The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students – Chapter 22

Evil!

A blue blade of light slices through the air. The blind swordsman Ellie stares down at the chunks of meat strewn across the floor as she fiddles with her sword.

‘Looks like I won’t even need to step in.’

Ever since joining up with the ‘Single Swordsman,’ she hadn’t drawn her sword even once in the Blade Rock Mountain. The Single Swordsman had been slicing through wild dogs with such efficiency that all she could do was watch. As for his authenticity as a swordsman? No doubt about that.

“Hmm. The destination for our quest isn’t too far off.”

If only it weren’t for this nonsense…

Ellie dismissed the murmurs of the Single Swordsman. The guy muttered to himself about things that were nine out of ten times impossible to decipher.

‘Enjoying a dungeon where life and death hang in the balance… definitely not normal.’

Yet, it was also true that if she could make good use of this weirdo, they could breeze through the quest. There was no need to pander unnecessarily. If she just kept her mouth shut, he would handle all the trash mobs. That was worth enduring.

“Was it Elliequin, you said?”

“Yeah, who?”

“It’s about you. I heard that earlier.”

“Oh, right. Elliequin… I got a bit lost in thought there.”

She had completely forgotten that she had used a pseudonym to hide her identity.

Hmm. Must be cautious.

“Daydreaming on the battlefield? As your senior, let me give you some advice.”

“Ah, yes…”

Ellie corrected her thoughts.

He wasn’t just a weirdo.

He was a top-tier weirdo.

If it weren’t for the quest, she wouldn’t even be talking to him.

“Let me give you a tip for exploring dungeons: never let your guard down. Even if it’s a slime, that means giving it your all.”

“Oh. I see. Aha.”

Ellie replied mechanically. She nodded so he wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. The summit was in sight. They just had to endure a little longer.

“Hmm? What’s that?!”

“Oho… That wicked, violent aura… It must be the ‘Rift of Descent.’”

They had finally found it. If they could clear that, she could prove her worth.

‘Yuto, wait for me a bit. I’ll show you.’

Ellie gripped the “Holy Sword” she had prepared for this moment. The heavy weight communicated itself to her grip. The euphoria and tension had long since disappeared. She wanted to take down the Rift already.

“Elliequin, what will you do? I’d be willing to turn back if you give up now.”

“Don’t make me laugh. Let’s hurry up and go in. I’d rather not be out here when night falls.”

“Hmm. Quite the boldness.”

And so, the two began their challenge against the descent. A man watching them from afar emerged from the bushes.

“sigh”

The young man let out a short breath.

Then he stepped into the Rift of Descent after them.

Haa━━ Ellie’s breath vaporized in the colder air. A bone-chilling cold enveloped her whole body, bending it involuntarily.

“The end of the Northern Continent. A view reminiscent of the legends from the Ice Crystal Island.”

“Is this really the time to be sightseeing? If we stay exposed in this environment for long, we’ll end up incapacitated. We should hurry.”

“Elliequin, I know that too. But it’s during times like this that gathering information takes precedence. If we act carelessly, we’ll drain our stamina right before a crucial battle.”

What was he talking about?

She had been conserving her strength with that point in mind. After all, she hadn’t swung her sword even once before reaching the Rift.

“Well, defeating the master of the Descent is definitely a clear condition, right?”

“That’s true. But do we even know where the master is?”

“That’s simple. Just follow the rules of the dungeon.”

“The rules of the dungeon?”

“If you dig where the monster appears, a boss will show up—don’t you know?”

Swoosh.

Ellie’s Holy Sword revealed its sharp edge.

“It seems to be a pretty high-grade rapier.”

“It’s a pricey piece of work, you know.”

“…A rookie has a luxury item?”

She felt a strange reluctance.

Ellie turned her gaze from the swordsman and focused on the monsters making their way towards them. The gathered monsters were already pressure-cooking their formation. Tall, slender shapes of sculpted ice. The golem-like creatures didn’t give off a particularly strong impression.

“Hwaah!”

Ellie thrust her rapier sharply. The fine blade sliced through and struck the monster’s chest.

Bang!

With a clean hit, it was Ellie’s rapier that broke apart.

“Eh?…”

Ellie looked aimlessly as her eyes crossed with the swordsman’s.

“Hey! Where are you going! Elliequin━━”

Bam bam bam!

With all her might, Ellie dashed in the opposite direction. Thankfully, the ice golem wasn’t quick on its feet. However, losing her weapon in battle was a big mistake. She had no spare weapon! Could there be any worse luck than this?

[Invasive intruders in the Rift. You’ve finally arrived.]

Ellie staggered back onto the ground.

Suddenly, the second rule popped into her mind.

━━The boss is where you run to.

She quietly covered her face with her hands.

“Elliequin! Why did you run away!? Abandoning your comrades is obviously an act of betrayal!”

The swordsman, who had chased after her, scolded Ellie.

Already on the brink of bursting into flames, she didn’t even have the energy to retort.

“You’re wrong. That must be the ‘master.’ It’s all over now…”

“Don’t be foolish! I can bring that thing down!”

“You… what absurd nonsense…”

Whoosh!

Ellie watched.

The swordsman threw off his tightly wrapped hood, revealing his true identity.

A girl with dusty pink hair contrasting against a dark cloak. Eyes as clear and blue as the ocean.

She had [Dual Swords] strapped to her back.

The true form of a brave warrior could be seen.

“My name is Kiring! I’m going to tackle you now!”

The promotion sticker on her shoulder had peeled off. Not a gold rank, but a platinum rank sticker…

“You… platinum? No. You’re a girl? Your voice sounded male.”

“Oh, that’s because of this.”

Kiring pointed to a necklace around her neck.

“It’s a voice modulation item. Expensively dirty, but it performs exceptionally.”

“Why would you ever buy something like that?”

“Hmm? It’s just like why you wear an eye patch!”

“What?”

“Let’s talk later. First, I’ll handle that thing.”

Swoosh. Swoosh.

Kiring unsheathed her dual swords with great momentum.

The pressure radiating from her was completely different from when she held a single sword.

Swoosh!

Something beyond mere magic began to settle within Kiring’s dual swords. It was ‘Ether,’ one step above magical energy. Controlling attribute magic was the requirement for reaching platinum rank. It was only natural for Kiring to exhibit Ether properties. Ellie was glued to the sight of this phenomenon that was top-tier in the Empire.

‘Is that Ether?…’

She had seen her older brother manipulate it just once. At the time, she felt more vague admiration than shock. After all, her brother was a being she couldn’t reach.

The difference was so apparent that jealousy had no place to arise.

But now, it was clearly different.

Seeing a girl of a similar age reach an unmistakably higher level filled her with deep skepticism.

What had she been doing all this time?

The top class of the Academy?

What could that achievement do? A bug that had done nothing at all. If she had followed Yuto back then, she would have embarrassingly exposed her incompetence.

‘I want to be as strong as her.’

Kiring would undoubtedly accomplish something grand. She would take down the master of the Descent brilliantly.

That was the correct flow of things.

‘Correct?’

She was still digging up illusions.

Right now, this moment is unchangeably reality.

In truth, Kiring’s dual swords had met their master and perished.

The once bold Kiring had…

“Cough!━━”

Her abdomen was partly torn away, and she was now pinned against the ice wall.

“Reality…”

Something within Ellie began a precarious balancing act.

She had read about the phrase, ‘Reason is the light of nature.’ Then, Ellie’s light was on the verge of fading.

“I told you, didn’t I? It’d be problematic if you just went and died on your own.”

With the young man’s appearance, Ellie’s light was consumed by the brightness.

“Y-Yuto!……”

“You’d better pay back the money before you die.”