Academy’s New Guard is Unusual - Chapter 6

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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 6
‘Time is running short.’
I turned away after catching sight of Evangeline and Andy.
I raised my hand slightly, and a Mana Carriage pulled up before me.
The Mana Carriage was a vehicle of transportation that used Magic Stones—it resembled a normal carriage in form. Supplied with Magic Stones, it could move indefinitely. Thanks to the Magic Tool Seat, the ride quality was exceptional.
There was one fatal drawback, though……
‘The cost.’
Magic Stones were expensive, so naturally the Mana Carriage was prohibitively expensive as well. Even nobles couldn’t use it casually.
Of course, money posed no problem for me.
I climbed into the Mana Carriage without hesitation.
“Where shall I take you, sir?”
“To Elysium Academy, please.”
“Yes, understood.”
The Mana Carriage departed smoothly, gliding forward as if riding upon clouds.
It left the Capital behind and traveled along a broad, well-maintained road.
Soon, a cluster of towering white spires came into view in the distance. Elysium Academy.
It matched what I’d seen on a monitor, but witnessing it in person gave the impression new depth.
‘Ridiculously vast, ridiculously magnificent.’
Endless fields of lush green grass, white marble fountains, vibrant students in academy uniforms.
I felt the reality of the Possession settle upon me anew.
The Mana Carriage came to a halt before the main gate. One couldn’t ride a Mana Carriage into the academy grounds.
As I stepped down, I spotted a man in Security Guard Corps uniform—blue short-sleeved shirt and black trousers—gesturing to show me the way.
“The Security Guard Corps testing grounds are this way.”
It matched precisely what I’d seen in the game.
Yet seeing it in person felt somehow different.
‘Seems rather tedious, doesn’t it.’
I picked up my Leather Bag and headed in the direction the man indicated.
Nervous candidates clustered together in one place. But their number was considerable.
‘At least over a thousand, I’d estimate.’
It seemed Elysium Academy had undertaken major recruitment of Security Guard Corps personnel due to the influx of this year’s enrollees.
Their overall level wasn’t particularly high. In the game, the Security Guard Corps had never been a major role anyway.
That made sense, actually. If the Security Guard Corps functioned properly in an academy story, the principal characters—students and professors—would have no reason to take action. For the main characters to shine, the guards had to be ineffectual.
That was precisely why I’d chosen the Security Guard Corps.
I intended to transform the academy from a romance-focused environment into one of serious scholarship. For that to happen, the Security Guard Corps needed to function properly.
Just then, a man in a Security Guard uniform stepped forward.
“Alright! Let’s begin the General Security Guard Corps examination! The examination consists of four stages total. Stage one is—”
“Identity verification!!”
A stocky blonde candidate threw his hand up and shouted. The Security Guard examiners’ face twisted visibly.
“Kellin, still haven’t given up? How many times is this now?”
“This is my fifth attempt! Giving up contradicts the spirit of the Security Guard Corps!”
“You haven’t even passed, and you’re talking about the spirit of—”
“My soul already belongs to the Security Guard Corps!”
Raucous laughter erupted. The man clicked his tongue and gestured dismissively.
“Fine, fine. Just keep your mouth shut before I fail you.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Anyway, the Security Guard Corps examination is divided into four stages. Stage one is identity verification. We guards serve as the gate protecting Elysium Academy. If someone with ill intent infiltrates our ranks, it would be catastrophic. We’ve already investigated you all back to your grandparents. Anyone whose name I call out from here on should leave immediately.”
The man rattled through a list of names rapidly. Those called out made excuses, but every single one was expelled. Some were forcibly restrained and dragged away.
I had already invested considerable funds to prepare a flawless identity. One that even the Imperial Court’s investigation couldn’t uncover.
As expected, my name was never called.
By the time identity verification concluded, the number of applicants had been halved.
“Now, stage two is basic physical fitness assessment. Guards must be the first to respond whenever anything happens within academy grounds. That holds true even if you’re asleep.”
The physical test involved running long distances in full armor, moving heavy loads, and holding a Shield under strain—simple tasks that left no room for shortcuts.
“Damn it! Who actually arms themselves this heavily anymore!”
A lanky boy next to me grumbled.
‘Complaining that this is heavy?’
I lifted the Armor briefly to test its weight.
It was far too light. One could scarcely call it Armor at all. With something this thin, it couldn’t stop a Demon Beast’s fangs, let alone a Demon.
In an actual war zone, you’d be mocked for bringing leather padding. Yet here they complained it was too heavy—
‘Weak lot.’
Then came the bell signaling the start. Everyone sprinted out quickly. I matched the pace of those around me.
Most didn’t last long before collapsing. Some even foamed at the mouth. The sight was so pathetic it made me grimace.
Stage two concluded thus. Roughly three hundred fifty candidates were eliminated.
“Stage three is ideological verification. It’s a simple test, so it won’t take long.”
The next test presented written questions about the Empire, the Magic Tower Corporation, the Church State, and warlocks.
True to the examiner’s word, it was a simple test. Candidates began writing answers the moment they sat down. Before long, some started leaving the examination hall.
Yet regrettably, it presented me with considerable difficulty.
Are you an imperialist?
‘To prevent the republic from rising, the Empire must remain strong.’
Have you made a pact with a Demon?
‘A pact, no. But I did have a heart forcibly transplanted into me.’
Such landmine questions continued relentlessly.
Moreover, a sophisticated Magic Circle had been embedded in the test sheet itself.
‘A spell designed to prevent dishonest answers. Clever.’
The Magic Circle was refined to the point of near invisibility. Clearly the work of a highly skilled mage.
Then I saw the final question.
Have you ever loved a Witch?
The sudden mention of Witches made my eyes narrow slightly.
Now I understood why such a sophisticated Magic Circle had been placed here.
‘The Headmaster designed this.’
The Headmaster, mother of the Witches, must have created it herself.
A Magic Circle made by the Headmaster directly would be impossible to break through magical means.
The simplest way to dismantle a Magic Circle is to use an Aura, which holds contrary properties to magic. But that would leave traces. The very attempt to break the Magic Circle would raise suspicion.
To leave no trace of tampering, one would need to fully comprehend the Magic Circle’s structure. But since this was an Archmage’s work, understanding it alone consumed considerable time.
Still, there was another solution.
‘I can use Holy Power.’
Magic crumbles before Holy Power. For that very reason, using Holy Power actually made the Magic Circle’s traces easier to detect. One could simply reverse-track the points where Holy Power dissipated.
That was my preferred method.
‘Cursed blessing—’
Pure white light—Holy Power—emanated faintly from my palm. By tracking where the Holy Power wavered, I could easily perceive the Magic Circle’s structure.
I moved the pen without touching the Magic Circle itself. It resulted in terrible handwriting, but I paid it no mind.
Staring at my completed answers, I deliberated for a moment.
The Headmaster, mother of the Witches, conducted no external activities. She hated sunlight.
Above all, the Headmaster exercised meticulous caution—enough to embed a Magic Circle even in a Security Guard recruitment test.
Opportunities to make contact with her were rare.
I needed to cast bait.
Have you ever loved a Witch?
I drew a deep breath and moved my pen slowly.
‘No.’
With each character I wrote, a violent nausea rose through my body, as if all my blood were flowing backward.
To think that a mere Magic Circle etched on a test sheet possessed such power.
‘A monster. Truly an Archmage.’
Thump-thump-thump! My right heart pounded like a wagging tail. My left heart trembled violently, as if screaming.
I subtly twisted the final answer. To others, it would be imperceptible, but to the Headmaster, it would be obvious.
‘Ask me.’
I muttered softly and set down the pen.
“Why did that take so long?”
The examiner rebuked me.
Raising my head, only one other person remained in the testing hall. It was the one called Kellin.
Never mind me—why was he—
Then Kellin lifted his answer sheet. It was crammed full of writing.
First, while I wouldn’t say I’m strictly an imperialist, I praise the Empire’s magnificence, for His Majesty the Emperor is a distinguished alumnus of Elysium Academy. The Empire’s glory is therefore the Academy’s glory—
“This paper is too small to contain my spirit as a member of the Security Guard Corps! Please give me one more sheet! The spirit of the Security Guard Corps!!”
“Good grief. Get out of here!”
Thanks to Kellin’s noisy outburst, I was able to submit my test sheet without incident.
* * *
“Headmaster! Headmaster!! Headmaster!!!”
Angelica rapped harshly at the firmly closed door. But no answer came from within.
Yet the thought ‘Is no one inside?’ never crossed her mind. That gloomy Witch would never venture outside, after all.
“If you don’t open this door now, there’s no Red Pepper Candy for you!”
Angelica had finally deployed her trump card. Before the words even finished, the door swung open.
Inside was a lake surrounded by forest, with a small cottage. A strange sight that should have felt incongruous, yet somehow seemed natural.
At the center sat a small cat. The cat wore a bizarre hat and was fishing. While utterly fantastical, the scene was a familiar one to Angelica.
“Headmaster, why did you put that question about Witches in the Security Guard recruitment test! Of all people, you know how sensitive a subject Witches are!”
“Meow.”
“Stop pretending to be a cat.”
“Meow?”
“Since when do cats wear hats and go fishing!”
“Meow.”
Veins stood out on Angelica’s forehead. She pulled out her final weapon—a candy with a pungent aroma, a Red Pepper Candy.
The moment the cat saw the Red Pepper Candy, its eyes widened. The cat quickly opened its mouth, and remarkably, a young girl’s voice emerged.
“I couldn’t help it. My daughter asked me to personally.”
“Your daughter?”
Angelica’s expression grew serious.
The Headmaster was the mother of Witches. The problem was that all her daughters had lost their minds. The name “Calamity Sisters” hadn’t been given without reason.
If one of her daughters was involved, this was a graver matter than expected.
“What did she ask you to do?”
“To find her first love.”
“The first love of a Witch?”
“Meow.”
Witches were a kind of creature obsessed with love. It sounded romantic in theory, but the reality was the very opposite.
A Witch’s love meant the two becoming eternally one.
Physically, spiritually.
In other words, a Witch consumed the object of her love.
Alive.
“And if she finds them?”
“Who knows.”
The cat tilted its head. It was an adorable sight, but Angelica, knowing the truth, felt her throat tighten.
Angelica shook her head and pushed aside her anxiety.
“Witches only love those stronger than themselves. Would someone with power equal to or exceeding that of the Calamity Sisters join as a guard and not as a professor?”
“You never know.”
The cat smiled softly. At that, Angelica felt genuine relief. After all, there was no way a powerhouse comparable to the Calamity Sisters would join the Security Guard Corps.
There should be no issues.
“Meow.”
Just then, the cat extended a paw. Angelica smoothly produced a Red Pepper Candy and placed it on the pad.
The pungent aroma made her nose twitch at once.
“Meow.”
The Headmaster let out a contented purr.

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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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