Chapter 104

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The days passed like a flash.

As the second semester of the academy began, the campus was once again bustling with people; they each brought as many rumors as there were people, and most of them were nothing but grim stories.

The northernmost colony had been razed, and the Grand Duke of the North had lost all the territories he had painstakingly pioneered over five decades. In the East, a great surge of monsters had been observed, resulting in countless refugees. Like weeds, demon worshippers sprouted everywhere, inciting the masses and causing unrest.

The West was not entirely peaceful either. Despite the efforts of the central nobles to control information, whispers about the imperial palace and the princess still managed to circulate. In addition, all kinds of rumors and slander were rampant.

There were tales of werewolf sightings, entire villages transforming into ghouls overnight, and even a benevolent archbishop being identified as a doppelganger and subsequently burned at the stake. If I hadn't kept my mouth shut, I would have added stories of necromancers from the south to this list as well.

However, not all news was bleak. An unbelievable rumor circulated that a powerful evil spirit that had awakened from a long slumber had been extinguished without any harm by a young girl. The girl, with her green-hued aura, was said to be a spirit mage, and some speculated that she might be a student at the academy, leading to a list of several possible candidates.

I also heard a tale of the adventures of a heroic young boy. He had reportedly captured a demon worshiper who intended to sacrifice villagers, protected refugees from the monster flood, destroyed a flesh golem created by an evil mage, and acquired a sword master's secret technique.

The boy was described as having bright golden hair and eyes as blue as the sea. Once again, several names were suggested, but those who had already heard rumors about a certain first-year student had only one person in mind.

Adding the final touch to all these stories were the whispers of exchange students from the Holy Kingdom. Scions of high-ranking families from the Holy Kingdom whispered breathlessly that the Holy Sword beneath the cathedral had begun to weep nightly, seeking its master.

The tale of the Holy Sword had enough impact to overshadow all other rumors. It implied the imminent birth of a new Hero, signaling the dawn of an era of chaos and turmoil.

After all, an age that required a Hero was inevitably bound to be an Era of strife.

* * * * *

"…Even more so in times like this, we should not take our studies lightly. As those who will one day lead your nation, you should have an even greater sense of responsibility…"

The Principal's speech was in full swing in the grand hall. I let her words wash over me, mulling over the rumors I had heard earlier.

While I had gleaned various stories through hearsay, most were things I was already somewhat aware of. So, I wasn't particularly surprised. Still, hearing about Selene brought a slight warmth to my heart. Recalling my efforts on her behalf, I felt a twinge of pride.

Eugene's story that followed, on the other hand, instinctively bothered me a little, but he was also diligently following his destiny.

However, the rumor from the Holy Kingdom's exchange students did concern me slightly. If the Holy Sword was truly seeking its master, then the Holy Sword Ceremony would be held soon. This meant Eugene would walk his path several months earlier than originally anticipated.

On top of that, Ellie's absence was also a factor that was disturbing my mind. I could only receive Ellie's reply to my letter after arriving at the academy.

Unlike her previous letters that had been filled to the brim, Ellie's last letter only had two lines written on it. Her usual neat handwriting was gone, and there were only crooked letters. It was as if she had written it with an unfamiliar hand.

⌠I have a bad case of chills and I think I need to recover more. I'll be back in good health soon. Until then, don't let your guard down and study hard. And don't reply for now, it's hard. Fool. I miss you.⌡

I was worried that something might have happened to Ellie, but a cold was something she could quickly bounce back from. Feeling a bit relieved, I sent back a reply along with a high-quality potion that was good for her body.

"And now, please welcome Professor Kselia, who will be teaching the newly revamped Demonology course. Professor Kselia is also an expert in local folklore and various legends from different regions. Please welcome her with a round of applause."

— Clap! Clap!

The sound of applause snapped me back to attention. On the platform, a woman had come forward to greet everyone. She appeared to be in her thirties, with her hair casually tied back. Wearing large-framed glasses and bearing a seemingly timid expression, she looked more like a scholar than an educator. As she turned to leave after her greeting, she stumbled, eliciting light laughter from the students.

Professor Kselia hurriedly returned to her seat, and when the professors from the Departments of Martial Arts and Magic shot deadly glares at the source of laughter, the commotion quickly subsided.

The Principal then surveyed the crowd, assessing the atmosphere, before continuing her speech in a more solemn tone.

"What I'm about to say is of utmost importance, so I ask for your undivided attention. A prophecy from the Holy Kingdom, previously classified, has been made public. The Holy Sword has begun to shine, and soon, a ceremony will be held to find its rightful wielder."

The murmuring started again as soon as the Principal finished speaking; she raised her hand to quiet the crowd and resumed speaking as if nothing had happened.

"I believe you all understand what this means. Furthermore, there is an interpretation of the prophecy that suggests that the Hero of this generation will come from among the students of our St. Clifford Academy. Therefore, until the Holy Sword Ceremony, you should all strive to hone yourselves…"

The Principal's words were cut short by an uproar far greater than before. When raising her hand proved insufficient to quell the excitement, she placed her hand on her throat and muttered an incantation. 

Then she cleared her throat twice and spoke, "Quiet."

Though the principal's tone was as calm as if she were having a casual conversation, her voice resonated powerfully throughout the entire hall. The students finally settled down.

Just as the principal was about to continue, a third-year student suddenly raised their hand and asked a question.

"Principal Evangeline. I'm Gontas Warren from the Martial Arts Department. I don't understand how a Hero could be chosen from among us. No matter how talented we are, isn't there a limit? Even the strongest among us couldn't so much as touch a hair on your head."

"If sheer strength alone could solve all the world's problems, we wouldn't be facing such chaos now. A Hero is one who upholds their mission and walks their own path. Strength naturally follows after that."

Despite the Principal's response, the third-year student still looked perplexed. As he sat down, another student raised their hand.

"Shadi Vena, second-year Martial Arts Department. If chosen as a hero, does that mean we immediately leave the academy for the field?"

"Of course not. You still have much to learn. There will be a reorganization of the curriculum to suit this purpose. We will discuss this further later."

"Principal, I'm Nimnia from the Magic Department. I thought the one who wields the Holy Sword would be chosen as the Hero. Does this mean the current discussion is limited to the Martial Arts Department?"

"The 'Holy Sword' is merely a conceptual term. Whether you're from the Martial Arts or Magic Department is irrelevant. The Holy Sword will adapt its form to suit its master."

"I see. That's a relief. After all, a true hero would need fitting intellect."

Although the female student nodded in understanding at the Principal's words, her response immediately sparked outrage across the grand hall.

"Nimnia! What did you mean by that?"

"Typical of the Magic Department! Always cooped up in your labs handling smelly reagents, and you think you can be heroes?"

"Hey! What would muscle-heads like you know? If a hero comes from the thick-skulled Martial Department, it'll be a disaster for the continent!"

As Nimnia flared up and responded, the commotion only grew louder. The first-year students, who had not yet decided on their majors, were just bewildered, but the second and third-year students actively joined in the argument.

In the midst of all the shouting, I caught a glimpse of Estelle in the distance, her hand on her forehead as if exasperated by the scene.

Normally, the professors would have sternly intervened by now, but for some reason, they were momentarily observing the situation. It was as if they understood the students' excitement upon hearing two crucial words: holy sword and hero.

"Now, now, that's enough. It's not becoming to show such competitiveness in front of your first-year juniors. Don't you think this has gone on long enough?"

The Principal's words finally brought the situation under control. With a light smile, she continued her speech, "The criteria for selecting a hero are known only to the gods. Individual status, strength, or gender are not important factors."

This also implied that students of common birth had just as much opportunity as anyone else.

Come to think of it, the first hero, Valerio, was indeed of common birth. If discrimination against commoners still exists in the current era, it must have been even more pronounced in his time.

Yet, he proved himself by defeating the Great Demon. At the same time, he won the love of both the Empress and a Duchess, amassing wealth that would last for generations. I wonder if any noble of that time dared to look down on him for his common origins. Probably not.

If they had, they wouldn't have quietly stood by as the imperial throne passed from Drakan to Canias.

As if thinking along similar lines, I could see commoner students with bright eyes here and there. Even though I couldn't see from my seat, Eugene would probably be making the same expression.

If nothing else, they would overwhelm the noble students in terms of sheer desperation.

The Principal's speech soon concluded, but the students still gathered in groups and chatted; there were no other events scheduled for the day besides the opening ceremony, so there was plenty of time to spare.

The main topic of conversation was, of course, speculation about which student would be chosen as the hero. The focus was mainly on the various strong students from the upper grades.

Though the principal had already said that strength was not a factor, there were almost no students who thought that a first-year student would become the hero. They each chattered away, spitting out their own guesses.

One female student's comment that she would become the hero and gather all the handsome men in the empire to form a harem caused a burst of laughter from those around her.

But there was nothing as boring as knowing the outcome in advance in a story like this. I was walking out of the Hall, pushing my way through the crowd. In the process, my eyes fell on a female student with light green hair who was looking around.

Selene, who seemed to be searching for someone, spotted me and greeted me with a bright smile. No one would think that smile was directed at me in this crowded hall. As I was about to return the gesture, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

Turning around, I saw a girl with ash-gray hair and pale sky-blue eyes, grinning at me.

"Cecila?"

"Edwin. How have you been? Why does it feel like it's been so long since we last met?"

Although my first impression of Cecila wasn't particularly positive, our shared experiences had long since washed that away. Seeing her face now filled me with genuine joy.

"....."

I turned back, intending to finish greeting Selene. However, her bright smile had long since vanished. In its place, I saw only two eyes silently gazing at Cecila.

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