[Continental Year 997, March 2, 2 AM, Rooftop of the Old School Building.]
Whooosh.
A faint wind blows.
Short white hair flutters, and a red cloak billows dramatically behind.
Shwing.
Esta assumes a stance, drawing an invisible sword from her waist.
Though no actual sword exists, she grips an imaginary blade, extending it forward while taking a combat stance.
Vvvrrrr.
Mana begins to flow from Esta’s hand, solidifying into a rainbow-hued aura.
Sword Aura.
The mana not only takes shape but hardens to the level of materials like orichalcum or mithril.
It’s a level beyond simply infusing mana into a sword; it’s the mastery of crafting a blade purely from mana, a blade that could rival any treasured sword.
This level is a symbol of an S-rank. Crafting a sword out of aura, Esta extends the blade forward.
Crack.
The sword begins to tremble.
As if she were destroying her own aura-forged sword, the tip of the blade starts dissolving into a mist of mana, like a mirage rising.
In one swift motion, Esta disperses the aura-crafted sword.
Then, very slowly, she extends her other hand.
Again, she assumes the stance of gripping a sword.
But this time, the sword that forms is not a long blade over a meter in length but a short dagger, as though meant for peeling fruit.
However, the mana forming this dagger is of a completely neutral color—almost colorless, close to a light gray.
“Hmm.”
Gripping the dagger, Esta swings it forward.
It simply cuts through the air, and as soon as the blade thrusts forward, the tip shimmers and the aura quickly dissipates.
“…Ah. This is Esta.”
Instructor Esta speaks into her left wrist.
“I’ve succeeded.”
[You too?]
You too.
At those words, Esta clenches her fist momentarily.
“Yes, Mercenary King.”
[There’s no need to feel competitive, White Sword Saint.]
The voice responding to Esta, the Mercenary King Ederson Lionheart, spoke in a heavy tone.
[Because my mana is more evenly balanced, I reached it faster. In your case, where one attribute of mana is disproportionately stronger, it’s harder to balance everything. If the conditions were the same, you’d have reached the ‘Realm of Nothingness’ much faster than I did.]
“Are you already calling it that?”
[Absolutely. This is a revolution. To even call it an innovation is an understatement. This power… it allows for a complete battle of ‘pure skill’ regardless of mana type.]
Nodding deeply at Ederson’s words, Esta couldn’t help but agree.
[Using non-attribute mana, attributes may become meaningless. No matter what barrier your opponent uses, if you have more mana, you can destroy their defense and strike them down.]
“Yes. That’s exactly right. I believe the same.”
Having once formed non-attribute mana, the characteristics of this mana became apparent without needing further explanation—it was best experienced firsthand.
“Upon further examination, it seems Yunia’s words were indeed true. With this power, we may even be able to kill an Angel.”
[…]
“Mercenary King?”
[The Church will go into a frenzy. No, perhaps it already has.]
Dean Ederson let out a deep sigh.
[Keep an eye on Miss Yunia so she doesn’t panic. Make sure the zealous church members don’t get to her. She’s young, and you know how fervent they can be.]
“You also have your granddaughter to consider, so there’s no need for too much worry. The real problem will be the students who try to attack the Old School Building.”
[…]
Ederson fell silent.
“Dean, are you really planning to leave the Old School Building as a lawless zone? A place not protected by school rules? A place where students from the Old School Building are continually attacked by other students?”
[What do you think?]
“Even if issues arise later, I believe the rules should be changed to apply the same regulations as the Academy dormitories to the Old School Building. So students can’t exploit the school regulations.”
[I agree. But… you know the nature of students, don’t you?]
Crack.
Grinding her teeth momentarily, Esta bit down hard.
[The more you forbid something, the more they want to do it. If the school rules start protecting special admission students, the attacks on them will only become more cunning and sophisticated.]
“So you’re suggesting we continue to leave the field open for obvious attacks like the ones led by Angelica and other students?”
[Wouldn’t it be easier to manage if they attacked openly?]
“Dean!”
[We’ll triple the personnel and budget.]
At those words, Esta furrowed her eyebrows tightly.
“What…?”
[I plan to recruit mercenaries through my old connections to join the faculty. They’ll act as guards in case anything happens.]
“I don’t doubt your connections, Mercenary King, but wouldn’t they cause more chaos?”
[They’re my comrades and subordinates. If they make a mistake, I’ll take responsibility.]
“And the budget for hiring them—?”
[I’ll fund it personally.]
“…”
He was going to use his personal funds.
Ederson was willing to spend his own money to ensure the defense of the Old School Building and the safety of the students.
“…What do you hope to gain by doing all this?”
[Elite students to fight against the Apocalypse descending upon this world.]
“Students, right.”
[Yes. Though it wasn’t intentional, this incident has given us undeniable justification for special admissions. The order of events may be reversed, but…]
“To raise individuals capable of standing against Angels?”
[To stop the beings who call humans ‘mortals’ and indiscriminately slaughter their classmates. And to prevent them from becoming such beings.]
“…”
[Send my regards to Kadisha. She will undoubtedly find out what exactly…turned Angelica into an Angel.]
“…Understood.”
Esta nodded heavily.
Even as an S-rank Sword Master, her capabilities were limited to the sword.
[Instructor Esta. Remember this: We are experiencing an unprecedented situation, and no one knows what new events will unfold. The shock you experienced when you were 17 may repeat itself several times over.]
“…”
[I lost both a disciple and a friend back then. Even his son was lost to me. Now, be honest. Do you see anything in common between that time and the current crisis?]
“…Not at all.”
Esta answered truthfully.
“The only commonality is the appearance of Angels. But back then…it felt like the Goddess herself sent Angels down from the heavens.”
[Is that so? Then we need to investigate Habsderk again.]
“Dean?”
[I have a feeling. If Angels are meant to bring about the Apocalypse and destroy humanity, why did they descend directly rather than possess someone back then?]
“…”
[If the Angels aim to annihilate humanity as part of the ‘Apocalypse’, could it be that something in that place had the power to prevent it?]
For a brief moment, a memory crossed Esta’s mind.
For a split second, a boy who had looked at her sword.
Though he died, he had a sense of assurance, like someone who knew something, unlike other members of the Habsderk family.
“…..”
She nearly spoke the name aloud but managed to hold her tongue.
“Understood, Dean. Should we change the location of the upcoming field exercise then, especially if the Academy plans to investigate that place?”
[No. In fact, I believe the students must conduct their field exercises in the old Habsderk territory—the ‘Demonic Land.’]
“Even if it means they may face mortal danger?”
[Among them is my granddaughter as well, Instructor. I am not asking the students to sacrifice themselves. If I were a bit younger, if I were 17, I would join them myself.]
“…”
[I am old. My growth is long over, and I now struggle to hold on to the mana that slips away every day.]
“Dean.”
[Before this life fades, I intend to handle everything within my power, in my own way.]
“…Understood. I will protect the students in my own way.”
[Thank you. It’s late. Go rest and prepare for tomorrow—no, for another new day.]
Click.
The communication cut off.
Even the Dean’s last words carried a sense of weary resignation.
“…The end of the world, huh.”
The Apocalypse.
The Goddess herself sending Angels to annihilate humanity, targeting mere mortals.
“The entire continent will be thrown into chaos.”
Esdinas Academy, the Old School Building—this was just the beginning.
“I wish someone would just give us a clear answer.”
With a sigh, Esta turned off the magic panel.
“If it is them…hmm?”
Beyond the panel, showing a view of the lounge…
“What are they doing?”
As soon as Esta saw the screen, her body froze.
* * *
I hug Yunia from behind.
Her entire body touches mine, and I intervene in the flow of mana that begins to circulate throughout her body, refining it.
The seven different types of mana are like waves, and tuning these seven frequencies into a single line is the most effective mental training to turn mana into non-attribute mana.
I simply erase the elements that disrupt the flow with my mana.
And so, with Yunia in full contact with my body, I control her mana.
“How is it?”
Yunia creates a large, radiant gray sphere, as big as one of her mana pockets.
“Easy, isn’t it?”
“…”
“This isn’t easy for me either. But with Phoenix’s help, you’ll all be able to do it too. It wasn’t always this simple.”
Yunia presses down on the sphere with both hands, shrinking it.
A watermelon-sized orb turns into a melon-sized one.
“So, who wants to—Ah.”
Yunia starts to get up from me.
“…Ahem.”
She put her hands forward again, pressing her hips against my thighs.
“I’ll show you one more time. Before I help, both of you should try making non-attribute mana yourselves.”
“…”
By any chance.
You’re not sitting on top of me because you don’t want to move away, are you?
If that’s the case—
“Students of the Vermilion Bird class.”
The lounge door opens, and Instructor Esta enters.
“We’ll continue this tomorrow. For now, disperse and go get some rest.”
“…”
(TLN: New Yunia illustrations ( +cough R18) on Discord)
