Ch.147147. Law School Faction War (4)

‘She broke that old tree branch with just one arm…?’

When I was hit by it, it was as hard as something that would require dozens of strikes with a knife… no, an axe.

And yet, she destroyed it?

She must have used some kind of magic. Right. That man is essentially someone from Levrant Academy too.

If his claim of being ranked 11th in E-rank is a lie, then it makes sense. Indeed, he must be one of those people gifted in magic.

Rana thought this as she bit her lip hard.

However, Junon gradually shattered her preconceptions.

“Remember just three things. That’s how you can be readmitted to Levrant Academy.”

“What…?”

“First. Don’t act rashly and always stay vigilant.”

At that moment, another branch whip from the Stump came flying.

Junon embraced Rana and moved her backward, creating distance.

The branch whip buzzing right before their eyes didn’t reach them. A perfect distance calculation.

“Second. Properly identify,”

CRASH!

“the target’s weakness!”

The other branch whip also crumbled before their eyes, recreating the previous result right in front of them. Looking at the broken interior, there were areas densely packed with wood and other areas that were empty.

Junon had struck precisely at those spots. After identifying the weakness.

Rana was confused, wondering if he had used magic, but regardless, the two branch whips that had served as arms were now shattered.

So what now? In a state where the opponent’s only means of attack, as anyone could easily predict, had disappeared.

This gap was clearly the timing to attack.

Junon had already sprung forward.

‘The trunk is hollow…’

This is a chance. Just strike there with a knife or whatever, putting all your strength into it.

As soon as that thought crossed her mind, the Stump chewed on two nearby branches and absorbed them, regenerating its arms.

It seemed the monster Stump had the ability to eat trees and regenerate.

‘Still… couldn’t I just break it again like before?’

But as if to deny Rana’s opinion, Junon waited another beat, not breaking the Stump’s two arms but instead dodging while approaching.

“That’s impossible… how is he going to deal with it without breaking those?!”

Clearly within range. It would be much easier for the Stump’s attacks to hit Junon.

Nevertheless, Junon continued to close the distance. His evasions were so precarious that observers would get chills.

But watching from afar, something seemed strange.

‘Actually, as he gets closer… its movements become more sluggish?’

Though the sound is buzzing, the attack is only effective if it hits the middle or end part of the branch whip.

This meant that even though Junon had entered the attack range and should be easier to hit, the Stump couldn’t launch a proper attack.

Why did its attacks seem so heavy and slow?

Just as she wondered this, Rana finally found the answer to her question.

“The trunk and… arms are different colors…?”

By the time she found the answer, Junon had already burrowed into the Stump’s trunk.

Now he finally broke the two arms he hadn’t destroyed until now.

The Stump could do nothing. When its arms were broken, it needed to chew on branches from other trees to regenerate them.

But would any human just stand by and watch that happen?

Soon, the old tree’s core was shattered by a magic-infused punch, reducing it to mere firewood.

After easily disposing of the Stump, Junon returned and said to Rana:

“Third, be patient until you’ve confirmed all of the enemy’s cards. If you follow these three rules, readmission will be easy.”

A branch fell from his hand. He handed it to Rana to see.

It wasn’t from the Stump. It was from another nearby tree.

This was a branch from a thorny tree.

‘So it’s not that it has the power to regenerate arms…’

It was borrowing the power or properties of specific trees?

‘Then, if the Stump had borrowed the power of this tree, when I rushed into its embrace…’

I might have been stabbed by thorns and defeated.

If she had been in the same situation, she would have made the mistake of breaking the two whips in front of her and would have already lost her life.

If the reason he deliberately approached without launching any attacks was this, just how far ahead had this man seen?

There was no way to accept this result except to acknowledge that he had calculated everything and acted within that short time.

And what’s truly amazing is that he didn’t use any magic at all.

He analyzed the enemy’s information in his head, calculated, and simply using his body, defeated the notorious Stump in this area. All by himself.

‘How is this an E-rank…?’

Rana looked at him again, taking in his appearance. No matter how she looked at him, he wasn’t an E-rank.

Junon spoke to Rana, who was standing with her mouth agape, holding the thorny branch.

“I’m a half-wit who can’t use a single spell. I might even be behind you in magic. But even someone like me can catch this, right?”

Without saying more, she seemed to understand. This is what he wanted to say.

That you can do it too, just like me.

“…Really?”

“Hmm?”

“Can I really become like you?”

Junon exhaled heavily and didn’t readily provide an answer.

“Of course not.”

“…What?”

But the answer that came after his moment of contemplation wasn’t very positive either.

***

I thought a realistic answer would be best for Rana’s question. There’s no point in trying to find a deep answer anyway.

After all, it’s obvious.

‘Applying my training methods to you would be useless.’

It’s common sense.

There are differences in physique, magical power, height, and weight, and crucially, the difference between male and female.

Unless there’s a way for two people to become completely identical, Rana and I can’t become the same person. It’s a natural principle.

But why is she making such a dejected face?

‘Did I say something wrong?’

Thinking back, I don’t think I said anything wrong.

Then Rana immediately shouted:

“Damn it…! So it’s the same after all!”

“Wh-what? Hey… Rana?”

Why is she crying? This is driving me crazy!

“So in your eyes, I’m just someone who can’t be readmitted to the academy! Why give me such advice then?!”

“No, that’s…”

“Forget it, I know my place now! I’ll stay quiet and not get ahead of myself. Happy?!”

With that, Rana sniffled and wiped her flowing tears with her sleeve.

…Wait, did I say something wrong? I just said what’s impossible is impossible, so why is she acting like this?

I scratched the back of my head vigorously and tried to persuade Rana.

“Um…”

“Don’t talk to me!”

…Wow. She seems completely upset.

In a situation where I need to teach at least one person to score some points in the faction battle, what kind of situation is this?

I came to help Rana because she seemed the most motivated in that classroom.

But if even she gives up, there’s really no solution! If I can’t score even a few points in the faction battle here, I’ll be sent straight to E-class. I need to show that I’ve properly taught at least one person! I don’t want to be in the same class as those nobles!

…What should I do?

“Oh, are you done? Seeing you come together, I guess so.”

“Well… that’s true, but…”

“It doesn’t seem like things were resolved well…?”

Adele glanced at the sniffling Rana and realized the conclusion wasn’t particularly good.

Then she approached me and whispered quietly:

“I’ll talk to her. Could you go ahead so we can talk alone?”

“Will that be okay?”

“Yes. That’s why I came.”

That’s why she came? Come to think of it, I have no idea why Adele came all the way here.

“Go quickly. Hurry.”

“Oh, okay. Sure…”

I don’t know why Adele came all the way here, but there’s nothing I can do right now. For now, I can only trust Adele, who says she’ll try to comfort Rana.

I hope the conversation goes well.

I went ahead and returned toward the Road School to let the two of them talk comfortably.

Ten minutes later. I quickly arrived at the Road School.

But something about the atmosphere here feels uncomfortable too.

—Groooan…

Why is there a groaning sound? And who’s making it?

At a glance, this isn’t a normal situation. I immediately ran toward the source of this commotion.

‘This is…’

SCREECH-!

With a ear-piercing sound of destruction and the flow of magical power. A force focused solely on attack and binding, with no regard for the Betrine Line.

Even without delving into the magic formula, I can tell what this is. Such power can only be telekinesis.

“What are you doing right now?”

But it’s not normal for this telekinesis to be directed at innocent students.

The person who turned his head at my voice was that professor who had his collar grabbed by me earlier.

“What do you mean? We were talking about the faction battle, weren’t we? So as a professor, I’m teaching the students. Class, lecture. Do I need to use such words for you to understand?”

This bastard.

How is this teaching in any way?

This isn’t teaching at all. What this crazy old man is doing is one-sided violence, pressing everyone to the ground so they can’t do anything.

***

Right after Junon left, Adele was left alone with Rana.

The sniffling sound didn’t stop. She didn’t know what had happened at the place where Junon went to rescue Rana, but she needed to resolve this issue.

After all, Adele was an inspector from Levrant Academy in charge of one class at Sirah Road School for the faction battle.

“May I ask why you came here alone?”

“…”

Rana turned her head away in response, ignoring the question. Right now, she wouldn’t listen to any conversation related to the faction battle.

Still, Adele could guess what Rana had been trying to do.

‘A sword… she came alone to hunt a monster.’

Road Schools are generally for those who have been expelled from or voluntarily left Levrant Academy.

For the reason of wanting to study magic even here.

Rana’s situation probably wasn’t much different, but Sirah Road School was in a much worse state compared to the other three.

The remote location of Sirah, the inconvenient transportation, and the outdated facilities—nothing seemed decent.

Going out alone to hunt monsters in such a place was indeed reckless. Life-threateningly so.

That’s why Adele was certain.

“Were you frustrated with yourself?”

She believed that self-loathing must have driven Rana to do this.