Chapter 101: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat
Chapter 101
After a powerful explosion and the dust settled, revealing the landscape beyond, I smiled victoriously.
“...This, the attack side was beyond my expectations.”
Leon, looking bewildered, released his clasped hands and grabbed the broken stuff with both hands.
Internally, I cheered.
Yay! I won! Maybe I’ve gotten a bit stronger than before?
While I was basking in that strange pleasure, Leon cleared his throat and asked.
“Ahem, miss. I have a question. Among the first-year students, how strong are you? The strongest must be Yoon Si-woo, who recently joined our side. Even considering him, you’d be in the top three, right?”
“Top three? I’m not even in the top five.”
I carefully counted the original protagonists on my fingers.
First, Yoon Si-woo is undoubtedly number one, and Sylvia and Dwight are likely competing for second and third.
Then there’s Florene, the girl with great strength, and Marin, who controls ice and water.
Even just considering them, I’m definitely below the top five.
When I answered that, Leon murmured in shock.
“...We were considered a golden generation too, but these days...”
After muttering incomprehensibly, Leon collected himself and said to me.
“Miss, honestly, I don’t understand why you want to get stronger. If you just diligently train your body and abilities at the academy, you could easily become one of the top heroes. How strong do you want to become?”
Although Leon highly praised me, I still felt I had a lot of shortcomings.
Just thinking about the original storyline, this level wouldn’t be enough later, especially now that the witch, who wasn’t in the original, had started to directly interfere...
With those thoughts in mind, I spoke up.
“Strong enough to fight the witch.”
Leon burst into laughter.
“Ahaha, miss. It’s admirable that you have high goals.”
He laughed for a while but, seeing my lack of reaction, his expression gradually became serious and he asked.
“...You’re not joking, are you?”
When I nodded, Leon looked startled and said.
“...Miss, I’ve fought several high-level monsters on the front lines, and even a group of decent heroes would be slaughtered by them. A witch is several times stronger than those monsters. Do you understand that you’re saying you want to become strong enough to fight such monsters?”
I nodded silently.
Leon appeared to be contemplating something, then walked over to the weapon rack, took out a sharp spear instead of a training one, and drew a long line on the ground with it. He looked at me more seriously than ever and said.
“I said I’d help you get stronger, so I’ll take this seriously. If you’re sincere, I’ll help you as much as I can. But first, show me your determination. If you truly want to get stronger, cross that line.”
Leon pointed to the line on the ground with his spear.
I nodded at his words and walked towards the line.
Leon did nothing as I approached the line.
One step forward.
Two steps forward.
Three steps forward.
And finally, as I lifted my foot and crossed the line.
He looked slightly surprised but then nodded seriously with a solemn face.
“Alright. I promised, so I’ll help you. Then...”
At that moment, a ringtone sounded.
It was my phone, which I had left out for training.
“Oh... It’s my phone. Just a moment...”
I raised my hand to ask for a moment and answered the call.
As I pressed the call button, I heard Sylvia’s excited voice on the other end.
[Ah, Scarlet! I happened to have some free time this afternoon, so I was wondering if we could go shopping like we planned last time.]
I looked around and answered in a small voice.
“Uh... Now? Right now is a bit...”
When I answered like that, Sylvia’s voice was filled with disappointment.
[Oh... I guess you have something to do... Alright. Then how about we go for a bath together this evening instead...]
Hearing that, an alarm went off in my head.
Huh? If I don’t go shopping today, I have to bathe with her? That’s not good!
“Wa... Wait! Now that I think about it, today should be fine!”
[Wow! Really? Then it’ll take me about 30 minutes to get back, so let’s meet at the mansion in a bit!]
“Got it! See you at the mansion in 30 minutes!”
Shouting that, I bowed to the people around me, who were taken aback, and said.
“I’m sorry! I’m really sorry! Something urgent came up, and I have to go!”
“Huh? Oh... If it’s urgent, you should go...”
“I’m really sorry! Next time!”
After apologizing repeatedly to the bewildered Leon, I ran towards the mansion.
If I’m late, I’m dead!
*
Watching Scarlet run off in a daze, Mei shook her head to snap out of it and spoke to Leon Lionel, who was staring at the line he had drawn.
“...Um, is something wrong?”
“Ah... Sorry, I forgot you were there for a moment. I just have a lot to think about...”
Leon answered, but it still seemed like his mind was elsewhere.
Mei, who had been staring at the line he had drawn, cautiously asked.
“Um, is there something about that line on the ground?”
It seemed like Leon had been trying to test something, but Scarlet had crossed it so effortlessly that it left Mei curious about its purpose.
After contemplating for a moment, Leon glanced at her and said.
“…It’s a kind of test, but would you like to try it too?”
Mei tilted her head and then slowly nodded, approaching the line just as Scarlet had.
Step by step, as she walked toward the line, she suddenly felt a strange sensation.
One step.
She felt a chill, even though the sun was shining brightly.
And two steps.
Unconsciously, her hands and feet began to tremble.
Cold sweat started to run down her back.
Despite the reluctance, she took a third step.
The chill turned into a shiver, and her teeth chattered.
Cold. It was freezing.
And fear.
Fear? Of what?
As Mei looked beyond the line, she realized where that sense of fear was coming from.
The man standing beyond the line.
He was exuding a deadly aura, as if saying, “Cross this line, and I will kill you.”
Even though she knew he wouldn’t do anything, the intense and thick killing intent made her feel like her head would be pierced by his spear if she crossed the line.
Even facing that giant monster in front of the gym wasn’t this terrifying.
If she crossed the line, she would surely die.
Her breath became ragged.
Even though she knew it in her head, her body wouldn’t move.
Cross this line? Are you crazy? It was as if her feet were shackled.
Her body kept protesting against her mind’s determination to cross the line.
Scarlet did it, so I will too.
No matter how much she thought and wished for it, her body wouldn’t move.
Unable to overcome the fear, frustrated with herself, tears started to well up.
“Stop.”
With that voice, the oppressive sensation disappeared instantly.
Leon quickly caught Mei’s collapsing body.
“I can’t... I can’t cross it. Scarlet did it... but I can’t...”
“That lady is unique. You are normal.”
Watching Mei cry in his arms, Leon spoke with a bitter expression.
Honestly, he hadn’t expected her to cross it so effortlessly.
No matter how strong-willed a person is, overcoming the fear of death is no easy feat.
Yet she crossed it as if she didn’t care whether she lived or died.
Was it her desire to become stronger, or was it something else?
Regardless, a promise is a promise.
Developing talents... When does the academy break end? Should I ask the other squad leaders for help?
After a brief contemplation, Leon looked at the unconscious girl in his arms and sighed.
“…I’m going to get scolded by my daughter.”
As expected, he received numerous scoldings from Leonor, who was furious about what he had done to her.
Thanks for the chappy
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThanks for the chapter
ReplyDeleteGuess witches in this world are more like herrschers, hmm does that mean a heart implantation is just essentially the wrath revival? Heh
ReplyDeleteThanks for chapter
ReplyDeleteoh he’s cool
ReplyDeleteMy hypothesis is that as someone with a witch's heart, there is no way that Leon could ever stand against her or at the very least be a threat to her life
ReplyDeleteLol
ReplyDelete