The Academy’s Deceased Ate It All

TN: Minerva’s weapon is called Guandao. I’m actually embarrassed with how long it took to translate it. Also, sorry for not being able to make more chapters. Procrastination is a common debuff.

“Do you know what resonance is?”

Hyun-Hwa, walking quickly at the front of the group, cautiously opened her mouth.

After a moment of silence, Ye-Seul spoke up.

“Are you referring to that phenomenon of sharing magic power and tuning with another person?”

“Exactly.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Ye-Seul.

At the stares focused on her, she looked slightly embarrassed.

“What? Even if I look like this, I’m a member of a mage family,”

“…It’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”

Soo-Young muttered, and Ye-Seul nodded in agreement.

“It’s not a proven theory; I heard it by ear. To put it mildly, it’s pseudoscience. Like how you just know sweat isn’t pure water.”

As Ye-Seul muttered, she gently grabbed Yu-Na. She was starting to pant, trying to keep up with the rest of the group.

“Simply put, let’s say my power is 10, and Yu-Na’s is also 10, and the two of us resonate for whatever reason. Our combined power will be at least 20.”

She laughed bitterly.

“It doesn’t make sense, huh?”

“…None at all.”

Soo-Young retorted.

Because she was a mage, she could see how absurd the resonance Ye-Seul was talking about was.

“But it is possible.”

Hyun-Hwa looked at Soo-Young for a moment, then continued.

“Either the wavelengths between two people are so similar that it’s hard to tell the difference, like twins, or they’re in sync and have been for years. There was also a theory that those with similar mana or skills would be similar enough. There was also….”

Hyun-Hwa effortlessly tore open the rooftop door.

Minerva was still rampaging in the air, and they could feel two enormous auras fighting against her.

No, one of them had long since faded away.

Feeling the need to hurry up, Hyun-Hwa slowly turned her head and looked behind her.

Soo-Young and Hyun-Woo were the two children she had taught everything to.

Looking at her disciples who would reach heights even only she could dream of, she spoke quietly.

“It seems you two can resonate with each other.”

Hyun-Hwa glanced at them both.

“I can feel it. The techniques you two have mastered were created with resonance in mind. I’m sure you two have some idea of what I mean.”

She was right.

Their master, Nam Hyun-Hwa, has thought the two about it.

Soo-Young looked at Hyun-Hwa suspiciously.

“…But how do you know that?”

Hyun-Hwa answered with a smile.

“When you reach my level, you will naturally know.”

As she said that, she looked at Minerva, who was producing magic out of thin air and muttered.

“We don’t have much time. There is only so much a person can do against one of the Seven Evils. The only thing keeping us in this precarious balance is a singular child. I don’t even want to think about the burden he’s carrying alone.”

“…….”

Soo-Young stood before Hyun-Hwa.

“What should I do?”

Hyun-Hwa smiled inside.

“The two of you should resonate your powers. Han Soo-Young, open a path, and Choi Hyun-Woo, swing your sword along it. For the other two…”

Hyun-Hwa looked at Ye-Seul and Yu-na.

“Jin Ye-Seul, you possess more potent magic power than anyone else here, and if I can transfer it to the two of them, they’ll be able to use their skills better.”

“I don’t know how to work with magic at all.”

“I’ll help.”

Yu-Na raised her hand.

“I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve come into contact with Ye-Seul’s mana often, so I should be able to handle it…ah, that is, of course, if you let me….”

Ye-Seul opened her mouth to say something but begrudgingly nodded and looked at the fight above.

“Then let’s do it quickly. For Ji-Hyuk.”

Soo-Young, who was preparing her mana, turned her head in puzzlement.

The one who should’ve stood by her side wasn’t.

“…What’s wrong, Hyun-Woo?”

His head was in his hands.

“I can’t…”

He wordlessly raised the hilt of a destroyed sword.

“Look.”

It wasn’t just a sword.

It was his pride, his confidence, his everything.

His palm was covered in calluses and scars of all kinds.

“I don’t know what to do with a broken sword like this.”

He muttered with a self-deprecating laugh.

Looking at him, Hyun-Hwa and Soo-Young stiffened.

And they both walked toward Hyun-Woo without a second thought.

***

[Choi Hyun-Woo’s awakening event begins!]

A notification popped up before my eyes, but I didn’t even have time to pay attention.

If I did, I would be strangled.

“What’s wrong? Your movements have become sluggish!”

(Urgh!)

Her guandao sweeps across my body, targeting every inch of me.

The armor of King of Thorns was all but gone.

“This is the end!”

My spear couldn’t even get close anymore.

Minerva sped up her movements, looking for an opening.

“Haha.”

Then, out of nowhere, she bursts into laughter.

She laughed out loud, unable to contain her joy as if she was genuinely amused.

“What a…!”

She went for my throat with a look of sheer excitement.

I drew on the remaining of the thorns to support my spear.

Our weapons collided.

“What?!”

(What…)

A massive wave of magic engulfed us.

An unbelievable sight unfolded before me as I was submerged in the turbulent flow.

***

Before me was a barrier of immense proportions.

No, it was not a barrier.

Minerva.

She was in the form of a dragon.

She looked at me, huffed and puffed her poisonous breath, and spoke.

“Very well, I shall take your word.”

I see myself reflected in her large eyes.

Me.

I am standing.

But it was not me.

“I’ll spare your life if you give me another life in exchange. Let’s say the life of the woman next to you. So choose: her life or yours?

“Neither.”

I said, but I was not in my body.

“What?

“I intend to pay with your life.”

Looking at Minerva, I activated King of Thorns.

“You don’t mind if I overpower you and pay for it with your life, do you?

With those words, I lunged at her.

The scene changed.

“I don’t understand.”

Minerva said with a thump and a wag of her tail.

“Do you really think that’s funny…? I don’t know; human jokes are so hard to understand.”

“…You really don’t think this is funny?”

”First of all, it seems that it’s not just my fault that I’ve never been able to get along with humans, finding such a strange thing amusing… I don’t think we’ll ever be able to understand each other.”

“…Did you at least finish your homework today?”

”…Is it so wrong to be bad at math?”

I shook my head and snorted.

“I don’t get it. How do you understand magic but not addition?”

“And how are you so good at making humans laugh with such terrible jokes?”

It went on and on.

One after another, unfamiliar scenes flashed before my eyes.

“You have a beautiful voice, but never enter a singing competition.”

“…You’re mocking me, aren’t you? If you don’t want to be crushed, explain.”

“No, it’s just that the tones and the time signature are all wrong.”

“I was just singing along as you sang it.”

“…….”

“Let me copy another human I heard.”

I couldn’t hide my displeasure when I heard Minerva sing a few moments later.

It was infuriatingly perfect.

Another scene.

This time, it was Minerva lying on her scales.

Minerva, who raged at the mere thought of anyone touching her, lay in her familiar prostrate position.

“…May I ask you a question, my dear?”

“What is it?”

“Do you really have to go back?”

I was silent for a moment at her words.

After a moment, I nodded.

“Of course.”

“Can you not leave?

Minerva murmured, her tail flicking thoughtfully.

“I’ve heard that a human lifespan is less than a hundred years. But I’ve heard those who consume a dragon’s heart can live beyond a thousand years.”

Minerva muttered quietly.

“I am a dragon, you know. I could live without a piece of my heart. It’ll heal over time anyways, so if you wish, you can take a piece and eat it….”

“Minerva.”

“I can also bring you other dragons if you’re uncomfortable with mine. A fire dragon, an ice dragon… yes, even Milited or that wretched bastard that carries his baggage.”

“Minerva.”

“You said three hundred years, right? Can’t you just wait for me without going back? If you’re going to live a thousand years of life and wait three hundred years, you won’t lose much…”

“I’m sorry.”

Her tail stopped moving.

“…No, I shouldn’t have said that.”

Minerva added quietly.

‘I’m sure it’s because of the blow to the head I got when I fought you earlier.”

Another scene.

This time, Minerva was not in dragon form.

Instead, there was a woman, her black hair ruffled in a frenzy of excitement.

“Look, look, look, look, it’s a human body, it’s a human body. I did as you advised, and it’s a human body…!”

As she exclaimed, Minerva shook her head.

“Why are your eyes so closed, my dear?”

“…I need to get some clothes. Here, put this on first.”

I took off my robe and gave it to Minerva, then disappeared into the distance.

I returned with a large bag and handed it to her a moment later.

“Here.”

“What is this?”

“A dress. I’ve been looking around, and it’s the only thing that looks decent.”

“Hmm…It looks cumbersome.”

Minerva shook her head slightly as she held out the dress.

I could tell she looked at me even with my eyes closed. She seemed to be inspecting my body.

“Can’t I wear something more efficient like your clothes…”

“…I thought it would look great with your hair, so I grabbed it. But if you don’t like it…”

‘…….’

A moment later, I heard the ruffle of the dress.

“Uncomfortable and weird, but I like it.”

She muttered, smiling brightly.

Another scene.

“Stop it, stop it. You’re always talking about your sister, even though you’ve never seen her!”

“I didn’t ask you to nag me.”

“I asked you to keep me informed of the progress of your plans, not what your sister’s favorite sidedish was!”

“But it’s… yeah, whatever. Let’s set aside some time later to talk about my sister.”

“Later…?”

“…I guess I’ll have to return to the drawing board. There are too many restrictions and things to figure out right now.”

“That’s a shame because I’m sure I could have been useful to you if I were more knowledgeable.”

“Well, you’ve already been a great help to me, Minerva.”

I smiled wryly.

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have gotten the child’s body back. The rest is up to me, and I’ll find it.”

“…I’m sure you will.”

I nodded at Minerva’s words.

I thank her, but she says nothing.

The scene changed again.

I knew instinctively that this was the last one.

“Seal me.”

Minerva’s words left me staring at her, speechless.

“Minerva.”

“There is no choice, no matter how much I think about it; this is the only way. Come, come, seal me. I would rather meet my end with your hands.”

Minerva’s face was contorted in pain as she spoke.

“There was no law like this before. When you go back, you forget everything…Everything…”

She gritted her teeth in frustration.

“That is unacceptable. Damned Ariman. How many times has he bent us to his will….”

Minerva handed me a crystal that emitted an unusual energy as she spoke.

“This is a sealing stone forged from my heart. When you pierce my heart with it, I will be sealed off from the outside world. No matter what happens, the seal will not be broken for over 300 years.”

“…This is only a temporary solution, and you know it, right?”

“I am well aware, my dear. It’s only a stopgap measure, and it only preserves a few memories; it’s a fool’s errand.”

She gave a small shake of her head.

“And yet I cannot resist. I no longer wish to follow his lead, nor do I wish to forget my memories of you. Even the smallest bit of it is good, so if I can preserve anything, I will definitely….’

“…I’m sure I won’t remember you, no, I don’t think I’ll remember you; I don’t think I’ll even realize that I met you like this.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Minerva smiled.

It was the gentlest smile I’d ever seen.

“I will remember you.”

I stared at her smile and closed my eyes in silence.

“……Hundred thousand.”

“Huh?”

“Count to a hundred thousand.”

I gently grabbed her shoulders.

With my other hand, I fixed the crystal and looked her in the eye.

“Add one a day. When you reach a hundred thousand, I will be standing before you.

“…Is that so?”

Minerva was still smiling.

Even as the crystal pierced her heart, her human form crumbled, and her body turned to stone as an irresistible force seized her, she still smiled.

“Then I will wait for you, too.”

Until the end of time.

***

(Ah, ugh…)

I winced involuntarily at the pain in my head that felt like it would split open.

And it seemed that Minerva felt the same way.

(What, was that…?)

I feel like I’ve seen something essential.

But like waking up from a dream, I couldn’t recall what it was.

“…What the hell, what is it?”

Minerva ran her fingers through her hair as if trying to recall something.

Her body swayed precariously.

Despite this, she was still pointing her guandao at me.

I reflexively pointed my spear at her.

“Hmph!”

She immediately launched herself at me and swung her weapon.

I couldn’t help but be confused by her attack.

It was a weak, empty hit.

She couldn’t even scratch my body as her weapon passed by me.

“…Why didn’t I kill you?”

Minerva muttered through clenched teeth as she retrieved her guandao.

Even she seemed to be in disbelief.

She gritted her teeth.

She glared at me, her eyes a mixture of shame, anger, and everything in between.

She immediately lunged again, swinging her guandao wildly.

I swung my spear, aiming for her wrist.

But something blocked my view.

[Choi Hyun-Woo’s Awakening Condition has been fulfilled!]

[Awakening Condition – Wallow in self-hatred and pity; enlightenment comes from the depths.]

[Fulfilled the awakening conditions for a total of two people].

[As a reward, a locked feature will be unlocked].

A notification popped up before my eyes.

My spear cut her as if it were butter.

Blood gushed onto my spear.

I had pierced her chest.

“…Ah.”

Unable to utter a single word, she falls off the dragon.

I didn’t hesitate to jump after her.

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