Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Demon Sword Forte (6) - Graduation Conditions
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One of the top three educational institutions on the continent.
To bear such a grandiose title, it naturally had to possess something equally extraordinary.
For instance, the Imperial Academy—one of the Eisen Empire's proudest achievements and the backbone of its sturdy middle class—was renowned for its sheer scale and versatility.
It boasted over five hundred professors, each an expert in their field, and a budget rivaling that of a count's domain.
With courses spanning swordsmanship, magic, liberal arts, engineering, administration, and more, graduates were said to be capable anywhere they were placed.
Despite the empire's reputation as the continent's strongest power, the average combat prowess of its graduates—even among the battle-focused tracks—was only around third-circle level, nothing exceptional. Yet the empire's higher-ups didn't mind.
After all, the academy served as a talent pipeline. Organizations like knight orders, magic towers, or government offices could simply take the graduates and train them further as needed.
In this regard, the Sky Academy occupied the polar opposite position from the Imperial Academy.
Its teaching period was long, and its student body small.
It couldn't even compete with the Imperial Academy's budget.
Yet the reason Sky Academy was counted among the continent's premier institutions was simple.
Even with the empire's vast resources and advanced technology, replicating the academy's unique "environment" was impossible.
"Haaah."
I gazed at the system message floating before my eyes, lowered the wooden sword slick with my sweat, and collapsed onto the ground.
Around me, a dozen or so students clutched their own wooden swords, faces pale and drenched in sweat, utterly exhausted. Seeing more than half of them stop swinging, the swordsmanship professor Reizenol nodded approvingly.
"Looks like you're wrapping up. On to the next stage, then."
'Quest: Precisely strike the straw dummy 10,000 times with a wooden sword' has been unlocked.
📍 Clear Condition: Precisely hit the red light on the straw dummy 0/10,000
⏰ Time Limit: None
🎁 Clear Reward: Slight increase in body control / 5p
📍 Note 1: Body reinforcement via mana does not count.
📍 Note 2: Failed precise strikes reduce the count by 1 each.
As the new quest appeared, the scarecrows of students who had finished the previous one began emitting an eerie glow.
A red light, about the size of a circle made with thumb and forefinger, appeared on the dummy's forehead. It vanished, only to reappear on its side.
The interval between appearances was roughly one second.
It wasn't so fast that one couldn't react, but accurately striking the shifting spot with a heavy wooden sword was no easy task.
Especially since body reinforcement with mana was forbidden.
Noticing the students' grimaces—like they'd bitten into a bug—Reizenol burst into laughter.
"Don't worry! I'm not saying start right now! Whoever wants to can give it a go. If it doesn't suit you, try a different quest elsewhere or just rest in your room—up to you!"
At his words, the students sighed in relief.
They were already worn out from the previous swings, so they'd grumbled out of fatigue. With proper rest, it wasn't impossible. Breaking it into sessions would make it even easier.
"Any questions? None? Alright, I'll head elsewhere then. See you tomorrow at this time!"
With light footsteps, Reizenol departed. Some students immediately set down their swords, while others enthusiastically kept swinging.
Watching them, the Demon Sword Forte observed with keen interest.
《Truly free-spirited.》
This was a far cry from the Imperial Academy, which received massive funding and generous scholarships but fostered an atmosphere brimming with fervor—bordering on cutthroat.
It wasn't just Reizenol's personality; most Sky Academy classes followed this format.
In typical academies, teachers guided students along the path.
Here, the system quests did the guiding.
There were professors for warrior, mage, and priest tracks, but they mainly answered questions as advisors, rarely leading classes themselves.
Newbies like Pina still got some quest recommendations from professors since they were fresh, but upperclassmen often progressed solo without seeing them. That said it all.
《It calls itself an academy, but structurally, it's more like an Adventurer's Guild. Inefficient, or perfectly automated—hard to say.》
Most notably, the system guaranteed growth—almost infallibly.
It didn't quantify stats like +1 Strength for investment, but completers undeniably felt the listed rewards, however slight.
Muscle training naturally built strength.
But human bodies had limits; repetition hit a wall.
One could drag or lift logs barehanded, but not stone or metal pillars of the same size.
Knights' superhuman feats came from mana reinforcement. Without it, they were little different from trained warriors.
Sky Academy was different.
If a quest rewarded "increased strength," you got stronger—even at your physical limit.
This boost operated on a different mechanism from normal growth, letting an untrained person overpower a muscled brute.
《With mass intake, the results would be staggering... but resources make it impossible. Maintaining traits inside is one thing; they persist outside, so elite selection makes sense.》
Unlike typical seventh-circle "domains," Sky Academy was continent-famous, but documents didn't compare to experiencing it.
Regrettably, as a non-human, Forte couldn't see the system directly, but Pina's reports sufficed for fascination.
Of course, Forte never forgot her role amid the curiosity.
Thwart demons' schemes. Protect Pina from them.
That was the mission bestowed at her birth—or one she claimed herself.
And the path forward was obvious.
Before enrolling, Pina Valestia had harbored quiet dread toward Sky Academy.
It was the mid-continent's top name, but also infamous for students dying mid-class.
Some alumni called it paradise; others, utter hell.
People assumed one side lied, but Pina's experience proved otherwise.
They were both right.
Sky Academy became paradise or hell based on the student's choices.
Graduation
📍 Clear Condition: 13p / 1,000,000p
⏰ Time Limit: None
🎁 Clear Reward: Graduate from Sky Academy. Rewards acquired within the academy can be maintained outside.
📍 Note 1: p (points) for clear condition based on current holdings, not cumulative.
📍 Note 2: Consume 10,000p for 'provisional graduation.' Growth without system aid is retained, but academy rewards are lost.
Unlike other academies, Sky Academy had no fixed years or exams for graduation.
Every minor action inside earned p points, and one million total unlocked graduation.
Tougher, riskier quests yielded bigger rewards and more p.
"Tough" meant roaming the academy's mysterious depths, tackling every danger—not just professor-assigned tasks.
Stick to easy quests for slow but safe progress; crave speed, and difficulty skyrocketed.
Pina thought:
'I'll take the slow and easy path.'
Normal classes gave about 5p each; three daily meant 15p.
True graduation was distant, but provisional was reachable in a few years.
With p-based dining and shops, moderate effort ensured a decent life without excess spending.
《—Hm. About half a year should do it.》
So when Forte muttered that, Pina blurted in panic,
"H-Half a year? Isn't that too tight a schedule? Even for provisional..."
《Provisional?》
"...?"
Forte sounded puzzled; so did Pina.
Soon the sword clarified.
《Provisional graduation? That'd waste the chance at this rare academy. I meant full graduation in about half a year.》
"Eek! Eeek!?"
Pina freaked out.
"I-Impossible! Even veteran seniors with five-plus years of grinding for graduation rarely earn over 500p daily...!"
500p daily sounded huge, but still took over five years.
Factor in spending on food and leisure, or low-earn days, and it stretched longer.
If pros struggled, how could a newbie dream of half a year?
To Pina's reasonable protest, Forte replied simply.
《Relax. Just try it.》
Her tone brimmed with unshakable certainty—like promising tomorrow's sunrise.
Pina paled.
This was the folly of contracting with a demon sword.