Chapter 113 |
“Those in the special class should follow Student Charlotte.”
Following Ganon’s words, Kraush and the special class students followed Charlotte.
Their peers looked at them with admiration.
Seeing this, they would surely strive to join the special class as well.
‘They won’t stop at just seven. They’ll keep adding based on performance and grades.’
A very Charlotte-like idea.
She believed those with power should live up to it.
Behind Charlotte’s confident strides,
the special class students quietly followed her.
Even Kraush found himself wondering if she had any weaknesses.
The others felt it even more.
Charlotte led them to an auditorium where the first-year students were gathered.
Today, coincidentally, was a practical training day, and Kraush’s group would join them.
“Even if you’re in the special class, you’re still new second-year students. For the first practical session, you’ll be assigned to the student captains.”
Charlotte kept glancing meaningfully at Kraush as she spoke.
Kraush deliberately avoided her gaze.
If he were assigned to Charlotte, he felt he’d be tormented by her all day.
Honestly, despite being siblings, Kraush and Charlotte didn’t get along well.
“You seem very close to your sister.”
“If it looks that way, you need medical help.”
Kraush couldn’t agree with Karandis’s comment.
Soon, Charlotte led the second-year students into the auditorium where the first-year students were gathered.
The auditorium didn’t just have Martial Arts students.
As mentioned, it was a practical session.
At Rahelrn Academy, practical sessions meant going to lawless zones beyond the world’s walls, where World Erosion occurred daily.
There, they encountered not just erosion species but criminals, vagrants, and even World Erosion followers.
Rahelrn Academy students gained real-world experience and honed their skills in such places.
That was the Academy’s practical training.
Naturally, the Theology and Magic Studies departments also participated.
Even Special Arts students would join practical sessions according to their abilities.
For Literature students, their practical sessions involved securing support from the Sephira or officials from various countries.
‘A group can only be formed if they recruit at least one student from each department.’
Thus, the support that Literature students secured determined the group’s budget.
Kraush spotted Aslan waving from a distance.
He was with a few other second-year Magic Studies students.
They were probably selected as part of the special class.
In the Theology department, unsurprisingly, was the Saintess Astria.
Despite being younger, her saintly aura made her look mature.
She turned away huffily when she saw Kraush, still upset about not having lunch with him.
Yet, she kept sneaking glances at him, which was just like her.
When Charlotte entered the auditorium, all eyes turned to her.
Their gaze then shifted to Kraush.
Kraush’s prowess in the entrance exam had left a strong impression on the first-years.
Their eyes shone with various purposes—some political, some out of curiosity.
Those sending such looks were all formidable individuals.
This was where the first-year Rahelrn Academy students gathered.
Despite the pressure of their gaze, Kraush remained calm.
No matter how talented they were, they were still rookies.
Click, clack.
At that moment, someone approached Charlotte.
Seeing her, Kraush tried to suppress his frown.
The 3rd Princess of the Empire.
Sigrid Ephania.
She was the woman Kraush disliked the most.
“Miss Charlotte, the student captains are about to allocate the second-year students. Shall we?”
As Charlotte mentioned, even if they were in the special class, the first practical session would be assigned to the first-year captains.
They were about to start the selection now.
“Sure.”
Charlotte glanced at Kraush before turning away.
Her eyes conveyed her determination to take Kraush.
The problem was that Sigrid also glanced at him.
She smiled brightly when their eyes met.
Kraush barely suppressed his nausea.
‘There are currently twelve student captains.’
Student captains could come from any department.
However, Literature, Theology, and Special Arts didn’t need captains.
They specialized in support, not frontline combat.
Thus, the twelve student captains currently came only from Martial Arts and Magic Studies.
“Kraush, it looks like Miss Sigrid likes you.”
Mary whispered, trying to curry favor with Sigrid.
“What nonsense? The Imperial Princess would hate a Balheim the most.”
Before Kraush could respond, Karandis interjected.
She was a staunch kingdom loyalist, naturally hating the Empire.
Mary looked flustered, and Karandis quickly snapped back.
“Don’t bring the Empire’s sinister schemes here. Criminals are typical of the Empire.”
“That remark is offensive.”
Glen Diana, Mary’s cousin, interjected.
He didn’t seem to care about insults directed at Mary, but he was visibly upset when the Empire was insulted.
Despite his reaction, Karandis stood proudly.
“Offensive? Do you know the atrocities the Empire has committed against the Four Kingdoms?”
“The Four Kingdoms constantly target the Empire. The Empire only retaliates.”
“Retaliation? You mean the recent invasion of Poseus’s territory in the Great Sea?”
“That was to support the Empire as erosion species crossed into our lands.”
“That’s because the Empire greedily expanded its territory!”
Their argument grew heated.
Kraush looked at Karandis in surprise.
She had never confronted the Empire so directly before.
“Really, it’s absurd. Kraush, you agree with me, right?”
Kraush realized where her baseless confidence came from.
Kraush was the top student among the second-year Martial Arts students.
Being a direct descendant of Balheim and a kingdom loyalist,
the kingdom’s influence in the Martial Arts department naturally grew stronger.
In places of concentrated power, being top-ranked was significant.
Mary, being second-ranked, was still a criminal.
The Empire couldn’t use Mary to garner support among the second-years.
Knowing this, Karandis could hold her head high.
Unlike when Kraush was half-witted and couldn’t leverage the Balheim name,
he now used it to its fullest.
Glen looked at Kraush.
If Kraush spoke, Glen couldn’t easily counter Karandis.
Though a princess, power in Martial Arts included strength.
Kraush, a direct Balheim descendant, had shown overwhelming power, making it hard for Glen to challenge him.
“I didn’t come here to play petty power games.”
Kraush coldly stared at them.
“World Erosion has increased significantly in recent years. I came to Rahelrn Academy to learn and prevent future disasters.”
This was common knowledge.
They might just think World Erosion had increased recently.
People often didn’t realize the gravity of a situation until it was upon them.
But Kraush knew it was a sign of impending doom.
This rotten world had been preparing for destruction for a long time.
“In the face of World Erosion, there’s no Empire or Kingdoms.”
Kraush had seen it.
The once-glorious Empire and its rival kingdoms all fell in the end.
Dividing forces in the face of destruction was meaningless.
At Rahelrn Academy, where talent concentrated, Kraush aimed to crush all such divisions.
One year.
Within that time, he aimed to topple all student captains and rise to the top.
That was Kraush’s goal.
“I might understand power struggles outside.”
Kraush warned them.
“But if you continue this in the face of World Erosion, neither of you will have good outcomes.”
This was his sincere warning.
“R-right? I obviously know that. I won’t do this during World Erosion!”
Karandis quickly assured Kraush, fearing his disapproval.
Glen didn’t seem inclined to argue further.
Mary, knowing Kraush, didn’t find his stance unusual.
Even without power, Kraush was always like this.
Only Haring, the future Poison King, looked at him oddly.
“They’re coming!”
Balak exclaimed as the student captains approached.
Among them was Aniks, Balak’s fellow Starlon prodigy.
Three of the twelve student captains approached.
They were all familiar faces to Kraush.
Leading was the Sword Saint, Charlotte Balheim.
The tall, black-haired commoner hero, Felray.
Following was the brown-haired, sly future Wooden Marauder, Aniks Graiza.
In a place filled with the best talents, being chosen as a student captain was a testament to their top-tier abilities.
Among these top talents, Charlotte led the way.
She looked at Kraush with a regretful expression.
‘She didn’t get me.’
It seemed they used a magical lottery to assign the second-years.
Even Charlotte couldn’t force her way in.
‘Thank goodness.’
Kraush felt relieved.
Being in Charlotte’s group for the first practical would have been a headache.
Unlike before, Charlotte now showed an unusual interest in him.
Meanwhile, Aniks stood beside Charlotte.
He smiled at the second-years.
“Welcome, special class second-years. Since this is your first practical, you’ll pair up with us.”
It was considerate.
Having peers made them feel more comfortable.
“Follow the student captains who call your name.”
“I’ll go first.”
Charlotte stepped forward before Aniks finished.
She stared at Kraush before clicking her tongue and calling out.
“Mary Diana, Karandis Poseus. Follow me.”
Karandis looked at Charlotte with admiration, while Mary flinched.
Karandis wanted to use this chance to get closer to Charlotte.
Mary feared not being picked by Felray, Sigrid’s associate.
After their contrasting reactions,
Felray spoke next.
“Balak Hogma, Glen Diana, Arthur Gramalte. Come over here.”
Felray smiled kindly.
“Oh, Captain! Are you strong?”
Balak eagerly asked, unconcerned about who he was paired with.
“Me? Haha, not really. There are many stronger than me.”
Felray laughed heartily, though his eyes seemed wistful.
He wanted to meet someone at the Academy.
That person stood right in front of him.
“Lastly, me. Haring Lagrain, Kraush Balheim. Follow me.”
Kraush cracked his neck.
His first practical was with Aniks.
Aniks’s judgment would be crucial.
Kraush remembered Aniks from the Holy Land of Stars.
He had blamed his comrades’ deaths on not avoiding traps during World Erosion.
Aniks said if Kraush died, Charlotte’s wedding might be delayed.
He had grown to despise Charlotte, who had defeated him, and eventually broke down.
But Kraush knew better now.
You couldn’t judge people based solely on past memories.
‘Will you be the Aniks I remember, or…’
Someone slightly different?
Who knew?
The world had changed, and was diverging more from previous iterations.
Kraush glanced at Charlotte before looking at Aniks walking away.
He had no expectations.
Disappointments were greater with expectations.
Kraush still held no goodwill toward Aniks.
So whatever the outcome, he was ready to accept it calmly.
Even if it was unfavorable.
End of Chapter
