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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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The sun slowly rose.
Having kept watch throughout the night, catching glimpses of nocturnal animals prowling through the forest, I was exhausted, but sleep was no longer a priority.
The number on my bracelet had dwindled. We’d started with 180 students, and now there were fewer than 100. Whether they’d fallen victim to monsters or to each other, I didn’t know.
Soon, the others began to stir. Lianna, who looked like she could sleep through anything, Albert, Isabella—all of them.
They seemed hesitant to approach me, some even avoiding me outright. Perhaps it was because of my… episode yesterday.
A few people did approach, however, and they were familiar faces.
The princess, Hildegarde, Isabella, Lianna, and Albert.
Lianna’s face lit up when she saw me, rushing over to ask if I was alright. The princess, too, seemed to have shaken off her sleepiness.
Hildegarde just glared at me, then asked about my well-being. Perhaps she was jealous that I’d be meeting the being she, herself, had never met. But I wasn’t going to give up this opportunity.
Isabella seemed to be watching me but kept her distance.
Albert, who’d checked on me last night, gathered the sleepy students and addressed them.
“I’m going to kill that wolf.”
His words caused a ripple of unease, even though they’d already discussed this. Some of them must have been joking, or perhaps they were just trying to impress him, hoping to gain favor with House Iris.
“I’d appreciate your help, but I won’t force anyone. If you don’t want to participate, you can leave.”
A few students hesitantly backed away, and Albert simply watched them go, making no attempt to stop them. Killing other students earned you points, but he didn’t seem interested.
More and more students left, until only a handful remained.
Lianna, the princess, Hildegarde, Isabella, and four other students.
Albert seemed satisfied, even though their numbers were few. It was a risky endeavor, after all, one that could easily result in disqualification.
“Now that everyone’s gone, let’s introduce ourselves. I’m Albert, the heir to House Iris.”
He held out his hand, a soft, dandelion-colored light emanating from it. The signature color of House Iris’s mana.
“This is one of my abilities: Adamant Body.”
He punched a nearby rock, shattering it, but his hand remained unharmed.
“I channel mana into my body, reinforcing it. The effect is temporary, but it’s useful.”
The fact that he’d called it “one of” his abilities intrigued me, but I didn’t ask. We all knew each other, more or less, so the introductions continued with the other four students.
“H… Hello! I… I’m Carlin… My ability is… Interference…”
A small, nervous girl introduced herself as Carlin.
When Albert asked her to demonstrate her ability, she nervously explained that she needed someone else’s magic.
Isabella conjured a small fireball, and Carlin muttered something under her breath. Isabella gasped as the fireball, as if drawn by an invisible force, transferred to Carlin’s hand.
“Interesting… you can manipulate other people’s magic?”
“Y… Yes… I can… take control…”
“Does it only work on magic?”
“M… Mana, too, probably… but it’s… difficult…”
Albert’s eyes gleamed. She’d be invaluable in a fight against a monster, whose body was composed of mana. But even with her ability, controlling a Mid-Rank monster was unlikely. They weren’t to be underestimated.
“I’m Brihun. I’m a swordsman, and my ability is Conduction.”
“Conduction?”
Brihun, a tall, muscular man with dark skin, looked like he was born for close combat. He drew his weapon, a massive blade more akin to a greatsword than a regular sword.
Like Carlin, he was exceptional.
Every mage had a unique magical signature, a reflection of their individual style and personality. Mastering your unique magic was said to be a mark of true skill.
Did knights have something similar?
Yes. It was what every swordsman aspired to.
Sword Aura. The ability to imbue your sword with mana. Master swordsmen could even manifest a blade of pure mana. A mana-infused sword was far stronger than a regular one, but it required a deep connection with your weapon.
And Brihun possessed it. It was faint, but he’d clearly imbued his sword with mana.
“You’ve forced a connection between your sword and your mana…”
“…You have a keen eye…”
He hadn’t neglected his sword training, and even this small amount of Sword Aura was impressive for a student. He looked exhausted, but he’d be a valuable asset.
“My name is Huben. My ability is Contamination.”
“…?”
“…Can you demonstrate?”
Huben, shorter than Brihun, but still well-built, held a book in his right hand. His ability was unclear, even to the princess.
He channeled mana into his hand and grasped a leaf. The leaf began to wither, turning brown and brittle.
“…Huh?”
“The mana I imbue disrupts the target’s structure, causing it to decay.”
“…I understand. You can let go now.”
He released the leaf, and it crumbled to dust as it landed on the ground.
“Does it work on monsters?”
“I’m not sure… And that wolf monster… it’s a pack…”
“I see.”
After Huben’s explanation, all eyes turned to the final student.
I knew her. Everyone here knew her.
She was the daughter of one of the four great families.
The daughter of House Charlotte, guardians of the empire’s west, rulers of the underworld.
Her pink hair was tied back, swaying gently in the breeze. She wore a revealing outfit that accentuated her figure, two daggers strapped to her thighs.
Sino Charlotte.
She was an enigma, even to me. She lacked the usual noble decorum, and unlike other members of the four great families, she didn’t have many friends.
And that was why I found her unsettling.
“Hee hee… hello, Albert. It’s been a while since that last party.”
“…I didn’t expect you to stay.”
“This looks like fun.”
She craved excitement, stimulation. Perhaps it was because of her upbringing, the things she’d seen, but nothing seemed to faze her. She constantly sought new thrills, and rumors of her indulging in alcohol and drugs had once circulated through the academy.
“Aren’t you going to ask about my ability?”
I’d been momentarily distracted, and her voice was suddenly right beside my ear. I instinctively lashed out, my fist narrowly missing her face as she dodged.
Isabella rushed towards me, scolding me for almost injuring the Saint.
“Whoa! Quick reflexes! You’re good.”
“…Do you know me?”
“Yeah! You were pretty impressive yesterday!”
“…”
“You… you cut off your own arm without hesitation. That’s amazing! Not many people can do that.”
Her casual tone, as if she’d done it herself, was unsettling. I didn’t like the vibe she gave off. It was… unsettling.
Albert, sensing my discomfort, intervened.
“Enough with the games. Explain your ability.”
“Hmm… Invisibility! I can manipulate light with my mana.”
And just like that, she vanished. No scent, no presence, nothing. Perhaps it was her family’s connection to the underworld, but her ability was perfect for covert operations.
I wondered if abilities were hereditary, when the air shimmered behind me, and Sino reappeared. The space around her seemed distorted, as if she were partially phased out of reality.
She seemed disappointed that I hadn’t reacted, but her smile returned when she saw Lianna’s bewildered expression.
“I guess that’s everyone.”
“Indeed. So, do you have a plan?”
“I… think so?”
“I don’t mind winging it!”
Brihun, Huben, Carlin, and Sino all looked at Albert expectantly.
We were curious, too.
We all turned towards Albert, who walked towards us.
“Of course I do.”
“…!”
“I’ll explain the plan now.”
[Remaining Students: 94]
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