Chapter 126
Translator: uly
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Graduation Class Hunting Season (3)
Once graduation class hunting season began, the third-years entered a state of emergency.
They had to flee from seniors who might ambush them at any moment.
They couldn't skip classes, so during this period, more students kept a sharp eye on their surroundings, staying vigilant.
However, the seniors' surprise attacks, with no fixed location or time, gradually claimed victims.
"Kyaaah! Pietro!!"
"Angela!!!"
"Heh, heh heh! Y-you there! Come here and recite the formula for mana consumption variation in wind magic due to atmospheric pressure differences!!"
A graduate student had cornered a couple in a shadowy alley.
The man couldn't bring himself to answer in front of his fiancée, with whom he'd promised marriage after returning to his family post-graduation.
But seeing the staff inching closer to his lover's throat, he finally squeezed his eyes shut and spoke.
"B-based on standard conditions, in a three-dimensional coordinate system, mana consumption increases per atmosphere according to Cuenhoff's principle. However, due to the wind pressure from the first cast, the mana accumulation capacity within Fraum Mobile rises, so it doesn't exceed three times the base..."
"No, Pietro!"
"Spot on!!"
The graduate student scooped the man up with a giant net the moment he nailed the answer and instantly cast the spell.
"Pietrrooo—!"
When they met again, he would no longer be the man she loved.
Only his fiancée's scream echoed through the dark alley, left alone.
During this time, third-years disguised themselves by scavenging green and blue capes from first- and second-years to hide their identities.
This inevitably spread the damage, except to knight department students whose builds gave them away.
That said, there were cases where graduate students targeted non-third-years only to get outmaneuvered instead.
"How does a second-year perfectly recite Verdun's Lesion Orbit Theorem...!"
"We've learned it since first year."
"Th-that's the one we prep early because even three years of study isn't enough to grasp it!!"
"I get it, though. Anyway, please be quiet in the library."
"Urgh...!!"
A man screamed and fled at Liv's single remark.
These were people who'd failed to graduate and stayed at the academy—hardly on the level of the geniuses the magic tower desperately recruited.
On the flip side, some tried sweet-talking seemingly naive students—
"Hey, tell me what the Triorigin is!"
"Dunno."
"What...? It's almost the end of the year, and you still...?"
"Forgot."
With no payoff and professors' footsteps approaching, they bolted.
Caroline, back from Skandal and witnessing it all, was gripped by profound regret.
"Idiots..."
Was this really the kingdom's top educational institution?
From the chairman on down, not a single person with a shred of sanity in sight.
'No, there's exactly one.'
Not a student, but Louis must be thinking the same.
She was certain, from the look he'd given Adella Sylvestra de Roshiar when leaving for Skandal.
Rumor had it the canteen had been here since the academy's construction—how had he endured this madness?
"I wanna drop out."
Pharenchia Academy's administration advised students to move in groups of three.
Graduate students craving new slaves clashed frequently with third-years desperate to graduate.
Of course, the uproar was seasonal, and with Lehel Darad back and furious, a suppression team formed swiftly.
Late evening after regular classes ended.
Professors led the academy guards and priests from the Temple of Light in assembly.
I'd notified Lehel Darad of my intent to join the sewer suppression op out of worry for Darling.
I'd left the canteen to Adella, who'd been released.
In front of the barricaded building.
Professor Marco briefed everyone at the sewer entrance.
"We've secured a map of the sewers from the royal library, but security redactions leave many gaps. Even against graduate students, getting lost and attacked from all sides is dangerous—stick with your teams."
"Any word on why the students are acting up?"
"Nothing confirmed yet. We'll find out once we round them up. Professors, pair with one priest and one guard knight, and prepare."
Mage, knight, priest trio.
Solid front and back lines, plus mental contamination cures—quite the luxurious party.
Assigned to guards, I planned to join whoever had an opening.
But unexpectedly, one professor waved at me first.
"Ah, Louis! Heading into the sewers?"
"Professor Roilen."
The one I'd given the metallurgy wand to before—mainly handled first-years.
Roilen Sigmund.
Young among academy professors, popular for her bright smile and friendliness.
"Yes, worried about the students."
"Aww, really? How thoughtful~. Join my team then?"
Even looking out for a canteen owner like me.
She was definitely a good person.
"Sure."
"Great! Just need a priest now. Hmm... Ah! Vice Bishop Fernen!"
The priest who'd helped purify students' mental contamination during the student council election approached at her call.
As Erzebet said, he'd long maintained good ties with Penheim independent of the Holy Kingdom, so I had no complaints.
"You called, Professor Roilen?"
"Yes. Care to join us in the sewers?"
"Haha, an honor. Seeing renowned academy professors' magic up close..."
But as he stepped forward to join, someone yanked his nape.
Simultaneously, a bolt from the clear sky struck with a crackle, scorching the ground black.
"What in the...?"
"Fuck, knew it'd happen again."
Caroline had spotted me from afar, raced over, and saved Fernen just before the lightning.
She sighed in relief, cursed the sky a few times, then stood before Roilen.
"I'll go."
"Huh? The saintess?"
"Problem?"
"No, no! You attended the last briefing and helped—we'd be grateful. But as a student, you don't have to... I was just curious why."
"Well..."
A small kick hit my shin.
I frowned—what's this?—but Caroline just sighed deeply and muttered.
"Just do what you're told..."
The barricade-broken building was the staff cafeteria.
Good for resupplying ingredients, and crucially, it had the largest-diameter sewer entrance—perfect for flushing water(?).
Below the dark earth, an endless cylindrical passage.
The academy grounds were vast; searching everywhere would take forever, but luckily, we had a truckload of mages.
Professors scattered to scout.
At Roilen's blue bird magic crossing the black tunnel, Louis and Caroline moved out.
Talkative and cheerful, she splashed through filthy water while chatting away.
Handling mostly first-years, her connection to Louis was one student.
"Adella's been so focused and polite in class lately. Total change from semester start. She has missed some recently, though..."
"Is that so?"
"Yes! Over break, the broadcasting club flipped when she showed up at the library. You hired her at the canteen before, right? Must've been nice~."
"Thinking of rehiring her after this."
Caroline, a step behind their calm talk, brimmed with unease and irritation.
This was a combat zone.
Anything could happen, and another divine revelation like before could spell disaster.
No room for dulling senses.
"Ah, hold on. Something ahead."
Roilen slowed, eyes closed; Caroline whispered to Louis under her white light orb, ruby eyes gleaming.
"Hey, stick closer to me."
"Why?"
"Stay away from that woman. Over here. Before something happens."
Did he not get it? He smirked and leaned in.
"You scared?"
"What...?"
"Of the dark? Makes sense. I sometimes can't sleep if it's too dark."
"Wh-what kinda idiot talk...!"
Scared of the dark?
Bloodletter Inquisitors smashed foes in Helzev's sunless evil temples.
The order's elite fought by self-hypnosis to excise fear.
Ridiculous—but Caroline figured this excuse might work.
That blonde professor chattering at Louis clearly had eyes for him.
"Sigh... Fine. Scared, so stay here. Happy?"
"Should've said so. Here."
"Huh?"
She hadn't expected him to grab her hand.
"Wh-what are you...!"
"No need to thank me. I was like that too. Hands shook nonstop in battle. A comrade did this."
They'd bonded over it before, but not chit-chat for this situation.
Yet the warm fingers intertwined sapped her focus.
Her heartbeat quickened.
From their first meeting to now.
Every single thing.
Just nearing Louis triggered endless revelations, blurring her own feelings.
Even just holding hands made her dizzy.
As she snapped to and tried to pull away—
"No need...!"
"Danger!!"
Roilen's sharp cry rang out, eyes open.
Booom—!!
A black arrow hurtled at Louis's head and exploded.