The Academy’s Crude Pink-Haired Martial Artist

I defeated Leona.

Sure, my right leg is broken, but hey, I still won!

I set a lot of restrictions, but in the end, victory is mine.

I got my ass kicked, but I managed to land a hit.

Just one hit, but the fact that I hit her is what matters.

Honestly, I was confident that if I really wanted to, I could land at least one hit.

This isn’t arrogance. The results prove it, and I had a hidden dagger that I didn’t tell Leona about, so today would be my success.

The spar didn’t go as it usually does.

Leona didn’t use one leg and one arm, so it had to be different.

But, I still got beaten up like always.

I threw a punch, she deflected it with one hand, and then elbowed my chin with her shoulder. When I kicked, she dodged with an odd stance and countered with a flying kick.

As I closed the distance and launched my magic, her counterattack twisted my joints, and when I positioned my fingers for a technique, her nails stabbed me instead.

But how did I win?

Just like usual, I executed my technique, and the moment Leona caught my leg,

I unleashed my mana and broke that leg.

At the same time, I spun my body and kicked her temple. Seizing her staggered moment, I successfully knocked Leona down.

In reality, Leona could have dodged.

But she deliberately didn’t. Why? Because if she did, my leg would have been torn off.

That’s right. I knew Leona would hesitate and used that to my advantage.

Unfair? Where’s the fairness in victory and defeat? The one who wins is the master, and the one who wins takes all. Win and it’s over.

Yet…

“…You call me sister but just do whatever you want, don’t you?”

“Nyahaha! Since sister’s leg hurts, I’m just taking her home!”

A fierce wind slaps my face as the gazes of people below turn towards us.

“Well then, could you at least lower your voice a bit, little sister? Everyone’s staring at us, and it’s quite embarrassing.”

“Uuung! Leona doesn’t understand such things!”

“Eating 400 years old and still… Gyaaaah! It hurts! It hurts!! I’m sorry!!”

Whoosh Whoosh – There goes Leona, jumping across the rooftops like a graceful princess, with me cradled in her arms.

In the background, the Flame Sovereign flies in elegantly, accompanied by Stella, floating gracefully with her magic.

And there I am… looking like a total fool.

“So, Eliaernes.”

As Leona rubs the spot on her bottom where I pinched her, I hear her faint voice amidst the sound of the wind.

“What is it?”

“I feel like there’s a lot I need to hear about that earlier thing. What do you think, sister?”

“Don’t ask me like that with such a serious tone. Just act normal. I’ve enjoyed this enough.”

“I haven’t enjoyed it enough yet.”

Leona smiles with a nihi and flutters her ears as she looks down at me.

“I can’t say anything carelessly since I can’t tell where you stand, so I’m keeping my mouth shut.”

“I know that Arisa’s blood isn’t mixed with the name Eustetia.”

Leona didn’t respond and just stared straight ahead.

The Academy is coming into view.

“I also know that Arisa was a Martial Artist and Ronan handled various weapons.”

Leona’s eyebrows twitch.

Her grip on me tightened.

“The fact that you’re so easily sharing information… I suppose I should also reveal the things I know to be fair?”

“Hmm… I didn’t really expect much, but if you do, then I’m all for it.”

“If you didn’t expect it, can’t we skip it?”

“Since you already said it, my expectations have blown up!”

Thwack! “Will it go down if I hit you?”

“If you do, it’ll go straight to the Flame Sovereign.”

“I absolutely hate NTR.”

“N-NTR? What is that?”

“It exists. You don’t need to know.”

Giggle – Leona laughed.

The wind that had been fiercely pounding at my cheeks subsided.

We’ve arrived at the Academy.

*

Stella returned to the dorm.

She reflected on what she learned today, resolutely deciding to complete the 5th circle before spring ends.

The Flame Sovereign also left for somewhere.

I’m not sure if she has a home, but she left with a face that said she didn’t want to be with Leona anymore.

And then Leona fed me a strange potion, saying she’d be back after a brief visit to her private office.

She said she had something to fetch. I wonder if it’s Arisa’s belongings that she took from the Flame Sovereign?

Well… I’ll find out when Leona gets back.

Left alone for a while, I sat in the chair until my legs started feeling somewhat normal, then I sprung up.

Thump – I jumped from my seat, sprinted from one end to the other, and kicked the newly placed scarecrow.

It moved well. No strange feelings.

“…This is unsettling.”

Uneasy. It’s not that my legs will fall apart. It’s because of the potion Leona made me drink.

That stuff I had before.

The one that made my legs lose all feeling.

Is it because I’m making such intense movements?

Or does it happen when I use mana harshly? Leona didn’t explain anything.

She just told me to sit quietly.

Is she really planning to make my legs useless so she can beat me up? No… she’s not that pathetic. Maybe with Paulo or Luna, but Leona doesn’t have such a weak personality.

If I had to compare, well…

Her speech is like Arisa, her personality is…

“Similar to mine…?”

“What is it?”

“Eh?!”

I jolted at Leona’s suddenly heard voice.

“…I couldn’t hear you come in. When did you arrive?”

“I came in through the window?”

“Why use the perfectly good door?”

“If I just jump up four floors from my office, this is where I land, so it’s easier via the window.”

Leona said this nonsensically as she plopped down a stack of old books in front of me.

“What are these?”

I instinctively reached towards the books.

“Wait.”

Leona swatted my hand away.

“Hey, Leona? What’s with this sassy attitude?”

“Behave like an elder sister should.”

Snicker – Leona giggled as she sat opposite me.

“I know the move you used earlier…”

“It’s Ronan Luzarack’s technique.”

“Deity.”

“You know the name too.”

“How could I not?”

An odd smile crept across Leona’s face.

“I have no idea how to ask, what I should ask… If I ask, will you answer?”

“If the Vice Headmaster would answer me too, I might consider it.”

“Don’t you get a little smug sitting in that advantageous position? I hope the future where you’re stronger than me never comes. Nyahaha…”

Counting her fingers, Leona tilted her head as she asked, “Would ten years be enough?”

“Five years.”

I knew it sounded arrogant, but Leona considered it seriously.

“Five years… That’s an absurd answer, but… it’s not completely impossible. You are a peculiar existence in many ways.”

Leona said, not knowing how powerful a Demon Fist was.

But as she said, it’s not completely impossible.

However, to achieve that, I shouldn’t be at the Academy. I need to rush to Gebihenum and push my limits in the Frontline.

I have to replicate what I did in my previous life.

But will I be able to achieve the same?

In my past life, it took me 15 years.

And I received help from various coincidences and many beings. Can I find such coincidences now?

15 years. Do I have that kind of leisure?

No. But, it’s okay even if I don’t have it.

I have memories, knowledge, and experiences from my past life.

And I have talents that I didn’t have in my previous life.

Of course, that’s if I manage to survive without dying at the heart of Gebihenum.

Right now, I don’t have Luna’s miracle, Paulo’s Sacred Sword, Arisa’s punch, or that dog’s magic. So I can’t go there.

But still, I have to say five years, think it, believe it, and make it happen.

I can’t leave those two fools, Luna and Paulo, to suffer for ten more years.

Kaloso. I can’t let that dog live for another ten years either.

Arisa.

I have so… so many questions for Arisa.

“Of course, I didn’t say it’s impossible just because of you.”

As if finishing her thoughts, Leona opened her mouth.

“Right? Is it that my Vice Headmaster is my master that makes it possible?”

“That’s correct. But even becoming your master, five years would be hard.”

With that, Leona turned the cover of the oldest book among the pile.

A leather cover that looks like it might tear if turned wrong.

Yet, the detail in the binding is still excellent.

“Can I open it?”

“Yeah. I’ve underestimated you too much.”

“Underestimate?”

“When I first saw you come out after finishing the entrance exam. Then twice, thrice. After sparring, teaching you, listening to your story, and today you’ve become my little sister. No matter how much I was careless or hesitant, you beat me. That’s impressive.”

“I’m a genius, you see.”

“Annoying.”

Snicker – Leona chuckled as she carefully handed me the open book.

What kind of book is this, what is it for?

I looked at Leona waiting for her to explain, but my attention was suddenly pulled by the letters that caught my eye.

“It’s a book personally written by my master.”

Neat, straight-laced, and round.

Arisa’s handwriting.

“Should we call it a textbook by today’s standards… maybe?”

Next to those letters were cute illustrations, showing everything from the fist shape to the stance, angles of the legs, waist, shoulders, arms, and wrists.

Thirty books in total.

“I think we’ve finally found a true owner.”

I glanced at the title and a short phrase on the cover.

It made me unable to hold back my laughter.

Laughter? What kind of laughter is it?

What expression was on my face?

Feelings? What on earth am I feeling?

It feels like irritation has mingled with disillusionment, a bit flustered, disappointed, ridiculous, cringe-worthy, and frustrating.

I felt angry.

Feeling the warmth of the blood flowing through my tightly clenched fist, I re-read the title again.

Wansuk-sinhwa (망석신앵, “Forget the past, new cherry blossoms”).

“May it bloom even more beautifully and flamboyantly than the shabby cherry blossoms that have already fallen.”

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