The Academy Regressor is Obsessed

“I heard about the magic eyes.”

Irina said. She exhaled cigarette smoke out the window, then took out a small case from her bosom and threw it at Asel. Asel’s head was hit directly by the incoming case and he fell backwards.

“Gack!”
“Die.”

Ena, who was sitting next to him, reacted immediately. She instantly summoned electricity in her hand and glared at Irina. Irina shook her head with an exasperated expression.

When will that overprotectiveness and obsession get better? They say late love is scary, and she’s acting like she’s going to give her liver and gall to a disciple she took in at an advanced age. It seemed to be getting worse with each passing day.

‘I will never be like that if I take a disciple.’

Irina inwardly made that resolution as she put her pipe on the table and approached Asel’s side. Even though Ena glared at her as if to kill her, Irina paid no attention and sat down next to Asel, who was rubbing his philtrum.

“Open it.”
“What is this?”
“You can’t open your eyes properly right now, right? That’s something to help with that.”

Asel let out a groan at Irina’s words and opened the case.

With a clicking sound, the inside of the opened case contained a pair of glasses of moderate size. Glasses with impressively thin lenses and frames. They had no vision correction function, but were the type of tool that blocked the flow of magical power on both sides based on the lenses.

“Wear those for the time being. Then you’ll be able to open both eyes without any problems.”
“Oh…”

It was as she said. As soon as Asel put on the glasses, he exclaimed in amazement at the much clearer vision than before. Judging by the lack of any separate magic formula engraved on the glasses, it seemed the material itself was chosen from minerals with high magical shielding properties.

Just as minerals with high magical conductivity are expensive, materials with high shielding properties also belong to the pricey category. These glasses would also be worth dozens of gold coins if priced.

Asel expressed sincere gratitude to Irina for gifting him such a precious item.

“Thank you. I’ll use them well.”
“Sure, sure.”

Irina replied like that, then stood up and wedged her pipe between her fingers. Then she looked down at Asel and asked in a serious voice:

“So. What exactly happened?”
“…”
“It hasn’t even been a few days since you entered the Academy. But why did you suddenly come back as a bloody mess? I don’t think Academy seniors could bully you. Considering the timing, I guess it’s this?”
“…How do you know the Academy schedule?”
“I briefly worked as a professor there before. Not anymore though.”

Anyway.

Irina said that as she tapped tobacco leaves into the end of her pipe.

“It’s the first assignment, right? What happened there?”

Before answering, Asel first checked Ena’s face. The spirit magician’s words calling her his sister were stuck in his mind. He wondered if speaking carelessly would only burden her further.

But Ena had a face that looked like she was itching to know right away. In the end, Asel hesitated for a moment, then spilled everything that had happened that day.

The two people who heard the story remained silent for a while. Neither of their expressions looked very good.

After quite some time, Irina let out a deep sigh and opened her mouth first.

“It’s probably the publicly known Virsia Claisen. Of course it’s an alias, and she even created an organization called Virsia using that name. It’s a garbage group that gathers all sorts of criminal magicians and lets them do whatever crazy things they want. It’s been on the continent’s subjugation list for a long time.”
“…”
“To think such a woman… I didn’t know she was hiding in the mountains researching synthesis formulas. Forcibly obtaining a second talent by grinding up lives? At least tens of thousands of lives would be needed for that.”
“…The numbers are quite accurate. I guess there have been such incidents before.”
“They were common.”

Irina continued speaking in a disgusted voice.

“Awakening talent in exchange for life. As soon as that fact became known, a bloody wind blew across the continent. It was commonplace for an entire country to be destroyed or disappear from the map almost every day.”

Right after the demon of possibility was born, there was no place on the continent that wasn’t stained red. Most of the dungeons and labyrinths that remain today were created to process the rituals from that time more efficiently. Or they were means to seal away transcendents who had abandoned human ethics.

Either way, countless sacrifices were needed to create them.

A present world more hellish than hell itself. Irina, who was born at that time, still remembered the mountains of corpses and seas of blood that could be seen wherever she went.

“Now such acts are strictly controlled so they don’t happen often, but it’s a different story in lawless zones. Virsia probably forced the ritual in a lawless zone too.”

Lawless zones refer to empty lands where no country has been established. Places that have become uninhabitable due to monsters running rampant and all sorts of natural disasters and beasts. Lands ruled not by laws written in books, but by the swords and spears in hand – the law of the jungle. That’s why criminals and demon worshippers often hide there.

What happens there is never known to the outside world. So no matter how many people living there die, or how they die, those living outside the lawless zones have no way of knowing.

The same goes for Virsia’s ritual.

“If spirit magic is combined with synthesis formulas… it must be quite tricky. I’ll have to report this separately to the federation.”
“…”
“And touching a witch council magician must be paid for.”

Irina muttered in a low voice as she put the pipe in her mouth.

“From today, I promise that Virsia Claisen will be officially designated not just by the federation but also by the witch council as a top priority ‘disposal’ target, and support for subjugation will be spared no expense, materially and otherwise. Is that alright? Ena?”

At Irina’s question, Ena immediately nodded her head.

“It was an ill-fated connection I should have dealt with in the first place. If I had killed her then, this wouldn’t have happened, but I let her slip away…”
“Don’t blame yourself. You know the situation back then, and I know it too. There wasn’t enough leeway to catch and kill Virsia as well.”
“…Still, I don’t like it. That a past ill-fated connection is affecting things even now.”
“Enough. Let’s stop the heavy talk here.”

Irina said that, then let out a puff of smoke and burst into laughter.

“More importantly, you’re really amazing too. Using a teleportation formula there? And a teleportation formula that uses a medium as the power source on the spot? There’s probably no one among those who’ve faced Virsia who escaped like that?”
“I’m a bit.”

Asel answered with a small laugh. Irina’s mouth corners twitched at that response.

“Oh my, look at this? He’s become arrogant in the short time I haven’t seen him? Ena, how are you educating your disciple?”
“Shut up. Don’t insult Asel.”
“No, it was a joke…”

Irina said that in an embarrassed voice, but Ena completely ignored her and sat down between Irina and Asel, leaning her back against his body. Then she forcibly pulled Asel’s hand and placed it on top of her head.

Asel quickly realized what she wanted and gently stroked her head.

“Harder.”
“Yes, yes.”

He stroked her hair a little more forcefully as Ena requested. Only then did she seem satisfied, purring like a cat as she enjoyed Asel’s touch.

Watching that scene, Irina said in an incredulous voice:

“What is this situation now? I was hoping against hope, but have you decided to continue a forbidden relationship without acting your age?”
“What are you saying?”
“Ena! Think of our age! Asel should go to a younger and firmer woman than you!”
“Shut up.”

Bzzzzt!!

Electricity rose from the tips of Ena’s fingers.

At the same time, the locked door clicked open, and beyond it, a purple cat leapt through and pounced on Asel’s face.

“Ack!”
“Kid! I heard you almost died!”

The cat said. Asel recognized the owner of that voice and mumbled.

“Lady Bell.”
“Who did it! Who bullied our kid! Those fucking sons of bitches not worth chewing. Just say the word! I’ll kill them all!”
“Before that, some air…”
“Nyaaaang!!!”

Bell roared. Asel spat out the fur entering his mouth and glanced at Ena for help. Ena chuckled and grabbed Bell by the scruff of her neck, pulling her off Asel’s face.

“Calm down, Bell. It’s good that you came to visit, but Asel is still a patient.”

The news that Asel was in critical condition had already spread to the witch council. Irina had urgently spread the word to prepare for any contingencies.

Fortunately, the situation she was worried about did not occur. Asel regained consciousness and there were no particular aftereffects. Still, there were some who wanted to visit him, so only they were specially informed of the location of the cathedral where Asel was staying.

Bell was one of them. Held in Ena’s hand, she drooped her body downwards.

“This feels like shit. I hate it most in the world when my people are touched.”
“Was I your person, Lady Bell?”
“Of course! We’re close, aren’t we!”
“This is the first I’m hearing of it. Were we that close?”
“This bastard?”

Bell wrinkled her brow and threw a punch towards Asel’s face.

“Nyang nyang punch!”

Asel burst into laughter as he was hit by her cotton-like fists.

“This feels so good.”

Elena muttered as she stood on the deck facing the sea breeze. One of the team members watching her from a distance said in a low voice.

“She’s cute.”
“Wake up from your dream. She’s not someone a rough sailor like you can dare aspire to.”

Ketlin, the alchemist, replied while rummaging through the organs of the sea monster.

The majestic sea spread out behind the principality. The sea monsters that live deep beneath it are quite good catalysts for alchemy. The giant shark with three heads that they hunted, led by Elena from the combat department and Davi the archer, is no exception.

Sea monsters basically contain a cool and clean energy unique to the sea in their hearts. If refined, it can be used to make all sorts of antidotes as well as potions that allow breathing underwater or withstanding water pressure.

That’s the kind of potion Ketlin was trying to make. A potion that completely eliminates resistance in water. As the ingredients are tricky, just making it would automatically give high scores.

Ketlin crawled out of the shark’s split belly and said:

“To date Elena, you’d have to get past the duke ruling the principality and all sorts of vampires’ defenses, but can you handle that?”
“…Why go that far? I just said she’s cute.”
“Lower your raised mouth corners first. Forget it and come carry the heart.”

She threw a dagger at Duke. Duke caught the dagger with a surprised face.

“You crazy bitch! Why throw something dangerous like this!”
“It’s not dangerous so just come. You’re just being carried along in this assignment anyway. If you don’t want to remain in Elena’s memory as a useless bug who couldn’t do anything, help with the butchering.”

Elena’s team was fairly balanced with two from non-combat departments and two from combat departments. But the non-combat members Ketlin and Duke were divided into alchemy and magical engineering departments respectively, so one of them had to be chosen. That’s why Ketlin’s alchemy department was selected. Duke from the magical engineering department hadn’t done anything for this assignment.

At most, he had only researched sea monsters until his head hurt. Even that was a drop in the bucket compared to Elena, who had a lot of experience sailing the seas. So his say was weaker than Ketlin’s.

“…Why should I, a nobleman, do such a thing.”
“Who’s a slave? Shut up and cut the blood vessels.”
“Since I can’t cut your blood vessels, I’ll obediently follow orders.”
“Damn it.”

Ketlin smacked Duke on the back. Duke screamed and ducked into the monster’s belly.

Though she said that, Ketlin quite liked Duke. Despite being a nobleman, he seemed uncomfortable with the atmosphere of being served, and occasionally even cracked jokes, making it hard to simply dislike him.

And if we’re talking about status, Elena, who had the highest status in the team, was similar to Duke.

A country girl-like personality who neither used her status to order others around, nor was authoritative or overbearing.

Elena was like a female protagonist straight out of a book appearing in reality. She couldn’t help but be likable regardless of gender.

“What are you doing?”
“Oh, Ketlin.”

Elena smiled brightly as she gazed at Ketlin who approached her side. Then she leaned on the railing and looked down at the vast sea.

“I was just sightseeing. It’s pretty, isn’t it? The sea.”
“I heard vampires die if they enter flowing water?”
“That’s a lie! We play in the water when it’s hot too! We eat garlic, aren’t affected by crosses, and the closer to pure blood we are, the less affected we are by sunlight! All false rumors!”

Who on earth spread such rumors? Elena added that and slumped her body over the railing. Ketlin burst into laughter as she gazed at the Academy grounds’ harbor that was starting to come into view in the distance.

“It’s over now, the team assignment. It was a pretty good team.”
“Yeah… I was worried because Asel seemed to really hate team assignments, but it was a better experience than expected.”
“You mean Asel, the top student in the magical engineering department? You must be quite close?”
“Yup! I’m closest with Ellen and Asel! We took the entrance exam together, and eat meals together too!”
“Is that so?”

Ketlin said with a giggle.

“Then which one do you like better?”
“Um… I like them both…”
“But if you had to choose just one person? If they both fell in water and you could only save one, who would you save?”
“I guess I’d save Ellen since she can’t swim? Asel would probably get out on his own by levitating.”

So the Hargelin young lady can’t swim. Ketlin burst into laughter imagining that cold-looking girl flailing about in the water.

“Then you like Ellen more?”
“That’s not it. I like them both!”

Elena said that and then bared her fangs to threaten Ketlin.

“More importantly, stop with these questions now! It’s not fun!”
“Alright. Then a different question. Do you have someone you like?”
“I don’t?”

Elena answered with a nonchalant expression. Ketlin realized her words weren’t a lie and nodded her head. She had been worrying about what to do if a bad man’s name popped out of her mouth. It seemed there was no need to worry after all.

“How about me?”

Duke shouted as he suddenly popped out of the ivory jaws. Elena immediately shook her head.

“I don’t like you! Dad said all men are wolves!”
“Asel is a man too!”
“Asel is a good wolf! A handsome wolf!”
“Damn this world. It’s about looks again.”

Duke grumbled like that and went back inside the monster.

Meanwhile, the ship kept moving forward. The water gradually became shallower, and now the harbor loomed larger than the sea.

Screech!!

Before long, the ship docked. Since it was a sailing ship operated by the principality, the sailors politely moved the monster to the harbor.

Afterwards, they removed only the parts that could be used as alchemy resources, like the monster’s heart, and sent it to the monster dismantling workshop. They received 1 gold coin in return. Elena and her team used the money they received to have a celebratory meal at a nearby restaurant before returning to the Academy.

But for some reason, the Academy seemed more chaotic than usual.

“Please check how many people have not yet returned. The team assignment needs to end now.”

“Saya and the other three survivors are currently being treated in the Academy medical department. We’ve been promised that people will be sent from the cathedral tomorrow.”

“Saya, Quill, and Warren – these three students are suffering as much mental stress as physical trauma. It seems they’re having a hard time emotionally since the student who saved them is missing. Not to mention Gorcel, whose entire team except himself died. He’s having periodic crying fits and seizures.”

Just from the faint conversations of professors running through the hallways, it was clear that something serious had happened. Just as Elena, who had just returned, tilted her head at the busy atmosphere, one of the magical engineering professors spotted her and quickly ran over.

“You’re Elena, right? Good to see you back safely. The other team members… they’re all safe too. That’s a relief.”
“Yes… But did something happen? Everyone seems really busy…”
“Ah… about that.”

Just as the professor was about to answer Elena’s question, a shout was heard from the end of the hallway.

“So you’re saying Asel is missing? After fighting an 8th circle spirit magician? How can you call that missing?! He’s dead! You’re just using the word ‘missing’ to sugarcoat it as much as possible!”

“…I understand the Academy thoroughly vetted the request. Despite that, the fact that this happened means it’s the Academy’s fault, doesn’t it? If you want to use the word ‘missing’ at the very least, shouldn’t you take responsibility and make efforts to find Asel? But why is everyone just running around here? Asel was someone I considered a close friend. If someone like that went missing due to the Academy’s mistake, and the Academy doesn’t even try to find him… the Hargelin family will be extremely disappointed in the Academy.”

They were the voices of Celine and Ellen respectively. Though their tones differed – Celine demanding answers in a raised voice and Ellen pressing in a suppressed voice – the anger contained within was the same for both of them.

But Elena’s ears did not register the content of what they were arguing about.

Only the cause of their argument penetrated her ears.

“…Asel is missing? Dead?”