Chapter 26: Overwhelming Power (1)

Unlike before, Rohan pushed through the game relentlessly.

Since the bridge with Clara was established more firmly than expected, there was no need to waste energy any longer.

Having abandoned the ‘idiot playthrough’ and enjoying the game properly, he felt relieved.

How cute.

He started clearing areas rapidly, asking Clara about any settings he was curious about or parts he got stuck on. And Rohan realized why Clara had tried to sell him on the story.

…It’s definitely fun.

Once he started a chapter, he found it rather difficult to stop midway due to his curiosity about the unfolding plot.

It took considerable restraint on his part to break away in the middle.

A short break while studying, to clear his head, on the way back to the dormitory after exercising and while eating at the Academy Cafeteria.

Clara was surprised to see Rohan blazing through the stages as if a blockage had been cleared, diligently utilizing every spare moment he could get.

And thanks to this, he also learned how to play the game.

She smiled bashfully and rejoiced, seeing that he was genuinely having fun.

Each and every step was a significant improvement.

As they grew closer like this, wouldn’t the day when Clara would tell him about her current situation, something he couldn’t learn in Abyss City, arrive?

Someday, I’ll have to ask her for help.

With his complex thoughts, still somewhat tangled, Rohan stepped through the main gate of Orion Academy and put his phone in his pocket as he headed towards Class 1.

Creaking!

He opened the door and entered Class 1.

Exchanging brief greetings with the friends he had gotten to know over the past few days, Rohan sat down next to Gilbert.

“Rohan! A strong and powerful morning!”

“Yeah, same as always…?”

Rohan swallowed the greeting he was about to utter.

Unlike usual, Gilbert’s voice was lacking its typical booming resonance.

His hands organizing his bag came to a halt as Rohan turned his head to the side.

Gilbert looked gaunt, his face lacking its usual grandeur that seemed like it should be accompanied by a magnificent sound effect.

“Hey, hey! Your face is wrecked!”

“Merely an honorable badge of resistance against the Gorilla’s unjust directives… Nothing much.”

“?”

The ‘Gorilla’ Gilbert was talking about must be his older sister.

He heard that his older sister had graduated from Orion Academy and had gotten a job in Academy City, keeping him under her watchful eye.

“Just a Canite member flapping his wings to reclaim freedom.”

“Seems the results weren’t great.”

“The attempt itself has meaning.”

After hearing this guy’s past anecdotes of narrowly escaping death due to unbridled curiosity and his occasional eccentricities, Rohan assumed there might be a valid reason for his current state.

“The fact is, that’s a look we saw frequently back at flight school. It’s even on the list of 9 incidents.”

Dick Wikitree announced his arrival, setting down his bag.

“You’re here.”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

Rohan exchanged a casual greeting.

Seemingly reminded of something by Dick’s words, Gilbert crossed his arms and continued a brief reminiscence.

“Ah, of course, I haven’t forgotten the past. And I won’t forget this humiliation either and will train diligently so I can defeat the Gorilla.”

“He kept saying that while at flight school too. A goal he still hasn’t achieved.”

“Grr──!!! The golden spirit of perseverance is what matters! How can you focus only on the results!”

Perhaps having regained his energy during the short conversation with Dick, Gilbert started raising his voice as usual.

Feeling a sense of stability return through their exchange, Rohan resumed preparing for class.

A moment later, Juyeon opened the door and entered the classroom.

“I will take attendance.”

Juyeon called out their names one by one.

No cadets were absent today.

“Any cadets who aren’t feeling well or those with special circumstances?”

An unspoken rule had already been established in Class 1.

If no one raised their hand within a few seconds, the answer came simultaneously.

“““None!”””

“If you have any ailments or special circumstances that are difficult to mention here, please come see me during break time or send a message.”

Juyeon said as she moved her pen over the record book.

“At ease.”

Noting there were no announcements to be made, Juyeon picked up the record book and clicked her heels as she exited the classroom, while the cadets naturally began preparing for class.

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“I asked you to memorize a specific part yesterday. We’ll move on after reviewing this part.”

Juyeon flicked her hand, and two problems appeared on the board.

“I explained how the Dimensional Rift and the Black Monolith, which generate Monsters, have different areas of influence depending on their size and how you can use this formula to calculate the minimum range affected by their negative influence. I also gave you detailed information about the terrain and materials that introduce errors to the range yesterday.”

As soon as she finished her explanation, her red eyes locked onto their targets.

“Rohan and Noa Frozenheart, come up and solve one each. Rohan, solve the Dimensional Rift problem, and Noa Frozenheart, solve the Monolith problem.”

“…”

“Gasp!”

Noa let out a gasp and stiffened her tail, while Rohan gulped.

It seemed the aftermath of his single-line answer from the Placement Exam hadn’t settled yet.

Getting up from his seat, he glanced towards Ichinose, who was tutoring him.

Their eyes met, as if by chance.

─ F.i.g.h.t.i.n.g.

Ichinose mouthed the words clearly and clenched her fist.

He couldn’t let Ichinose, his mentor in theory, be disgraced after receiving such valuable encouragement.

He strode forward.

“Noa Frozenheart, come up and solve it quickly.”

“Y-Yes!”

At Juyeon’s voice, Noa stood next to Rohan.

Scribble, scribble.

Rohan’s pen glided across the board smoothly.

Even though it felt like his head was on the verge of exploding, he somehow managed to arrive at an answer.

Whether it was correct or not, the moment he arrived at a conclusion, he felt a different kind of pleasure than when he used his body.

“Rohan. Did you manage to solve it all?”

“Yes.”

As Rohan stepped back, Juyeon quickly scanned the formula.

“Correct until the middle. The final application of the formula is lacking… You fell for the trap too easily. The quickest way to improve would be to practice similar problems and familiarize yourself with the patterns.”

“Understood.”

He could see it clearly after being corrected. He regretted missing that part.

“Still, I can see the traces of your effort. Good job.”

Juyeon placed a hand on Rohan’s shoulder in commendation, then shifted her gaze to Noa Frozenheart.

“Mmm…”

Noa hadn’t even started yet.

Her visibly flustered state, unable to even grasp the problem, was unusual.

How long did the girl, carrying the blood of the White Tiger, struggle? Her tail and ears twitching as she was locked in a staring contest with the problem?

Turning to Juyeon, she confessed honestly.

“I don’t know!”

As if she had anticipated Noa’s answer, Juyeon’s expression remained unchanged.

She was neither angry nor flustered. She simply pondered how to get through to her.

“Noa Frozenheart.”

“Yes!”

Removing her hand from Rohan, Juyeon approached Noa and gently brushed aside the bangs mixed with white and black hair, stroking her head.

Noa blinked in confusion, and Juyeon spoke in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

“After graduating from Orion Academy and entering the field, you will encounter a variety of situations that are impossible to list.”

“…”

“And one of the situations that drastically lowers the survival rate is internal conflict.”

Unexpectedly, it wasn’t a direct lecture on the necessity of theory.

Instead of lecturing, she was trying to persuade her.

“Even when lives are at stake, there are cases where cooperation fails due to strained relationships or lingering resentment from the past. Separately, there are also cases where plans go awry because they are unable to acknowledge each other’s abilities, leading to endless arguments.”

Noa’s round ears twitched, indicating she was listening intently.

Maintaining eye contact with the girl, Juyeon asked,

“Noa Frozenheart. In moments when life or death hangs in the balance, can you follow the commands of someone weak in combat?”

The girl shook her head, expressing that she absolutely could not.

Juyeon expected as much.

Perhaps because she was the daughter of the Grand Emperor of Snow, she sensed a stubbornness that wouldn’t yield on this point.

“Mastering theory is similar to that.”

“Yes?”

To the girl who voiced her lack of understanding, Juyeon calmly continued her explanation.

“There are those who believe that combat prowess is the ultimate power, and those who believe knowledge is the measure of strength. Or groups that value wealth or social influence.”

“…”

“And just like Cadet Noa Frozenheart, there are also those who would rather die than follow the commands of someone who can’t read the situation.”

Minimum theory was the basic requirement to sit at the table of compromise on the battlefield.

Only then could other things be taken into consideration.

“Since I’ve mentioned group conflict, I should mention one more thing. You asked last time why cadets don’t spar with each other?”

“That’s right!”

“The cadets here are full of confidence and vigor. There might be cases where they don’t accept the results of sparring gracefully, and feelings might get hurt in the process of exchanging blows. This isn’t just limited to cadets; it’s common even among professionals.”

They needed time to mature mentally.

And when that time came, Juyeon informed them that sparring would become part of the curriculum.

However, Noa pouted as if disappointed, and expressed the values and thoughts she had developed while living in Tigrova.

“Winning or losing is…pure, I think. If you lose, you lose, and if you win, you win…”

Seeing someone else in Noa’s words, Juyeon smiled faintly and pinched Noa’s cheek.

“It’s admirable to accept the results and find purity in struggle. In fact, it would be great if everyone thought like Noa, but that’s not reality.”

“…”

“Ultimately, this means that it can create situations where cooperation fails because relationships are strained or past resentment lingers.”

It meant that repeated mental training and preparation were needed before the cadets could start sparring with each other.

“That’s why we haven’t started sparring yet, and that’s another reason why theory is necessary. Do you understand?”

“Yes…”

Noa nodded heavily, as if she had somehow come to accept this point.

Juyeon found her appearance both admirable and understandable.

Juyeon herself had experienced a period of overflowing energy and the urge to release it, and she knew that active Beastkin had even stronger tendencies.

Many thoughts crossed her mind.

Am I perhaps being too old-fashioned…? Instructor Carrot said she has already started sparring sessions.

While Juyeon felt some regret about her lesson plan being disrupted, she realized once again that she couldn’t teach cadets, each raised in different countries with strong individual personalities and values, using a single method.

“Good. Since Noa Frozenheart has properly understood and accepted my boring lecture, we will have a brief sparring session in the afternoon class. I will face Class 1 and point out any issues.”

“!!!”

Noa’s tail, which had been drooping, perked up and swished back and forth.

Her deep blue eyes sparkled, revealing a predatory gleam.

The cadets observing from their seats also showed great interest.

It felt like an incredible opportunity, more so than a simple lesson.

In that atmosphere, Juyeon captured everyone’s attention and spoke.

“And before we spar, I will set a condition.”