Chapter 95: Joint Practical Evaluation (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 95: Joint Practical Evaluation (4)
Before the start of the joint practical evaluation.
Near the canyon, I pulled Kaya aside behind a large boulder to brief her on the situation.
I told her that individuals with significant mana were lying in wait throughout the exam site and that a demon would eventually make an appearance. Just in case, I asked her to finish the evaluation as quickly as possible so she could get into position where the demon was expected to emerge.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Kaya agreed.
“Also, I think we’ll need the power of your dark persona.”
“I’m sorry, Sir Isaac. But…”
A variable had surfaced.
Apparently, Dark Kaya had retreated deep within Kaya’s heart with no intention of coming out. The last words Dark Kaya left before she vanished were for Kaya to do her best on her own so she could earn Sir Isaac’s acknowledgment.
Why is this happening?
I was certain Dark Kaya would help… Did she step back for the sake of the original Kaya’s growth?
I don’t recall anything like this happening in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, though.
It was an ominous sign. Any change in Dark Kaya would inevitably reflect on Kaya herself. I carefully examined her for any issues.
Though Kaya’s face turned beet-red and she stiffened in embarrassment while I was inspecting her, I didn’t have the luxury of worrying about that.
“Kaya, have you noticed anything out of the ordinary with your body lately?”
“N-n-n-n-no, nothing! Ah, well, I have had a pretty big appetite lately… It feels like I can digest anything I eat.”
“…”
“…Um, have certain parts of my body become… more generous? Is that why you asked…?”
“I was just checking to see if you were unwell.”
In the first place, Kaya and her dark persona shared memories, emotions, and even senses. They were the same person, regardless of which personality was dominant.
As such, the fact that Kaya didn’t know why her dark persona had gone into hiding was a major concern.
…But worrying wouldn't change anything. The joint practical evaluation was about to begin. For now, I had to set aside unsolvable mysteries and focus on the problems right in front of me.
Clearing the fourth gate with only the original Kaya would be difficult. I had no choice but to recruit an ally, but…
The atmosphere is tense.
Currently.
Atop the limestone cliff where the fourth gate was located, Kaya was squinting at Lisetta with clear disdain.
I had already explained why I’d carried Lisetta in a princess carry—telling her I had no choice if I wanted to scale the cliff quickly—but Kaya remained unconvinced.
Suddenly, Kaya looked away from Lisetta and stared at me. Her usually puppy-like eyes were now brimming with sorrow.
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Wants to be princess-carried by you.]
…I’ll have to make it up to her the first chance I get.
“Hey.”
Suddenly, Lisetta cupped her hands around my ear and whispered.
Kaya’s face flushed as she grew flustered, waving her hands to dissuade us. “E-excuse me! That’s too close!”
Even though she was fidgeting anxiously, she couldn’t bring herself to physically interject for fear of being a bother. She just grumbled with a cute, pouting expression.
Lisetta ignored her and kept talking.
“Aren’t you dating the First Seat?”
“I’m not, you idiot.”
“I really want to beat the shit out of you when you talk like that… So what is it then? Is the rumor true that you’re trying to seduce every girl in sight? Now that I think about it, how did I end up in the middle of this?”
“Do you really think I’m that kind of person…?”
“You asshole. Why do I have to get glared at by the Second Seat like that? Her gaze is intense…!”
What am I supposed to do when Kaya keeps insisting she likes me…
Lisetta let out a sigh and stepped away from me.
“You womanizing prick…”
“Did you say something?”
“Nope, nothing at all.”
When Kaya pouted and glared, Lisetta replied as reflexively as a machine.
“Let’s go. We shouldn’t waste any more time here.”
“Ah, yes!”
I led Kaya and Lisetta toward the cave entrance.
The only light came from the lamps installed along the walls. Inside the cave, I could see stairs leading downward, carved out by the academy.
We began our descent.
“By the way.”
Lisetta’s husky voice echoed through the cavern.
“Setting me aside for a moment, what exactly is at the fourth gate? How is it so difficult to clear, even with the Second Seat here? This is just an exam, right? If the Second Seat finds it hard, what are the rest of us supposed to do?”
Kaya looked at me with her puppy eyes, clearly curious as well.
For the record, I had already told Kaya that Lisetta knew my secret. Because of that, Kaya didn’t question Lisetta’s doubts or concerns.
“That’s because there’s someone stronger than both of you at the bottom of this cave.”
“What?”
The objective of the fourth gate was to open a door guarded by a gatekeeper.
And that gatekeeper was a ‘Professor.’
In reality, there was no need to actually defeat the gatekeeper. If a student earned the professor's acknowledgment, they usually passed regardless of the outcome. Even in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, as long as you held out for a set amount of time, you could pass the fourth gate.
However, the professor we were about to face was different.
Professor Phillip Meltron of Class A. He was a stingy bastard.
In the game, unless you actually took down Professor Phillip, you had no chance of eliminating the frog demon later. This was why forming a powerful team was a necessity.
He’s an inflexible prick.
‘I show no mercy to anyone I face in combat.’ That was Phillip Meltron’s philosophy.
Whether it was a favored noble or a rookie student, if they were an opponent in a fight, he always fought to win. For a student, this path was nothing more than a dead end.
‘If this were actual combat, you’d be a dead man. Be grateful you were only disqualified.’ I suddenly remembered seeing those words on the game screen as he ruthlessly eliminated Ian.
This guy is a… Professor? No, he’s just a petty douchebag.
A man who abandoned all willingness to compromise out of a pathological desire to win. A man who could not tolerate defeat in any match. That was Professor Phillip.
“Kaya, Lisetta. Listen carefully.”
I began coordinating our combat strategy.
The stairs descended in a spiral. Eventually, we reached the bottom and passed through a narrow passage, opening up into a massive chamber with a high ceiling.
A large arena sat in the center, and on the opposite side stood a steel, arch-shaped door. I felt like a gladiator entering a structure similar to the Colosseum.
And in the middle of that open area, illuminated by a spotlight from the ceiling, was a familiar face. A middle-aged man with red hair sat arrogantly with his legs crossed, peering in our direction.
Kaya and Lisetta’s eyes trembled in shock.
“So, you’ve finally arrived.”
He was one of the referees from the first-semester duel evaluation.
A Class A professor, and a bigot who despised commoners.
It was Professor Phillip.
[Phillip Meltron]
Lv: 112 Race: Human Elements: Fire, Rock Danger: X Psychology: [Displeased that a commoner like you is in the company of Class A students.]
“Professor Phillip…?”
I could perfectly understand Kaya and Lisetta’s shock. They likely never imagined they would have to fight their own class professor.
Flap—.
At that moment, a round magic tool acting as a messenger flapped its wings from the corner of the ceiling and flew toward us.
[Welcome, students! I shall explain the fourth gate!]
The voice of a cheerful boy rang out from the messenger.
[The passing conditions for the fourth gate are simple: open the door on the opposite side and pass through. However, academy professors are acting as gatekeepers to obstruct your path. Defeat the professor to proceed. If you do, you shall pass the fourth gate!]
Eliminate a professor. Unless it was someone like Luce or Dark Kaya who possessed overwhelming power, it was an insurmountable task.
All the academy really expected of the students was to ‘show the determination to face a professor and give it their all.’
However, when fighting Professor Phillip, that task had to be taken literally. As I mentioned, he didn't let challengers pass easily.
[We have placed handicaps on the gatekeepers. First, only one element is allowed. Second, they may only use up to 4-star magic. That is all! Do your best!]
The messenger gave its final explanation and flew off. As expected, the handicaps were exactly as I remembered. If my memory served me right, Professor Phillip would use the fire element.
We stared down Professor Phillip.
As the messenger disappeared, Phillip spoke in a calm, cold voice.
“Kaya Astrea, Lisetta Lionheart. Both of you are talents worthy of pioneering the future of the empire. However… I do not understand why an impurity like you is standing between them.”
Professor Phillip rose from his seat, shooting a glare in my direction.
An impurity, he says… Honestly, that’s one of the more elegant insults I’ve heard so far.
Professor Phillip was Level 112. He was higher level than everyone else here combined.
I’m confident… confident that I’ll be one-shotted into oblivion.
Therefore, I had no choice but to fight using the knowledge I had of Phillip’s personality and habits—things I knew intimately from playing ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.
“I remember you clearly. You surrendered immediately during the first-semester duel evaluation, completely disregarding the value of feedback… A truly foolish and inferior existence. I could find neither fighting spirit nor the will to persevere within you. However, I understand why. As expected, it is because you are a mere commoner.”
He was talking about my duel with Tristan.
Do you think I had a choice? I had to go destroy Leafa the Illusive!
“Eh, the opponent was strong, after all.”
I casually shrugged my shoulders. It wasn't even a big deal to me.
LOL, look at the veins popping out of his forehead. He clearly despised my attitude.
Professor Phillip let out a sharp, angry breath.
“Do you think you’ve become someone important just because you’re standing next to competent students? Kaya Astrea, Lisetta Lionheart. You need to develop an eye for choosing your teamma—”
「Wind Generation (Wind Element, ★1)」
Hooooo——!
A fierce, light-green gale swirled, swallowing Professor Phillip’s words.
“Now.”
Kaya walked steadily past me to ascend the arena. After whipping out her Armana Wand, she stopped a short distance from Professor Phillip.
Her emerald, puppy-like eyes had turned into cold jade. Kaya’s light-green pigtails, cape shawl, and skirt fluttered furiously in the wake of her wind.
“Who do you think you’re insulting in my presence?”
The wind was alive with her anger.
“Personally, I don’t really care if you curse,” Lisetta added, readying her Rock Bat in both hands as she stepped up beside Kaya.
Lisetta roused her fighting spirit, glaring at Professor Phillip with her golden eyes.
“We’re going to fight anyway, so what’s the point of all this talking?”
These kids…
They’re so dependable…!
“That is an impressive fighting spirit. However, the source of your anger is clearly misplaced.”
Professor Phillip looked at Kaya and Lisetta with pitying eyes as he drew a brown wand.
“It seems both of you require a lesson.”
Phillip’s voice rang out, deceptively gentle.
A heavy weight of anxiety crushed my chest as a drop of cold sweat rolled down my cheek. I also ascended the arena, honing my focus.
“Kaya, I’m counting on you for defense.”
You know, since I’m still a bit of a weakling.
“Yes, Sir Isaac!”
Kaya’s voice rang out clearly in response.
I pulled Zhonya’s Staff from my back and dropped into a combat-ready stance.
A heavy silence fell.
The fourth gate—the Professor Battle—had begun.
Eve Ropenheim quickly dispatched ten demonic creatures to clear the third gate.
Watching from afar, she confirmed that Isaac had left after teaming up with an orange-haired girl.
“That coward who couldn’t even look a girl in the eye…?”
Eve couldn’t believe it.
With the exception of her and their mother, Isaac had always been a timid boy who was painfully shy around women. Seeing that same boy suddenly wrapping his arm around a beautiful girl’s shoulder while talking smoothly was a massive shock.
—‘Sis, Sis, hug me please.’
—‘Okay, okay.’
—‘Sis, Sis, give me a hug.’
—‘Here, come here.’
—‘Let’s hug while we sleep, Sis… The thunder is scary…’
—‘Yawn… Okay, come here.’
She remembered a younger Isaac begging for a hug every chance he got.
He was a guy who didn’t know anything about girls other than Eve. At one point, people in their hometown even called him a sis-con…
Is that really the loser Isaac I know?
His magical skill, his manly charm, his friendly attitude toward female students… everything was different from the Isaac Eve knew. It was as if he were a completely different person.
Eve headed in the direction Isaac had gone. She wrapped wind mana around her body to quickly scale the limestone cliff, but she ran out of mana halfway and had to finish the climb on foot.
“Heff… huff…”
Despite the chilly wind, Eve was drenched in sweat. If she hadn’t cheated half the way with wind magic, she would have fainted before reaching the top.
Gasping for breath, Eve finally reached the summit. She leaned on her knees, trying to recover.
“A cave…?”
She saw a cave entrance leading underground. Isaac’s team had likely gone inside.
Once she caught her breath, Eve entered the cave and began carefully making her way down the steps.