Ch.149149. Road School Power Struggle (6)

More time had passed than I expected.

From the deafening explosion that could be mistaken for magical discharge, to supporting each student one by one, to the metal carriage crashing, the windows shattering, and the telekinetic spell being broken.

That moment might have felt like a mere instant, but it was long enough for someone who heard the noise to arrive and be visible on the field.

Though a major incident was avoided…

Questions remained.

“What do you mean you’ll handle it? What are you talking about?”

When I ran into Adel earlier, I was in a hurry and let it slide, but that didn’t mean I didn’t have questions.

This faction battle is conducted as an early semester evaluation, so it’s mainly attended by students trying to maintain their grades.

In that respect, Adel is no longer a Levrant Academy student, and Michelle has sufficient grades, so there’s no reason for her to come to Sirah Road School for this faction battle. After all, there’s already some consideration given to Tembris Party members.

In other words, I couldn’t quite grasp what they meant by saying they would handle that professor.

“We didn’t come here to participate in the faction battle. That’s why we have the authority to handle this.”

As soon as Michelle added those words, Adel pulled something out of her pocket.

It was… a pass. A completely ordinary-looking pass.

However, the symbols drawn on each pass are always different.

This was the kind carried by instructors following orders from above.

“So… you two…?”

“Wow, you figured it out already?”

There’s no way students would just be carrying items that instructors possess.

In other words, Michelle and Adel had come as inspectors in charge of Sirah Road School.

“Anyway, Junon, could you go back? We need to wake up that professor right now.”

“Hmm…”

I was worried about them waking up that professor.

Although Adel can use magic, she can control metal carriages, windows, and even telekinetic magic capable of lethal force if she so chooses.

I wondered if problems might arise during her interrogation of the professor.

‘But that’s only if she were alone.’

The red ponytailed magician right beside her.

With Michelle there, she wouldn’t be overwhelmed by anyone. Even if she faced that professor alone, she would certainly subdue him completely.

“Just to be clear, we’ll make sure he receives proper punishment. We have plenty of witnesses, not to mention reports and testimonies.”

Right. Michelle isn’t called the Blue Flame for nothing.

Besides, who’s worrying about whom? If anything, I was the one who now had a connection with Michelle.

Forget about the faction battle and everything else for today. I’m exhausted and rest comes first.

***

Junon loosened his body as he left the field.

As the man with the most overwhelming presence departed, those who had been watching with bated breath could finally breathe a little easier.

“W-wow… Did you see that just now? He just smashed through all that magic coming straight at him and plowed through like a tank…”

Rana kept adding impressed interjections between her words, exhaling in amazement.

“To think he defeated a professor…”

Even if he was just a professor in name, he still held a professorship at Levrant Academy.

Though he appeared to be an old man with graying hair, he was someone who taught magic and naturally had more knowledge than students due to his years of experience.

For those who witnessed his magic being blocked by Junon and ultimately being defeated, it was one surprise after another.

“Hey, hey. That pink-haired sister also came from Levrant Academy, right?”

“Huh? H-how did you know?”

“Oh, that’s obvious! If I haven’t seen someone around here before, it’s only natural! I’m a Sirah native… Anyway, are all Levrant students like that?”

Are all Levrant Academy students like that?

Of course not.

“…Only he’s like that.”

“Really…?”

If all Levrant Academy students were like that… there would be no place for her.

More importantly for Aris right now was the fact that she had been assigned to the same Road School as Junon.

‘What should I do… of all places, the same one…’

She hadn’t expected this at all.

Since he had led the rear guard during the Shute Extermination Campaign banquet and reduced casualties, Junon would naturally have ranked high on the request page.

According to Senia, he wasn’t lacking in written exams, so he wouldn’t have poor grades like her, and as for practical skills, the Osoptera Defense Battle alone spoke volumes.

That’s why she hadn’t expected this at all.

She couldn’t have imagined that Junon would be participating in the faction battle at Sirah Road School, which was generally avoided by students.

If that was the case, they would eventually meet… but could she even make eye contact?

No, honestly, she was still afraid.

Far from approaching him to talk, she felt like she might turn and run away immediately.

Even now, she had frozen while following Michelle from a distance, and considering that Sirah Road School wasn’t as vast as Levrant Academy, it made her breath catch in her throat.

‘If I just give up on the faction battle now…’

If you’re afraid of getting hit, you can just stay away and avoid it.

If she just gave up on the faction battle, which included the early semester evaluation grades, there wouldn’t be any particular problem.

However, she couldn’t easily conclude whether this simple solution was the right one.

What came to mind was Senia’s sincere advice.

-‘Aris. Go find him and properly apologize. I… think that’s the most appropriate course of action for you.’

Senia’s advice, which she had taken to heart while watching the two through the terrace door gap at the banquet after the Shute Extermination Campaign.

That advice came to mind at this moment.

She recognized that running away wasn’t right. But still. Even so.

She couldn’t follow in Junon’s footsteps. Not yet.

“Do you know that person?”

“You mean Junon?”

“Oh, so you even know his name! You do know each other!”

“Huh? Um… well…”

“Since you said his name is Junon… should I call him Senior Junon? Or maybe Teacher? Hmm… I’m not sure.”

The truth is, they know each other, but they don’t really know each other.

She found it awkward to answer promptly as she couldn’t define their relationship, but… she was caught off guard from another direction.

“But why are you so fidgety? You said you know each other.”

Since Aris had a personality where her emotions showed clearly on her face, her agitation was obvious to anyone.

In the end, Aris had only one option.

“…Sorry. I haven’t been feeling well since earlier.”

She ran away.

Once again, without facing him directly.

“Ah… I was being insensitive. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’ll feel better after some rest… I’ll go ahead.”

She said that, but she knew better herself.

This wasn’t a wound that would heal with rest.

***

Day 2 of life at Sirah Road School.

After resting well in my assigned room, I started my daily routine by stretching as usual.

-Breakfast is here!

Breakfast arrived at my door.

Feeling that mealtime was late, I checked the clock and found it was several dozen minutes later than at Levrant.

Of course, I couldn’t complain about that since the standard for breakfast might be different, but this would make me suffer during the first lecture.

Maybe that’s just by Levrant standards.

It wasn’t just breakfast; the notice board was the same. The previously empty notice board space was only now being filled.

Information channels like notices and newspapers are typically issued in the morning if not urgent.

This encourages people to check them in the morning or at least before leaving the dormitory.

Though it seems minor, this alone shows that something is fundamentally twisted about this Road School.

It means they don’t properly communicate school news…

“My head hurts already.”

I can’t really do anything about this. I’m not the owner of this school, nor am I in a position to receive orders from above.

…I don’t have command authority like during the Imperial Relocation Campaign.

In the end, I’m just a faction battle participant trying to fill my grades.

Starting my breakfast, which was later than yesterday at Levrant, I slowly read through the issued notices while lost in thought.

“So that professor’s name is Zirven. Seems he really did hold a professorship at Levrant.”

[Professor Zirven. Collapsed foaming at the mouth while on duty at Sirah…]

[Shocking! Professor Zirven, who oppressed students with telekinetic magic, subsequently detained by Levrant?]

[Countless witness testimonies emerge. Mentions of his tyrannical behavior even toward local residents.]

[Shows no signs of remorse and attempts escape, but is subdued by Tembris Party member, Michelle. Interrogation expected to be difficult for days due to circuit pain.]

The notices detailed yesterday’s professor’s misdeeds and stated that he was currently paying an appropriate price for his crimes—nothing particularly noteworthy.

Still, it was somewhat satisfying. Although it felt unsettling that I couldn’t punish him directly with my own hands, hearing he was subdued by Michelle said it all.

What happened to people whose mana was burned by Michelle’s Blue Flame again? I think I heard they would vomit for a week straight while feeling like their skin was being torn apart day and night?

I seem to recall hearing something like that in the past. That the circuits of someone Michelle burned with all her might using Blue Flame didn’t function for a month.

Since he probably tried to escape as a criminal, I’m guessing he’s a wreck by now.

The sentence is substantial too. This was definitely not a light punishment.

“Looks like Michelle and Adel conveyed everything properly. Let’s see, besides this content… what the fuck?”

I accidentally cursed out loud.

I couldn’t help but swear because I thought I saw something strange.

“Nah, I must have misread.”

I rub my eyes.

But the letters are the same.

“No way!! This must be a dream.”

Pinch.

My cheek stretches well. The stinging sensation confirms it’s my flesh.

“Damn… that really hurts…”

Those letters aren’t wrong.

My eyes aren’t wrong.

This isn’t a dream.

So what is this?

[To fill the vacancy left by Professor Zirven’s class, one student currently participating in the Sirah Road School faction battle will be temporarily appointed as a teaching assistant.]

[The student in question has a record of stopping Professor Zirven’s rampage, and is therefore deemed the most suitable candidate at present.]

[The designated teaching assistant is requested to teach the students of that class temporarily until another professor is appointed.]

[Additional points may be awarded depending on progress.]

[Teaching Assistant Designee: 3rd Year, Page E-Rank 11th, Junon.]

…Fuck.

I’m really screwed, aren’t I?