It’s not quite right to say “currently,” but from the first semester to the vacation,
a strange suspicion has taken root among the students of Esdinas Academy.
– The closer you are to the Phoenix, the stronger you become?
This suspicion was proven true by three special admission students in the Old School Building.
First, Yunia.
Those who came to attack the Old School Building and those who saw the Suzaku Class during practical training all acknowledged her as someone worthy of special admission.
– Just having large mana pockets isn’t enough!
Her talent was recognized, but what about her actual skill?
Unfortunately, aside from the monthly practicals, there were hardly any opportunities to see her in action,
and even then, unless they were assigned to the same location, there was almost no way to confirm her abilities.
Unless one had access to the reports written by the instructors.
And unless those reports were leaked or passed down from faculty to students through certain channels,
there was no way to know about Yunia’s growth.
– Overall Combat Ability: Currently A0.
– Capable of taking down an A-rank monster alone.
– Excels in firepower-based combat using non-attribute mana.
Before the start of the second semester—more precisely, during the faculty meeting when the need to add a new special class to the Old School Building was being discussed.
– So she was originally B- at the time of admission?
– Yes.
– And in less than half a year—practically, in under six months—she has grown to A0?
– Yes.
The instructors who taught the students at the Academy Main Campus could only click their tongues in astonishment at Yunia’s tremendous growth.
From B- to A0, and even acquiring the ability to take down an A-rank monster solo.
This wasn’t simply the case of a talented student with a hidden Grand Mage for a master—her growth rate was beyond extraordinary.
– Well, fine. Let’s call it talent.
That was possible.
Her mana pockets alone demonstrated overwhelming potential, so it was reasonable to assume that her talent had blossomed in the Old School Building’s environment.
– Then what about Ludmila Lionheart… [Cutting Wind]?
– If she breaks past just one more barrier, she can reach S-rank.
– What?
– As proof, we submit the data from the Gerrquan Wiperus subjugation.
The fact that an S-rank, the White Sword Saint, and an instructor of the Old School Building vouched for her was no trivial matter.
– As you can see, she has learned a technique capable of wounding an S-rank monster’s carapace. It’s still unstable, but the fact that she can inflict meaningful damage against an S-rank monster is proof of her immense growth.
– So… does that mean she’ll reach S-rank soon?
– [Cutting Wind] was always expected to reach S-rank within three years of admission. However, at this pace, she might achieve it before she even becomes a second-year student. Maybe even within the second semester.
– T-That’s…!
An S-rank student, and a freshman at that?
It wasn’t unheard of in Esdinas Academy history.
There had been prodigies who, like [Cutting Wind], honed their skills up to A-rank and eventually achieved S-rank before graduating.
But Cutting Wind had remained at A-rank for quite some time.
Despite reaching A-rank at a young age, she had been stagnating for years.
Yet, now, in the academic setting, rather than on the battlefield as a mercenary, she was learning and growing at an even faster rate—enough to knock on the door of S-rank?
– It’s true that her past experience as a mercenary must have helped, but who would’ve thought that the Academy’s education would be such a perfect fit for her?
The effects of Esdinas Academy were undeniable.
Even if one were to argue otherwise, no one could completely refute the results.
Had [Cutting Wind] remained a mercenary and never entered the Academy, would she have shown the same growth?
Would she have continued to stagnate at A-rank, unable to break past the wall of S-rank?
That was still within the realm of possibility.
After all, she was the disciple of the Mercenary King, and under the watchful eye of the White Sword Saint, who personally sparred with her, she could have had a breakthrough.
But what about the other case?
– So… you’re saying that the Princess of the Di Ercy Empire has grown to A-rank?
– Yes.
Evangeline di Ercy.
Although she had entered as a special admission student due to her imperial status, her talent as a puppeteer had never been considered particularly outstanding.
– She hasn’t reached a perfect A-rank yet, more like A-. But since she fights indirectly using puppets, she can battle relatively safely. In terms of growth speed, she’s undoubtedly the fastest among the three.
– T-That’s impossible! Even the Emperor and Empress of the Di Ercy Empire don’t have particularly strong magic talent…!
While the Di Ercy Empire had proclaimed itself an empire, its royal bloodline was not known for possessing exceptional magical talent.
Though it wasn’t something that could be openly discussed, there had been political reasons behind Evangeline di Ercy’s admission.
– ‘I don’t care about physique, height, or talent in magic, but I will become the imperial consort!’ …Wasn’t that the kind of young man meant to aim for Princess Evangeline di Ercy of the Empire?
With Esdinas Academy practically turning into a marriage market, it was all to pair up a talented male with a singular focus—the title of ‘Imperial Princess.’
The previous princesses either possessed overwhelming talent, had no aptitude for mana and thus couldn’t enroll in the Academy, or carried the burden of being descendants of one of the Four Founders—[The Emperor].
So, if those with illusions about the Imperial Princess set their sights on Princess Evangeline di Ercy, it was thought to be sufficient to fulfill those fantasies.
– While everyone focused on Princess Evangeline di Ercy, Evangeline herself concentrated on her own growth. Thanks to that, as seen in the <Gerrquan Wiperus> raid, she was able to momentarily suppress an S-rank monster physically by enlarging her puppet.
Although she could only cling to one of its eight legs, it was a remarkable feat considering that before entering the Academy, she had barely managed to hang on at the lowest threshold. Yet, in an instant, she had grown to an A-rank level.
– It was to the point that even in the Ercy Empire, they suggested she continue her studies at the Academy during the vacation instead of making the long journey back to the Empire. Of course, a major reason was also that the magic stones obtained through Academy training had flowed into the Ercy Empire in staggering quantities.
– Rumors say that thanks to the influx of magic stones via the Silverstar Trading Company, the Empire was able to make significant repayments on its national debt, bringing them great relief.
The Ercy Empire.
After enrolling the Imperial Princess, the Empire’s debt was reduced, and the princess reached A-rank.
– …More than anything, hasn’t she nearly doubled in size compared to when she first enrolled?
The instructors saw it.
During the <Gerrquan Wiperus> raid, Evangeline controlling her puppet.
Unlike the gothic doll-like appearance she had upon enrollment, though her height remained the same, her body proportions had changed completely.
Everything had filled out where it should, and if not for her unchanged face, one might have mistaken her for a completely different person.
In fact, even the baby fat remaining on her face had melted away, and though it wasn’t due to magic talent, some might have felt their hearts race just by looking at her photo, unaware of her actual height.
Thus, the three who entered the Old School Building showed overwhelming growth.
And that wasn’t all.
– Among the dormitory students, several also exhibited rapid growth. Whether by coincidence or not, these were students who had repeatedly attempted to enter the Old School Building, only to be subdued by the faculty.
– Could it be… they grew stronger through sparring with the faculty?
– There was even a student who never clashed with the faculty but merely stayed near the forest leading to the Old School Building… and still became stronger. This student was actually a freshman who sold lunchboxes to those attempting to enter the Old School Building.
– …They grew stronger just by selling food?
Not just three—most of the Academy students had increased their mana.
Even if ‘becoming stronger’ isn’t solely about real combat experience, the fact that their accumulated mana had increased was an incredibly encouraging result.
And, more than anything—
– White Sword Saint.
– Yes, Dean of Academic Affairs Ederson.
– You seem to be trying to enter the ‘Realm of No Thought’ before me.
– !!
It wasn’t just the students—even the instructors, even Instructor Esta, who was already S-rank, were now aiming for realms beyond S-rank—the realm of heroes whose names would go down in history alongside the Four Founders.
– This must be because of Phoenix.
No matter how one looked at it, Phoenix’s influence was undeniable.
– One person. Among the entire student body, let’s have Phoenix give his recommendation.
At the Faculty Meeting.
– I’m curious who Phoenix will choose.
Through this, Phoenix was given the right to select one student.
And with that choice, Phoenix picked—
Shuri Commissioner.
A seemingly ordinary female student with purple hair.
– Are they… planning to raise her and eat her…? Sob!
Someone may have slandered her, but it was a choice that no one could understand.
Someone tried to make an accusation but was quickly silenced. It was a choice no one could understand.
Not even she knew. Not even the instructors knew. No one knew.
The reason was—
* * *
“Phoenix, why did you choose that student?”
“I thought she would be compatible with Senior Yurha.”
Heroine No. 4.
Affectionately nicknamed [Short-Senior] by players.
A poor artist always needs a patron.
