Chapter 214

Students around the training ground were agape at the rare sight. “I’ve never seen a great sword with an aura blade formed on it.” “It’s not a favored weapon, so that makes sense…” Among weapons, great swords are notoriously difficult to complete with an aura blade due to their large surface area. The required amount of aura emission is high, and the need to harden it is why. Therefore, players who use great swords have one more trial compared to other main characters. But for Riamon… “…how has that guy already?” It usually starts blossoming at the end of the first year. However, the dazzling light looked far beyond what a beginner would just achieve. The hardened aura completely filled the large surface of the great sword without leaving a single spot. I was lost in thought. “Everyone seems to fight leisurely, but I guess he has to give his all against Kerndel?” Athera’s words made me rethink the things I had dismissed as just feelings. Ricks, Bellman, and Edina from the magic department easily defeated the Ten Elites. Having grown stronger under Dorosian’s education, it was not surprising they won with ease. However, the knights had to be an exception. It was rightly a scene where they barely won, showing cuts on their faces and panting heavily after the final duel. But their faces looked refreshed as if they had just finished exercising and were chatting away. “Limberton, was that the answer you found?” “Turns out, that was it.” I shifted my gaze from Limberton chatting with Aslay. Until Kerndel showed up, Limberton had received the deepest spotlight. I couldn’t help feeling proud of him for having made it this far without being eliminated, but it also left me feeling uneasy. He should have barely turned the tables with just one arrow… I never dreamed the accelerated scenario would have such an impact. *** Spring has arrived. It felt that way due to my distorted sense of seasons after staying so long, but even the slightest rise in minimum temperature was enough to declare it spring in Frost Heart. I donned a thick coat and stepped into the corridor. Sophomores, looking excited, were chattering. “An entire year of freshmen as Ten Elites? That’s never happened before.” “They’ve always been different, haven’t they? Just look at their actions during the first semester.” It had been a few days since the Ten Elites duel ended, but the excitement was still hotly discussed. Kerndel had always dominated as an absolute Ten Elite among the second and third years, so his defeat by a freshman was both shocking and a blow to their pride. “At least his career is shattered, which is great.” “Exactly. Always telling us we’re commoners, and now look at him, serves him right. Hehe.” Is that so? As I got closer, the seniors looked startled. Ignoring them, I headed towards the student council. Today is the graduation ceremony. Heading to report for a final check, I bumped into Emeric leaning against the wall outside the council room as if he had been waiting. He chuckled, “Time flies.” I responded appropriately. “That’s true. But don’t you have things to prepare, senior?” Reminding him that now was not the time, Emeric approached. “I just had something personal I wanted to say.” “Oh?” “It’s been fun, Hersel Ben Tenest.” Emeric offered his hand, and I reached out reflexively. “Considered failing you, actually.” What a dreadful thing to say… Still, as it was the end, I couldn’t say it honestly. I chuckled without showing much and offered my regards. “Hope you live well and eat well.” Emeric turned his back and waved. “I’ll be waiting at the academy.” See each other again? Considering his actions that had troubled my life, a sense of foreboding rose. Let’s not worry about it. Even if the stage moves to the academy after graduation, there’s no guarantee he’ll still be alive by then. I casually opened the conference room door. Inside, the officers had arrived early and were busily sharing tasks. “Have the diplomas been correctly matched to the number of students?” “Ah, that should be done by lunchtime today.” “What? You know today’s the graduation, right?” “Well, the truth is, we’re a bit short on materials, so the delivery will be in about two hours…” A lot of time had already been lost due to construction work. It was only natural that pulling off a perfect graduation ceremony would be a bit of a stretch. “You made sure the drinks are prepared in plenty, like we discussed?” “Isn’t that something we could skip? Everyone’s just going to have one glass, and stocking extra is a waste of budget. We’re tight on funds already.” At Frost Heart, it was a tradition to have at least one drink at the graduation. Unlike the formal knighthood orders, it was a bit barbaric, which fit the style of the Pathfinders. It was like a ritual, a rehearsal of sorts, for enjoying drinks around a campfire on conquered lands. Just in case, I asked to make sure even one of the main parts like that wasn’t lacking. “You’ve got all the firewood ready, right?” Sensing my presence, the officers glanced at me. They were so busy they hadn’t even noticed I’d walked in. “Of course we did. What’s a graduation without a campfire?” “Didn’t expect you all to work this hard. Honestly surprised you got here earlier than me.” “These are people we’ve been with for two years. We should send them off properly, don’t you think?” The feeling that this was the last time with them started creeping in. But that sentiment only lasted for a moment. Once I stepped into the auditorium, the emotions hit all at once. Lined up just below the podium were the graduating third-years. The first- and second-years stood at a distance, looking on with complicated expressions, soon followed by bittersweet smiles. As a student council member, I led the officers to the prep room beside the stage. “Next time, that’ll be us, huh?” “Ah, it’s making me emotional. I really owed the seniors a lot.” “What’s with the mood? It’s not like they’re marching to their deaths.” Watching the expressions of the second-years who had spent time with the third-years, I too began to feel sentimental. In two years, we’ll also be standing beneath that stage, sensing the unfamiliar air, holding expectations and anxieties about what lies beyond, waiting for the principal to appear. When that time comes, I wonder what I’ll be thinking. Will it be all tangled up in realistic worries about the scenario and everything else? I don’t think I’d like that. It’s a meaningful day in its own way, after all. That’s why I made a promise to myself right then—on that day, I’ll set aside all those complicated issues and just have a normal graduation. I was seated, going over the graduation certificates in the order of the list. So focused, I hadn’t noticed when Arkandric showed up, until he patted my shoulder and smiled gently. “How does it feel, watching your seniors graduate?” “Honestly, I just want to leave as soon as possible.” I said it without holding back, and the other officers widened their eyes. The professors standing behind them, including Rockefeller, stared at me in disbelief. So what? If it bugs them, I could drop everything—the integrated tournament, being student council president—just like that. “Haha, and yet here you are. You’re very patient.” Arkandric must’ve misunderstood, thinking I could leave whenever I wanted, and took it positively instead. Considering the image of me he probably has in his head, it’s not surprising. After I beat Dordone to death, I probably gave off the impression that there was no chain in the world that could hold me. So I might as well make myself comfortable like I’m at home. “Looks like it’s about time to start.” Arkandric took his eyes off his watch and walked toward the podium. The professors followed behind, each holding the diplomas organized in order. The ceremonial speech began, and then the third-year students were called up to receive their diplomas. Some hid their falling tears with their sleeves, while others looked around at the faces as if trying to imprint them in memory. Of course, most looked like they couldn’t even tell if this was real. These were normal reactions—but there was one guy who came up as if to prove he was different, chin held high in arrogance. It was Kerndel. After receiving his diploma, Kerndel immediately asked Arkandric, “Headmaster, are you satisfied with your job?” “Hm? Why do you ask something like that?” “I’m just considering it as one of my future careers.” Like the lunatic he was, he considered the job of a principal with the same casual gaze you’d have picking food at a buffet. Arkandric shook his head and stepped back. I could even hear him sigh from where I stood. It was time for Kerndel’s speech as the representative of the graduates. An officer from the council tried handing him a staff imbued with amplification magic, but Kerndel waved it off. “I’ve surpassed the point of needing something like that.” Kerndel took a deep breath and shouted so loudly it echoed. He was channeling aura into his throat. “I know what you all say about me! You laugh, saying I lost the first seat? Don’t delude yourselves. I simply went easy on him!” All around, voices shouted, “You’re pathetic, Kerndel!” “And saying my career is ruined? Ridiculous. I only backed down from the first seat. The second…” He trailed off when he spotted Dorosian, who was still reading. “No, the third…” This time, he locked eyes with Mircel. As Mircel blinked at him, Kerndel shifted his gaze to Erucel, standing beside him. “I’m moving on to the fourth seat! Even that is somewhere none of you can dream of reaching!” He seemed to think Erucel was someone he could still compete with. Listening to all this, I felt a random urge to raise a question. “Didn’t you get completely stripped of your place in the Ten? There hasn’t been a rematch since that day, after all.” When you lose, the title is forfeit. In order to rejoin the Ten Elites, one had to either reclaim the seat from the one who took it or aim for the spot below. Of course, with graduation so close, there wouldn’t have been time for such a thing. “You’re graduating as a former Ten Elite. That’s how it’ll be recorded on paper. Accept it with humility.” There was a difference between graduating as a Ten Elite and graduating as a former one. It was a matter of whether you maintained your prestige until the very end. Kerndel, seemingly unable to accept the bitter outcome, suddenly went on a rampage. “But I didn’t lose it! I simply didn’t care about the position!” —You just never got the chance, that’s all. “Even without those achievements, there are plenty of opportunities for someone like me! Just wait. I’ll get promoted at lightning speed in the Headquarters and treat you all like slaves!” And with that, he said what should never be said. Maybe he didn’t realize that everyone was holding back only because it was the final day, and yet he spat out such vile words. “That guy, seriously till the end!” “Look at him still not coming to his senses?” As expected, the victims of Kerndel’s tyranny rose one by one. They climbed the stage and began surrounding him, then collectively beat him down. Even though Kerndel was considered strong, he couldn’t handle the combined assault from the newly appointed Ten Elites. It was a fitting end for someone who let arrogance turn him into something disgraceful. Smoke rose from the center of the training grounds. The campfire wasn’t a particularly long event. It was simply a time to chat, accompanied by music, between those graduating and those who remained. Of course, everyone had a sip of the distributed liquor. One by one, those who finished their farewells began to leave. The main gate, which had always stood firmly shut to block escapees, was now wide open. Seeing them cross the gate, it looked just like a scene from Pathfinder—completing a campfire ritual after conquering new land, now heading off in search of the next frontier. I couldn’t keep watching their backs forever. Because a group of seniors had gathered around me to say goodbye. Magdal, who had a mentor-student bond with Ricks, teared up as he spoke to me. “If I’d known it’d be like this, I would’ve enrolled at the same time… such a shame.” Back in Schlaphe Hall, he had tried to swindle money from me like a proper villain, but now he looked so kind, I couldn’t even hold a grudge. He’d reformed, after all, and played a big role in helping grow the Ricks Corps. I patted his shoulder and chatted with him about small things. But that was just the start—graduates began approaching me one after another. Athera from Schlaphe, Emeric, Bernthal from Adele Hall, and others… They all came to say goodbye like it was some kind of ceremony. It was tiring, but this was the final moment. I did my best to return their farewells sincerely. After about an hour, they began heading toward the main gate. …… Suddenly, I realized there was something I hadn’t said to them. “Seniors.” They were the ones who had endured three years in this hellish place. “Farewell.” They had really gone through a lot. “Let’s meet again.” They turned in unison, smiling as they waved. “We’ll definitely come watch the Integrated Tournament!” “I’ll be looking forward to it.” And with that, the third years were gone. We became second years, and the Integrated Tournament began. To read Chapters ahead ???? CH 211-215 (Graduation) $3 CH 216-220 (Integrated Academy Tournament) $3 CH 221-225 (The Underdog) $3 CH 226-230 (Who am I?) $3 CH 231-235 (Frostheart Vs Wisdom) $3 CH 236-240 (I want to lose) $3 CH 241-245 (Finals) $3 Prev I TOC I Next Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Like Loading...