Ch.165165. Week 2 Evaluation (1)

*Drip.*

The gentle aroma of tea leaves rises with wisps of steam.

Serving freshly brewed tea means a guest is coming.

The moment the tea is steeped, the sound of clicking heels approaches.

Soon, the reception room door opens, announcing the arrival of the guest.

“Welcome, Your Ladyship.”

The dean of Mirpark Road School immediately stands and offers a gentlemanly bow.

His guest’s beige hair sways gently before settling as she takes a seat on the sofa.

“At first I was skeptical, but I never expected you would help like this, Lady Sherpen.”

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not helping—we each have our own objectives, don’t we?”

As Erica crosses her legs and cuts him off sharply, the dean smirks and takes a sip of tea.

“Well, that’s not wrong. But who would have thought that Your Ladyship would work so hard for our children’s victory?”

“You.”

“There’s no one eavesdropping on our conversation in this space. I was merely trying to build trust in my own way.”

To Erica’s increasingly sensitive reaction, the dean responds with even more slickness.

“Still, I know. Even if you entered Tembris right now, Lady Erica, noble blood still flows through your veins.”

With a sinister smile, he emphasizes the word “noble.” It’s clearly an attempt to subtly remind her of her aristocratic status.

“Enough. Put aside the idle chatter and look at this.”

A stack of documents lands on the table with a thud.

“Hmm… different from the first week’s evaluation? I believe I told you not to aim for one particular class back then.”

“Unlike then, this time Lebrant students will be included in all matches.”

“Ah.”

Break that eyesore of a man completely. Is that what she means?

The dean catches Erica’s intention and smirks.

“Don’t worry. Mirpark is the domain of nobility. We won’t lose to upstart forces like Sirah. We can easily throw that male student of unknown origin who joined their side into the abyss.”

“Such details are none of my concern. Just do exactly as instructed. I’ll be going now.”

“Of course. The Sacred Emperor who taught Your Ladyship would be pleased.”

Erica rises from her seat and leaves without looking back.

“Kuk, kukuku.”

As soon as Erica disappears from view, the dean immediately drops his submissive posture and shifts his position.

“Regrettably, we are not your servants, Lady Erica Sherpen.”

With his smile gone, he rings a bell to summon someone.

Shortly after, a trio arrives.

“These are the ones you’ll deal with.”

“Hmm… I see each one is marked…”

“Do we have to carefully control our strength again with the ones you’ve specifically selected?”

“No. That won’t be necessary.”

The dean spreads the documents in a line, removes the cap from his pen, and draws a long line across them.

“You may run wild as much as you wish. As much as you want.”

“Really?”

“This is a match, so injuries are to be expected, aren’t they? If you think you might lose, feel free to use the power granted by the Sacred Emperor to win.”

Secure victory by any means necessary.

In other words, permission had been granted to fight with full force.

“Now I can finally show my true abilities.”

“I’ve been itching for this.”

“…”

“What’s wrong, Demian? Not interested?”

Not interested?

How could that be?

“Ah. He’s been eyeing that one.”

“That’s definitely Demian’s target.”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“Oh, it’s nothing for the dean to worry about. It’s just that there’s someone in the Sirah faction that Demian has been eager to face.”

“Personal feelings, I see. As long as it doesn’t interfere with the plan, do as you please.”

Of course, how could we refuse?

The two nod in agreement.

‘It’s my turn now. I’ll beat you to a bloody pulp until you can’t even stand…!’

I’ll crush and destroy your students one by one.

‘And ultimately, it’ll be you. Junon.’

*Crumple.*

In Demian’s grinding teeth and clenched hand, one person’s profile was crushed.

***

The fourth day.

Aris, who hadn’t shown her face at all, finally appeared.

“Where have you been all this time?!”

“Do you know how long we’ve been waiting for you, teacher?”

“That was really too much.”

Yet what reaches her isn’t a barrage of resentful stones, but affectionate complaints filled with warmth.

“I’m sorry, everyone.”

It was an undeservedly warm reception.

She couldn’t even begin to understand why they welcomed her so enthusiastically when she hadn’t provided any meaningful teaching.

‘I should have come earlier.’

She feels a pang of regret, wondering if she should have listened to Senia.

But actions matter more than feelings.

There’s only one thing she needs to do for these children right now.

“Well, shall we check how skilled my kids have become?”

Maintaining her usual demeanor without a hint of worry.

Returning to her normal self and ensuring this time isn’t wasted.

The children followed Aris more energetically than ever before.

“Yes!!”

They immediately moved to the combat simulation room.

There, Aris is surprised once again.

‘The formation…’

It’s impressively well-organized.

Of course, it’s not comparable to professional standards, but it’s rare for students of this age to remember formations and fulfill their respective roles.

“What was next? I can’t remember…!”

“Idiot! You were told to reapply the enhancement magic!”

“Ah, right! That’s it!”

Then they execute a formation change necessary for countering magical beasts, seizing the opportunity to counterattack.

While this process would be smooth for someone experienced in mercenary work, it’s difficult for children who haven’t even grasped the theory.

Surprisingly, they’re managing to do it now.

‘How did they learn this…?’

While Aris watches in a daze, the magical beasts are defeated one by one.

*Gulp.*

This process feels eerily familiar.

Even though their movements are clumsy and transitions are rough, the flow itself is identical.

Although these magical beasts created by Talbert Arc are much weaker than the originals, Aris couldn’t offer a single piece of feedback.

Half of the lecture content she had prepared by repeatedly consulting Senia vanished into thin air.

As the last remaining beast disappears.

“Yes! We finished it!”

“Good job, everyone. Let’s take a break and get some feedback from the teacher.”

The Talbert Arc powers down.

Only when the field disappears does Aris realize it’s over.

“Did you… practice this on your own?”

Aris asks with a trembling voice.

Her students all affirm without exception.

“Everyone worked hard. We’re your disciples, so we were determined to show that we’ve learned something.”

“We were just burdens before. Going in there arrogantly when we couldn’t do anything.”

“I want to prove myself… worth saving. So that even if the same thing happens again, we can stand our ground.”

“So we’ve been practicing what we heard that time. Because you taught us.”

“Everyone…”

“Besides, our performance affects your evaluation too, right? We can’t let you down.”

They had been using this simulation room every day without fail, practicing even though no lectures were held.

The well-established formation was simply the product of their effort.

‘But how?’

She had heard that the class was temporarily assigned to someone else, but also that they had submitted a petition refusing anyone but her as their instructor.

Without someone to teach them these combat processes, how could they have learned this?

It didn’t make sense unless someone else had helped them.

“He helped us.”

The class president, quick to notice Aris’s confusion, steps forward.

“He?”

“The person who came with you to rescue us.”

The answer points once again to him.

“Junon, I think he said his name was? He recreated that scene for us many times.”

“And we practiced the formation that Aris told us to take every time.”

Junon.

Her whole body still trembles at the mere mention of that name. But she can’t just keep trembling.

This trembling gradually subsides after a deep breath and a kind of self-suggestion where she firmly grips her shoulders before releasing them.

‘Right. I can’t run away anymore.’

As Senia pointed out, this was an issue she would inevitably have to face someday.

She mustn’t be afraid.

That name echoing in her ears, his image appearing before her eyes.

Even the conversation with the person she didn’t trust until the end and pushed away.

“I see. I should thank him.”

This is another debt. The debt she owes to Junon keeps growing heavier.

Nevertheless, she won’t rush as before.

After painfully experiencing how her impulsive nature and hasty decisions can lead to disaster, Aris is gradually changing.

“Since you’ve practiced just one formation over and over, let’s try something different now.”

“Yes!!”

She would start from the beginning to ensure Junon’s help wasn’t in vain.

Aris resolved to begin here.

『I still can’t forgive you.

-Junon.』

In Aris’s inner pocket, the letter he had sent still remained.

***

The remaining time passes quickly.

As this faction battle event approaches its final stages, the evaluation time draws near.

Once again, Professor Muniher takes the podium.

“Greetings, fledglings of the Principality. I don’t know if you’ve prepared well.”

However, strangely, he seems much more on edge than before.

His tone is already referring to them as “fledglings” rather than “students,” prompting whispers about who might have upset him.

“The first week’s evaluation was quite an eyesore. To be honest, I don’t have much expectation for today either.”

Truthfully, no one has been satisfied with this faction battle.

And no one was looking forward to today’s second week evaluation either.

Everyone had to endure harsh criticism even before the main event began.

“For the reasons explained earlier, the second week’s evaluation will be conducted over two days. Details will be distributed to participants, so check them yourselves. And let me make it clear—there will be no changes to this schedule.”

Surprisingly, this was the only statement related to the faction battle in his speech.

‘He must be really displeased.’

Everyone looks stunned.

Just like the first week’s evaluation, another sudden announcement and schedule change had disrupted all their plans.

—My goodness, if it changes like this, the entire strategy…

—This is absurd. Without any information, it’s no different from a brawl!

It wasn’t just Sirah.

The arena was in chaos as preparations from all factions seemed to have been rendered useless.

“Rana. Ethan.”

“Yes? Yes?”

Neither Rana nor Ethan were exceptions.

“Don’t panic. The first event is individual matches for Road School students—kids just like you. It’s simply misdirection, isn’t it?”

“Now that you mention it…”

“…that’s true.”

“What I taught you remains constant. Just don’t forget it and apply it well in whatever event you participate in.”

With those final words from Junon, the second week’s evaluation begins.

—Road School students participating in individual matches, please enter your assigned fields.

“We’ll be back!”

“Yes, yes.”

Junon waves until the two figures disappear.

And that scene is captured fully in the sparkling eyes of a young girl.

“So senior was here. Let’s see… Sirah faction?”

Renias smiles brightly while looking at the match schedule.

And another person.

“Ron? Why have you had that expression since earlier?”

“…”

“Hmm, you’re concentrating. I should be quiet.”

It was Ronelion, who had been intently watching Junon since the moment he entered the arena.