How to Survive at th Chapter 166

Chapter 166

“Depression of the Wolf” (2)

I had never heard the na ‘Patricia’. However, the family na that followed, ‘Bloomriver’, was quite familiar to . Act 5 of “Sylvania’s Failed Swordsman”. The final act, which deals with the stories of Sacred Dragon Bellbrook and the Great Sage Sylvania, is full of episodes mainly featuring the tension between families until all the truths co to light. As the story covers the foundation and origin of the Sylvania Academy, nurous characters are involved, including those from families that the story had touched upon as it progressed.

In the Clorel Empire, when asked to na a renowned martial family, you would likely hear the nas of the Callamore, Nortondale, or Elfellan families. Similarly, when speaking of families known for magic, the Sanyal and Whitepeltz would be ntioned. Although the Bloomriver family held the lowest-ranking among such distinguished magical families, they had also been dishonored and lost their status due to constant troublemaking after the emperor of Clorel ascended to the throne.

The heads of the family, more interested in alchemy than magic, would not stop aggressive magical experints despite various accidents that resulted in serious injuries or blowing up hills… Certainly less extre than the Rothtaylor family, known for their research into evil gods’ powers… The problem was the frequency of disasters. Explosive accidents, food poisoning, water source contamination, environntal damage, and so on… Such frequent mishaps made the Bloomriver family a headache for the imperial household.

Still, as they strictly observed taboos and the new head of the family, Sinir Bloomriver, was known for common sense, this eccentric family had managed to maintain its position among the higher nobility. The Bloomriver family, always imrsed in eccentric magical research and referred to as the “Witch’s House”, had sent two students to the Sylvania Academy, the twin daughters of the head, Trissiana and Patricia Bloomriver.

Contrary to expectations that they would join the Alchemy Departnt, both of them entered the Magic Departnt, and, surprisingly, the elder Trissiana even secured the position of top student.

“Well, now the second-year top student Lucy Mayrill has reached an unbelievably high level and overshadowed her. Still, normally the traditional powerhouses of the Sylvania Academy were the fourth-year top students.”

Higher grade levels naturally ant higher student quality. It only made sense that among the top students, the level of fourth-year tops would be the highest. The only exception is the protagonist generation with their absurd average capabilities.

Combat Departnt top, Tyke Elfellan; Magic Departnt top, Trissiana Bloomriver; Alchemy Departnt top, Dorothy Whitepeltz. The letter that reached

was from Patricia Bloomriver, the twin sister of the currently reigning Magic Departnt top, Trissiana Bloomriver, for the fourth-year students.

I’ve already t two of the trio of fourth-year tops. Tyke Elfellan broke into a duel with Professor Krayd during the end-of-sester test as he was also the overall top student in the fourth year. His bear-like figure darting around with gauntlets was indeed a sight to rember.

And then there’s Dorothy Whitepeltz, whom I caught sight of while chasing after Professor Glast. She didn’t quite stand out, having been subdued by Yenika, but she’s a renowned mber of the Whitepeltz family. She is the older sister of Joseph Whitepeltz, the top student of the Magic Departnt’s freshman year and effectively the ace of the Alchemy Departnt, also one of Professor Glast’s protégés.

However, the twin mages Trissiana and Patricia were entirely uncharted territory. Their nas were long and a bit confusing, with not much significance in “Sylvania’s Failed Swordsman”.

Given their notorious background, I expected them to play a significant role, but their exit coincided with the climax of the scenario, and they graduated without receiving much spotlight. Therefore, I had to personally look into the character behind the ridiculous letter sent to .

“Trissiana is well-known among fourth-year students to handle two advanced spells. Being the departnt’s top ans sothing, especially as a fourth-year. It’s an astonishing level, indeed.”

“Hmm, I see.”

We were sitting at the student rest area in front of the student union. With nurous wooden tables lined up, this place is usually packed with students at any ti.

However, during the bustling sumr break, even the entire faculty building was quiet, and the area outside the student union was no different. Normally a competitive spot to secure, it was now quiet enough that it may as well be rented out entirely.

“Well, despite the many bad rumors about the Bloomriver family, they have made significant contributions to the field of alchemical experintation. I’m quite aware of that.”

The person seated opposite

was Elvira Eniston, the top second-year student in the Alchemy Departnt. She was a student passionate about alchemy and magical engineering and was in charge of managing various reagents and magical equipnt for the ‘protagonist generation’, led by Taely.

Her orange hair was in disarray, showing her lack of interest in personal appearance. Nonetheless, her sharp and sowhat mischievous face had a charming, devilish appeal.

“I know a lot about Trissiana, but I’m not so sure about Patricia. There are many rumors, yes.”

While the elder sister was a well-known year top and often appeared at public events, the younger sister who sent

the letter seed more elusive, rarely attending classes it seems.

Elvira scanned the letter I provided, then squinted her eyes and scratched her chin several tis.

“It ca to your old address?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

I t Elvira on my way to Gluckt Hall. Approaching a group engaged in so odd activity, I determined it was Elvira and her companions. Believing she would be well-versed about the Bloomriver family, closely associated with alchemy, I decided to take a mont to speak with her.

“Rumor has it that unlike her sister, Patricia buries herself in a corner of a research room and doesn’t co out. They say she doesn’t really attend theoretical classes but compensates with high scores in practical tests and self-studied tutorials.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Well, since Trissiana regularly attended classes… perhaps that’s the difference between a year top and not.”

Even with twins, there’s no guarantee they will both excel academically, but it seed their innate scholarly abilities were similar.

“I’ve heard from others that Patricia isn’t interested in school gossip or updates; she just focuses on her research… A classic case of a shut-in.”

“…?”

“So maybe she’s still using your old contact information, unaware that you’ve been expelled from Ophelius Hall?”

“It’s been ages since I got kicked out of Ophelius Hall. How could she still not know?”

“It freaks

out a bit. She doesn’t even know about the student council president changing?”

As impossible as it seed for soone attending the sa school to be ignorant of external events, announcents for school events were normally made, and professors reiterated these in various classes. Despite this, the idea of not knowing any major school news seed unrealistic.

“In truth, us from the alchemical background tend to have peculiar habits. There’s a sort of romantic fantasy of having a secret lab sowhere to conduct all sorts of experints…”

Elvira spoke as if confessing a cri, squinting her eyes further. I was aware she had secretly set up a laboratory at the east cliffside.

“So, while the Alchemy Departnt does provide private labs in the underground facility, that’s sotis not enough… If soone’s made a secret lab and holed up there…”

“But wouldn’t they have to attend classes? No one can just sit there 24/7, right?”

“That’s true, but…”

Elvira hinted there might be a new possibility, sheepishly smiling as she continued.

“Well, Trissiana and Patricia are twins, after all. To be honest, if you just change their hair color with magic, you can’t tell them apart.”

“… Are you suggesting Trissiana attended on behalf of both?”

Is that why her grades were so impressive? Because she essentially took so classes twice?

“Could one person even handle that?”

“That’s probably why she could secure the top spot. But it’s just a guess, just my speculation.”

Elvira folded the letter neatly and handed it back to .

“Based only on the letter, Patricia seems to have a sense of justice. I an, you shouldn’t just kidnap and imprison people.”

“Why are we assuming all this is true…?”

“Well, if necessary, it’s not unheard of to kidnap soone. Maybe you had your reasons?”

She spoke nonchalantly and blinked her half-closed eyes. Next to us, a youth had his arms tied behind his back, his eyes and mouth covered with cloth, thrashing about.

“Mmph! Mmph! Mmmph!”

The slim figure exuding an aura of gloom was Clevius Norton, known as a sword master in the Norton family.

“I’ve been trying to ignore this, but… I have to ask.”

“Yes?”

“Why is he like this here?”

Elvira sighed heavily, stroking her chin.

“I’m trying to make him into a person.”

“…”

“Listen, he’s still a ss. He keeps spouting gloom and picking fights with anyone who looks him in the eye. Rember the ti he got unnecessarily loud and angry with you?”

I generally ignored Clevius’s aggressive language. In the original work, he was always like this: negative and depressing but still soone who pulled his weight when needed.

“Clevius needs to develop more social skills. He tries to slip into dark corners with lights off, chuckling to himself, muttering strange soliloquies.”

“…”

“He could be so graceful and impressive, such a waste. That’s why I take him along to parties, dress him nicely. Sotis he gets an attack in the extroverted atmosphere and tries to escape, but I can easily subdue him because I have plenty of tranquilizer concoctions.”

As Clevius wriggled, the blindfold that covered his eyes slid down slightly. He locked eyes with , sending a desperate plea for help.

“… How long will you keep this up?”

“Until he agrees to accompany

to the Alchemy Departnt’s dinner party next week.”

“Is it necessary for him to go?”

“It’s great for networking and unparalleled in training for social skills.”

I watched her for a long ti with a bewildered look, but Elvira, undeterred, snorted.

“Besides, I’d like to bring along a strapping young man. I’m a woman, after all~.”

With a wide, playful grin, Elvira flicked her hair back. Clevius and I made eye contact again. His eyes were brimming with a plea for rescue.

“Just save

this once. I won’t be rude again. I won’t grab your collar without reason, I won’t snap, and I’ll respect you as a senior…”

He seed to convey this sort of ssage.

I turned away, struggling to maintain my composure.

Having a bit of a rough ti doesn’t sound too bad… Clevius…

*[Magic Capability Details]

Grade: Competent Magical Student Expertise: Elental Common Magic:

Fast Casting – Lv 13

Mana Detection – Lv 14 Fire Elental Magic:

Ignition – Lv 18

Point Explosion – Lv 3 Wind Elental Magic:

Wind Blade – Lv 16

…. Consecrated Magic:

Consecrated Power Manifestation – Lv 4

Conversational Transformation – Lv 3

Death Immunity – Lv 0

Temporal Prison – Lv 1 (new!)

Short-range Spatial Movent – Lv 0

Forced Convergence – Lv 2

Illusive Manifestation – Lv 0

Bewitchnt – Lv 1 (new!)

*Introduction to Consecrated Studies* – I’ve read it over 10 tis. Now I’ve morized the order of items for each chapter. I may not rember every fine detail, but the broad strokes feel ingrained within .

Despite that, my Consecrated magic’s growth feels stagnant. Hours of training do not seem to raise the Power Manifestation level.

As for other magical fields, since they appear in the original work, I have guidelines on how to train, but Consecrated magic feels entirely new.

Nevertheless, through constant reading and nurous real-world applications of Consecrated magic, I’ve unlocked new realms of magic.

Temporal Prison and Bewitchnt.

I’ve seen Temporal Prison used by Professor Glast and Lucy. It completely locks the motion of the target for a few seconds, even minutes. But since it stops the target’s ti itself, you can’t affect their body.

It’s different from the basic concept of magics ant to restrain and then attack – it’s more about taking soone out of the battlefield for a while.

And then there’s Bewitchnt. This magic temporarily overrides the target’s will, making them act as I desire… Yet, it consus a significantly larger amount of mana compared to other Consecrated magics.

Furthermore, if the target’s mana sensitivity is higher than mine or if the Bewitchnt skill is too low-level, the range of control dramatically decreases.

But once the skill proficiency becos excessively high, one can truly dominate the target…

While a low skill level might prevent one from ordering an action that the target is likely to resist, raising the proficiency of charm magic to break through their reluctance and make unreasonable demands… Even then, the consumption of magical energy becos astronomical.

At low skill levels, one can only guide the target’s movents or subtly disperse their flow of consciousness.

“Hmm…”

Every ti I review the skills of the Order of Holy Magic, I’m struck by their unbelievable power.

Compared to elental magic that mainly handles firepower, the Order of Holy Magic specializes in controlling the battlefield and creating variables.

It fits my combat style perfectly, so I wanted to train as much as possible.

Currently, I’m in a situation where I can’t properly use magic, so not being able to use the new spells I’ve learned is quite painful.

Checking the new spells and my increased stats, I arrived in front of Gluckt Tower.

“Finally here, Ed Rothtaylor.”

Halfway up the stairs leading to the entrance of Gluckt Tower, I noticed a girl sitting and propping up her chin.

“… Patricia Senior?”

“Really, you’re making such an ignorant face! Even after reading my letter!”

The first thing that stands out is her purple bob haircut. When she pins up her bangs with a hairpin, her white forehead looks pretty exposed. Her strong-willed eyebrows narrowed adorably.

“You’ve set up camp in the northern forest, haven’t you?”

“…”

She suddenly stood up, stomping her feet and started to get angry.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know?!”

“Ah, yes… Did you know?”

Notable people are mostly aware of it.

Well, it seems most students haven’t considered that I might be living such a wretched life in the forest, but that wasn’t exactly a secret either.

“Just spit out what you’re scheming over there!”

“… There’s no sche. Just no place to live, so I’m staying there.”

“Don’t lie! We have perfectly fine dormitories, what nonsense are you talking about!”

“I was kicked out of the dormitory almost 2 years ago.”

“… What?”

Patricia tilted her head at my words, then cleared her throat and continued.

“I see. I’ve been… a little out of touch with outside news.”

After saying that, Patricia fidgeted with her fingers. Then she suddenly snapped back to reality and raised her voice.

“Anyway, that’s not important…! Do you know a girl with white hair tied back and slightly taller than you…?”

“…”

Thinking about the description, there was only one person that ca to mind. No, a spirit, actually.

It was a high-ranking wind spirit that had left the camp claiming to be ‘running away from ho.’

“I saw her going in and out of your camp every day, and then finally running barefoot out of the northern forest!”

“… And?”

“I’ve secured and protected her. She disappeared near your camp every day, not showing up for days, and only occasionally coming out like she’s out for a walk! I haven’t seen her eat properly once; she’s always looking more exhausted… As if she’s tied to soone and can’t leave the forest! I don’t know what threats you’ve used…!”

It’s easy to misunderstand if one only hears the story.

“Always barefoot, without proper clothes… She’s not being treated as a person should be! So I took the chance to take care of her! If you don’t explain clearly… I’ll report this to the academy!”

“Before explaining… how do you know so much about what’s going on around my camp?”

At that, Patricia inhaled sharply and her pupils wavered.

“You… who don’t know anything about the academy’s affairs, how do you know about that girl’s whereabouts in my camp so well…”

“…What’s it to you!”

“Are you operating so kind of secret personal research facility that the academy prohibits… perhaps sowhere near the northern forest?”

“…”

I asked, trying to probe the situation. If there was such a facility in the northern forest, it would certainly have been noticeable.

Well, I’m only a human with limited range of movent, but rilda, who manages the entire forest, would undoubtedly be aware.

“You saw it, didn’t you…!”

Report what? You’re the one who just confessed, you fool.

Suddenly, magical energy surged around Patricia. It seems she’s going to assert her skills given the situation.

She probably wants to overwhelm

with power to claim control of the dialogue.

It’s unfortunate, but currently, I can’t use magic. I was about to reach for various magical tools in my possession when…

― Whooooosh!

The air seed to split instantaneously.

The wind blew between

and Patricia, and soone else intervened.

The girl who appeared with the wind from a distance looked exactly like Patricia Bloomriver.

However, her eyes were gentler, and her hair had a bluish tint. Everything else was so similar to Patricia that soone seeing them for the first ti might not distinguish them without the hair color difference.

Carrying a large staff and accompanied by wind, the girl instantly deployed a magic formation and destroyed all the magical spheres Patricia had conjured.

― Crash!

“Aah!”

― Whoosh!

Patricia barely managed to hold on to the handrail in the gusting wind.

The girl who had landed with the wind, Trissiana Bloomriver, a fourth-year honor student, was now looking back and forth between

and Patricia, clutching her academy coat tightly around her.

“Sister…! It’s good you’re here! This person…!”

Trissiana, with her blue hair, walked briskly towards Patricia, tugged on her earlobe, and then brought her over to .

“Ow, ouch! Ow ow ow!”

“I’m sorry, my little sister can be quite thoughtless!”

“Sister! It hurts! Let go! Just listen to !”

Trissiana pressed down hard on Patricia’s head, forcing her to apologize.

“Sorry about her. She jumps to conclusions too easily, but she’s really a good kid at heart!”

“Big sister! That’s not it! Big sister! That camp where he… There was that girl…!”

“Are you talking about the girl you cornered in Lortelle? Sure enough, I brought her with ! It’s not this man who kidnapped her, it’s you, Patricia!”

With that, as Trissiana wielded her magic, another wind arose, and a girl descended from the skies above Gluckt Tower.

The girl, with white hair and a white dress fluttering, looked familiar.

“…rilda.”

rilda started to speak then stopped herself. It seed she didn’t want to reveal her identity as a spirit.

When wandering the academy, rilda moved as a human. Clearly, she didn’t want to be exposed as a spirit, making it impossible for her to comfortably attend the academy as she had before.

A spirit’s voice carries a magical resonance, readily revealing their true nature.

Therefore, rilda, in her human form, typically avoided speaking in the presence of strangers.

However, it seed she had tried hard to explain that she wasn’t kidnapped, but Patricia, with limited empathic ability, must have misunderstood rilda’s incomplete manifestation.

“You, you are…!”

Only then did Patricia look at rilda in shock, but rilda skipped towards

and hid behind my back.

Patricia alternated her gaze between my face and rilda’s…

Then she hung her head deeply.

“I’m so sorry!!!!”

If only you had made swift judgnts like this earlier.

*Patricia was punished, leaning against the bench corner with her arms raised.

“I received a letter from Lord Sinir. My mother rarely sends letters so hastily, so I was quite taken aback.”

Trissiana Bloomriver seed strangely mature compared to Patricia.

Even though they look so similar, the atmosphere they exude is incredibly different.

“It seems that a significant event took place at the Rothtaylor family house. The news hasn’t reached Sylvania yet, but rumors will soon spread. It must have been a massive incident.”

Sinir Bloomriver was at the Rothtaylor residence during the tragedy.

With Ed Rothtaylor returning to the academy, she reported the news to her daughter in the academy via letter. The letter Trissiana held seed to have just arrived.

“You seem unusually calm upon hearing the news, senior Trissiana.”

“I’m on your side, Ed Rothtaylor. Mother believes you wouldn’t have participated in the Rothtaylor family tragedy.”

Trissiana showed

the letter sent by Sinir, indicating her trust in .

“If my mother believes that, then I should trust you, too. But once the news spreads, various rumors and opinions about you will erge within the academy. After all, you were wearing the Rothtaylor na.”

“Will it affect

in any way?”

“We’ll see. Either way, I wanted to get to know you better, so it’s good to et you. It looks like the fourth-year opinion will be favorable towards you.”

Trissiana sat on the edge of the bench, fiddling with her staff.

“I don’t know why, but Dex, head of the combat division, seems to really like you. A rare breed, hard to find these days. Dorothy, head of the alchemy division, seems to have so resentnt, but it feels more like fear than dislike.”

“…”

“Just asking, did you do sothing to Yenika?”

“May I pass with no comnt?”

“…Sure, I won’t pry. Patrin, straighten up.”

Ugh, groaned Patricia, as she straightened her hands. Seems her twin sister has quite the authority over her.

Maybe Patricia owes Trissiana a lot in many ways. The nickna ‘Patrin’ suggested as much…

“Anyway, since we’re all in the sa boat, I’ll let you in on this. Our mother and head of the Bloomriver family, Sinir Bloomriver… has sided with Tanya Rothtaylor.”

I shuddered at those words and slowly turned my gaze to Trissiana.

It’s a family that wouldn’t be surprising if it were exterminated. It’s hard to believe they would align with such a family. Even though I’m from that family myself.

“Once the Rothtaylor mansion news officially hits, students from various families in the academy will start taking sides. When that ti cos, you’ll need to distinguish who’s with you and who’s not.”

“I’m quite accustod to receiving unfavorable looks.”

“It’s one thing for people to dislike you and another entirely to regard you as a traitor.”

I nodded in agreent to her statent.

“You can trust Dex, the fourth-year head. But I’m not sure about Atalante, the third-year head of alchemy, or Wade, the first-year head of combat. Their families are loyal to the royal family. They might act impulsively. Just like Patrin did today.”

“I understand. Thank you for the advice.”

“It’s not advice… just common sense. Well…”

Trissiana dusted off her clothes, stood up, and pulled Patricia’s cheek. After helping her sister up, she greeted .

“Anyway, it’s a sha we got off to a bad start. See you again. Maybe… during the next combat practice or during a joint lesson.”

As I nodded, Trissiana took Patricia and disappeared into the distance. She seed like a dependable senior who promised to be an ally.

“Now that’s done… I should probably hear what really happened…”

After waving off the two mages, I turned around.

rilda stood there awkwardly, avoiding my gaze.

*