Chapter 64
Kwah-jij! ?Koo-goong!
Kwah-gwa-gak??!!
At the time when the sun hangs perfectly at the center of the sky.
The vast Mock Battle Arena is filled with phenomena created by the members of Arbol Frutal.
?Alicia! I need you on the right!
?Got it, I’m on my way!
Not just the usual members of ‘Root,’ but also the 32 members of the Large Research Society (now missing Tigres). Though not everyone, most of the Students with Free Time are engaged in duels.
If it were quiet, that would be the real oddity.
“Hmmm….”
I slowly observed them, reading the flow of the battlefield.
Divided into two teams, they are fiercely engaged in a full-on battle reminiscent of a Class Battle.
Each side raises their skills to the maximum, focused on defeating the opponent in front of them.
A woman with shining white hair glistening in the sunlight, Alicia, is expertly overpowering her opponents. Her movements are swift and precise, flowing like a dance without any awkwardness.
Serena and Bantlo are unleashing arrows wrapped in their auras against each other… Emily is holding her own, in her own way. Finn, well, considering he’s wearing Helion’s relic, I’d say he’s not doing too badly.
Surprisingly, Frieda is also putting in a lot of effort, not hiding her fox-like traits, selectively hunting only those opponents she can defeat. It’s a very much her-style approach to combat.
?Kkeu, kkaaa!!
?Isn’t this cheating?!
However, the main focus of my attention isn’t the members of Root. Centered in the chaos is Second Year Oscel Victoria Francesca.
With a mere flick of her finger, she manipulates the entire battlefield. Currently, the fourth-year seniors are absent, and my mana is severely restricted. She is the de facto ruler of this place, recognized as the second strongest among the second-year students.
Clink. Clink.
The area around Francesca is filled with the clattering of bone joints colliding. Her noble eyes and radiant blonde hair remain still. Protecting the esteemed one, countless Skeleton Soldiers follow her directions.
Kaaang??!
Alicia begins to clash with one of her soldiers.
Naturally, after a few exchanged strikes, the soldier’s head shattered against Alicia’s sword, but with their numbers, it’s becoming troublesome.
“…….”
As Alicia’s sword mercilessly takes down her soldiers, Francesca’s mood seems to sour. She steps forward and injects additional mana into them.
Zwaang?!
A blue aura envelops all the soldiers’ weapons.
Their movements became even faster, and their power escalated. This meant that the soldiers’ strength could be adjusted.
The tide of battle completely shifted.
“Monster bones….”
Upon closer inspection, it’s not just human-shaped bones, but also those of monsters. I can’t help but stare at them.
By the way, that small cute bone monster belongs to the rodent family in animal terms.
…Ah, wait. That’s not it.
Speaking of Francesca, she is one of the four main heroines of this story. To put it another way, she can be seen as part of Liam’s harem.
‘Spirit Summoner Francesca’
Though she belongs to the same dark magic category as me, which might suggest she should side with the villains, she is undeniably a heroine and a significant ally to Liam, rivaling even Alicia.
She was clearly the heroine and as significant as Alicia, a strong assistant to Liam.
Well… only after the beginning of the story, that is.
At the start, she had no connection with Liam. They weren’t in the same year, part of the same research society, or had overlapping classes.
And then, just like that, they passed each other with no interaction.
First-Year Second Semester Festival Episode.
Francesca meets Liam during that incident where Frieda and Liam were in conflict.
For a rather tempting reason, of course.
*Haaah!*
“Huh?”
While I was retracing information about Francesca, one of the members from the group, seeing a gap in my defense, lunged at me with his sword.
However, there was no way an effective attack could land. The guy’s sword was blocked by “Dukki,” who surged up from within my shadow.
I had just utilized Dukki in various forms yesterday, but originally, it was intended solely for protection against physical attacks. What a lovely and grateful little guy! He knows how to protect his master without even being commanded.
“I don’t recall teaching you to just stand around when your attack is blocked. Shouldn’t you be looking for another method or creating some distance? You ought to be doing something, you fool.”
Not particularly pleased with the man’s reaction towards me, I gently provided some feedback.
Fortunately, since I passed him, he didn’t drop his spirits but quickly regained his composure and squinted his eyes, going for an additional strike.
He wasn’t someone with a rotten determination. I had already filtered out such folks long ago.
That aside…
“I didn’t tell you to scowl.”
“Eh…?”
I forcefully threw a high-density gas compressed into the shape of a basketball into his abdomen. He let out a groan, spitting liquid from his mouth in a rather disgusting manner.
Looks like that hit.
It had been a while since I manifested my mana as elemental magic instead of a curse. It wasn’t smooth. Due to the powerful effect of the relic, it should have formed the orb of wind concurrently with the thought, but it took a whole 2 seconds to take shape.
And the completeness of that was quite unsatisfactory.
It’s definitely uncomfortable. The mana consumption is excessive too. But it’s a month for training, so I need to use it effectively.
*Clatter, clatter.*
The marching of bones is loud.
I redirected my gaze back to them.
Francesca was single-handedly engaging the enemies. Among them was Alicia, but no matter how quickly she has grown compared to the original story, she’s no match for Francesca currently.
Francesca excels in summoning magic, but her personal combat ability is top-notch as well. There are some personal shortcomings, but that can be improved through research society activities, so…
I need to encourage her to engage further for a conversation soon. Though summer vacation lies between now and the second semester, I need to establish a close relationship before then.
The second-semester festival kicks off fresh and lively.
It should be an episode filled with dreams and hopes.
But the moment the protagonist Liam and the heroine Francesca exchange their first words…
Instead of cheers and hopes, it would be filled with screams and chaos at the festival,
with the instigator of that chaos being Spirit Summoner Francesca.
*Clatter, clatter.*
Francesca’s forces trample the enemies onward.
Moving forward, without looking back.
Holding the line.
*
After finishing the mock battle, Vargan attended the remaining afternoon classes and headed to the laboratory with Alicia and Emily.
The Academia was in the peak of assignment season.
In one of the practical classes, the three of them, being in the same group, had to cooperate to tackle a group assignment.
“Why… why does it keep twisting…?”
A sigh escaped from Emily, who was slumped over the desk.
“I’m sorry, Emily… You must be sick of being in the same group as me by now…?”
“Oh, no! Not that! Alicia didn’t do anything wrong.”
“There’s just a whole lot of complaints about riding the bus with Alicia and me.”
“Bus…? What’s that? I don’t know what it is, but it doesn’t sound good.”
The group members were selected randomly.
The selection was made randomly.
Therefore, Vargan had no involvement in this matter at all.
Emily wasn’t trying to shift blame onto anyone; she was merely venting.
“Ah, I see. Thinking about Liam probably having a jolly good time with other girls makes my head hurt.”
“W-Wait! That’s not it… And! Liam isn’t like that?!”
“Speaking of which, I’ve been seeing him hanging out with that Spirit Summoner girl quite a bit lately.”
“…Well, yeah! What’s up with that? Just because they’re in the same team? When did they get so close??!”
“Emily, calm down! You’re getting too worked up!”
Alicia wiped the tea that Emily had knocked over with a cloth. As Alicia cleaned up her mess, Emily’s heightened emotions gradually settled, leaving her feeling apologetic.
Regardless, Vargan took a sip of his tea.
“He attracts beautiful women like a magnet.”
Emily reacted to his mumbled words.
She seemed tenser than usual.
“…It’s not like Liam is dating her, and even if there is… something, it’s just one girl. How can you call that trouble with women?”
‘That’s because you don’t know the full story. Silly girl.’ Vargan resisted the urge to answer.
Of course, while the heroines did play their part as Liam’s assistants, it was true that they often had small conflicts among themselves. Alicia, despite being the main heroine, always ended up getting pushed around by the other heroines, but Emily managed to consistently hold her ground.
?Clink.
Vargan set down his teacup.
“Whatever it is, just do your best until the end. I sincerely hope things go well for you and Liam.”
Alicia, who had been listening, nodded enthusiastically, conveying that she also wished for their relationship to flourish.
At this, Emily’s expression changed in a peculiar way.
She smiled yet seemed shy, with her mouth denying it but somewhere looking pleased.
“Oh come on… It’s not like that for either of us…!”
For the first time, Emily thought that maybe Vargan wasn’t such a bad guy after all.
On the other hand, Vargan clicked his tongue inwardly.
“Let’s put our chit-chat aside and get started on the assignment.”
The three of them then dived into their task.
Alicia suggested that they use most of her mana for the task, taking into account Vargan’s current mana output, but it was rejected.
Vargan countered that they were intentionally limiting it for training, so it would be pointless not to use it.
In the end, Vargan focused on mana output, Alicia adjusted it, and Emily took care of other details as they continued working. Given their understanding of each other, the blue-hued magical energy was taking shape smoothly.
Even during the assignment, Vargan intentionally expanded the use of mana, pursuing extreme inefficiency. It would be a chilling horror show if it weren’t for training.
“Hey, Alicia, sudden thought—did you end up doing Professor Louisa’s assignment? You know, the one where you specify something you want to achieve before you kick the bucket? It’s more ambiguous since it can’t be related to being a Hero.”
“Ah… No, I haven’t done it yet.”
“That’s a problem since the deadline is approaching.”
“Yeah… But, if it’s something unrelated to being a Hero, I can’t think of anything because I’m already quite happy… Ah.”
“Hmm? Based on that reaction, it seems you have something in mind? What is it? What are you thinking about?”
Emily asked with a face full of curiosity, while Alicia displayed clear signs of embarrassment.
“Uh, no! I haven’t thought of anything…! I mean, nothing at all!”
“Both of you, shut it and focus.”
In the meantime.
Creak?
The door to the laboratory opened.
A petite woman entered.
“What’s going on, Erica?”
“It’s an unannounced inspection from the Student Council. Due to the recent incidents, we’re checking all Research Society activities.”
This was regarding the case of labor exploitation by misusing illiteracy within the Research Society, a matter that Liam had resolved in the usual manner.
As a result, the Academia decided to monitor Research Society activities more closely and directly, leading to unannounced inspections conducted by Student Council members and staff members like Erica.
The executives and staff members conducted an impromptu inspection.
Tap-tap-tap.
The sound of shoes, unfiltered and unabashed, echoed around the room. Erica browsed through shelves, drawers, books, and documents before settling into a chair at a reasonable distance.
“Just finish what you were doing. Don’t mind me.”
“Are you planning to just sit there?”
“I don’t want to stand.”
She intended to keep an eye on Arbol Frutal’s activities.
Erica’s sharp gaze targeted the three people in the room. Feeling awkward, she crossed her legs.
Ah.
Like a light bulb turning on, Alicia started moving busily. She heated the kettle with magic, precisely adjusting the contact with air and the time as she filled the teacups.
Alicia served tea to Erica.
Steam billowed from the freshly poured tea.
“If you don’t need it, you can leave it as is.”
“…”
Erica looked at Alicia’s kind smile. Even though she wasn’t close to her, Erica could easily tell this act was rooted in genuine kindness.
…She must be a good person.
Almost to the point of thinking about Diphelia.
Instead of saying thank you, Erica gave a small nod, and Alicia returned to her place and continued her task. As the fragrant aroma of the tea rose with the steam, Erica finally spoke.
“Alicia… right? I have some news to share with you.”
The target of her words was Alicia, not Vargan.
“Really? What kind of…?”
“I heard that Laban del Tigres has committed a disgraceful insult. That’s why the ranking match occurred.”
Erica added an explanation.
At the same time, Arterion, who had witnessed the ranking match, investigated the witnesses present to understand the specifics, and learned how Tigres had humiliated her.
For some reason, Tigres, who appeared to be in a foul mood, directly confronted her, made him confess the details to confirm it, and this matter was escalated to the higher-ups who then issued a third warning.
“In the end, he’s been expelled.”
Erica shrugged, calling it self-inflicted.
“Ah… so that’s why it was said he left the Research Society.”
It wasn’t just leaving the Research Society; Tigres was completely banished. Alicia felt a twinge of guilt, as if it was somehow her fault.
As her expression darkened, Erica felt bewildered.
She never imagined Alicia would be blaming herself.
Was it really appropriate to spill this in front of others, in a place where it wasn’t just the two of them?? Such worries flashed through her mind.
Vargan wouldn’t let the misunderstanding continue between them.
“You shouldn’t try to understand Alicia from a typical perspective. Right now, she’s feeling down because of Tigres, not because of herself.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“I’m saying she’s foolishly too kind-hearted.”
?Snap!
“Ouch! My forehead…!”
Only then did Erica understand Vargan’s words. She turned her gaze back to Alicia, whose fragile eyes were shaking as she desperately shook her head, trying to assert it wasn’t like that.
She had a vague idea of what kind of person Alicia was, but she was beyond her imagination. Could someone like this really exist in the world?
“……”
Erica held the teacup Alicia had given her and stared at the surface of the tea inside. Her own reflection wobbled in the gently rippling liquid. The vibrations made her image quiver.
She brought the teacup to her lips. As she tilted it slightly, the warm tea flowed gently into her mouth.
While drinking the tea, she watched Alicia.
…It smells good.
The warmth felt delicious even without sugar.
Unlike herself, it didn’t need any additives.
It was perfect just as it was.
So she drank more.
…
Thus, the space was engulfed in silence.
Erica remained seated for a while longer.
Without a word. Only silence flowed.
And then.
There was a woman who had appeared without saying a single word.
‘Ah… I want to escape from here.’
Amidst the awkward atmosphere among the three.
Emily was suffering.
