Episode 46: Azathos, Re!vival [1]

 

“Then, I’ll be going now, unnie.”

“Have a good day, Eunha-yang.”

As I waved lightly, Yu Eun-ha entered the classroom with a bright smile. Seo Jian, Ecclesia, and Sakura rushed over to her from inside, asking about her condition.

-Eunha! I heard you were badly hurt, are you okay?

-Yeah, I’m fine. Unnie protected me, so there wasn’t much damage.

-Unnie? You mean the President?

-Yes, she’s as precious to me as you all are.

‘……….Looks like she’s doing better now.’

-By the way, isn’t it amazing that the President blocked that huge Gate all by herself?

-Right, now I understand why she’s called the strongest Student Council President in history.

-I really hope she wins the Student Council President election!

‘No, that’s putting pressure on me.’

Looking around the classroom, Seong Arin was sleeping face down on her desk. Nayubin…was just muttering to herself continuously.

‘Looks like she hasn’t gotten close to those two yet?’

Well, Seong Arin will have episodes connecting her later…and Nayubin is…well, like a time bomb. Seo Jian will figure it out.

Since Eunha’s mental state didn’t look that great yet, I felt it was worthwhile to stabilize her mind with a simple suggestion. Thankfully, she seemed to blend into the class atmosphere without any issues.

‘Then……should I head up too.’

Baek Si-ah wasn’t in Class D, probably in the workshop, so I went straight up to the second-year classroom.

-Creak…

“Long time no see, everyo……”

The second-year classroom after sending the first-years away.

-Whoosh!

“Seah-yang, I missed you…!”

Immediately upon entering, Lee Seo-yun hugged me.

‘So this is the taste of Lee Seo-yun’s sword pouch.’

Since Lee Seo-yun had an impressive height of over 170cm, my face was instantly buried in her ample sword pouch, from which a refreshing pine scent emanated.

“Hey, what are you doing to a patient?”

“Eek, could you let go of this…defeated A-yul-yang?”

“Ah, seriously. Let’s duel again after lunch.” (Recent record: 42 matches, 40 wins, 2 losses) <Recent record: 2 consecutive losses>

“No way, A-yul-yang is terrible at swordsmanship~” (Recent record: 42 matches, 2 wins, 40 losses) <Recent record: 2 consecutive wins>

Judging by how familiar their banter was, it seemed there were no major issues among the second-years during my absence.

‘Well, most major events happen to the first-years with the protagonist anyway.’

After patting Lee Seo-yun’s back gently, I turned to look at Kang A-yul too.

“Well, your complexion looks like you’ve been doing well. Was the hospital food good?”

“No, I had tteokbokki and chicken…it wasn’t exactly hospital food?”

“Weren’t you hospitalized…?”

“I was at the Chairman’s safe house, not a hospital. Sometimes delivery drivers got electrocuted by the barrier around the safe house and collapsed…it was fun.”

“……..?”

To Kang A-yul who looked puzzled, I changed the subject by asking how they’d been getting along.

“By the way, you didn’t fight while I was gone, right?”

“……..Umm….”

‘…….?’

As soon as I returned to the academy, an ominous feeling washed over me.

Surely they didn’t immediately resort to fisticuffs just because I was gone…did they at least have an argument?

‘Lee Seo-yun would keep provoking until Kang A-yul finally snaps and throws a counter punch. That’s how their conversations go.’

Looking around, the reactions didn’t seem positive.

“What happened?”

“Well…there were circumstances…”

“A-yul-yang suddenly stabbed me in the solar plexus during a simulated battle, probably because she was salty about her ‘two.consecutive.losses’…I’m too scared to duel A-yul-yang now.”

“?”

“Hey! Don’t omit the context and make it sound like that!”

‘Wow.’

Feisty, Kang A-yul.

From what I gathered, after my absence, Kang A-yul’s simulated battle partner was confirmed to be Lee Seo-yun instead of Ryu Sinwoo, and they’d had over 40 duels in that short time.

Until yesterday, Kang A-yul had won all by narrow margins, but this morning…right before school, during two simulated battles, Kang A-yul lost twice consecutively to Lee Seo-yun. When Lee Seo-yun tried to leave, Kang A-yul demanded another match, and the sword she threw nearly pierced Lee Seo-yun’s heart.

“So you threw a sword demanding another match, and it almost pierced Seo-yun’s heart?”

“Yes, I never thought A-yul-yang could be so cruel…especially since the barrier was being dismantled at the time…”

“Hey! That’s not what happened!”

Thankfully, their conversation didn’t escalate too seriously, probably due to my influence.

“By the way, you returned just in time for the Student Council President election?”

“Right, they’re calling this year’s first-years the golden generation…I need to show them that’s not true.”

“True, since grandfather is coming too…I should tell him you don’t need special training this summer vacation.”

When I asked Lee Seo-yun, she said Cheonma would indeed be visiting.

“It’s all thanks to you, Seah-yang. Master’s expression has truly brightened.”

In the original story…Lee Cheonma should have been searching for a way to wake Lee Seo-yun before falling into corruption, but now he’ll remain a reliable S-rank hero to change this story.

“In practical combat, you know I won’t go easy on you just because you’re injured?”

“Of course.”

After those words, Kang A-yul and Lee Seo-yun headed down first for their next class, monster simulated battles.

Left alone, I watched the students gradually depart from behind, beginning to sort out the variables for this episode.

The number of students who applied for the Student Council President election was exactly 300. That number only exploded after my participation announcement – originally, it was predicted to exceed 500.

They reduced it to 256 by eliminating underperforming second and third-years to minimize match numbers. If it were 300, considering various loser brackets and byes…

‘Ugh, just imagining it makes me dizzy.’

Among main characters, confirmed participants include protagonist Seo Jian’s group (Seo Jian, Ecclesia, Seong Arin, Nayubin, Yu Eun-ha, Baek Si-ah, Hanae Sakura) – all participating.

Many second-year students including me also applied.

All top 50 ranked students from second-year, including me, Kang A-yul, and Lee Seo-yun, reportedly applied. The troublemaker who would cause chaos in the election also applied, just like in the original.

‘What was her name…Hong something?’

A student who trained with Seong Arin in the past, blinded by jealousy of Seong Arin’s extraordinary talent, tried to steal what Seong Arin had and lost everything.

Her specialty was fire magic, contrasting with Seong Arin’s water magic.

Her hair…white with pink tips, that style…wait, is that her over ther…….

“Move.”

Not directed at me, but at a white-haired girl ahead.

-Thud!

“Ugh…!”

A girl fell with a ridiculous sound.

Clearly pushed intentionally, the white-haired girl struggled to get up without protesting.

“Damn it, how unlucky.”

“Leave her, isn’t she that Seong Arin? The first-year vice president who never won against the top student? If I were her, I’d have quit being a hero long ago.”

“…………”

The white-haired girl glared tearfully at the two who pushed her.

But the bullies’ reaction to that gaze was……..

“Look at her eyes, she wants to hit someone.”

“Try it, last place in Class A can’t do much anyway…pfft!”

As expected.

“Hong Bi-yeon…what a pretty name.”

Found her, the troublemaker.

…

…

…

[“Test concluded. Final survivors: 0, Boss monster remaining HP…67%. Score: 33/100.”]

“Group C! Why did you charge into enemy lines when you were supposed to protect the mage?”

Furious at the terrible score, the professor scolded the four Group C students.

“Because we thought Hong Bi-yeon’s fire magic couldn’t break that wall!”

“Right! If you assign us Class B-level members, it’s like asking three people to defeat a Red Drake…!”

“Quiet! What kind of attitude is this!”

Group C, which included Hong Bi-yeon, had failed spectacularly in their assignment to defeat a C-grade monster, Red Drake, based on its data.

The reasons boiled down to three:

First, Hong Bi-yeon was fundamentally unsuited for the mage position.

Second, Group C members ignored her and charged ahead, only to get knocked down by a single tail swipe.

Finally, Hong Bi-yeon’s poorly controlled fireball hit allies, ending the test with team kills.

“She doesn’t seem suited to be a mage. She’d be better as a striker or defender…”

“Right, as a mage…her magic power was kinda weak?”

My group members at the next table also mocked Hong Bi-yeon subtly.

“We’re next, let’s prepare. Mocking others will come back to bite you someday.”

“Ah, yes…we’ll prepare right away!”

“R-right! As expected of our President!”

‘I envy Kang A-yul and Lee Seo-yun.’

Kang A-yul and Lee Seo-yun were assigned to the same group.

With Ryu Sinwoo also in their group, they formed an overpowered team practically guaranteed first place.

I should’ve been there too…this lottery was rigged.

“Well, Seah. Even though you’ve recovered from injury, evaluations remain fair. I trust you understand.”

“Yes, naturally.”

With those words, I entered the augmented reality device…and a giant lizard immediately appeared.

[“Based on examinees’ average abilities, summoning B-grade monster: Gray Wyvern.”]

-What?! A B-grade monster?

-B-grade…isn’t that the highest rank?

“Wh-what do we do?”

“What else? We kill it.”

The fully rendered Gray Wyvern roared and began charging from the sky.

“Frontline, hold your shields and buy time…what was your name?”

“Ah, Park Su-jin! I’m good with poison arrows…um, decent mobility too, uh…”

“Right, Su-jin-yang. Stay back and shoot regular arrows. No skills – poison arrows might hit allies.”

“Got it!”

Everyone moved to their positions.

‘I could end this in one second with Void Strike…’

But if I solo it, this team assignment becomes an individual task…we all need to get credit. Acting alone might lead to point deductions.

‘This ability might be good to try too.’

As I concentrated mana into my arm, crystal shards clattered down.

“First time using so many at once.”

Now I could make swords or shields with these…but…

-Crackle…!

‘?’

The crystal shards weren’t moving as I willed…

-Crunch, crack…!

The purple crystal shards moved against my will.

They began merging into a familiar shape…

“Comrade! Are you in trouble? This is when you call for me, Azathos!”

“………The hell?”

For some reason, Azathos – who I thought was dead – appeared wearing knight’s armor.

“Kuhahaha! The refreshing air after so long! My body feels lighter than before…Comrade, you killed me back then to release my restrictions! Touching!”

-Clang!

“Gwaaah! Comrade! Why attack an ally?!”

“What the hell are you?”

-Crunch!

I smashed his head first…but what’s going on here?

Seriously, what is this.