episode_0057

As the Violets fell into chaos from the aftermath of the underground facility’s experiment, two girls at the academy also faced the shock that Violet experienced.

First, Irene, who was walking through the campus, suddenly realized that her body, sensing danger, had instinctively entered combat readiness. A sense ingrained in her through training and experience sent her a warning signal.

‘Who is it?’

She took out the folded spear shaft from her back and cautiously scanned her surroundings.

Is it a surprise attack? She must counterattack without hesitation. If it’s a sniper, she’ll take cover immediately. It could be magic, or an unknown unique ability. In that case, she must also immediately raise her mana and use her unique ability to confront it. The categorized response procedures etched in her memory quickly ran through Irene’s thoughts.

And then, something unusual occurred.

– A buzzing sound…

“…?”

A ringing pierced her ears. Her eyes widened. A strange sensation began to churn in her mind. She immediately drew up her mana to full power.

This situation… someone is forcibly opening her mind and digging into sensitive areas. Is it magic? What’s the intention? Unfathomable. No time to figure it out. Like this, she’ll be compromised. This isn’t enough!

Judging that mana circulation alone was insufficient to respond, Irene immediately activated her unique ability. A small squall swirled. Golden mana radiated outwards, centered on her. Golden particles covered her entire body. Vitality surged and her spirit was uplifted. The unidentified something continued to delve into Irene’s thoughts, but she was barely able to resist.

Time, which had stretched like a rubber band, suddenly contracted back to reality.

“Haa… haa…”

Cold sweat streamed down her forehead. Although it had only lasted a few seconds, her breathing became ragged as if she had run a long-distance race, and some of her mana was consumed.

‘What was that? Just now…’

She barely moved her stiff body to look around. Under the clear sky, the wind brushed past the surrounding bushes as if on a stroll. Nearby students passed her by. As if nothing had happened.

‘Was it just me?’

Though it was a situation lasting less than a few seconds, she felt a strong sense of unease about it.

Like waking from a dream, her memory of what had happened gradually faded. The purpose and meaning of the event disappeared, leaving only the emotion.

Before she knew it, Irene found herself wondering why she had reacted so sensitively.

Meanwhile, at the same time, Daphne, who was attentively listening to the lecture from the front row, was also swept into this strange situation.

The one difference was that unlike the quick response shown by Helios’s successor, her reaction was very slow, as she had no connection to harsh training. By the time she grasped the situation, an unpleasant, alien sensation, digging into her thoughts, had already deeply infiltrated her mind.

“…Aargh!”

She let out a short scream from physiological revulsion. Her body, sensing a threat, instinctively activated her unique ability. A light green shield enveloped her body. The unpleasant foreign sensation that had seemed to gnaw at her mind was severed and disappeared as if cut by a knife.

“Oh my… I apologize?”

She tried to apologize, wondering if she had disturbed the class. The lecture hall was silent as a mouse. Was it because of the surprised sound she had made?

Daphne, inwardly embarrassed by the silence that filled the classroom, looked around and almost screamed again.

Everyone in the classroom except her was staring blankly into the air. All of them had their heads tilted back, gazing vacantly into space with lifeless eyes, like dead fish.

‘Surely, this is a prank? Is this one of those hidden camera shows?’

The students and professors, who had been stiff as statues, began to move again a few seconds later. They acted as if nothing had happened, as if they didn’t remember their previous actions. Daphne was flustered. Had she imagined it? Had she seen it wrong?

“Therefore, the mechanisms of the human body are… Student? Class is in session. Please stop using mana.”

When the professor pointed it out, Daphne realized she was still deploying her shield. She was extremely confused by the scene a moment ago. She couldn’t distinguish whether the situation she had experienced was real or an illusion.

She tried to put her jumbled thoughts aside and focus on the lecture, but the bizarre classroom scene from moments ago wouldn’t leave her mind.

Had she really seen it wrong?

***

We Violets could no longer take risks.

The threat had become real from the moment we directly experienced that mental shockwave. We confirmed that the mysterious experiment was affecting Violets in other regions as well. Our unique abilities are not inviolable. They can be compromised at any time.

And I, without a unique ability, was just a pretty girl who could use a bit of mana. I might actually die. Then it would all be over.

I became scared. This was the first time I felt such a chill down my spine since forgetting my name.

“Leave only the minimum personnel and reverse-spawn everyone else. Right now.”

“Even the personnel stationed in the underground facility?”

“Of course, we have to pull them out.”

Excluding one person remaining in the dormitory, the minimum personnel immediately vanished into sparkling dust. The goal of those remaining in the dormitory was now to loot as much valuable stuff as possible from within the school before the situation exploded. Class attendance? What’s so important about grades from a school that’s about to disappear?

“No secret vault…”

“Maybe because it was five years ago.”

After looting the Crystal Flower, we searched for major items within Polaris Academy. Tragically, there were no more important items to be found in this area after the Crystal Flower.

There were also no secret vaults hidden throughout the area that would give money and miscellaneous items when opened. Important equipment or weapons could only be obtained in the central or southern regions. Though it’s questionable if they’d even be there now.

In fact, Polaris Academy has one 5-star weapon.

It’s a one-handed sword called , which has decent performance and the ability to perform fire attacks. However, there was no way to obtain it now. This is because it’s an item that drops after defeating one of the ghouls in the game. Perhaps one of the students has it?

But if we looked, there were things that could be converted into money. For example, equipment or teaching materials. I plan to wander around at night when no one’s around and put them into my inventory.

This isn’t theft. It’s a donation to a poor girl. Since the academy is about to fall, all its property is potentially ownerless lost property. Embezzlement of lost property? Such laws are too difficult, I don’t really know them.

I lay on the bed with a ‘whatever happens, happens’ mindset. I intended to take a nap, but somehow I couldn’t fall asleep. I had too many distracting thoughts.

I heard the sound of the door opening, so I poked my head out from under the bed to check. Daphne had entered, so I waved hello and lay back down.

Annoying. Difficult. Tedious. How did it come to this? I’m truly foolish. I shouldn’t have come to school if it was going to be like this.

“Miss Ruzilin, you’re not feeling unwell again today, are you?”

“Huh? No. Just a little tired.”

I gave a casual smile, not wanting to make her worry more.

Why is Daphne so eager to take care of me whenever she sees me? I haven’t done anything special for Daphne.

From the first time we met in the dormitory, she was a kind and gentle person. But Daphne’s attitude towards me was more than just kindness.

Thinking about it now, she treated me even better and was more generous after the entrance ceremony. Even when I casually took snacks to eat, she’d just let it go, and she never properly got angry even when I accidentally knocked her off the bed.

And whenever I struggled at night, she used her abilities to make me comfortable. Thanks to that, I’ve been sleeping well lately and having fewer nightmares.

Considering the original story’s progression, maybe she’s just an exceptionally kind person.

She will likely survive the academy’s collapse. After that, within a few years, she will create a small medical volunteer organization and use her abilities and knowledge to help the sick and injured.

And then, a catastrophic event occurs where a giant gate opens and demonic beasts pour into the heart of the city. Daphne and her volunteer organization save countless lives caught in the disaster. Through that, she earns the nickname ‘Saint of Salvation.’ It’s a title given to her by the media and citizens.

As someone who would achieve such a great feat, she must possess some extraordinary quality that someone like me could never understand.

It was slowly getting dark outside. It was almost evening, and Daphne was getting ready to go out.

“Oh right, Miss Ruzilin. Thank you for the cake you gave me last time.”

Ah, she must be talking about the cake I left half of for her last time.

“I found out where that cake shop is recently, you know? This time, I saw they have a new cake. Its name is… Pineapple Mango Fresh Cream Cake.”

“Really? Sounds delicious. But why are you mentioning it?”

“I’m going out to buy something for myself. I’ll buy a small one on my way back, would you like to share it? I have a small appetite, so I can’t eat much.”

I was craving something sweet, so this worked out well. If she’s buying it, of course I’ll enjoy it.

“Have a good trip!”

I saw her off, looking forward to the cake.

Pineapple Mango Cream Cake… the cake from that shop Levi bought last time was truly delicious. Since becoming a girl, I’ve been addicted to sweets, so the pleasure is even greater.

No matter what, my roommate is the best!

I ate a quick early dinner and waited for Daphne to return.

I waited.

Two hours passed. She must have a lot to take care of.

Three hours passed.

She must be meeting friends. Perhaps doing club activities or group assignments?

Four hours passed.

Before I knew it, it was nine in the evening. Huh, why isn’t she here yet?

My smartphone vibrated lightly once. A text message popped up on the screen. It was Daphne’s phone number.

[Violet! It’s me, Daphne! I have too much stuff and it’s heavy!]

[I’ll send you the address, can you come here and help me?]

The text came with an address. The location was an alleyway slightly outside the city area, away from the school.

But something was strange.

Why is Daphne speaking informally to me?

An ominous premonition brushed through my mind. I called, but she didn’t answer.

“…I’m the only personnel around the school right now, aren’t I?”

“That’s right. Number 5. It’s just you. You have mana to spare, so call a few of us right away. And…”

I immediately ran to the location written in the address.

Receiving suspicious glances from the guards, I passed through the main gate, caught a taxi, and headed to the city. When I walked into the alleyway with the address, there was no one there.

“Daphne! I’m here. Where are you?”

I called again. This time, the power was off.

As I walked through the alley with an uneasy feeling, I heard footsteps behind me.

“Who’s there?”

– Clang!

Ah? I’m dizzy. A strong impact slammed into the back of my head. My vision went black. The ground rushed towards me.

***

I opened my eyes. It was a bit hard for a bed.

“She’s awake.”

“Shall we begin?”

It was a bit noisy around me. I could also hear the sound of something being furiously pounded.

It was a bit cold. The academy city in September is surprisingly chilly at night. But I had come out dressed warmly.

My blurry vision barely managed to focus. I realized I was only wearing underwear.

“Where is this…”

– Slap!

“You stupid idiot… Not getting up?”

As I tried to get up, the brat slapped my cheek. It didn’t hurt, but it was unpleasant. Who is this kid now?

The unknown assailant grabbed me by the hair and pulled me up. It hurt, and I staggered to my feet. Who could it be? Is it some perverted criminal organization targeting only pretty girls?

“Hey, can you see? Can you see it?”

Some girl kept rushing me. Ugh, my hair is getting damaged. I’ll shave this kid’s head bald later.

I focused on the scene before me. I was inside a half-built building. It wasn’t as dark as I expected because they had their smartphone lights or flashlights on.

Up ahead, four or five kids, clearly students, were furiously striking a green-glowing hemispherical object with swords or axes. Their weapons flowed with large and small sword energy.

And I could recognize who was inside that translucent sphere.

“Miss Ruzilin! Why are you here?!”

The girl inside saw me and cried out with a pitiful voice. It was Daphne.

I was horrified.

“Aargh! Daphne! Why are you there… Aaaargh!”

The brats kicked me in the stomach, and I tumbled to the floor. These guys. They must have infused mana into their kicks.

Due to pain dispersion, it didn’t hurt, but the impact on my internal organs was still there. The dinner I’d eaten earlier spilled out of my mouth. The sound of mockery from around me pierced my ears.

“Number 5! I’m going in now!”

“No, wait for a moment. Call more troops.”

My head was pulled up again. Stop pulling my hair.

“Ah… this is really funny. Do you know why you’re here?”

“No!”

– Slap! Slap!

If I keep getting hit like this, my cheeks might swell up like balloons.

About a dozen boys and girls, appearing to be students, surrounded me. I shifted my gaze. Daphne was enduring inside the shield. She was terrified and her complexion was pale, but she wasn’t injured. Two people next to her kept cackling and striking the shield.

“Hahahaha!”

“Open up! I said open it!”

A black-haired girl, who seemed to be the leader of the group, grabbed my head and lifted it. I saw her face, plastered with sneers and arrogance.

I adjusted my tone to sound as pathetic and groveling as possible. Should I try the stuttering Violet concept from my research lab days?

“I don’t know… I’m sorry… please don’t hit me…”

“So, you’re starting to understand your place?”

First, I need to hear the reason. Why Daphne and I were dragged here.

“Yes, I’m sorry. Please explain…”

Before I destroy all of you. You pieces of trash!

You’ve crossed the line.