Raid The Academy

Chapter 249 : Chapter 249

Yuria returned to the dormitory.Her heart was still pounding, perhaps because the surprise hadn't subsided yet.

'Skull Mask was Senior......?'

It was a suspicion that confused her mind, but when she actually faced the truth, Yuria was very confused.

Of course, there was no direct evidence.

However, just looking at the circumstances so far, it was certain.

The reason Skull Mask appeared out of the blue in the south where the Green Circle was, especially in the hidden Iron Tree Forest.

Also, the similarities visible in his combat style and Gerard’s combat style.

The reunion emotions Bandal showed while running and hugging Gerard, whom he must have seen for the first time.

And the overnight stayer list.

All clues point to him as Skull Mask.

'Couldn't Bandal’s nose be wrong?'

'The overlapping overnight dates could have been a coincidence.'

'Skull Mask having a purpose in the south was really Dr. Edric, not me.'

Assuming coincidences like this, but.

If coincidences overlap multiple times, it is not a coincidence.

It was sufficient as a trigger to suspect, and the suspicion once ignited made her interpret even the incomprehensible actions Gerard had shown so far by retracing Yuria’s past.

There were not just one or two trivial things.

However, what remained in memory the most were the questions Gerard threw occasionally.

'What do you think about villains?'

'How would you feel if I were a villain?'

Back then, she answered it was okay without much thought.

Naturally.

Because at that time, the conviction that Gerard would absolutely not be a villain lay at the base.

She just thought it was a light joke testing her feelings, and gave an answer befitting that atmosphere.

Even after that, there were similar questions a few times, but the answers Yuria gave were trivial.

It doesn't matter.

It's okay.

And.

That answer was valid even now.

"......."

Yuria suddenly raised her head which was lowered.

Her eyes, which were shaking precariously until just a moment ago, quickly regained focus.

"Right. It's the same."

Nothing changes.

That Gerard is Skull Mask is a surprising fact, but...... that is all.

Her feelings toward Gerard are still the same.

'Senior is Skull Mask? So? What about it?'

The heart pounding sound in her ears was no longer heard before she knew it.

Calmness returned quickly as if asking when she was surprised.

Before she knew it, Yuria had returned to her usual indifferent and dry appearance.

Washing, changing clothes, and doing roll call.

Yuria covered herself with a blanket and lay down.

Then she opened her eyes wide like a person who remembered something she forgot.

"But, what should I do?"

Whatever it was, she was a person who found out the secret that Gerard 'might be Skull Mask'.

Of course, she has no intention of revealing it and even less intention of reporting it, but.

Treating it as if nothing happened, that was also not an easy task.

"If I meet a Senior tomorrow, it will show."

Yuria didn't know how to lie.

Should I say it shows clearly in actions or expressions.

Naturally, she didn't know how to act either, so if Gerard brought up stories about Shadow or Skull Mask like before again, it could show immediately from her outward appearance.

"......I don't know. It will work out somehow."

Mumbling like that, she closed her eyes.

Not long after, only the sound of her rhythmic breathing rang in the room.

***

The Academy was lively after a long time.

Because the new semester started.

With the sound of cadets who remained at the Academy and cadets who went down to their hometowns meeting and chatting after a long time, the campus was noisy and bustling from the morning.

"Icata. Heard it was chaos? Was it Skeleton King?"

"It's Skeleton Lord."

"Anyway! How was it? Huh?"

"That is that, but I'm more curious about the story that a demon appeared on campus."

"Right! That too!"

"Ah. I went down to my hometown for nothing. I should have been at the scene too......."

"Hey, hey. Don't say such bullshit elsewhere. Fists will fly."

"Ah, sorry."

The topic coming out the most among them is definitely me.

Of course not Cadet Gerard.

It is a Skull Mask.

"Did you read the newspaper today? Looking at it, that bastard Skull Mask pulled off something yesterday at dawn too."

"Ah. That Royal Road Stabbing Incident? Of course I saw it. I heard it's chaos outside because of that."

The Royal Road Stabbing Incident was an incident that brought indelible disgrace to the City Guard, later called the City Guard Disgrace Incident.

Two City Guards fleeing in front of a criminal causing a bloody incident holding an Arming Sword.

Of course, that criminal was a retired soldier and bizarrely large and strong, but.

Even so, the fact that the City Guard, which should consider citizens' safety as the top priority, fled leaving injured victims behind resulted in lowering the status of not only the City Guard but the entire Defense Force.

Nobles clicked their tongues, and citizens were outraged.

But the bigger problem is, the one who actually resolved this was none other than Shadow.

"......So embarrassing really. How does a villain do the work the City Guard should do? And what's with fleeing in front of a criminal?"

"If I enter the Central Knights? I will completely overhaul these City Guard bastards' mentality first."

There must be citizens for there to be an Empire.

Whether Capital Defense Force, Knight Order, or Academy, there is only a difference in rank, but the mission to protect the country, family, and friends is not different.

Citizens do not respect, look up to, and treat knights well for nothing.

Because they are the sword and shield that will protect them.

However, the ones who fulfilled that duty were not the City Guard receiving salaries with citizens' taxes, nor the knights receiving respect and awe.

It is thieves.

'There was such an incident.'

Listening to the kids' stories from the side, I remembered yesterday's incident and smirked unknowingly.

Well, thinking about it now, it was lucky.

As felt from the place name Royal Road, the victims at the time were nobles.

And two young women at that. They drank alcohol at a bar until late and went out to pay while heavily drunk.

At that time, I asked Dayle why they were so drunk, and Dayle answered like this.

"Says they broke up with their boyfriends? Good times."

Right.

The place they drank was exactly Lunatic.

"Hey, Dayle. You have nothing to do, right?"

"Bullshit. Can't you see the pile of dishes here?"

"Follow them secretly and take them home safely."

"Suddenly? Well, it's good for me not to do dishes but...... why?"

Dayle tilted his head while grinning.

"Why indeed. This is all training too."

Although I said so.

Actually, I knew they would die in this incident.

Because the City Guard Disgrace Incident was quite famous in the original work.

"Don't even bring up training. Getting beaten by Evan every morning is sad enough......."

While grumbling, Dayle took off his apron, changed clothes quickly, and followed them.

I followed behind him too.

And the unfolded incident.

If Dayle and I hadn't stopped the retired soldier in time, the two women would have died like in the original work.

The reason I helped these two is one.

That the two were daughters of nobles with some influence in Icata.

And specifically, the Guard Chief of the Capital Defense Force.

"Did you aim for this too?"

"No? It's a coincidence."

Don't lie.

Dayle’s eyes were saying that.

"Anyway, I'm curious what the Guard Chief, who hated us so much, thinks of this matter. Heheh."

Finishing the recollection, I looked at the guys moving away.

Looking at the shape of their lips, it seemed they were still talking about me and Shadow.

Other places were the same.

If the internet existed in this world and there were popular search terms, wouldn't 1st and 2nd place be occupied by me and Shadow side by side.

"Senior."

"Ah. Yuria."

Yuria, who finished class before I knew it, approached me.

Unlike the 1st semester, the two of us didn't have many overlapping lectures. Because I am a 3rd year student anyway.

Looking at the 2nd semester timetable, unlike the 1st semester timetable where 1st-year subjects were 90%, there were quite a few 2nd-year subjects and 3rd-year subjects.

"Let's go."

We shared this and that chat while going to eat lunch.

The topic was Ivan.

I knew Ivan went outside with the Department Head Pirion for a month during vacation to do special training.

Also how he received training there.

'Magical Beast Extermination.'

Besides articles about Shadow and Skull Mask, news that a few named magical beasts that had been settled in the northern and eastern sides recently evaporated suddenly was slowly spreading in Icata.

I was sure Ivan was the cause.

Because hunting magical beasts is a representative method to grow surely and quickly in a short period.

The efficacy is such that our Shadow was also considering it.

Anyway, we also have to prepare for Uriel’s request in the not-too-distant future.

If we can become stronger, we are in a position not to choose means and methods.

'But I guess I lost a few. Regrettable matter.'

I smacked my lips.

Well, anyway, that is that.

The key here was 'So how much stronger did Ivan become during vacation'.

I looked at Yuria and asked.

"How is he in your view?"

"He definitely changed a lot. What should I say? His appearance is the same, smiling well, but should I say his eyes became deep and clear. If I face him, I feel strange."

"......Hm? Feel strange?"

Yuria was flustered and waved her hands quickly.

"Ah, no. Not in that meaning. How should I express it? Should I say my heart beats loudly and I get tense. Ah, saying it makes this weird too......."

Yuria stroked her lips and tried to find a more accurate expression, but actually, there was no need.

Because I understood exactly what that feeling was.

'Aura manifestation.'

It means he surpassed Expert High Rank, and also means he surpassed Level 70.

So I was surprised inwardly.

'Already 70?'

My current level is 85.

It's thanks to diligently going around killing villains.

My level was still higher.

No, I can't be sure of that either.

Since only surpassing 70 is certain, the possibility of being higher is sufficient.

'Would I win if we fought?'

It's unknown now.

I might win, but I could lose too.

Anyway, it cannot be anything but a damn fraudulent body.

'Looking now, wasn't I serious alone? Actually, even if I stay still, it's a picture where Ivan beats up demons on his own and saves the world.'

Damn.

Suddenly reality hits hard.

......It can't be helped.

Since I am an ordinary(?) human, and Ivan is the protagonist chosen by the world.

It is natural that the difference coming from birth becomes clearer as time passes.

Ivan is a human who will become humanity's strongest. There is no ceiling to his growth.

In contrast, I had a clear ceiling.

'Even the advanced vision to learn right away was lost as the guild fell......'

I looked at Yuria.

If she got tense rather than shrinking back feeling the aura manifestation, it was competitive spirit, and it meant Yuria was also at a similar level.

But Yuria wasn't Level 70 yet, and definitely not Expert High Rank.

Even so, that she raised a competitive spirit instead of being scared by Ivan’s aura, this is also just a birth advantage.

I remembered that Yuria is a half-spirit beast with the blood of a Divine Beast flowing, not human.

'Fraud characters.......'

Only I have no talent.