The Lure of the Greenbelt and the Marchioness's Arrival
Though Instructor Esta had issued a warning just moments ago, I couldn't dismiss it as mere instinct from a woman in the full bloom of her heat in this world.
'No, it was a serious lesson from the instructor.'
Esta needed to produce outstanding results with this batch of special admissions—the special class. Only then could she ascend to the professorship she desired, gaining the chance to teach her own academic pursuits at the academy.
Instructors and professors were worlds apart. Even someone with Esta's S-rank prowess had to follow the prescribed curriculum. Why? Because the curriculum—the educational program—was as sacred as a 500-year tradition of the academy.
"While we sip tea until the promised one arrives, let's chat. Special admissions students take the same general classes as everyone else."
Instructor Esta sat across from me, sipping lemonade as she began her explanation.
"Isn't that what you told me last time?"
"Yes. But there are details you need to pay extra attention to."
"Like what? Besides separate classes."
"Practical training." Instructor Esta pointed at me. "The academy incorporates combat drills into the curriculum from the first semester of freshman year. Even if just for the monthly field training."
"You're talking about monster extermination in the Grand Cavern, right?"
"Exactly." Instructor Esta opened a booklet and pointed to a section of the greenbelt a short distance from the southern terminal here. "See this black area?"
"Yes. It's a massive zone."
Beyond the 10km greenbelt, a vast region to the southeast—larger than the academy's territory—was shaded black.
"You know what this place is, don't you?"
"The Monster Zone. Swarming with monsters."
"Correct."
And ironically...
"This is one of the Monster Zones adjacent to Esdinas Academy where a horrific incident occurred ten years ago."
To the south of that Monster Zone lay a certain count's estate.
"A horrific incident..."
I felt a slight pang of guilt, but I had to play it off casually to avoid suspicion.
"Really? I haven't heard the details."
"Figures. It's officially covered up."
"Covered up...?"
"The church stepped in to bury it."
I got it. After all, the ones descending from the heavens were none other than angels.
"Is it okay to tell me about this?"
"Plenty of people saw it, so it's not a huge secret. The academy isn't under church influence anyway, but we still need to be cautious where caution's due."
"If they covered it up, it must've been serious."
"The church's utter uselessness is why they buried it. And how it was resolved... that's still a mystery."
Even if it was the lowest-grade winged tin-can armor, the goddess—who barely responded to human prayers—had dispatched angels en masse that day, a rarity in history.
"......."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just reminiscing."
Instructor Esta gazed wistfully at the Monster Zone—at 'northern Hapsderk'.
"...I don't like seeing my disciples—or anyone connected to them—meet grim ends."
Instructor Esta stared straight at me.
"This might sting a bit for you, but Rydmila... Gale will protect Unia over you in a pinch. No question."
"No question, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Is it because she's a girl? Or her mana rating exceeding 100, pure talent?"
"......."
Instructor Esta fell silent for a moment.
"Kidding. If Gale's dead set on shielding Unia regardless of gender, there must be a damn good reason."
She's the disciple of the Ash Witch, after all.
"You want me to prepare for my own dangers, right? In case even you can't watch over your students one day."
I traced my finger over the expansive Monster Zone stretching southeast from northern Hapsderk and Esdinas Academy.
"So if shit hits the fan, I gotta survive on my own. Always stay sharp. That it?"
"...Yeah."
Instructor Esta extended her finger toward the spot I'd indicated.
"This zone's produced the most severe casualties in the last decade."
Wouldn't doubt it. In the original story, it was a late-game field with mobs averaging level 80.
Of course, that was the game; here in reality, the outer edges had E- or D-rank weaklings, but even they were tougher on average than elsewhere. The deeper you went, the worse it got.
Still.
"Is this place really okay for training drills?"
In the original, it was a 'late-game sub-field,' not the main story training ground.
"It wasn't originally for academy drills. We usually went elsewhere."
Instructor Esta swept her hand over the greenbelt.
"Let's talk greenbelt for a sec. Even just this buffer zone—monsters keep creeping closer. Know why?"
"Dunno. Maybe 'cause the academy's got tasty prey?"
"Plausible. I think so too."
Inside the greenbelt.
Instructor Esta fiddled with the magic panel on her left wrist, and a hologram-like magic screen popped up, displaying scenes from various spots.
Monsters lurked throughout the greenbelt.
"Ever played roulette at a casino?"
"Pardon?"
"That's exactly the shape of Esdinas Academy right now." Instructor Esta pulled up some data. "If the center is the academy grounds, the black and red zones intersect like this. Red for human habitats, black for monster territories."
"Hmm..."
"Doesn't add up, right? Why do monsters bypass human zones to cross the greenbelt and target the academy?"
Instructor Esta didn't circle from black into red—she drew a straight line from the black zone dead center to Esdinas Academy.
"Scholars have written theses on this for 500 years. The leading theory? A massive spell luring monsters and demons to this academy."
"A monster lure spell."
"Yep. The academy walls unmarred by 500 years of weathering, magic barriers against aerial assaults—legendary grand magic from the Ash Witch."
Instructor Esta lowered her voice.
"Everyone figures she left that spell behind."
"......."
I took a casual sip of tea. Knowing the truth, I couldn't just blurt it out.
The truth? Such a spell existed. But it was smoke and mirrors—a diversion.
The real secret was the hell gate barrier, concealed beneath the old school library's Grand Cavern. Just one layer of the smokescreen.
"And ten years ago, that massive incident in Hapsderk sparked a new hypothesis."
"Hypothesis...?"
"Maybe monsters flock not to 'extremely strong monsters,' but to something even greater."
"......Hmm."
Spot on. All monsters and demons instinctively formed packs, magnetically drawn to the strongest.
"Ten years ago, I saw a colossal beast unsealed here."
"A colossal beast, you say."
"Yeah. Back then, even I might've struggled solo... couldn't even call it 5:5."
Instructor Esta grumbled softly.
"And now?"
"I'd win, no casualties."
How far had Esta come in ten years?
'Level 90 to 95 difference, maybe.'
A mere five levels, but at S-rank and beyond, each one was monumental. Like a fresh swordmaster honing to grand swordmaster—on the cusp of sword god status. In wuxia terms, early flame realm to late-stage.
"Monsters gathered where that beast lurked. After it died, they started dispersing—but not scattering everywhere."
"They didn't fan out in all directions..."
"They marched north. Toward Esdinas. Toward this academy."
Instructor Esta drew a long line from the Hapsderk Monster Zone straight to the academy.
"And that's why I'm telling you this... Our special class's training site is right here: the 'Old Hapsderk Plains.'"
"Old Hapsderk, got it."
The land where I'd lived as Regiph Hapsderk.
"So it's ruins now?"
"Huh?"
"If something massive happened ten years ago, by now this place should be—"
"Ah, yeah, you wouldn't know."
Instructor Esta pointed toward Hapsderk territory.
"After that incident ten years ago, Hapsderk entered a boom."
"Pardon?"
"The count and his son died to the colossal beast, ending the Hapsderk line—or so it seemed. They rebuilt in a new form."
Instructor Esta swept her hand over a swath of Hapsderk land broader than I remembered.
"Ludbekia Marquisate."
"......."
"The territory now ruled by Ludbekia Marchioness. I served briefly as a family knight there before joining the academy."
"Uh..."
"Perfect timing. Here she comes."
Thud, thud.
"Allow me to introduce."
Far off, a black-haired woman approached in a black dress straight out of Dongtan fashion district, topped with a sheer black cardigan and sunglasses. All black.
But that figure—I knew it well...?
"Ludbekia Marchioness. Formerly Ludbekia Hapsderk Countess..."
"Oh, hello?"
"She'll provide full support for our training site, the old Hapsderk Plains."
"...My."
Regiph's mother.
"Say, haven't we met before?"
A beauty whose mana reserves rivaled—no, surpassed—Esta or Unia. With a body to match.
"Your eyes feel so familiar..."
She looked even younger than ten years ago—like mid-20s.
"Shall we get cozy from now on?"