Chapter 34 – The First Day of School

In my previous life, I favored axes.

I enjoyed their satisfying weight, and they offered a different combat style than swords.

Not giant ones like halberds—hand axes, like what Silina uses.

Though I never dual-wielded them.

By my standards, axes make excellent weapons.

Small, light, easy to handle. They don’t require elaborate technique—just block, deflect, parry, and swing.

Neither as delicate as a sword nor as cumbersome as a greatsword.

You can swing them freely without fear of breaking them, and land powerful, satisfying blows.

While lacking the reach of swords or spears, they excel at delivering devastating close-range strikes.

I was good with axes—or rather, I had been good with them.

Though competent with most weapons, my axe work was something I took particular pride in.

So watching Silina waste her potential frustrated me.

But that was supposed to stay in my head.

Yet here I was, running my mouth again—a stubborn habit from my previous life.

“…What?”

Yurasia’s jaw dropped.

Gailan’s eyes widened to splitting.

Pina looked ready to hyperventilate.

And Silina took a heavy step toward me.

“Eliaernes. What did you just say?”

Each word came out slow, deliberate.

Her gaze sharpened, brow furrowed, breath ragged. The metal creaked in her grip as she took another weighted step.

What should I do?

I had plenty of excuses.

I even had witnesses who could verify the truth.

Yurasia could vouch for my weapon proficiency.

As the top student with the most monster kills and likely highest rank, her word would carry weight.

But that might drag me into pointless drama.

Hell no.

The moment I connect with the imperial family, rumors will spread that I’m aligned with the Second Princess.

I could get tangled in politics before I know it.

Though I wouldn’t mind stating my position openly, Sarah, Mother, and Father all warned me: Stay clear of the imperial family. I agree.

Eustetia maintains imperial neutrality.

If I, the likely next head of Eustetia, appear to support the Second Princess?

That would cause endless headaches.

To counter it, I’d need to help the First Princess and Second Prince at their academies too. Easier to just quit.

“Answer me.”

Silina stepped closer—close enough to share breath.

Monster blood, sweat, and fresh woodsy scent reached my nose.

Her sharp platinum eyes suggested she wouldn’t let this slide. Her twisted smile showed clear anger.

What to do…

“Eliaernes. From what I heard, you know how to use axes. Is that right?”

“Yes.”

To hell with it.

Just go with it.

Since when did I overthink things?

Besides, it won’t go that far.

They won’t spread nonsense about me being Silina’s supporter just for giving two kids some advice.

The imperial family isn’t that stupid.

“…You can use axes?”

“Yes.”

“Another thing from your books?”

“Books and practice at home.”

Her eyes stayed sharp, but her intensity dimmed.

“Really?”

After fidgeting with her scrap metal, she held it out.

“Show me.”

“Here?”

“Yes. I just used this like an axe, so you should manage. Unless you can’t?”

Silina’s eyes narrowed.

“You wouldn’t criticize if you couldn’t do better, right?”

I considered briefly. Not for long.

“Right.”

I took the metal.

“One’s enough.”

I shrugged at worried Yurasia and stepped forward.

Well, can’t embarrass myself now.

Nothing impossible about it. Nothing difficult.

Though I’m unsure how long this scrap will last, one strike should do it.

Every monster so far died in one hit. This one should be the same.

Just one swing. They can’t gauge my full strength from that.

Besides, the professors know I passed the special exam. This shouldn’t raise suspicions.

One strike. End it in one.

***

This bastard.

That black magician must be watching. Probably laughing his ass off.

Why else would this happen?

Every floor had at least five monsters.

Yet the sixth floor had none.

And now on the seventh, the regular monsters vanished.

Then before the final classroom—

“…Lady Ellie, is that…?”

“C-Can we handle… that thing…?”

A crimson ogre stood before us.

Behind it:

[☆★☆★Welcome to the Land of Dreams and Illusions★☆★☆] [☆★This Way to the Exit★☆]

The end sparkled invitingly.

Testing my limits? Why pull this stunt right when I step up?

Missing my basilisk fight? Curious about my strength?

Maybe they doubt I helped Stella, thinking her talent alone defeated the basilisk.

Trying to humiliate me publicly? No, this illusion isn’t that petty.

Then why? Just for entertainment?

“Eliaernes. If you’re not confident, we can handle it together outside.”

Silina’s subtle taunt grated.

“I’ll help—with your clumsy technique.”

Ah, she holds grudges. Though I did run my mouth.

I’d have reacted the same if some quiet nobody suddenly criticized me.

“Want help?”

“Just give me the other one.”

“Here.”

Taking Silina’s second piece, I faced the ogre.

Three meters tall, crimson muscled skin. Thick veins bulged beneath what looked like armor-tough hide.

Tusks thick as my forearm jutted from its protruding jaw, razor-sharp claws gleaming between massive fists.

Yet its presence felt weaker than the entrance exam basilisk.

It watched but didn’t move first.

Attack-range triggered type?

That works.

I leaned one piece against the wall and raised the other.

Mana flowed from my core through my body. Like early spring cherry blossoms, soft pink energy gathered in my right arm and seeped into the metal.

I swung.

CRACK―!

The corridor wall split halfway.

The metal shattered, naturally.

“H-Holy…!”

Gailan paled, Pina fainted. Silina stared wide-eyed while Yurasia maintained her worried look.

Ignoring them, I analyzed what I’d felt.

Less than a second. Mana-infused metal shatters in under a second.

Enough to split an ogre’s skull—if I dodge everything and strike the head directly.

Can I do it?

No weapon in its hands. Nothing throwable nearby. Ground won’t collapse on first floor. Ceiling-floor above for aerial moves.

Narrow corridor’s annoying but workable.

I can do this.

“Watch carefully.”

Gripping the second piece, I approached. Its gaze followed. Its breathing roughened as I neared.

Entering its range—

Calves contracted. Thighs tensed. Waist twisted, chest muscles rippled, right shoulder rose.

[RRRRRRAAAAAA―!!]

Its size made its moves readable. First attack: overhead smash.

I shifted aside lightly.

BOOM! Ground-shaking impact as its eyes rolled. Moving again—next attack: low sweep with the striking hand.

Counting internally, I leaped. Heavy claws swept below.

CRUNCH―! Massive muscles twisted—signaling upward strike.

I extended my folded leg, stepped its arm, jumped higher.

WHOOSH―! Claws grazed my hair. I grabbed them, twisted, landed on the ceiling.

Channeled mana to legs.

CREEEAK―! Tiles cracked under pressure. Other hand moving.

Hard-planted foot lifted. Two massive hands reached—enough to crush me easily. But my eyes fixed elsewhere.

The ogre’s exposed head.

“Hup!”

Inhaled sharply and launched. ―CRASH! Tile shards scattered. Red fists and claws rushed through debris.

Twisted waist, extended leg. Contacted its unpowered punch. Bent knee to absorb impact, leaped again.

THUD! Its fist recoiled. My body shot forward.

Cherry-blossom mana wrapped around me. Like windblown petals, I landed on its shoulder.

Just need to gouge eyes or jam ears to topple it.

The metal, though untouched directly, showed strain from ambient mana.

Won’t last half a second, let alone one. Must end this now.

Teeth gritted, grabbed its hair. Left hand reaching to remove me, right to crush.

Time enough.

Concentrated body’s mana into right arm. Raised metal. Gripped tight.

Swung.

Ignored reaching hands. Focused solely on metal descending toward skull.

Just before impact—

Transferred all mana to metal.

FWOOOSH―! Vibrant mana enveloped metal.

On contact—

PSSHH―! Dissolved to dust.

Shit!

No, fine. This speed—

They won’t notice.

Extended arm. Thrust shoulder. Wide step.

Twisted hips, brought rear leg forward, clenched fist.

CRACK―!

Knee shattered spine. Fist caved skull.

The ogre’s shuddering body collapsed. I dismounted with a light landing.

Everyone stared.

Yurasia… already knew. Gailan maintained her shock. Pina seemed unconscious.

Silina’s eyes showed disbelief. Did she notice? Or not?

Play it cool.

“See that?”

Silina’s lips twitched.

“Killed in one hit… but, Eliaernes. Did you just punch—”

“What?”

“You killed it with fist and knee, right?”

“No.”

“Don’t lie. I saw you punch its skull and knee its spine. Impressive, but… that’s axe work?”

“Nope. Got proof?”

“Proof? The head mark—”

Her gaze shifted to the corpse. Head tilted.

“Not a punch mark? But I saw you… Your arm swung, knee hit neck… Wait, let me check.”

Hate sharp brats.

As she stepped toward the corpse, I stomped its head.

CRUNCH―CRUNCH―CRUNCH―

Pulverized skull and spine, then faced her, shameless.

“Sorry. Watching made me queasy. Delicate constitution—sheltered upbringing.”

Silina stopped pressing.

Instead:

“Crazy bitch.”

And the world flipped again.