How to Survive at the Academy Chapter 220

Poisoned Chalice (1)

It took more hands than I thought.

From my point of view, knowing how strong Dyke Elpelan is, I already had an estimate that considering my current specs, there was no way he could ever be defeated.

In addition, in order to make the situation more certain, he perfectly mastered high-level magic through Lucy. In order to take into account every single possibility.

After memorizing the elements to be familiar with, such as the theoretical part, mana response, and element application methods, I was able to quickly learn high-level magic as I raised my sense of practice.

To describe it as ‘quickly acquired’, it seems like I’ve heard it over and over again in the duel with Lucy… but, well, it was a necessary process.

– Wow!

I returned to the waiting room with cheers behind. After passing through the iron window and entering the quiet interior, the scenery of the waiting room was unfolded as it was.

I quickly took off my shirt, which was no more than a mat from rolling on the dirt floor and ran amok, and opened the door of the supply locker that was simply prepared. I took off my jacket, took off my clothes, took out my spare uniform, and returned to the table in the middle of the quiet waiting room.

No matter how many times I say it’s okay, it’s a school uniform that Bell Maia has washed.

It seems like yesterday that I stayed up all night doing repairs on days when my cuffs were even a little torn, but now I even have an extra school uniform.

I feel that I have changed a lot from the small details like this. Although it is a bottomless and endless work when you have to feel deeply moved by each one.

“Why did you look at me?”

A familiar voice came without a hint.

The reason I wasn’t surprised was that the strangely weak and sleepy tone made it easy to recognize who it was just by listening to it.

Looking closely, Lucy was lying on the other side of the sofa in the waiting room prepared for convenience. I couldn’t see the other side because of the backrest, but when the hell did he come?

Are you worried about me, who has suddenly started to overdo it lately, or is it just that you just wanted to see a duel…

Lucy sat down on the other side of the soft spot with her head swiveled and spoke absentmindedly.

There were minor scratches from fighting back and forth with Dyke, but there were no fatal wounds.

To be honest, each punch of that terrifying power was really threatening, but it wasn’t a level of attack that allowed a direct hit.

Absence of a decisive battle sense. Dyke’s single blow, which was not naturally endowed with such a sense, did not possess the flexibility at all comparable to its destructive power.

The power itself could have been called the most destructive power in the battle department, but that’s all.

In terms of growth, he could never catch up with natural warriors like Ziggs and Clevius.

Even in the third year, those two will be much stronger than Dyke. It’s just that I couldn’t absorb all the systematic teaching and efficient training methods of the combat department professors.

“I didn’t see you.”

“If I was determined, I could have ended it from the beginning.”

“…”

Dyke Elphelan was unable to break through Merilda, a high-ranking wind spirit.

If he went out with a cane from the beginning, summoned Merilda, formed a battle line around the wolf, and induced long-distance combat using Lacia and Mug, Dyke would have been helpless.

However, I allowed close combat.

To the audience who knew nothing about that scene, it would have seemed as if Dyke broke through everyone with willpower and clung to me tenaciously to continue the battle…

It must have seemed an unnatural sight to Lucy, who knew all of my specs in detail.

As if the fierce and tenacious battle was staged.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but if I was wrong and allowed a shot…”

While saying that, Lucy grabbed the brim of her hat and raised her upper body from her seat.

A series of actions that were so natural made me feel like I was playing a video in reverse.

“…why are you naked?”

“You have to change your clothes. You can’t go out to see the festival like this.”

“Speak.”

“what?”

“You should have said you were changing clothes.”

“What… suddenly…”

In fact, considering Lucy’s past, it was strange that she was uncomfortable with this much.

I can see Lucy taking a nap by the stream next to the cabin camp, or curling up on a nearby flat rock whenever she gets her clothes mended.

Take off the top of the colossus and say something beforehand. What are you doing? I have no reason to sigh, and in fact I’m not the type to do that… Lucy buried herself on the other sofa with her hat on.

“Well, it was necessary. Anyway, I had no intention of losing, but at least I wanted to show the audience what kind of person Dyke Elphelan was.”

“why?”

“That way, your position within the family won’t be difficult. At least, I showed my willpower in public.”

In fact, among the festival audience, public opinion on Dyke Elphelan was evaluated as ‘he fought hard even though he lost’, ‘showed a worthy fight’, and ‘his willpower and spirit were outstanding’.

If he had been beaten helplessly and left, there would have been no room for anything to be said for Dyke, who was receiving the family’s expectations.

“In addition, it was politically necessary.”

“okay?”

“okay.”

When I buttoned up my shirt and quickly pulled the robe inside, Lucy finally stood up with her tiny body and shook the loose ends of her sleeves.

“Well, let’s wait and see how things turn out. Anyway, why are you here?”

“I came to see you because I was worried about you. You weren’t in a normal physical condition because you were training magic.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be attending a concert with Vice Principal Rachel at the Ophelis Hall at this time? As the head of the entire school, we decided to sit in the front row and chat while watching the show… I remember hearing from Bell…”

“…”

When I said that, Lucy broke out in a cold sweat without even trying to hide it.

“… Did you run away?”

“I don’t know much about music.”

“As Vice Principal Rachel, you know that well enough to attend a concert or something. It’s just a show off event.”

“I don’t do show-offs like that…”

By now, I could see Belle Maia with her eyes open and combing through the entire school.

Lucy looked sideways at my shoe, sweating profusely. It looks like he begged me not to give it to him.

“Whoa… Lucy. I have no intention of giving you a sermon, but I must do my best. is not it?”

“…”

“Of course, it’s something you don’t want, but with great power and a high position, there are responsibilities that come with it.”

I buttoned up the sleeves of my clothes and tapped the tips of my shoes on the floor to put them on again. Then, looking around for clothes, making sure that there were no loose parts, he carried the old clothes to the cabinet.

Bell Maia is a servant, so she cannot discipline Lucy.

So, even if it doesn’t sound particularly nice to hear, I have no choice but to say it for now. This is because, in the first place, few people in this school will listen to what Lucy has to say.

“You know very well that people in positions of influence and people with great power live with responsibility. If you’ve risen to that level, no one will run away blindly just because they don’t like something… It can’t be helped.”

– Kiki

When I opened the door with a sermon that wasn’t a sermon, Tanya Rosteiler was curled up in a cabinet.

“Oh, hello. Brother. The Festival Steering Committee raised 191 agendas, so I was confused and stopped…”

Seeing him say hello so naturally, I stopped covering my eyes with my palms.

* All the people passing by the hallway of the arena building were staring in this direction while humming.

It was because I couldn’t believe the three people who came out of the waiting room and sat side by side on the chairs in the hallway next to it.

Sylvania Academy’s full-year senior Lucy Merrill.

And the student body president, Tanya Rosteyler.

These are enough greetings to be able to rise to the main character’s seat at a moderate student gathering.

The sight of such people gathered in one place and staring blankly at the empty space made passers-by feel an energy they could not touch.

I recognize the face, but I can’t pretend to know it.

I don’t think it should be disturbed just by the three of us, including me, gathering quietly.

There is such a strange feeling that just watching from a distance seems to be the right thing to do.

I’m just sitting still and waiting for the emperor to come to an audience after all the events are over.

However, why are Lucy Meiril and Tanya Roth-Taylor here?

As I was sighing with my temples covered in the middle of the bench, the two girls sitting on either side of me awkwardly glanced at me.

Lucy Mayreel ran away from a concert event.

Tanya Rosteiler ran away from her job on the festival’s steering committee.

…they are fugitives.

The only thing in common is that the place where I took refuge is where I am. The two of them had a strange habit of hiding around me when they ran away anyway.

It was fortunate for Ziggs Epelstein and Bell Maia, who were in the position of pursuers. Once it’s gone, you’ll have to search around for Ed Rosteyler.

After all, these two are the ones who will be arrested sooner or later.

“That… It’s been a while… Senior Lucy…”

“…”

Lucy raised her head, met Tanya’s eyes, and slid her little body back on the back of the bench.

Lucy feels like she’s been talking a lot lately, but in fact, she’s a normal girl who doesn’t show much interest in anyone she meets.

From the point of view of being lucky enough to be friendly with Lucy, I wondered how she communicated and lived with other people.

Besides, the relationship between Lucy and Tanya is quite strange.

At one time, he was a full-fledged supporter of Tanya, and at another time, he tried to eat Tanya, apologized again and ended the relationship… Now, there are no ill feelings left.

It’s not that they’ve only maintained a very good relationship, but anyway, Lucy and Tanya have been face to face for quite a long time.

From Lucy’s point of view, it’s okay to treat her kindly, but perhaps she still doesn’t feel that friendly, she strangely stuck to me and sneaked into me.

“Have you run away from Ziggs again…?”

“I know I shouldn’t be like this, but… I got into the habit of stepping backwards and then jumping out when I saw the pile of papers that would pierce the ceiling…”

“…”

“Is this some kind of phobia? I suddenly felt out of breath and thought I had to get out of here, and then when I came to my senses, I was running across Haksa-dong Square…”

“I’m about to burst into tears…”

“Even if I run away, it’s all something I have to deal with later anyway… Once I run away, I feel relieved… This… I think I’ll get addicted…”

“No, didn’t Anise’s work efficiency improve after she joined the student council?”

“Of course it is, but it’s festival time…”

Oh, that certainly is.

These days, the burden of student council work has no choice but to pierce the sky.

“Unexpectedly, running away… There is such a thing as a strange pleasure that tickles people’s hearts…”

“…”

I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed still, and Lucy, who was hiding behind me on the other side, was nodding her head vigorously.

Then, while looking at Tanya, his eyes were twinkling, and it seemed that a strange sympathy was formed.

“…I wonder if it is right to form a consensus in that way.”

“Lu, is Lucy senior running away too?”

“Basically, most of the time he is outside is the time he runs away. I rarely attend classes unless they are required for graduation.”

A silent prayer to the pursuer Bell Maia.

“Eh, are you still maintaining your top grade?”

“In the first place, the actual performance is at an absurd level. You don’t even know his grades.”

“Yeah, that’s right. But, as far as I know, the penalty points accumulated on the bachelor’s side of the Ophelis Hall are enormous…”

“Because the practical performance is so great that it more than offsets all of that…”

Lucy Meiril is the only sorceress who has been able to handle the highest level of magic at the student level.

Even if you look at the entire empire, there are fewer than five people who can handle the highest level of magic. Except for Lucy, all the rest are wrinkled grandparents.

In the first place, he has far surpassed the level of a student, and the very reason why he is attending Sylvania is covered in questions. Ordinary people don’t know the facts about Glockt’s will.

“By the way… I enjoyed Dalian, brother. Every time we meet, he seems to grow exponentially stronger, so to be honest, even as a little brother, it’s a bit scary.”

“I don’t feel too surprised to say it without making a fuss.”

“is that so? To be honest, since I became student council president, I might have become calm because every day is a series of admiration…”

Tanya shook her head for a moment, lamenting about her situation, then lowered her voice and said:

“Is it Princess Penia’s idea to give all the credit to Princess Selaha?”

“Didn’t you say something to you as well?”

“Well… I can’t go to the imperial residence very often. I knew I was going to do something, but I never thought it would be like this.”

To be honest, Tanya’s reaction was unexpected.

It was because she thought that Tanya would ask why she did such a thing, seeing her openly bowing her head to Princess Sellaha, whom she had treated as such.

However, since becoming the student council president, Tanya’s inner world has undergone many changes.

More than anything, I feel like I’ve been strongly influenced by Lortel, and I feel like I have some aspect of making a rational decision even in embarrassing situations.

He is always whining and whining, but sharpens his eyes when political judgment is needed.

“If you are trying to divide the opposing faction, there is no point in trying to forcefully incite conflict and conciliate. Above all, the Elphelan family has had a symbiotic relationship with Princess Selaha for a long time.”

The powers of the Elphelan family and Princess Selaha have a long history of exchanges.

In particular, Balberon Elferlan, the current head of the Elferlan family, had a deep relationship of trust with each other to the extent that he knew many of Princess Selaha’s deep secrets.

If you want to break down such a trusting relationship, there is a limit to the way you forcefully alienate and conciliate.

The Elphelan family must make themselves dissatisfied with Princess Selaha. However, a relationship of trust that has taken time cannot be broken so easily.

So, you have to attack very slowly.

The reason why the Elphelan family follows Princess Selaha is because they are convinced that once she ascends to the position of emperor, they too will be able to rise to a higher position and position.

We need to break that confidence.

It is enough if a competitor more special than the Elphelan family appears.

A family with far more capable talents, who have already seized power once, are proficient in government positions, are dukes far more prestigious than the counts, and have much stronger and more capable heirs… It is to enter into the care of Princess Chae Selaha.

With that alone, the status of the Elphelan family is shaken.

Even if you think about it from the Elphelan family’s point of view, you will think that it is much more efficient to mediate the Ross Taylor family than to mediate themselves.

That little seed of doubt.

It secretly and surely plants the seed of anxiety that it may become a sacrifice horse discarded for the sake of gaining power… secretly but surely.

That… will ultimately be the starting point for the Elphelan family, the closest aides to Princess Selaha, to lay down their loyalty.

– ‘Selaha’s sister will probably want to have you. Because she comes from a prestigious ducal family, is strong, and has influence.’

The story of Princess Fenia whispered softly on the terrace of the imperial residence.

– ‘Until now, it was a completely hostile position, but if you first bow your head, acknowledge your authority, and approach carefully… Selaha sister will never refuse someone like you. Ed Ross Taylor, you… you have everything that Sela Ha likes about her.’

– ‘Wouldn’t that side be wary if I suddenly acted friendly?’

– ‘At first, yes. Still, Selaha… will never miss this bait.’

Putting down the teacup and looking up at the blue sky, the platinum-haired girl who inherited the blood of the royal family speaks with vague eyes.

– ‘If the chance to get your hands on a human named Ed Rosteeler came in through the vine, you would do anything to grab it. But… to Selaha, the human being Ed Rosteyler is poison in itself.’

Corridor leading to the waiting room.

The large gate at the other end opened, and several soldiers bearing the imperial coat of arms pushed into the hallway.

There would most likely be some time left before the audience with the emperor, but before that, the imperial guards moved first.

This is not a moving force for an official schedule.

It seemed that Princess Selaha was an army accompanying her to move independently. Even so, the Dalian schedule has not yet been fully finalized.

After all the stages, before going out to meet the emperor… he jumped ahead and came to see me.

Not anyone else, but Princess Selaha herself. to get me alone.

What came out between the soldiers was an enchanting princess with sharp eyes.

The princess of frost, Selaha, made her appearance in earnest.

Lucy, as usual, buried her face in my shoulder with blank eyes and exhaled quickly, while Tanya quietly swallowed dry saliva.

It is rare for a person born with royal blood to directly visit someone. Usually, they are called to the reception room of the building where they are located.

However, she went all the way to the hallway of the waiting room to meet me in person.

The expression on his face was still full of wariness.