I Broke Off My Engagement and Got a Job at the Academy

43 – 43. The Reason We Won’t Let Go

I soared through the sky, continually searching for the students’ whereabouts.

Damn it, the exam area is unnecessarily vast. It’s almost a miracle that Vanessa managed to run all the way to inform me.

I focused my mind and used detection magic. First, I needed to head towards where the students were densely gathered.

And so, I found a group of students.

I could see a few corpses around, but most of them seemed unharmed. I approached them and spoke.

“Are you okay? I came to help. Any injured here?”

In response, they said there were no injured.

“Suddenly, the barriers disappeared, and rampaging monsters started causing havoc. And there were those who claimed responsibility for it.”

Upon hearing those words, I was taken aback.

“What!? Then, where are they now? If we don’t catch them quickly, they might escape…”

In response to my words, the students said,

“…Jiselle Ircalli went after them alone.”

“…What?”

In the face of an unimaginable situation, I could only open my mouth in shock.

Was Jiselle Ircalli always so recklessly unaware of reality? …It didn’t seem like it.

I urgently grabbed the shoulder of a student who had just spoken and asked, “Which way is it?”

He pointed in a direction.

“There, that way.”

Upon hearing those words, I confirmed a few facts and teleported them in an instant.

“…What should I do about this?”

It felt like the situation was getting much bigger than I had anticipated. I bit my nails.

Some force had suddenly infiltrated and manipulated the entrance exam like this.

“…First, I have to catch those culprits.”

I took flight once again and used a detection spell.

The target was not just any examinee; it was a specific individual named Jezel Ircalira.

I began flying in the direction where Jezel Ircalira was.

“Darn it, faster!”

The flying spell was much slower than my anxious heart. Objectively speaking, it was fast, but my sense of urgency only intensified as time passed.

So, as soon as I arrived near where Jezel Ircalira was, I stopped flying. There was a concern about drawing attention.

I used a concealment spell and closed my eyes. Faint voices reached my ears.

Carefully, I moved in the direction of the voices.

And I tightly gripped the unfamiliar staff.

Finally, those responsible for Jezel Ircalira and this incident came into my view.

“Heuk… Heuk….”

Jezel, covered in shallow wounds, was bleeding and breathing heavily. In contrast, those facing her were several in number, with a relaxed smile on their faces.

“What should we do about this, miss?”

“Shut up….”

“Did you foolishly think you could face us alone? Miss, reality is different from your mansion. Even if you make a mistake, it won’t be forgiven so easily.”

Jezel was barely holding on, using the staff as support. It wasn’t on the verge of death, but she was close to her limits.

And showing one’s limits in front of enemies meant death. Jisel, aware of it, barely lifted her staff with trembling arms.

However… those who witnessed it ridiculed her.

“Hahaha! Look at this. A noble lady, trembling with her arms like that.”

“Shut up.”

“Even if you do that, reality won’t change. What can you do? You… in a deserted place, will die alone.”

“Aaaaah!”

Jisel squeezed her magic and shot flames. However, with skilled movements, the group of culprits easily blocked the magic.

“Is it over now? It seems like you have no more strength to use magic.”

Clearly, Jisel reached her limit. If I stay still here, I will undoubtedly die. I grasped the staff and tried to move to subdue them.

And in that moment… a voice came from within me.

‘…Should I just let her die?’

A cruel suggestion that was almost unbelievable as my own idea. But, it was undoubtedly me who had made it.

…Her father, Duke Ircalli, ruined my family. As a result, my father hung himself.

So, should I, too – inflict the sorrow of losing a daughter on Duke Ircalli?

A thought so brutal that it’s hard to believe it came from me. But it was undoubtedly me.

‘…Successor of a ruined duke?’

Her words to me came to mind. Who dared to speak such words on the topic of who caused my family, my life, to fall apart? Trash-like words.

I feel a heat rising in my head. The voice in my mind is growing louder, urging me to let Jisel die.

Really, should I just leave her alone? Is that the right thing to do? There’s no need to help. There’s no loyalty to be had, and I don’t even want to.

So… should I really let Jisel Ircalli die in front of me – just leave her alone?

“Really, it’s a funny thing.”

As one of the women who orchestrated this event spoke, my thoughts woke up.

“The successor of a duke, chasing us down because the sacrifice of students might be significant… how stupid. Thanks to your decision to play the hero, you’re going to die here.”

I was silently listening to that voice.

The individuals orchestrating this event approached Jezel Ikari, who had collapsed to the ground, even letting go of her staff.

If she remained like this, Jezel Ikari would die.

And I would capture the remaining ones, interrogate them about the reasons for this event, and report to the authorities, “Jezel Ikari died while attempting to confront the culprits alone.”

Finally, the blade of a sword was aimed at Jezel.

…What was I thinking?

Even if she is the enemy’s daughter, she’s just a sixteen-year-old girl. She knows nothing about what her father did, and she ended up fighting to protect others.

Can I keep my hands clean? That’s a laughable notion. It’s impossible.

Whether it’s direct or indirect, it doesn’t matter. The moment I let her die – I am killing her.

I can never forgive Duke Ikari, who made my father die.

But, because of that – because of that, becoming a monster is also out of the question.

Using teleportation, I blocked Jezel’s path.

“What!?”

A voice of surprise echoed. Jezel was already in a half-dazed state.

I closed her eyes for her.

“Take a moment to rest.”

Jezel closed her eyes, letting go of consciousness.

“Academy professor…!”

“Yeah. It’s me. I came because I heard there are big shots killing people in the Academy’s entrance exam.”

Then, the culprits nervously aimed their weapons at me. I chuckled at the sight.

“Do you think you can handle me?”

Even if I’m only half as capable, I’m still a high-level expert. In contrast –

“People who aren’t even experts are making a fuss.”

Just by dispersing my energy, the culprits widened their eyes and began to tremble.

“Just a few of you, whatever confidence you have to face someone in the Academy… Hah, it’s not even funny. You should at least multiply your numbers by ten for it to be worth considering.”

Of course –

“Well, it might be trash, but that’s how it is.”

With just a slight increase in pressure, a flicker of bloodlust appeared in their eyes. The culprits began to breathe heavily, as if struggling for air. It seemed like they were being suffocated.

“I know you…”

“What?”

I furrowed my brow. She was the woman who had spoken to me earlier, back in the alley.

“Fallen… heir to a ruined… lineage… abandoned even by your fiancé, heard that, huh… Keh…”

…As if I needed the reminder of what Jezel had said to me earlier. The memory left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Only a few of the students who tried to enter the academy were confirmed dead, and the entrance exam turned into a mess.

And the one who caused all of that – she uttered words I could never let slide.

“Fine. I’ve decided.”

“What…?”

It wouldn’t hurt if one of them died.

Bang!

Gunfire echoed. The woman who had been taunting with her tongue lost her life instantly as her head exploded.

The culprits froze at the sight.

…Ah, even though I had already killed one, my mood didn’t improve.

Perhaps it was inevitable. I wasn’t some noble warrior from the north, finding pleasure in taking someone’s life wouldn’t make me feel any better.

In short, my mood remained as filthy as it was. I coldly gazed at the blood seeping into the ground.

…Maybe it will be a bit different if I kill one more.

I opened my mouth and spoke.

“Next time, who’s going to die?”