shred of hope.
It was too much to expect Leon to shoulder the fate of the entire world—at least, in my estimation.
That was why we had to prepare for the impending doom. At this rate, humanity would be completely wiped from the face of this world.
There were three main things I needed to do.
First, securing magic stones. However, since I had already obtained one, there was no need to rush.
Although there were still two left, it wouldn't be too late to make a decision after checking the special abilities of the "Immortal Magic Stone."
Still, I should harvest materials from magical beasts along the way to upgrade my armaments.
Second, preparing to become the next Seven Stars. I was the successor who would fill the vacancy left by the Sword Emperor. That was the very reason I had gone to Switzerland.
Of course, there was no telling when the time would come, but I couldn't just sit idly by. There was a high probability I would get tangled up with people far more annoying than the demons.
I would have to deal with the unwanted attention of the so-called higher-ups, the nobility, the Association, and the media.
Monsters could simply be sliced to pieces, but you couldn't do that to humans... It made me realize once again how convenient a simple show of force could be.
But I still had some time for this part. According to the Sword Emperor, there was at least half a year left.
Then again, it would be strange if the succession of a new Seven Stars happened in just a month or two. Even presidential elections took several months.
"...In that case."
Finally, the third task: finding artifacts. It was a goal I had only recently established, but it was perhaps the most significant.
Since the system had explicitly told me to find the artifact "Monolith," it was only right to make it my top priority.
I'm not thrilled about being dragged around by the system, though...
Fortunately, rumors were circulating that the Association would begin intervening in the Academy starting from the second semester.
And most of the artifacts were under the management of the Hero Association.
If things went well, wouldn't I be able to gain access to the artifacts? Of course, it wouldn't be easy, but when had things ever been smooth sailing for me?
Compared to fighting enemies with my life on the line, a treasure hunt was nothing... Above all, this kind of task would be much easier if I worked together with my club members.
After finishing my shower, I dried myself off and made up my mind. Then, as I put on my clothes, I muttered to myself,
"I wonder if the club members had a good break."
We had been stuck together for months, yet I hadn't been able to contact them once over the past few weeks. I hadn't realized the Nibelung Estate would be completely out of cellular range. I had spent a month living like a wild man, cut off from civilization.
As a result, I had absolutely no news about the club members. Still, no news was good news, so they were probably doing fine.
However, Ryozo weighed heavily on my mind. Her expression had been incredibly dark around the time of the closing ceremony.
I zipped my tracksuit all the way up to my chin. Then, I grabbed my sashimi knife. It was an essential item for a night walk.
* * *
Kang Geomma's footsteps naturally led him toward his usual bench.
He had tried to expand his range of activity, but in the end, he always ended up back at his familiar spots.
Perhaps this was how elderly people felt when they only visited their favorite restaurants. Besides, the Academy was so vast that he still hadn't fully grasped its geography.
...After wandering around aimlessly for a few minutes, he finally approached his usual bench.
However, someone had already claimed the spot. It was Saki Ryozo, with her elegant, jade-tinted sky-blue hair.
"Oh, what? Ryozo, you're back at the Academy already?"
"..."
Even though he greeted her warmly, Ryozo didn't answer. She narrowed her eyes and glared at Kang Geomma. Then, she let out a huff, turning her nose up at him.
What's with her?
It was a cold reaction for a friend she hadn't seen in a month. A chilly night breeze seemed to settle between them.
As Kang Geomma stood there blankly, Ryozo spoke up indifferently.
"What are you doing standing there like an idiot? Didn't you come here to sit on this bench? If you're here, just sit."
"...Uh. Right."
She gestured to the space beside her with her eyes. Kang Geomma nodded hesitantly.
Sitting down beside her, Kang Geomma asked,
"By the way, when did you get back to the Academy? There are still about five days left before the semester starts."
"..."
Without a word, Ryozo took a sip from the tumbler in her hand. Then, furrowing her pretty brow, she stuck her tongue out halfway.
Whatever the contents were, they clearly didn't suit her taste. Taking a moment to catch her breath, Ryozo replied curtly,
"I didn't leave."
"...?"
"I didn't go back to Japan. I stayed at the Academy the whole time."
"You didn't go home even though it was summer break?"
At that, Ryozo looked at Kang Geomma as if he were being absurd.
"I was supposed to go, but I didn't. The reason? Simple. I didn't want to. Besides, it's not like anyone would welcome me back anyway."
Ryozo spoke in a lowered voice. Her tone was dry, as if she were suppressing her emotions.
"Geomma, you must have noticed to some extent. I hate my family—the place people call the Archery Saint Family. No, I loathe it. It makes my skin crawl."
"..."
"It's not a very pleasant story, so let's leave it at that. Anyway... how was America?"
At the mention of "America," Kang Geomma was momentarily flustered.
Ah, right. When the reporters asked where I was going, I told them I was going to America.
It had been a lie thrown out to obscure his whereabouts during the break.
"...Well, America was..."
"Forget it. Geomma, you must have had your reasons. If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to."
"Weren't you curious?"
"I am curious. But everyone has their own circumstances. You didn't pry into why I hate my family either, did you? Just because I'm curious doesn't mean you're obligated to answer."
"..."
Ryozo brought the tumbler to her lips with a pout. But once again, her face contorted in disgust.
"Ugh. Why do you and everyone else drink this bitter stuff? It's literally poison."
"What have you been drinking this whole time?"
"Coffee."
"Coffee? Ryozo, you're drinking coffee?"
Kang Geomma was genuinely shocked. Ryozo, who usually lived on sweet things like yanggaeng, was drinking coffee.
"Is it really that shocking? It's just... all the adults seem to drink coffee, so I thought I'd try it. But seriously, do you and everyone else actually drink this because it tastes good? It's just bitter enough to sting my tongue. And you even drink straight espresso shots."
"..."
The only reason Kang Geomma insisted on espresso was purely because he had no money.
After venting her complaints, Ryozo quickly pulled out some yanggaeng and took a bite. Only then did she begin to melt, chewing contentedly. Her expression was like that of a Korean eating kimchi after consuming greasy food.
The awkward atmosphere softened considerably. The night deepened. In the slightly cooled air, insects chirped weakly.
"..."
"..."
Since there were still five days left of the break, it was even quieter than usual. As the silence stretched between them, Ryozo grumbled softly.
"...But seriously, how could you not contact me even once for a whole month?"
Kang Geomma tried his best to pretend he hadn't heard. His senses were extraordinarily sharp. Based on his past experience of responding to her self-mutterings, he knew it was best to let it go in one ear and out the other—
"Hey! I was asking you! Are you ignoring me?!"
"You were talking to yourself."
"Who talks to themselves so obviously?! And seriously, if someone sends you a message, it's basic manners to reply. No matter how busy you were, not a single reply for an entire month?!"
"I was in a place with no reception."
"A place with no reception in the 21st century? Hmm... well, I guess America is pretty huge."
Ryozo let out a deep sigh, indicating she understood. She stood up from the bench and patted the dust off her clothes.
"I should get going. Looking at you, it seems like you just got back today. Go inside and get some rest..."
A flicker of lingering regret crossed Ryozo's face. However, as if her business was done, she turned around without hesitation.
"Ryozo."
Watching her walk away, Kang Geomma suddenly called out to her. Her shoulders flinched.
"It was good to see you after so long. The semester starts in a few days, so I'll see you then."
Ryozo stood still, looking slightly dazed. She peeked over her shoulder to look back at him.
"..."
Kang Geomma waved his hand with a casual smile. As if his words of welcome were genuine, he grinned widely, showing his teeth.
At his innocent reaction, Ryozo's cheeks puffed up. It was frustrating. This clueless blockhead didn't seem to have the slightest clue that this meeting was no coincidence.
He didn't even wonder why she was sitting on this specific bench at this hour, or why she kept sipping coffee that clearly didn't suit her taste.
He didn't show even a hint of curiosity.
Thinking of this, her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. Her mouth felt far more bitter than it had from the coffee.
Glancing sideways at Kang Geomma, she muttered a single word.