The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students

34.

I unreservedly tormented Cletta’s mental barrier using my magic. If that happens, she would develop resistance, leading to forced enhancement.

“Are you okay, Cletta?”

That’s the general principle of training.

The results depend greatly on how much Cletta can endure.

“Huhh… Hee.”

She hit the ground and collapsed after just thirty minutes of training, her mouth agape and her tongue lolling out.

She was completely out of it.

Is the progress slower than expected?

I lifted Cletta’s flailing arm, resembling an octopus washed ashore.

“Cletta, it’s not over yet.”

“Mankey… beast…”

“Mankey is a monster. I’m a person.”

Cletta couldn’t keep herself steady, sprawled on the ground and only holding on to my arm.

So, I had no choice but to carry on.

I immediately infused magic. She started having intermittent spasms shortly after her channel opened.

“Stop it!”

As her magical output widened, her operational efficiency increased. If Cletta could endure the current pain, she could experience explosive growth.

“Just hang in there. The harder it is, the more pleasure you’ll feel.”

“Mankey, you really are a perverted creep…”

“Me? Why?”

I genuinely didn’t get it.

To clarify, it’s the opposite.

I avoided romance while gaming, right? No, have I never had romance?

I held Cletta’s arm tightly.

“One more step. This time, it’s going to be a bit more intense.”

“Wait! More intense? I think I’m really going to lose my mind!”

You were already weird to begin with.

There’s no normal among the heroines of this game. Let’s just accept my magic calmly.

“Glhh!━━”

Cletta trembled all over, utterly helpless. Just a bit sad, but I couldn’t show mercy.

An enormous event awaited tomorrow.

At the same moment.

The explanation session for the Class A midterms had just ended. Each class had separate testing locations, but the survival competition framework remained unchanged.

“Are they really asking us to risk our lives for a test…?”

“Isn’t that crossing the line? High-ranking nobles can’t be exempted, right?”

“What if the heir of a noble house gets hurt…”

The gazes of the students subtly shifted toward Ellie Ingrid. To think they must engage in life-and-death duels… What about the revenge of high-ranking nobles? Especially with the four major noblehouse heirs densely packed in Class A. It was an environment where mere students couldn’t help but feel pressured.

“And that person is coming today?”

“Uh… apparently, she’s already had her birthday and is the youngest to enroll.”

“What about the entrance exam?”

“Exempt… Supposedly a genius that only appears once in a century.”

“Ahh…”

The expressions of the two students were filled with reluctance. They bitterly laughed at the mere thought of the person they were discussing.

With a loud bang, the classroom door swung open. The assistant instructor, Arthur Floyd, entered, accompanied by a youthful boy as he walked toward the podium.

“Suddenly, but the ‘new student’ I mentioned has arrived. Let’s take a moment for introductions.”

With a hush, all eyes turned to the podium. A boy, appearing barely ten years old, cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Ahem. I am Owen Conrad, the youngest son of the Duke of Conrad on the Eastern Continent!”

The boy, with snow-white hair, confidently raised his voice. No matter how he tried to act like a man, his fluffy baby face failed to conceal itself.

However, Owen Conrad stepped down from the podium with a pleased smile. He quickly headed toward his destination. Soon, Owen Conrad stopped right at Ellie Ingrid’s seat.

“I-I’ve arrived! My dear mademoiselle!”

Everyone held their breath.

It wasn’t only because of Owen Conrad’s shocking line, but an even bigger shock snatched the air away.

Everyone knew Ellie Ingrid as the ice-cold queen. The legend stated that any student who dared to speak to her fell prey to her frostbitten, disdainful retort.

It was well-known that she wouldn’t even tolerate a response from the ‘opposite sex.’ The cases of Ellie Ingrid engaging in conversation during social gatherings were virtually nonexistent.

“Ah, it’s still an unofficial engagement! But I like you, Ellie..! Would you take the seat beside you for me?”

Her seat was always left vacant. It was a spot that other heirs of the four noble houses feared to encroach upon.

No one could invade her space.

Owen Conrad likely didn’t know this.

Within all the students’ minds echoed thoughts.

That concealed coldness behind those blindfolds, that haughty demeanor. And her considerable aura.

I wanted to immediately tell that young boy to run away.

Yet, contrary to expectations, Ellie Ingrid’s lips softly parted.

“Nice to meet you, Young Master Owen. You are indeed braver than I expected.”

“R-Really! Haha.”

Class A was in utter shock.

Only Owen Conrad was there, scratching his nose with a swagger.

This shouldn’t be happening.

Ellie Ingrid actually smiled at him.

She offered a warm word.

To the opposite sex?

Was she perhaps disregarding age and gender altogether? Just as everyone was plunging into confusion, Ellie’s mouth opened once more.

“But I’m sorry, what should I do?”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“My seat is reserved.”

“Reserved? Who made a reservation?”

“Of course, it’s Lord Yuto.”

“Yuto? Who is that?”

Swoosh.

Ellie Ingrid’s rapier was aimed right at Owen Conrad’s neck. Her gentle voice turned cold in an instant.

“When speaking Lord Yuto’s name, do so with respect, Young Master Owen.”

Thud!

Under the chilling pressure, Owen’s knees buckled. The young master froze solid, completely paralyzed. Assistant instructor Arthur Floyd intervened just then.

“Enough. Do not draw swords against your peers. There will be ample opportunities for that tomorrow.”

“Yes. I apologize.”

Ellie calmly withdrew her blade.

Owen, in a state of shock, retreated to a corner, and the classroom was enveloped in an unprecedentedly frosty atmosphere.

Arthur Floyd exited the classroom and promptly entered his private office.

“I’m exhausted…”

The prestigious magic family, the Conrads. Their youngest son had arrived at the academy sooner than anticipated. While he wasn’t a severe disruption to the plans, any variables were unwelcome.

What bothered him more was a new piece of information.

“Yuto.”

He was also present when Laura Freeze developed her mind explosion.

According to the academic registry, there didn’t exist another person with that name.

“He must be the same individual.”

What was his relation to Ellie Ingrid?

He was turning out to be more wide-reaching than expected.

“This is becoming bothersome.”

However, if he approached too easily, it would raise suspicions against him. After all, didn’t the current situation not quell even Chancellor Lucia’s doubts? He had to be cautious. If it were class B, they would naturally be eliminated.

It was clear it would be embroiled in the undercurrent.

“If he truly has something, he’ll show the results himself.”

Erasing the seed could wait until then. He was merely an ‘Irregular’ who posed no threat, just a mere student.

“That’s enough now.”

Cletta’s training bore fruit.

Did it take about four hours?

A record.

It was a miracle only possible because I was present.

“How do you feel? Don’t you feel something has changed?”

I wiped the beads of sweat from my forehead.

With fresh air and a refreshing drink, it would be perfect. I decided to grant her a sense of achievement.

“Cletta?”

I poked her back, but there was no response. I turned her over, drenched in sweat. Her chest rose and fell. She was alive.

“Ughh.”

Her eyes were swirling.

Wasn’t this the kind of thing seen in cartoons?

She showed no signs of getting up.

Well, for once, I might as well do a good deed. I hoisted Cletta up and opened the door to the training room.

“Uh?”

“Ah!”

I bumped right into Kiring.

This wasn’t a mere coincidence.

“Kiring, what are you doing here?”

“Ah, um…”

Kiring blushed as she fumbled with her words. I decided to ignore it since I didn’t want to pry. I was more desperate to quench my thirst.

“W-Wait, Yuto!”

“What is it?”

“Um…”

“Um?”

“Please let me be next!”

Next for what?

Training?

That’s a joke.

Training isn’t necessary for Kiring.

At the platinum level, it would just be a meaningless review.

“No thanks.”

“W-What? Why am I not allowed!?”

“You’ve already done it before.”

“Huh?! No, I haven’t! Not me… I’ve never done it…”

Platinum-level training is basic for mental barriers. Even lying is ridiculous.

“Kiring, I’m not a volunteer. I just helped someone in need.”

“Ughh… I-I’m in need too!”

What’s with that? Her face became as red as a tomato.

What’s there to feel so embarrassed about?

Anyway, I cut her off decisively.

“Greed isn’t good. I’ll be leaving now.”

I turned my back on Kiring and exited the training area.