The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students – Chapter 40

Arthur Floyd was mentally cornered. With important figures from the Academy gathered in one place, all he could do was maintain a poker face to the best of his abilities…

Inside, he was a mess of anxiety, nearly going insane.

‘I can’t believe I couldn’t even erase the evidence.’

The possessed host was supposed to go through a natural process of self-dissolution. Yet it was reported that Laura Freeze was safely guided to the recovery room. The cadet she faced had no life-threatening injuries. Moreover, there was even a ‘witness’ who witnessed the scene?

This was a no-win situation.

Crunch—

Arthur Floyd quietly gritted his teeth. Should he send an immediate rescue request to the upper echelon of [Class A]?

Such thoughts were quickly stifled.

“Cadet ‘Yuto’ is here as a witness.”

Arthur barely suppressed an exasperated sigh.

‘It’s that guy again.’

It wasn’t far from saying that this was no longer a coincidence disguised as inevitability. It was only natural that suspicions regarding Yuto were growing stronger.

Chancellor Lucia was also looking at him with interest.

“Cadet Yuto, this is an emergency. Can you get straight to the point?”

“Of course, Chancellor Lucia.”

That calm demeanor.

If he had been caught up in the possession uproar, he wouldn’t be so unscathed. Even from a glance, there wasn’t a single scratch on him. Could it be that the commotion had been quelled, and he just happened to witness the scene?

No.

Wasn’t there a possibility that this was simply a fabrication? There was also a hypothesis that he had fabricated claims to draw attention after finding Laura Freeze. Wasn’t it possible he intended to appeal to his efforts and reap some benefits?

“I saw a Mana creature.”

There was no doubt that Yuto was a witness to the incident. The ‘Mana incident’ had been completely blown open. He would probably investigate those who had contacted Laura Freeze one by one to identify the suspects.

Arthur Floyd closed his eyes solemnly.

‘Right, I should request help from that person…’

Just when he was on the verge of using his last resort, the testimony continued in a rather unexpected direction.

“When I arrived, only the finishing touches were left.”

“Oh?”

Lucia tilted her head at Yuto’s statement. She stroked her chin with an intrigued smile.

“So, not only did you withstand the Mana creature, but you even managed to pressure it to the point of taking it down?”

“That’s right. The credit for that goes to Miss Cletta and Miss Laura. All I did was finish it off.”

“I can’t believe it. As impressive as those two are, how could a Class B cadet finish off a Mana creature? Unless you can prove that…”

Pssh!

Yuto suddenly drew his sword, unleashing his mana. The pure and perfect blue—its majestic and seemingly transcendent purity left everyone in shock.

Yuto sheathed his sword after cutting off the mana.

“Would this be proof enough?”

“Is that Attribute Ether…?”

“Correct.”

Lucia’s jaw dropped. Other instructors were wide-eyed in collective shock.

“It’s incredible. A Class B cadet who can handle Attribute Ether? What were the evaluation criteria for our Academy?”

The usually composed Chancellor Lucia was in a panic. Her remarks shot straight towards Instructor Geoffrey.

“…I-I’m sorry. Cadet Yuto’s evaluation record didn’t include that detail.”

Today, Geoffrey had bowed his head dozens of times in apology. The weight of his words no longer mattered. And Yuto waved his hand as if to cover him.

“It’s not the instructor’s fault. I only started handling Ether recently.”

“Is that so? Still, it’s impressive. With skills like that, you could graduate at the top of the Academy right away. How about it? We could start the enrollment process for the Mage Tower Graduate School right now.”

“I’ll decline.”

Yuto rejected it without a shred of hesitation.

“It was half a joke. I didn’t expect such a swift refusal. But anyway, if it truly was a Mana creature, what happened to its body? I heard nothing was left at the scene.”

“It self-dissolved.”

“Self-dissolved, you say?”

Lucia asked, already knowing the answer.

Knowing about the Mana creatures and the research data on Mana stones was something only a few in the Empire grasped. Thus, Lucia was testing Yuto. If his claims were true, the developments of it ‘self-dissolving’ would match perfectly.

“Ha… It really was a Mana creature. This incident will become a headache for the military leadership. The ‘Undesirable Great Serpent’ from admission will nag at us relentlessly. They’ll pick on the Academy’s security issues.”

Lucia’s lament mixed with complaints, while the instructors gathered around the round table couldn’t hide their grim expressions.

The two major forces of the Bitraise Empire—the “Imperial Military” and the “Mage Tower”—were now embroiled in a power struggle, even involving the Academy, which was supposed to be a neutral ground.

“For now, let’s put that aside. We should reward the hero who skillfully resolved the incident.”

Chancellor Lucia stood up and approached Yuto. She smiled alluringly, her lips curving in a delicate, icy grin.

“Not having incurred even minimal casualties against a Mana creature is indeed commendable. Please tell me your desired reward. Hehe.”

“Chancellor Lucia, is the reward only for me?”

“Hmm. Indeed. Just by not having any casualties, Miss Laura Freeze and Miss Cletta Barriet should also be exceptions.”

“Then I will represent everyone’s opinion.”

“What’s this? Did you already have a desired reward?”

“I do. All three of us want to be promoted to Class A.”

Yuto’s face, which had been stiff the entire time, broke into a faint smile.

“Oh my goodness…”

Along with the nameless cadet’s exclamation of shock, every eye in the room turned to the podium. I, along with Cletta and Laura, had been promoted to Class A. Currently, Instructor Oliver Enishi was giving an introduction as if it was a regular introduction.

“Tada! We have three new comrades joining us! Please give a round of applause!”

Should I really applaud?

But surprisingly, applause rippled through the room.

“Oh! As expected of the class representative! Your leadership in welcoming new comrades is impressive, Ellie!”

The protagonist was Ellie Ingrid. She was looking at me with a bashful smile. Her brainwashing was quite effective.

Those sparkling eyes were quite mad, beyond mere loyalty.

“Alright! Now it’s your turn! Show us an amazing self-PR!”

Cletta stepped up first. Perhaps due to her incomplete recovery, her complexion wasn’t good. She seemed eager to sit down.

“My name is Cletta Barriet. Position: Tank. That’s all…”

She said that and simply walked away. The impact of her unfortunate introduction was relayed to me through Oliver Enishi. I was also feeling lazy about it.

I wouldn’t gain any experience points from simple aggro anymore. So, I had already thought up a route to siphon experience points from the A-Class members. As I was lost in thought, Laura Freeze made her move first. I hoped she’d be okay. Her condition seemed far worse than Cletta’s.

“I’m… Regrouping!…”

Thud.

Is she stupid?

I stopped her as it seemed she might do something crazy. Everyone stared at her with strange looks. It couldn’t be helped. To smoothly bypass this, I had to sacrifice my image somewhat.

I whispered into Laura Freeze’s ear.

“I’m going for a shock.”

“Eh?!”

Laura jumped as if a button had been pressed. Immediately, she stood at attention and poised her mouth respectfully.

“L-Lora Freeze. Position: Swordswoman. Th-That’s all!”

She too found a seat after her introduction.

Everyone was staring at me with wide eyes.

Even Instructor Oliver had a deep crease in his forehead and was frozen.

What a mess, I couldn’t help it.

I continued to introduce myself without caring.

“I’m Yuto. My position is Swordsman, and… please take care of me.”

I stuttered a bit in the middle, caught off guard. I had tried to do it like usual, but a kid who didn’t suit the surrounding scenery glared at me with fierce eyes, leaving me bemused.

Could he be ten at most?

It’s ironic to have such a young kid in the Academy.

‘Could it be him?’

It would ordinarily be impossible, but due to Ellie Ingrid’s rampage, I was entangled with Owen Conrad, the youngest son of the Duke house of the Eastern continent.

Even if he was a variable…

I had no idea why he came to the Academy. Moreover, I couldn’t see any reason this unfamiliar young master would antagonize me.

I decided to take a seat.

Not long after, I realized the main culprit of Owen’s hostility.

“Yuto! Over here! This is your spot!”

Ellie was grinning, patting the seat next to her.

‘Dammit.’

So it was because of her.