Chapter 22: Glasskan Subjugation Expedition (2)

Chapter 22: Glasskan Subjugation Expedition (2)

An unexpected incident happened after two nights.

I lived my days the same as every day. I went to the academic district in the morning and would come back to my camp afterward.

I would’ve usually already left the academic district by dinner time, but I somehow ended up staying quite late today.

I set a goal to have a safer living environment for myself and to do that, I was going to build a proper wood cabin.

The library was a great resource to learn the basic design of how to build one. It also had information on the necessary materials and how to properly cut down the trees to use.

I didn’t really need to worry about food anymore, and there wasn’t anything that needed my urgent attention or couldn’t be put off until the weekend, like homework. So I thought it should be fine if I stayed late in the academic district today.

Nothing good ever came out of getting lazy after already deciding to work on it. I should use this time to collect information to build my cabin.

Since I was so used to living life by the hour, it only made sense that I did everything I needed to do at the library all out once while I was already here. After all, the northern forest and the library were so far away from each other that it wasn’t efficient to take frequent trips to and fro.

The library also had a limit to how many books a student could check out, and I had already exceeded that limit for my academic studies. So since I was already here anyway, might as well get all the reading I could.

It was around the time that I was passionately focused on reading for my cabin and had books piling up around me that I heard someone.

“It’s already closing time. You have been studying quite hard.”

Another student approached me. She gave off a warm impression and was modest in appearance.

I looked around and saw that I was the only one left. It seemed that time had passed by quickly while I was focused on my research.

I hadn’t even eaten dinner yet but now it was already time for the library to close down.

I looked at the student who approached me and saw she had a blue badge on her chest. This meant she was a first-year and I could speak casually to her.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

It had already grown dark outside the window.

I looked at the books piled up like a mountain beside me. The librarian would have a hard time organizing all of these right before closing time.

“I would have cleaned up in advance if I had known earlier.”

“No, it’s okay. You were totally focused so I actually felt sorry having to bother you.”

She had light pink curly hair. I couldn’t seem to remember her well... and yet I had this strange feeling that I had seen her before.

Oh, she was an apprentice librarian at Silvenia’s student library. What was her name? Moka? Elka? Delka? What was it... at the very least, she wasn’t a main character in the story.

“Even though I know I should study, all I had been doing was sitting around eating snacks and gaining weight... Oh my! I overshared, didn’t I? What am I saying?!”

I answered her half-heartedly as I closed the book. I planned to construct the base by the end of the day but I don’t think that was still feasible.

“Even still, seeing an upperclassman like you motivates me to study harder. You don’t come here often, but every time you do, you are always focused and so immersed in your reading that I can’t help but respect you so much for it.”

She smiled.

“My name is Elka Islan.”

It seemed she had been wanting to talk to me for quite some time now, considering how the flow of the conversation so naturally lead to an introduction.

“Ed.”

“......”

This reaction of them freezing up after they heard my name had become all too familiar now, and honestly, had rather become boring.

Though it had been a while since the entrance exam, rumors about Ed Rothstaylor never stopped. I had tried to stay on the down-low as much as possible, kept to myself, and studied quietly, doing what I needed to do. But it seemed my reputation hadn’t gotten any better.

Just how arrogant and hateable was this guy?

I mean, in the first place, rumors never seemed to flow in a positive direction, but they always tend to flow smoothly like oil in a negative direction instead.

I was not so naive to be upset and offended by every single rumor, but I couldn’t help but let out a sigh each time I get the occasional reaction like this.

“This... might be a bit rude but–”

Nevertheless, if I lived as quietly as I could just doing what I had to do, all while diligently studying every day and striving to survive day by day, they would come a time when people’s perception may change completely.

“You’re very different from the rumors.”

“The rumors?”

“No, uhm... I hope you don’t think it’s weird but...”

It was quite rude of her to be bringing up rumors. I should just go and quickly head back to camp. It was already pretty late.

But she kept going on.

“I usually spend my time here at the library after school since I’m an apprentice librarian. And every few days, you would borrow Elemental Studies books, right?

“......”

“You read and returned dozens of books with hundreds of pages each in just a few days, and you read five or six books all in just one sitting... seeing things like that makes me wonder if the rumors about you being arrogant while not knowing anything were actually lies... ack! S-Sorry if I offended you.”

She suddenly hesitated to talk and quickly picked up the books.

“A-Anyways, I should clean this up quickly and head back to the dormitory. Have a safe trip back!”

She talked in a hurry and rank away, right into a bookshelf.

Then, out of nowhere, the bookshelves began to fall down like dominoes.

* * *

Living life outside of the main story could be quite exhausting.

I couldn’t help but feel helpless, put in a position where I had no choice but to accept the always-changing situations.

“Eunghk!”

I pulled out the struggling librarian trapped under the bookshelves and put her on top of a table.

It had been fifteen minutes since a thunderous sound reverberated throughout the academic district, and a great tremor struck the entire student library.

Justifiably similar to an earthquake, the aftermath was just as enormous. The bookshelves had fallen all over, as did the books which had rolled over on the floor. The reading materials and even the consumables had become a mess.

Even the expensive magic tools had smashed into pieces and the crystal orb, which acted as a light source, as well as all the candles, had gone out, rendering the library completely dark inside.

“Hey!”

“Egh–”

She seemed to have fainted, only mumbling out randomly.

I thought about it for a while. I couldn’t remember her clearly, but I had this weird feeling that I had seen her somewhere before. Considering I had played the game multiple times, I couldn’t remember her, then she probably wasn’t anyone important.

It was probably already past 9 o’clock, and there was no source of light left inside.

However, I spotted a sort of soft purple coming from inside the reading room. My eyes hadn’t fully adjusted in the dark yet but I was still able to roughly see it.

After looking at it some more, I was surprised to realize it was actually coming from out the window.

I went over and opened it. The student library was located on a small hill on the outskirts of the academic district, allowing me to see an entire view of the whole place.

There was a reddish pillar of light coming from the Student Center. It crossed over the sky above the academic district, triggering a spatial seal barrier that circled around the whole area.

The earthquake was surely the aftermath of casting such large-scale spatial sealing magic. And the fact that it was coming from the Student Center made it clear.

“Hmm... Isn’t this a bit early...?”

Either way, there was nothing to be flustered about.

Although I had been suffering from all sorts of hardships in Ed Rothstaylor’s pathetic body, at least I had the advantage of knowing the information I knew.

“Hmm...”

I scratched my chin as I thought about it.

I didn’t know if this was something I should be worried about but there were still quite a few things I didn’t quite understand.

The first of which is the spatial-sealing magic activated by the high-ranking dark spirit Velosper through Yennekar. Velosper used the high-ranking dark magic Shadow Curtain to block off the entirety of the academic district from the outside.

It was an impressive barrier, but it was just a plot device to set the stage.

This was the Glasskan subjugation chapter. It was the episode that marked the finale of Act 1 and brought out all the all-star first-year students to join together and form a subjugation squad to attack the Student Center.

But if you were to use your common sense, you would realize that this shouldn’t have been possible.

Glasskan was the most infamous high-ranking dark spirit among the elemental spirits. This shouldn’t have been an issue solved by mere students. If the Student Center had been taken over, it should’ve been the faculty members and professors who would’ve obviously come to defeat it.

That was why it didn’t make any sense. In order to create an episode where Taylee could manifest the Swordmaster’s Skill, the developers made it necessary to block the faculty and professors from intervening.

Hence Velosper’s spatial-sealing magic.

It was a barrier that locked everything from the inside. This made it easy to realize the space was locked from the inside, but it made it hard for those on the outside.

And even if those from the outside were to recognize the barrier, it would still take them almost half a day to destroy the dark magic barrier using standard methods. The only way to quickly break through would be to use overwhelming destructive power.

But using such an ignorant method would seem impossible. Although, as this was Solvenia, there were a few people who should be capable of doing such a feat. No need to look that far since Headmaster Obel would be able to destroy the entire barrier without even needing to examine it first.

But the high-ranking dark spirit Velosper was cunning.

This event happened late in the evening when most professors have already returned to their private labs or homes.

It was already 9 o’clock, which meant only a few professors would’ve been remaining in the academic district as the professors’ private lavs were grouped around their living quarters for convenience.

Either way, the Act 1 finale was a battle against time.

The goal was to defeat Yennekar before she could summon the highest-ranking dark spirit Glasskan before sunrise.

Even though it would be destroyed anyway if left alone, it still delayed time enough for Glasskan’s summoning to complete.

I looked out the window and stuck my head out. It didn’t seem like the spirits Yennekar had manifested were occupying the streets yet.

“I guess we haven't entered the first phase yet.”

The flow of this Act’s boss battle was as follows:

Gathering a Subjugation Force

Operation Reclaim the Student Center

The Battle at Nail Hall’s Corridor

Final Phase

Glasskan Subjugation

This would start now and would end before dawn.

Simply put, this was going to be extremely difficult. I couldn’t help but pray for Taylee.

I had to run around like crazy during Phase 1. I felt like a real idiot running all over the academic district trying to find all the scattered aces of the first-years to bring them all into one place, all while having to subdue all the spirits on the streets.

“He should’ve met up with Ayla by now.”

I was sure he’d have figured out the solution by now.

Taylee’s childhood friend Ayla was well-versed in Spiritual Studies. And with all that spiritual energy flowing around the Student Center, she would have already told Taylee what was going on.

The students needed to start working together from now on to defeat that monster of a dark spirit Velosper. Because the moment Glasskan gets summoned, the damage to the whole academic district would be indescribable. That’s why gathering all the people who would help at the Student Square was needed.

The soft purple I could see outside the window soon changed into an ominous dark red. The chanting to summon Glasskan must’ve already begun.

And it was clear who was doing it.

The cute Elementalist star student who was admired and loved by all the second-years, that's who.

“Looking at it from here, it’s quite the scene.”

Taylee should already be right next to the Student Center the moment the barrier magic was cast.

The barrier’s mana flow exploded, creating a reddish curtain covering the starless sky. I was large enough to cover the entire academic district.

It could obviously be assumed that a large-scale event had begun just from seeing the barrier.

Be it Glasskan or something else, I was sure Taylee would figure it out and solve it. Even if I just spend my time here sitting around reading books, this whole thing would eventually end.

There was no reason for me to go out there and suffer. It would be better if I spent my energy and efforts on building my cabin instead. Getting unnecessarily involved could only get me hurt or suffer one way or another.

Plus I didn’t want to go where all the important characters in the story should be gathered by now. My biggest weapons were knowing the future and having inside information. Getting myself involved and creating an unknown variable would be like stupidly giving up my powerful weapons.

“Wait...”

However, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

“Isn’t this the time for that thing?”

I sat on top of the library table looking at the imposing barrier.

I remembered something from a strategy article I read a long time ago.

If you intend on investing in your Alchemy or Spiritual Skills in the future, it will be beneficial to improve your Spirit Understanding and Spirit Resonance during this phase.

“That’s right!”

The final stage of Act 1 was where dozens of spirits that signed a contract with Yennekar would manifest and show up. There would also be a large number of Fluid Spirits.

It was an opportunity to improve my proficiency in both the annoying Spirit Understanding and Spirit Resonance at the same time.

Spirit-type skill proficiency could only be accumulated through contact with a spirit. Whether it be through communication or contact, there needed to be an exchange with the spirit to increase one’s proficiency. Combat experiences were great for filling up this proficiency.

The problem was that ordinary people couldn’t even see a spirit, that was unless they were lucky enough to be born with a tremendous amount of Spirit Resonance like Yennekar.

The only way for ordinary people to come in contact with a spirit was with those manifested by an Elementalist.

Spirit-related skills had such an exclusive requirement that acted like a difficult barrier. But the chance to easily overcome that difficult barrier is here, in the final chapter of Act 1.

Because Yennekar was an Elementalist who manifested many spirits during this stage, this was somewhere you could accumulate a lot of combat experience through defeating them.

It would be foolish of me to just sit around while an event as generous as a pot of gold was handing out experience points right around the corner.

In addition, this would be an actual battle.

The amount of experience I would get was gonna be very different from the type I would gain from mock battles throughout the school curriculum.

My top priority right now should be to defeat as many spirits as possible and focus on my own growth.

“I shouldn’t have been spacing out.”

I quickly jumped off the table and opened the door, ready to leave, when the apprentice librarian laying on the table caught my eye.

“Hmmm...”

I didn’t think there would be any danger of being inside the library building but just in case, I picked up a piece of parchment and quill that I saw scattered about.

“Don’t panic when you wake up. And stay right here. Everything should be over before daybreak so you should stay calm and block the entrance. And don’t provoke the spirits. Always think about your own safety first and don’t hastily move about.”

Hmm... it didn’t feel right just leaving one note behind.

It was unlikely for a wandering spirit to invade the library’s reading room and suddenly start attacking a sleeping girl, but there was still a possibility. If she were to get unnecessarily hurt or her life gets ruined... living with the guilt would leave a bitter taste in my mouth.

I picked up a blackboard that fell over in the corner and grabbed a piece of chalk that was laying around. Then I wrote the same thing again, only in large letters. Just in case she missed my note on the paper.

I covered all the windows before leaving, making it less dangerous since the spirits wouldn’t be able to see inside. I also took a blackout curtain laying around and roughly covered the exit as it looked to be too wide open. Doing this, I hoped the entrance could be hidden and escape would be possible if she needed to.

Covering everything made it a little bit darker inside. But since I wrote my note on the board, she should still be able to see it.

It should be fine now.

I hurriedly ran towards the hallway. There would be an event to gain lots of experience starting soon. I needed to move quickly.

I should be able to easily handle Fluid Spirits, even Elemental Traces. I should even be able to defeat a low-ranking spirit if I really tried.

As the player, I had to prioritize how to defeat that monster Velosper over my own growth, but now, thankfully, there was someone who could take that responsibility and handle all the hardships and adversities for me.

Taylee.

He could just figure it out and take care of it.

It would probably be a lot of work...

Well, good luck to him!

* * *

“No matter what type of burden I may carry, it shouldn't be any heavier than the weight the princess carries.”

“While it's definitely necessary to pay attention to politics and social problems, why don't you try putting your mind at ease? This isn’t a place where the royal family needs to establish authority over everything... it’s just Silvenia Academy.”

Ed Rothstaylor’s words suddenly came to mind.

Though she could easily see into the hearts of others, very rarely had she had the experience of someone else taking a look into hers. This was why she couldn’t easily forget it.

His blunt matter-of-fact words that he indifferently told the princess.

She thought she still had a long way to go...

But she once again set her mind straight.

“This is the situation right now.”

A first-year named Ayla completely summarized the situation to them.

Their temporary meeting place was the Student Square at 11:30 PM.

This meant it had already been nearly two hours since the catastrophe had occurred.

Luxuries and pleasures. Prideful and lazy. Incompetent too.

Ed Rothstaylor was a pathetic human being with despicable qualities. He took advantage and threw away his closest friends when an opportunity arose, never caring about the kindness he had received. He was truly selfish in every sense of the word.

It was obvious what everyone else at the base was whispering about.

- “Ed? That Ed Rothstaylor? Doesn’t this mean the librarian is in big trouble?”

- “There are so many rumors that he’s seriously disgusting and pathetic.”

- “Doesn’t this mean the librarian is alone with such a person?”

- “Oh no...”

It was too dangerous to leave the room with these many berserked spirits occupying the streets, let alone the building.

The fact that that cruel Ed Rothstaylor and Elka were in such a situation...

Nothing good would come out of such a situation. Elka had no power in such an extreme situation, and she may even be taken advantage of by Ed Rothstaylor and thrown away. Or worse, he could even lay a finger on her fragile body.

Ziggs had complete confidence he knew the type of person Ed was. The rumors about him also added credibility.

The fact that Elka’s fate rested in the hands of such a person made Ziggs lose all sense of reasoning.

“I’m heading to the library right now.”

His anger has already surpassed his limit. Rather than not, it now felt cold.

Ziggs notified them in a soft subdued voice.

The one he notified was The Benevolent Princess Penia herself, someone that even Headmaster Obel respected.

Zigg’s intentions were clear. He was rejecting a royal order.

“You’re crossing the line, Ziggs Eiffelstein.”

The first person to step up was Head Escort Claire. But Ziggs didn’t care.

In Lazy Lucy’s absence, no one among them could defeat The Spear from Nature Ziggs. Even Claire, who was a member of the Royal Guards, couldn’t guarantee how many strikes she would be able to withstand.

He was considered one of the best magicians amongst the first-years alongside Lazy Lucy and The Golden Daughter Lortel, the three of them recognized by Professor Glast solely for their skills.

And as he was born among the northern nomads, he had been living his life with human blood on his hands for longer than he had matured.

He had always lived a life at the crossroads between life and death, no one could compare to him in terms of practicality.

If Lazy Lucy was like a tank or a fighter with how her magic cannot be blocked, then The Spear from Nature Ziggs was like a well-trained special agent his whole life. There may be a massive difference in terms of pure power and scale between the two of them, but within Zigg’s specialized field, he would be able to fully dominate and demonstrate his power.

And his specialized field was dueling with no outside interference.

“I’ll beat anyone who tries to stop me from leaving.”

“I can’t let you do that.”

The Golden Daughter Lortel cast a spell. The moisture in the atmosphere froze in an instant, creating a huge ice spear in the air. It was Ice Spear, the same intermediate magic that destroyed the ceiling of Nail Hall.

The two first-year top students from the Magic Department of Silvenia. Ziggs and Lortel stared at each other. It was a rare scene for anybody to witness.

Everyone gathered and watched nervously, swallowing their dry saliva at the sudden extreme turn of events.

“I’ll give you credit, Ziggs. You are the strongest person amongst everyone here in terms of power. If you leave the subjugation, then our chance of success will sharply drop. Which is why, I’m sorry but, you can’t leave your position as a member of the team.”

“That’s hilarious, Lortel. Do you think I’ll cooperate if you try and force me to do so?”

“You have completely lost your mind. I know how much you cherish Elka, but you need to at least distinguish between your public and private life. Look over there.”

Following Lortel’s gaze, everyone could see Glasskan’s summoning circle gradually turning a darker shade of red. There was an assortment of spirits occupying the hall as well.

“And where would you be going to leave that behind?”

Lortel looked Ziggs straight in the eyes. And she hated the burning passion within them.

Passion, hot blood, spirit, loyalty, vigor, strong will.

Lortel hated the fact that such words would show up in such an urgent situation.

Humans needed to be calm and rational. No matter the predicament or harsh the situation may be, one needs to make the right judgement without being misled by wrong emotions.

That was the type of person who would be extremely reliable.

It didn’t matter how many magic skills you knew, or how powerful you were. If your heart wasn’t strong enough, then you couldn’t be trusted. This was the first great principle that Lortel learned in business ethics.

“I wouldn’t be able to win over you in a one-on-one battle, Ziggs. But if I gave it my all, you wouldn’t be able to walk away unscathed.”

“Ha...”

Ziggs was superior to Lortel in a duel. But that didn’t mean Lortel was an easy opponent. They would be able to exchange even blows at first, but over time, someone would eventually get extremely hurt.

It was too much pressure just for Ziggs to push through all the spirits and head to the library. And yet Ziggs shook his head.

“If that's your opinion, then I have no intention of giving up either.”

The atmosphere between the two shifted to that of one just before a big fight. The atmosphere where if one so much as steps forward, the fight would begin...

“What are you two doing?! What would happen if we fight amongst ourselves?!”

Princess Penia had reached her limit and shouted.

“But Princess Penia! Right now... that Ed Rothstaylor...”

Ziggs responded. But his forceful words grew rather tame towards the end.

With a face of complete desperation, Ziggs spoke in between tears. He was no longer the strong-minded and reliable The Spear from Nature Ziggs.

“If something happens to Elka, I really... I won’t know how to live anymore.”

His tone had shifted from anger to sadness, and now desperation.

Princess Penia did not expect this reaction.

She would have scolded a furious Ziggs for his actions and taken control of the situation. But this Ziggs had now completely become desperate, so clearly visible with the princess’s Insightful Eyes.

His heart was more desperate than a dying man’s. Elka was truly like family to him.

“B-But...”

Princess Penia stuttered at his sincere desperation. No sounds came out even though her mouth was open.

“That guy. Ed Rothstaylor. Princess Penia, you also know what he’s like...!”

Princess Penia, you also know what he’s like.

She couldn’t nod her head at the words.

Because she didn’t actually know anything about him.

Her thoughts were complicated when it comes to Ed Rothstyalor. Even the most obvious facts about him had become a fogged mystery.

The clear image she gets when looking into somebody’s inner self, and yet she couldn’t even manage to figure out the outline of the guy.

What was their current situation?

They were in an extreme crisis where nothing was guaranteed.

A reality where one minute, let alone one second, was a waste. Glasskan’s summoning circle was increasingly growing darker, and the students’ safety couldn’t be guaranteed. Now everyone was looking amongst each other for decisions.

And that decision-maker also became the person in charge. The weight of her title would stay with her for as long as she was alive. But here, it also meant that everyone in the base would follow her.

The realization of this uncertain reality made her dizzy, driving her into a corner.

“E-Even so...”

Everyone in the camp had their eyes on Princess Penia and Ziggs. It was an urgent situation that carried responsibility for the princess as everyone awaited her decision. A situation where a mistake in her judgment could lead to the loss of another person’s life. A situation where nobody could speak up.

And it came back to her...

The sound of a burning campfire. The back of a boy who poked the fire with a poker. Looking straight into her eyes without emotion. And those words that penetrated her heart as he left the training center.

The distasteful act of crawling on the floor during the entrance examination. His back when he pushed past her to chase after Taylee with an emotionless face. His eyes that never clearly revealed anything.

Princess Penia was completely pushed into a corner... and in that corner she suddenly uttered the words, pointing to the direction of where her sixth sense was leading her.

“Even so... how about... just once... let’s just... believe in that guy...?”

Silence filled the air once again.

Everyone stayed silent for a long time. Not a single word was said.

The expression on their faces showed how absurd they thought it was. As if the sun would rise from the west.

“Why...”

Ziggs lamented.

“Why do you have to say such a cruel thing? The Princess of Benevolence that I know... she wouldn’t say something so irresponsible!”

Ziggs only saw her words as a disregard for his worries and opinions.

“I will... be on my way.”

Ziggs shook his head as he headed towards the exit.

“Where are you going...?!”

“Lortel.”

Unexpectedly, it was Princess Penia who stopped Lortel from chasing after Ziggs. Although she was just in the middle of talking about how absurd trusting Ed was.

To be honest, she herself didn't understand why she had said that.

“Just let him go.”

“Princess.”

“However, you need to take responsibility for the outcome, Ziggs.”

There were already too many things to think about. The Princess was at her limit.

“I will pay for all my sins when I get back.”

Finally getting permission, Ziggs bowed his head politely. He fully understood just how selfish his choice was. Nevertheless, since he had decided to save Elka, then even Princess Penia couldn’t stop him.

Ziggs slowly lifted his head and left the base with a stern face.

“Princess Penia.”

Watching his back as he slowly walked away, Lortel called out to the princess.

She turned her head to find Lortel staring at her in a rather obedient manner.

Princess Penia could tell what Lortel was thinking without having to use her Insightful Eyes.

Being an excessive realist, she would condemn Princess Penia’s decision. Even if somebody were to get hurt or be harmed, she would tell the princess that she should’ve never let Ziggs leave.

The princess steeled her heart.

But Lortel actually had a wide smile across her face.

“Thinking about it, it may have been necessary to respect his opinion.”

“Lortel.”

“It must have been a decision made by the princess after much consideration. Anyways, he’s always had a noble will, so he couldn’t just blindly judge if something was wrong or right.”

Lortel spoke so calmly and coolly, as if she didn’t care about the tense situation just a moment ago. And she also affirmed the princess’s decision.

“Anyways, if there aren’t any changes in our original plan of entering the Student Center in an hour, we should begin preparing for the subjugation now. I’ll be taking a short break and checking my body’s condition. Princess Penia, I hope you too could get some rest.”

And with an elegant smile, Lortel Kehelland politely greeted Princess Penia as she walked by.

Although the situation didn’t go the way she had thought it would go, the way Lortel stepped down and even encouraged the princess’s decision was that of a model vassal.

However, it was very clear to the princess.

Behind her heartfelt smile and act of encouragement was a deep feeling of disillusionment.

She felt it the moment Lortel passed her by.

Her relationship with Lortel wasn’t very good, to begin with, but now she felt that this incident had somehow created a distance that couldn’t be narrowed.

Even if the world were to turn upside down, Lortel would never believe in Princess Penia.

The princess had a strong feeling about that.

“I’ll be taking a break too, Claire.”

She spoke to her loyal escort as she leaned her back against the barricade in a corner. Claire nodded and went on guard with a stern face.

And just like that, the tense situation in the camp had ended.

They didn’t know where Lazy Lucy was, the strongest person amongst them all.

One of the most important combat forces, The Spear from Nature Ziggs, had completely left the base.

And the most realistic and rational person, The Golden Daughter Lortel, was now psychologically and completely hostile towards her.

Nevertheless, she was the only one who could manage the weight of these students.

The princess hid behind the barricade so nobody would see, and held her knees to her chest.

Either way, the atmosphere around the base was not that of taking a rest. It wasn’t like a powerful spirit was going to attack them right away. As long as there was someone who kept watch, there was time to check themselves and their equipment.

In her corner, where nobody could see, Princess Penia spoke quietly.

It was something that a person of royal status should never say for the entirety of their life.

“It’s hard for me too.”

Even though she was afraid that somebody might hear her by chance, she couldn’t help but let the words slip from her mouth.

“Really... it’s hard for me too...”

She was a girl who had never acted like a child in her life.

Though it’s sad, even saying those small words were accompanied by guilt.

The time to defeat Yennekar was approaching.

Looking up to the sky, Glasskan’s summoning circle, which was dazzling in the night sky, was drastically getting brighter.

* * *

[Magic Skills Details]

Grade: Ordinary Magician

Specialized Field: Elements

Common Magic:

܀ Fast Casting Level 4

܀ Mana Sense Level 5

Fire Element Magic:

܀ Ignite Level 10

Wind Element Magic:

܀ Wind Blade Level 10

Spirit-type Magic:

܀ Spirit Resonance Level 3

܀ Spirit Understanding Level 3

“Gasp, gasp...”

Completely exhausted, I dropped down to the ground, completely exhausted.

It had been two hours since Phase 1 started. My proficiency in spirit-type skills rose as I captured and defeated Spirit Stigmatas and Elemental Traces around the library.

I wiped off my sweat and felt a sense of satisfaction rose as I looked at my skills window. This would enable me to imbue spirit magic into my arrows. A breakthrough in terms of my combat power.

“Ahh! But seriously... This is way too hard.”

I had been diligently training but there were still some dangerous moments because of the wind that kept pushing me away.

I looked around. It seemed I had already cleared all the spirits wandering around the library. All that’s left were traces of my continuous use of Wind Blade, and the burnt debris laying around from using Ignite. But if I wait a bit, I knew new spirits would eventually come.

“Phew... I need to get Spirit Resonance as close to level 10 as possible. That way, I can even sign a contract with a spirit... If I don’t do it now, there’ll never be a better opportunity again. So let’s keep working hard. Alright!”

I couldn’t waste this golden opportunity.

“Ugh... phew... not yet. I haven’t reached my limit yet...”

The key to training was pushing yourself to the limit. Wasn’t that a known fact to anyone who lifted even just a little bit at the gym?

This wasn’t the time to be lazy. I needed to keep pushing myself to the extreme until there wasn’t a single drop of strength left in my body. Surely, doing that much would bring me a significant stat change.

Oh, I saw a bunch of new spirits approaching. I got up, filled with renewed fighting spirit. This wasn’t an opportunity that would come by easily. It was time to train and train again until the moment I didn’t have an ounce of energy left.

“I can still do more...! I can do it...!”