The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students – Chapter 53

Considering all the troubles I’ve encountered so far, I thought I wouldn’t be surprised by anything trivial.

But the incident before me easily flipped that complacency on its head.

[Insight’s Blade] combined with [Bronze Will’s Soul].

Even Yuto found this unexpected development utterly bizarre.

Suddenly, a woman with jet-black hair appeared right before him, casting a serene gaze across the room.

“Who awakened me?”

Yuto raised his hand.

“It was me.”

“Hmm? Just a blank-faced kid, huh?”

“Are you human?”

“Does it look like I am?”

The danger she radiated was unmistakable.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that if I didn’t act right away, she might snatch away my life without a second thought.

Soon, she shot a glacial glare at Yuto and grinned.

“You must be an outsider from another world.”

“Eh?”

“No need to be shocked. It’s something anyone with my level of existence would easily figure out.”

A bitter smile crept onto Yuto’s lips. She clearly recognized her own identity, which only made her more irritating than any being he had faced before.

Laura Freeze and the others were sending her dubious glances too.

“What’s that about, Yuto? Another world?”

Yuto swallowed hard as he looked at her.

The woman’s smile grew wider as she extended her palm downward.

“Alright, you seem… interesting. Discussing things here could be troublesome.”

With that said, the surrounding scenery shifted without warning.

“Wait, let’s have a chat.”

In a space painted completely white, she continued to speak.

“Now that we’re having a private meeting, feel free to speak. Those left in reality won’t see or hear us anyway. It seems you have many questions for me, and I’ll answer as much as I can.”

She maintained an authoritative stance, as if to say, “Don’t refuse my hospitality.”

This was a being who casually twisted space and could see through her own secrets.

Yuto’s expression took on unparalleled seriousness.

“Who exactly are you?”

“I am not an omnipotent, god-like being. I suppose I’m somewhat similar to an outsider like you.”

“So, you know where I came from?”

She nodded without hesitation.

“I am a being that can see souls. Yours has an unusual scent that is hard to miss.”

If she knew, then it might indicate she had other business to discuss.

“May I ask how you ended up here?”

“Didn’t I just ask? Who summoned me? I didn’t descend; I was summoned.”

“So, that was me?”

She nodded again. Then, she added something.

“To elaborate, every original world has a ‘path’ it must follow. My arrival indicates that ‘path’ has reached a branching point.”

“Branching point…”

“Surely, you must have some inkling about it.”

Given Laura Freeze’s awakening, it naturally aligned with the middle of the scenario. That prompted a sudden question.

“Why did you absorb my ‘Insight’s Blade’?”

“I don’t know about that. Rather, it’s you, the outsider, who should have the answers.”

“Well, I don’t have any clues.”

The woman insisted firmly.

“You have had a significant impact on the ‘path’ this world originally should take. The Insight’s Blade must have been an outcome that disrupted that likelihood.”

At that point, Yuto’s expression hardened.

“I can’t deny that.”

“You’re quick to understand. It’s likely you were used as a medium to summon me.”

“I see. That makes some sense.”

Though it was merely an assumption, it aligned with the circumstances. Yuto returned to the main topic and asked.

“If it’s due to the branching point, what will happen from now on?”

“I didn’t come here for something. I’ve arrived to give you a choice.”

“A choice?”

“Yes, a choice.”

She raised her arms horizontally, displaying two images. One showed Yuto as he was back in his world… the other, how he appeared in this place.

With her golden eyes shining brightly, she declared.

“Just once, I’ll give you the chance to decide. Whether to return to where you once belonged or to remain here.”

Yuto’s eyes widened, resembling full moons.

I can return right now?

He had endured countless struggles to reach this point.

Now, he was given a chance to settle all of that.

Still, his mouth remained tightly shut.

Eventually, Yuto took a heavy breath and spoke.

“I… won’t go back.”

Her head tilted at his answer.

“Oh? An unexpected reply. Do you have some lingering sentiment?”

“It’s not such a crude emotion.”

“Then what is the cause?”

“That is…”

Yuto’s gaze mechanically wandered.

The images beyond the screen presented were weighing heavily on him.

He could see Laura Freeze in a frenzy, panicking after he had lost consciousness.

“Yuto! Why is this happening all of a sudden?!…”

Even after enduring mental conditioning, her worried expression was pitiful.

Then there was the blind swordswoman Ellie Ingrid, still obedient despite her slightly altered mental state.

“Hehe… Yuto, where are you…?”

Though their first meeting was a disaster, she was now endearing and easy to handle—a delicious treat.

A faint smile hovered at the corner of Yuto’s mouth as he casually glanced aside.

Then there was Cletta Barriet, with her ridiculous stubbornness and a trust in him more profound than anyone else.

“Mankey will keep training until you come back! Let’s go! Let’s go!”

The unfortunate tank who had lost her parents but never held back in her efforts.

He wanted to make her happy, even if it was just in the world he inhabited.

There were also familiar faces flashing across the screen.

The sharp-tongued yet adorable Anastasia…

“Damn it, I’ve got to handle this again… Wonder if Yuto will help out?”

He wanted to pour in countless efforts to help her become a billionaire.

And then there was Single Swordsman Kiring…

“Yuto… he really is something else!”

Don’t misunderstand me in a bizarre way.

Finally, the bittersweet and heart-wrenching scenes rushed by.

When he faced Aurora Binkelen in the Aldera Highlands, he couldn’t choose the world of the living over the promise he made to her.

Behind those images was a burly man doing squats.

Wangcho from the back world—an unknown variable he had intervened to keep alive.

He was someone Yuto felt responsible for and wanted to guide.

Yuto chose to remain in this world. Looking at him, the woman shrugged her shoulders.

“You’ve completely melted into this world.”

“It was a world I had an attachment to.”

“I won’t say it twice. This chance to return is the only one you’ll get.”

“Yes, I choose to stay here.”

She and Yuto exchanged silent glances for a while.

“You have quite a unique soul. Since you’ve chosen to stay, let me introduce myself.”

She flew right up close to Yuto, invading his personal space.

“My name is Yora.”

With Yora’s attention, a powerful energy surged and began to gather around Yuto’s waist.

“What’s happening?”

“I’m merely returning to a sword form. My role here is complete now. I’ll keep watching for a while.”

“So you’re not really here for anything specific, huh?”

“Did I not already say that?”

Yuto chuckled lightly and gazed back at the shifting landscape. At that moment, Yora suddenly recalled something she had forgotten.

“Oh, I forgot to give you a piece of advice.”

“Advice?”

“As I mentioned, the world line has reached a branching point.”

“I understand that.”

Yora’s voice had sunk slightly.

“You have now obtained my power. It’s just a matter of time before they discover you.”

“They?”

“Yes, they are the only true villains in this world and the points that must be dealt with. Those outsiders.”

A bead of sweat trickled down Yuto’s cheek.

That was far too quick. It was reasonable to deal with a mid-boss at this stage.

“I might end up dead if I’m not careful.”

“We’ll need a countermeasure. They are a bizarre breed that follows a different orbit.”

Perfectly valid expression.

It appeared he wouldn’t be able to take things easy from here on out.

“It might be a bit early, but I need to head there.”

“There?”

“To a cheat-like place for strategy. If all goes well, I can level up easily.”

“You seem unfazed. Are you confident?”

“I am, indeed.”

The problem, however, lies with ‘them.’

Once again, this world was never something one could handle alone.

Due to the balance within the team, each heroine’s abilities were necessary.

Yuto understood that fact better than anyone.

“How should I train them again? This is troubling.”

“Your face says you’re smiling, huh?”

“To be honest, it’s exhilarating.”

“…?”

“It’s always refreshing.”

Reflecting on his mundane previous life, it left a tantalizing addiction that was hard to let go of.

It was a world where he wanted to savor as long as possible.

“I’m looking forward to what comes next.”

Yuto’s adventure was just beginning.

– Volume 1 complete (完) –