Chapter 42

EP.42 End-of-Semester Evaluation (6)

To Ruche Eltania, other people were like a porcupine with sharp quills all over its body.

Even a slight approach would result in pricks and stings, causing pain.

The witch of the confectionery shop was dead.

The person who had taken in Ruche, who had been abandoned by her parents and had nowhere to go, and who had been extremely precious to Ruche, had died right before her eyes.

The witch of the confectionery shop had sacrificed her life to protect the people she wanted to protect, and was recorded in history with the notorious title of the Grand Witch of Heaven, and had been continuously defamed by people ever since.

History is not solely a possession of the past; it is also a craft shaped by the hands of those living in the present.

Thus, it became an unbearably bitter conclusion for Ruche.

A deep sense of doubt washed over her. Her hatred for humans took root and sprouted.

It happened when she was just ten years old.

Ruche, who remembered everything she saw, would vividly recall the pain every time someone spoke to her.

So she lived like a mute, avoiding others.

Eventually, she acquired the skill to hide memories she didn't want to recall deep within her mind.

But the lingering pain remained, like an aftertaste, and the approach of anyone still felt like a needle piercing her heart.

Then, she made her first friend.

For Ruche, who would instinctively feel hatred when someone spoke to her, this was an extremely unusual event.

Eating together, exchanging casual daily conversations or silly jokes, studying together, teaching what she found difficult, helping with training, and encouraging her...

Even though they had been friends for less than a month, the time spent with this friend gave Ruche an unparalleled sense of fulfillment.

The only person who didn't make her feel hatred.

To Ruche, who had closed her heart to others ever since she witnessed the death of the confectionery shop witch at the age of ten.

This friend felt like a precious existence, like the sunrise at dawn that illuminates the darkness.

“……”

Under the sky dyed with the colors of the sunset, Isaac's figure was reflected in Ruche's eyes.

His scorched school uniform, the marks of flame magic, and the dirt all over him from rolling around somewhere.

Through the torn parts of his uniform, hardened bloodstains could be seen. Who had caused these wounds?

A large bruise was visible on his arm, where he had rolled up his sleeve. Who had hit him so roughly?

A single drop of water can create several concentric ripples in a calm pond.

But Isaac's appearance was like a boulder dropped into a calm pond, causing a torrent to surge within Ruche's heart.

“...Ruche?”

It was a pleasant sound. I don't want you to get hurt, calling my name like that.

I know this is a test, and getting hurt is inevitable. Ruche understood this intellectually.

Still, no matter what, no matter what.

If several, or even dozens of enemies were targeting Isaac, all intending to hurt him...

Ruche felt an uncontrollable surge of anger.

Pwoaaaaaaa───!!

Suddenly, her water mana began to swirl above her head, emitting a clear blue light. The scale was grand enough to envelop the entire area.

Her mana control was so excellent that not a single drop of water splashed. This was no different from her intention to use every drop of water for an attack.

Five magic circles, each about two meters in diameter, were inscribed around her. All were 5-star or higher magic circles, ready to be activated at any moment.

The enemies targeting Isaac and Siel swallowed hard and watched Ruche warily.

They couldn't act rashly. Everyone in the area was within Ruche's magic range, and she could harm anyone at any time.

“R-run...! The top student can't be beaten...!”

“I'll kill you if you run.”

Tristan's urgent command to his subordinates was cut off by Lysetta's menacing voice.

“A man who tries to run away before even fighting, I can't stand it. If you draw your sword, you should at least cut something, right?”

Tristan and his subordinates looked at Lysetta with frightened faces.

“Besides, if you take the Fel Card, you'll all become my enemies! The more of you there are, the more fun I'll have, won't I, ah?!”

Lysetta seemed off. Tristan thought so.

Lysetta, grinning, glared at the top student. She had never intended to pass this test quickly. She was excited at the prospect of fighting many enemies when the situation was ripe.

This tense situation...! For a battle maniac like her, who wanted a fierce battle, it was impossible not to be excited.

A chill ran down her spine. The calm and collected top student was enraged, and Tristan himself was tense!

Lysetta laughed and gripped her bat tightly with both hands. Soon, a pale green magic circle appeared in front of her.

“...Isaac.”

Ruche turned her gaze toward Isaac. A gentle smile appeared on her face.

It was a soft smile that didn't match the terrifying whirlwind and magic circles above her head.

“Go quickly.”

To ensure Isaac could pass the test and be safe.

Ruche intended to help him escape.

“Thank you, Ruche.”

After assessing the situation, Isaac nodded and started running toward Lysetta.

“E-class commoner, where do you think you're going?!”

Tristan immediately launched a pale green whirlwind at Isaac.

Just as Ruche was about to protect Isaac with a water barrier [Water Wall]...

「Flame Storm (Fire Attribute, ★5)」 + 「Whirlwind (Wind Attribute, ★4)」 =

───────── 「Flame Dragon (Fire + Wind Attribute)」

Whooshhhhhhhhh─────!

The swirling wind, which was about to hit Isaac, suddenly enveloped itself in flames and began to fly through the sky like an Eastern dragon. Tristan's [Whirlwind] had been combined with Kerrydna's fierce flames to create a joint attack.

Lysetta and Kerrydna hadn't planned this in advance. Kerrydna had anticipated Tristan's magic and cast a fire spell to complement it. This was no easy feat.

Kerrydna began to wave her wand like a conductor's baton. The spiral of flames wrapped around the long whirlwind followed her commands, circling in the sky and growing larger as it consumed her mana.

Then, Lysetta shouted.

“Go, go, go!!”

──────「Rock Collapse (Rock Attribute, ★4)」

Crack───!!

Boom───!!

Lysetta swung her bat horizontally at the magic circle, and large amber rocks fiercely cut through the air.

The mace, 'Rokta,' which enhanced the power of rock attribute magic, made Lysetta's [Rock Collapse] incredibly powerful.

Although her mind was briefly confused by the top student's appearance, it was now clear.

Kerrydna, sweating coldly, forced a smile and inscribed a pale red magic circle.

“...Isaac.”

Ruche turned her gaze toward Isaac. A gentle smile appeared on her face.

It was a soft smile that didn't match the terrifying whirlwind and magic circles above her head.

“Go quickly.”

To ensure Isaac could pass the test and be safe.

Ruche intended to help him escape.

“Thank you, Ruche.”

After assessing the situation, Isaac nodded and started running toward the submission point.

Soon.

“Who are you...?”

“Ruche Eltania!”

Suddenly, Kayah Astreang shouted loudly. The top student with rose-gold hair reacted to her.

Kayah's gaze turned to Ruche. I caught a glimpse of her angry side profile.

Ruche looked at Kayah with an expressionless face, seemingly judging that she wasn't an enemy because she had protected her.

[Kayah Astreang]

Psychology: [Feeling a strong sense of inferiority toward Ruche Eltania.]

The only person who could reduce Kayah to this state was undoubtedly Ruche. Although she had narrowly avoided disqualification, the battle with Ruche had clearly left a significant impact on her.

Lysetta and Kerrydna, who had never seen the diligent Kayah raise her voice, looked shocked.

“I'm Kayah Astreang! My name is Kayah Astreang!! I'm the one who's been chasing you to the death, right behind you!! But you!! You can't even remember me...!”

Her voice was tinged with sobs, and her sincerity echoed.

“I'm so frustrated with you!”

Her hand, holding the wand, trembled.

The inferiority complex the second student had toward the top student had built up and finally burst. The battle with Ruche had undoubtedly pushed Kayah to this point.

This inferiority complex would never improve. The gap between Ruche and Kayah would only grow wider over time. All Kayah would face in the future was a deep sense of doubt.

“I thought I could only receive such treatment from you...!! I... I...! I'm... so weak... in your eyes...!”

「Ice Wall (Ice Attribute, ★4)」

I created an ice wall around Kayah to prevent the students from seeing her cry.

By the time I regained my composure, my feet were already moving toward Kayah.

I stood close to her, almost hugging her from behind, and gently placed a wand from my magic pouch into her hand.

A wand made from the material of an 8-star giant tree, 'Armana,' which guarded the Great Forest.

The only wand that resonates with plant attribute mana, and her ultimate weapon, which would significantly boost her stats.

And it was a gift from me.

“I told you before.”

Except for the tears streaming down her face, Kayah's trembling had stopped, as if time had frozen.

After playing "The Magic Knight of Merchen" countless times, I had grown extremely attached to the characters.

Especially Kayah Astreang, one of the official heroines. The depth of my affection for her is beyond words.

Perhaps that's why. Seeing Kayah sad made my heart ache.

I couldn't bear to stay away from her.

“You will shine in the future.”

“Isaac... sir...?”

Kayah misinterprets me as an incredibly strong person and even admires me.

In reality, I'm just a weakling, but my current false self must have a significant influence on Kayah.

I wanted to use this to offer her the best comfort I could, hoping she would find the strength to move forward.

So, I leaned close to her ear and whispered softly.

“Don't forget. You are someone I acknowledge.”

With those words, I moved away from Kayah, dispelled the [Ice Wall], and started running again toward the submission point.

The students looked back and forth between Kayah Astreang and me, puzzled. They were curious about the short conversation that had taken place inside the [Ice Wall].

The most bewildered was Kayah herself. Her tears had stopped, and her gaze was fixed on the Armana wand I had given her.

Soon, her face turned as red as a beet, and steam began to rise from her head.

...I had momentarily forgotten that Kayah is not immune to men.

“Running away again, you coward!!”

Lysetta's rock was about to fly toward me again.

──── 「Wind Blade (Wind Attribute, ★3)」

Dozens of sharp, blade-like gusts, now much more powerful, shot out from Kayah and easily sliced through Lysetta's rock.

Lysetta's eyes widened in shock.

The rock, imbued with the power of Rokta, being easily cut by a wind spell must have been a huge shock to Lysetta.

“...?”

Kayah herself seemed surprised. It was understandable. Just holding the Armana wand would have significantly enhanced her elemental magic combat ability.

With this, the debt of helping me is settled, Kayah.

I turned my back on the battlefield, where various elemental magic and screams were rampant, and ran toward the submission point.

The time for the Brain God extermination battle was approaching.