Repeaters' Assault
At Pluwitch Academy, struggle and combat were the absolute basics of basics. You didn't even need to head to the training grounds—fights could break out in hallways or classrooms without issue. The real crime was getting caught up in one while spectating instead of dodging. Sure, if you fought tooth and nail in front of everyone, shrugging off the humiliation of potential defeat for a shot at victory, at least you'd have some honor. But ambushing someone during class break while they were trying to nap, then losing? Nothing more pathetic or embarrassing.
There was even a blatant subject called Sparring Practice that stoked competition among students, so fights were inevitable. Compared to other years, the current first-years were downright freakishly peaceful and quiet—practically mutants. Sure, with classrooms opening up and repeaters mixing in, there was a tense, watchful vibe. But most of the hatred and rage zeroed in on the [Graduating Class], so the first-years barely noticed.
That meant, conversely, anyone in the [Graduating Class] could get hit with a cheap shot ambush without so much as a hello. And sure enough, right after class ended and it was break time, Wiyu Witchcraft—dozing face-down on her desk, drool pooling—was ambushed by a first-year repeater!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Holy crap, she's mercilessly bashing her skull with a real sword!"
"Isn't the killing intent a bit much?"
"Even with the uniform, this is overkill!!"
She'd drawn a real blade, smashed through the classroom door, and swung down at her head! It was a clear sign of how furious she was over the special treatment guaranteeing graduation. But...
"Zzz..."
Wiyu, sprawled out drooling on the desk, wasn't fazed in the slightest.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
The sword couldn't even scratch a super-turtle wrapped in divine authority—you'd need at least aura to draw a nosebleed. Even after the blade chipped away and the edge bent, she didn't wake up... not even a single hair was cut. The repeater burst into tears.
"I want to graduate through effort too!!!!"
"Who’s really the bad guy here??"
"Anyway, Witchcraft's the problem, right?"
As the repeater assaults ramped up, the first-years felt... zero inconvenience!! Nobles weren't the only ones who got jumped by roadside bandits or assassins—commoners faced it too. The more you had, the more you were targeted; it was just how the world worked. So they treated the repeaters as free training dummies, silently thanking them for volunteering as classroom terrorists.
And as a bonus, they beat them down to farm points as vending machines for Wiyu Witchcraft's graduation score.
"Ah, this repeater senior's broke too."
"Coming without points is just rude, isn't it?"
It was turning into light entertainment for Wiyu's classmates when the actual victim started feeling more than uncomfortable—she was downright tormented.
"Those seniors just want to graduate too..."
"First-years who can't advance are usually screw-ups or sabotage victims anyway."
How was Wiyu Witchcraft—daughter of Aris Witchcraft—the type to ask why instead of getting mad when punched in the face on the street? Her senior Kaoru Ortokanna, who'd just folded the ambushing first-year repeater into a soccer ball, sighed.
"Can't believe I actually gave birth to something that hurts this much."
[Change] chimed in with a lament: if she'd been picked up off the street, she wouldn't be this surprising.
Come to think of it, she'd taken unexplained beatings from Ephemera Flash without complaint, just grumbling. Later, learning the full story, she'd shrugged it off and kept trying to chat her up with a grin, even when Ephemera got annoyed. Less witch, more giant puppy. Plus, after too long around women, she insisted she was a guy—but her speech and mannerisms were pure girly.
Unintentionally, she'd probably make a great meat shield if any male classmates asked nicely. A friendly bronze-skinned gal(?) witch with her ample chest always on display? Total treasure for any guy's youth pages. She even handed out homemade cookies and cakes from the cafe, plus occasional chocolates? The fact she didn't have a fan club was a miracle.
For the record, that's because starting one would get you killed by Aris Witchcraft.
"Look, basically—academy girls are straight-up like high school girls."
"High school girls... that super-strong human subspecies, right? I know from studying! Among office workers, high school girls are especially tough!"
"Your knowledge is skewed in a weird direction—and you're kinda in that category too?"
"What was that narration just now?!"
"Living like a lion born strong without training is arrogance, punk!!"
"I've never been born strong!!"
She protested the grave injustice, but it fell on deaf ears. She couldn't argue against the idea that enduring Minji's punches without training was pure talent.
"If only I had a sword!!"
"Endlessly claiming you're a guy while hunting for one is hardcore."
Frustrated, she swung a kitchen knife around, but the feel was all wrong—total letdown. Kaoru-senior didn't know her attack power sucked in practice spars, leading to daily losses. Tears streaming, Wiyu sobbed miserably, but her senior punched her face for being annoying.
The mushroom punch landed clean, spores bursting out as Wiyu howled and rolled across the floor, Greatsword Bruise a total mess.
"Torture on a dog!!"
"This is solidarity. Even if you don't hurt, your friends will—and that'll torment you."
"You're brutal...!"
Kaoru wiped Greatsword Bruise's snot-and-tear-streaked face with a handkerchief—while prodding her with her foot. She lectured that fighting was instinct, exploding inner emotions to smash foes. But Wiyu's only fights were chasing farm-raiding monsters—never proper win-lose bouts without killing. Utterly baffling.
"But if I can't control my strength, I'll kill them."
"Not my problem."
With that, Kaoru—who'd tagged along just to vent random violence since Wiyu mentioned frequent repeater ambushes—handed over a note from the [Divination] professor and left. Ten repeater-turned-mushroom-ball orbs were rolling down the hall today too.
"Alright! Let's hunt treasure hard today!"
"Yeah, already pumped."
Wiyu and Greatsword Bruise set out on patrol, map in hand from the professor's divination pinpointing academy treasures. Even knowing locations, other groups could snag them first—speed was key.
"Sniff sniff sniff."
"Do we need to sniff?"
"Professor's scent is the best lead."
Greatsword Bruise insisted treasures were planted by someone, so tracking unfamiliar smells ruled. Ignoring the map, she zeroed in on the exact spot in an empty classroom via scent alone.
"Hidden under here!"
Who'd stash one in a study room? As Greatsword Bruise pried the floor with her crowbar from her sleeve to grab it—
Beep beep— the wire snapped, blinding flash erupting.
"—A trap?!"
KABOOOOOM!!!!!!
Too slow to react. The blast turned the classroom into an inferno in seconds, screams echoing. Shattered glass rained into the hall from the shockwave. And the raging flames—magical, apparently—laughed off the sprinklers, spreading instead.
"Hahaha!! Gotcha!!"
As consciousness faded, Greatsword Bruise heard—a woman's gleeful laugh in her ear.
A repeater who'd preempted the [Graduating Class] treasure hunt, rigging a brutal bomb. Tsarara Diamond giggled with her first-year repeater crew, watching the blaze.
"Good thing uniforms prevent death."
The first-year repeater balked—this was straight-up bomb terrorism murder. She'd endured every academy hardship for over a year, knowing exact safety limits. Still, seeing flames fill the room hit different, even forewarned.
"Magic fire, no biggie—I can snuff it in one go."
Tsarara, ice-magic ace, snapped at them to prep for takedowns if anyone emerged. But no one kicked down the door.
"Knocked out by the blast?"
Even then, why did it look empty inside?
"Whoa, close call."
Mimicking "perception beyond cognition, as shown by outer god Sephiroth." Wiyu hadn't fully grasped it, but brute intuition and limitless power output faked it. Normally, that'd shred a witch—or god—across dimensions, but Wiyu was fine.
Greatsword Bruise in her arms stared blankly, oblivious even after ages. Frozen like time-stopped. Wiyu realized: Only I can bring her out safe.
"Guess holding on lets me protect her."
"Gasp..!"
She skipped to the safe classroom with a "cut." Hard to explain—like jumping scenes, background blurring past.
Greatsword Bruise jolted awake, flailing.
"We got caught in the explosion!! But why're we fine...?"
"Ah, dodged before it hit."
"Teleport or something?"
"Feels more high-dimensional..."
Too dumb to explain, Wiyu just begged her to get it. Greatsword Bruise nodded.
"Grr... Didn't expect traps like this."
"They were guarding so no one else entered, right?"
The repeaters had watched to spare bystanders. Wiyu had instinctively caught their sharp glares. Greatsword Bruise shot an you should've said something look, but if even she missed it, they were pros.
"You didn't notice?"
"Nope. So what about our treasure...?"
Rare scoring chance, collection boost—she drooped, ears flopping. Wiyu reassured her not to worry, peeking a "cut" toward the blaze.
"No bodies...? You sure they're okay?"
"Spaced out or teleported? Extra safeguards?"
"Huh? Where's the treasure?"
Tsarara Diamond, holding the bomb-safeguarded chest, scanned around. No one had approached, and she'd never dropped guard. Even knowing how it'd been swiped, stopping it? Impossible. Like 3D vs. 4D raid.
"Treasure! Treasure!!"
Collector bliss as Greatsword Bruise clutched it. Back to cool composure, she opened sub-space for her weapon.
"Guess no worries about the treasure's safety then."
Scent-marked and imprinted already.
"Behold: the legendary staff of the great dark mage hero, Trust."
"Ooh... magic revenge? Same explosion?"
"That's not elegant. Watch—the basics of magic, most famous spell."
Savage wrath smash incoming. Greatsword Bruise cracked the first-year repeater's skull, licking the staff's tears of defeat.
"Kyaaah!! Mad dog!!"
First- and second-year repeaters swarmed in a cowardly pack. Utterly outnumbered—but Greatsword Bruise's eyes sparkled at the point mob.
She checked with her friend; Wiyu smiled back.
"You're up, Greatsword Bruise. Teach 'em a lesson."
Staff in hand, she savagely chased the screaming repeater seniors. No escape once scented—she howled pursuit, pulverizing their pots. Venting Kaoru-beating stress in bloody violence, intense as hell.
"Agh..! Wait'll training camp...!!"
Tsarara glared at Wiyu mid-chaos, promising this wasn't over. Wiyu answered with a mouth-flame blast.