Chapter 5: Academy Life Isn't Easy (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 5: Academy Life Isn't Easy (1)
The Principal’s Office of Joaquin Academy.
Siegfried and Medea sat across a table from each other, lost in thought regarding a certain boy.
“Ha, I’ve been the principal for nearly twenty years, but I’ve never seen a case like this.”
“…….”
Medea let out a deep sigh and pressed her fingers against her temples.
‘I refuse.’
That had been Kang Geomma’s immediate response the moment she offered him a spot in the Star Class, the highest-ranking tier.
It was a celestial class, so difficult to get into that people said being assigned there was like plucking stars from the sky. It was unprecedented for a special admission student to be placed there. Furthermore, Kang Geomma had flatly rejected the honor of delivering the valedictorian’s oath.
Medea recalled the expression she had seen in the hospital room. A boy with black hair and a cheeky way of speaking. A boy who didn't even flinch in the presence of the Seven Stars.
The academy elders, who had been throwing fits when Kang Geomma was declared the top scorer, were silenced the moment they saw the sashimi knife flashing in the video.
The swordplay he displayed had delivered a stinging shock to her—one of the Seven Stars—the likes of which she hadn't felt in half a century.
Medea shook off her thoughts and turned toward the Sword Emperor.
“Hey, Sieg.”
“…….”
“Honestly, isn't our Geomma just so cool?”
“Our Geomma?”
“Even those academy geezers were squawking at first, but they eventually acknowledged him after seeing the exam footage. Are you really that upset that Geomma took the top spot instead of your granddaughter?”
The Sword Emperor narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased.
“There is nothing more foolish than questioning the grading of a subspace imbued with the will of the Hero of the Origin. The academy designated him as the top scorer, and we simply follow that. It is just…”
Sword Emperor Siegfried trailed off, letting out a low hum of contemplation.
‘Kang Geomma.’
If his technique had been superior, he would have understood.
If his physical body had been superior, he would have accepted it.
If his experience had been superior, he would have nodded in agreement.
But the sword shown by that boy, who hadn't even reached twenty…
It was a movement that seemed to manifest the very concept of ‘cutting.’
It was the realm of enlightenment through the sword that Siegfried himself had pursued his entire life.
However, there was a sense of dissonance he felt when he had cleared the boy’s blocked pressure points.
His soft body, which seemed to have completely ignored physical conditioning, was a wreck—as if it were housing something it was never meant to contain.
Was it a coincidence? A part of him wanted to deny it, but he suppressed the urge.
To feel a sense of rivalry at his age? And toward a boy the same age as his own granddaughter, no less.
The unformed thoughts swirling inside him felt as uncomfortable as a fishbone stuck in his throat.
The one who snapped him out of his reverie was Medea, who was slumped over and muttering to herself.
“He has such a pretty face, too… and the way he cut down those enemies to save a girl in danger was just… If I were only ten years younger… No, is it still possible even now? Hey, you old fogey, what do you think!?”
Medea squeezed her thighs together and swallowed hard. The Sword Emperor grimaced and shook his head.
“Do you know what college students these days call women like you?”
“Are you on Sungstagram now? Why have you been talking about college students this and college students that since earlier?”
Only then did Medea sit up straight, squaring her shoulders.
“Fine, let’s hear what that noble mouth of yours has to say. What do they call someone like me?”
“A bitch.”
That day, Siegfried, the strongest man in humanity, suffered a scratch on his face for the first time in half a century—delivered by that very ‘bitch.’
* * *
Thanks to Principal Medea’s influence, I was able to rest for two more days. She said something about how you have to take care of your body while you're young.
She seemed like a flighty woman, but her mindset as an educator was solid. She had a good balance of consideration for her students and rationality.
⌜⎯Wolf⎯⌟
I saw the classroom sign in front of me.
I had turned down Medea’s tempting offer to send me to the Star Class and insisted on the Tiger Class until the end, but we eventually compromised, and I was assigned to the Wolf Class.
In exchange, she agreed to keep the fact that I was the top of the class and the events of the exam a secret. I didn't want to get caught up in unnecessary controversy, so I accepted immediately after a brief moment of thought.
My main goal was to graduate peacefully in a lower-tier class rather than fighting tooth and nail in the high-ranking ones. This was still within my expected range.
“Whew.”
I gently opened the door. I even held my breath to make sure it didn't make a sound.
Unlike the building’s exterior, which had a charming Gothic vibe, the interior was modern and clean. Starting with a green chalkboard, rows of long desks stretched back.
I saw students chatting amiably with one another.
As I shuffled into the classroom, several pairs of eyes looked down at me dismissively. The students glanced at the color of my name tag once and then naturally went back to their conversations. It was as if I didn't exist to begin with.
I was being ignored, plain and simple. But I wasn't flustered. I would just return the favor. A loner has his own way of living, after all.
While wondering where to sit, I noticed an empty spot in the corner of the very last row.
‘Oh, should I sit there?’
I imagined myself sitting in the back, gazing wistfully out the window while soaking in the spring sunlight.
‘…….’
Stop acting like a protagonist and just sit down.
I took a seat around the middle of the third row. After relaxing my stiff shoulders, I looked out the window.
I saw a pair of canaries whispering sweet nothings on a tree branch. I was staring blankly at the birds' mating ritual when—
Knock, knock.
A cautious tapping sound on my desk.
I turned my head to see a female student looking at me, hesitating to speak.
“…U-Um.”
She was a small girl with reddish-brown wavy hair and a puppy-like face. She had a fluffy, cute impression, still retaining a bit of her childhood innocence.
The moment our eyes met, she let out a tiny squeak, turned red, and whipped her head away.
“…….”
“…….”
After a few minutes of awkward silence, I decided to speak first.
“Is something wrong?”
She spoke in a voice that was barely audible.
“Thank you… for the exam…….”
The mention of the exam brought it back to me. She was the girl who almost got turned into mincemeat by those psycho twins.
“Ah, that time.”
“…Yes.”
But why was she using formal speech with someone the same age?
When I looked at her with wide eyes, she glanced at me and then turned to stare at the wall. She seemed incredibly shy.
“Don't mention it. Anyone would have done the same.”
At the time, I had drawn my weapon subconsciously. I couldn't say I didn't have even a faint desire to help the girl in front of me, but in the end, I did it to save myself.
Though it resulted in her being saved, the lines I had spat out were full of hypocrisy. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“N-No! I was… truly grateful!”
When I gave a bitter smile, the girl shook her head and spoke. The sight was quite cute, and a pleasant ‘dad smile’ inadvertently formed on my lips.
“Come to think of it, we haven't introduced ourselves. I’m Kang Geomma.”
“My name is Chloe…….”
“Nice to meet you, Chloe. I didn't know we’d be in the same class.”
“Ah, nice to meet you too……!”
The girl also told me her name in a small, receding voice.
It wasn't a name I recognized. Since I had played through the middle of the game’s story, not knowing the name meant one of two things: she was an extra like me, or she was a character who appeared in the later stages.
After a moment of thought, I dismissed the latter.
The main content of the latter half of Miracle Blessing M was the battle against demons. The appearance of such a small, frail girl at that point would be too random. Plus, she had the ‘polite speech’ trope common to side characters.
‘She’s an extra like me.’
Feeling a sense of kinship, I gave a broad grin.
“Ah, right. Could you keep what happened during the exam a secret?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. Of course.”
Chloe nodded slightly without asking why.
“…Um, if it’s not too much trouble.”
Just as Chloe was hesitating to say something—
Slide—
The classroom door opened.
“Everyone, take your seats!”
A booming shout announcing the start of class echoed off the walls.
‘Let’s talk later.’
I mouthed the words silently to Chloe.
She gave a small nod and went to her seat.
“First of all, congratulations on your admission. You are here because you were chosen as those who will carry on the will of the noble Hero of the Origin, Balor Joaquin. Take pride in that.”
A burly, bald instructor scanned the faces as if trying to memorize them. His gaze lingered on me for a moment, and a slight smirk played on his lips before he turned sharply and grabbed a piece of chalk.
“I’m late with the introductions. I am Lee Won-bin, the lead instructor for the Wolf Class, and I will be in charge of you for the next year.”
The instructor, who shared a name with a famous handsome actor despite his looks, let out a satisfied chuckle.
“Since today is the first day, there will be no lectures. Instead, we will have simple physical training, so change into your gear and gather at the training grounds in 30 minutes. You may ask questions if you have any.”
A male student with a piercing raised his hand high.
“What is the training menu, Instructor?”
“It’s simple. 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and then just 10 laps around the training grounds.”
My jaw, which I had been resting on my hand, slipped.
A few students whispered, “That’s a piece of cake.”
Wait, isn't this training menu a blatant attempt by the instructor to turn the cadets bald? It was clear he wanted to make these bright young people bald just because he was.
“If there are no more questions, change and gather at the location. Dismissed.”
While the students filed out toward the locker rooms, I slipped over to the instructor.
“…Um, Instructor.”
“What is it, Cadet Kang Geomma?”
‘How does he know my name?’
But that wasn't the important thing right now.
“My body is a bit……”
“Hmm.”
The instructor’s eyes narrowed, and an ominous smile appeared on his face.
“Indeed, a student of your caliber—the top scorer—wouldn't even be warmed up by a menu like this. Isn't that right!? Then how about you train with the Star Class for the first day? The Principal instructed that Cadet Kang Geomma be allowed to attend classes in any tier.”
…That lecherous demon of a principal.
“No, Instructor. Now that I think about it, I just really needed to use the restroom. I was feeling a bit stiff, and I’m amazed at how perfectly you timed this workout. I can only marvel at your insight, haha.”
Pleased with my reaction, the instructor let out a boisterous laugh and slapped me on the back.
“As expected of the top scorer, you’re quite refreshing! Right, hurry up and change. I’ll see you at the training grounds.”
I gave a vigorous “Yes!” and then walked away with heavy steps.
* * *
“Son of a— gasp—bitch.”
Curses tumbled out of my mouth.
“One, two, three, four. Hey, I see those legs shaking. Move it, move it! Do it!”
“““““Do it!”””””
The cadets ran across the terrifyingly vast training grounds, following the instructor.
Some of the boys looked like they were having the time of their lives, while girls laughed and chased after them, some even chatting as they ran.
“Please……”
I felt like I was going to die. No, I was dying.
The momentum of the run shook my stomach, and I could feel the sour sting of stomach acid in my throat.
I finally understood what people meant when they said the sky turned yellow. It was the moment I realized that when my insides turned yellow, the whole world looked that way too.
As I fell behind, Chloe caught up to me.
“Huff, huff—”
“…Is it very hard? You don't look well.”
I managed to catch my breath just enough to turn my head.
“Huff, huff, I’m fine.”
“What lap are you on, Geomma?”
“Maybe my fifth? What about you, Chloe? You seemed to be coming from way behind……”
“…I’m on my ninth lap.”
“Huh?”
“Keep it up, just a little more!”
Chloe cheered me on with her hands clasped to her chest and then sprinted back to the front.
“…….”
Despite her small stature, her feet were as quick and nimble as a flying squirrel.