I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

15

Ouch, it hurts. Really, really hurts.

Not a lie, it hurts so badly that tears that weren’t there before are about to fall.

Is life really this painful…?

“…Ugh, is this the result of acting out of character?”

“Oh my, isn’t stepping in during a crisis also a virtue a noble should possess?”

Huh?

Who’s there?

When I turned my gaze from the checkered white ceiling, the first thing I saw was a large book.

…A book?

And when it was suddenly folded in half, a girl appeared and smiled at me.

“…Raina?”

“Yes, I’m Raina.”

The moment I saw her, it felt like I was struck by lightning and my head went blank.

Why is she here?

But soon, I understood.

Originally, Raina had zero significance in Act 1, Scene 1.

No game would introduce a heroine from Act 1… No, in the original work, events unfold while she’s in the autonomous study room.

So, originally, Raina wouldn’t be here.

Act 1, Scene 1 got so twisted… Raina got entangled in an event that had nothing to do with her, which seems to be the more fitting story.

“I was asleep for half a day. Oh, and it’s morning now.”

“Morning? Then…”

“hahahaha, if you’re worried about me, I’m fine. I’m quite used to staying up all night. It’s the power of being a top student in the Department of Magic.”

Looking at Raina smiling faintly with signs of exhaustion, I couldn’t help but feel sorry.

My robe and uniform were completely covered in dust.

“Besides, taking care of the collapsed fiancé is his responsibility.”

Saying so, Raina placed the book on the shelf and helped me get up.

Perhaps it was from squeezing out every last bit of mana, but a sharp pain resonated throughout my body.

“Raina, I’m sorry, but about the incident…”

“Everything’s settled. But before I tell you, let’s make one promise, Adrian.”

“…”.

Reyna placed her hand on her chest, took a deep breath, and looked at me with a serious gaze.

“If something like this happens again in the future, please tell me first. Do you know how shocked I was when I heard that you were fighting against a demon with Milije? Despite your fragile health from before… If it weren’t for the absence of the Snow White family’s heir, you would have surely been in big trouble. Am I wrong?”

Seeing Reyna’s serious expression as she spoke, I could only nod in response.

Furthermore, some of what she said was true.

Without Kalen, it would have been impossible for me alone to stop the lycanthrope.

No, I could have stopped it, but my stamina would have given out before that.

“Please don’t go to dangerous places without telling me. I beg you. No, promise me.”

“…I will do as you ask.”

After intertwining our fingers, Reyna smiled brightly once again.

“Well, then I will tell you what Adrian is curious about.”

Reyna briefly explained what happened after I fainted.

Milije arrived at the Lubrium Hall to report the incident, and Reyna led fifteen students to easily subdue the demon that had reached its limits.

And just in time, the first-year students who had fled returned, and with the appearance of the professors, they completed all the necessary tasks.

“Adrian, about the professors…”

“…I know. Article 4 of the first clause of the Selenium Code. No one, not even the headmaster or professors, can interfere in ‘Selenium’s affairs’ except for the students.”

“…”

This is an absolute rule directly established by the founder of Selenium, the first emperor.

The ‘adults,’ including the professors, cannot interfere in any events or accidents that occur at the academy.

Everything that happens in Selenium must be overcome by the students themselves.

It’s an incredibly irrational rule… but that’s how it is.

“Yes, and about Erann…”

Even amidst that, I heard that Erann personally ended the life of the demon, as I had mentioned.

“…The seven-colored magic?”

“Yes, for a moment, his hair turned snowy white, and seven colors flickered from his sword. It’s unbelievable… But can that boy Erann really handle all seven elements? Did Adrian know about this?”

“Well, I have no way of knowing.”

“Well… There are many exceptional people in this world.”

Although I feel a bit sorry for Reyna, I know.

Using the magic of the seven elements is a unique skill that the original protagonist Erann uses.

The Hero’s Sword.

Literally, it’s the hero’s sword because it belongs to that ‘hero.’

To use this special skill, one must have the determination to defeat the target in front of them, and there is a scene where the protagonist’s hair turns snowy white upon use.

“It seems things have gone smoothly for now.”

Originally, as the events unfolded, he unknowingly came to realize the existence of the Hero’s Sword he had been using, but for now, things seemed to have gone smoothly.

“Reyna.”

“Yes, Adrian.”

“Have you put your life in debt to me?”

“It’s not a debt. It was just something natural. If it were the other way around, Adrian would have saved me, wouldn’t he?”

“That’s true, but…”

“So, there’s no need to be so grateful. It would be awkward if you were more grateful. Are we just strangers?”

Reyna chuckled and got up from her seat.

“I have a lecture this morning, so I’ll get up first. Rest well, Adrian.”

Watching Reyna leave gracefully and thinking while lying in the hospital bed.

‘Everything’s messed up.’

According to the plot, Erhan was supposed to awaken the Hero Sword and almost die fighting demons, then Ruben Reibns would appear like a comet, defeat the demons, and have a conversation with Erhan about possessing mystical powers.

However.

Reyna brought students and Erhan, and together they completely exterminated the demons.

The reason this was possible was probably because Kalen and I had teamed up to kill more than half of Lycanslope, making it possible.

Currently, the only thing Erhan had in common with the plot was being at the center of the incident.

Still, it was over.

Although a lot had changed, Erhan, the protagonist, had indeed defeated Lycanslope, the mid-boss and tutorial boss of Act 1.

It seemed like he had a good grasp of the Hero Sword as well.

Chapter 2 of Act 1 involves Erhan feeling doubts about the incident, collecting evidence alone, and identifying the culprit.

I won’t have a chance to intervene there.

…So, all that’s left is the boss of Act 1, Chapter 3, Melud Elion, the final boss of Act 1.

Especially Melud’s boss battle can’t be resolved by Erhan alone.

If Lumen Ribens isn’t brought along, it’s a confirmed game over.

Only with her abilities can it be cleared.

‘Erhan and Lumen’s flag are ruined, so I’ll lay low for now.’

To allow Erhan to follow the original work and also preemptively capture Lumen as my future ally, even if not right now.

And I, too, need to become much stronger than I am now.

I felt a lot of inadequacy facing Lycanslope.

Of course, it’s not a lack of skill but a lack of specs.

One Wind Blade has its limits.

“…First, I need to learn one more low-level magic spell before the boss battle of Act 1.”

A magic spell that complements my frequently used Wind Blade well.

A low-level fire elemental magic, Fireball.

Common but very important skill.

I already know where to get it from.

‘Let’s tackle this first.’

As I clicked while pondering, several messages quickly popped up in my view.

[Congratulations! You have made a significant contribution to the subjugation of the demon ‘Lycanslope’!]

“Your courage in risking your life in battle to save your comrades is remarkable!”

“Thanks to your vigilance, the ‘Demon Summoning Commotion’ of Act 1, Chapter 1 ended without a single casualty!”

“We are calculating rewards based on your performance!”

“Rewards will be distributed!”

That’s right.

Just as there’s a hard time, there should be a reward time.

What appeared before my eyes was quite an intriguing fellow.

[Stat Increase Random Box x1]

…A random box?

At the same time, something dropped from the air into my arms with a thud.

A yellow cube engraved with a question mark, reminiscent of a classic game where a red-overalled plumber jumps around with his head, as if from an old video game.

Let’s see…

〈Stat Increase Random Box〉

An item given as a main story completion reward.

It randomly raises one of the five stats.

The raised stat is randomly determined between 1 and 5.

Emotional response: This item cannot be appraised.

“Oh.”

To randomly select and increase one stat.

Truly, isn’t this the most needed item right now?

As I looked in the mirror, I continued to see system messages that I hadn’t fully checked.

[Due to exceeding magical power usage, Magic Stat increases by 1!]

[Completed Main Story 1 Act 1! Progress of ‘Adrian’s Ending’ increases by 1 percent.]

[Skill proficiency of 【Attribute Sword: True】 slightly increases.]

Progress increased due to Main Story completion.

And an increase in skill proficiency and stats.

Looking at the rewards listed, I realized I pretty much had everything I needed at the moment.

Firstly, the good news of Magic reaching 5.

Without delay, I clicked on the Stat Increase Random Box.

[Magic increases by 3!]

“Hmm.”

Magic rose again to reach 8.

This means, I have met the minimum Magic Stat required to cast higher-level magic.

‘In that case…’

Now, it’s time to really start moving.

While the original plot unfolds, my ultimate goal remains becoming the author’s successor to Repelheight.

If not, I die.

* * *

Having finished all my classes, I headed straight to the public library in Central District.

Central District is a public area where all Selenium students can access.

The library was accordingly vast.

Books were densely packed on large shelves, arranged in a circular fashion, categorized in the distance.

The ceiling was rounded, covered with transparent glass, and looking up revealed flowing clouds.

Alongside study rooms, there were individual chairs placed throughout for reading.

“Surely here…”

I turned left in the library’s corner and made my way down the aisle.

“Hmm, he must be around here somewhere.”

Soon enough, I spotted a transparent male student sobbing at a bookshelf.

─Ugh, agh…

“Greetings.”

─Huh… What?

A transparent student who was sobbing looks up and sees me.

I, too, gaze back at the lad.

─Oh, can you see me?

“You look fine. Why are you crying? Do you need help?”

During early evening hours, a ghostly figure who appears with a certain probability if you stand between the bookshelves in the left corner of the library, weeping.

Talking to this lad triggers a quest where you have to find and bring back the ‘diary’ they wrote while alive, and upon completion, you receive a magical book allowing you to acquire a skill.

─Could you possibly help me?

As I nodded, a window appeared before my eyes.

＜Let’s Resolve the Grievance of the Library Ghost＞

This ghost, once a librarian in Salenium, roams here unable to find peace.

To lay this ghost to rest, you must retrieve the ‘Ghost’s Diary’ they wrote.

-Acquire the ‘Ghost’s Diary’ item and return it to the ghost.

-You can only encounter the ghost in the library after 18:00.

Reward: Obtain 1 spellbook for the low-tier fire elemental magic ‘Fireball.’

Though a low-tier fire elemental magic, ‘Fireball’ is a skill whose power varies depending on how it’s executed.

Considering the upcoming Melwood boss battle, this is a magic you must acquire now.

─Then I’ll ask for your help…

As if the time had run out, the ghost dissipated like smoke, and I immediately left the central district’s library, heading for the grassy field behind the residential area.

The diary must be somewhere around here.

After a brief search around, a window popped up before me.

[You sense lingering traces of the ghost nearby! The ‘diary’ is in the vicinity!]

Not far from a tree’s base, I picked up the old diary leaning against it, dusted it off, and completed the quest.

[You have completed ＜Let’s Resolve the Griany’s Grievance at the Library.＞]

[Speaking to the ghost will allow you to receive your reward.]

“Done.”

In Salenium, where scams are strictly forbidden, this was an oddly scam-like quest.

Just as I was about to return with the diary…

“…Senior Adrian?”

At the sound of a quite familiar voice, I turned around and froze for a moment.

“…You.”

A known character stood before me.

Moreover, fully loaded with a bag bursting with belongings, looking completely ready to leave this place.

Not even wearing the school uniform.

“…Milije?”

The female student who had rushed to the Rubrium Hall upon my request.

The girl who got caught up in a summoning magic incident was there.