Ch.109109. Spring Arrives (2)

The new students were busy sizing each other up. They measured the capabilities of those sitting beside them, comparing their own strength, and mentally identifying easy targets. I could defeat that one. I could step on that one’s head and stand above them. It was a time when everyone was consumed with thoughts of devouring one another.

“…and so, we look forward to seeing how you, the new sprouts blooming in these turbulent times, will grow. You may become the great trees that support this country, this world.”

As the professor representative continued his welcoming speech, the new students gathered in the plaza inwardly scoffed. They had no doubt that they would be the next great trees. Having fulfilled the academy’s extreme admission requirements and passed the entrance exam, their confidence had skyrocketed. And the professor knew their mindset all too well.

“Of course, some of you must be at the bottom, while others look down from the top. And at any time, those at the top and those crawling at the bottom can switch places. That is the society and world you have never experienced before.”

The students’ expressions suddenly changed at the professor’s suddenly cynical tone. Some looked confused, others maintained confident smiles, some froze at the professor’s shift in attitude, and others raised their guard.

“Please don’t think the academy will gently educate you. Those who will stand at your top are people who never needed to enter the academy in the first place.”

The professor counted on his fingers.

“Do you think the hero who defeated three world-ending calamities graduated from the academy? What about the Northern Grand Duke, renowned for his might, wisdom, and fairness? Or how about Her Majesty the Queen, called the greatest talent of the current generation?”

A smile appeared on the professor’s lips. The students who understood what he was getting at either turned pale or flushed red with anger.

“Oh, and for your reference, the current Tower Master who has reached the 7th Circle began her journey as an official researcher at the Magic Tower, bypassing academy courses. When she entered the tower… she wove the third ring through her own power alone, I believe. She had no need for the basic education you all must receive.”

The professor continued in an excessively cold voice. Seeing some who still hadn’t grasped the situation, he twisted his lips.

“Abandon the delusion that passing an entrance exam even a five-year-old could pass makes you the most capable person in the world.”

The professor’s voice froze over. An immense pressure radiated from him. The new students, crushed under the professor’s aura, began changing their expressions one by one. The difference in level was clear. He was not someone they could challenge, no matter how rebellious they felt.

“Put away those arrogant expressions. You need to catch up to those above you, not look down on those below you.”

The professor said this with a smile.

“Fight. Devour each other. If necessary, join hands, reject, and betray. If you want to follow them even a little, stand at the top of this narrow world at least once.”

The new students exchanged glances. The clever ones hid their claws even more, while those who didn’t need to be clever or couldn’t be clever showed theirs.

“The placement test that begins now—if you still can’t let go of that sense of achievement from the entrance exam, you’ll start from the bottom.”

The professor concluded his speech and stepped down from the podium. Cold water had been thrown over the new students who had been filled with the excitement of entering the academy. With dazed expressions, they began following their guide. The professor sighed deeply as he watched the chicks. Crushing the spirits of new students was an annual event. Their seniors had worn the same expressions and heard the same words, gradually coming to realize reality as they went through the academy. These students would understand too, after taking the placement test and going through the courses.

“So, how was it?”

With the students gone from the plaza, the professor approached the hero who had been sitting at the faculty seats, concealing his presence. The hero frowned, his gaze following the departing students.

“Interesting kids.”

Interesting kids. Not enough to surprise the professor or the hero, just enough to pique interest. That’s what these students were. The hero’s assessment was quite accurate. The professor nodded with a smile.

“It’s the same every year. A process all new students must go through. What the kingdom needs are solid workers, not ambitious dreamers. They need to face reality.”

The professor paused briefly and looked at the empty chairs in the plaza.

“Actually, only those who maintain that attitude to the end can survive. You wouldn’t believe how many students return to their arrogant ways after forgetting this moment’s shock.”

“You’re kind,” the hero remarked, and the professor smiled again as if to say, “What do you mean?”

“You didn’t trap them in false dreams with sweet lies. Yet you didn’t let them lose hope, telling them they could catch up.”

The hero looked at the professor with a faint smile.

“Despite pretending otherwise, you’re quite the educator.”

“It feels strange to hear you say that. Is that a statement from ‘someone looking down from the top’?”

The hero shook his head with a bitter smile. Seeing his expression, the professor realized it wasn’t a question he should have asked the hero.

“I’ve never thought about it. Hierarchies, rankings, bottoms or tops. If this world were destroyed by a calamity, would anyone remain to speak such comfortable words?”

It was a cynical but quintessentially hero-like statement. With those words, the hero subtly rose from his seat. His presence was so tightly concealed that it felt like watching a shadow gradually rise. The professor turned pale as he watched the hero, then hastily bowed his head.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean it that way. I had no intention of mocking you.”

The hero waved his hand, letting out a hearty laugh. He truly seemed like an eccentric who cared nothing for worldly values.

“No need to apologize. If you really feel sorry, perhaps you could show your face at the Astronomical Society occasionally. We need many hands these days.”

With that, the hero ambled away. The professor sighed with relief, lowering his eyes. When he looked up again, the hero had vanished like smoke.

==

In Daphne’s laboratory, I watched the images projected by a crystal that functioned similarly to a projector. The images showed the interior of the building where the placement test had just begun. It was an event worth pausing for everyone in the Magic Tower.

“A barrier. It works similarly to the mental world, right?”

Daphne nodded at my question.

“Yes. The accuracy depends on how much magical power was poured in and who designed the barrier, but the principle itself isn’t that different. In terms of sensory expansion. You could stretch space, but using enough magical power to distort space for something this minor would be wasteful.”

Daphne showed more interest in the barrier’s function than in the confused new students looking around.

“Twisting space to isolate… perhaps we could use this for the current calamity.”

Daphne was pushing herself. Not that she was doing work beyond her abilities—anyone could see she was overworking herself. She seemed even more so since defeating the Mist. She conducted research day and night, raised her magical power level, and learned new spells. She said she had read the grimoires borrowed from the Holy Kingdom so many times she could recite them without looking.

“Thank you, always.”

I knew it. I knew Daphne wanted to help me more than anyone else. That’s why she acted so urgently and proactively.

“…Why bring that up now?”

Daphne said that and turned her head toward me.

“The fact that I can help Ilroy is the greatest reward for me. It was you, not anyone else, who brought me this far.”

Daphne’s growth, which I had taken for granted, was anything but granted to her. She gave me a bright smile and rested her head on my shoulder.

“So, stay as you are. Don’t go anywhere, and don’t think about sending me away.”

Daphne’s hair smelled of lavender. I nodded as I looked at her. She giggled and placed her finger on my chin.

“And now, we should watch those kids.”

By now, the scenery inside the building had changed to a deep forest. The closest similar landscape I could think of was the forest beyond Evernode’s outer walls. Recalling the fierce battles there, I shook my head. The magical beasts there were on a completely different level from the cute bears or wild boars of the royal capital.

“It seems too much for them.”

“Indeed. It looks like they’re trying to crush their spirits from the very beginning. Or they should have adjusted the difficulty so even those novices could handle it.”

Daphne tapped the crystal, splitting the screen to show individual views of the new students.

“Here are the split screens of people we should keep an eye on.”

I frowned as I looked at the dozen or so people who appeared on the screen. Except for a few, most showed clear signs of panic. But I didn’t judge by appearances. I watched them very quietly and carefully.

And then—magical beasts appeared.

Voices of panicked new students erupted from everywhere, and screams began to be heard. Within the barrier, new students died in the blink of an eye. Before I could properly observe, individual screens went dark one after another, until only three remained.

“…I expected it, but they’re falling faster than I thought.”

Daphne let out a sigh. I narrowed my eyes at the three remaining screens.

“Was it luck, or…”

As if she knew she was being watched, a black-haired girl stared directly at the camera. Daphne flinched when she met the girl’s gaze.

“That child…”

“Yes. I’m watching.”

Soon, the individual screens of the other two remaining people went dark. I glanced at those darkened screens and then looked at the list of new students.

“Her name must be…”

And just as I raised my head again, the girl began to move toward the magical beasts. What formed in her hand was a flame created with magical power.

“Natali, was it?”

And then, the girl’s massacre began.