Afterward, the midterm evaluations for the second-generation students of martial studies were concluded.
Naturally, the results caught the attention of not only the faculty of Rahern Academy but also the first-generation students.
The results of the evaluation were as follows.
1st place: Kraush Valheim
2nd place: Haring Lagrin
Tied for 3rd: Glenn Diana / Ballak Hogma
5th place: Karandis Poseus
6th place: Arthur Gramalte
…
As the results were announced, so nodded as if this was expected, recognizing the inevitability of the outco.
The prominence of the Special Class was evident, as its mbers dominated the top ranks.
Particularly, Kraush’s performance beca a hot topic among the first-generation students.
He had already been drawing attention for his extraordinary progress, but the revelation that he had defeated a 7-star Erosion Species during the midterm evaluation caused an uproar.
Of course, there had been assistance from others, and since the creature was artificially created, it was sowhat weaker than a typical Erosion Species.
Even so, taking all factors into account, it was undeniable that Kraush’s skills were not inflated or exaggerated.
While Kraush’s na once again swept through Rahern Academy like a storm, there were those who found it impossible to accept the results.
“Mary, that idiot lost in the end.”
A woman with hair the color of the sea sighed in frustration.
Sigrid Ephania, the third princess of the Ephania Empire, was visibly annoyed by the news she had received.
To be honest, she had harbored a small hope.
Mary, the so-called “Divine Spear,” might actually defeat Kraush.
But alas.
Mary had been utterly crushed, her performance falling far short of expectations.
The result was beyond disappointing.
It was an overwhelming victory for Kraush.
‘Still, it seed like she was serious toward the end.’
As Sigrid listened to the reports, her expression grew more and more grim.
Back at the entrance ceremony, Sigrid had dismissed Kraush as nothing more than a cursed one.
And why wouldn’t she? His growth at the ti was within the limits one might expect if Charlotte were involved.
But his recent progress? It had far surpassed anything that could be considered normal.
“This is strange.”
Even with Charlotte’s influence, Kraush’s growth was undeniably abnormal.
He was growing stronger at a rate that defied reason, beyond the bounds of what should have been possible.
“There’s no way anyone could beco this powerful in such a short ti.”
For a while, Sigrid had assud Charlotte had done sothing extraordinary to Kraush. But even she was beginning to sense sothing suspicious.
This level of growth could only be explained by an unimaginable stroke of fortune—sothing like regression or a miracle.
Adding to her frustration was a recent incident she couldn’t stop thinking about.
The news about Felray, the Hero of the Commoners.
Felray had reportedly stopped Assistant Professor Jenikallen from committing an atrocity.
It was a major incident, involving an assistant professor oppressed by noble students who had gone too far.
During the confrontation with Jenikallen, Felray had been gravely injured and was rushed to the infirmary. Fortunately, his life was not in danger.
Despite his injuries, Felray had adamantly defended Assistant Professor Jenikallen.
He pleaded that Jenikallen’s cris not be judged as a simple, one-dinsional evil.
When the misdeeds of the noble students were exposed, Felray’s words gained even more weight.
Even the professors, who had long known about the nobles’ misconduct, ca forward to support him.
As for Jenikallen, who had crossed the line by becoming a servant of the World Eroder, his fate was deferred.
This was because forr Fighting Emperor Durandal personally intervened, taking Jenikallen into his custody.
Rumor had it that Durandal knew a way to sever the master-servant bond of the World Eroder.
Regardless, the incident skyrocketed Felray’s reputation to unprecedented heights.
Commoners chanted his na with pride, while nobles, eager to distance themselves from the implicated aristocratic students, also praised him.
Quick to adapt, these nobles emphasized that without commoners, there would be no nobles, thereby raising Felray’s stature even higher.
As a result, Sigrid, who had intended to use this incident to boost her own reputation, found herself sidelined.
She couldn’t comprehend how Felray had even gotten involved in this ss, leaving her utterly dumbfounded.
“First Mary caused a ss, and now Felray too?”
Grinding her teeth, Sigrid’s frustration reached its peak, so much so that she could barely manage a bitter smile.
There wasn’t a single person around Sigrid who was truly helpful.
To make matters worse, she even suspected Charlotte’s involvent in Felray’s actions.
Felray had started acting suspiciously ever since the Hadenhartz incident.
“Haaa.”
“Things don’t seem to be going well.”
At that mont.
Sigrid turned her head toward the voice that ca from the direction of the door.
Standing there was soone with long, golden hair.
The mont Sigrid saw him, her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
It was none other than the Fake Arthur Gramalte.
“What do you want, coming in here unannounced?”
For a mont, she realized she hadn’t even noticed his presence until he spoke.
That fact annoyed her, but she didn’t reprimand him.
After all, he was her only key to connecting with Arthur.
“I just thought the recent events seed… unsettling.”
The Fake Arthur’s cold gaze t hers.
His eyes, strangely reminiscent of the real Arthur’s, made Sigrid shrink back slightly.
“Hah, what are you talking about? Everything is going smoothly.”
“Are you talking about obtaining the Sword Emperor’s Legacy?”
His next words completely soured her mood.
“You’ve been nothing but an observer until now, and now you’re trying to ddle? How far do you intend to go?”
Sigrid’s eyes glead with hostility as an unusual aura began to emanate from her, causing faint vibrations in the air.
The room’s temperature dropped as if struck by an icy wind, and her blue eyes bore into the Fake Arthur.
“Do you think you’ve really beco Arthur just because you’re pretending to be him? You’re nothing more than a ssenger, a link to Arthur. Have you forgotten your role?”
Her sharp words elicited silence from the Fake Arthur.
Then, after a mont, he let out a faint chuckle.
“True, I’m not the real Arthur.”
Sigrid, puzzled by the aning of his laugh, narrowed her eyes.
But in an instant, the smile vanished, and the Fake Arthur’s expression turned cold as he addressed her.
“Then hear the order of the real Arthur: Bring Kraush Valheim into the fold at all costs. If you fail, you’ll never et Arthur again.”
“What? Wait, what do you—”
“Rember that.”
With those final words, the Fake Arthur opened the door and left.
Left alone in the room, Sigrid clenched her fists tightly, her entire body trembling with suppressed anger, before biting her lip hard.
That Fake Arthur had claid it was an order from the real Arthur.
If he wasn’t looking to provoke her, then those words had to be genuine.
“Never see Arthur again?”
Could those words truly have co directly from Arthur himself?
A sliver of unease crept into Sigrid’s heart, which had remained steadfast until now.
Arthur was everything to her.
If Arthur were to abandon her, she wouldn’t be able to endure it.
Grinding her teeth, Sigrid’s thoughts churned with fury.
Because she knew exactly who was to bla for this entire situation.
“Mary, you foolish woman.”
Still trembling with rage, Sigrid walked over to her desk and pulled open a drawer.
Taking out a box, she shut the drawer with a decisive motion and turned on her heel.
Even useless dogs have their roles to play.
It was ti for Mary to fulfill hers.
As Sigrid stord out of the room, the sound of her footsteps echoed ominously through the corridor.
＊ ＊ ＊
The night after the exam had ended.
Kraush was resting, recovering from the toll of using Annihilation Heavenly Asura and Annihilation Snow Erosion.
On top of that, his back still stung from the smack he had received from Astria.
He had been hit by her a few tis before, but this ti, her hand felt even heavier.
「Even in the Academy exam, you’re like this! You’re doing this on purpose to make mad!」
Recalling Astria’s scolding words, Kraush let out a faint, bitter smile.
To be honest, he couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t cause her more worry in the future.
‘Still, I made progress.’
Through this exam, Kraush realized that Annihilation Snow Erosion could be used effectively in actual combat.
If he could pull this off, it would undoubtedly open up a variety of applications in the future.
‘I can also increase the output of Annihilation Erosion.’
Most of all, the biggest achievent was defeating Mary.
‘Only two locks remain.’
If he could break those two remaining locks, Mary’s Accel would be his.
With Accel in his possession, he would undoubtedly beco even stronger than he was now.
‘The range of application will expand significantly.’
A way to prevent the world’s destruction was slowly but surely beginning to appear.
Each ti his power grew, he could feel it more clearly.
This ti, in this cycle, he could stop the world’s end.
Knock knock.
It was at that mont.
Kraush heard a tapping on his window.
Reacting belatedly due to his rest, his sixth sense identified the presence outside the window.
Kraush slowly opened his eyes.
The mory of sothing Darlene had ntioned not long ago flashed through his mind.
Creak.
Kraush got out of bed and approached the window.
As he opened it, the figure outside flinched and trembled slightly.
The person wore a robe, but her figure was unmistakably visible beneath it, and strands of black hair peeked out from under the hood.
Her shadowed face was hidden in the deep recesses of the robe.
It was Mary Diana.
“What brings you to the n’s dormitory?”
It was the middle of the night, and if the dormitory warden caught her, she would undoubtedly face interrogation.
When Kraush questioned her presence, Mary hesitated, her eyes darting nervously.
“W-Well, I just… wanted to talk to you, Kraush.”
Her response was suspicious, to say the least.
But in her eyes, there was an unmistakable sense of humiliation and desperation.
Mary’s appearance was even more pitiful than usual.
Her forced smile, accompanied by beads of sweat on her forehead, radiated desperation.
There was no trace of the Divine Spear she had once been.
Kraush silently stared at Mary.
Under his gaze, she grew even more nervous, fidgeting anxiously.
“Co in.”
After a mont, Kraush turned away from the window and let Mary in.
Relieved, Mary finally showed a hint of color in her pale face as she carefully climbed inside.
Her bare legs briefly peeked out from beneath the robe before disappearing again.
The sight inexplicably annoyed Kraush, who plopped down on his bed.
“Sit there.”
When he offered her a seat, Mary hesitantly sat down in the chair.
She adjusted her robe and took a deep breath.
“C-Could I have so tea? My throat’s dry.”
Coming to soone else’s room and imdiately asking for tea—how brazen.
Her transparent intentions made Kraush silently click his tongue in his mind.
He stood up.
“Fine, I’ll get it.”
Kraush opened the door and stepped out.
Nearby, Alicia, who had been dozing off while knitting as a hobby, flinched awake.
She looked at Kraush and quickly wiped her mouth, offering a sheepish smile.
“Kraush, is sothing the matter?”
“There’s a guest. Could you prepare two cups of tea? After that, you can go straight to bed.”
“Of course, I’ll prepare it right away.”
With the clinking of cups, Alicia began preparing the tea.
Once the tea was ready, Kraush took the tray and returned to his room.
“I-I’ll take that!”
Mary hurriedly reached out to take the tea from him.
Watching her quickly retreat into the room with the tea, Kraush furrowed his brow slightly.
He closed the door with a dull thud and turned to face her.
“So, why are you here at this hour?”
Tired of her evasive behavior, Kraush pressed for the main point.
Mary’s eyes darted around nervously.
“W-Well, today, when I lost… It was just really impactful, and I thought we could talk about it! Haha.”
Her response was paired with an awkward, forced laugh.
If she wanted to act sincere, perhaps she should have done sothing about the dark circles under her eyes first.
“Sorry, I know, it’s sudden right?”
Still gauging Kraush’s reaction, Mary hesitated as she spoke.
Hearing her words, Kraush remained silent for a mont before turning his head away.
“Is that really all?”
Mary flinched at his question.
Her large eyes trembled more violently than ever before.
“I doubt soone like you would co here for such a trivial reason.”
Kraush’s pointed remark made Mary’s shoulders shrink further.
She had never considered him a true rival in her life.
But after suffering such a devastating defeat at his hands today, Mary found herself trembling just being in his presence.
She was terrified.
When she faced him, it felt as though her very existence was being denied.
She wanted to flee imdiately, but she couldn’t.
She had received an order from Sigrid.
Sigrid had visited Mary while she was hiding under her blankets, trembling in fear after the defeat. Without hesitation, she had forced Mary to her knees.
「Mary, this is the last command I will ever give you.」
Sigrid’s eyes had been as cold as ice when she uttered those words.
「Seduce that man and bear his child.」
Translators note:
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