The Academy’s Crude Pink-Haired Martial Artist

Revival.

The word revival isn’t exactly used for dead beings, is it?

I heard that Sacred hasn’t returned to the Holy Kingdom’s sanctum.

That means Luna is still alive.

And the illusion I saw. Luna sealed with one arm missing.

I felt nothing of her breath, voice, expression, face, body temperature, or scent.

But I instinctively knew she was alive.

Moreover, as far as is known currently,

all the other Heroes, except for the already late Ronan Luzarack, are missing.

Luna, Paulo, Arisa. And also Kaloso, who isn’t mentioned in history, are all missing.

And yet, revival?

I slightly diverted my gaze to observe Leona’s expression.

A surprised face. So shocked she can’t hide her expression. But there’s anger too. I can feel a deep hatred and even murderous intent.

She’s not surprised about the revival of Luna, but about the attempt to revive Luna.

“…Revival, what… what does it mean?”

Her voice trembles. There’s no reason for it to tremble.

Why should I be trembling?

Because my body is weak, pitiful, and frail.

A girl’s body. Growing through adolescence with weird hormones.

So, that’s how it is.

My emotions overflowing? Absolutely not.

SDVIMVFoanVzY1YwSVhjamMzUkt1WlRQR2hRTEZzNGUzUkdCL0dlaDFQaFVINDhHRUVuQm95SmRkaFFaMURCOA

I took a breath.

With trembling hands, i took out the bandage from under the covers.

I gripped Habar. Cold sweat soaked the bandage. It drenched my hospital gown. Sticky and unpleasant.

I took a breath again.

I opened eyes I didn’t even know were closed and asked.

“Is… death… confirmed?”

“Sacred has appeared in the sanctum.”

Leona wasn’t surprised.

She reacted as if she knew.

“When…?”

“August 12th, 7 years ago.”

Leona replied. Mikel nodded.

-Oh my? Where on earth did you get this expensive drink… Ah ha! Everyone, it’s… a secret surprise for my birthday? Goodness! Goodness goodness! Ronan! What about that card? Do you wish to play cards with me today?! How are we going to handle the stakes?

“…I see.”

I closed my eyes again.

400 years is a long time. Even the outlier Leona, famed for her longevity among Beastmen, has to bury forgotten memories deep within to remain sane after such time.

So, a human sealed with the Demon King for 400 years, Luna… yeah, she might not have been able to hold on.

Though we transcended humanity, I didn’t assume she’d definitely still be alive.

It might even be natural she couldn’t hold on.

If she barely survived… Yeah. It wouldn’t be surprising if she turned into a wrinkled old person.

And then, if she died, there’s nothing that can be done.

400 years is an immeasurable time.

That’s how I’ve thought.

I had thought it highly probable.

I hadn’t stayed tied to the past. I hadn’t held onto great hope. The more I did, the more miserable and irritated I’d surely feel, so I didn’t want to expect.

Yet I, foolish fool that I am,

asked Fabiana and confirmed it. I heard that Humble and Sacred hadn’t returned.

And then, I saw.

How Luna and Paulo had endured, in what form and in what time.

And yet, Sacred had already returned?

Was Fabiana’s information false?

Was what I saw merely the past?

Then what about Humble?

Sacred has returned. But what about Humble?

Paulo.

I let my breath quaver. Trying to force it down would only let me sound more pathetic.

Additionally, this pitiful body seemed ready to burst into tears.

So I just… let it go without forcing it down.

The moment I parted my lips.

“…Hah.”

The sound wasn’t a voice, but a laugh escaped.

A strange warmth emanated from Habar, which I held with both hands. An unfamiliar warmth yet oddly familiar.

Divine Power. Divine Power I didn’t wish for flowed out.

‘Luna.’

I called her name.

Divine Power remained warm.

It neither strengthened nor weakened, remaining just as warm.

‘Luna Pranecia.’

Fiercely gripping the unchanged bandages as if to tear them apart, I called out once more.

‘You gambling-addicted, piece of trash!’

The heat soared. It was scorching. My hand felt like it might burn away. The light wasn’t shining from under the covers, but the heat was clear. Was my hand burned? It likely was.

It was so hot and painful, there’s no way it wouldn’t burn.

Could I wrap it in mana to block it? Or Strong Magic?

Nothing can block it.

Divine Power, no, the Divine Power she wields cannot be stopped by anything. How much have I been struck by that crazy girl?

And after taking those beatings, how did I feel?

Unlike the Divine Power that spilled like a madman, this warmth enveloped me like a cozy blanket filled with feathers.

Yes.

“Hah…”

As if, like now.

Now, as my hand is being healed.

“Huh, Ugh…”

Luna. Luna Pranecia.

You gambling-addicted piece of trash.

What crazy thing have you done this time?

What tricks did you pull, and what did you want to do by sending Sacred back to the Holy Kingdom?

Did you even do it in the first place?

There was no answer. I didn’t ask hoping for a reply. I will go myself, and confirm with my own eyes.

I will see the Sacred who is said to have returned, and see you sealed somewhere beneath the Holy Kingdom.

If you’re not dead, then don’t die and wait for me.

If you’re going to die, at least do it in front of me.

Having been like that for 400 years, a month more should be fine, right?

It’s embarrassing, but I’m still weak and the Academy’s break is… oh, right. After my rebirth, I somehow ended up attending the Academy…

By the way, can you see my state? I rebirthed as a girl.

I’m not even 150 cm tall. Besides, my name…

No,

I have a lot to tell you when we meet.

So wait for me.

Habar.

Holding onto the yearning of a reunion in my heart.

Tears that had barely hung in my eyes fell thud-thud. This pitiful body has a lot of tears.

In my previous life, I could even control my tear ducts.

I wonder if I can do that after this transformation?

“Khm…”

I opened my eyes with a stuffy nose. Leona and Mikel looked at me with curious expressions.

“Huh, the blood of the Hero’s descendant… sniff! I must have involuntarily… sniff… reacted.”

I casually lied and covered myself with the blanket.

“ Don’t say anything before I poke your eyes out… sniff… just continue speaking.”

“I’ll continue.”

*

Mikel was released alive.

I felt it was a waste to just kill a valuable informant I obtained after such a time, and he might still be useful.

However, the words that followed their objective weren’t particularly helpful.

About the process of revival, about the faction allied with the Demon Race, I knew nothing.

Is the position of the captain of the 4th division really that low?

No. The reliability of information drops because there are hidden underlings within the faction Mikel belongs to.

Mikel knew that as well. So he said he wouldn’t share information unless sure.

I also didn’t bother to ask.

Usually, such vague information brings unnecessary hesitation. So it’s best to gather only the certain things.

As for the facts… well, I think it’s true for now. Hasn’t that fanatic swore to heaven?

If that fanatic’s appearance was just an act to deceive me and Leona,

If accepting his death without blinking was also an act…

Sure. I would be willing to be deceived that much.

Anyway, we wrapped up the conversation somehow, and Mikel returned to the Holy Kingdom.

Would the other side notice that he passed information to us?

Then would Mikel die immediately?

No, if he’s smart, he will keep him alive. Killing Mikel would alter the course of action for the faction he belongs to.

So, to maintain the status quo, they’d likely let him be.

Well, I have no need to worry about a zealot who would say his death is the will of the heavens.

What I must worry about right now is Leona, glaring at me with a malicious face right in front of me.

“You’re getting wrinkles.”

“Eliaernes, don’t you have anything to say to me?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Why apologize for something you didn’t do?”

Aha, here it comes. Even I couldn’t escape the infinite cycle.
A labyrinth that’s way worse than a Labyrinth of mere walls…!

You have nothing to say?
Why apologize for something that doesn’t deserve an apology?
Do you even know what you’re apologizing for?
Knowing yet doing it?
Do I look like I’m here just to hear you say sorry?
You always seem to try to brush things over like this.
Alright then. Don’t say things you don’t mean.
Just because I said not to do it, does it mean you won’t?

When I opened the gates of Purgatory and bled from everywhere, Luna always healed me as per usual… but the entire time, she treated me with unyielding politeness.

That insipidly polite reprimand, without a cuss word, was more terrifying than Luna’s merciless beating.

Back then, I would sweat cold as I stuttered, but who am I now?

Eliaernes Eustetia.

A pretty seventeen-year-old smiley girl, even in my eyes.

It wouldn’t have mattered 400 years ago, but now is the age when looks can be used as weapons!

Other than somehow affecting my dad and Leona, and the Flame Sovereign, it seems effective.

So I let my lips droop right away.
I inclined my chin slightly, filled my eyes with the utmost wretchedness, rose my pupils a tad.
I mumbled my lips and spoke.

“But I feel a bit unfair too. In the end, I got what I wanted. And that bitch started it! If I hadn’t, my teacher would’ve killed her, right? I moved first for my teacher’s sake.”

“Why did you hide that the Side Branch was acting up?”

“Umm…”

No way…
There was another topic.
Leona is definitely not dumb.
She picked up every necessary point from our passing conversation.

“…I tried to handle that myself. It’s a… family issue. If you’re curious, I’ll tell you when you grab me sometime.”

Leona who had been glancing at me for a while let out a small sigh. Seeing her expression somewhat relax, she seemed not to plan to pry into the Side Branch for now.

Or maybe, like me now, she’d like to set aside complicated thoughts for a moment.
After all, Leona is the only being that knows ‘us’ apart from the Demon Race.

So it’s clear that her heart is tangled with all this involving Luna.

“You were too reckless and emotional. You always feel that way though.”

“I’ve never heard such slander before. Can’t you see how calculating, rational, and thorough I am?”

“Hah, you sure speak well. So, was there a basis?”

“Of course, there was.”

I spread my fingers wide.
Then I folded my thumb.

“First, I had my teacher behind me. He wouldn’t let me die.”

I folded my index finger.

“Second. Maybe the Executioner’s top rank could decide on the noble being a heretic, but a 4th division captain? That’s not happening.”

I folded my middle finger.

“Third. Since He was directly trying to kill me, I stepped in first.”

I folded my ring finger.

“Fourth. I was irritated about the way things were going.”

I folded my pinky until I turned it into a fist and wham!

“Fifth. Even if my teacher were absent, I felt confident enough to win and swung at him.”

I might be underplaying it, but I did truly strike after considering various factors.
It might not have mattered in my previous life, but I have a lot to lose this time around.

“Only the first two are legitimate arguments. The rest are just the reasons you hit the guy, aren’t they?”

“Just let it be, okay? Why do you always have to nitpick my words?”

“I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

“Okay.”

I sealed my lips tightly and stood straight.

“What’re you planning to do?”

“I’m off to the Holy Kingdom.”

“You don’t believe in prophecy, do you? If you do, I’m going to beat you up right now so you’ll stop believing!”

“Do I look like I’d believe that kind of thing? I told you before; I told you I have things to do and people to see there.”

“Sure. Then go with me.”

“Aren’t you supposed to go to Gebihenum during the break? You were going to help my mom, right?”

“If I go without you, Julie is going to be all too happy about it.”

“Can’t Teacher keep it a secret?”

“Don’t underestimate Muyeong’s information network.”

Leona, smirking, grabbed an apple and took a bite.

“If I don’t go and Julie does, we might end up in a war.”

“If even Teacher goes, I still think that’s possible.”

“With me by your side, who dares to challenge? Only the Legion Commander and Demon King can do such a thing. So it’s only natural I won’t have to use strength.”

That’s an incredibly high-handed statement, but I can’t argue against it…

“But Muyeong is different. Muyeong, Julie… If you’re in danger, they might overturn the entire Empire, you know? Not just Julie; that man Turius would step in, and then the whole Eustetia Knight Order would follow.”

It sounds ridiculous, but for some reason, I can’t counter this either.
The moment I thought, ‘surely that can’t be,’ the very notion being “impossible” becomes a concern.
The moment the idea of uncertainty appears, the possibility starts to dawn…

“Well… then let’s go together, and you’ll hide your identity.”

“Weren’t you supposed to hide yours too?”

“I’ll have to keep my identity hidden while I’m in there, but entering requires revealing it to some degree.”

“Aha. That’ll be the case for you.”

Leona wore a mischievous smile.

“Disciple, what’s my other name?”

“If I say it, you’re going to hit me, right?”

“How could I hit my only disciple?”

“You hit me all the time.”

Seeing Leona clench her fist, I swiftly changed the topic.

“My teacher is the Demon Fist.”

“Right. Your teacher is the Demon Fist. One of the six pillars of the Empire. It’s quicker to count what they can’t do than what they can.”

Nya-ha-ha-ha! Leona laughed and rifled through her clothing.

“Here, a Identification Card that can hide all records, traces, and existence. You can withdraw an unlimited amount of money from it, and you don’t need to wait in line for any form of transportation. You don’t even need reservations at restaurants!”

She brandished a platinum card symbolizing the Imperial Family before me and looked toward the Imperial Palace.

“How many do you need, my precious disciple?”

“Ooh…”

I began to clap thwack-thwack- and opened my mouth.

“First, let me tell you tomorrow, but can you give me a new Device first?”

“A Device? Why? Did it break?”

“Yeah, it broke.”

I showcased the crumpled Device.
Leona squinted at it.
I brazenly met her gaze.

“…Hmm, it seems suspicious. Did you crumple this yourself?”

“Why would I do something like that? I barely ever use it.”

“That may be, but it still seems suspicious.”

After observing the Device for a while, Leona eventually nodded and stood up.

“Got it. The Device will be sent tomorrow, no, it’ll be sent after this busy time. I’ll inform you about the trip to the Holy Kingdom as soon as possible.”

“Understood.”

“When are you leaving?”

“I should change clothes and head out soon.”

“Then hurry and get dressed. We’re going together.”

“Close your eyes.”

“Ha, there’s nothing to see anyway.”

“Ha, you got the same now.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing! Aha? What’s that? Again? You gonna hit me again? You said you won’t earlier!”

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