Academy’s New Guard is Unusual - Chapter 16

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 16
In the game I possessed, the final boss is six Foreign Gods.
The Foreign Gods are deities who govern different dimensions, and the setting was that they covet this dimension because their own dimensions have been destroyed. The evidence of the Foreign Gods’ interference is the Rifts.
A Foreign God is a deity beyond the boundary. To draw a sword against a Foreign God, one had to be at least a Sword Master. Literally the ‘minimum’ requirement.
But there was one exception—and that was Evangelyne.
That was why Evangelyne was the protagonist.
In any case, if the final bosses of the game are six Foreign Gods, then the mid-tier bosses are the heads of Elysium Academy: the Principal, the Vice Headmaster, and the Headmaster.
Whether through reformation or death, they were things that would eventually need to be dealt with.
“Welcome to all of you. May the blessing of the divine be with—”
The Vice Headmaster broke into a low chuckle and traced the sign of the cross.
Following his hand, brilliant light scattered outward. His Holy Power was so formidable that it looked as if a small sun had risen in the hall.
The Vice Headmaster, for a cardinal, wielded an extraordinarily excessive amount of Holy Power without hesitation. There was only one reason why such a thing was possible.
‘He’s consumed a Foreign God Fragment.’
A Foreign God Fragment had the same effect as bonus stats and buffs received when creating a character.
For instance, if someone with an Aura stat of B consumed enough of a Foreign God Fragment, it would rise to A.
The effect was tremendous, but the price was cruel.
The more one consumed Foreign God Fragments, the more their body and soul would pass into the hands of the Foreign God and become corrupted.
Corruption progressed slowly, like moisture seeping into cloth, so those who consumed fragments could never perceive it. By the time they sensed something amiss, they had already become servants of the Foreign God.
“Next, the Headmaster.”
Every eye among the new students shifted in unison.
It was the Headmaster, regarded as the greatest arch-mage currently alive. Everyone’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
Yet that anticipation did not last long.
“A… a cat?”
What had climbed onto the platform was a gigantic cat wearing an enormous hat.
Seeing the cat appear so abruptly, the new students froze in confusion. The cat simply sat down without concern and twisted its body.
“The Principal takes the stage. All present, stand at attention.”
The announcer delivered the words briskly.
The startled new students snapped to attention.
This time, the instructors and the Vice Headmaster rose from their seats as well. The cat—or rather, the Headmaster—let out a prolonged yawn.
Thud, thud. Even with hundreds of people filling the Grand Hall, a single man’s heavy footfalls echoed with unmistakable clarity.
Soon a man ascended the platform.
His form was like a lion that had taken human shape. His eyes were sharp and fierce, his shoulders broad and muscular, his arms thick as thighs.
His mere presence bore down upon the hundreds assembled in the Grand Hall.
‘The Principal, Raibenhardeto.’
Raibenhardeto was the Imperial Sword.
The second greatest swordsman of the Empire. In other words, there existed only one person in the entire Empire stronger than Raibenhardeto.
Raibenhardeto was a man who understood the weight of power. He was stronger than anyone, and his fame matched his strength.
If you stopped a passing knight and asked, “Who is the most honored swordsman in the Empire?” nine hundred ninety-nine out of a thousand would answer Raibenhardeto.
Indeed, Raibenhardeto had refused the Emperor’s offer to grant him the world, and instead accepted the position of Principal at Elysium Academy.
Because of this, Raibenhardeto was the most honored knight. And because of this, he was also the one who would fall to the lowest depths.
‘Damn, he’s strong.’
I exhaled softly as I watched Raibenhardeto.
The Headmaster and the Vice Headmaster were beyond reckoning, but the Principal was beyond even attempting to assess. He seemed stronger than a supreme general.
At the same time, a question arose.
‘Why would someone that strong need a Foreign God Fragment?’
Why would the Imperial Sword himself consume a Foreign God Fragment and walk the path of predetermined ruin?
I only knew that Hanswell was somehow connected to the Principal’s rampage; the detailed circumstances remained unknown to me.
‘Hanswell, then.’
Hanswell was biting his lip as he stared at the Principal. Barely concealed rage and hatred radiated from him.
The circumstances seemed complicated.
“Raise high.”
At that moment, the Principal lifted a cup. It was a silver chalice bearing the emblem of Elysium Academy.
“Meow.”
The Headmaster swiped a paw. Fragrant wine splashed out from all directions, then flowed through the air like a graceful ribbon.
Soon the wine had filled every cup in the Grand Hall flawlessly. Not a single drop was wasted—it was flawless technique.
I’d seen this in the game before, but witnessing it in reality was far more impressive.
The Principal drained his cup first. The Headmaster and Vice Headmaster followed suit, and the students and instructors drank afterward.
So far, so good. The problem came next.
Suddenly, cheerful music burst out from nowhere. The students and instructors leaped to their feet, paired off, and began to dance without warning.
It was an absurd turn reminiscent of a Bollywood film, yet no one questioned it. Rather, they seemed to find it natural and laughed gleefully as they danced.
‘Damn romance novel tropes.’
Whenever there’s an opening, these people throw a feast and dance.
The structure was designed to create chaos.
I swallowed my curses and kept watch on what Evangelyne was doing.
Fortunately, Evangelyne was playing with Andy.
That was why I’d paired her with him.
Fortunately, the dance ended quickly.
“Next, the new student oath. The representatives of the new class, please come forward.”
There were two representatives. One was, naturally, the Crown Prince.
The other was a woman with lustrous black hair.
‘Grand Princess Agriche.’
Agriche was the complete opposite of Evangelyne in image. Her face bore not a trace of warmth; her hair was black and gleaming as if all color had been drained from it. She had the appearance of a noble lady painted from a story.
She was the archetypal antagonist noblewoman—a romance novel cliché.
Agriche tormented Evangelyne with relentless cruelty.
Because Evangelyne continually drew the Crown Prince’s attention.
The method to stop Agriche was simple.
‘If Evangelyne doesn’t draw the Crown Prince’s attention, there’s no problem.’
At that moment, Agriche and the Crown Prince began reading their oath in unison.
“We, who stand before the gates of learning, swear not to place falsehood in our pursuit of truth. We shall not use the power of knowledge in arrogance, and though we take learning as our weapon, we shall not turn its blade recklessly upon others—”
The content was terribly dull, but because the two were so strikingly beautiful, the new students focused with an almost grim intensity.
After all, they were the Crown Prince and the Grand Princess.
Naturally, everyone’s attention was fixed.
Yet there was one person who was not.
“Haaaa—”
Of course, it was Evangelyne.
The Crown Prince’s gaze turned toward Evangelyne.
[Master of the Continent, the Crown Prince.]
Naturally, memories of the game surfaced.
* * *
“Do you see my crown? It is proof that I am the rightful master of the Empire.”
– The Emperor wore a crown so dazzling it hurt the eyes, yet his gaze gleamed like that of a starving wolf.
“Do you see my Aura? It is proof that I am the sole Sword Saint in history. Even a Sword Master cannot withstand a single blow from me.”
– The Emperor extended his sword. The Aura wrapped around it shone with crystalline brilliance, like stars in the night sky. Yet the Emperor’s hands trembled uncontrollably.
“I am the Emperor, master of the continent, and the sole Sword Saint in history. So why—”
– The Emperor’s mouth worked silently before he spat out the words.
“Do the people call your name?”
– The Emperor stepped forward. His eyes, no longer the brilliant gold of the sun, had become a rotten, withered black. The only emotion that dwelt in those black eyes was jealousy.
– The Emperor’s sword aimed for Evangelyne’s throat.
– Evangelyne extended both arms to embrace the Emperor and whispered.
“I’m sorry.”
– A crimson necklace was drawn across Evangelyne’s throat.
– It was the first gift the Emperor had given her.
[GAME OVER.]
* * *
‘The Crown Prince is a dead end too.’
The Crown Prince was the worst sort of dead end—one that brought a villainess along with him. He was a male lead to be absolutely avoided.
And the place where the Crown Prince and Evangelyne begin to become genuinely entangled is the entrance ceremony.
When Evangelyne becomes caught up in a terrorist attack aimed at the Crown Prince by the Republic, she becomes genuinely involved with him.
It had to be stopped at all costs. It was the reason I’d moved the Magic Stone Bomb.
At that moment, someone beside me poked my arm repeatedly. It was Mylo, with an uneasy expression.
“About what you said yesterday in the Underground Storage—that was a joke, right?”
“What?”
“That the Republic operatives hid a Magic Stone Bomb in the Underground Storage. You were joking about that, right?”
“Oh, you have better memory than I expected.”
“Of course I do. My head’s solid as a rock.”
Mylo laughed and tapped his own head with his fist. The sound rang out like stone striking stone.
“That was a joke, right? It has to be a joke?”
“It wasn’t a joke.”
“What?”
“There were six Republic operatives, so they might’ve hidden one.”
Mylo’s face went pale.
“You bastard. Shouldn’t we evacuate right now?!”
“Don’t worry. You took care of it.”
“Me? When?”
“The Cabinet. Don’t you remember?”
“The Cabinet—?”
Mylo tilted his head blankly before his mouth fell open.
“You’re not saying that hunk of junk I was lugging around—? That’s a joke, right? This isn’t funny. It’s really not funny.”
“I think it’s hilarious.”
“You crazy bastard—”
As Mylo spat out harsh curses, I let out a delighted chuckle.
“Finally, we will have closing remarks from the Principal.”
The Principal ascended the platform once more. He smiled contentedly and opened his mouth.
“First, congratulations on your admission to Elysium Academy. I was once a student here myself, and those old feelings are stirring again. I feel young.”
A gentle laughter rippled through the crowd at the Principal’s pleasantries.
‘Time to move.’
I slipped back quietly.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the Principal, and even the difficult Hanswell was absorbed in watching him—it was the perfect opportunity.
“Where are you going? Where are you going?”
An anxious Mylo glanced toward Hanswell and hurried after me with urgency.
The Principal’s voice carried from behind us.
“Ah, there is one thing to be cautious about. Rifts.”
At the warning in his low voice, the new students tensed and focused.
“If you see something uncanny covered in black and white, do not approach it. Run immediately and report to the guards. When a Rift opens, whoever is closest will be pulled in—if you’re late, they’re gone. Flee without fail and report to the security corps. Even if a professor enters a Rift, survival is unlikely, so never give in to curiosity and enter. Never.”
As the Principal warned, Rifts are extraordinarily dangerous.
The moment one opens, anyone closest is inevitably pulled in. That was the rule of Rifts.
This was why elite security forces had to enter immediately when a Rift appeared.
‘Where are they?’
I scanned the interior of the hall.
Hidden below were Magic Stone Bombs. The detonation button would be held by another Republic operative.
“Hm? What’s this?”
At that moment, Mylo spoke, his eyes fixed on someone. Following his gaze, I saw a tall woman.
A sharp, perfectly straight bob, eyes that radiated violence, a faint scent of alcohol wafting from her, wrapped tightly even at the neck yet with a striking, undeniable beauty—
‘Evelyn, captain of Group 42.’
Evelyn, who had not shown herself until now, appeared at precisely this moment. The timing was remarkably convenient.
“Well, if this drags on any longer, someone will complain. Let’s wrap up the entrance ceremony here.”
The Principal drew his sword. A silvery-white longsword emanated an ethereal light.
‘The White Dragon Sword.’
At the appearance of the White Dragon Sword, one of the eight great blades of the continent, everyone’s mouth fell open.
The White Dragon Sword’s bearing was exceedingly noble and beautiful. Both students and instructors gazed at it as if entranced.
The Principal raised the White Dragon Sword high.
Aura erupted violently along the silvery-white blade. The Grand Hall itself began to shake as if a tempest had been unleashed.
Such power from merely raising his Aura—truly befitting the Imperial Sword.
“Welcome to Elysium Academy.”
With those final words, the Principal thrust his sword toward the ceiling.
The Aura spiraled brilliantly and surged upward toward the heavens.
It was a dazzling display, as if stars were falling backward through the sky.
The new students’ and instructors’ mouths gaped open.
‘Now.’
Evelyn flicked her fingers.
And—
KABOOM!
An explosion erupted directly beneath the Principal. It was a violent blast powerful enough to shake the entire Grand Hall.
The Principal, struck full-on by the explosion, was sent flying. Everyone stared upward in a daze as the Principal disappeared through the ceiling.
‘Nice. Clean landing.’
I nodded with satisfaction.
“Kyeek—kyeeeeeek!”
Mylo let out a pathetic shriek.

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