Chapter 85 : Chapter 85

Chapter 85: The Madness of Icata (3)

Her name, darkening my mood, was Rachel.

Rachel burst into the lecture hall and plopped down beside Yuria.

She chattered nonstop.

Thanks to that, Yuria’s attention shifted from her staring match with Karina, but the room grew chaotic.

“What’s with her? They said the investigation team, but they’re letting just anyone in, huh. Tch.”

Karina clicked her tongue, echoing my sentiments.

Exactly.

What were the selection criteria for this team?

How did she even get in?

Yuria was a medal recipient and magic swordsman.

Karina, a mage with the power of Evil Eradication, had been called a prodigy since childhood.

But Rachel?

Just an ordinary swordsmanship cadet.

Sure, she was a ruthless assassin underneath, but I was the only one who knew that.

Is the team first-come, first-served?

My question was soon answered.

“So how’d you get in, Rachel?”

“Oh! Thanks to Professor Chaser! I asked him, and he let me in! Hehe.”

Damn that flirt.

Of course, he wasn’t sane either.

Thankfully, the next arrival was normal.

“Greetings, senior.”

“Oh, Gwyn?”

The next to enter, surprisingly, was Gwyn.

Gwyn Gaiard.

For some reason, I was thrilled, standing to shake his hand.

“It’s been ages, man. Where’ve you been?”

“I greeted you yesterday, sir.”

“Oh… right?”

Now that I thought about it, maybe so.

“Ahem.”

I sat back down, embarrassed.

“You on the team too?”

“Yes.”

Gwyn was a solid pick.

Not just for his skill, but for his special mission.

To revive the declining Gaiard Ducal Family and reclaim the glory of the Empire’s greatest sword.

Shining in this incident would bring him closer to that goal.

I later learned that after the Academy announced the investigation team to support Central Knights Headquarters, applications flooded in, overwhelming the Student Affairs Office.

Yuria was an outlier, but every Academy cadet had ambitions.

The desire to make their name known in the Empire was a default trait for these attention-seekers.

This incident was a chance to gain fame.

But…

Why did the Sewer District’s carnage from yesterday keep flashing in my mind?

“…Is my presence unwelcome, senior?”

Gwyn’s sudden question made me look at him.

He stood with an awkward smile.

Only then did I realize I’d been frowning at him.

“Huh? No, just had a bad thought.”

“If I’ve made a mistake…”

“It’s not that. Good to see you. Sit over there.”

“Yes.”

Gwyn, tilting his head, sat behind me.

“You on the team too?”

“Yes.”

Gwyn was a solid pick.

Not just for his skill, but for his special mission.

To revive the declining Gaiard Ducal Family and reclaim the glory of the Empire’s greatest sword.

Shining in this incident would bring him closer to that goal.

I later learned that after the Academy announced the investigation team to support Central Knights Headquarters, applications flooded in, overwhelming the Student Affairs Office.

Yuria was an outlier, but every Academy cadet had ambitions.

The desire to make their name known in the Empire was a default trait for these attention-seekers.

This incident was a chance to gain fame.

But…

Why did the Sewer District’s carnage from yesterday keep flashing in my mind?

“…Is my presence unwelcome, senior?”

Gwyn’s sudden question made me look at him.

He stood with an awkward smile.

Only then did I realize I’d been frowning at him.

“Huh? No, just had a bad thought.”

“If I’ve made a mistake…”

“It’s not that. Good to see you. Sit over there.”

“Yes.”

Gwyn, tilting his head, sat behind me.

“You on the team too?”

“Yes.”

Gwyn was a solid pick.

Not just for his skill, but for his special mission.

To revive the declining Gaiard Ducal Family and reclaim the glory of the Empire’s greatest sword.

Shining in this incident would bring him closer to that goal.

I later learned that after the Academy announced the investigation team to support Central Knights Headquarters, applications flooded in, overwhelming the Student Affairs Office.

Yuria was an outlier, but every Academy cadet had ambitions.

The desire to make their name known in the Empire was a default trait for these attention-seekers.

This incident was a chance to gain fame.

But…

Why did the Sewer District’s carnage from yesterday keep flashing in my mind?

“…Is my presence unwelcome, senior?”

Gwyn’s sudden question made me look at him.

He stood with an awkward smile.

Only then did I realize I’d been frowning at him.

“Huh? No, just had a bad thought.”

“If I’ve made a mistake…”

“It’s not that. Good to see you. Sit over there.”

“Yes.”

Gwyn, tilting his head, sat behind me.

Then Ivan entered.

“Hello.”

“Hey.”

I’d expected Ivan, so I greeted him casually.

In events like this, the indispensable one wasn’t Yuria, Karina, or Gwyn.

It was Ivan.

He harbored intense animosity and vengeance toward villains and beasts—evils that brought misfortune.

“Please take care of me, senior.”

Ivan bowed to me, then passed to approach Yuria.

Oddly, Rachel, sitting there, gave up her seat for him.

What’s that about?

It irked me, but since they acted like it was normal, I let it slide.

It’d be weird for me to comment when they were fine with it.

What would I even say?

“They’re putting on a show.”

I glanced at Karina.

“What? Why’re you looking at me?”

“Nothing. Your words just feel oddly refreshing today.”

“What’s that mean?”

“I’m saying you’re on fire today.”

“Then I should be praised daily? I’m always great.”

She never took compliments gracefully.

Soon after, the remaining members entered, assembling the full team.

Including me, twelve total.

Five first-years, six second-years.

The second-years, upon entering, took seats in a different section, ignoring us.

Instead, one, seemingly their leader, approached Karina.

“Hello, Lady Karina!”

Bain Winter.

Heir of the Winter Count Family, top of the 889th Class, Psychology Department.

A senior from the 889th Class, and top-ranked, greeting a first-year like Karina with honorifics drew all eyes.

But to those aware of their dynamic, it was expected.

A clear noble hierarchy existed between them.

The Winter Count Family, a powerful eastern border clan, produced many mages, second only to the Zain Ducal Family, making them beholden to the Zains.

Unless they ditch the mage robes.

It was common at the Academy.

Despite prioritizing learning equality over social rank, that only applied during the four years.

After graduation, they’d return to a rigid class system.

“You fully recovered!? I was there, you know how worried I was.”

Bain sat beside Karina, fawning excessively.

Karina stared, then asked, “Who are you?”

Bain’s face froze.

“…You don’t know me? Bain Winter, 889th Class top.”

Karina tapped her lips, then exclaimed, “Oh, right.”

She smiled thinly, clearly not apologetic.

“No worries, Lady Karina! I’m honored you remember.”

“You joined the team?”

“Yes. With you here, it’s perfect, right?”

“I see.”

Karina, bored, openly showed annoyance.

Bain, socially adept, caught on.

“Then, I’ll count on you later!”

Bain bowed and left for the second-years’ section.

As she walked—

“Hey, hold up.”

Karina stopped her.

“Yes? What?”

Bain looked back, hopeful.

“Why didn’t you greet him?”

Karina pointed at me.

Huh?

Caught off guard, I stared at her wide-eyed.

Is she nuts? What’s this about?

Karina kept going.

“Isn’t he your senior?”

“Oh…”

“Why greet only me and not him? Ignoring your seniors?”

Note: Karina was the one ignoring her seniors here.

Anyway,Bain’s brow furrowed, clearly reluctant to acknowledge me.

But it was Karina’s call.

She finally greeted me.

“Take care.”

“…?”

“Done, Lady Karina!”

“Good.”

Karina nodded, satisfied.

I was speechless.

If you’re gonna make her do it like that, don’t bother.

I was a fool for expecting better.

What a mess of a team.

Thus, our chaotic team set off from the Academy after some hiccups.

* * *

“Your mission is simple. First, clear any lingering dark magic in affected areas. Second, patrol assigned zones and respond proactively to crises.”

“…”

“Sounds grand, but it’s not hard. Nor dangerous. We don’t expect much from greenhorns like you. Just report well. That’s enough.”

I nodded at the knight’s words.

From his cocky tone to his condescending gaze, he was overbearing, but his words were spot-on.

They don’t expect much. We’re Academy cadets.

We were just the support.

Eliminating the necromancer and subduing zombies was for the Central Knights, Special Magic Corps, and Capital Defense Force.

“Take these. Communication rings. Distribute them to your team, don’t lose them, use them well, and return them.”

“Yes.”

“One last thing: don’t get greedy. I went to the Academy; I know you want to stand out. But greed brings trouble. This is sincere advice from experience, so listen.”

“…”

“It starts with reporting, ends with reporting. Remember that.”

I left his office.

Looks tough but talks a lot.

That meant he was worried, but if so, why request Academy support?

Anyway.

Though I’d taken the team on professors’ recommendation, my goal was clear.

Find Clatter and erase Zad from the world.

I headed straight to the hotel.

Leaving the Academy, we’d chosen the nearest hotel as our base, renting an entire floor.

All expenses came from Central Knights Headquarters.

Knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

“Me.”

The door opened, revealing Karina’s face, flushed red.

Her damp hair glistened.

Was that… steam coming from the gap?

“You took a bath?”

“Yes. Why, can’t I?”

Her brazen reply made me sigh.

“We’re not here to play…”

Ugh, whatever.

Explaining was too tiring.

I got to the point.

“Tell everyone to gather in my room.”

“What? Why me? You do it.”

“I’ll tell the first-years. You handle the second-years.”

Karina narrowed her eyes on me.

“Heh. Because of Bain?”

“Yeah.”

I answered honestly.

“She won’t listen to me, but she will to you. So get them.”

Bain Winter was the de facto second-year leader.

Our team was split into two cliques: first-years following me, second-years following Bain.

It wasn’t some ancient army, but that’s the absurd state we were in.

“No way.”

Karina refused, smirking like a kid with a new toy.

“Don’t mess around. I could do it, but if they don’t listen, I might actually kill them.”

“Hm. Internal conflict before we start would be bad.”

“Right?”

“Yes, but granting your request is tricky. My hair’s still wet, see?”

Karina twirled her damp hair.

“Please, Karina.”

“Huh?”

“Please, Karina. Those two words might make me consider it.”

My fist trembled.

“Pfft! Kidding. I’ll gather them.”

Tears in her eyes from laughing, Karina met my deadpan stare.

Is her curse messing with her head?

I knew she wasn’t sane, but her condition seemed worse than before.

Tip: Tap/click the left or right side of the screen to go to previous/next chapter.