I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

27

Evnis Rothschild de Lepelheight.

In the original, he was a character overflowing with a sense of justice.

No, he was a character who was so bound by justice that he was trapped by it.

Maybe that’s why.

I quite liked the route of Evnis, who, bound by his beliefs, wandered without finding his way, met the protagonist, and began to determine his own path properly.

“I will unfold my own justice here. So follow my lead, Erhan.”

I liked that knightly aspect of justice.

Pushing aside the unbearable trash that was Lepelheight’s successor and taking the seat of the successor himself was also like that.

But.

Once you peel back the layers, he’s just a guy who does things his own way, can’t be honest, and is awkward even in expressing emotions.

The “Evnis” I saw in the game took Adrian’s death as a lesson, abhorred corruption, bribery, and believed that only justice was the way.

But now that I am alive, such things will not happen.

Right now, he just seems to really dislike me.

“This is the Department of Magic, right? I’m from the Department of Knights?”

“Just come along.”

“Don’t order me around when it comes to Adrian’s matters.”

It was late afternoon, the sun was just about to set.

“Look, Evnis.”

As I stopped walking around the corner, Evnis, who was grumbling and following behind me, fell silent.

“Wow…”

An innocent exclamation.

In the gallery bathed in the colors of the sunset, the columns cast long shadows in the stretched space.

At the far end of the gallery, the sun was about to set.

Leaning against the wall, I looked at Evnis, who was staring blankly at that sight.

“How do you find it?”

“Hmm, it’s quite a decent spot you’ve chosen, considering it’s you. Looks cool.”

True.

This is a real hidden gem for screenshots.

If you stand a character by each column and take a photo with backlighting, you get really cool pictures.

That was my messenger profile picture. Totally looks like a socialite, right?

“Now, are you feeling calmer?”

“Phew… Yes, I’m calm now. So, does Adrian have any intention of answering my question?”

“First, I won’t answer about the movements you saw during the fight with Melwood Elion.”

“Why not?”

Well.

Because I don’t want to.

Before I could say anything, Evnis wordlessly drew the sacred sword ‘Destruction.’

Gathering light in his hand, it transformed into a large battle axe, and the monster holding it looked at me with gleaming eyes in the backlight.

Hmm.

One wrong word, and that axe might split my head.

“We are rivals competing for the Repelheight’s throne, Evnis.”

“That’s right.”

“If we expose all the cards we should keep hidden, wouldn’t it be meaningless?”

Upon my words, Evnis pondered, nodded his head, and dispersed the light.

“You make a valid point. However…”

“I understand. Obtaining power in the wrong way is not an option. I can swear to that.”

“I don’t trust you, but I’ll let this Melwood incident slide, for now.”

“Who are you to just let things slide?”

Don’t raise the axe.

“Alright, fine. Then, tell me about that. The concept of demons… How are dark spirits manifesting outside?”

That’s my specialty, isn’t it?

Trying to summarize in three lines, Evnis pursed his lips with a skeptical look.

“I know nothing about it, but how does Adrian know all this?”

“Well, I’ve been around in that position longer than you, so it’s natural that I know more.”

In reality, that’s not true.

It’s all just information and knowledge from my 10,000 hours of experience.

Not something you can gain as a Repelheight’s successor.

But, if I were to tell the truth, I’d only invite more suspicion or be called crazy.

Yet, by beating around the bush, he seemed to reluctantly accept it.

“Adrian.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Adrian, right now I am serious…”

“What you’re going to say is obvious. You’re going to ask to trade information like ‘the vampires I know,’ right?”

“Ugh.”

Ebonyss flinched and glared at me.

“You fool. Such information is something one should grow to know on their own. What’s the point of trading and borrowing someone else’s mouth to get information?”

Upon my words, Ebonyss showed an expression of disbelief.

“…Adrian, you know how to say such things.”

“Your arrogant attitude bothers me so much.”

“Who’s making me act arrogant?”

He shot me a glance, then looked around the dimming hall.

“Okay, now that I think about it, Adrian is right. I should find it myself. I should have figured it out on my own.”

“Feeling any better now?”

“No, I feel worse having to deal with you.”

He glared at me, pointing his finger.

“Adrian.”

“I don’t know what long-winded story you’re going to tell, so just finish it quickly, I’m tired. I want to go back to the dorm and rest.”

“If someone is speaking, just listen. I will walk my own path. I don’t need anyone’s help there.”

Ebonyss, this time, drew his longsword hanging from his waist, not the holy sword.

“I will unfold my own justice here. Only I can accomplish this.”

A familiar line.

But different this time.

“I will defeat you, the villain trying to block my path, and become the hero.”

This time, I didn’t smirk.

Eyes filled with determination.

And a resolute gaze and firm expression.

“So be it. I too will not yield.”

Who could mock that determination?

“…Is that so.”

I have just passed a ‘turning point.’

Not in a game, but in the reality of the Selenium Saga.

The Selenium Saga is so realistic that it’s not uncommon for a heroine who deviates from the ‘original route’ to turn dark and become a boss.

Naturally, there are many corrupt routes for Ebonyss as well, and having experienced all those endings, I know that the conclusion is not a pleasant one.

That stubborn little guy should become my enemy, not the enemy of the academy.

But.

“What? Do you have more to say?”

Ebonyss Rothschild de Repelhite.

My shallow concern for this guy seems to have been a complete misunderstanding.

Rather than turning dark or corrupt, he seems to be breaking free from the system of being a ‘heroine,’ choosing his own path, moving forward, towards the future.

Doubting everything, being narrow-minded, twisted, and if Erann doesn’t help, he will follow a completely different path from the original, crumbling on his own.

The current lad is growing on his own without anyone’s help.

“Do you know that? Well……”

Even though he only followed along, there was hesitation in his stooped shoulders and his steps.

Now, he was walking with a straighter gait than anyone else…… Ah.

Suddenly, he stopped abruptly, turned his body.

“Do you have something else to say?”

“Come to think of it, I forgot, earlier you. You said I was a gorilla with the strength of 20, didn’t you?”

“I never said such a thing…… Well.”

Oops, I couldn’t manage my expression properly just now.

“Smile? Did you just smile?! Come here! 【Attribute Check: Destruction】!”

I lightly stepped aside, evading the lad’s axe swing as if slipping.

“Adriaaanjerojukeee!”

The roar of a monster echoed through the empty hall of the School of Magic.

Hmm, quite pleasant to listen to.

“By the way, the broken things will all be compensated with your money.”

Just hearing that roar from the lad made a genuine smile bloom on my face.

* * *

The alley leading to the dormitory.

Thinking back, because I had forgotten the most important thing, I was now thinking about resolving that.

Exactly……

“It’s the clear reward for Act 1.”

In the original work, as soon as Act 1 ends, various elements are unlocked, from field exploration to attribute dungeons by day.

Now that I’ve cleared Act 1, I should be able to use these elements as well.

Finally, something opened up in this damn game that I can truly enjoy, making me feel somewhat alive again.

I dragged out the messages I had piled up in the corner as before and unfolded them.

Let’s see.

Shall we check what they gave me?

With a musty bang on both sides, messages popped up one after another.

[Congratulations! You have cleared Act 1!]

[Tremendous ability! You achieved a perfect victory in a battle with the Dark Spirit!]

[Variables emerged, but with your quick wit, no one was seriously hurt, and Act 1 has come to an end. Well done! You did great!]

[Calculating rewards based on performance!]

[Rewards are being distributed!]

As far as I know, clearing the Act 1 boss, Melud Ellian, gives a total of three rewards.

One is an item, and two are for opening new content.

It was said to open in Act 2, but the unlocking condition was clearing the Act 1 boss.

Soon, letters appeared before my eyes.

[Clear item will be given!]

[Health Circulation Bracelet x1]

A silver bracelet fell from the sky onto my hand.

It was simple.

The bracelet ended with a small green gem at the top.

＜Physical Circulation Bracelet＞ / (★)

A bracelet that aids in physical circulation.

Provides a slight increase in constant stamina recovery.

Additionally grants minor resistance to poison, paralysis, and sleep abnormalities.

Emotion rating: This item cannot be emotional.

Physical Circulation Bracelet.

Also known as ‘PhyCirBrace,’ this was an essential item for newbies.

Even by Erhan standards, it was an item you had to wear at the beginning without fail. For me, with a stamina of 5, it was an essential item.

I nodded my head and put on the bracelet.

The silver bracelet shone, and vitality returned to my exhausted body.

“Well, alright.”

I looked at the things that came to mind.

[Main Story Act 1 cleared! ‘Melwood Elion’ has joined your ranks! Progress rate of ‘Adrian Jinneding’ increased to 10%.]

“You seem quite talented? You gain the skill 【Dagger Proficiency: Beginner】! A very slight adjustment is applied to all attacks using a dagger!”

“Due to repeated use, the level of ‘Fireball’ has increased to 2!”

“It seems there will be significant changes in all abilities!”

An increase in Jinneding progress rate and Fireball level.

Anticipated stat increase and even Dagger Proficiency skill.

Several things came to mind, but they weren’t important.

The very last.

As the smile appeared before my eyes, I couldn’t help but smile.

[Act 1 cleared.]

“Now, the Exploration Fields: ‘Eastern Jungle,’ ‘Western Forest,’ ‘Southern Desert,’ and ‘Northern Tundra’ are all unlocked for ‘Exploration’!”

“However, for 1st-year students, until the end of the 1st semester, only up to ‘Intermediate’ in the Western Forest is available, while ‘Beginner’ exploration is possible in the Southern Desert, Eastern Jungle, and Northern Tundra.”

“From now on, a random ‘Attribute Dungeon’ will appear in the fields every day of the week.”

I clenched my fist.

It’s done.

Now that the minimum requirements for the ‘Attribute Day Dungeon’ have been met, it must have been generated somewhere in the field.

Finally bidding farewell to the sorrow of struggling tearfully with just two low-level spells.

As I was about to close the window with a smile.

…I doubted my eyes.

[Act 2 begins.]

“Gather your own companions and navigate through the incidents!”

“The ‘Fate Companions’ function is unlocked!”

“You can designate a ‘companion’!”

“When you designate a companion, you can receive synergy effects based on the companion in daily life and combat!”

“To designate a companion, a favorability level of 5 or higher is required!”

[Currently assignable companion slot 0/1]

“Why is this appearing to me.”