A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special - Chapter 39

Episode 39. Dinner Service (1)

Chapter 9. Dinner Service

July 20th.
D-day.
The Grand Hall was filled with every professor from the academy, nobility dispatched from the empire, and liaison staff from the Western Kingdom Alliance.
At the same time, countless students packed the hall—a mix of upperclassmen and freshmen alike.
Before them all, the Chancellor took the podium and began his address.
“My students, it has been long since the Shadow World began its assault on our kind. In that time, the divine shield, the Artemis Holy Nation, crumbled. Countless kingdoms fell to ruin. Beloved people, lands where memories dwelt—all were consigned to the dustbin of history. And in such darkness, humanity fractured. Knights fought only for their own kings. Kings waged ceaseless war. Mages remained hidden. The extinction of mankind seemed inevitable.”
Those were nightmare years, when the Shadow World seemed an inescapable plague.
“To endure, we had no choice but to resist. Thus, our empire established Hebrion Academy—a crucible of the continent’s greatest talent—to face the Shadow World. We built it to cultivate warriors capable of standing against the abyss.”
And so the academy, now renowned as the most prestigious institution across the land, was born.
“Since Hebrion Academy’s founding, countless knights and mages have graduated. They stepped forth for humanity, and we began our true war against the Shadow World. And now, after all these years….”
He clenched his fist, his voice swelling with pride.
“The Shadow World has been completely conquered. Completely. And this year’s Shadow World will prove no exception.”
When the appointed time arrived, an announcement echoed throughout Hebrion Academy.

—World Reversal Phenomenon detected.
Opening Shadow Gates in sequence.

Thirty years ago, entering the Shadow World was far more complicated.
Participants had to travel through a spatial transit gate to the location of the Shadow World’s emergence, then physically enter through the fissure itself.
That was the method of thirty years past.
But in these modern times, Shadow Gates created through fifth-Circle Spatial Manipulation Magic allowed instantaneous entry into the Shadow World.
One merely had to select a Shadow World to enter and step through the gate.
Whirrrr.
A mechanical hum filled the air.
The ambient mana stirred to life.
The Shadow Gate activated.

—4,728 Shadow Worlds have emerged.

The emergence of Shadow Worlds does not occur all at once. That is, more may yet spawn as time passes.
The total number of worlds generated often exceeds tens of thousands.
Hebrion Academy did not conquer all of them.
The conquest of Shadow Worlds was divided between the Western Kingdom Alliance and the Hebrion Empire.
The worlds assigned to each were further subdivided by Difficulty Grade.
Now that Shadow World conquest had stabilized, the role of six hundred students was modest at best.
Yet the practical experience gained through participation during their studies gave graduates a significant advantage in conquering high-Difficulty Worlds later. Thus, student participation held considerable value.
“Newly emerged Shadow Worlds will be continuously announced via Pad. You must proceed through Shadow Worlds in Party units only. Points will be awarded proportional to the Difficulty Grade and number of Worlds you Clear.”
The Chancellor’s remarks continued.
“It is vital that you enter Shadow Worlds suited to your level. Remember this well: your safety matters far more than any byproduct gained from Clearing a World. Always consult with the Strategy Department for information on any Shadow World you wish to enter. If you require supplies, submit requests to the Support Division. Hebrion Academy shall be your strongest pillar of support.”
Soon the students began pairing off and moving about.
“What about this Shadow World?”
“That one might be a bit difficult.”
“It doesn’t seem too bad.”
“The Shadow World we’ll tackle is….”
And so the Alpha Class students gathered in small groups, discussing which Shadow Worlds to enter.
The Beta Class students, by contrast, had limited choice. They were restricted to Shadow Worlds of Grade 6 and below. Anything higher was forbidden to them.
“The Shadow Worlds available to you are distinctly different.”
While Beta and Alpha Class students moved busily about the Grand Hall, the Single Rankers were receiving their briefing in a private chamber set apart for them.
Twenty-seven students in total—first through third year—had gathered there. They were the elite of Hebrion Academy: the Single Rankers.
In that room, Tassid, the Tactics professor and commanding officer overseeing Hebrion Academy’s overall operations, began his guidance.
“As for the Difficulty Grade, anything below Grade 6 in the Shadow World is utterly straightforward—anyone can progress through it. Well, if I had to put it plainly, I’d say it’s on par with Professor Nepan’s pop quizzes.”
Laughter rippled through the students.
“But Grade 5 and above—that’s a different beast entirely. From that point onward, elements of warfare and murder begin to seep in. In other words, any one of you could die.”
The laughter died. The atmosphere turned gravely serious. Yet not a soul among them looked frightened. They’d steeled themselves for such things long ago. That’s what Single Rankers were.
Tassid swept his gaze across the crowd, then smiled with satisfaction.
“Good. It’s true that the Shadow Worlds you’ll be selecting are tremendously difficult. But precisely because they’re difficult, you stand to receive far more valuable rewards. So you might as well be pleased.”
When you progress through a Shadow World, Mana Stones emerge.
Clear a Grade 5 Shadow World, and you obtain a Grade 5 Mana Stone.
Depending on the specific Difficulty Grade, the value of the Mana Stones you can obtain varies—and that value fundamentally defies imagination.
“I always say this, but heed one thing well: everyone who appears in the Shadow World is nothing but an illusion. They are virtual entities, fundamentally different from reality. You need feel no guilt in killing them, and you need not suffer any anguish over it.”
This briefing was something that never failed to be given every year.
Of course, despite that, students who struggled with it appeared every year without fail.
Hebrion Academy spared no effort in providing psychological treatment to such students. And this applied not only to Single Rankers, but to everyone.
“I’ve been long-winded with the preamble. Now then, allow me to reveal it: the Shadow Worlds you will be undertaking.”
The moment Tassid finished speaking, every Single Ranker’s Pad began to vibrate simultaneously.
Dezir looked down at his own Pad.
The panel displayed Shadow Worlds of a Difficulty Grade that ordinary students could never perceive—a realm unto itself.

Estimated Difficulty Grade: 4
Shadow World arising from the Kihol Desert
Related incident information: 1 entry. For detailed information, please access the History Archive.

Estimated Difficulty Grade: 4
Shadow World arising from Bitugu Prefecture
Related incident information: 3 entries. For detailed information, please access the History Archive.

Estimated Difficulty Grade: 3–5 (Grade indeterminate)
Shadow World arising from the Northern Sea
Related incident information: 48 entries. For detailed information, please access the History Archive.

“Select the Shadow World you wish to participate in and transmit your choice to the Central Committee. The Committee will assess, in light of your abilities, whether the Clear is feasible. You may only enter a Shadow World with the Committee’s approval.”
Tassid drew a breath and continued.
“As for the rewards you obtain in Mana Stones, you are free to use them however you wish after paying the Shadow Gate fare and applicable taxes. However, should you obtain non-Mana Stone items as rewards, you must report them to the Academic Affairs Office.”
With a warning that failure to report would result in punishment under relevant ordinances, the briefing on precautions concluded.
After Tassid left, the room quickly grew loud. The Single Rankers had begun consulting with their Party members about which Shadow World to undertake.
Dezir, Romantica, and Fram were no exception. The three huddled together to discuss which Shadow World to enter.
“I’ve heard that for first-year Single Rankers, it’s customary to attempt a Grade 5 Shadow World.”
Fram opened the conversation. Seated next to another Party, he had been able to overhear their discussion.
“Somehow I can already guess what Dezir will decide…….”
“……What?”
Romantica spoke, and Fram pressed her.
“Obviously the highest Difficulty Grade—a Grade 3 Shadow World.”
“I’d like to do that too, but with our current strength it’s out of the question.”
Since no Grade 2 or higher Shadow Worlds were occurring now, a Grade 3 Shadow World was the highest Difficulty Grade among those currently appearing.
Dezir pointed toward where a cluster of people had gathered.
“At least we’d need to be that strong before they’d approve us, wouldn’t we?”
There stood the Red Dragon Party, centered on Ladorya, composed of three Circle 4 mages and seven Rook-class swordsmen.
Not freshmen Single Rankers, but intensively trained second and third-year Single Rankers. Ten of them in total.
Do not overreach. That was Dezir’s own principle, forged in the Shadow World.
“I’ve already decided which Shadow World we’ll enter. It’s the perfect Difficulty Grade for us.”
Dezir showed Romantica and Fram his Pad.

Estimated Difficulty Grade: 4
Shadow World based on the Orleans Region

As Romantica read the Shadow World information displayed on the Pad, her face paled.
“Dezir, I don’t think this is going to work…….”
“Why not?”
“Read the end. It says minimum Party size is four members.”
“Didn’t I mention it?”
“What?”
Romantica sensed a tremor of unease beneath Dezir Armang’s composed demeanor.
“Azest has joined our Party.”
“What?!”
Just then, their Pad chimed.

-Participation request approved.
Dezir Armang, Fram Schneizer, Romantica Eru, and Azest Kingscroun are requested to proceed to Shadow Gate No. 2.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————