Volume 6
Chapter 13
While most of the academy, including the teachers, were enjoying their lunch break, Jihad and Inda were busy with work in the office.
"So, the Abyss
Grief from the other day is completely dead?"
"Yes, according
to Mr. Torgrein's report, all biological activity of the magic beast's remains,
including its magical essence and Ki, has stopped, and its body has crumbled to
ash. It seems to be due to it having used up all of its stored elemental essence."
Jihad listened to
Inda's report while engrossed in reading the thick documents in his hand. What
he was reading was the report on the interference experiment conducted on the
magic beast yesterday. Because it was a magic beast that was believed to be involved
in the great invasion ten years ago, not only researchers but also key figures
of Arcazam were present at the experiment site.
During the experiment,
the Abyss Grief had suddenly revived. The site had almost fallen into a state
of panic, but thanks to the hard work of Jihad and the soldiers, the situation
was quickly brought under control.
"...What is the
condition of the injured soldier?"
In that battle, one
soldier who had put his life on the line to prevent the Abyss Grief from
escaping had suffered a serious injury. Jihad must have been worried about that
soldier. His usual rugged expression was unshaken, but the way he looked up
from the documents and waited for Inda's words showed how much he cared about
his subordinate.
"The injured
soldier was immediately given a recovery spell and his wound was sealed, so
there are no major problems. He's scheduled to return to duty around noon
today."
Inda answered Jihad's
question with a smile on her face. Even she, who usually maintained a cold
demeanor, must have been genuinely happy that there were no casualties. A
slightly uplifted mood could be felt in her words.
"I see... Please
tell the injured soldier not to overdo it. Also, just in case, tell him to get
a check-up immediately if he feels anything is wrong with his body."
"Understood."
Jihad let out a sigh
of relief at Inda's words. But he immediately tightened his expression, and a
tense atmosphere once again filled the office. Inda, who felt that atmosphere,
also tightened her expression and changed her demeanor.
"What's the
situation with the people from the various countries?"
"A few people
fell and got injured during the evacuation, but all of them are minor injuries
and there are no problems. However, this incident will undoubtedly be reported
to the various countries."
The council members of
this city, who were selected from various countries, also served as envoys for
their respective countries. As Inda said, the recent incident would undoubtedly
be reported to the leaders and higher-ups of each country.
"It's fine to
send the information about the Abyss Grief that we learned from this incident.
After all, that's why we asked the council members to be present. The problem
is..."
"The magic beast
revived and caused a commotion. Those who don't think favorably of this city
might raise some criticism..."
As Jihad said, not
everyone had welcomed the construction of the city of Arcazam with open arms.
Some people who had lost their hometowns in the great invasion or whose
countries bordered the territory of the magic beasts believed that instead of
building a city like this, they should strengthen their military and
exterminate the magic beasts to reclaim the lost land. Moreover, such opinions
also came from countries that had not been directly affected by the great
invasion. These were based on various reasons, such as national security issues
and economic problems. The existence of this city, where various research was
being conducted with investment from various countries, was a place where
low-power countries could develop technology without hurting their finances,
but for powerful countries, it was also a place where technology that had been
developed could easily leak to other countries, and some people felt a sense of
crisis about that. There were many people who would seize any opportunity to
object to the purpose of this city's existence and plot its dismantling. Of
course, there were also people who were happy about the city's survival. It was
because of these people that the city could continue to exist.
This was a city on
thin ice, where the intentions of various countries were complexly intertwined.
That was the reality of Arcazam.
"However, that
possibility is not very high. We were able to quickly resolve the problem with
minimal damage, and above all, we were able to obtain valuable information
about the Abyss Grief. If they were to cause a commotion now, they would just
be attacking themselves."
That being said, the
revival of the Abyss Grief that had occurred this time was not a big problem.
This was because they were able to solve the problem with an extremely small
number of casualties—only one injured person—and they were able to obtain
valuable information about the Abyss Grief, which was still shrouded in
mystery, and immediately made it public to the various countries. Some people
would probably complain, but since the gains were so large, most countries
would not pursue responsibility for this incident.
"It was worth
having the council members present and disclosing all the information. Some
people might take action, but we'll have to leave that to Haibao-dono. We'll
just continue to do what we can."
Having concluded,
Jihad leaned back in his office chair. Once they had reached a conclusion,
Jihad began to put away the documents he had in his hand. After tidying up his
desk, he looked out the window where the sunlight was streaming in. Beyond the
window, he could see the white-shining school building of Solminati and the
bustling streets of Arcazam. He could also see students walking through the
corridors and the courtyard, and people who had gone up to the roofs to enjoy
the pleasant sunlight were eating their lunch there. A smile formed on his
lips. As he looked at such a commonplace scene, Jihad felt his heart lift up in
a way that was unbecoming of his age. It might have been because he knew just
how precious this scene was.
"There's a joint
class for the 3rd-grade, 1st and 2nd classes this afternoon. The lower grades
and the students from Ecross will be coming. As an instructor, I can't show
them anything pathetic."
"I don't think
students would be a problem for Jihad-dono... There's still a mountain of
things we want you to do. Even if you say such a thing, this academy will not
let you go."
Perhaps Inda felt the
same way as Jihad. She, who never broke her cold expression, was also smiling
faintly.
"Does that mean
my retirement is still a long way off? Good grief, I'm getting to an age where
things are getting a little tough..."
"What are you
talking about, someone who can overwhelm that Abyss Grief? Besides, this
academy has no time to give a rest to someone who can instruct those who have
the skill but lack the experience."
Even though her words
were nonchalant, her voice was somewhat warm. And then a quiet silence flowed.
It was a moment of rest. It was only for a short time, but it was a time when
they could naturally smile.
"Um...
Jihad-dono. If I may, would it be alright if I asked you a question?"
"A question? What
is it?"
It was Inda's hesitant
voice that broke the silence.
"It's about the
afternoon class today. Why did you have them participate in the joint class
with the 1st and 2nd classes at a time like this, when the lower grades and
students from Ecross are coming to observe?"
Jihad immediately
understood who she was referring to.
"You saw the
results of the special comprehensive exercise the other day, right? This is to
confirm whether those results were a coincidence or not."
"Yes, I
understand the purpose behind that. However, why was this item added at the end
of the class?"
Inda herself had
thoroughly analyzed and understood the results of the special comprehensive
exercise. The purpose of the joint class, which had been implemented since the
3rd grade, was to provide a more practical and realistic training and to
develop overall strength in all situations. Therefore, there was no problem
with a 10th-class student joining a higher-ranked class. Fighting between
people with a clear difference in skill was also incorporated into this class.
However, that was scheduled to be done much later. Right now, they were in the
stage of getting the students used to it, and they were trying to avoid pairing
people with such a large skill gap.
However, what caught
Inda's attention even more was the subject that had been suddenly added to this
class the day before. The subject that was added was too far from the purpose
of the joint training.
"But isn't this
too reckless and pointless? It doesn't fit the purpose of the joint class. Why
here? If you want to test that student's ability, aren't there other
ways?"
"...Ms. Anri said
that it was necessary not only for that student but also for the other
students, especially the lower grades."
"...What do you
mean?"
Inda's expression
became even sterner when she heard Anri's name. She herself did not doubt Anri
Var's ability, but she had always been concerned about her overly gentle
personality, which tended to make her favor students too much.
"I don't know.
But the incident where the Abyss Grief was first discovered in this town, I
myself was curious about that student. This is a good opportunity. I'll confirm
it."
Jihad decided on the
matter, ignoring Inda, who had a puzzled look on her face. Inda stood in
silence for a while, but she understood that Jihad had no intention of changing
his decision. The questions remained, but it couldn't be helped. With those
thoughts in mind, she resumed her work.
***
The lunch break was
over, and the afternoon classes were about to begin. Nozomu and Mars were now
standing in the training ground known as the " Martial Arts Garden "
in this academy. It was a space so large that it could accommodate multiple
classes. This was no different from the training grounds Nozomu and the others
usually used. However, the surroundings of the training ground were built with
tiered spectator seats, creating an atmosphere like that of an arena. In fact,
this "Martial Arts Garden" was also used to invite people from
outside the academy to show them the students competing against each other. It
was used for festival-like events as well as a place for important people who
came to scout for talent from various countries to evaluate the students'
potential. In other words, it was one of the "faces" of this academy.
"This is..."
"Amazing..."
Nozomu and Mars let
out voices of admiration. On the central field, which would serve as the stage,
students from the 1st and 2nd classes had already gathered, and they were all
diligently preparing. But what surprised Nozomu and the others the most were
the figures of the lower grades and the students from Ecross sitting in the
spectator seats and watching them. The arena, which was usually deserted, was
now bustling like the night before a festival.
"But why are we
here?"
"Judging from
what Anri-sensei said, it's because of the results of the special comprehensive
exercise the other day, right? Jin and the others are here too..."
Mars replied in a
casual tone to Nozomu, who was questioning why they were here. Next to the two
of them, who had come to the arena, were Jin and the others, who had been in the
same party during the special comprehensive exercise.
"That's true,
but... I don't understand why we're being made to participate in a place where
the lower grades are watching."
As Nozomu said, this
was something they had been told about suddenly today. It was fine for the
lower grades and students from Ecross to come and observe the joint class of
the 1st and 2nd classes. Showing them the figures of the excellent
upperclassmen would lead to an increase in their motivation to learn, and it
would be a great opportunity for them to learn the fighting techniques of the
upperclassmen. In fact, Nozomu and the others had also observed the
upperclassmen fighting a few times.
But they didn't understand
the reason for having students from the lowest class participate in that place.
The difference in skill between the upper and lowest class was obvious. A
normal person would think that it would only serve as a warning. At least,
Nozomu felt that it was not a very appropriate choice to get the students
motivated. Well, it's not like he hadn't considered that they were trying to
increase their motivation in the opposite sense by showing them the difference
in skill between the upper and lower class. In other words, they would show
them the sight of Nozomu and the others being beaten down and say, "You
guys, if you don't want to end up like this, work your butts off!"
Well, in either case,
the result would be counterproductive if done poorly. Whether it was to
increase motivation or to warn them, balance was important. And it was the
teachers and instructors who were supposed to adjust that balance skillfully.
Nozomu looked at the
opposite side of the arena. There, Jihad, Inda, and Anri, who were in charge of
this class, were discussing something. However, Anri was actively talking to
Jihad and the others, explaining something with large gestures. He didn't feel
any sense of hesitation from her.
"From the way
Anri-sensei is acting over there, it doesn't seem like it's for that
reason..."
"But it
definitely looks like something big."
Near Jihad and the
others, who were discussing things, Norn-sensei, who was usually in the infirmary,
was also present. In her hand, she had a large bag that probably contained
medical equipment. It was likely that there had been a request from above for
this drill.
Anri-sensei, who
noticed Nozomu's gaze, waved her hand cheerfully. Although she was a woman who
never stopped smiling, Nozomu felt that her smile now looked even happier than
usual. Nozomu gave a small bow in response to Anri's waving. But Anri didn't
seem to like Nozomu's response, and this time she started waving both of her
hands and hopping.
Such a childish
gesture. Naturally, the students of the 1st and 2nd classes around her, not to
mention the lower grades in the spectator seats, could all see her. The strange
gazes of the people around them were not only focused on Anri, but also on
Nozomu and the others, who she was waving at.
"H-hello..."
Nozomu forced a wry
smile at the gazes that were all focused on them at once. Anri was still trying
to appeal to Nozomu about her presence. Her long skirt flared out as she
hopped. Her skirt, which covered her ankles completely, didn't flip up too much
even when she hopped. But Anri's childish gesture, which was contrary to her
ladylike appearance, attracted the attention of the men, and her pure white
calves, which peeked out, captivated their gazes. A certain kind of
"lust" began to appear in the eyes of the male students who were
looking at her.
If he didn't give her
a satisfactory response, she might do something even more daring. Without
considering how much her own charm would affect those around her.
Nozomu, thinking that
it was definitely not a good idea, waved back at her with a big wave. It took a
bit of courage to wave in front of such a large crowd, but Anri seemed
satisfied with Nozomu's response. She showed an especially bright smile and
went back to her discussion with Jihad and the others.
Nozomu, who had been
tense because he was curious about why they had been called here, completely
relaxed at Anri's innocent behavior.
"Ha, ha ha
ha..."
Mars spoke to the
relaxed Nozomu.
"Well, it's true
that the reason we were called here is a bit strange, but there's no point in
worrying about it now, is there? I don't know what they're thinking, but I
don't think we can do anything about it."
"Yeah, that's
true. Thanks, Mars."
In response to
Nozomu's thanks, Mars shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "Don't worry
about it." He then looked at Jin and the others next to them.
"So, are you guys
okay?"
"I-I'm
fine..."
Jin and the others let
out trembling voices with slightly tense expressions. Nozomu, who had tilted
his head, called out to them.
"What's wrong?"
"N-no, we don't
usually use a place like this, do we?"
"And we don't
usually go in front of so many people. So I'm a little nervous..."
Not only Hamlia, the
quiet mage, but also Deck, the lancer, Tommy, the swordsman, and even Cami, who
had challenged Nozomu during the special comprehensive exercise, were all
tense.
"W-well, I guess
so..."
Nozomu also fell
silent as he looked around. Indeed, as Jin and the others said, unlike the higher-ranked
students like Irisdina and Tima, Nozomu and the others, who were in the 10th-class,
had almost no opportunities to appear in front of such a large crowd. It was no
wonder they were nervous.
"Nozomu."
"You've
come."
At that moment, clear
voices like bells rang in Nozomu's ears. When they turned around, they saw a
black-haired girl and a long-eared elf. Next to them were Tima and Mimuru.
"It seems we're
also going to participate..."
Feo put his arm around
Nozomu's shoulder as he shrugged.
"That's great.
I'm happy. I couldn't have a proper fight with you during the special
comprehensive exercise because that Kevin guy interfered."
Nozomu forced a wry
smile at Feo, who was genuinely smiling happily.
"I'd rather pass
on that. You're a tough opponent..."
"Why so
cold..."
Feo pouted, as if he
was dissatisfied with Nozomu's answer.
Irisdina, who had been
watching them, approached them with a smile.
"Fufu...
Actually, I'm looking forward to it too. I've had many spars with Nozomu, but
this is the first time in front of so many people. Somia is also here to watch,
and as a member of the Francilt family, I can't show anything pathetic, so I
think I can take this class with a different feeling than usual."
"I- I'm not really into that..."
Saying that, Irisdina
glanced at the spectator seats. When Nozomu followed her gaze, he saw boys and
girls who were about the same age as Somia. They were probably the children
from Ecross who had come to observe. Next to them, students in the same
uniforms as Nozomu and the others were sitting in the spectator seats, talking
and occasionally pointing at them. They were probably the underclassmen from
the 1st and 2nd classes. Everyone's eyes were sparkling as they were captivated
by this huge Martial Arts Garden and the upperclassmen standing in the field.
In particular, their gazes were focused on Irisdina, Tima, and Lisa, who had
reached A-rank in the 3rd-grade 1st-class, and Jihad
Raundel, who was a more skilled person than them and one of the leading
swordsmen on the continent.
Even when she was
bathed in the countless gazes from her surroundings, Irisdina did not break her
usual dignified expression. On the other hand, Tima, who was not good at being
in front of people, looked a little pale. She was also one of the people counted
among the top of the 3rd-grade. The number of gazes directed at her
was also appropriate for that, and she was even more timid than usual.
"You don't need
to worry about the people around you. You'll be just fine."
"E-even if you
say that..."
Mars said that to her,
but her expression was still not good. Even though there were some difficulties
with her control, Tima's magic was undoubtedly top-class in this academy. If
she were to show it to the lower grades, even a less powerful spell would be
enough. So Mars thought there was no need for her to be so nervous, but she was
probably still afraid of the countless gazes. Tima was shrinking her body as if
she was afraid.
"Hey,
Tima..."
"W-what?"
Mars silently tapped
the greatsword on his back and slowly approached Tima.
"You'll be fine.
Have some confidence. You were able to teach me, who is a slow learner, all
that. You can do it easily if you just calm down."
Mars whispered softly
so that only Tima could hear. He was probably talking about the magic lectures
that had been going on for a while. Indeed, since she had started teaching Mars
magic, he had been slowly acquiring magic techniques that he had neglected
until now. The fact that she was able to teach him, who wasn't very good at
studying, meant that Tima understood the theory of magic properly.
At Mars's
encouragement, she looked up at him, still shrinking her body. Mars was smiling
with a fearless grin on his face, even as he was being looked at with contempt
by the people around him. He glanced at the students from other grades around
them as if to say, "Just watch." Tima, who could not think as
arrogantly as Mars, pouted with a slightly dissatisfied expression at his
words.
"...You make it
sound so easy."
"But it is easy,
isn't it?"
Mars shrugged his
shoulders at Tima, who said that with a slightly sullen tone.
"Gosh..."
Tima slumped her
shoulders in exasperation at Mars, who wouldn't change his attitude. But the tension
had somehow left her shoulders.
And then there were
those who were looking at Mars and Tima with a smug smile.
"What?"
Mars, who had noticed
their gaze, glared at the people who were peeking at them with a side-eye. In
Mars's line of sight were two beastmen who loved this kind of topic more than
three meals a day. They had a smug grin on their faces, as if they had found a
favorite toy and were thinking of something nasty. They were like carnivores
about to pounce on their prey.
"Nothing~. By the
way, you two..."
And finally, the
hungry beast was about to pounce on its fresh prey.
But the next moment, a
shadow rushed toward Feo and Mimuru like a gust of wind. Mars was surprised by
the shadow that suddenly appeared in front of him. As he blinked in a daze, a
single elf girl was standing with her back to Mars. She had a slender, clean
back without any wasted motion. But what caught Mars's eye was the thing she
was holding up with both of her hands. The two beastmen who had just been
making fun of him were trembling occasionally and looking up at the sky with a
vacant expression.
What kind of swift
move was that? Shina's hands were firmly holding down the faces of the two
beastmen, and her slender fingers were digging into their temples with a
cracking sound.
"You two, it
seems that no matter what I say, it's useless..."
Perhaps it was because
they had caused her so much trouble. Shina had immediately resorted to physical
force without a word of warning as she had done before.
Mimuru and Feo were
silenced without a single word. The two of them were twitching uncontrollably,
unable to make a sound.
Where did such
strength come from her slender body? Mars, who was hit by the unusual anger
coming from her back, slumped his shoulders, his anger from earlier completely
gone.
"Hmm?"
At that moment, Nozomu
heard the sound of multiple footsteps. When he looked in the direction of the
footsteps, he saw a familiar black-haired girl running toward him.
"Nozomu-san!
Hello! And... what's wrong?!"
What came into Somia's
eyes when she came running up to them were the two beastmen, who were looking
up at the sky with a vacant expression at the feet of Shina, who was standing
like a guardian.
"Kuh, even if you
stop us here..."
"As long as
there's a good scoop in this world, a second and third us will appear eventually..."
"............"
Shina didn't even
reply to Mimuru and Feo, who were making a last stand, and once again reached
for their foreheads. And once again, a discordant sound echoed. The cracking
and creaking sounds were very bad for education.
Nozomu tried to get in
between Shina and Somia and change the subject, but his voice was strained and
sounded strangely theatrical.
"S-Somia-chan,
why are you here...? Oh, right, the students from Ecross are here, too."
Somia nodded
cheerfully at Nozomu, who was desperately trying to change the subject, and
said, "Yes!" It seemed she had decided not to comment on the tragedy
unfolding behind her. She was a well-behaved girl. Although it was also
possible that she just brushed it off as something that happens all the time.
"But Somia-chan,
the students from Ecross are over there in the spectator seats..."
"Oh, it's okay. I
remember the way perfectly! I knew my sister was going to be in this, but I
also saw Nozomu-san and the others, so I thought I'd come say hello."
The students who came
from Ecross naturally had teachers to lead them. The fact that their teacher
wasn't around meant that Somia had probably sneaked away from her teacher's
watchful eye.
"Good grief, what
a mischievous young lady..."
"Hehe..."
Somia stuck out her
tongue and gave Nozomu a mischievous smile. Irisdina also put her hand on her
forehead and looked up at the sky.
Irisdina, who was
exasperated by her sister's behavior, quickly pulled herself together and told
Somia to go back.
"Goodness, this
girl... Your classmates must be worried, so go back to them immediately."
"Okay~! Oh, and
Nozomu-san. Do you know these people? I met them on my way here, and it seems
they were looking for you..."
"Huh?"
Following Somia's
words, four students in the same uniforms as Nozomu appeared.
"You
guys..."
Nozomu and Irisdina
recognized them. They were the first-grade students who had been attacked by
the orcs in the forest yesterday. One of the boys among them took a step
forward. Nozomu remembered the face of the boy who was standing in front of
him. He had a well-proportioned face and brown hair. He was probably their
party leader, Eldor.
"Eldor-kun...?"
Nozomu muttered as if
to confirm. Eldor nodded slightly in response to his words.
"Y-yes! That's
right."
The reason Nozomu
couldn't definitively say that the underclassman in front of him was Eldor was
because his appearance was so different from yesterday.
"What happened to
your hair?"
The hair that had been
carelessly styled was cut short, leaving a short brown buzz cut on his head.
Furthermore, he had
taken off all the accessories he had been wearing, and his uniform was not
disheveled at all, with the collar buttoned up tightly.
"W-well, after
yesterday, I wanted to change myself... So I thought I'd start with my
appearance..."
Nozomu's voice still
held a hint of confusion at Eldor's completely changed atmosphere. On the other
hand, Eldor seemed to be nervous and was fumbling with his words.
"Nozomu, who are
they...?"
"I met them
during a quest yesterday. A lot of things happened."
Mars and the others,
who didn't know who Eldor and the others were, called out to Nozomu. Since
there wasn't much time, Nozomu briefly explained what had happened yesterday.
"I'm truly sorry
for all the trouble I caused yesterday..."
Eldor seemed to
remember his own actions and words from yesterday, and he scratched his short
hair with an embarrassed expression.
"U-um, are you
participating in this class, too, Nozomu-senpai?"
"Y-yeah. For some
reason, I was suddenly told to join today."
"I knew it! But I
guess it's only natural. I just heard that being in the top 10 in the special
comprehensive exercise is definitely a top-class achievement!"
Eldor was talking to
Nozomu with a slightly excited look. Nozomu involuntarily took a step back at
his enthusiasm.
"I-is that
so...?"
"It is! You
survived a chaotic battle with so many different classes, so it's only natural
that you'd get attention. And... Ah?!"
While Eldor was still
talking, the bell for class rang. The other students who were participating in
the class gathered in the center of the field.
"It looks like
it's time. Eldor-kun, I'm sorry, but it's time for you to..."
"Understood,
we'll go back to the spectator seats. Then, Nozomu-san, everyone. Please excuse
us."
Eldor and the others
bowed and went back to the spectator seats. After seeing them off, Nozomu and
the others also hurried to the gathering spot. The gazes of the 1st and 2nd
class’s students were all focused on Nozomu and the others.
Why are they
here?
Everyone there was
tilting their heads at the appearance of people they clearly thought were out
of place.
"Why are the
lowest of the low here? And all the other bottom feeders, too. Are you guys
lost?"
The first to
"welcome" Nozomu, who had arrived at the gathering spot, was the
party of Kevin Ardinal, the young man of the silver wolf tribe. However, the
words he said were far from a welcome. Kevin, who mocked Nozomu and despised the
weak, was throwing sharp words at Nozomu and Mars again.
As if to agree with
him, the gazes of the students around them began to mix with contempt. Mars's
face instantly turned red with anger. But Nozomu, for his part, was completely
unfazed by Kevin's words, as if they were just wind blowing past his ears. He
glanced at Kevin, who had his arms crossed and a smug grin on his face, and
then returned his gaze to the front, as if to show he didn't care.
Nozomu was used to
this kind of treatment. And more importantly, he had something more important
to worry about.
Nozomu looked around
at the gazes and whispers of doubt and contempt that were gathering around him.
And from among them, he found the figures of the red-haired girl. Her gaze
intersected with Nozomu's. The next moment, her eyes wavered greatly.
"Nozomu..."
Irisdina, who had been
watching them from behind, let out a small voice. Her hand, which was placed on
her chest, was clenched tightly without her even realizing it.
"Tch...! Hey, are
you listening?! This isn't a place for you. Know your place and get out of here
right now..."
Kevin, who happened to
catch sight of Irisdina's expression, irritably closed in on Nozomu. Kevin
grabbed Nozomu by the collar and tried to force him out.
But at that moment, a
voice like cold water being thrown on a heated place echoed through the arena.
"That's enough,
Kevin Ardinal. The class is about to begin. All of you, line up."
It was Inda-sensei,
the homeroom teacher of the 2nd-class, who called out to them in a
scolding tone. The students, who had come to their senses at her appearance,
immediately lined up. But Kevin, who was not satisfied, didn't care that his
opponent was a teacher and went up to Inda-sensei.
"Wait a minute.
Isn't this strange? Why are these bottom feeders with us..."
"I gave them
permission."
A profound voice
echoed through the Martial Arts Garden. The voice, which had the dignity of an
old tree that had weathered many years, captivated everyone in the arena with
just a single word. Jihad Raundel, the owner of the voice, slowly looked
around.
"They had
excellent results in the special comprehensive exercise the other day.
According to the report, they were able to hold their own in a chaotic battle
that included you, Francilt, and Hounds. There is nothing wrong with them being
here."
"Tch...!"
Kevin was
short-tempered. But because he respected strength, he would obediently listen
to Jihad, who was on a higher level than him. And what Jihad said was true. The
6th place overall that Nozomu and the others had achieved in the special
comprehensive exercise could not be erased. And this was an academy where skill
was valued. Kevin clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction, but he didn't confront
Nozomu any further.
Nozomu let out a big
sigh of relief as he was released from the gazes of the people around him. He
was used to the contemptuous looks from his surroundings, and it was true that
he didn't have the time to care about them right now.
At that moment, Nozomu
noticed that Inda, who was in front of him, was staring at him intently. Nozomu
himself had almost no acquaintance with this teacher, but he fully understood
that she didn't like him. It was because her eyes were the exact opposite of
Anri's, who always watched over them. But for some reason, the averseness in
her eyes seemed to have faded. Nozomu tilted his head at the color of her eyes,
which was different from the look she had given him when he reported the Abyss
Grief.
"Um... Is
something wrong?"
"No, it's
nothing. You all hurry up and get in line. The bell for class has already
rung."
Inda turned on her
heel and went back to Jihad's side. While watching her back, Nozomu also
hurried to line up with everyone else.
Although there was a
bit of trouble before the start, the class itself was conducted without any
problems. Multiple parties were formed, transcending the grade level, and
competed with their techniques. The performances of the A-rank students,
including Irisdina, were especially amazing.
Irisdina skillfully
used close and long-range magic to toy with multiple opponents like fireflies
in the dark. Tima used a single magic spell to crush all of her opponents'
magic and Ki techniques. Kevin fully utilized his outstanding martial arts and
the unique agility of beastmen to trample his opponents' parties in an instant.
Ken, who manipulated his specialty, water-attribute magic, with great dexterity
to adapt to his opponents, and Lisa, who used a momentary explosive power to
shatter her opponents' defenses.
The underclassmen in
the spectator seats let out voices of admiration at their skills, which were on
a different level from the other students. Of course, the other students were
not defeated and were showing skills that were worthy of the upper grades of
the 3rd grade.
Among them, the
members of the 10th-class, including Nozomu, were standing out.
Mars, who originally had a lot of strength, was surprisingly using a lot of
magic. He used magic for barriers and to restrain his opponents as much as
possible to conserve his Ki, and then finished them off with his specialty, Ki
techniques. He wasn't using any combined techniques, and there were many
openings when he switched between magic and Ki techniques, but even so, Mars
had polished his techniques to a point where he could use them to some extent.
Jin and the others
also showed a surprising performance that went against everyone's expectations.
Although they couldn't use powerful magic or Ki techniques, they somehow
managed to stick to the movements of the higher-ranked students with their
excellent teamwork. Jin and the others used fast-casting elementary magic to
restrain their opponents' movements and then hit them with a powerful blow.
Because of the difference in skill, a single attack would have almost no
effect, but by linking their movements together without stagnation, they were
able to hold their opponents down. They couldn't win because of the difference
in their fundamental strength, but their opponents were exasperated by their
persistence, which was like that of leeches.
Until now, students
from the 10th-class had never shown such a tenacious fight against
the 1st and 2nd classes. The lower grades who were watching the upperclassmen
from the arena, especially the lower-grade students, were voicing their
surprise at Jin and the others' performance.
The 10th-class
students were showing remarkable performance. Among them, Nozomu was for some
reason being held by Anri-sensei outside the field.
"Um, Anri-sensei.
Why do I have to wait here? Mars and Jin are participating in the mock
battles..."
"It's okay, it's
okay, just leave it to me~!"
Nozomu was made to sit
in a corner of the arena. He gave a puzzled look to Anri, who was smiling
brightly and puffing out her chest. What in the world was she thinking? This
class was meant to be a practical battle with people of different strengths
mixed together. If he didn't participate in the matches, the class would be
meaningless...
Nozomu sighed and
looked down.
"Nozomu, if
you're not going to participate in the class, why don't you just go home?"
Nozomu looked up at
the sudden voice and saw one of his childhood friends looking down at him.
"Ken..."
"............"
Ken glared at Nozomu
with eyes as if he were looking at an enemy. His mouth was twisted in an ugly
way, and his displeasure was clearly visible. The two of them didn't say a word
to each other as their gazes crossed.
Eventually, Ken opened
his mouth to say something. But no matter what he said, Nozomu had no intention
of backing down. He had decided to end this twisted relationship in a way that
would lead to a future.
But the next moment, a
clueless voice, which was out of place in the tense atmosphere, echoed through
the arena.
"Alright, that's
enough~! Nozomu-kun, get ready soon~."
Nozomu slumped his
shoulders at the clueless voice, which couldn't help but make the listener feel
drained. The tension had been so high that he couldn't easily regain his focus.
Nozomu gave Anri a side-eye, thinking that at least this much was okay.
"Hmm~? What's
wrong~?"
"...No, it's
nothing."
But it had no effect
on Anri. Furthermore, her clueless expression exacerbated his loss of focus.
At least, please
read the room.
Nozomu couldn't say
that, so he reluctantly changed the subject.
"So, Anri-sensei.
What do you mean by 'get ready'..."
"Mock battles are
over! Everyone, get out of the field for now."
When Nozomu tried to
pull himself together and ask Anri, Inda's voice echoed through the arena. The
students followed her voice and left the central field.
After confirming that
everyone was outside, Inda-sensei slowly opened her mouth.
"Now then. This
is the last subject of this class. The content is a mock battle with Mr. Jihad
Raundel, the S-rank swordsman that this academy is proud of."
As if in response to
Inda's words, Jihad slowly started walking toward the center of the field. His
presence, wearing the white armor made of mithril silver and the greatsword
"Jaw Breaker" on his back, was truly that of a hero.
But what also caught
their attention were the greatsword and the huge tower shield he had in both of
his hands, which were different from his Jaw Breaker. He walked to the center
of the field and stuck his Jaw Breaker, which was on his back, into the ground.
A murmur spread throughout the Martial Arts Garden.
He was a hero from ten
years ago, and his name was known by everyone on the continent. He was one of
the most important people in Arcazam. The opportunity to have a bout with such
a person was extremely rare. Due to his position, he was extremely busy, and he
didn't have many opportunities to teach at this academy. The opportunity to
receive direct instruction from him was even rarer. This was a great
opportunity to test their own skills and to show their strength to those around
them.
"Hehe... This is
great."
Kevin clenched his
fist with a fearless grin on his face. He was undoubtedly excited about this
upcoming opponent. He was glaring at Jihad with eyes that were so combative he
looked as if he was about to pounce on him.
But Kevin wasn't the
only one who was excited. The 3rd-grade students who were participating in this
class were eager to make the most of this rare opportunity, and the
underclassmen in the spectator seats were cheering at the sight of the hero and
his sword techniques they were about to witness.
"The first
opponent is... um, well..."
Inda tried to read out
the name of the first opponent. But her hesitant expression and the words that
got stuck in her throat made the excited students' faces change to a puzzled
look.
Jihad, who was
standing in the center of the arena, took over for the faltering Inda. But the
next words he said stunned everyone in the arena.
"Nozomu Bountis.
You're up."
"Huh?"
"What?!"
The 3rd-grade students
were speechless. For anyone who knew Nozomu's reputation, this choice was
impossible. Nozomu himself was also at a loss for words.
"Yes, Nozomu-kun.
It's your turn~."
But Anri, who was next
to Nozomu, pushed his back hard, shoving him into the center of the arena.
"W-wait,
Anri-sensei?!"
"Nozomu-kun, you
haven't participated in any mock battles, so you have plenty of Ki~. And since
your opponent is Jihad-sensei, you can do things that are different from
usual~."
"Does that
mean..."
From the very
beginning...
The words that Nozomu
was about to say never left his mouth. Before he knew it, Nozomu had been
pushed into the center of the arena. In front of him was Jihad, holding a huge
shield and a greatsword.
"Do your
best~!"
Anri, with a little
smile on her face, turned on her heel and went back to her original spot. The
next moment, a wall of light appeared, surrounding Nozomu and Jihad.
"This is..."
"This is the
magical barrier installed in this arena. It was installed in this Martial Arts
Garden to prevent damage to the surroundings and to protect the people in the
spectator seats. It would be impossible to break through with a half-baked
spell."
Even a regular
training ground used a technique to prevent the aftershocks of a battle from
spreading. But the technique used in this Martial Arts Garden was on a
different level from that of other training grounds. The magical barrier that
covered the field was not just one layer, and the spectator seats were designed
to be able to deploy multiple barriers all the way to the edge of the Martial
Arts Garden.
Various architectural
techniques were also introduced when the facility was built, and the strength
of the entire facility was increased by layering reinforced stone materials and
iron cores. Apparently, the funds introduced to build this one arena were
enough to build a castle. In other words, it meant that they were conducting
training that required such reinforcement here.
This Martial Arts
Garden, which could only be used by some of the top students, was truly a
facility that could be called the culmination of the latest technology that
existed on the continent.
"Now then, shall
we begin?"
The young boy and the
middle-aged swordsman faced each other. Jihad's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's,
speaking of the years and experience he had accumulated. Nozomu, who was being
looked at with such eyes, felt as if the very depths of his heart were being
seen through.
The tension was
rising. The pounding of his heart, which was ringing in his ears, began to beat
faster along with the tightening air. It was a sign of the beginning of a
battle. But at the same time, he felt a strange sensation that was different
from the tension of a battle. It was a sense of nostalgia, like when he had
stumbled upon a memento he thought was lost forever.
But before he could
find an answer to that déjà vu, Inda rang the starting bell.
And the battle between
Arcazam's strongest swordsman and the biggest failure the Solminati Academy had
ever seen began.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
Geral Aponso
MaxKne
[Gold]
B random
DavidA
Nepheos
ShitaiNoKootoRyuu
[Silver]
1EYED_SLOTH
Creris
Fred A.
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Matthew Fraser
Anton Lim
Crushingon
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Joe Smith
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
