The Only Male Student in the Academy

023. Followers (4)

“This is your victory, Ariel Beheritt. Kill or not, do as you please.”

After that, I took Alex out of the swamp with Marie.

Alex had a surprisingly resolute expression.

As if he was resentful of losing, but he would not reveal it.

“Then what would you do if I told you to betray Claire?”

“…….”

With that said, Alex shut her mouth.

It was not because he had nothing to say, but because he was deliberately silent.

Don’t reveal what you’re thinking by avoiding answering and keeping a poker face.

For Claire.

‘I don’t know why he is so loyal to Claire.’

I know what skills Alex has, but unfortunately I don’t know anything about Alex’s narrative. In the original, he was an extra among extras.

I say with a sigh.

“Let me tell you one thing, I have no intention of getting engaged to Claire.”

With that said, Alex raised his head.

“…Is that really true? If you get engaged to Claire-sama, will you be able to return to the dukedom?”

“Believe it or not, do whatever you want. But if you really want to protect Claire, you should bet on a slightly higher possibility, right?”

“…….”

Alex looks suspicious.

I didn’t really like being suspicious until the end, but there was no need to dispel Alex’s doubts.

Because it’s enough if you order it.

“As the winner of the duel, there is only one thing I ask of you. It doesn’t matter if it’s just once. Don’t trust Claire.”

—–

Ariel Lv.22

Title: 1st year of Magic Combat Course (paid, exchange student)

Clan : None

Strength 19

Workmanship 23

mana 17

Faith 4

Charm 2

Health 25 (+10)

Spirit 10

Skill list

Strike Lv.5

Focus Lv.1

Magic Missile Lv.2

Energy Blast Lv.1

Alchemy Lv.8

Item Throw Lv.9

—–

Monday after spending the weekend in the dungeon with Marie.

I hear a voice calling my name on the way to school, where my sleep is slightly less.

“Ariel Beheritt, I will request a duel.”

Alex, who was waiting at the school gate, approached me.

“Don’t you get tired of it, you. You would have said there was no reason to accept the confrontation.”

“I know. I’ll give you this if you win the match.”

Saying that, what Alex took out was an armor.

A good item that can only be obtained in dungeons. It must be something quite expensive.

However, it is an item suitable only for warriors.

“I don’t wear heavy armor like this. I don’t need it.”

“I see. Then I’ll think of something you might want and come back.”

Having said that, Alex turned his back.

And the next day, Tuesday.

As I was preparing for my morning class in the classroom, Alex appeared.

“Ariel Beheritt, I will request a duel.”

“What is this time?”

“It’s a staff. It’s a high-end item that can greatly increase your magic power. I’ll give it to you if you win the battle with me.”

“I don’t use a cane, so I don’t need it. Go away.”

And the next day, Wednesday.

“Ariel Beheritt, I will challenge you to a duel. If you defeat me, I will give you this magic book.”

The next day, Thursday too.

Also Friday, the day after Thursday.

“Ariel Beheritt, if you defeat me, I’ll give you this robe!”

“Ariel Beheritt, if you win the match, I’ll give you these gloves!”

“Ariel Beheritt! If I lose, I’ll give you this advanced potion!”

That way, all week long Alex came to me and challenged me to a duel.

“……Is Ariel okay with that?”

Then the weekend came again, and Marie and I came to the Blatta Dungeon.

Is it because he is doing skits with Alex every day? As soon as I entered the dungeon, Mari asked me anxiously.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Well, but… Er, Ariel’s reputation is getting worse…?”

-“I ask for a showdown every day without getting tired of it.”

-“If you work hard like that, shouldn’t you accept it at least once?”

-“He must be doing that because he wants to stay at the academy somehow. Or maybe he’s just a coward?”

-“Feel sorry for being a fool and a coward.”

Of course I know that my reputation is getting worse.

… Can’t know It’s because I speak in a loud voice so that I can hear it in my ears.

But nothing to worry about.

“Uh, why did you make Miss Alex Falto do that…? Eh, if you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to…”

“Then don’t ask. It has nothing to do with you.”

I cut it like that.

Then Marie comes up with a slightly downcast expression.

“Uh, yeah… Mi, I’m sorry… Joe, I was just curious… Ah, I won’t ask anymore…”

Marie recoils.

Looking at the servile Marie, somehow I feel like I’ve committed a crime…. Why should i feel guilty

“Just know that it’s to pass the time.”

“Poetry, to pass the time…?”

“I can’t tell you the details right now. I’ll tell you when the midterm exams are over.”

“Ah, ok… I’ll wait until then…!”

Marie said that with a bright face.

What makes you happy?

I don’t understand. From Marie’s point of view, it would just be a man she doesn’t know well doing something strange.

… Well, it probably doesn’t matter

Right now, the priority is to deal with what is right in front of your eyes.

This is the end of the second floor of the Blatta Dungeon.

We are on the verge of facing a group of kobolds.

“Eh, Ariel…. There are two Guardians, three Warriors, two Archers, one Sorcerer, and one Shaman…”

A fact I learned while partying with Marie for a little over a week. Marie is surprisingly smart.

In addition to instantaneously grasping numbers, his observation skills are surprisingly excellent. So Mari always figured out the number and composition of the monsters first and informed them.

Nine kobolds.

Their head count is 4.5 Times ours, and even the job balance is very good.

Compared to that, there are only two wizards here.

It is not an easy composition.

“Let’s get started.”

I took the water bomb out of my bag.

As soon as I see Marie nod beside her, I throw the water bomb.

The water spring explodes and pours water at the kobolds.

“Marie.”

“Yes…!”

When I called Marie’s name, she pointed her staff at her.

A magic circle rises from under the kobold’s feet and a chill rushes in.

Within seconds, it surrounded the bodies of the kobolds and made them freeze.

It would have been nice if the battle ended with that, but unfortunately, I can see two kobolds wriggling in the ice.

Kobold guardians heavily armed with armor.

“I activated the crowd control release skill. I will come running soon.”

As soon as Mari was warned, frost fell from the bodies of the kobold guardians.

A kobold guardian that runs while breaking the ice on its body.

They are obviously hostile towards us.

“Grrr…!”

The kobold guardians come running with their shields at the fore. They must be thinking of ramming our bodies with their shields.

However, the movement was by no means fast. As they were heavily armed with armor, the kobold guardians were heavy, and their mobility was reduced.

Throwing items at the right timing is easy. I took a potion from my bag and threw it on the floor.

The potion bottle breaks and the liquid inside spills out onto the floor.

At some point, the hard floor turned into a muddy swamp, and the kobold guardians who were running into it fell into the ground.

“aaah!”

Kobold guardians struggling to get out of the swamp.

But the problem is that the armor is heavy. The more you move your body, the more the kobold guardians sink deeper and deeper.

Looking at Marie, before I could say anything, she was already getting ready.

As Marie holds out her arm, her ice spear flies away.

Accurately, it was sucked into the face of the Kobold Guardian, breaking its head and spraying its brains.

“Marie, how much time is left for freezing?”

“Go, it will be cut off soon…”

“Yes.”

After entrusting Marie with cleaning up the last remaining kobold guardian, I take out a fireball to prepare for the next attack.

Shortly thereafter, the effect of Ends, and the remaining 7 kobolds come out of the frozen state all at once.

The first to rush in were the kobold warriors with swords and axes.

Compared to the Guardians, they are lightly armed and have a nimble body. It’s coming this way at a very fast pace.

One more drink is the kobold shaman.

When the kobold shaman gestured lightly, the bodies of the kobold warriors shone. It gave you a buff.

The movement speed of the already fast kobold warriors increased one more level, as well as their leaping power.

Three kobold warriors jump all at once.

It was a handshake.

“.”

Unfazed, I threw a fireball.

It must have increased the leaping power to jump over the swamp, but the endurance of the kobold warriors increased that much.

It doesn’t even have wings, so you can’t change direction when you’ve already jumped. Just keep moving forward.

There is no way you can avoid the ball I threw.

Only like this is it just a target.

“Kek…!”

The kobold warriors hit by my ball fall down in the air.

Just as it is, one after another, they are driven headfirst into the swamp and sink into the deep bottom.

It seems that he couldn’t stop breathing, but he neutralized the three kobold warriors right away.

Then there are four left.

Two kobold archers, one kobold sorcerer and one kobold shaman.

“Eh, Ariel…! This way…!!”

Marie exclaims.

Looking ahead, arrows and magic were flying.

Just as Marie said, I quickly approached her side.

“…!”

Marie stood in front of me and held out her hand.

A giant ice shield forms around Mari’s hand.

It was the size of a shield. It was about 4m tall and thicker than my forearm.

Archer’s arrows scratch the ice shield, and the sorcerer’s

Fireball hits the ice shield.

But there was no nod.

During the past week, Mari’s magic skills have also improved as much as her level has risen.

“Until the next magic charge is the game.”

I tipped Marie off.

The kobolds’ offensive was slowly entering a lull. It was because the Kobold Sorcerer was on skill cooldown.

“Leave the sorcerer alone for now. I aim for the archer first.

“Oh, okay…”

“Then let’s go.”

Marie and I were scattered in different directions.

As soon as we get out of the ice shield, the archers fire arrows.

But you can see how it will fly. After spending more than a week in the Blatta Dungeon, he had become accustomed to the kobold archer’s attacks.

Smoothly dodges all of Kobold Archer’s attacks, and takes out a fireball from the bag.

The moment an archer fires an arrow and draws the next bowstring.

In line with that, I threw a fireball.

“Geek…!”

A blow that hits him right in the skull knocks Archer down.

I can’t confirm if I ended her life properly, but I think she at least passed out. It’s practically out of combat, so there shouldn’t be a problem.

Let’s look at Mari. Mari also fired an And knocked down an archer.

Now all that is left is one kobold shaman and one kobold archer.

“Eh, Ariel…! Neh, the swamp side…!!”

I thought it was, but it seems it wasn’t. As Marie pointed out, looking at the swamp, kobold warriors were climbing up.

Judging by the fact that her body glowed blue, it seemed that the shaman had applied a buff to the warriors. It must have been thanks to him that he was able to get out of the swamp.

It was annoying.

Clicking her tongue at that fact, I give Mari an order.

“I’m in charge of the warrior. I ask for a shaman and a sorcerer.”

“Ugh, yes…!”

After Marie saw her nod, I spurred on and ran away.

The kobold warriors did not immediately move into action. The three exchange glances with each other.

Only two are coming forward.

The one remaining can be seen trying to sneak away in a different direction.

‘I’m thinking of targeting Marie.’

It seems that Mari’s magic has judged it to be a threat.

Of course, you shouldn’t leave the store. Thinking so, I immediately threw a dagger at that direction.

As soon as the dagger was thrust into the kobold warrior’s knee, the body fell forward.

“That…, Kiik…”

Convulsing kobold warriors. It seems that he is unable to move due to the instant-acting paralytic poison.

This prevented the kobold warriors from approaching Marie, but instead allowed the other two kobold warriors to approach to some extent.

Kobold warriors from both directions charged at the same time.

“.”

Compresses mana from his hands and fires them all at once.

That attack must have been unexpected for the kobold warriors. I’ve never used magic before and just threw it.

Maybe he looked down on me for not knowing anything other than throwing. The kobold warrior is greatly affected by my sudden magic attack, and is hit with As it is, and falls into rigidity.

The other warrior tried to swing his sword at me, but I drew my sword and countered the attack.

“.”

Utilize the skill and counter the sword. It wasn’t too difficult to block it because it was a slower sword than Alex’s.

While blocking the warrior’s attack, I slipped on the kobold warrior’s legs.

The posture of the kobold warrior collapses.

As it was, I quickly moved my left hand and pulled out an item from my bag.

It’s a bomb.

– Kwaaang!!

Explosion at close range. It blows away the warriors in front of it with a roar.

I was stepping back in advance to prepare for the explosion, but I still couldn’t completely get out of the explosion’s range.

Pain is felt in the arm that was stretched out to protect the face, and scars are engraved all over the skin.

“Eh, Ariel…. Guess, are you okay…?”

Mari came running towards me who was caught in the explosion.

He looked at me with a worried face, so I took out a potion and roughly applied it to the wound.

“What about sorcerers and shamans?”

“S-I knocked it down…”

“Yes.”

Get up and look around.

Two kobold guardians drowned in the swamp.

A kobold warrior convulsing from paralysis poison.

Two kobold warriors who were caught in the explosion and collapsed.

A kobold archer knocked down by a fireball.

A kobold archer who died after being pierced by .

Likewise, one Kobold Sorcerer and one Shaman died in .

“…….”

Roughly discarding the empty potion bottle and fixing the sword.

After suffocating the living kobolds by driving their swords through their necks.

I said to Marie.

“Let’s go to the third floor tomorrow.”

After the battle on the second floor, Mari and I came to the warp gate.

Breaking up in front of him was our rule.

“Well, then… Mmm, I’ll go first… See you next time…”

Marie entered the warp gate first, stuttering as usual.

Anyway, the destination is the same, but we do not go together.

I didn’t want to show others that Mari and I were close, so we deliberately set aside time like this.

After waiting for about 5 minutes like that, I belatedly enter the warp gate.

Beyond the warp gate, a quarantine station appears.

Whether strange things are brought into the floating island, whether the monsters have imitated humans, whether they have been bitten by monsters and infected with strange viruses, etc.

I have to prove on the spot that there is no problem.

“Yes, it’s confirmed, you can go.”

There are a few cumbersome procedures, but they are over in no time.

If you walk a little from the checkpoint, you will see a dormitory building.

I wonder if Marie is waiting for me, so when I look around her, no one is there. She must have gone back to her own room long ago.

I do not feel particularly regretful about that fact. It would have been more difficult for her to see her waiting for me.

Nonetheless, walking alone like this often makes me feel lonely.

“…….”

The first floor of the dormitory is extremely quiet. I’m the only one living on the first floor.

Crossing the hallway on the 1st floor, which is no different from paying a rent.

For some reason, emptiness fills the hallway.

You can find me who doesn’t think that fact is particularly good or bad.

Going home alone like this, I strongly realize that I am truly a desolate person.

There is no one in the world who is as far away from youth as I am.

Feeling fatigue seeping into my shoulder blades, I look for the key in front of the door.

Insert the key into the keyhole and unlock the lock to enter the room.

“Oh my, is Ariel here yet?”

I heard a voice that I shouldn’t have heard.

In a dark room because the lights are off.

A girl walks out.

Because of the darkness, it is not completely visible.

Fox-like eyes reminiscent of the sunset are staring at me.

“I waited for my throat to fall out.”

A voice full of laughter.

Claire was there.