The Academy’s Crude Pink-Haired Martial Artist

Uje had completely skipped coming to the academy.

They say he went north on imperial orders, but who knows.

Well, the reason for his absence isn’t important anymore. Things have gone the way I wanted, and I’ve built a good relationship with the princess sisters. That’s all that matters.

So, with only a week left before the final exams…

I had a very busy time during this period.

It was much safer and less exhausting than the time I spent in the Demon Realm in my past life, but I can still say I was quite busy.

When I wake up in the morning, Stella brings me a packed lunch.

After eating it, I wash up a little and head to the academy. During the breaks and lunchtime after each class, I cram the theory Arisa left into my head, and after regular classes, I help Yurasia with her sword exercises until 10 PM.

From 10 PM to 5 AM, I enter the Dragon’s Spirit Vein with the relaxed Leona thanks to the Flame Sovereign.

When I come back to my room afterward, the bathtub is filled with water as I had asked Yurasia to do. I casually wash off my body, still covered in scabs, and end up sleeping in a bed that smells oddly like Yurasia.

After about three hours of sleep, I eat Stella’s packed lunch again and head back to the academy. During breaks, I learn more theories, help Yurasia with her sword in the afternoon, and hit the Spirit Vein at night.

I don’t go to the academy on weekends, so I sleep in for an extra hour and help Yurasia with her sword until dinner. After eating dinner, I stay in the Spirit Vein until Monday.

I repeat this, repeat, repeat.

Fortunately, I haven’t collapsed or become semi-disabled.

This small body was strong from the start, and with the nutritional supplements Leona hands me and the potions I take diligently, I feel great. Almost every day, Yurasia gives me massages, and Stella casts recovery magic that makes me feel rejuvenated.

And Pina and Flora’s soft fur has been a big help.

Of course, even without those things, I could endure it. Every time I wake up and introspect, I see I’m stronger than I was yesterday—how could I not endure it?

Once I reach a certain level, the training in that Spirit Vein won’t yield results, but right now, I’m so extraordinary that tears of joy might fall.

So, I don’t collapse. I don’t even think about it, pushing myself so hard that my menstrual cycle goes irregular from fatigue.

I regret that I have to waste almost two days because of the once-a-month backlash from Purgatory, but I think that if it weren’t for Purgatory, I wouldn’t be where I am now, so I don’t overdo it.

The place I need to reach first…

In my past life, the peak of Ronan Luzarack.

It’s not a level I can reach in a short time, but I didn’t rush my mind. I also didn’t insist on growing alone. Yurasia, Stella, Pina.

There’s no way to be together in the Demon Realm, nor will I bother them with my stubbornness and idealism from my past life. But wasting talents like them seemed a shame to me.

Yurasia. At this moment, she is the only one I can trust and rely on. Beyond human relationships, I have faith that if I sprint ahead, she will follow so as not to fall behind.

And soon, there seems to be a sign that the Merchant Association will open.

A genius? No, it’s a talent that surpasses genius.

I have the memories and experiences of my past life, and even I am surprised by my talent, yet Yurasia has no memories or experiences from her past life but is just as good as me.

Of course, it’s natural for her to grow quickly since I’m her master. But… oh, it’s way too fast.

I understood why Leona hated the idea of someone surpassing others when I looked at Yurasia.

Stella. She’s growing quickly. She has no restrictions on the attributes she handles, and the range of magic she shows talent in is unbelievably wide. If things go smoothly, I think she’ll reach a level that would catch my eye by the time she graduates from the academy.

And recently, it was revealed she is the Disciple of Flame Sovereign, the sixth pillar. There’s no way that isn’t true since the Flame Sovereign himself said, “Stella Behrhaigen is my immediate disciple.”

Naturally, the world went into chaos.

Along with that, the owners of the Magic Tower floating in the sky also began to show interest in Stella.

Thanks to that, Stella has been full of herself lately. I wonder if that’s why she’s gained a bit of weight.

She used to be too skinny and looked unhealthy, but now, a bit of extra weight actually makes her look better.

Of course, I wouldn’t say that. If anything, I teased her about it.

The response I got was, as always, the best.

Pina. I still don’t know her true power, but the spirit realm she bears within will bring tremendous help.

Lately, Flora’s healing has accelerated quite a bit.

It’s clear that the effects of the potions I had her take before are gradually appearing.

And her personality has become more cheerful than before.

These days, she comes running to me, asking to tell stories from 400 years ago, filled with brightness.

Now that she’s so cheerful, it’s even more fun to mess with her.

Stella is my second punching bag after her.

And Ophelia, who I constantly need to keep an eye on, is still the same. The ominous energy from the suspicious magical stone embedded in her chest, her investigations of the Holy Kingdom’s movement while evading the cartel’s eyes, and her occasional insults thrown at me are all unchanged.

According to Flora, it’ll take about another year for her situation to resolve, but I haven’t loosened my guard.

In my past life, I once got caught up in such high-probability speculations and got a violent smack to the back of my head. I’m not an idiot; once is enough for that nonsense.

And I…

I’m still stuck at the 5th rank. There have been many opportunities to rise to the 6th rank. The path to the 6th rank is laid out ahead of me, and there are no walls blocking it. The Merchant Association is half-open, ready to accept my mindset.

But I haven’t ascended. Because the perspective before and after opening the Merchant Association is different.

Once the Merchant Association opens and my existence touches the heavens, everything will change. Everything felt ordinary will become entirely different—my five senses, mana manipulation, and the ideation that fills the Merchant Association.

Things I felt special at 5th rank will feel normal once I reach the 6th rank.

So, I must perfectly complete everything I can do while still at the 5th rank before ascending.

The foundations that everything starts from.

When you climb a tree, you can’t see the roots. So before climbing, you must make the roots firm and dig deeper before going up.

It’s an inspection close to obsession, and the preparation process would leave others in awe, but I think of this as the correct answer.

“What exactly are you preparing for still…?”

“What’s important is that you’ve got to get the basics down.”

“Ugh, this is so boring… can’t I take a break today?”

“I don’t think that’s how a disciple should be towards their master.”

Have my cheeks slimmed down a bit? I can’t be sure, but I feel like I look a bit gaunt.

Seeing me, Leona shot a glare my way.

“If the master is struggling like this, being so dismissive and rude towards you isn’t how a disciple should act, is it?”

“I’m doing this because I know you’re just being dramatic. If you were actually hurting, I would agree and nod obediently.”

“Aren’t you tired? Is sleeping only three hours a day something a human should do?”

“Well… it would be a lie to say I’m not tired. I think I might have lost a bit of weight too.”

At my words, Leona’s ears perked up! Her tail began to wag, and there was a spark of life in her amber eyes.

“Then what about today—”

“Not happening.”

“Uuugh…! No! If you supervise my training, I’ll go back to the office to do paperwork! I have timetables to create! I’ll be running errands for Sedil! What is this! I finally thought I would get some leisure— I want to go outside and play too!”

“I didn’t ask the Flame Sovereign for you to relax, you know.”

“Uugh… my only disciple won’t support me… and just spouts out those old-fashioned sayings. Sigh, I sometimes miss the catacombs…”

Leona’s ears drooped again. Her tail drooped weakly, and a bitter sigh escaped her.

Seeing Leona like that, I chuckled softly.

“Just stick it out today, and then we’ll have a break for a while.”

Hah, Leona perked her head up.

“Really?!”

“Yes. So tomorrow, let’s all have something delicious together.”

The preparations are complete.
I will ascend to the 6th rank today.

*

“It’s been two months since the Flame Sovereign has rampaged in the catacombs. Thanks to that, my plans have fallen apart.”

“Even if that’s so, should we let her rampage there? What if the Flame Sovereign reads our past?”

“That would be very troublesome, but the more we have to be careful, the more we need to move carefully. Right now, if we make a wrong move, the Demon Fist will surely sniff us out.”

In a magnificent hall illuminated by a colorful stained glass, under the warm sunlight smiled a squinty-eyed man, Uje, as he leaned back in his chair.

“If it’s just sniffing, that would be a relief. If the Demon Fist gains confidence in our plans, he’s likely to break his pact.”

“…Shit.”

Across from Uje, Gwi-Chang leaned back against two windows and rested his feet on the table, tracing the scars on his face.

The scars looked as if the torn skin was forcibly stitched back. They were the wounds inflicted by the Demon Fist over 120 years ago. He barely brushed against the Demon Fist’s punch, yet all the skin on his face except for his forehead had been brutally mangled.

And those scars, even after transforming twice into the 7th and 8th ranks, still haven’t disappeared.

“Haha, Gwi-Chang. Are you still scared of the Demon Fist? Hmph… Well, after being beaten like that, I guess you can’t forget. Those memories still invade your dreams, don’t they?”

And a sweet giggle followed, mocking Gwi-Chang.

The woman holding a worn-out sword nestled between her voluptuous curves, Sword Empress, licked her red lips.

“Transcendence is something you should achieve, Gwi-Chang, not Uje. I’m getting tired of looking at that hideous face.”

“Why? Want me to carve a scar on your face too?”

“Even your threatening lines are cliché. If I were you, I would have brought up the injuries I suffered from the Demon Fist instead.”

Saying that, the Sword Empress pulled down her front clothing.

Swish—

The gap hidden beneath her sensuous chest was revealed. A dark scar entirely at odds with her beautiful, pale body lingered there, untouched for over a century. It looked as if the claws of a demon climbing from hell had dug into her.

“Of course, the scar nestled within my beautiful chest adds to my femininity, unlike your ugly scar, Gwi-Chang.”

That scar too, having undergone two transformations, still remained, etched upon her chest.

“By the way… you’re being too obvious, not like a boy. Now I’m embarrassed to show my side.”

She chuckled gleefully as she tidied her front clothing and resumed hugging her sword.

“Do you think I could ever be aroused by the cheap breasts of a harlot like you?”

“Do you know? Calling me cheap is mostly taken as a compliment? And you always call me a harlot, but other than the fingers and tongues of other women, I’ve never let anyone else in. Even if I were a harlot, Gwi-Chang, your huge thing would be less satisfying than the fingers of prettier women.”

“This fucking bitch—!”

“Gwi-Chang. We didn’t gather to fight today. Sword Empress, you too should stop.”

“Hmm… Well, if Uje has come in his main body, then it must be something important.”

At some point, the Sword Empress, who had been holding her sword, smiled and sheathed it.

Similarly, Gwi-Chang, who had been pointing his invisible spear at the Sword Empress’s neck, clicked his tongue and sat down.

“Tch, what heavy conversation are you getting into? The Flame Sovereign has no way to handle things.”

“Correct. We can’t touch the catacombs. In that case, we should strike elsewhere. There’s a method to shake the Flame Sovereign and the Demon Fist without leaving traces.”

“Uh-oh? Isn’t the only person related to them Eustetia’s direct line? I heard rumors that the Flame Sovereign entered the academy this time because of that direct line.”

“That rumor is probably true. The information came from the royal family, after all.”

“And she’s also the Demon Fist’s disciple.”

Gwi-Chang frowned at that.

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking about touching that girl?”

“Haha, no matter how mad I get, I won’t directly challenge Eustetia and the Demon Fist. In fact, early this year, I visited the academy and got locked onto my main body’s location by the Demon Fist. Honestly, at the time, I wanted to test the waters a bit, but… now, I’ve cleanly dropped it.”

“Oh my… then the Demon Fist already…”

“Yes. For now, it’s just my personal guess, but I think the Demon Fist has reached the 9th rank.”

“Oh my…”

The Sword Empress, who had been smiling continuously, slightly stiffened her cheeks. She hugged her sword tighter against her chest.

“Is it that my choice wasn’t wrong, I wonder? Uje. You haven’t forgotten my answer regarding your proposal, have you?”

“Of course, I remember.”

“Hah! Isn’t that too different from how you acted when you yelled at me, you harlot?”

“Gwi-Chang, I can tell the difference between bravado and wisdom. I never aimed for transcendence like you. I simply want to see your ending, you know? Uje also requested me to watch your story.”

“Then I don’t get it. Uje, why the hell did you bring this harlot along?”

“Having a large audience is very beneficial for me, so I brought her especially. So please refrain from always looking at her with a sideways glare.”

“Hah, if I transcend, I’ll tear your harlot body to shreds first, Sword Empress.”

“Bring it on anytime. Even if Gwi-Chang transcends, I don’t think you can beat me.”

“If we want to avoid making your relationship worse, we should get straight to the point.”

Heh—Uje chuckled as a light flickered behind him. That light ripped apart, and from the torn gap, a man garbed in black robes stepped out.

Amzon.

“We need your power for this, Gwi-Chang. More specifically, we need the strength of the Holy Kingdom connected to you.”

Amzon held a piece of paper with information written on it.

“Oh my… isn’t she a very pretty girl?”

“Can’t we just kill her? If you just tell me her location, I think I could kill her by throwing a spear from here.”

“It’s not that simple. Uje will explain the details.”

Amzon laid the paper down.

The first thing seen was a picture of a girl with blond hair and blue eyes. Next, there were substantial writings about her. A swordsman of the 5th rank. Her hometown is a small rural area on the outskirts of the Empire, Rondinella.

Her name is…

Yurasia Espirot.

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