How to Survive at th Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Election for the Student Council President (8)

Crackling, crackling.

In a cabin at the Raln Mountains, the sound of firewood burning was constant.

The fleece blanket was pulled up just below the nose.

Lucy, who always fell asleep sprawled sowhere around her, rarely wrapped herself in bedding.

However, unusually swaddled in a blanket like this, she was down with a cold.

Destined to beco an outstanding prodigy of magic, she was no more than a girl who had just entered puberty now.

It is the sa for girls of that age group.

Although one could simply stick to a corner of the cabin when it rained, there were countless tis she caught a cold by aimlessly wandering the mountains.

Even though her magic abilities swelled at an unbelievable pace, she was still in a transitional period and couldnt fully protect herself from the surrounding environnt.

An old man was stirring the crackling campfire with a poker.

Only his back was visible in the line of sight.

But from the bent back and hunched shoulders, it was clear he was a diminutive old man in the twilight of his life.

He definitely had glorious days in the past, obviously long before Lucy was born.

He road the continent researching all kinds of high-tier magic, took in many disciples, started a family with his beloved, made a na in the academic world, beca the leading contributor in the subjugation of high-tier magical beasts, and even received accolades from the royal household a number of tis.

It had been a life charging full speed on an open road.

He had carved out more achievents than most, simply because he never looked back as he ran forward.

Nevertheless, the days of the great archmage were drawing to a close in a cabin situated on the outskirts of a mountain range that saw few visitors.

What had happened, what he had gone through

Now, alone in the cabin, poking at the fire, with not even his nurous disciples or beloved family by his side

The only tie he had left was a girl who hardly qualified to be called his disciple.

Getting soaked in the rain and rolling around outside, its only natural to get sick.

You, Lucy, will undoubtedly beco a magician so strong that others wont be able to follow.

The feeling of being sick will surely beco a distant mory of the remote past.

Situations where youre bedridden with a cold, or injured directly, will beco increasingly rare.

Its uncertain how deeply nave Lucy understood these words.

Still, Gluckt found aning in the act of speaking itself.

Due to your innate abilities, life might seem uninteresting, or everything may appear aningless,

Youll et plenty of inadequate people those who dedicate all their lives to things that seem too easy or trivial for you.

So, cherish these feelings you have now.

The sensation of being ill will surely turn into a vague mory of a distant past.

Lucy might not fathom the significance of this yet but at least, she could understand that Gluckt wanted to convey sothing.

After all, these mories had already sedinted into the deep past.

Ssshhh

Spring rain lashes against the skin.

Crossing the rose garden of the Ophelius manor, one finds maids and students petrified, trapped in a ti prison, standing in rows like statues.

Lucy, staggering through them, firmly grips her hat and looks up at the sky. The persistent rain heavily weighs her down.

Even if few knew, Lucy, despite her inherent laziness, held respect for those enthusiastic about life. She simply didnt show it or lend a hand, but would never belittle them as insignificant or look down upon criminals.

It goes without saying that this was Gluckts influence.

With half-open, dazed eyes, wandering through the Raln Mountains, the old mans passion for life had to be watched closely and lived by.

The man, who had let go of all his lifes achievents and had beco a ager and ragged old man, alone in the mountains, still strove to live each day with value.

The realization that she harbored more than just affection for Ed, even when cornered, ca from an inward acknowledgent of how tenaciously he clung to life.

At the very least, he wasnt a man worthy of a hollow death.

Lying old man.

Had he not said, one day as a powerful magician, pain and hardship would turn into forgotten mories of the distant past?

Yet what rose sharply in her chest was the long-forgotten pain.

The preciousness that becos greater after loss is what truly holds value.

Lucy knew this fact well through experience.

And she did not wish to experience it again.

The tis spent gossiping around the campfire munching on grilled fish, or lying limply on Eds lap while reading a book and aimlessly gazing at the sky, werent anything special.

But she knew they were the truly valuable monts.

How vulnerable are human beings.

Though she was born with the ability to manipulate high-tier magic with the dexterity of her limbs, and her talents made even historical geniuses shake their heads

The irony that the death of just one person could hurt so much.

Boom!

Just then, as Lucy walked resolutely toward the main gate of the Ophelius manor, a massive explosion erupted beneath her feet.

Enormous smoke billowed, and intense heat enveloped the area, but Lucy cleared all the aftereffects with just a wave of her hand.

That was quite a coup de grace, of sorts.

rely by walking to the main gate of the Ophelius manor, the people Lucy suppressed beca apparent.

Ophelius Hall Head Maid Belle Mayar, 4th year Magic Departnt top student Patricia Bloomriver, 4th year Alchemy Departnt top student Dorothy Whitepeltz, 3rd year Combat Departnt top student Drake Lagers, and even 14 senior maids.

If she dealt with such a force single-handedly without a scratch, at least within these walls, there was no one who could stand against Lucy.

The girl now facing Lucy must also understand that she has no chance of victory.

2nd year Alchemy Departnt top student, a ddler nad Elvira.

Ard with all sorts of magic engineering tools and alchemy potions, basic spells her combat abilities were significantly inferior compared to those of other top students.

I had presud youd be more rational, Lucy.

Lucys frosty eyes stared silently at Elvira, who stood guarding the doorway.

No, or rather, youre actually still rational to an extent, right?

The magosphere filling the sky above Ophelius manor, maids trapped in the ti prison, the rose garden filled with magic formulae bestowed by Lucy.

While it seed like an absurd chaos had been wrought, there was a clear line to Lucys tantrum.

Unnecessary destruction was sowhat suppressed, and of course, there was no loss of life. She seems capable of demolishing the Ophelius manor if she truly lost her mind, but that was, after all, a last resort.

The students of Ophelius Hall were busy trying to escape. nial maids were leading the race, sprinting out through the back entrance.

Elvira if she could stop Lucys progress even montarily, that would be enough.

Move aside.

But perhaps, even that was presumptuous.

As if sweeping away leaves blocking the view in the forest, her motion, just a simple flick of her arm, was all it took.

With that gesture, Elvira was hit with a magnitude of magical power she could not have hoped to withstand.

It wasnt even magic. It was rely a physical force created by materializing and thrusting forth mana.

Yet, Elviras body was flung into the flower bed.

Ah, uh!

She was well aware of the disparity of strength.

Elviras true intention was the array of magic engineering tools she had set near the main entrance.

With the click of a switch, mana began to rise from behind the pillars at the entrance, hidden in a concealed space.

If simple force couldnt defeat Lucy, she had to rely on the laws and principles.

Even Lucy, born with imnse power, couldnt escape the providence of the world.

Rain makes you wet, wind makes your clothes flutter, cold lowers the temperature, and boiling water eventually evaporates.

The basic laws that make up the world, no one but a deity is free from them. Even if it is sanctified magic that twists these laws, the basic principles of mana cannot be escaped.

Thus, Elvira decided to evaporate the mana in its entirety.

As the hidden machinery behind the pillars ca into view, the various magic engineering tools Elvira had brought from the secret laboratory, filling a large backpack, were revealed to Lucy.

They seed to number in the dozens. It was impossible to list each by na. The quantity was that vast.

Huff!

Elvira, who had been thrown out, wiped her mouth and stood up, pulling together the smidge of mana she had to manifest a new spell.

She raised her hand towards Lucy and clenched it tight, causing the various magic engineering tools she had installed to begin running amok all at once.

The Crux Mana Separator, the Noise Generator, the Elental Reversion Stimulator, the Claw Hand, the Wave Orb, the Illusion Disc, the Catlan Mana Purifier

All sorts of magic engineering tools that Elvira had spent her scholarly life researching after joining the Sylvania Academy burst into action.

Each magic engineering tool had a different purpose. There were plenty that didnt fit this situation and were not originally intended for combat.

However, Elviras objective was not to utilize the magic engineering tools as they were ant to be.

Although each was a precious invention as dear to her as her own children, Elvira went ahead and caused the Crux Mana Separator at the front to run wild without hesitation.

Alchemy, one of the branches of magic, is a discipline specialized in the scholarly analysis of the properties of mana itself.

Its the understanding of mana that differs from the instincts of magicians who wield mana.

Lets see if you can break through this!

Elvira pulled a Scarlet Crystal Potion from her bosom and threw it.

Lucy quickly grasped with her hand to shatter the potion bottle midair, but the purpose had always been to sprinkle the potion in the first place.

Having fulfilled her objective, Elvira swiftly sprinted out from behind the flower bed.

Thud, thud! Thud!

The Scarlet Crystal Potion temporarily increased the fluidity of mana itself, acting like a lubricant.

Activating the magic engineering tools naturally requires mana. However, infusing ones mana into a specific object is no easy task.

Simple magic engineering tools dont consu much mana, but as the structure becos more complex, they demand a significant amount of mana to operate.

The original purpose of the Scarlet Crystal Potion was to make the flow of mana used to power these tools a bit more sensitive.

Even with the sa amount of mana, the potions effect would allow it to flow more smoothly into the magic engineering tools.

Its rely an auxiliary potion, but its quite helpful for alchemists.

Indeed, Elviras intent behind throwing the Scarlet Crystal Potion was entirely different.

Thum, thum, thum!

The Crux Mana Separator gone rogue started devouring the surrounding mana.

Its a device that acts as a circuit, absorbing mana from the environnt and efficiently supplying it to the connected magic engineering tools.

But once it overloads and runs wild, it transforms into a monster that indiscriminately devours all mana in the vicinity.

If the connected magic engineering tools operated normally, this rampage would stop. The problem was that all the magic engineering tools Elvira spent nearly a lifeti creating were connected to the mana separator.

She didnt have the ti to properly calculate mana efficiency; she had just forced the circuit together haphazardly.

But that was enough for her. A normal operation isnt what Elvira intended.

Her real goal was the absorption of mana itself.

Lucys mana, lubricated by the Scarlet Crystal Potion, started being sucked into the magic engineering tools at an uncontrollable speed.

Centered around the mana separator, all sorts of magic engineering tools began to run wild.

They exploded, created illusions, and made loud noises, making the rose garden chaotic.

Bright lights shone, smoke puffing, mana emanating the sight resembling a giant mana factory.

The magic engineering tools, connected haphazardly, had near-zero mana efficiency.

Even a prodigious mage couldnt handle that amount of mana alone.

Correct. When the force of magic isnt enough, relying on the laws is the way of the alchemist.

However, unfortunately, her opponent was soone who transcended even those laws.

Whoosh!

In a situation where mana was being rapidly drawn out, the choice Lucy made wasnt to control the outpouring mana, but rather to release it.

The berserked magic engineering tools, instead of coping with the influx of mana, began to explode one by one.

Boom, bam!

Bang, bing-bang!

With the girl, still clutching her hat, as a backdrop, Elviras lifework of magical engineering tools started to go up in smoke.

The equipnt began to explode in unison.

Is this madness?

Elvira rubbed away her wounds and swallowed her breath.

Although not exactly, she was able to roughly calculate the amount of magic power that would have been absorbed when all those magical engineering devices exploded.

Yet the number was astronomical. It simply wasnt at a level that could be academically predicted.

In the midst of the explosion, Lucy turned around, her eyes disturbingly eerie.

She seed devoid of any emotion, yet it was precisely because of this that Elvira could tell a storm of emotions was swirling inside her.

Stopping that girl was impossible. Yes, this is what they ant by the realm of impossibility.

Banging ones head against sothing impossible was foolish.

Overco by fear, she involuntarily took steps backward, but Elvira clenched her teeth and stood up straight again.

If its co to this Ill just have to smash the entrance!

She attempted to invoke basic fire magic, but with a gesture from Lucy, Elvira was pinned to the ground and subdued.

It was over in less than a second.

Argh, cough!

Elvira rolled on the bloodstained marble floor. Biting her tongue during the fall, her mouth filled with a tallic taste.

Having rolled right up to Lucy, Elvira looked up to see Lucys eyes staring directly at her.

A primal fear overtook her.

There was no intent to kill in Lucys eyes. Naturally, as she had no intention of causing casualties. If there was no need to kill, she would not.

Yet, Elvira was swirling with a certain conviction that if it were necessary, Lucy could do it.

To interfere with this girl now would be insanity.

Her brain scread that truth.

However Elviras hand reached out through the pouring rain, grasping at Lucys ankle.

Lucy did not speak.

It was Elvira who broke the silence first.

If you go on like this youll regret it

Was it only her mouth that was alive? That wasnt the case.

I get that its painful, but the dead wont co back because of this Please, think of the departed ones for once

Even Senior Ed wouldnt have wanted this

For a while, only the rain poured down.

The sound of the spring showers hitting the world equally filled the air.

That I will decide after eting Tanya.

At that mont, as Lucy looked down at Elvira, she began to invoke the ti-class empowernt magic, Ti Prison.

Crash!

An impossibly fast sword strike ensued, but it could not cut Lucy.

It could, however, separate Elvira and Lucy.

The figure that darted between them launched another sword strike towards Lucy, prompting her to swiftly leap towards the rose garden, widening the gap.

Elvira was completely overwheld, unable to control even her own body.

All she had tried to do was desperately grasp at Lucy.

The man standing erect before Elvira, sword pointed at her, cursed.

Im really insane. A madman, a lunatic!

Already long and gloomy hair beca darker as it soaked in the rain, tremors visible in his heavily dark-circled eyes.

Clevius Nortondale, second-year combat departnts chief, a boy who couldnt control the blood of the sword demon in him and ended up killing his own brother, cast out by his family to lead a gloomy life.

This monster how how am I supposed to handle this F*ck damn f*cking!

The advantage was overwhelming.

Within the students of Sylvania Academy, none could defeat Lucy Mayrill.

A trial that a hundred out of a hundred would categorize as impossible. To anyone, fleeing was the correct answer.

Clevius had many chances to escape. Lucy wasnt even hostile to him. After all, Cleviuss constitution wasnt robust enough for Lucy to consider him an enemy.

Clevius lived the life of a runaway.

He beca used to the slurs of cowardice, always running from his destiny etched in his destiny, from challenges, and from the curse of blood.

It would be the sa this ti. It was most obviously a situation where escape was the correct answer. No one would bla him if he fled.

Nonetheless, Clevius drew his sword.

Not all students from Ophelius Hall had evacuated. The maids hadnt completed all their duties either.

Indeed, it is foolish to challenge the impossible.

That sentence that must have been constantly rehearsed in Cleviuss heart floated up to his heart again.

The rose gardens view, which the pathetic loser who lived a life of fleeing had easily forgotten, stubbornly remained in his eyes.

The many statues filling the rose garden were the marks of the losers. Yes, they were all losers.

Fools

both this man and that

who charged at the great disaster known as Lucy Mayrill despite sensing defeat.

They were all fools who rushed behind the romantic words of duty to protect the students, of justice, and ended up incomplete in their own deaths.

The young alchemist lying behind was no different.

No matter how much she was the second-year alchemy departnts chief, she knew well enough that it was impossible to fight such a monster alone.

Yet his feet would not move. They were his legs, yet they refused to listen.

You you cant pass damn bastard.!!

There was no hope of winning from the beginning. However, if he could sohow stall for ti, then perhaps.

Clevius scread and rushed at Lucy with his sword.

His body, soaring like a hawk, headed towards Lucy and with one gesture from her, she completely knocked him away.

Unable to withstand the magical bullet, Cleviuss body received a huge impact and rolled into the flower beds.

Again, the outco was decided in less than a second.

This stupid Clevius!!

The fallen Elvira clenched her teeth and could only watch the smoke rising from the flower beds.

Lucy let out a small sigh and calmly looked at Elvira, then eventually moved toward the main entrance of Ophelius Hall.

To stand in her way was madness.

Clang! Clang!

Whoosh!

Zix Effelstein was capable of handling almost every type of weapon. He could have enrolled in the combat departnt without it being strange, given his abilities.

What he swung now was a ceremonial rapier that had been decorated on the fireplace. He mixed in actions from his own interpretation to the ceremonial rapier sword skills hed learned from the Islan household.

Startled by the incoming sword strike, Wade quickly took a defensive stance.

Expecting thrust-focused strikes, Wade found unexpected freedom in Zix moves.

No this is!

To find a gap in Zix ability that wasnt constrained by weapons was tough.

The life of a beast wandering the northern grasslands and the life of a noble learning decorum in the Islan mansion lded together to form his swordsmanship. It was highly practical, yet not isolated completely from theory.

For Wade who had mastered the nobles swordsmanship to the limit, it beca a challenge too tough to handle. The level was simply unopposable.

Although Wade himself was a strong enough figure as well, if he were to oppose Zix through swordsmanship, he would need to overturn entirely the ideology of his martial arts.

But its not completely without gaps!

As Wade tried to exploit a gap that montarily appeared on Zix flank, his sword strike was repelled with a whoosh and a clang.

Wade couldnt understand the situation for a second. Zix should have been in a position that couldnt deflect a sword.

However, realization dawned.

It wasnt Zix sword that had repelled Wades blow

it was magic. An air blade summoned by Zix had deflected the attack.

The gap on his side had been deliberately exposed. By the ti he realized, he was already struck on the neck with the sword handle.

Gu, hurk!

With that, Zix kicked Wades abdon. Wade, sent rolling to the corner of the room, coughed violently a few tis before barely managing to get up.

Are you done?

Of course not, Senior Zix.

Wade brushed down the corners of his mouth, stood up, and glared at Zix again. And then he recognized the gap in their skills.

A fact so tangible it was strange he had forgotten.

Zix was a magician. Swordsmanship was just secondary.

Upon realizing that, Wade experienced the categorical difference between him and Zix. Still, he smiled.

Do you think Ill give up so easily? Senior Zix.

Heh hehehe heh I take joy in fighting the strong. To have the chance to fight a mighty human from the magic departnt like Senior Zix, how could I give up so easily.

Wade chuckled as he rose and picked up his sword again.

Please make it a bit more enjoyable for .

Zix crossed his arms and quietly watched Wade. He then closed his eyes before slowly speaking.

How petty, Wade. You dont enjoy the match; you enjoy victory. I guess you wouldnt have that kind of competitive spirit unless you saw so possibility of winning against those guys.

What are you saying?

Originally youre a small fish. Answer . If you really wanted to fight a true strong opponent, why specifically challenge

from among all the second-year magic departnt students?

Zix rapier once again pointed at Wade.

The magic departnts second-year chief isnt ; its Lucy Mayrill.

That statent hit the bullseye.

Zix had seen through Wades inner thoughts all along.

Its easier to categorize it as impossible and dismiss it. After all, there indeed seems to be no chance of winning. You couldnt possibly win, can you?

Thats natural

Yes. Thats your capacity.

Zix sword thrust once more against Wades.

Kr, ugh!

Wade was overwheld just by defending. Exchanging swords, Zix looked him straight in the eye and said,

Hold your sword tightly. You coward.

It was the first ti Wade had seen Zix, usually so earnest, spew curse words. Was that also part of the strategy to unnerve him?

Despite Zix warning, the sword in Wades hand dropped. He had kicked the sword surface squarely during a mont of distraction.

Clang, clang!

Wades sword tumbled through the air a few tis before rolling on the floor.

Zix rapier was now aid straight at Wades throat.

This is

Looking for excuses? Or finding reasons to accept the inevitable defeat?

Wades pupils flickered several tis.

There was nothing he could do but indicate surrender. Continuing to resist in such an overwhelmingly unfavorable situation would be madness.

Not that there was no way to resist.

Pretending to be insane by grabbing the sharp rapier blade and throwing himself forward, preparing to be stabbed sowhere while picking up the sword, anyway, as long as hes ready for a fatal wound There were an infinite number of thods.

But Wade knew all too well, from too much experience, that continuing to fight would only increase his injuries.

Unable to overco that fear, Wade slowly raised both his hands.

Right thats your limit.

Boom!

Rumbling!

That was followed by the sound of collapse from the entrance of Ophelius Hall.

*

It was as if a huge cannonball had hit, not a sword strike.

One could scarcely believe that result ca from a single strike.

The columns supporting the entrance of Ophelius Hall were utterly crumbled.

Rumble, thud!

Smoke rose amidst the trickling rain.

The boy, who had sohow erged from the flower beds, was bleeding profusely from the top of his head.

He stood again in Lucys path, an atmosphere almost inhuman with the sheer ghastliness of his aura.

With hair plastered down by the rain, hiding his expressions and gaze,

he was visibly injured on one leg kneeling on one side in a stooped posture, clutching the sword in its sheath.

Even though he knew he couldnt win.

He would at least stall for ti.

There was no guarantee that stalling for ti would resolve anything.

Hoping that so superhero on a white horse would appear and set things right, he found such hopes were as empty as they felt.

The unrelenting rain. The Ophelius Halls entrance, now a ruin.

The Sword Demon, drenched in blood and gripping his sword hilt, sat quietly with his head bowed.

Absent his usual barrage of curse words, and the sound of teeth chattering in fear, the silence on this day was chillingly quiet.

In the silence, the Sword Demon seated there seed as if ti itself had stopped around him

And the fallen Elvira montarily forgot even to breathe.