Chapter 188
The Sky City Academia.
As its massive form began to come into view, a blonde woman couldn’t help but frown.
“Peak of inefficiency and pretentiousness.”
She couldn’t understand using a mana stone of that size just to keep a city afloat.
Eidina, the Student Council President of the Hero Training Academy, gazed at the airship above and thought that.
Perhaps her disdain for the Sky City wasn’t solely due to inefficiency and pretentiousness, but also because it was being compared to the grounded Rikeion, though she’d never admit it.
What’s the point of a glamorous exterior? It needs to have substance.
“The Student Council President of Academia is still that guy…”
Rikeion’s Student Council President changes every year in the second semester, which is different from Academia.
Eidina had visited Academia last year as Vice Student Council President and had an encounter with the then-President, Schugenhartz Troa Rheincarven.
Her impression of him wasn’t very good.
He was undoubtedly talented, but appeared blunt and seemed oblivious to the concept of harmony.
He often shot arrows of fact-tinged words that the opponent never saw coming, casually thrown out with no regard.
Is he polite to everyone except for conversation etiquette?
She heard he had been re-elected as Student Council President for two years in a row…
It certainly reflects Academia’s standing.
Recently, Academia’s reputation had plummeted.
So-called downward spiral.
In contrast, Rikeion was on a clear upward trend.
Among the first-years entering Rikeion this time, there was one “unparalleled genius.”
Having seen numerous geniuses, she had never felt so awed by a talent before.
Not even when she witnessed the daughter of the top hero, Clemens.
She probably wouldn’t feel that way again in her lifetime.
No, she affirms it.
This year’s representative of the first-year class in Rikeion.
There is no genius greater than her.
She is confident that from her generation onward, Rikeion will shine even more brilliantly.
The upcoming final exam between Rikeion and Academia will be the bedrock of that.
The reason they had come here now, and just at this moment heading towards a conversation for it.
Eidina recalled the clash between the two forces, a sly smile gracing her lips as she turned her head.
“Where are the first-years right now?”
Then, despite the intimidating appearance covered with bulging muscles, a considerate and stable voice replied.
“Here they are, unpredictable beings, aren’t they? I suspect they’re keeping an eye on the Academia from somewhere, just like you are.”
Vice Student Council President Jeraman.
His school uniform nearly burst from the muscles that seemed to be demanding freedom.
He moved his giant hand to lift the tiny coffee cup and leisurely enjoyed his drink.
As Jeraman savored the aroma of coffee, he asked her, “By the way… didn’t you say your younger sibling is at the Academia?”
“Oh, yeah, something like that.”
“It must be an exciting reunion after a long time, isn’t it?”
“Well, we haven’t been that close, so not really.”
Edina replied with a lackluster expression.
Her dazzling golden hair shimmered in the sunlight.
With her intelligent facial features and a chiseled appearance reminiscent of someone from the Academia, she was hard to miss, be it under the sun or the moon.
Jeraman lowered his cup with a calm smile and murmured leisurely, as if enjoying a moment of relaxation.
“Don’t you think it would be wise to refrain from saying such things in front of Arterion? She might feel a bit hurt.”
Ocell Bui Edina.
The two-year elder sister of Arterion, a woman with royal blood flowing through her veins.
The current Student Council President of Rikeion.
“If I acted all familiar, she’d probably avoid me even more. It’s been ages since we were like sister and brother.”
*
In the meeting room, I was waiting with some members of the Student Council for the representatives from Rikeion.
A different development from the original story.
The final exam, which was originally supposed to be held independently, had now become a collaboration with Rikeion.
It’s not strange that there have been quite a few twists along the way, but heading into a new direction is like stretching into the unknown, so I felt the need to be extra alert.
The Chancellor of Rikeion personally called my name earlier, didn’t he?
With so much going on, it’s no wonder I’m feeling curious.
The good news is that I’m still undergoing the trial of my sense of smell.
…Well, it’s true that I shouldn’t have taken this training time away, but I have to accept the consequences of my own actions.
“It’s been a while.”
Clemens, the second-year representative of the Student Council sitting next to me, struck up a conversation.
She looked as calm and confident as ever, displaying the qualities of a leader.
Even after experiencing defeat in the Student Council election against Diphelia, she remained unchanged.
“It has been a while.”
“Still sticking to that attitude of not being beneath anyone, huh?”
“I can be quite arrogant and free-spirited, you know.”
Though there were matters concerning Cardinal Beled, I considered those completely unrelated.
I shrugged my shoulders and joked around.
Clemens probably didn’t expect me to say that, as she chuckled lightly.
“I can’t even say I’m in a position to invite you under my wing now.”
“Unfortunately, given that you were unable to become the next Student Council President, I have absolutely no intention of becoming your right hand.”
“That sounds like you might’ve thought about it a little before, but originally, it was never on your mind, right?”
“I can’t say that’s completely wrong. Given my nature, I would have moved towards whichever side held more benefits.”
Clemens then sighed, stating that it was more regrettable than anything and subtly shifted the topic.
“Then it became even more regrettable,” she said, letting the subject slide.
If not dwelling on the past is true to her character, then that’s just who she is. Although she didn’t become the Student Council President like in the original, she will demonstrate another possibility.
“By the way, didn’t your fiancée come with you?”
Clemens glanced around and brought up Erica.
Lately, she had been practically like a twin, but she couldn’t tag along to this event and was currently waiting in the laboratory.
“We can’t exactly display affection while discussing matters with Rikeion, can we?”
“…Affection. That’s a peculiar word. I had a hallucination in the dungeon where I realized I could only trust and follow you.”
“Are you implying that I have something planned right now?”
“Rather than suspicion, it’s more a matter of reasonable judgment.”
Clemens looked at me with subtle eyes.
She couldn’t be judging me solely based on this incident.
It must be related to the events of the festival.
Sure enough, Clemens continued, mentioning that day.
“I experienced another inexplicable event. On the last night of the festival, I thrust a spear to kill Francesca, but it suddenly got stuck.”
“How strange. Could it be that you misjudged the distance to your target?”
“My eyesight isn’t poor enough that I couldn’t gauge the distance to the enemy right in front of me. Something solid definitely blocked it, as if trying to protect Francesca.”
Clemens mentioned that she investigated later but found no trace of magic spells.
Francesca was part of the Goddess Church, and while it could have been her blessing, other possibilities existed.
“I suspect it might have been a familiar… or something of that sort.”
“So, you’re testing me. It would certainly be possible if it were my familiar.”
Clemens nodded lightly in agreement.
Her smile seemed to show delight in gauging my reaction, but undoubtedly, she was continuing her cold analysis internally.
I feigned ignorance and subtly let slip my gaze at her suspicious eyes.
I admitted that Clemens was quite perceptive, but I wasn’t easy enough to be read by her insight.
There was no way she could grasp what thoughts were running through my mind.
After some time had passed, just as Clemens’ attention shifted, I finally heard a presence outside the meeting room.
But then…
“No way, she’s really…! Hah… I get it. I understand, so hurry and go find her.”
The sound of someone rushing followed a woman’s commanding voice.
Soon, the door opened, and a woman with radiant golden hair entered, apologizing for making us wait with a deep look of concern.
“One of our students has gone missing, and we went to search for her. I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but we would appreciate it if you could wait just a little longer.”
It seemed like it would take a bit more time for the discussions to normalize.
*
Alicia was training with Arterion, clashing their swords against each other.
Desperately, they faced each other, pulling on their maximum abilities.
Dae-han was gathering his stats.
… Just a moment ago.
“Hey, you must be Alicia, right?”
A sudden appearance of a mysterious female student.
She approached Alicia, who was deeply immersed in intense training, and casually struck up a conversation.
Her uniform looked different from that of the Academia.
I heard that a student from Rikeion was coming today, and she seemed to be one of them.
“What kind of training are you doing? I’m not really good at swordsmanship. I wish you were a magician like me.”
The girl confidently walked closer to Alicia, observing her.
It was as if she was lost in her own world.
Her strange eyes revealed nothing about what she was seeing.
“I really wanted to meet you. We…”
“That’s enough. Who are you?”
As she stepped too close, Arterion blocked her with his sword.
Though his gaze hinted at youth, a hint of a swordsman’s demeanor shone through.
The girl turned her eyes away from Alicia and looked at Arterion, scanning him from head to toe before blinking.
“I’m not interested in you.”
“I demand you reveal your identity.”
The aura behind Arterion’s sword sharpened.
If she didn’t clarify her purpose and identity, he seemed ready to slice her in two with his fierce energy.
However, the girl pouted as if bored and casually pushed the blue blade with her finger.
“…!”
Arterion was taken aback by the girl’s sudden movement and withdrew his aura.
Even though he was using normal aura, not the threatening red one, its cutting power could slice through ordinary steel, yet she pushed it bare-handed.
It seemed like she had used magic momentarily, but unless her skills were extraordinary, she should have been cut down…
“Alicia, your potential is really amazing! I’ve never felt such a strong attraction before.”
The girl seemed to forget about the sword and expressed admiration for Alicia’s talent.
Her finger that had pushed the sword was unscathed and clean.
She continued speaking.
“Why did you choose something weird like Swordmage? If you were a pure magician, you could use far more impressive magic than now. I just can’t understand.”
“Um… I’m sorry, but if it’s not too much trouble, may I ask who you are?”
This time, Alicia inquired about the girl.
Alicia was also tense.
Recently, Alicia had often been sparring with Arterion, so she fully realized how astonishing this girl’s actions were.
Unlike Arterion, the girl paid attention to Alicia’s words, nodded, and extended her hand.
“I’m Arha! No last name, just Arha!”
The first-year representative of Rikeion.
A magician, renowned as the unparalleled genius of Rikeion, Arha greeted her with a silly smile.
“Hey Alicia, let’s fight! I really want to battle you!”
No, she threw down the challenge with a silly smile.
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