Chapter 32
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Until She Crumbles: 000 to Go (5)
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"Wind – Blade" "Earth – Spear"
The incantation chants echoed from beyond the corridor window.
It was because of the mock battle exam replacing the canceled midterms.
Given the major incident during the midterms, this exam prioritized student safety above all, conducted one class at a time. Right now, it was Class 1's turn.
The reason I'm bringing this up suddenly is that even if students got hurt in some mishap, the school nurse had been summoned to the arena for immediate treatment.
In other words, the infirmary was completely empty right now.
"No one's here."
"...Yeah."
Vivian seemed a bit flustered by the "Out to Lunch" sign, but to me, it was expected.
To survive in the world of Academy's Tamer, you had to perfectly memorize all the spots in school where you could "tame"—the infirmary, rooftop, staff restroom, old classroom—and their available times.
"Let's head in and rest for now."
"B-but there's no one here..."
"It's fine. We can just say we were resting because we weren't feeling well."
Ignoring the sign, we stepped into the infirmary, where a sharp medley of herbal scents assaulted our noses.
I laid Vivian down on the bed in the farthest corner, and she spoke up.
"Eugene..."
"Yeah?"
"...I'm sorry."
Vivian averted her gaze, murmuring her apology in a tiny voice.
I smiled gently in response.
"What're you apologizing for?"
"...Not just this... ...everything... I'm sorry."
I'm no idiot. I knew her apology wasn't about this situation.
No need to feel this guilty over me just bringing her to the infirmary.
It was probably for imagining me as her masturbation toy and getting me hurt in the midterm exam.
"Nah, this is nothing. Don't sweat it."
But once again, I played dumb with a cheerful grin.
Except this time, I laced my tone with a subtle nuance.
Others might brush it off, but in Vivian's current state, she'd definitely overinterpret it.
"...."
Right on cue.
Look at that guilt-ridden expression.
To her, "this is fine" apparently meant everything else isn't.
"Alright, I'll head out then. Rest easy. Oh, and this pen writes so smoothly—thanks."
I gave her shoulder a light pat, then clicked the pen to set the vibration to "medium-low."
"Eep... Y-yes..."
Confirming her head droop as the vibrations hit, I closed the infirmary door.
-Thud, -thud, -thud.
I deliberately made my footsteps loud as I left the infirmary.
"...That should do it..."
I'd given her a private space and even provided the toy.
This ought to let Vivian have a satisfying solo session.
...I'd been scared out of my wits back in the classroom when she seemed ready to masturbate there.
"...."
Now that things had calmed a bit, reality was crashing in hard.
Preventing her from jerking off in class by letting her do it in the infirmary...?
Is this really a normal world?
"Haa..."
I sighed, pulling out the pen and holding it to my ear.
[Eep... Hah... Ahh... M-Master...]
Vivian's moans leaked from the pen.
Hearing this improved my mood a little.
After listening to Vivian's session for a bit, I pocketed the pen again.
It was getting me pretty worked up, but something more important needed my attention right now.
"Here."
The corridor spot you had to pass to reach the infirmary—and the perfect vantage to watch Class 1's battle exam.
I leaned against the window there and peered down at the arena.
Right on time, Lucia and the princess ascended simultaneously.
The distance muffled their voices, but with the empire's sun and moon rising together, the students buzzed excitedly.
I definitely remembered this event.
It was a rare princess defeat event.
That's right.
The princess loses this match.
And very easily, at that.
She blocks Lucia's mid-tier spell but can't withstand the impact, flying back out of bounds.
The whole thing lasted about three seconds.
Of course, the princess threw it on purpose, but since players don't know she's hiding her strength, even when they later glimpse her true power, they fool themselves into thinking, "She's strong, but manageable."
...Thinking about it pisses me off again.
Recalling the princess's brutal murder event made rage boil inside me.
...Go Lucia.
Cheering her on silently in my mind, I watched their duel.
To Liana, Carnea Academy was mere idle amusement.
With a brain that memorized most books after one read, overwhelming mana affinity, and the imperial family's unique magic to boot.
Victory was a given for her, and since she had no attachment to such trivial wins, she simply yielded it.
-Thud-
Lucia Ursula climbed into the arena from the opposite stairs.
Lucia was one of the few humans who piqued Liana's interest.
Her magical talent was exceptional, her radiant beauty enough to impress even Liana.
But that was it.
Liana didn't see her as a rival.
No mere genius could stand against her.
Yet the moment Lucia stepped into the arena, something different emanated from her.
She'd hidden it well enough to evade notice until now, but the emotion in Lucia's eyes was unmistakable: killing intent.
Hmm, I wonder why?
Lately, incomprehensible things kept popping into her head.
...Eugene, and now Lucia.
In Liana's world, where everything flowed exactly as predicted, this was a rare thrill.
"Let's have a good match."
"Likewise."
Lucia and Liana exchanged light bows at the arena's center and took their distance.
...And then
"Begin!"
The signal dropped.
Lucia immediately chanted a mid-tier spell.
"Pierce Through – Wind – Spear"
Chant speed and precision far beyond student level.
The teachers panicked at the razor-sharp attack, but Liana could handle it easily.
Hmm...
Stick to the plan: defend casually, retreat out of bounds, and it ends.
But.
She didn't feel like it anymore.
And there's an unexpected spectator too...
Liana smiled, thinking of the figure watching from the distant window.
"Rise – Flame – Wall"
Before the wind spear struck, Liana chanted her own mid-tier spell for defense.
Whoosh-!
Flames filled the arena with scorching heat.
"Wai-!"
Before Professor Eimi, in charge of Class 1, could intervene, Lucia chanted her next spell.
"Pierce Through – Wind – Spear"
"Pierce Through – Wind – Spear"
Two spells hurtling in simultaneously.
That's odd?
Liana tilted her head at the sight.
Lucia's talent shouldn't extend this far.
The initial high-speed chant was one thing, but this dual chant blatantly exceeded her given abilities.
No, it felt off to even call it talent.
It lacked the overwhelming "caliber" of imperial unique magic, or any special spell unique to Lucia.
Yet Lucia wielded her arsenal with pristine efficiency, cornering her foe.
Like a seasoned mage with decades of battle experience.
"Strike Down – Water – Hammer"
"Enclose – Flame – Sphere"
Bam-! Bam-! Bam-!
The spells' power steadily intensified.
-Isn't this getting dangerous?
-Lucia's top of the class, sure, but even Her Highness keeping up this long?
The students, initially watching in awe, now backed away in growing fear.
"Tear Apart – Storm – Wolf...
Finally, as Lucia began a high-tier spell, Professor Eimi could no longer stand by and dashed in to stop her.
Professor Eimi's command disrupted Lucia's chant, dissipating the spell.
"Liana, Lucia—what are you doing?! This is sparring training! I said safety first from the start. What if someone dies using spells like these?!"
Professor Eimi planted her hands on her hips and scolded them.
Her tiny frame made it look like a kid throwing a tantrum—adorable, really—but Liana didn't point it out.
"Anyway, you're both getting points deducted this time! It was so impressive you only dropped from A+ to A... But next time this happens, I won't let it slide...! Apologize to each other!"
As Liana smiled sweetly, Lucia bowed expressionlessly.
"My apologies. Lady Liana, I lost control and used spells unfit for a duel."
"No, no. I got excited too. You're truly amazing, Lucia."
Liana stepped closer, taking Lucia's hand with sparkling eyes.
"Let's chat next time, okay?"
...What the hell did I just witness?
I pressed my throbbing forehead.
A completely unexpected outcome.
No, the result itself was the same.
The princess's defeat.
I couldn't hear clearly, but she definitely stepped out of bounds at the end.
But the process was worlds apart from what I knew.
A fight that should've ended in one blow featured high-speed chants, dual chants, all sorts of advanced techniques.
...I specifically told her to act like in the first playthrough.
Lucia's hostility toward the princess wasn't incomprehensible.
If you remembered the first playthrough, anyone would find her presence grating.
But defying my orders like this, going all-out in front of everyone...?
No matter how I thought about it, it didn't add up.
...Oh crap!
While I pondered, the arena had already cleared out—no one in sight.
That meant the infirmary nurse would return soon.
[Hnn... Eu... gene...]
Holding the pen to my ear, Vivian was still at it.
Get it together!
In a flash, I sprinted down the corridor and kicked open the infirmary door.
Bang-!
[Kyaa!]
The loud crash snapped Vivian out of it.
[I-if she finds out... gotta clean up quick...]
I heard Vivian hurriedly finish up and tidy the infirmary.
"Phew..."
Just as I sighed in relief—
-Thud-
Footsteps climbed the stairs.
"....!"
This staircase at the corridor's end was only used for the infirmary.
And the person showing up now was probably...
"Oh, Eugene?"
Sure enough, the school nurse.
She remembered my name from when I was carried in during midterms.
"Here for the infirmary? Sorry, I got called for exam duty. What's hurting?"
"Uh, my stomach kinda..."
"Really? Come on in. I'll take a look."
The nurse brushed past me as she spoke.
What now?
I bit my lip hard.
Vivian was just starting to clean up the evidence.
...Going in now would blow it for sure.
I needed to stall, even just a little.
How?
Think. Think.
A way out of this.
Then it hit me, and I threw myself to the floor.
"Gaaah!"
"Oh my! What's wrong?! You okay?"
As the nurse rushed over in panic, I grabbed her ankle.
"My stomach... hurts a bit.."
"Collapsing like that isn't 'a bit'! Come inside now!"
"No... just... rub my stomach, and it'll be fine."
"Pardon...?"
"...I mean.. my stomach..."
"...You want me to rub your belly? Here? In the hallway?"
"Yes...."
The nurse stared at me like I was insane, but no choice.
I couldn't let Vivian get caught now.
"...L-like this?"
"...Yes."
After hesitating, she blushed and rubbed my stomach.
...Lying in the corridor getting my belly rubbed filled me with such self-loathing I wanted to die.
"Hmm... I-I'm doing it, Eugene, but... next time, get a proper checkup."
Her kind words only twisted the knife.
"Yes..."
Please, Vivian.
Finish cleaning up before I off myself.