Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: The Graduates' Visit (1)
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A refreshing weekend morning.
Before doing anything else, I checked the exchange list.
I had already acquired all the major skills.
Even so, the utility of achievement points hadn't diminished.
Things like raising stats or unlocking specific events.
There were plenty of tempting options, but for some reason, I hesitated.
Was it because the cost-effectiveness wasn't great?
It would be nice if they offered a limited-time special like last time...
As if reflecting my wish, the exchange list updated.
[Season Pass (new!)]
[Required Achievement Points: 500,000]
[Bonus stats awarded for every 10% completion]
[50% Completion - Receive a random S-rank skill]
[100% Completion - Receive a random Ex-rank trait]
Oh, right. This existed.
It would have been disappointing if there was no season pass, wouldn't it?
The absolute king of cost-effectiveness.
The kind of thing you'd definitely lose out on if you didn't buy it.
A phrase like "roughly 10 times the value" came to mind.
I can't resist this.
Even though it was random, the rewards were too good to pass up.
S-rank is 500,000, Ex-rank is 1,000,000...
At a low estimate, that's already a value of 1.5 million.
Factoring in the other rewards, it was a significant gain.
The conditions for acquiring pass points were simple.
I just had to carry on with my usual routine of meditation, training, sparring, and so on.
This made things easier going forward.
After defeating all the top-tier A-rankers and even taking down Largo, everyone would have to acknowledge me.
The spectacular comeback of Jace, the former Hero candidate.
The faculty would probably make the judgment, and it seemed likely I'd pass without issue.
“...”
Is this right?
For a moment, I felt a sense of unease.
A few Hero candidates are probably going to come at me!
Cedric, needless to say.
*Oh? So you've finally climbed this far? Get ready!*
He would definitely challenge me to a duel with that kind of attitude.
Though their reasons were different, Baken and Crow would also step up, wanting to test their skills against me.
If it were an ordinary duel, it would be one thing.
But those guys would surely come at me like their lives depended on it, which was a headache.
Well, what can you do.
The only way is to become strong enough to handle even that.
I'll think about that when the time comes. For now, I'll focus on training.
I quietly began to meditate.
The Crodain Family's secret Heart Arts were highly efficient.
Unlike before, a tremendous amount of mana churned within me.
By now, I must have absorbed most of the elixir's energy.
It was time to start challenging the next stage after Sword Ki: Sword Aura.
The very thing that so-called Sword Masters wielded.
The power of Sword Aura could be described as absolute.
Though it consumed a fair bit of mana.
With skills and traits that increased my mana recovery rate, it wouldn't be too much of a burden.
Just as I was deep in concentration.
As always, a certain pest was loitering nearby.
“Meditating again? You're so diligent, Jace.”
The fatal charm of the fox beastkin.
Her otherworldly cuteness sent huge ripples through my tranquil mind.
My little cutie.
Why are you awake already? Didn't we say we'd go for a walk later?
“I don't mean to interrupt. As you know, I just want you to get stronger quickly.”
The girl smiled sweetly, saying she would hold back until then.
Then she suddenly clung to me, rubbing her face all over mine.
It was as if she were insisting she couldn't live without me.
Her words and actions don't quite match.
This was nice in its own way, but it made it difficult to maintain my meditation.
Her voluminous hair and tail.
I found myself sinking deeper into their fluffiness and softness.
Didn't you say you wanted me to get stronger? Then why...
“Mmm, it's instinct, I can't help it!”
“...”
“How about you try to concentrate hard enough to withstand my charm?”
An impossible task.
Which was precisely why it was worth a try.
A moment later.
I gave up and played with Aruru, proving that I, too, could not defy my instincts.
My little cutie.
Now what are you going to do? Hurry up and take responsibility!
“It's okay. You can be a little weak for now.”
“---??”
“That way, I can protect you. I want to enjoy this relationship a little longer.”
Her sincerity was conveyed through our point of contact.
Like the best pet, she intended to protect her owner.
Right, we should live by helping each other.
If she stepped up, I had nothing to worry about.
Well, it might look a little uncool...
But it's okay to rely on a companion, right?
Since everything was going well, there seemed to be no need to rush.
We chatted leisurely.
Given the timing, the event happening in a few days came up.
“The academy graduates are visiting soon, right? Hmm, should I look forward to it?”
She showed surprising interest.
She said a showdown between seniors and juniors sounded fun.
Hey, aren't you one of the targets?
Though that was clearly the case, she was just getting ready for the drama as if she had nothing to do with it.
“Will it even be my turn? The ones crazy for a fight will probably handle everything.”
She had a point.
Since they would fight in groups of five, it meant half of us could rest.
To be honest, I wasn't very curious about the outcome.
This year's Hero candidates were set to win by an overwhelming margin...
“Forget about that, I'm a little worried about you.”
“---??”
“It's nothing major, but I have a feeling you'll get caught up in something troublesome? Well, no need to take it too seriously. It's just a feeling.”
“...”
My little cutie.
If you give me a sudden warning like that, am I going to be surprised or not?
A beastkin's senses are incredibly sharp.
*Something's going to happen!* When they say that, it has a high probability of coming true.
I had been feeling uneasy about it myself, anyway.
Since I was once a Hero candidate, there might be guys who want to have a go at me.
“Then you'd better get ready.”
The girl beamed with a wide smile.
It was clear she wanted me to show off my cool side again.
Well, it wouldn't be difficult.
Even if something unexpected happened, I would handle it well.
Let's take a moment to assess combat power.
Based on the main story's settings, it's roughly like this.
A-rank: 300~500
A+-rank: 500~999
S-rank: 1000~2000
S+-rank: 2000~4000
Ex-rank: 4000~9999
I was currently in the A+-rank.
But I was scheduled to become S-rank soon. In terms of numbers, I'd be around 900.
Aruru and Esterize were around 1900?
Jace in his prime would have been in that range too.
Even the most manageable elf girl would be at 1500.
The graduates' combat power was, at best, around 1000~1200.
In other words, even if I fought them right now, I wouldn't be pushed back much.
If I used all my strength, an unexpected outcome might even be possible.
Hmm, maybe this is an opportunity?
To become a Hero candidate again, I need to show them something.
This year's class is exceptionally strong, so that's out of the question.
But against the graduates, there was some room to make a stand.
*Huh? He defeated a former Hero candidate?*
*Doesn't that mean he's already qualified enough?*
I could picture them re-evaluating me like that.
For now, I'd be satisfied with even the lowest seat.
The important thing was just to be recognized as a Hero candidate.
After that, I would participate in the ceremony where the Holy Sword chooses its master...
No, wait a minute.
Some random kid isn't going to become the Hero, right?
I'll have to trust the system window, my one and only god.
At the very least, I'd be happy if one of the kids who support me became the Hero.
The thought that there might be a small twist occurred to me, but I wasn't too worried.
Whatever the outcome.
I will silently carve out my own destiny.
* * *
The academy's graduates were high-class personnel.
They confronted the Demon King's Army in various ways.
Typically, they were assigned to subordinate units within the Imperial Army.
It was a path that guaranteed rapid promotions and success.
But for those not suited for military life, there were more flexible paths to choose from.
Joining the knightly order of a great family, or gathering together to form a mercenary company.
Anyway.
Graduates belonging to these various groups gathered in one place.
The Demon King's Army's movements were unusual, but the event of visiting their alma mater was also important.
“Alright, shall we go meet our cute juniors?”
“I heard a rumor they're stronger than us.”
“Even so, they're still just kids.”
“It'll be a huge embarrassment if we lose to them. Everyone, stay sharp.”
In truth, it didn't really matter.
Losing to their juniors would leave a bitter taste, but that was fine in its own way.
Having experienced constant real combat.
The existence of powerful individuals on another level was essential.
If the juniors were truly strong, it would lessen their burden.
“If things go well, it might be a good idea to make a recruitment offer.”
They must be worried about deciding their career paths after graduation.
*Just trust me! I'll take care of everything for you, from A to Z!*
Everyone planned to entice the juniors with that kind of approach.
They had gone through the same thing with their seniors when they graduated.
It was a tradition unique to the Hero Academy.
Through this, a strong bond between seniors and juniors would be formed.
“Why isn't Maier here?”
“I heard he left ahead of us.”
“Tsk, looks like he's up to something again.”
As classmates, they knew each other well.
It wasn't the first or second time he had acted on his own.
It was tiring to worry about his every move.
And right now, catching up was more important than anything else.
“It's been a while, let's drink our fill!”
“How are things on your end?”
“Well, same as usual. If only we could just crush those bastards who deserve to be torn to shreds...”
Facing the Demon King's Army wasn't easy.
Dealing with the countless monsters was a problem.
But the trickiest part was none other than the demons themselves.
Demons were born with the magic of darkness.
Their physical abilities were also far superior to humans.
To face them, humanity had no choice but to send out its own top-tier warriors.
They hadn't gone all-out against each other yet.
But it felt like a great war was on the verge of breaking out...
“Perhaps... a Hero might emerge from this year's class.”
It was about time for that to happen.
They could only hope it would be decided soon.
If the Demon King's Army showed its true colors, they would need a central figure to stand against them.
The only existence capable of uniting humanity was the Hero.
“What if some weirdo gets chosen by the Holy Sword?”
“You always have to say something ominous. Give it a rest.”
“I hope they're strong, wise, and have a perfect personality. Then we could trust and follow them...”
“Does a person like that even exist in this world?”
“They could, couldn't they?”
Inwardly, everyone hoped for the appearance of a legendary Hero.
Only when the Hero defeated the Demon King would they be freed from this tiresome war.
They headed for their alma mater, holding onto a sliver of hope.
This year's class had many Hero candidates, so it wasn't strange to have high expectations.
* * *
The Hero Academy was bustling with noise every day.
The cause was battles breaking out here and there.
But today was a little different.
Because the graduates had visited as a group.
Young adults in their mid-twenties.
A hint of experience could be seen in them.
Having spent about five years on the front lines, they must be experts in that regard.
In any case, they had a lot of experience.
They would be more than qualified to teach their juniors.
Men in black suits moved about busily.
It was one of the few official academy events, so everyone was mobilized.
It seemed they planned to start with the A-rank and S-rank students.
The A-rank students took their seats with welcoming expressions.
Because the graduates' stories of their experiences would surely be helpful.
On the other hand, about half of the Hero candidates were absent.
It was because they were so free-spirited and prideful.
*It doesn't seem like it'll be very helpful.*
*They're seniors, but they can't be that much different from us, right?*
They were probably thinking along those lines and planning to do their own thing.
As a result, many of the front seats were empty.
I sat next to my little cutie, and Ceria joined us soon after.
To my left, my pet; to my right, my fiancée who would become my partner.
Nothing was strange up to this point, but what happened next was a bit delicate.
The Princess, the Saintess, the elf girl...
All three girls gathered around me.
“...”
The gender ratio here is way off, isn't it?
It seemed they had planned to skip it too, but showed up because I was here.
Hmm, anyone looking would think I had a harem.
The existing students weren't fazed.
But the reaction from the graduates visiting their alma mater for the first time in a while was exactly what I'd feared.
They stared at me intently.
The look of sheer envy on their faces was all too clear.
It might have been my imagination, but it seemed I was already drawing attention.
I wonder how this will turn out.
I can only hope it leads to something good.