Chapter 35
On the way back to Keyzen on the skeletal horse, Loraine spoke.
“Thanks for cooperating with Keyzen. Right now, your safety is the main concern. That priest might target your life at any time, anywhere. For now, maybe you should skip classes…”
“No.”
Simon shook his head.
“I'll just go about things as usual.”
“…Isn’t that too dangerous?”
“It’s fine. He might not have seen my face. And even if he did, if he tries something, there’ll be some trace left behind.”
A strange glint shimmered in Loraine’s crimson eyes.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need clues that come at the cost of your life.”
“Listen, Loraine. If I start skipping classes or act out of the ordinary, the priest will only become more certain of who I am. What do you think he’ll assume if he sees Keyzen’s security tailing me? He’ll realize I’ve spilled everything to the upper ranks and that he’s cornered.”
“That may be true, but!”
“When a fanatic is cornered, can you predict what kind of unpredictable act they might commit?”
Loraine bit her lip.
Their enemy had enough loyalty to inscribe the horrid sin known as a Core into their body and infiltrate Keyzen just to fulfill their mission. And the behavior of fanatics defied the logic of ordinary people.
Large-scale hostage situations and suicide bombings, those were already common occurrences caused by fanatics.
If such an incident were to occur in Keyzen as well, not only would the organization's external image be severely damaged, but it would also give those who doubted Keyzen’s ruling system a legitimate excuse to rally together.
“…Alright.”
After some thought, Loraine sighed and spoke.
“But if I notice even the slightest hint of something strange, I’ll protect you. Even if I have to restrict your freedom. Remember this: there’s no need for you to sacrifice yourself for everyone else’s safety.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
Of course, Simon didn’t consider this a sacrifice at all.
“There’s no way I’m stopping school life over something like that.”
Missing classes would only widen the gap between him and the other students.
And if that gap became too large, if one day he had to leave Keyzen because of poor grades or lacking skills?
Keyzen was not the kind of place that bent over backward for personal circumstances, and if he let go now, he’d be the only one to lose out.
Either way, there were risks. So Simon decided it was better to push forward with school life. There was still so much to learn in this school.
And so, the two arrived at Keyzen and parted ways, with Simon returning to the dorm as if nothing had happened.
* * *
The next morning.
Class A students were standing outside the building, excitement written all over their faces.
“Today’s finally the day!”
“Can’t wait.”
Today was Jane’s Elementary Black Magic class.
Specifically, the much-anticipated Cyclops Simulation day. Everyone was dressed in special training uniforms instead of their usual school uniforms.
“As expected from Professor Jane.”
Dick rubbed his nose and spoke.
“Normally, you don’t even get a taste of simulation until the second semester. But here we are, doing it before the protection period is even over.”
“Ugh, I couldn’t sleep a wink last night.”
Kamibarez muttered, and Maelyn gave a soft laugh.
“You’re already like this? Come on, it’s just a virtual battle.”
“Alright, Class A! Please line up in your assigned groups!”
Jane’s teaching assistants began organizing the students. They lined up and entered the building.
The hallway looked new and clean. Everyone was chatting in anticipation of the simulation, but Simon couldn’t shake the strange sensation he felt with every step, it was like his hair was standing on end.
“Groups 1 through 8, this way.”
“Groups 9 through 16, this way.”
They then rode a magical elevator down, which opened into a wide, open space.
“Wow…!”
Keyzen’s virtual battle simulation system, Avalon.
It was a system unique to Keyzen on the entire continent, capable of replicating any monster as a mana lifeform for battle practice.
It was the result of relocating and repeatedly modifying the ancient ruins known as the fortress of illusion and hallucination, Hallucina.
“Welcome, Class A.”
From another magic elevator, Jane and her assistants arrived. The students bowed in greeting.
“We’re short on time, so I’ll get straight to the explanation.”
Typical of her efficient style.
Jane pressed a button on the control device in her hand, activating the mana projector on the ceiling and displaying a screen.
“Groups 1 to 4 will go left, Groups 5 to 8 to the right for the simulation. The rules are exactly the same as the performance evaluation. One main combatant, three support members. Support members cannot leave their set position, and only the main combatant can use direct attacks. The Cyclops will recognize and attack only the main combatant as its enemy.”
Jane gestured toward the vest held by her assistant and tapped it.
“That said, there’s no need to worry. The attacks from the virtual Cyclops will all be absorbed by the barrier magic in this vest. As you take damage, the barrier gauge shown on the screen will decrease. If it hits zero, the training ends. You’ll be returned to the waiting room.”
The students nodded, tension on their faces.
“You’ll be able to experience up to three rounds of virtual combat. Use this chance to assess how well your previously set strategy holds up, and get as close to real battle as possible.”
With Jane’s explanation finished, the simulation began immediately. Groups 1 and 5 entered the training room, and the rest were guided to the waiting room.
The waiting room had spacious sofas and refreshment stands, clearly a place for relaxation. Mana projectors on the ceiling showed the live feed of the other teams’ simulations.
Before reviewing their own strategies, Simon’s team decided to watch the other teams’ performance.
‘Ah, Cindy Vivace is up.’
Group 5 consisted of Cindy Vivace, the pickpocket Simon had met in Langerstine, and a Spiritology hopeful.
She was the main combatant, and her teammates were from Katarology, Darkness Dynamics, and Toxicology.
In Simon’s eyes, it was a decently balanced lineup.
—We will now begin the simulation battle.
Jane’s voice came through the speaker.
Wooooooooong!
As if the room filled with mana, the training room suddenly transformed into a forest.
It really felt like they had been dropped into the middle of a forest, surrounded by trees, the chirping of birds, and even the sound of wind. The students watching let out impressed exclamations.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Then, from deep in the forest, came heavy, ground-shaking footsteps. Birds flew away in a panic.
The sound grew louder and louder until, crashing through the brush, appeared a massive, over-two-meter-tall, turquoise-skinned monster.
Its body was pure muscle, one eye grotesquely crushed as though smashed in, while the other darted madly up and down.
—KRUAAAAAAAH!
As the beast roared with its mouth wide open, the expressions of the students inside the training room froze in unison.
“Alright!”
Cindy extended her arm behind her. A sleek black scythe appeared and landed in her hand.
“Let’s do this!”
With a thunderous boom, the battle began.
And then…
[Simulation Failed]
Elapsed Time: 1 minute 16 seconds
Damage Dealt: 22%
Barrier Gauge: 0%
Overall Evaluation: F
The simulation data was projected onto the mana screen.
Everyone's jaws dropped at the one-sided result. Simon was just as surprised.
‘This is no joke.’
The teammates rushed toward Cindy, who lay sprawled on the floor. As she raised her upper body, she scratched her head with an embarrassed smile.
“Sorry, my timing for Spirit Form was a bit off. I’ll definitely dodge it next time!”
Team 1 had finished even faster than Team 5.
The reason was the same. The main combatants failed to respond properly to the Cyclops’s relentless assault and were taken out. Just a single hit dropped the barrier gauge to below half.
Moreover, both teams had brought “curses” as their method of restraining the Cyclops, but with the main combatant taken out before they could even cast anything, they didn’t have a chance to do anything.
“The ones who went out there, they all froze up.”
Dick commented. Simon nodded in agreement.
“There’s probably a psychological factor too.”
Even if three teammates were behind them, facing a Cyclops alone—it wasn’t something easy to handle, neither the fear nor the tension.
Simon turned his head.
“Maelyn. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Huh, huh?”
Her face had gone white as a sheet, and she quickly nodded.
“Of, of course I’m fine!”
But from her voice, trembling with tension, she was clearly not fine.
In the end, she said she had to go to the bathroom and stepped away. She wasn’t the only one, many students were heading straight to the bathroom.
Then came the live simulations of Teams 2 and 6. Simon watched with wide eyes, hoping to find any hints, but once again, the main combatants were struck head-on by the Cyclops’s attacks and fell.
—Teams 3 and 7, please enter the training room.
Sooner than expected, it was already Team 7’s turn. As Simon got up from his seat, a group of students headed to the training room on the opposite side.
‘Ah, Team 3 is Hector’s team.’
At the center was Hector, the team leader, with A-Class’s summoning ace Pierre Buckley, and two other members whose scores in Darkness Dynamics and Spiritology were over 90 points. They were widely considered the top team in A-Class.
Just then, Hector and Simon’s gazes met midair. Hector’s lips curled into a smirk.
“You’re the main combatant for Team 7, right?”
Simon shook his head.
“It’s not me, it’s Maelyn.”
“That naïve little lady’s taking the lead? You stepped aside to spare her pride?”
“She’s simply the most capable person for the role.”
“Don’t act so boring, Simon Follentia.”
A glint flashed in Hector’s eyes.
“Clash with all you’ve got. This time, I’ll break you for real.”
—Teams 3 and 7! Please enter the training room quickly.
As the assistant urged them, the two turned their backs and headed toward their respective training rooms.
Simon entered the room, where Dick and Kamibarez were waiting, stretching. A teaching assistant holding a clipboard looked around and asked,
“Where’s the last member?”
“Sorry I’m late!”
Finally, Maelyn rushed in, panting. As the assistant pressed the controller in her hand, countless mana signal lights on the wall lit up and the door closed.
“Main combatant, step forward.”
“Yes.”
Maelyn stepped forward, her face visibly tense.
“I will now mark the positions for the support roles.”
As the ceiling indicators blinked, a circle of mana was drawn on the floor. The three of them walked to their designated spots—Kamibarez to the left, Simon in the center, Dick to the right. And Maelyn stood in front of them.
“The Cyclops cannot see the support members, so rest assured. Of course, stepping even one foot outside this circle will result in disqualification.”
“Yes!”
“Main combatant. Are you ready?”
“Ah… yes!”
Maelyn, who had momentarily spaced out, replied.
“Maelyn, get a grip. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Dick asked.
“…I told you, I’m fine!”
“Don’t get too nervous, Maelyn! It’s just a virtual battle anyway! You’ve got this!”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Everyone stood firm in their positions. The assistant stepped back and spoke.
“Now, Team 7’s first simulation battle, will begin.”
The assistant’s body faded into the air, and a fierce wind blew in. Simon’s eyes sharpened.
‘Wind inside a room? It really isn’t just an illusion.’
The ground turned green as the surroundings transformed into a forest and a swamp spread out.
Leaves caught in the wind brushed against Simon’s forearm. As he touched them with his hand, he could feel their texture clearly.
Watching from the outside and experiencing it firsthand were worlds apart. In the overwhelming realism of the storm, Simon couldn’t afford to think about anything else.
And then—
Thud! Thud!
The ground vibrated. Dick shouted,
“Everyone get ready! It’s coming!”
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
With heavy, thunderous footsteps, the massive form of the Cyclops burst through the thick foliage.
—KRUUAAAAAAHH!
All the hair on Simon’s body stood on end, his heart pounding wildly. It truly felt like a monster had appeared in the middle of the forest.
Even from the set position, the pressure was intense. For Maelyn, who had to face it head-on…
“Phewuuuh.”
Then, she let out a deep breath. Her expression turned serious.
“Alright, just do it like we practiced.”
Her trembling subsided.
Simon smiled. Contrary to his worries, she was adapting quickly to the situation.
‘Right, who am I to worry? There’s no one here who needs worrying over.’
Simon pulled the virtual lever.
‘I’ll give 200% focus to my role!’
Superb.