Chapter 118: Chapter 118

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Eve's Arrival

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The Oblex Bridge at Jerion Academy.

From the carriage that had just crossed the bridge, a woman descended.

Beneath her flowing blue hair, her blue eyes gleamed.

Her appearance exuded more coolness than beauty.

The Unyielding Azure Flame.

It was Eve.

Before her stood an associate professor of martial arts, who had come to greet her.

His name was Barkov Devlizu.

He was the associate professor in charge of martial arts for second-year students.

His entire face, jiggling with flesh, stretched into a wide grin.

It was his habit to grin instinctively whenever he saw a woman of striking beauty.

It was an utterly unpleasant grin, but Eve didn't even spare him a glance.

Because there was someone who infuriated her even more than Associate Professor Barkov's obnoxious smile.

Starting from the way he framed her as having confessed to him at the international individual exhibition conference.

The man who, after provoking her relentlessly at the individual exhibition, unleashed an ancient dragon's magic and got himself arrested.

Hanon Irei.

Whenever she thought of him, Eve couldn't help but grit her teeth.

This transfer filled her with bitterness over the label that had stuck to her like a tail.

A lover who chased after love, even going so far as to study abroad.

Love?

She had never once felt such a thing in her life.

Eve wasn't particularly fond of men.

More precisely, she wasn't particularly fond of people in general, regardless of gender.

Eve was a commoner.

And this academy was already teeming with nobles who possessed an innate sense of superiority.

It was obvious how Eve would have been treated there.

She had been subjected to humiliating remarks more than once just because she was pretty.

There was nothing more infuriating than being judged on her appearance rather than her skill.

'There are good people, of course.'

Eve was in a position where she received more jealousy than recognition.

For someone like her to feel love for the opposite sex?

Forgive her, but Eve didn't have the confidence to live such a romantic life.

For such a label as 'lover' to be attached to her, it couldn't be more humiliating.

A sigh escaped Eve's lips.

'Was this a rash decision?'

Of course, it couldn't be said that Hanon had no influence on this transfer.

His influence was significant in Eve's decision to transfer in a fit of pique.

But Eve hadn't transferred just because of him.

The main reason Eve came to transfer.

It was because of Iris.

On the day she clashed swords with Iris.

Eve saw an eerie presence beyond her.

Though it was merely a premonition, Eve was the kind of person who would act on such a premonition alone.

Thus, she willingly transferred to Jerion Academy.

'Honestly, I thought Ordo Academy would try to hold onto me more.'

Ordo Academy let her go more easily than she expected.

The influence of the martial arts professor there was significant.

「Eve, as you know, Preliz is in decline. That's why support for Ordo Academy has decreased.」

The martial arts professor at Ordo Academy was someone Eve personally respected.

Though his influence was weak for a professor and he was often disregarded, he always worked hard for his students.

「In not too long, we will merge with Jerion Academy anyway.

I would rather you spread your wings at Jerion than at the declining Ordo.」

He always wished for Eve to venture out into a wider world.

The kingdom of Preliz was too small for Eve to remain in.

So, the professor willingly processed the transfer for Eve.

Eve thanked the professor repeatedly for his sincerity.

'One thing I regret is...'

Among the students she had lived with, not a single one expressed regret over Eve's transfer.

Instead, when Eve left, they wore relieved expressions, as if saying, 'Good riddance.'

That fact left Eve feeling somber.

Eve had tried her best to get along with the other students, but it seemed her efforts had been largely in vain.

'Will I be different at Jerion?'

The previous experience had left a bit of a trauma, causing her concern.

She wondered if she would truly be able to fit in with the students, even at Jerion.

But Eve quickly shook her head.

She hadn't lived a life young enough to be fixated on human relationships.

She decided to prioritize the reason she had come to Jerion.

"Well, well, to see the Unyielding Azure Flame in person! It's a pleasure! I'm Barkov Devlizu, the finest associate professor of martial arts!"

At that moment, Barkov abruptly extended a thick hand towards Eve, who was lost in thought.

Even with the greasy feel of his hand, Eve didn't flinch and took it.

Barkov then grinned broadly and subtly tried to squeeze her hand tighter.

Eve immediately pulled her hand away and glared at him with a displeased look.

"Ah, yes."

Before she was a swordswoman, she was a woman.

She was sensitive to eyes gleaming with male desire.

One might not expect an associate professor of martial arts to be like that, but Barkov's gaze was blatant.

"Haha, I've got a firm grip on martial arts, so just make sure you stay on my good side!"

Barkov chuckled, pretending to be generous, and cast a sidelong glance at Eve.

Just as Eve's mood was about to sour at that look.

Eve spotted a boy running in the distance, kicking up dust.

Just as his familiar figure caused her eyes to widen gradually.

The boy's body suddenly shot up into the air.

A person was flying.

The moment Eve stared blankly at it, the boy's two feet accurately struck Barkov's face.

"Guhk!?"

With a scream, Barkov was sent flying and slammed into the ground.

The boy landed on top of Barkov, who had buried his head in the dirt.

He casually lifted his foot.

"Wow, Associate Professor Barkov, I didn't take you for the type, but you've been spreading every rumor about me, haven't you?"

The boy grinned broadly, focusing power into his foot.

"I wonder how you planned to deal with the consequences."

And then, without a moment's hesitation, he stomped his foot down towards Barkov's head.

Thump!

But the boy's foot was blocked by a sword.

As the boy's red eyes swiveled, they reflected Eve.

Eve, holding the boy back, narrowed her eyes.

"Hanon Irei."

The very cause of her fury, the reason she had come all the way to Jerion Academy.

"What is this sudden act of violence?"

The very person she had been anticipating meeting again appeared before Eve.

* * *

In front of Jerion Academy's entrance.

I saw Eve, who had stopped me from punishing Barkov.

I had expected Eve to transfer soon, but I didn't know it would be today.

Therefore, I showed Eve a friendly smile.

Because now, it would be good to build a friendship with Eve.

"Eve, long time no see. We're classmates at the same academy now, so we can speak informally, right?"

"Do as you please."

I had been granted permission to speak informally.

It seemed we would become good friends in the future.

"More importantly, I'd like you to explain this situation right now."

Eve demanded an explanation for why I had crushed Barkov.

I understood the situation.

In Eve's eyes, I was someone who had just committed an act of violence against an innocent Barkov.

"Attacking an innocent person like this is not right."

"I agree with that. I felt quite wronged when I was attacked at the party."

I had previously been attacked by Eve due to the ancient dragon's magic.

Eve's eyebrows twitched subtly.

"Even so, Associate Professor Barkov isn't innocent."

My gaze fell upon the unconscious Barkov.

"In fact, it'd be better for him to be punished by me. This guy, he might be murdered soon."

Vinesha had found out the source of the rumors spreading through the academy.

Vinesha was the type of person who would only ever look at me for her entire life.

For her, the idea that I had another lover was the greatest humiliation.

She's coming to kill him.

If it's Vinesha, she will definitely come to kill him.

So I came here to finish Barkov off before she could get blood on her hands.

He was going to be expelled from Jerion Academy anyway, so I intended to get him expelled right now.

"Murdered? What are you talking about?"

Eve, unaware of the situation, didn't understand my words.

But I lifted my foot from Eve's sword and clenched my fist.

"I'll explain soon. It seems she'll be here any moment, so I need to finish this quickly."

Just as I was about to finish Barkov off again, an azure flame erupted on Eve's sword.

I quickly pulled my foot away and stepped back before touching the azure flame.

Then I looked at Eve with a dumbfounded expression.

"Eve?"

"Hanon Irei, you've always been prone to lying to me."

Eve's sword, wreathed in azure flame, was pointed at me.

"Don't you think you've accumulated too much bad karma for me to immediately believe your words?"

Somehow, Eve had ended up defending Barkov.

Eve's words meant that she wanted to confirm the facts before acting.

But I couldn't just say, 'Yes, I understand,' and let it go.

"Whatever else, this time it's the truth."

"I dislike your brazen attitude."

"Associate Professor Barkov is the kind of person who pathetically spread rumors just because a woman he liked showed interest in me."

I had no choice but to explain the circumstances.

Eve's eyes turned towards Barkov.

She couldn't readily believe my words, but she seemed to recall Barkov's demeanor.

She hesitated, mumbling her lips.

A look of indecision, of not knowing what to do, appeared in her eyes.

Even to Eve, Barkov must not have seemed like a righteous person.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey! That lightning bastard, she's coming! She's coming!"

Just then, Dorara's frantic voice reached my ears.

Dorara, who had run all the way, carried by the wind, came into view.

Simultaneously, behind him, a jet-black presence furiously rushed towards us.

The identity of the being, with its long, dangling arms, was an evil spirit.

Hundreds of red eyes, embedded in its face, gleamed amidst its long black hair.

Just by looking at those eyes, one could tell how consumed by malice the evil spirit was.

It was the evil spirit Vinesha had sent to kill Barkov.

"Am I too late?"

I let out a sigh of resignation.

Eve, too, widened her eyes in dismay at the appearance of the evil spirit.

"A, a ghost?"

Her face turned stark white.

It seemed that despite her strong demeanor, she was weak against supernatural or occult things like ghosts.

"Ugh, ugh."

Just then, Barkov opened his eyes.

His face was swollen, and he shakily lifted his arms.

And then, he grabbed Eve's pale ankle.

"Sa, save me."

"Kyaa!"

Eve, who had been flustered by the evil spirit, was startled by Barkov's hand and instinctively swung her sword.

Whoosh!

"Squeaaaall!"

At that moment, with a sound like a pig being slaughtered, Barkov screamed and burst into azure flames.

Barkov rolled around on the ground.

Eve, seeing the sight, muttered 'Uh-oh' and sheathed her sword.

The azure flame clinging to Barkov's body extinguished.

Soon after, Barkov lay unconscious, charred black, with his eyes rolled back.

Barkov was cooked to a crisp.

The evil spirit, which had been frantically rushing towards them, abruptly stopped.

The evil spirit gazed at Barkov for a moment, then slowly dissolved into smoke and vanished.

"Hmph, did, did we get him?"

Dorara wiped the sweat from his profusely sweating face.

That bastard, he always says the one thing you absolutely shouldn't say.

Still, he had come all this way, even to save a person who wasn't much of a human.

As a student of Jerion Academy, he was the kind of guy who upheld his duty to protect lives.

I left Dorara be and turned back to Eve.

She wore a look of utter dismay at what she had done.

Gazing at such an Eve, I smiled kindly.

"Now, we're accomplices."

Eve's face crumpled slightly.