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Chapter 117: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat

Chapter 117



After spending quite some time hidden in the corner of the gym with Yoon Si-woo, I heard Martina’s voice as she looked after the kids.


"Okay, that's it for today's class... and those two over there taking a break, it's time to join us now."


With those words, I helped Yoon Si-woo, who still hadn't completely regained his senses, get up, and we sat down among the group of students.


Martina stood at the front of the gathered group and looked over the students before shouting loudly.


"Thank you all for following along with today's class! Honestly, I didn't have high expectations when I first came here, but most of you exceeded those expectations. If you can make what you learned today your own, you can become even stronger. I'll drop by occasionally for more training sessions, so make sure to show me how much you've improved since today!"


"Yes, ma'am!!!"


The children responded with a resounding cheer, and Martina nodded with satisfaction.


I thought the class was ending, but as Martina surveyed the students, her eyes met mine.


As soon as she saw me, she flinched, then approached me with a gloomy expression and bowed her head.


"Uh, I'm sorry about today. I shouldn't have had you spar like that... I just wanted to give you a chance to apply what you learned in a real situation..."


My stomach churned.


I was the one at fault, so why was she apologizing to me?


I waved my hand and replied to her.


"There's no need to apologize. I learned a lot today thanks to you, Martina. It must have been hard to pay such close attention to where each student was lacking. Thank you for the great lesson today."


When I bowed my head and expressed my gratitude, Martina's face twisted slightly.


She seemed touched yet somehow frustrated.


"...Damn, I can't win... You're too nice..."


As I stared at Martina muttering and moving her lips, she glanced at me with a smile and said,


"...Thank you for saying that. But I still feel sorry, and I can't just let it go because of my pride. As a token of my apology, I'll grant you one favor. Is there anything you'd like to ask for?"


At Martina's words, I screamed internally.


Argh! I’m the one who messed up! Why is she so eager to do something for me?


But seeing her expression, I knew she wouldn’t let it go unless I said something.


Yet I felt guilty asking for anything...


After hesitating for a moment, I sighed and said to Martina,


"Um... I don't have anything in mind, so could you maybe grant a favor to one of the other kids instead...?"


Martina sighed and gently patted my head.


"...Even though you know someone like me can grant most requests... I don't dislike selfless people like you. If that's what you want, fine. Kids, if there's something you'd like to ask, speak up."


The kids looked at me, gauging my reaction.


Anything's fine, just ask for something...


I nodded with that feeling, and the gym buzzed with excitement.


"What should we ask for? Maybe a photo together? Or an autograph?"


"Ugh, I can't decide... What would be something cool to ask for?"


The kids buzzed with excitement as they debated what to request.


In the midst of the chatter, someone raised their hand.


It was the pink-haired girl, Florene.


As the kids focused their attention on her, she exclaimed,


"I want to see what strong heroes do on the front lines!"


"...Florene, that's too much to ask of Miss Martina..."


"Don't say that, I really want to see it up close. I want to see how they fight monsters!"


As Florene shouted, Marin tried to dissuade her with a strange expression, but most of the kids looked intrigued by her suggestion.


Astrape, where Martina works, is a place that only the strongest heroes can enter, and it's like a dream for the kids.


Of course, they would be eager to see it firsthand.


In the end, the atmosphere shifted towards asking for a field trip to the front lines, and Martina muttered with a contemplative look.


"A field trip, huh... As long as they’re just watching and not fighting, it shouldn’t be too disruptive, and experiencing the atmosphere of the field would definitely be beneficial..."


She pondered for a moment before asking Eve, who was observing from the side.


"Teacher, what do you think?"


"Hmm... A field trip could be an educational experience, so we might be able to allocate some class time for it. Of course, you'll have to make sure the kids are safe since it's a dangerous place. Can we trust you, Martina?"


In response to Eve's question, Martina replied with a reassuring smile.


"Don't worry, just trust me. Even if a high-level monster attacks, I won't let them touch the kids. Since I have the teacher's permission, you can all look forward to it. I'll show you how the heroes you're aiming to become protect the city."


The children cheered.


And a few days later, we went on a field trip to the front lines.


\* \*


"Hello, everyone. I'm Kanna, the squad leader of the 4th Division, and I'll be leading you today. You'll be visiting the front lines in the northern border area, which is dangerous, so please don't act rashly or move forward. We'll protect you, but if you run off on your own, you could really get killed. Since you understand, let's get going."


A few days after the special lesson, the day of the field trip finally arrived.


We gathered at the school and followed the guide, using the city’s internal transfer gate to head to the city's outskirts and then walking beyond the protective barrier that shields the city.


The invisible magical barrier that protects the city from demonic energy.


Though the barrier is not visible to the naked eye, it was clear we had crossed it once we passed the thick line drawn on the ground that marked the city's boundary.


It was evident because towering structures that couldn’t be seen from inside the city stood scattered around.


"Those structures you see aren't actually buildings but large magical devices. You can think of them as giant versions of the devices used to handle monster corpses. They condense demonic energy in the air and store it specially to prevent monsters from forming, making them essential in border areas. The stored energy is transported to purification facilities for cleaning."


"Hehe, that’s what Florene's family handles."


Florene said with a smile.


Management and disposal of demonic energy.


Florene's family, the Dolos, discovered this method long ago when people first began being threatened by demonic energy and have managed it ever since.


This is the main reason why the Dolos, along with Aegis, the family of great heroes, and Astra, Sylvia's family, are considered the three great families that hold power within the city.


Of course, it helps that their distant ancestor was also part of the heroes who led the charge against the Witch of Lust.


In any case, the fact that the land outside the barrier would become uninhabitable without these structures was evident.


This was my first time voluntarily leaving the barrier, and it made me realize how dangerous this world truly is.


As we walked, taking in the scenery, we soon arrived at the border region's transfer gate.


"Once we pass through here, we'll be at the front lines, so please follow the instructions closely."


The children gulped with tension and anticipation.


I also felt nervous as I stepped beyond the transfer gate, and I saw what looked like endless fortifications in the distance.


Just then, a loud boom echoed from somewhere.


"Oh no, it looks like there’s another attack."


**A female squad leader named Kanna, who came as our guide, muttered in a weary voice.**


Hearing her words, the children realized where the explosion had come from and looked tense.


Kanna looked at the children with amusement and said, 


“Well, since we came for a tour, we should at least see what's happening. Follow me.”


With that, Kanna walked steadily towards the barricades, and the children followed her.


As we approached the barricades, the faint sounds grew louder.


The howling of monsters, the explosions of magic, and the shouts of people.


And as we climbed up onto the barricades, we saw Martina, watching over the scene beyond.


“Captain, I brought the kids.”


“Ah, you’re here. You came at the perfect time, just as it was about to end. Alright, everyone, take a look.”


Martina pointed her finger beyond the barricades.


Sure enough, a battle was taking place there.


Magical flashes flickered as heroes wielded their weapons to defeat the monsters.


But there was one figure that drew everyone's attention more than anything else.


I heard someone take a sharp breath.


I bet everyone was looking at the same thing.


A horde of monsters crowded beyond the barricades. In the midst of them stood a white-haired boy.


He looked like a lone sheep facing a pack of wolves.


However, it was not the boy who was being hunted.


The scene could only be described as a massacre.


The boy's sword cut through the monsters with terrifying momentum.


It was as if he was saying, "I'm very angry right now, and you are the target of my rage."


He mercilessly slashed, crushed, and cleaved them with his sword.


Another wave of monsters rushed at the boy, but—


An enormous fireball, created by Martina, came crashing down upon them.


Immediately afterward, the ground shook with a flash, an explosion, and a shockwave.


And once it subsided, not a single monster stood with its feet on the ground.


This was the place where only the top-tier heroes existed.


Amid the silence of the children who witnessed this scene, Martina's voice could be heard.


“Welcome to the front lines, everyone.”


---


"As you just saw, battles against monsters are a daily occurrence on the front lines. They don’t attack every day, but it’s not a rare event either. Especially these days, the beasts of rage rampage incessantly, causing the monsters to constantly flock here."


Even as Martina explained something, the children appeared dazed.


They must have been in shock.


I was quite shocked too.


They had witnessed, with their own eyes, the battle of heroes who were several times, even dozens of times, stronger than themselves.


If they felt nothing, that would be the strange thing.


As Martina watched the now-silent children with amusement, she continued with a grin.


“Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s dangerous. As you just saw, everyone here is strong. Not just me, the squad leader, and the squad members, but Yoon Si-woo, who was attending classes with you until recently, is strong too.”


Not arrogance, but confidence.


The ability she just demonstrated was enough to entitle her to speak those words.


But because of that, I felt intimidated, wondering if I could ever become like that.


"So, aim for us and train hard. We look forward to the day when you’ll fight alongside us. Don’t worry about anything else. Until then, we’ll protect you."


However, what came from her mouth was encouragement.


It was a promise to protect us.


Knowing that someone so strong was watching over us and having someone like that have expectations for us caused the children, who had been feeling small, to become motivated.


As if someone had been inspired, the sound of applause began to ripple through the students.


Then cheers and applause poured over Martina.


Martina blushed slightly, seemingly embarrassed by the children's reaction.


"Wow, that's impressive. Hearing that you'll protect us almost made my heart skip a beat."


At the sound of someone’s voice, her face suddenly hardened.


The heroes, who had been resting after the battle, and Martina grabbed their weapons.


I turned my head.


A woman wearing a hood stood next to me, as if she had been there all along.


From under the hood, her eyes glowed as she looked at us.


“...Who are you? You shouldn’t be able to enter here without authorization.”


“Oh, don’t worry. I’m not suspicious.”


In response to Martina’s question, the woman reached deep into her robe, as if to produce proof of her identity.


What emerged from the woman’s hand was a black orb, just like the one I had seen at the gymnasium before.


And then, as if a familiar feeling washed over me, I inhaled sharply.


The sensation was similar to what I had felt when I was searching for the witch who had hidden away a month ago during the game of hide-and-seek.


No, it can’t be. There’s no way. Why here...


An ominous feeling crept down my spine.


And before I could shout, realizing the woman’s true identity,


From under the hood,


The woman smiled and spoke.


“I’m not human.”


“I’m a witch.”


\[ \[ \[ \[ \[ ■■■■■■■■■■!!!!!!! \] \] \] \] \]


A terrifying scream echoed.



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Comments

  1. Don't wryy, We are here to support you whenever you need cuz your responsibility is to post daily and our's is to support through rating & review

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the chapter

    ReplyDelete
  3. So witches aren't human?

    ReplyDelete
  4. For someone who said that they won't touch a thing, she immediately touches that thing, heh.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The monsters becoming collateral in yi woo's turmoil

    ReplyDelete
  6. The monsters getting obliterated due to si woo's emotional turmoil

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the chapter

    ReplyDelete

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