Academy – Resolution

Hero.

The Goddess’s Blade that will slay the Demon King.

Yet no one knows exactly when the Hero awakens that power.

According to testimonies of past Heroes, they awakened when trying to save someone.

Based on these accounts, scholars speculate-

When emotions intensify and the desire to help someone reaches its peak.

That moment is when the power fully awakens.

-Thump. Thump.

Jade suddenly felt his mind clearing.

‘Why does my body suddenly…?’

Though unidentified, a small warm energy wriggled in his chest.

The will that had faded earlier boiled up inside Jade once more.

“First…”

Regaining his senses, Jade stopped wallowing in despair and rose to his feet.

In the video, Lena remained pinned beneath Doran, screaming.

―Ahk! Master♡ Fuck me harder! Oooguuuh♡

“Lena…”

This went beyond “bad” – it was the worst possible situation.

But Jade steeled his resolve.

‘I can’t abandon her like this.’

No one will save us.

The academy students long since turned their backs and sided with Doran.

The professors avoid involvement while watching Doran’s reactions.

In the end, I must do this with my own power.

It might already be too late.

She might never return to her former self.

Still, I must try.

‘Nothing will change if I stay collapsed here.’

-Bang!

Jade kicked open the door and rushed out, immediately sprinting toward the academy.

**

The place Jade desperately sought out like clutching at straws was

-Rattle, clank!

The Magic Studies laboratory inside the academy.

The Magic Studies professor flinched at the student’s sudden intrusion.

“Who are you?… Ah, Jade. What brings you here?”

But she quickly composed herself and asked his reason.

“Can you teach me how to defeat a mage? As a professor, you must know mages’ weaknesses.”

“What? That’s rather unexpected.”

Asking a mage about mages’ weaknesses? She found Jade’s question absurd.

But being a professor, she quickly grasped the situation.

‘The only reason Jade would come like this… must concern Doran and Lena.’

“Planning to challenge Doran to a duel?”

“Uh…”

With his intentions exposed, Jade decided to ask outright.

“As his professor, you must know Doran well, right? Any weaknesses?”

The Magic Studies professor hesitated briefly under Jade’s burning gaze.

Jade looked like he was begging for even a sliver of hope. But Doran was 5th Star. The gap between them was too vast.

Ultimately, words urging him to face reality escaped her lips.

“You lack talent, so it’s impossible anyway. Even if I told you ‘Doran’s protective magic is clumsy,’ do you think you could beat him? He hid his true strength until the duel, so it might not even be a weakness anymore.”

“But until I try…”

“Whether mage or swordsman, mana capacity is fundamental when facing mana users. You know your own mana talent better than anyone.”

The professor sighed deeply.

“Haa… The situation is unfortunate, but you should just give-“

-Thud!

“Please! Just help me this once!”

“…I’m sorry. I’m also busy preparing for upcoming exams.”

Jade finally released his grip on her arm.

“…No, I apologize for disturbing you.”

Jade trudged out of the laboratory.

A pitiful child who worked harder than anyone yet never grew accordingly. The professor watched Jade’s retreating back with pity.

Though aware of Lena’s situation at the academy, as a professor, she couldn’t intervene.

If anything, her position made involvement in post-duel affairs even more difficult.

‘Still, this much should be okay.’

“Wait.”

-Halt.

The professor suddenly called Jade back.

“Yes…?”

“Forget winning the duel. How will you even get him to accept? Do you think Doran will just agree if you challenge him?”

“That…”

He hadn’t considered that at all, only how to win.

Jade scratched his head awkwardly.

“As expected, you haven’t thought about it. I’ll give slight assistance regarding that part.”

“Do you know a way?”

“First, you need to know Doran’s past. He was expelled from Rain Academy for bullying commoners before coming here. As his professor, I was informed.”

“As expected from back then…”

Jade nodded as if it made sense. A bully wouldn’t have stayed quiet at Rain Academy either.

“Because of that incident, Doran fell out of favor with his father, Count Zesto. Though talented and more favored than the firstborn… not anymore.”

“I’m rambling. The conclusion is to challenge him using something about Count Zesto. How to pressure him is your task. Whether lies or whatever, just make him accept the duel.”

“Thank you so much!”

Jade bowed deeply in gratitude. What seemed trivial to her was immense hope for him.

“No. As a fellow woman, seeing Lena’s state made my blood boil. Honestly, I don’t have high expectations, but I’ll cheer you on if you duel.”

-Thud.

Exiting the lab, Jade fell into contemplation again.

He’d found a way to initiate the duel but still lacked a method to defeat Doran.

No good ideas came to mind. Everyone he might ask for help would likely reject him like the professor.

“Ah…?”

At that moment, someone flashed through his mind.

The person who’d spoken warmly with Lena at the Adventurer’s Guild – receptionist Boris.

They’d first met Boris during a group project. Though intimidating-looking, he remembered the man treating students kindly.

He’d heard Boris was once a renowned 6-star adventurer.

“Maybe Uncle Boris…”

Clutching at straws, Jade headed for the Adventurer’s Guild.

**

-Jingle jangle.

Jade burst through the guild doors and rushed to the reception desk.

Boris was startled by the panting student.

‘I think I’ve seen him somewhere…’

Boris pondered briefly.

“Sorry, who are you again?”

“Jade. Came with Lena for a group project.”

“Ah! Jade!”

Recalling Jade completing requests for the project, Boris welcomed him warmly.

“Long time no see. What brings you here? Taking requests?”

“No. Uncle Boris. Please make me stronger.”

“Sure… wait, what?”

Boris flinched at the unexpected request.

“I need to save Lena.”

At Lena’s name, Boris’s expression hardened.

“Save Lena? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her lately. Did something happen?”

“Well…”

Jade rapidly explained everything – his bullying, Lena’s duel with Doran, and what was currently happening to her.

Boris fell silent, face stern as he listened.

“…”

Angered by Lena’s violation, his clenched hands trembled.

“I understand the situation. Lena seems to be in dire straits. From what you say, she can’t hold on much longer.”

“We must save her from that bastard’s clutches immediately!”

“That’s true. But how?”

Jade met Boris’s gaze with fiery eyes.

“A duel. I’ll challenge Doran to a duel.”

“A duel? Challenging is fine… but will Doran accept?”

Boris waved his hands up and down, urging realism.

“Even if he accepts, Doran’s a 5th Star! By your account, Lena lost to him despite the ambush. You’re barely 3 Stars, now 4th? No match for a 5th Star.”

“That’s why I need you to train me. You’re 6 Stars.”

“Am I some god? Make someone strong enough to beat a 5th Star overnight?”

“Just trust me and train me once.”

Jade sensed the faint, inexplicable power growing within him, trusting his intuition that it would strengthen him.

Jade pleaded with the desperate eyes of one clinging to final hope.

‘When they beg like this…’

Boris had always struggled to refuse heartfelt pleas. This was why Lena always swayed him.

He finally sighed.

“Haa… Fine. For Lena’s sake, I can spare some time.”

After glancing around, Boris stepped out from behind the counter.

“Everyone’s off eating dinner now. Follow me.”

**

Following Boris, Jade arrived at an empty lot behind the guild. The deserted space contained nothing but emptiness.

“First, draw your sword and swing it.”

Jade unsheathed his sword and swung as instructed.

Swish- Whoom!

Boris carefully observed the sword techniques Jade had honed through relentless training.

“Hmm. Not bad swordsmanship… Actually exceptional for your level. You’ve worked hard.”

Boris approached Jade.

“Yet you’re still only early 4th Star. Meaning-“

He placed a hand on Jade’s shoulder, examining his body.

“As expected, severely lacking in mana talent.”

“Yes…”

Talent blocked Jade’s path yet again.

“Now try using mana.”

Following Boris’s instruction, Jade slowly channeled mana into his sword.

‘Am I imagining things?’

As usual, the mana refused to flow properly-

-Thump

The dormant power inside him stirred. Then began drawing ambient mana toward Jade.

‘This is…?’

Instinctively, Jade realized he could handle more mana than before.

Unprecedented quantities of mana began flowing into his blade.

-Huuuuum

“Ha, ha…”

A hollow laugh escaped Jade. His sword now shimmered with a blue aura.