Quit The Hero Party

EP.96 It Seems I’ve Made the Wrong Call (1)

The exam went on for three days and nights. The students camped in tents set up along the outskirts of the forest. At dawn, just as the morning sun began to rise, they challenged the forest once more.

They had no idea what awaited them in the center of the forest.

They could only watch as Belnoa and Lac were carried out on a stretcher after passing the exam, and they could only expect it wouldn’t be easy.

‘Defeat the boss in the clearing of the forest.’

That was the condition for passing the exam. The students gritted their teeth and broke through the forest’s illusions. On the first day, they were busy being chased by beasts, but by the second day, quite a few students had ventured deep into the forest.

It was an absurdly difficult exam.

However, as they repeatedly challenged it, they usually figured out a way somehow. The students continued their attempts, wandering around the forest, running about, and searching for a path.

On the third day, around midday.

Three students reached the clearing at the center of the forest. It had truly been a tough journey. Now, they only needed to hunt the boss, and everything would be over.

‘I don’t know what the boss will be like…’

But still, with the three of them together, they should be able to handle it.

“Oh.”

What awaited them, filled with anticipation, wasn’t a gruesome beast. It was a completely unexpected person standing there.

“Finally, you’ve come.”

Rania van Trias.

The professor known as the nightmare of Apuria.

Wearing a skull helmet askew, she stood up with a bright smile. In stark contrast to her blooming smile, the students’ faces turned pale.

Now they understood why Belnoa had broken fingers.

Why there were bloodstains on Lac’s nose.

They came to know the infamous reputation that Professor Rania had among them.

gulp

But what could they do?

They had chosen the Battle Magic Department themselves. There was no answer other than to endure through sheer force.

“U, AAAAAH!”

Screaming a sound that could be either a scream or a war cry, the students charged. At the nightmare of Apuria. And so they came to personally experience it.

Rania van Trias.

Now they understood why she was called the nightmare of Apuria.

Beyond the mental anguish, this time, the malicious professor handed out physical pain, and the students collapsed. With tears in their eyes, they knelt down.

“Ugh…”

The sight resembled knights kneeling before a disaster.

“Ugh, urgh…”

Screams echoed from various places.

As the screams reverberated in the forest, the sun began to set on the third day of their exam. The three-day exam was coming to an end.

“…Is that you, Professor Rania?”

“Yes?”

“I have a lot to say to you, so much to say that it’s overwhelming…”

When the three-day practical exam came to an end.

“For now, you’ve done well…”

Rania’s infamy rose even higher. At the very least, her name took on a slightly different meaning among the students of the Battle Magic Department.

Rania van Trias.

The deep and terrifying nightmare of Apuria.

2.

The day after the practical exam concluded.

I was half-slumped on the sofa in the professor’s office, flipping through exam papers for review. My master, who usually would have made a remark, was silent this time.

‘Because there are no classes to enter immediately.’

There was hardly any work to do even if I showed up. Every day I just assigned loads of homework for review and prep.

‘Although the vacation has ended, the conditions aren’t suitable for holding classes just yet.’

After the skull helmet’s attack, Apuria had implemented a short vacation for disinfection and repairs at the academy. It seemed that the disinfection was mostly finished during the break, but…

‘They said they would create a new protection barrier, right?’

It seemed they had begun the work in earnest.

In just one semester, there had already been two invasions by beasts. It was said they would even bring in external personnel to properly refurbish the barriers.

‘I’ve seen some master-level mages, too.’

The scale of it was bigger than expected.

I had seen Yetual, the master of the Black Tower, roaming around the academy a few times. Just like the scale, the process of repairing the barriers was going to take quite a long time.

Classes had resumed, but the situation didn’t allow for any teaching.

That was the current state of Apuria Academy.

‘Practicals may be fine like in the Battle Magic Department.’

Unlike the practical-focused Battle Magic Department, the theory-based classes that needed classrooms and labs were in a bad situation. Because of the repairs to the barriers, external personnel flooded the classrooms. It meant there were no conditions to hold classes.

And it was the same for the course I was in charge of, “Mana Trading Studies, Basic.”

‘Just assigning homework and dismissing students.’

That’s how my routine had been lately.

“Is this enough to submit?”

I showed the completed homework to my master. He flipped through the papers and soon spoke.

“Well, until this week it would be better to put them into self-study. Since it’s a week’s worth, you can give them a bit more.”

“…More than that?”

“Even if the students’ enthusiasm for learning is high, they are a bit lax due to the frequent vacations. It’s also the educator’s job to tighten the students’ discipline.”

I tilted my head.

‘Last time, didn’t they scream when I assigned this much?’

Glancing at the stack of papers piled up by my master, it seemed all of it was homework, and the amount was quite staggering.

‘Surely, compared to my master’s, this might be a bit less.’

Then wouldn’t it be right to assign more?

Well, now that I think about it, the last time there were complaints about the amount of homework was all just during the exam period. Now that the exam period had ended, as my master said, wouldn’t it be okay to assign a bit more?

rustle

I took out two or three more empty sheets and started drawing new circuits. Repeating this kind of work made me feel like my work speed had increased.

“Rania.”

“Yes?”

While working, my master suddenly called my name. When I turned my head, he was resting his chin on his hand, looking at me.

“You seem to be in a very good mood today.”

“Really?”

“You’ve looked happy ever since you returned from supervising the practical exam. Did something good happen?”

Did I?

“I think I feel good because it’s been a while since I stretched my body. It was fun watching the kids running around.”

“…Stretch your body? With what?”

My master blinked. Gradually, his expression darkened. Just as he seemed about to say something.

ding ding

The alarm circuit carved into the desk sounded. I turned my head to check the time, and the clock hand pointed to 2 o’clock.

‘2 PM.’

The time when the sunlight was warmly shining down.

It was time to head to the café I had set every day. I stood up, leaving my master’s voice behind.

“What does that mean…?”

“Master, I’ll stop by the café for a bit.”

My master frowned slightly, then sighed and nodded.

“…Alright, go on.”

His voice contained a deep sigh.

Seeing the fatigue in my master’s voice, it seemed there was quite a bit of work piled up.

‘Should I bring back a cup of coffee?’

Thinking along those lines, I started to walk.

Leaving the professor’s office, I walked down the hallway. The sunlight pouring in the afternoon was peaceful in Apuria.

Not long ago, I had felt as if I were peering into the scenery of the Phantom Territory due to Sara wandering around Apuria… but now, that was all old news.

‘It’s been a while, I guess?’

By now, Sara, Kyle, and Remia must have all returned to the battlefield. It was unlikely I’d encounter them again in the royal capital.

‘The hero shouldn’t really be away from the battlefield.’

Wouldn’t it be better for them to charge ahead another front during that time? As I walked, lost in those thoughts, I soon arrived at the café.

clang

As I opened the café door, a rich aroma of coffee welcomed me, along with the glances from the café owner, Allen.

“Hello, Allen.”

“E, er, welcome back, Professor Rania.”

His voice welcoming me trembled in a peculiar way.

I couldn’t help but smile wryly and waved my hand.

‘He still hasn’t gotten over it.’

Ever since the day I splashed coffee on Sara’s neck, Allen had been like this. It seemed my action had quite the shocking impact on him.

‘If he heard what Sara normally said, he would probably faint from shock.’

Watching Allen clean the coffee cups, I cheekily continued, “Aren’t you going to take my order?”

“…What would you like to order?”

Actually, there wasn’t much to order.

I just lightly tapped the table and said, “The usual, please.”

“Ordering like that at the café, I think you’re the only one who does that, Professor Rania…”

“Oh, come on, you understand everything.”

Even while grumbling, Allen began brewing the coffee. Like a first-class alchemist, his measurements were always spot on. The way he poured coffee without a hint of error resembled the sight of an alchemist refining a high-grade potion.

‘Cardi can’t brew tea worth a damn.’

To my eyes, this young barista seemed even more impressive than an ancient alchemist.

“Here you go.”

Allen handed me a coffee cup along with the morning bread I always ordered. The rich aroma of coffee lingered at the tip of my nose. The flavors brought by his precise measurements were incomparable to generic coffees on the market.

‘This is why I can’t quit this place.’

I smiled faintly as I took the cup and headed toward a window seat. I placed the coffee cup on the table and let out a short breath.

“Phew…”

Though it had become a daily routine, today I didn’t come to the café just for relaxation.

“So.”

I turned my head and looked at the guest sitting next to me. As our eyes met, he flinched and lowered his head.

“What did you want to talk about, Lac?”

Lac von Grace.

A student in the Battle Magic Department and one of the students I had my eye on. At my call, Lac slowly turned his head.

“Um, it’s about…”

He hesitated and then opened his mouth.

“I would like to get some counseling, Professor Rania.”

“Sure, what is it?”

3.

Only two students completed the practical exam early.

Among those two, Lac had been thinking a lot more than usual lately. He normally didn’t think deeply. His actions always preceded his thoughts.

However, lately, Lac had been feeling a sense of unease.

Whether running around the training grounds or swinging an axe during practice, his mind kept wandering elsewhere. He wasn’t able to focus.

‘What could be the reason.’

In fact, Lac knew the reason well. It was the peculiar sensation he felt during the practical exam. That feeling kept circling around in his mind.

Physical enhancement through Heating.

It was a strengthening method he had been able to use since he was fifteen. However, for the past three years, Lac had never been able to maintain his reasoning while in a heated state.

‘He lets instinct take over. His vision narrows.’

In other words, his reasoning becomes paralyzed.

He would merely swing his axe and charge forward, guided solely by his combat instincts. In truth, it wasn’t something to be ashamed of.

‘It’s not just me, after all.’

Even prideful special forces of the northern region that had lived as warriors for decades would find it difficult to maintain their reasoning while heated.

Young Lac must have envied those warriors just by being able to use Heating.

So far, Lac hadn’t really felt anything strange about it. He thought it was only natural for his reasoning to become incapacitated. However, that normality was shattered.

During the last practical exam, Lac experienced a rare event.

‘He maintained his reasoning amidst instinct.’

It was a deeply strange sensation.

His body was hot. His breath was heavy. Yet inside his mind, it felt cool as if a blizzard was raging. His vision was clear, and he felt a spine-tingling sense of unity.

That strange sensation.

That peculiar feeling of unity.

He wanted to experience it again. If he could fully claim that sensation as his own, he would surely secure victory even against Belnoa.

‘But, it was impossible.’

It was impossible alone.

He had no idea how to achieve it.

‘Only one person could know about it…’

It was probably the professor he had faced during that time.

“…That’s all.”

After explaining, Lac glanced at the professor sitting next to him. She slowly set her coffee cup down. Her blue eyes settled deep between her delicate lashes.

She looked as though she was contemplating something.

After a moment of silence, she slowly opened her mouth.

“Well, once you’ve caught hold of an idea, it’s not that hard to master it.”

She said while pinching her chin thoughtfully.

“Actually, the best way is through practice.”

“Practice, you say?”

“Uh, I have a story about someone I know… There’s someone strongly headstrong near that person?”

headstrong?

“The kid’s not smart, so all he knew was to charge in headfirst. Every time he fought, his body ended up messed up, and he spent the entire day in bed.”

“Oh, uhmm.”

It didn’t quite sit right with him.

Lac listened closely to her words.

“Even that guy got to a point where he could at least grasp the essentials after rolling around on the battlefield. Survival instincts are more formidable than one might think.”

“Then…”

“But, I can’t just send you off to the battlefield right away. Even if I did, I’m sure you’d perform, but it would be risky.”

Is there no suitable place?

“In the past, I could have just taken someone out to a corner and let them run around for three to four days, but… hmm…”

She seemed to find something dissatisfying.

At that, Lac felt a strange chill.

“T-then how about I try again…”

“Oh, right.”

Just when he was about to hastily interject.

As if something had come to her mind, she clapped her hands. Then, she pulled out a piece of paper from somewhere.

‘A letter?’

It looked exactly like a piece of stationery. I could feel the mana flowing through it, suggesting it was a magic tool.

swish

She wrote on the letter with mana. Lac briefly glanced at the letter she was writing. The characters filled with mana danced and melted down the paper.

scribble

As each letter was formed, they disappeared, making it hard to see the contents accurately… but there were letters briefly flickering in front of him.

‘L, ru…’

There were characters that repeated a lot.

It seemed like someone’s name. Lac narrowed his eyes to confirm that name once more.

‘…Lru?’

And then, the name was completed.

Lac silently mouthed the finished word.

‘Lruiel.’

That name felt oddly familiar.

“…Huh?”

Lac blinked.

A name written lightly on the letter, yet it was no trivial matter.

‘…Her Highness Princess Lruiel?’

Even a clueless Lac, being a child of a prestigious family, knew the rumors regarding Princess Lruiel.

The mad dog of the royal family, Princess Lruiel.

Why was such a person’s name written on that stationery? Lac looked up at Rania.

“Uh, who are you writing to…?”

“Oh, just someone I know.”

“Someone you know…?”

“I got to know them recently, and they’re someone of considerable standing.”

Someone of considerable standing.

“I’ve built up a bit of debt, so I think they might help if I ask.”

“Is that so?”

Lac slowly lowered his head.

His intuition warned him. To tear up that letter immediately and run away from here.

“Ugh, eugh…”

Lac fidgeted, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his hands. His throat felt dry with anxiety. He grasped the coffee cup, which he hadn’t taken a single sip from.

It was bitter black water.

A cup of bitter dark liquid, yet today it strangely felt sweet.

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