episode_0063

“Munyeommusang (무념무상). The emotion one must possess at the moment they must defeat their opponent. It means not harboring personal feelings while contemplating how to overcome a formidable enemy, as bringing emotions into play can make one’s attacks simplistic and inadvertently empower the adversary…”

Tap, tap, tap.

Only the sound of chalk scratching against the board echoed in the quiet classroom.

It was a swordsmanship theory class. Iris, clad in a black instructor’s uniform, stood alone in the center of the board, speaking in a solitary voice.

A rather serene atmosphere.

Everyone was diligently preparing for the 3rd exam. Over 40 students in the classroom quietly focused on Iris.

However, I was the only one unable to concentrate.

“As soon as this class ends, I’ll definitely…”

I fidgeted with the note in my hand.

I deliberately sat near Hedy for this day.

To mend the chilled relationship with Hedy, who had been ignoring me since discovering I was a duke of Brace Kingdom, I devised a method of communication.

That method was through notes.

“I’ll wait for you at the training ground tonight. I have something important to say.”

The message was short and concise.

I couldn’t neglect my dealings with Hedy any longer.

After much contemplation and hesitation until now, I believed by this time Hedy’s anger might have subsided considerably, and I intended to meet separately to convey my sincerity.

My legs trembled with anxiety and unease.

“…There must be a way. Well, time has flown by so quickly. That concludes today’s lesson. Thank you all for your hard work.”

As Iris announced the end of the class, students began to rise from their seats one by one.

Once Iris left, the previously quiet classroom quickly became bustling with noise.

“The next class is club activities… At least we can relax a bit…”

“What should we have for lunch?”

“Let’s go together, Yuria!”

Hedy also slowly rose from her seat along with the other students.

“Now’s the time…!”

I hurriedly got up from my seat.

And just as I approached Hedy to speak…

“Hedy….”

-Boom!

“Is this the cyanide-filled classroom?!”

The classroom door banged open, and someone loudly mentioned my name.

Her sudden attention-grabbing behavior made everyone in the classroom startled, and they all turned to look at her.

It was Aria Silvesta.

“What, what’s going on? Why did she suddenly…!”

Hedy also widened her eyes, staring at Aria.

When a female student near Aria pointed at me and said something to her, Aria immediately noticed me. With a flushed face, she began to make her way towards me.

“Cyan! There you are!”

“What’s going on….”

At that moment, murmurs could be heard around us.

“Isn’t she Aria, the top performer of the prestigious Silvesta family in the Swordsmanship Department…? Why is she suddenly disrupting our quiet cyanide concept classroom…?”

“Is Cyan being approached because she ranked first in the 2nd exam?”

“Cyan, when we tried talking to her, she wouldn’t respond at all, but now she’s immediately cozying up to the pretty and high-achieving Viscount family…?”

“Just recently, she was hanging out with Hedy, who was promising in our class… Did she switch sides right after achieving success? How unfortunate.”

“….”

Unaware or indifferent to her surroundings, Aria, with a bright smile, told me, “The promised Azure Dragon Group has arrived today. Let’s hurry!”

Aria linked arms with me.

“Oh, wait a minute…”

She probably didn’t realize it, but her slightly larger and burdensome bosom touched my arm, which her loose shirt couldn’t conceal.

Hedy, who was nearby, flinched briefly.

Quickly gathering her notebook and stationery, Hedy promptly started to move down, avoiding eye contact with me.

In my extreme embarrassment, I reached out again to grab Hedy, but Arias’ persistent urging blocked my path.

“What are you doing! Hurry up and come!”

“No, just wait a moment! Ugh!”

I shook off Aria’s arm and ran towards Hedy.

“Hedy…!”

Hedy, noticing me following her, quickened her pace and left the classroom.

“……”

It felt like a dead end.

Feeling frustrated, I lowered my outstretched hand and looked at Aria with resentful eyes.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…Get lost.”

“……?”

My plan had completely fallen apart.

…I didn’t have the courage to try again later.

Aria, the root of all these problems. Angered, I left her behind and changed my steps.

“Oh! Cyan, where are you going!”

“Don’t follow me.”

“What about the Azure Dragon Sect!”

“……”

Her words made me stop in my tracks.

.

.

.

.

“Wait for me here.”

With those words, Aria ran towards the women’s dormitory.

I stood nearby.

I couldn’t refuse her offer to give me the Azure Dragon Sect. While it was expensive and scarce to acquire personally, the sect was essential for me to quickly become stronger.

In a world where one’s potential was somewhat predetermined by their cultivation level, underhanded methods were necessary.

Even though I had recently reached the 4th stage, further growth could be slow from this point on.

If my potential was limited to only the 4th stage, it might take decades to reach the mid-7th stage, which was considered expert level back in the day.

“If the Demon King resurrects within 5 years, taking decades to progress would mean certain death midway.”

I had to reach at least the 5th stage, or better yet, the 6th stage within five years.

After the Demon King’s resurrection, the new demons appearing would possess an average strength of at least the 3rd stage.

As a result, most small countries would suffer devastating blows or even face extinction.

Even the Brace Kingdom, a relatively large nation, would not be able to avoid the impact.

“But when is she coming…”

It seemed that passing female students near the women’s dormitory were starting to notice and glance at me.

“Miss Cyan? What brings you to the women’s dormitory?”

At that moment, Lucy, who was coming out of the dormitory, coincidentally met my gaze.

Lucy still dressed elegantly. Her neatly arranged blonde hair, sophisticated sapphire earrings complementing her double eyelids. Despite wearing a school uniform shirt, her noble aura was unmistakable.

“Miss Lucy. I was waiting for someone briefly due to some circumstances.”

“I see….”

Lucy approached.

A subtle floral scent wafted in the air as if she had applied perfume.

Lucy spoke, “The third exam is coming soon. Are you not nervous?”

“I am. But as I mentioned before, I’ve been steadily preparing for the exam. By the way, I heard that the Alchemy Department finished the second exam yesterday… Did you do well, Miss Lucy?”

“Hehe, I’m an elite after all. It was a potion-making test using Wyvern tail as an ingredient, and I finished it 15 minutes earlier than the allotted time!”

“Wow.”

If it was about making potions using Wyvern tails, it must be related to increasing agility.

Indeed, it was Ariel Academy. Wyvern tails are ingredients that only intermediate alchemists or higher can handle, yet they appeared in a first-year exam.

“As expected of the academy our protagonist attends. The standards here seem different from academies in other countries. Training here is indeed more efficient for becoming stronger.”

While thinking such thoughts, Lucy spoke again.

“By the way, when will you treat me to dinner?”

“Dinner?”

“Yes. Last time, I shared information about the joint third exam for first-year students, and I offered to treat you in return. The dinner invitation is still valid.”

That’s right, she did.

“…Are you free for dinner tonight?”

Normally, I planned to meet Hedy for dinner tonight.

Due to the situation where I became a laughingstock because of Aria, should I just quickly resolve it?

I nodded.

“It seems like you’ll be fine. Just think about what you want to eat.”

“Hehe, got it!”

It was a moment when I was about to finish my conversation with Lucy and part ways. Suddenly, Aria rushed over to us calling our names.

Lucy, who didn’t know that we were waiting for Aria, naturally looked flustered.

Though I didn’t feel the need to hide anything, I explained right there without emphasizing too much.

“I had something to attend to.”

It might have sounded insincere, but Aria, oblivious as she was, didn’t mind and cheerfully handed me a pouch of coins.

Just as I was really trying to wrap up the situation, Aria spoke to us.

“Have you all eaten lunch?”

I was about to decline, but swayed by Lucy’s earnest agreement, we found ourselves entering the academy cafeteria to order food.

Since Heddy’s daily routine was now gone, I filled most of the time with simple chit-chat. Sandwiches or burgers containing both protein and carbohydrates… It had been a while since I had such a meal.

Plates of completed dishes were placed on the table shared by Lucy, Aria, and me. Then Aria remarked,

“It feels good to have become closer to Cyan!”

“That’s true. But how did you and Cyan get to know each other, Aria?”

“It was when we went near the Typhon to get the Gryphon’s horn. That’s when Cyan…”

I simply stabbed a piece of meat with my fork and put it in my mouth without saying a word.

Even in this situation, Heddy came to mind. Where could she be having lunch right now?

Given her personality, she might be skipping lunch to train. We needed to meet soon to resolve things… My worries were not limited to just this.

I must have grown quite attached to her during this time. Normally, we would have been together even at this hour…

“Oh? Cain! Have you been having lunch here?”

“Oh! Cain! Come over here. I have a friend to introduce you to!”

At that moment, a chill ran down my spine.

I turned my head quickly in the direction they were looking, instead of continuing to eat.

“….”

“….”

Our eyes met.

I knew this situation would come. In fact, I may have been negligent. If I had kept my distance from them, I wouldn’t have inevitably encountered him.

I should have refused. I should have rejected Lucy’s earnest plea and pushed back.

Sweat dripped down my forehead as he and I locked eyes for quite a long time.

With white tousled hair and muscles faintly visible beneath his shirt, he had the same golden eyes as mine.

Cain Varvo. For some reason, his gaze upon me seemed empty.