Chapter 238
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 238
Chapter Title: Spirit Sword Utopia
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The Spirit Sword Utopia creates an illusory space, much like a formation array, within a fixed area.
Unfortunately, with Utopia only at its initial awakening stage, it couldn't produce highly detailed illusions. Still, for training purposes, it delivered unmatched efficiency.
Monster intel? Their physical prowess? Special abilities? Combat patterns? Everything was modeled after real encounters in Labyrinthos, so there were no problems there.
"Um... how long do we have to keep doing this?"
"Huff... huff..."
I boldly revealed the truth to the exhausted group after their battle with the monsters.
"Three days and four nights. Oh, and just so you know, monsters can pop out even while you're sleeping. But don't worry—I'll provide water, food, clothing, and anything else you need for your stay."
"What?!"
"That said, it'll all be within the academy's allocation for the placement exam, so use it wisely."
In prolonged combat, resource management becomes more crucial than raw power.
Especially for this placement exam in the forest spanning several days—they'd need to pay close attention to supplies.
The real Labyrinthos left no time for sleep, turning every moment into battle, but Utopia hadn't reached that level yet, so no helping it.
There was no outright pain, but a persistent tingling numbness took its place, preventing them from throwing themselves recklessly into fights.
As screams echoed and chaos erupted everywhere, I slipped out of the space without a second thought.
Once activated, it would persist until I cut off the spirit energy supply.
That's when I heard footsteps approaching—someone coming to see me.
Turning around, I widened my eyes in surprise at the unexpected visitor.
"It's been a while, Young Master."
Nadia Ten Lilibel.
The saintess of the Holy Kingdom had come to find me.
"Saintess? How did you get here?"
"I came to see you, Young Master."
Come to think of it, there had been rumors about the saintess enrolling at the academy.
Of course, that was unlikely, but maybe word got twisted about her having business here.
"Funny you mention it—I've heard rumors that the saintess was enrolling."
"Hehe. Sadly, that's impossible. The Holy Kingdom is in disarray right now. Reconciliation with the Haels is still underway, and with so many upper echelons gone, we're scrambling to fill the voids."
Yeah, that sounded about right.
"So, what brings you all the way here to see me?"
"Mind if we step away for a moment?"
I nodded at her suggestion, and Luna quietly followed, having been watching the mist.
Luna clearly didn't think highly of Nadia. The same went for Diablo, the proxy high priest of the Holy Kingdom.
But Luna's expression now seemed noticeably softer than before.
I led her to the research lab the academy had provided me during my stint as a temporary instructor.
"Coffee with ice cream. Help yourself."
"Hehe. I never thought I'd taste this again... What a relief."
She smiled brightly, clearly in high spirits.
Her face looked much brighter than before, as if a great weight had been lifted from her heart.
"You seem in better spirits."
"Yes. I've changed my thinking a bit since that day."
If she was okay with it, that was fine by me.
Luna's softened demeanor was probably due to the same reason.
Luna had an eye for seeing things closer to their true essence, beyond mere appearances.
"How's she seem now?"
"Hard to say for sure... but at least, she feels a little different from before."
"Good enough. Anything more is none of our business."
Luna spoke calmly as she rested her head on my thigh.
"You two get along so well. If you ever get married, please invite me."
"Having the saintess bless us would be ideal, but no plans for that anytime soon."
Even the ticklish feeling of being with Luna right now was part of what I'd longed for.
What was this? Enjoying every moment of life to the fullest is the greatest joy? Something like that.
She took a sip of coffee, her smile fading slightly.
"High Priest Diablo was supposed to come, but I felt I needed to handle this myself."
"What's going on?"
"A revelation came down. About you, Young Master."
That damn revelation. Lately, it felt like they kept dropping ones involving me.
"Aren't those revelations powered by the archangels?"
"We don't know for certain. But they almost always come true."
After a deep breath, she spoke slowly.
"One month from now, on the day of the academy's placement exam, a massive rift will appear in the testing grounds."
"A rift?"
"Yes. But it'll be a mutant rift, different from the usual ones. To clear it, we'll need you and me, who wields holy power. It says a crawling nightmare inside the rift is targeting a young seed in the academy."
Two things didn't add up.
"Why specifically you, the busy saintess?"
"Yes. Even if Luna can't use her full power, she'd probably handle it better than me, but the revelation specified..."
"It means either stigmata power is required, or I won't be able to fight at the time."
Luna drawled from her spot on my leg.
"Let's table that. What's this 'young seed'?"
"Not sure. The Holy Kingdom's analysts think it refers to one of the magic academy students. Revelations often carry ambiguous meanings."
Nadia's guess made sense.
The location was the academy, after all... and "young seed" could mean a student.
She mentioned she'd stay here temporarily after consulting the dean.
And with a request to seek her out if needed, she rose to leave.
Of course, not forgetting to take a hefty load of ice cream as a gift.
"Crawling nightmare... Fancy name."
"Leon. That's connected to that red thing."
"How much do you know?"
"Crawling nightmare. A foreign entity intrigued by the middle realm. Just as dangerous, and one of its minions."
She gripped my arm tightly.
"Its combat power won't overwhelm you. Its true body, maybe—but it can't cross here unscathed."
She said gravely.
"It's crafty with schemes. Be careful."
"Got it."
She wouldn't say it lightly, so I should prepare for the worst-case scenarios.
The ten failing students assigned to Leon's class emerged from the mist without a word, collapsing in a daze.
"Just seeing hard bread now makes my stomach churn."
"How many days has it been? We've been at this for almost half a month, right?"
A girl spoke in a haggard voice, and the others nodded.
A space where you couldn't die? Sure. But the punishments were brutally effective.
They wondered how Leon had even created such a place.
Turning, they saw Melissa sitting alone, gathering her aura.
"Um... Melissa."
A student cautiously called out—someone who'd been her classmate before her leave of absence.
"What?"
"Where's the professor? Did you see him?"
"Big Brother went to the testing grounds for a bit. Something about setting things up. Anyway, is training over?"
"For now... it's a break, but all this hard bread's making me nauseous."
Melissa gave a wry smile at the student's words.
"I get it. That guy's relentless once he starts training."
"You went through this too?"
She closed her eyes, thinking, then spoke quietly.
"Worse. If I tried to run, that psycho Big Brother would track me down, hurl flash and tear gas artifacts, and drag me back."
"..."
The students paled.
"Under the guise of practical training, he tormented me every way possible. You're lucky. Without that mist zone, you'd have been beaten black and blue daily. I was half-dead for months."
"And you survived that?"
"He wouldn't even let you die properly. Anyway... hang in there. It's tough, but... my Big Brother's the real deal. Surprisingly gifted at teaching, too, even if he denies it. In a month, you won't recognize yourselves."
The students fell silent at her confident words.
"Come on... I just want the academy cafeteria food right now."
"No more hard bread."
They shuffled like zombies toward the cafeteria.
Truth be told, the cafeteria—swarming with regular students—wasn't welcoming for failing ones.
Discrimination against commoners had lessened, but lacking skill still made you a laughingstock.
But right now, none of that mattered.
They were sick of hard bread with its awful texture and water that seemed to reek!
Leon provided such supplies to teach that in real combat, you couldn't always have the best.
They understood, but on top of the grueling training, it felt excessive.
The failing students piled their trays like possessed souls, devouring the food ferociously.
"This is the taste."
"Who knew cafeteria food could feel this good..."
It wasn't bad to begin with.
But compared to the hellish white mist, this place's facilities and flavors were incomparable.
Naturally, resentment toward Leon bubbled up.
"That professor's a tyrant."
"Yeah. Wouldn't bleed even if pricked."
"Shut up and eat. If we're late, who knows how crazy it'll get."
The students shuddered.
They'd learned over days that Leon's outbursts ramped up training intensity.
As if by agreement, they focused on their meals.
Then, a voice drifted to their ears.
"Look at that. Failures."
"Oh, the seniors who barely passed and are competing with us?"
"Heh heh."
In any crowd, nasty personalities emerged.
These freshmen were that type.
With their sleazy looks, they openly sneered at the failing students.
It had happened before.
The difference? Back then, anger aside, they lacked the power to resist.
So they'd swallowed it and returned to training.
But now, even with strength, mental exhaustion made them avoid pointless brawls.
They'd never endured such intense training before.
No wonder students muttered "demon spawn" about Leon in their sleep within the mist.
"Too noisy, gives me a headache. I'm out."
One failing student, Radien Ginebuck, stood up.
Someone bumped into him.
It had surely happened before.
But this time, it played out differently.
"Ugh. Where're your eyes?"
The freshman who'd mocked them earlier glared irritably at Radien.
"Senior? You walking alone? Watch where you're going."
As he provocatively picked a fight, every failing student's gaze turned there.
In the silence, Radien spoke.
"Guys. Something like this happened before, right?"
"Yeah."
"What'd we do then?"
"What're you asking? We shut up and bowed."
"Rudia, you were the one. How'd it feel?"
"Fucking awful."
Even Rudia, who usually spoke politely, spat venom from pent-up frustration and fatigue.
The others agreed.
"Why'd we put up with that? To avoid more crap. I'm not doing it again, even if it kills me."
With that,
Radien's fist slammed straight into the freshman's face.
BAM!!!
The unexpected heavy blow sent the freshman flying like a ball off a bat.
"Huh? What?"
But the failing students were shocked—their power far exceeded expectations.
In the mist, even goblin packs had been a struggle. Their punches hadn't hit this hard?
They didn't realize the changes they'd undergone.
Of course, that hardly mattered. Pointing at the stunned freshmen, he said,
"Doesn't matter. Beat feet."
The brawl erupted in an instant.