I headed to the classroom for my morning lesson.
Several students were already seated in the classroom. The unusual thing was the odd state of the kids.
“Hehe… Even Annwood Academy is nothing special. To think they failed to educate me.”
“Right! If it were truly the best, it should have made us understand! Ah, Annwood Academy! From today onwards, I shall strip you of the title ‘the best’!”
“Hmph… Teacher, it won’t fit. My brain is incredibly small!”
“My head’s gone weird because it’s filled with exam content!”
Perhaps it was because midterms were only a week away. The children were gradually going insane.
“Did you memorize all the magic circles?”
“About 80%. How about you?”
“Of course, I haven’t memorized it all. Is that even a question?”
“…Didn’t you ask first?”
“Ah! Summoning demons is too hard! What’s the difference with these squiggly characters?”
Using characters that resembled worms crawling for demon summoning.
The difference was so minute that many children struggled. Perhaps it was like a worm crawling on the ground and spitting saliva?
‘Well, it reads automatically for me, so I don’t care.’
Thanks to the [Translation] skill I received as a game possession bonus, I could read even the demon’s language.
In addition to demon’s language, I could read the languages of kingdoms, duchies, and even the pictures written on ancient murals.
‘I burst into laughter while reading the murals in the textbook and got scolded by the teacher.’
A mural that meant ‘Tonight we eat pork, I’m excited oink oink’ was presented as ‘the first rebellion in human history’, how could I not laugh?
Anyway, I didn’t need to study various foreign languages.
The problem was that my score other subjects were terrible.
I’m not bad at studying, but I’ve been focusing so much on training lately that I couldn’t make time for it.
If I take the midterms like this? It was obvious that my grades would hit rock bottom.
Realizing this, Luna muttered.
“Speaking of which, midterms are coming up soon.”
“Keke, midterms… Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
“That’s true? It’s really important, you know?”
Luna, it doesn’t seem like you’re one to talk, not preparing at all.
As if she read my mind, Luna rolled her eyes.
“I’m not even in the rankings, so it doesn’t matter to me, but it’s different for you.”
She was right. Unlike her, I was third in the entrance exams.
On top of that, I had received an award for the Ant Hill incident.
It meant that I was in a position to aim for the top spot.
“I don’t know what will be on the practical test, but with your skills, it should be a piece of cake. Just do well on the written test and you’re first, isn’t that regrettable?”
“Not at all.”
“Because of our training? Don’t worry about that. Even if you’re not there, I’ll train diligently. I’ll make sure Rezé trains well too.”
Luna seemed to be giving me a hint, more regretful than hopeful.
The reason a friend capable of climbing higher isn’t aiming for the top spot.
‘Do they think it’s because of them?’
There was indeed a reason why I wasn’t studying.
Not only did I not want to draw attention by securing the top spot…
‘The invasion of Carpathia is about to begin soon.’
The invasion led by Lizbeth of the Four Heavenly Kings.
The situation was so urgent that the Empire decided to deploy students from Annwood Academy.
‘The Empire really knows how to pull some nonsense.’
Deploying children aged only fifteen to seventeen to the battlefield was one thing.
But the students of Annwood Academy were those who had passed the competitive entrance exams.
This meant they were the most capable children in the Empire, significantly above average in their abilities.
‘Moreover, many of them are nobles.’
It was natural that the future of the Empire darkened with the death of each of these children.
Yet the Empire had decided to send Annwood Academy students.
Such was the urgency of the situation. They had to push these promising children to the battlefield.
‘If the heart of the Empire is eroded, it would not only be a disgrace on the continent, but it would also make the deployment of troops difficult.’
In this game, there are no magical or magi-technical methods like ‘warp gates.’
The only means of transportation were feet, horses, drakes, and magic.
If the central part of the Empire were to be ‘eroded,’ turning into a place where people couldn’t come and go?
It would inevitably cause significant disruptions in troop movements. The transportation of stamina and supplies was a problem, but above all, the biggest issue was…
‘You can’t get reinforcements there in time.’
Eroded land turns into a place where living beings cannot survive.
Just setting foot in it reduces vitality, so it would be impossible to advance through such a place.
The only option would be to detour around the area.
Taking two to three times longer than usual, getting reinforcements there on time was an impossible task.
The Empire knew this better than anyone.
That’s why they made the bold decision to deploy students from Annwood Academy…
‘The sacrifice of the children buys time for the main force to join.’
In fact, the midterm exams were being replaced under the guise of ‘deployment.’
‘Using midterm grades as bait to push hesitant children into battle.’
Taking grades hostage was indeed a horrific act.
‘Still, they arrange for freshmen to be at the very rear.’
It could be considered a consideration for the young students who lacked real battle experience.
Of course, unexpected situations typical of a game occurred, but since it wasn’t intended by the Empire, it couldn’t be blamed on them.
“Did you get that? You just focus on studying. Your big sis will take care of everything else, so don’t worry.”
Luna lifted her nose as if to say to trust her alone.
However, as mentioned earlier, midterms were being replaced by deployment.
There was no need to agonize over studying.
“Keke, it’s fine. Something like midterms isn’t important.”
“It’s very important! To underestimate your studies! I didn’t raise you to be like that!”
Was she my mother? Luna patted my back repeatedly.
A mother’s frequent back attacks!
It was then that tears welled up in my slit eyes.
[Your skill proficiency has reached 100%.]
[Your skill rank will increase.]
[Demon’s Skin F → E]
[Rapid Regeneration F → E]
A notification that my skill rank had increased appeared.
[Demons’ Skin] from Bineus.
[Rapid Regeneration] from a Transparent Slime.
Both were skills obtained through the [Predation] skill, and this was exactly what made this skill so overpowered.
An F-ranked skill could reach A-rank or even S-rank if lucky as you played the game.
‘All the effort in catching the Transparent Slime paid off.’
Though that penalty came with the burden of dealing with a beast like Luna.
“…?”
It was good news that the skill rank had increased, but one question remained.
‘Demon’s Skin and Rapid Regeneration are skills that improve with damage taken. Did I get hit that much…?’
I had faced Bineus, Lucia, Adonis, and others, but I hadn’t been hit enough to increase proficiency.
There were no moments that would have increased my skill proficiency.
‘…No, there’s one.’
Someone who would bite me every time we met, whether they were happy, enjoyed their meal, were sleepy, liked something, disliked something, or thought I was a pervert, telling me not to bother Rezé, wishing me goodnight.
All sorts of excuses to gnaw at me.
“What, what? Why are you opening your eyes like that?”
Luna flinched.
Yes, she was the one who had helped increase the proficiency of [Demon’s Skin] and [Rapid Regeneration].
Her sharp hands and feet, and biting were what boosted my skills’ proficiency.
‘Was there such an advantage to the character Luna?’
A hidden synergy effect, a hidden piece, perhaps.
Then.
‘If I use Luna, could I easily reach A-rank?’
[Demons’ Skin] reduces damage, and [Rapid Regeneration] continuously restores HP.
For me, with only one life to live, these were the most critical skills.
As my mind reached that realization, I understood exactly what I needed to do right now.
“More! Hit me more!”
“Huh?”
“Please, hit me!”
“What? Are you a pervert?”
Perhaps she didn’t want to touch a pervert even with a finger.
Normally, Luna would have no issue hitting me, but now she recoiled.
However, I’m practically a PhD in Luna studies. Managing Luna’s emotions?
Easier than eating.
“Keke, then I have no choice but to ask Miss Rezé.”
“What, what is that…”
“Miss Rezé, please hit me. Fill your strikes with anger!”
I firmly grabbed Rezé’s wrist and directed it towards my head.
Naturally, it appeared as though Rezé was hitting me.
It was no surprise that Rezé was horrified.
“Eek! The demon has evolved! It’s a pervert demon!”
Crack-.
Something snapped in Luna’s head. It was the sound of her sanity breaking.
I can make Luna angry! I can manipulate emotions!
“You perverted brat! I thought you had been quiet recently! Brace yourself! Today I will eradicate that filthy desire of yours!”
With that shout, Luna began to trample all over me.
Oh, I can feel it. It feels increasingly good… no, my skill proficiency is increasing!
“Hmm, it’s burning love today.”
“Oh~ Hohoho! The love between you two is too fiery for me to watch with open eyes.”
Yuridia and Victoria made comfortable remarks.
I wish someone would recognize that all of this is my tearful sacrifice to save the world.
“Stay away from Zero! You demon hag!”
It was Raymon. Suddenly appearing, he wrapped his arms around me and began taking Luna’s kicks instead.
“What are you doing?”
“Rather, hit me! I will protect Zero!”
Yuridia and Victoria huddled their heads together, whispering behind their fans.
Interloper, love rival, forbidden love.
It was clear that a huge misunderstanding was building.
“…Fine. Today I will deal with both of you at once! Both of you, die!”
“Zero! I will protect you!”
No, I just wish you would go away.
People are going to think weirdly! And I’m in the middle of working on skill proficiency! Stop interrupting!
[Raymon’s skill proficiency has reached 100%.]
[Skill rank will increase.]
[Resilience E → D]
“…?”
Why did that increase?
Now that I think about it, Raymon was also one of those who got beaten up a lot by Luna.
Although Raymon’s skill rank increased, I wasn’t happy about it.
It meant he had taken the skill proficiency that should have been mine.
‘He’s a skill proficiency thief!’
Stealing skill proficiency when there’s nothing else to steal!
So typical of you, Raymon.
“Um~ Miss Yuridia, is it okay to be this noisy? We have Mr. Caron’s class today, don’t we?”
“It’s alright. It’s just a normal day. Soon Mr. Caron will come and wrap things up. We should return to our seats too.”
“Burning love is normal. I made the right decision coming to Annwood Academy. Oh~ Hohoho!”
Yuridia was right. It was just another chaotic day at the academy.
Soon Caron would appear, ignoring Luna tormenting Raymon as he passed by.
And then class would begin as usual.
“This is like breaking shrimps in hell! Die!”
“Aaaaah! Zero, save me!”
Just as Luna nearly snapped Raymon in half.
“Everyone sit down!”
Suddenly appearing from nowhere, Caron shouted angrily.
The classroom quieted down instantly, partly because of Caron’s raised voice.
“Phew…”
But more because Caron himself seemed off.
His hair was a mess, his eyes bloodshot, sweat streaming down his neck, his breathing rough.
Anyone could tell he looked like someone caught up in something serious.
“Today’s class is canceled. I’ll explain more in a moment. If there are any latecomers, get them seated. Everyone remain quiet until I return.”
A few students raised their hands, but Caron didn’t even pretend to look at them.
With that, he quickly left the room.
The classroom that had fallen silent was suddenly noisy and chaotic again.
It was the moment the everyday happiness was shattered.
And the moment the Carpathia invasion episode began.
–TL Notes–
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