I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

47

Meanwhile.

The atmosphere at the sports championship was utterly grim.

“Ugh, Mom….”

“We can’t win this….”

Tears streaming down, the White Team lay defeated on the ground.

And the contrast between the cheering Blue Team behind them and the White Team, who raised no arms, seemed like watching light and shadow.

There was no wavering in the balance.

Even in the recent match, under the overwhelming momentum and advance of the Blue Team, the White Team did not crumble without even resisting.

Moreover.

– This is not my victory, it’s our victory, the Blue Team’s victory.

A voice from the front booth of the Blue Team.

The nameless girl from the White Team reached out her arm, forced her head up, unable to hear.

There, at the forefront of the enemy lines.

Beautiful silver hair fluttering in the wind, a sword at her waist.

A gym uniform draped over her shoulders.

A demeanor so dignified, reminiscent of a veteran overlooking the battlefield.

The woman, almost sacred, unmistakably the representative of the Blue Team and the ‘Knight of Light,’ Lumen Reevens.

“We can never win….”

The Knight of Light, Lumen Reevens.

Undoubtedly, at this moment, she received much more attention as a distinguished guest of this sports championship than the ‘Prince of the Empire,’ Lutellus.

It was natural.

That Prince Lutellus, with a disdainful expression on stage, barely spared them a glance, dismissing them as mere incompetence.

The nameless girl from the White Team was utterly disheartened.

This way, they would forever be remembered in Salenium’s history as a disgrace.

That was her thought.

“Oh, really? You found a way to expose it?”

“Yes, it was an incredibly simple method.”

“Ahahahaha… Actually, I noticed it too.”

“It was quite obvious, wasn’t it, Nero?”

[Meow.]

The female student from the White Team observed.

Passing by her fallen self with her face buried in her hands, four people walked towards the bright light.

The female student from the White Team stared at them absentmindedly.

“Oh my, do you have some complaints, Evnis?”

“I’d rather see that damn human flustered once than receive any praise. Heh, there’s no other meaning to it.”

“Oh my, such an honest child. Isn’t praise more gratifying than that?”

“Ahahahaha… well, for now, since they said they’re watching over me.”

“Yes, we must repay them too!”

The unknown female student felt it.

As they walked in their gym clothes fluttering, they had a shining goal.

No, their steps weren’t towards a simple goal.

Their determination to keep going without breaking or yielding, despite numerous trials, was there.

And that determination of theirs…

“Can I… do it too?”

“Yes, give it another try.”

“I… I must take down the Blue Team’s goal.”

Injecting desire into the listless chest of the White Team, which had given up on everything, they began to rise one by one behind the four people leading the way.

Those who had fainted.

Those who had rolled on the ground, dirtying themselves with dirt.

Those who had been broken by repeated defeats.

Now, they were all moving with a united desire.

Undoubtedly a miracle.

The confident steps of these individuals, right now, were bringing a ray of miracle to the place deeply shrouded in despair.

“Now! Let’s begin the last match of the first day, the Color Panel Flip!”

The Salenium Sports Festival.

The White Team and the Blue Team, where youth and desire clashed on the battlefield.

The last match of Part 2 on the first day.

Event name: Color Panel Flip.

Just as it was about to start eagerly…

“What? What’s this? Someone has suddenly intruded!”

“Oh my.”

In the center of the field.

Someone had climbed onto the field.

Black hair.

A white ribbon tied on the head.

A large greatsword hanging on the back.

“Erhan’s junior?”

Reyna asked with a puzzled voice.

Although not participating in this event, she had seen him participating in the morning event.

“What! Move!”

“He’s just getting started!”

A roar.

However, the boy remained motionless.

“Junior, what are you doing now? Adrian cherishes you as a junior, but if you don’t move… I have no choice but to blow you away.”

“This is serious.”

In silence, the boy spoke heavily.

He said.

“Adrian senior has been kidnapped.”

At his words.

Silence.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Squelch.

And precisely, the four heads that were there turned towards Erhan.

Seeing that eerie sight, Erhan swallowed the rising fear.

“I didn’t want to disturb the match. But, Adrian senior… right in front of my eyes…”

“Speak.”

Erhan widened his eyes,

The only thing felt on that calm face was vitality.

Then, the rain of jet-black petals that rose behind her seemed to engulf her as if it would swallow her up.

“Hurry.”

Gulp.

Erhan felt a fear as if he would be crushed to death in no time.

***

“…Who are you exactly?”

“….”

Silence.

I locked eyes with Pavel.

The smile that covered his face shattered and fell, my hand on his shoulder, and the hand holding the dagger against his neck.

Even a slight movement, and my dagger would plunge straight into his throat.

“Ahahahaha… Ahahahaha!”

Facing death right in front of him, the witch’s puppet laughed like a lunatic.

“It was a slip of the tongue. Yes, if you are not you, then who are you?”

The puppet Pavel still looked into my eyes and said.

“Do you know? After you, the ‘tyrant,’ disappeared and vanished from the ‘darkness,’ I, who served you, took on the alias ‘puppeteer’ and became a new officer.”

“….”

Back then, pretending not to care, but now showing interest? Coming back to fully integrate and dominate the “darkness”?

“I have no intention of doing that.”

I tightened my grip on the hilt, slightly pricking the neck to make the blood flow.

“…Then why? With that power, do you plan on doing nothing?”

Infer from this guy’s words.

Perhaps, the Adrian from before the “possession” lived not only as a student at the academy but also as a senior officer in the “darkness.”

Whether he lacked talent or simply wasn’t interested in school, I don’t know.

He didn’t learn magic, didn’t attend school properly, didn’t exercise, didn’t do anything.

Well, starting from trash innate abilities, he might have already been despairing that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t even catch up to others.

His enrollment was already decided. Even if he had no talent, it seemed he could somehow enroll due to his family background.

Of course, this is all information not found in the guidebook.

It’s merely my speculation.

In the original work, Adrian is barely mentioned, getting expelled in the opening scene, walking away alone, then getting stabbed by a sword and exiting pitifully.

However, everything changed when I possessed him.

His trash-like abilities became mine, and all the information and experiences I accumulated over 10,000 hours became my unique weapon usable only by me.

That’s why.

The “original” Adrian no longer exists in this world.

No, now “I” am Adrian.

As such, I have no intention of associating with these guys, not just the senior officer.

“It seems you have no intention of answering. Then, let’s hurry and kill you.”

Pavela grabbed my wrist, brought the dagger’s blade to my neck.

“I am of no use anymore. The operation failed, and by losing to the ‘senior officer,’ I will likely be driven out of the ‘darkness’ as well. I will die by your hand now. Ah… I just wanted to see people’s minds crumbling a bit more.”

Saying so, the guy closed his eyes.

Kill you?

Why?

“Why not kill me?”

“Why do you think I would kill you?”

“Huh, are you planning to take me away like in the ‘senior officer’ days? No way, did you forget that I can attack you again?”

“If you can, try.”

Pavela stared at me quietly, then shook her head.

“No, you can ‘read’ me as mysteriously as you do. The moment you throw your scythe at me, my head will probably hit the ground first.”

The reason I keep this guy alive is that he is part of my “plan,” and he is too precious to just kill.

Since the “darkness” is truly deep, there are not only guys who had minor escapades during school days but also villains who have committed real crimes and can’t turn back.

Moreover, knowing that once caught, these guys will be immediately expelled, exiled, or executed by the empire, they do not willingly come out of the deeper darkness.

“Help me, Pavela.”

That’s why I need this guy.

Through Pavela, I find and capture the villains who have hidden themselves so deeply that they can’t be found.

And I catch them all.

As a person already belonging to the “darkness,” it’s about finding all the villains hiding in the darkness.

There are those who have been hiding for decades without being caught.

In order to create the ‘decisive justification for Princess Lizelirias’ participation in the royal race, this fellow’s role is more crucial than anything else.

Of course, I am well aware.

This scoundrel is unforgivable.

A psycho who manipulates others’ minds at will and finds joy in controlling them.

However, it is still premature.

I am not a disciple of naive justice.

The idea of completely swallowing ‘darkness’.

There is nothing wrong with it, but I have no intention of doing as you think.

“From now on, you will be my informant on ‘darkness’ and a spy working for me.”

“…Um, so what benefit do I get from this?”

“Isn’t it a luxury for a defeated person like you to expect benefits from me?”

“… “

As I said that.

The fellow reluctantly nodded.

But.

If nothing is guaranteed, he will not listen to me.

That’s how the ‘darkness’ folks are originally.

“But I guarantee one thing.”

“What is it?”

“To the individuals of ‘darkness’, even those who commit heinous acts approaching execution under imperial law, I will allow you to shatter their minds.”

“…What if I refuse?”

“Then you might as well die right here. But I know. Pavella, you cannot die here right now. Because….”

With a hint of threat, I lean in close to his ear and whisper.

I reach out and tuck his long black hair behind his ear.

“You still haven’t achieved your revenge, have you? The heir of the Amethyst Ring and one of the top executives of ‘darkness,’ ‘Sage of the Half-Demon.’ Martin Jibelek. The girl who lost her parents to his ‘misdeeds’ and ended up alone here, ‘Parvel.’ No… Pavella. Because there is still someone you must destroy within ‘darkness.'”

“…H-How do you even know that.”

Indeed.

How did I find out.

I gaze at the hardened face of the fellow.

“If you follow me, promise as your ‘master,’ I also have a duty to assist in your revenge. However, I will not interfere deeply. Jibelek’s life and mind are for you to take. That much is guaranteed.”

Without pause, I meet the trembling eyes of the fellow.

Eventually.

“I will obey. Your commands, my master.”

Pavella kneels down and swears allegiance to me.

The contract has been sealed.

“But please keep the agreement regarding revenge.”

“The same goes for you; if you violate any of my orders, leave the consequences to your imagination.”

“Understood.”

[Congratulations!]

[You have successfully cleared the boss of Act 2, Pavella of the Puppet Theater, solely in ‘Adrian’s way’!]

[Settling rewards adjusted from the original rewards!]

Clear Act 2 in Adrian’s way.

“Well, hand it over.”

“What, what are you saying? Are you asking me to give up my, my life?”

What nonsense.

I removed the black badge attached to his clothes and put it in my pocket.

“That is…”

“An officer pass to enter the ‘Black Auction Underground Auction House.’ I’ll take this back. No objections, right? It was mine from the beginning anyway.”

“Oh, yes…”

Although he seemed to have objections, he simply bowed his head without saying a word.

“Then I’ll give you the first mission. Destroy the minds of ‘Philip’ and ‘Henderson,’ and send them through ‘The Shadow of Maan’ to the Third Arena tomorrow at 6 p.m. Got it. Don’t be late.”

“P-Philip and Henderson…”

“They are the ones who committed heinous crimes by killing three Selenium classmates in a row 16 years ago and abandoning their bodies. It’s fine to mess with their minds a bit.”

“Oh, I understand.”

Good.

Well, this is all over here now.

That moment arrived.

“…But, sir, don’t you hear any sounds?”

“What sounds are you talking about?”

Suddenly.

“Adriaaan!”

Kwaaang!

“Huhhh?!”

Next to me, Reyna flew in, breaking through the cabin and kicking Pavella’s waist, sending him flying into the wall.

A tremendous noise.

Reyna, who kicked Pavella away, lightly spun around, brushed off her skirt, then grabbed my shoulders tightly.

“Are you okay? Adrian? Are you hurt? I came to save you!”

It hurts.

Ouch, my shoulder hurts.

Don’t grab me so hard.

Following that, a rush of footsteps.

The familiar faces running after her.

“Pfft, being kidnapped like this is pathetic. It’s embarrassing to share the same bloodline.”

“Adrian, are you alright?”

“Se…Senpaiiiiiii….”

Hmm.

Uh…

I surveyed the crowd swirling around me for a moment before freezing.

Behind me, a familiar figure carrying a greatsword on their back was rushing towards me.

The person, who was alone and had a pale face, turned red as soon as they saw me, waving their hands vigorously.

“Oh! You’re safe! I, really! I’m so relieved! I thought you were dead! I’m relieved. Senior!”

Wait.

Why is Erhan here?

As I glanced to the side, I didn’t see Pavella, who had flown away through the wall.

She must have escaped skillfully.

“Erhan came to save Adrian, who was kidnapped!”

Really?

No, did you see him getting kidnapped?

No, were you even at that place?

“Adrian? Is he really okay?”

“He’s fine. Just fine… “

At that moment.

Perhaps from exhaustion, my legs gave out unknowingly.

Suddenly, except for one person, four people came forward and supported me.

“Hmph, it looks like you’re pushing yourself too hard, so don’t put on airs. I won’t support you. Walk on your own.”

…And why on earth did Evnis come?

“Sir, come this way. I’ll support you.”

“Adrian, lean on my side.”

“Adrian? You can lean on me at any time?”

“Well, sir! I’m confident in supporting you too! I’ve supported many men who were attacked by boars in Mershu Village… um.”

As Erhan was saying this, he glanced at the others, then immediately covered his mouth and quietly distanced himself.

Why is he acting like that?

Well, leaving that aside.

“…hahahaha.”

A laugh escaped involuntarily.

This is something.

What’s with the darkness and the tyrant, the unity of darkness?

The real ‘me’ is right here.