Ch.116116 – The Seniors’ Fear

<116 – The Seniors’ Fear>

Valocassio let out a hollow laugh at the sight of the second-year students filling the infirmary.

Looking at the medical tags of patients lying on the beds, they read <Frostbite>, <Cold Extremities> and the like.

When he flicked the tag with his finger, the text on the back appeared: Patient Name <Paper Company>.

Despite being marked as a figurehead of the Illegal Red Tooth Mushroom Cultivation Management Association, unlike his skill at commanding colleagues, he hadn’t successfully executed a single plan.

“I wondered where you all went, only to find you in such pathetic states.”

“It’s not our fault… those guys were just too strong! Ugh. How can students have such strong bonds between upper and lower classes…!”

“Upper classes helping lower classes?”

“Definitely. We initially targeted the lower class. But suddenly an upper class student intervened and froze the entire water area!”

Paper Company felt wronged in his own way.

Casting magic on moving objects is difficult.

Moreover, fixing them in place depends greatly on a mage’s magical control.

Fixing coordinates, suppressing fluctuating values, and continuously condensing forces that try to disperse.

Naturally, as the range increases, the required mana, mental energy, and calculations grow.

“In one go, they froze fluid over 5cm thick and maintained it for more than 20 minutes. And it was powerful enough to create icy paths beyond the initial range!”

For the first time, surprise appeared in Valocassio’s eyes.

“Indeed, the upper class is truly exceptional. To display such performance as a freshman.”

Magic is a battle of intelligence and affinity.

Higher intelligence reduces the mana and mental energy required for spell calculations.

For spell formulas that cannot be fully calculated, one can imbue mana with will, using affinity to guide the mana to take form on its own.

Either be extremely intelligent or have exceptional elemental affinity.

Those without these advantages must be prepared to die, desperately seeking extreme natural environments of their element for years of survival and adaptation training.

If that’s not appealing, they must simply study spell formulas and increase their calculation capacity through effort.

But it’s only been about ten days.

How much could a freshman have learned in such a short time?

This had to be pure affinity power.

“You’ve had a tough time.”

Valocassio softened his expression.

Incompetence is a sin, but getting caught in a natural disaster is not.

“You… understand?”

“Despite appearances, I’m quite reasonable. I have no intention of throwing tantrums or demanding the impossible.”

“Valocassio…! I always thought you were just a jerk who gave orders from behind, but you actually have a warm heart!”

Valocassio decided to change his approach.

This ice incident made it clear.

The freshman lower class students could be toyed with anytime.

The problem was the upper class.

Specifically, the two students who decisively interfered with Paper Company’s operation.

“A-Group top student Oknodie. Northern Duchess Irene. From now on, we focus on these two.”

“Oknodie…! Because of that cunning girl, rumors spread that I’m trash who seriously beats ten-year-old kids. I’ll never forgive her!!”

“Good. Don’t forget that anger.”

Coincidentally, Oknodie was also the one who interfered with Valocassio’s contract fraud.

To control the freshmen like pawns, they must somehow deal with Oknodie.

“From today, investigate Oknodie. Discreetly. Try not to get caught. Can you do that?”

“I’ll do my best!”

Paper Company steeled his resolve.

* *

After leaving the infirmary, Paper Company heard several cultivation associates declare their withdrawal.

“The upper class students are too strong regardless of year. I have no confidence in winning.”

“Between revenge and nonsense, I don’t have time to keep up with lectures. I’m quitting here.”

“Do you know how terrifying it was when the Wind Walker magic on my feet gradually diminished while escaping to the infirmary? I never want such a horrible experience again.”

Paper Company couldn’t call his associates’ desertion cowardly.

He still remembered the terror of having his ship and shoe soles freeze instantly.

In the blink of an eye, mana surged like a massive wave, freezing the water and creating a biting cold.

Crunch, crunch

With each step, rising cold made his socks barely prevent skin from sticking to the floor, and he had to squeeze out every bit of his meager magic to prevent the cold from freezing his feet.

Even when he thought he’d reached the escape zone, he had to continue walking with tears in his eyes due to Irene repeatedly casting magic on her way to school.

-No… I’m out of mana…!

-Hnngh! My feet are too cold!

-Don’t touch the ground with your hands! What will you do if they stick?!

From the beginning, they were inferior students so desperate they resorted to illegal red tooth mushroom cultivation to increase their mana.

It was inevitable they would run out of mana and suffer frostbite on the ice that demanded absolute mana quantities.

“This is actually for the best. The disloyal ones have fallen away, but we’re different.”

Paper Company spoke to the colleague who remained by his side until the end.

Second-year Knight Department <Box Chowder>.

Second-year Magic Department <Paper Company>.

Now these two must continue the revenge.

“Box. Are your grades okay?”

“They’re fine.”

Box Chowder said.

“If I drop one class.”

“Box…! That’s too crazy!”

“This incident made me realize. No matter how much I train in martial arts or increase mana through shortcuts, I’m still helpless before a true master.”

At this point, taking one more class wouldn’t improve his skills.

“To defeat the strong, one must follow the hunter’s method of finding and exploiting the strong’s weaknesses. Participating in this operation is practice for that.”

Though he recognized his weakness, instead of collapsing in despair, he sought new methods.

Paper Company was also filled with burning enthusiasm at Box Chowder’s bold determination.

“Box. Let’s definitely succeed!”

The second-year inferior male student quietly raised his fighting spirit.

* *

Investigation begins with information gathering.

Paper Company gave snacks to other second-year students whose faces weren’t known, saying:

“I’ll give you this if you go ask the freshmen what they know about Oknodie or Irene, okay?”

“Why? Planning to beat up a kid again?”

“…I want to apologize!”

Most students sneered, thinking it was a trash excuse, but some gave him a chance.

“Being able to repent for dishonorable past actions takes courage too. I’ll help you take the first step toward clearing your dishonorable past. Hang in there, Paper Company.”

“Th-thanks…”

Antenor, a popular second-year lower class talent with good looks, friendly personality, and excellent grades, quickly gathered the information he wanted.

“She has quite a good reputation, this Oknodie child. Despite being only about ten years old, as the youngest top student, she excels in running, physical strength, archery, swordsmanship, business acumen, and writing speed.”

“Ha. A real monster… What about magic?”

“So far, she hasn’t shown significant magical talent. She might appreciate a gift related to that.”

Though he planned to return the “gift” as an attack, Paper Company forced a smile and acted.

“Thanks. That’s somewhat helpful.”

“Ah. But avoid giving cold resistance-related gifts if possible.”

“Why?”

“I heard that when Irene used freezing magic, she once clung to her back and moved right beside her.”

He knew he was weak.

He knew geniuses were exceptional.

But moments of such intense helplessness were rare.

Clang.

“Paper Company? What’s wrong? You suddenly dropped your things. Did you perhaps leave the infirmary too early just to put on a brave face?”

“M-maybe so.”

Paper Company pressed his hand to his forehead, trying to calm his throbbing head.

But he knew.

This wasn’t pain that could be calmed this way.

It was jealousy.

The massive jealousy he felt toward incomparable talent was the reason for his headache.

‘They say it was ice magic with such intense cold and penetrating power that we could barely stand on two feet and had to be hospitalized.’

Oknodie, much younger than them, had accompanied a frost mage at close range, risking danger, without ever needing medical attention.

‘Still, she might have other weaknesses.’

Holding onto a glimmer of hope, Paper Company continued gathering information.

When he met Box Chowder at their contact point to compile the information collected over the weekend, he realized:

Box Chowder’s hollow eyes and the depth of despair flickering within them were at least equal to, if not greater than, his own.

“What information did you find that’s got you like this?”

“I got Oknodie’s course registration form.”

“Was there a problem?”

Box Chowder pointed with a serious face to Tuesday and Thursday’s second period: <Adventure Tales of a Retired Former Hero>.

“Do you know what this class is?”

“Never seen it before.”

“It’s a lecture taught by the world’s strongest thief <Destroyer>, who served as an all-purpose thief in the previous generation’s hero party.”

“W-what?!”

“The only student since he came to the academy is Oknodie. It means she’s been chosen by a former hero as a candidate for the next generation’s hero party.”

Even at Gift Academy, the world’s premier educational institution, there are differences in rank among professors.

How could the value of a production professor who makes the world’s best roof tiles be the same as a combat professor who’s best at cutting off heads?

“Th-then Oknodie is…”

“Likely the most promising candidate to become the world’s greatest thief in our generation.”

“W-wait. Wait a minute. Thieves also specialize in information activities. Then that kid, could she have known we’ve been gathering information these past few days?!”

Fear flickered in Box Chowder’s eyes.

Paper Company’s hands trembled, spilling water from his cup.

“That’s not all.”

“What else is there?!”

“There’s also a rumor she’s an active assassin trained by some noble family.”

Paper Company thought.

Tonight, he’d sleep in the closet instead of his bed.