SRS 90

“Can that successor thing be refused if selected?”

Yohan felt cold sweat trickling down his spine as he recalled his school life so far.

Fortunately, he hadn’t gotten close to any professors. Becoming chummy with a professor in just a month was too difficult anyway. However, he kept hearing invitations to the office from the angel professor, and he’d unintentionally caught the attention of the Nameless One as well.

He wanted to say it and seek the seniors’ wisdom, but these upperclassmen had already turned pale just from learning that Kylus was receiving teachings from the Phantom Sword Master. If he revealed his own story, in the worst case, they might abandon him and flee.

But that was the absolute worst case, and they probably wouldn’t if they had any pride, however, this was Fantasiademia.

Judging that the seniors of this school were fully capable of it, Yohan managed his expression with an awkward smile.

The senior who had been sharing the information chuckled.

“Refuse…? Well, you could, I suppose. They don’t force you to become a professor.”

“Then…!”

“But do you think the professors would just sit back? With their personalities?”

“…….”

“From the moment you refuse, your school life is destined to become tough.”

The spark of hope that had flickered quickly died. Unaware of Yohan’s feelings, the senior shook his head.

“That’s why not standing out in the first place makes you the winner.”

But I think I’ve already stood out…

“If your grades are good, you’ll inevitably attract attention, but unless you’re the top student, that interest will fade quickly.”

…I’m the top student, too.

“Well, even if you’re top, as long as you don’t actually go when they tell you to come to the office, it’s fine, right?”

“Ah.”

Fortunately, he hadn’t broken this one yet. It was the first time Yohan’s wilting expression brightened as the upperclassman spoke.

“Even if, by some chance, you did go to the office, as long as you didn’t attract the headmaster’s attention, it’s not the absolute worst yet. Hmm, but the headmaster doesn’t really pay attention to students in the first place, so that’s not even a scenario to consider.”

“…….”

Yohan wilted rapidly again. If filling a bingo card with things the senior said not to do, Yohan was one away from a full bingo.

Tap tap.

His friends, knowing the situation, pitied Yohan and comforted him.

Only the upperclassmen, unaware of the first-year’s circumstances, were bewildered by the suddenly wilted student.

“Anyway, I think that’s enough explanation for what you asked… We can’t drag this out any longer, so let’s get going. See you, first-years. This is fate too, so hang in there with school life! And next time we meet… we’re enemies.”

“Huh?”

“Just kidding. I’ve always wanted to say that once. Alright, we’re really going?”

The upperclassman waved his hand and stood side by side with Hale, entering the left cave.

“…He’s kind but overwhelming.”

It felt like being relentlessly toyed with by a huge animal without a break.

Yohan watched the retreating backs of the seniors and sighed.

It feels like I’ve ruined up academy life…

Where did I go wrong? From the moment I decided to take a full load of majors? Or when we fought the phoenix? Or maybe…

“Hmm.”

There were guesses, but they all felt unfair. He was just being faithful to his role as a student, why should that be a problem?

“Yohan, are you alright?”

“…Should I?”

“Hm? What did you say?”

“…If I get a professor offer, should I withdraw?”

“…….”

“If refusing makes school life even harder from here, withdrawing might be better.”

Yohan muttered with a sullen face. Suhyeok tilted his head curiously.

“But Yohan, didn’t you say early graduation is your goal? Then you’ll keep aiming for top, and if you’re top, dropping out in the future… Oof!”

Kylus clamped his friend’s mouth shut and dragged him back.

But by then, Yohan had already guessed the meaning of Suhyeok’s words.

As the depressed Yohan sighed, Mikael patted his slumping shoulders and comforted him.

“If the professors’ attention is burdensome, there’s a way to drop it all right now. Hmm… Or how about repeating a year with me? That’s not a bad option either.”

The student smiled sweetly and suggested in a gentle voice.

“No, that’s a bit much.”

“…….”

“Thanks, Mikael. I feel like I’m regaining my senses. You did that as shock therapy on purpose, right?”

“…….”

Yohan smiled and regained his energy. Mikael sometimes offered these quirky comforts.

As Yohan brushed off Mikael’s hand that had been patting his shoulder and thanked him, Mikael blinked and slowly smiled back.

“Then let’s get ready to go too.”

Yohan scanned the cave and asked the spirit to scout the inner path.

“What? Why’s this guy down now?”

As Suhyeok, who had returned after bickering with Kylus, wondered at Mikael standing still in place, the spirit that had stretched out and returned drew an X mark above its head.

“What? Dangerous, so we can’t go?”

“No. It says there’s an area it can’t scout.”

“Then…”

“If the spirit can’t, other abilities probably won’t work either. We’ll have to go in ourselves.”

This closed chamber seemed like a space that thoroughly disliked students moving around comfortably.

In the end, Yohan and his friends, deciding to proceed on foot, headed into the cave.

With Suhyeok, Mikael, and Kylus holding their swords tightly and staying alert on all sides as they moved, the cave interior held no particular threats.

“What? It’s more peaceful than I thought?”

“How long have we been walking?”

“About 15 minutes, I think.”

Even after walking for a while, nothing changed in the cave. No enemies appeared, nor did any other terrain features.

Not even external sounds besides their own voices and footsteps could be heard, so as everyone harbored doubts, a scream came from behind.

“Ahhh!”

The students, startled by the loud scream, hurriedly prepared for battle. The next moment, a familiar group came running from the path Yohan’s party had walked.

“H-Help us, juniors!”

“Save us!”

“…Seniors?”

The upperclassmen they had parted ways with at the fork were sprinting back toward them. Yohan, eyes wide in surprise, soon spotted a flock of monster birds flying behind the seniors and began channeling his divine power.

At that moment, Hale shouted.

“Don’t make eye contact! If you lock eyes, your abilities get sealed!”

“……!”

It was bewildering information, but there was no harm in believing it. Considering that these upperclassmen, who possessed greater powers than them, had fled all the way here, there must be a reason. Yohan immediately lowered his gaze and withdrew his divine power.

Fighting with divine power without being able to see ahead properly would be reckless.

In such cases, it was better to use a power with its own will.

For example, like a spirit.

“Save the seniors!”

He immediately summoned the spirit and requested, feeling his energy drain as the spirit surged forward.

“You stay here. I rely more on swordsmanship than abilities, so I should be fine even if I look at the enemy’s eyes.”

Kylus followed after, charging into the battlefield. Yohan assessed the situation through sounds alone.

“Ugh!”

“Th-Thanks!”

“We believed in you, juniors!”

The surprised seniors hurriedly taking refuge.

-Whoosh!

Splash!

The water spirit unleashing its power, covering the flock of monster birds with waves.

-Kieeeek!

The sounds of monster birds fleeing from it, only to be struck down mid-escape and perishing, etc.

Even without clear vision, the vivid auditory stimuli painted the scene.

“You can look up now.”

Kylus informed them as the sounds ceased. Only then did Yohan raise his head, confirming the monster bird flock scattered everywhere, and staggered. The spirit had drained too much of his strength.

Fortunately, instead of falling forward, he sank to his knees, bracing against the ground to prevent collapsing. Yohan caught his breath once, then greeted the returning Kylus and spirit.

“Good work.”

“It was nothing. More importantly… Did those birds come from the left passage?”

“Huh? Yes, that’s right.”

“Then the left passage was a trap, and this one was the real way. As expected of the empire-style.”

“…….”

Rather than the empire-style selection being impressive, it just seems like we got lucky.

Yohan was bewildered, but seeing Kylus’s proud expression, he couldn’t voice his thoughts.

Whoosh!

After healing the fleeing seniors’ wounds with divine power, Yohan examined the “space” near their hearts.

“Your abilities are still sealed. Since purification doesn’t remove it, it doesn’t seem like a simple curse.”

“…Seems so.”

The seniors affirmed with troubled faces. Hale swept back his hair and frowned.

“…I talked about handling our own problems, yet here we are asking for your help. I’m ashamed.”

“It’s fine. More than that, those birds are ones I’ve never seen before, and they have a terrifying ability.”

They weren’t birds he’d learned about in class either. Birds that steal abilities, it was terrifying. Thinking to change the subject, Yohan spoke, and Hale, who had been staring at his face, let out a deflated chuckle before removing the gem embedded in his uniform’s cravat and handing it to Yohan.

“…Not only getting help from first-years but even receiving consideration, I’ve completely lost face. …I’m Hale, a 4th-year in the magic department. I won’t forget this, so if any of you need help, come find me. I’ll help at least once.”

“…You’re a 4th-year?”

He was a higher year than Abel, the 3rd-year they’d met before. Yohan hadn’t realized, so he looked at him with surprised eyes before accepting the gem with both hands.

A token for getting help from a 4th-year.

Entering the closed chamber had been disheartening, but thanks to it, he’d gained quite a good opportunity, lifting his spirits.

“……!”

Could it be that the Phantom Sword Master aimed for this…?

Yohan flinched at the sudden thought, recalling the swordsmanship professor’s chuckling face, and squinting.

“Hmm…”

It seemed he sometimes viewed people too kindly, as his roommates had said.

“Thank you.”

He put aside the stray thoughts for now and bowed his head, the upperclassmen waved it off. Soon, they looked around the cave and said they couldn’t leave the lead to first-years any longer, then continued walking through the cave.

As Kylus had guessed, with the left path being a trap and the right one the proper exit, there were no monster attacks even as the whole group walked together.

Finally, the cave path led to another door.

“…Finally.”

“Is this the real exit?”

“…It can’t be another trap, right?”

Yohan’s group and the upperclassmen exchanged doubtful glances, suspicious but also hopeful, before pushing open the large door.

Together, they used force to pushed the iron door, which slid back and opened the way.

Whoosh.

A pleasant breeze blew first, ruffling everyone’s hair. Then, the open air and bird chirps filled their senses, eliciting a moment of admiration from the students as they stepped one foot outside the door.

“This is…”

Kylus began, taking in the unfolding beautiful forest. Yohan scanned the surroundings and blinked.

It was an unfamiliar place.

Then Hale stepped forward to the front and identified the location.

“It’s Fantasiademia’s southern forest. We must have traveled quite far; it seems this passage connected here.”

“…Southern forest?”

This was troublesome.

For Yohan and his friends, who rarely left the first-year area, it was a forest they’d never even heard of.

…This is a problem. How do we get back from here?