The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 167

It didn’t have the name Land of Farming for no reason.

In Pulan, the number of cattle and pigs was overwhelmingly higher than the number of people. In the village of Torren, which was located in the deepest mountain range, that rate had a decent incline over the past few years.

It was an already aging village and there was no influx of young people.

There was still the same amount of work available, but no one wanted to come to such a place to work. Thus, it was a village where you would always see the same people.

That was why it was only natural that when something good happens to one family, the entire village becomes lively.

The achievements of one household were the achievements of the whole village. It’s not unusual for rumors to spread throughout the entire village in just half a day as people congratulated you.

The most recent buzz in the village was the return of Yennekar Palerover.

Yennekar went home every vacation to see friends and family. However, that time the trip home was even more noisy than usual.

The incident happened shortly after Yennekar Palerover returned home.

Returning to Palerover Ranch, changing into casual villager clothes, washing the dishes, helping the ranch as usual, and eating sheep’s milk, cheese, and rye bread with her parents. Everything was natural.

However, she seemed different from her usual self.

Orte Palerover, the owner of the Palerover Ranch, and his wife, Saila Palerover, knew their only daughter, Yennekar Palerover—whom they raised out of pure love—better than anyone else.

And of course, they knew the fact that she couldn’t lie. As the two of them watched over Yennekar, watching as she grew over time, they could see Yennekar’s mental state just by looking at her expression.

“It seems like you’re worried a lot lately, Yennekar. Is it because you lost your seat as the top student? Even having the second seat is a really great feat.”

“Hmmmng?! A-Ah that’s not it! Of course, it’s unfortunate, but… I’m not going to get so depressed over something like that! Seriously dad!”

Yennekar, who had been sitting at the dinner table refuting Orte’s words, waved her hand in the air in denial. Afraid that she might be causing them concern.

That reaction of hers meant she was telling the truth. It was good that she wasn’t stressed because of her grades, but why did it look like she had no energy?

As if she were worried about something, she looked blankly in the air as she sighed deeply. The parents were sure of it seeing her continue to act that way.

“Or… Is there a boy that you’re worried about?”

“Hmm? No, what are you talking about! Dad, why are you saying such a strange and ridiculous thing? To say that I’m worried over a boy! Why do you think I would have such a strange thought?! You’re always like this, Dad! I-If you have time to say nonsense, then change the fodder! That’s something that you should be doing anyway, but… Either way, don’t start saying random things for no reason! Y-You freaked me out!”

Yes, that was it.

Seeing Yennekar’s reaction and how she tried to explain herself by saying all of that, the Palerover couple started to look happy.

Of course, that was it. Yennekar Palerover was now of that age.

And the Palerover couple were reasonable and open minded.

It was a rural area where, no matter where you searched, you would only find a few young people. Growing up working on a ranch in a place like that, they were worried that Yennekar wouldn’t know anything about the world as she came from a rural area.

The ranch was already short-handed. So, the couple couldn’t control their excited hearts, thinking that they might be able to catch a man.

In the first place, the Palerover couple didn’t have high standards for men.

No matter how amazing their daughter Yennekar was, they didn’t expect her to end up with someone like a son of a noble, a talented magician with a decent appearance, or a well-known and reputable person.

However, their one small wish was that he was good at ranch work and had good dexterity. If she continued to live a dozen more years alone in the rural village, became an old unmarried woman, and ended up being forced to marry a strange person because of her age, they would be devastated.

But now, Yennekar, someone who managed to attract an ideal male student from Silvenia! Future son-in-law! A real future son-in-law.

Those words were something that they could have never imagined would be said in that crumbling village. A future son-in-law.

Like a pirate who found a treasure chest of gold and silver, Saila Palerover had a light flicker in her eyes as she wrapped her arms around Yennekar’s back.

Even considering that she was her daughter, Yennekar Palerover was a woman that many men would have no reason to refuse. She had a beautiful appearance that made her look rather cute. She was completely capable in terms of ability, and in this day and age, such a simple and kind country girl was a natural treasure in itself.

And there was absolutely no reason to refuse who that supposed man was. So, in the minds of the Palerover couple, wedding bells were already ringing.

The most important thing was what kind of person the other man was behind the scenes. As long as he wasn’t a completely worthless human being, they were ready to accept him. In the first place, since he’s a student at Silvenia it seemed like that was already guaranteed.

“Yennekar! Yennekar! You’re finally doing it!”

“Honey, don’t make such a fuss…! But by the way, what is he like? Do you think he’s the type that would hate if his mother-in-law were too kind to him? Maybe it would be better if I looked a bit more sophisticated…? Should I mend the dress that I wore for my wedding?”

“Does he enjoy shooting a bow? My dream is to have a drink with my son-in-law and shoot some targets… No, drinking is still too early. It would be great if he were a little bit more masculine than slender… What is he like… ?”

Yennekar’s expression started to harden.

“Th-That’s not it! W-Why do you both think so?!”

“Yennekar! Even if you try to hide it, we all know! So, what’s his name…?”

“I’m not telling you! Why do I have to tell you something like that!”

The moment she said, ‘That’s not it’ and ‘I’m not telling you’, Yennekar was acknowledging the fact. In any case, she was a person that was terribly awful at lying…

“Can’t you tell us a little bit? Yennekar! Do you know how hard it has been for me as your father in charge of the Palerover Ranch?! I also want to enjoy some pleasures in life!”

“D-Dad… Why are you… making a fuss…?”

“It’s not bad to end your life here cleaning up cow dung and milking them, but being able to stand proudly in this world with your feet planted on the ground and your first clenched in the air… When it comes to men, we want to feel the hearts of our son-in-law…! So, just tell me his name! Since I’m a man, I’ll also be able to tell if he is a good one!”

“No! I said no! Please! Keep it down! The neighbors will hear!”

Orte Palerover sighed as his muscular arms dropped down. Yennekar slammed her hands on the desk as she made a fuss.

“Alright… I get it…. then… It can’t be helped…”

“Honey, we’re also getting old, too. Yennekar can’t always be our kind daughter with a pretty heart… It’s inevitable that she will eventually go through puberty. We decided to prepare ourselves for that day when I gave birth to her. So, don’t be too depressed. We promised ourselves that we would be ready when it comes.”

“Yeah… I guess… It’s a process everyone goes through. Now Yennekar will also get angry at me for doing laundry with her clothes saying it smells like sweat, frown when she makes eye contact with me, slam the door and run away to her room, and slam the table asking for some pocket money… My heart was already prepared, but… It’s very, very sad… I’m stuck in this village and I’m slowly dying as I become an old man… Yeah, this must be the twilight years of life… Bittersweet and lonely…”

“Why are you thinking so drastically…? ! That’s not it! I won’t do that…!”

Seeing Orte’s crying face, Yennekar hesitated for a moment as she sighed. Either way, she definitely couldn’t say his name.

The moment she said that name in that small rural village, rumors would spread throughout the village. She knew that better than anyone because Yennekar had lived in Torren Village for a long time.

However, the couple’s depressed expressions continued to pressure her… Little by little, a cold sweat began to roll down.

“Euhhhh… So…”

In the end, Yennekar, who had a good heart, hesitated as she said.

“The bow…. He shoots it well…”

When she saw Orte’s expression turning bright, Yennekar felt blood rushing to her head.

“Oh, Yennekar! I heard the news! It seems like you’re enjoying your school life, I’m so happy!”

“When will you bring him to the village?! I’ll serve him some of the raspberry juice I’ve been soaking for over twenty years!”

“I’ll have to kill a whole pig then!”

“You think a pig is enough?! We need to serve an entire cow! I will search the whole pasture and catch the best one, so please tell me when he will come!”

She didn’t say his name, but in the end, she made a slip of the tongue.

There was no way the Palerovers couple could stop themselves from telling the other villagers about such an important matter.

When Orte Palerover went to the town hall in a joyous mood after drinking a bit, he ended up talking about it as the rumor instantly spread.

By evening of the next day, the village was already in a joyous mood. Yennekar was walking around the town square with a basket full of fruits as her face burned red.

“Oh, when he comes, be sure to stop by our Helken general store! I don’t have much I can give him, but… Well, if there’s something he needs repaired, I’ll do it for free!”

“If he’s from Silvenia, then he must be quite wealthy or an aristocrat? Not all of them are like that, but there are sure a lot of them! Yennekar, you’ve come a long way! You truly are the pride of our town!”

“Yennekar! Yennekar! Yennekar! Yennekar! Yennekar!”

“Hey, it’s a good time! About twenty-five years ago, I was also caught up with all those city men… I miss that time!”

After wandering around getting congratulated all day, Yennekar declared to the Palerover couple at breakfast the next day.

“I want to go back to Silvenia tomorrow.”

Completely out of the blue. Usually, when she returned to her hometown, she stayed for at least fifteen days. But now, after only three days, she declared that she wanted to return to school.

“Wh-What’s wrong, Yennekar? You should stay a bit longer before going.”

“I…”

Yennekar, whose face became red, held back her tears as she said.

“I can’t live here anymore…”

For a farming couple in a rural village, a delicate girl’s heart was too difficult to deal with.

…It was a tearful thing.

* * *

[I was thinking a bit of the past.]

There was a fairly large lake in the middle of the northern forest.

It was truly a fascinating lake. The size of the lake wasn’t great for the stagnant water it held, yet the water never became cloudy or rotten.

It was as if someone were constantly purifying the stagnant water so it wouldn’t become cloudy… The water of that central lake always looked clean and mysterious.

Especially in the morning, when there was some fog from the humidity, the lake, somewhat hidden in the morning sunlight, was like a fairy tale landscape. It was quite a memorable view.

It seemed that some students used it as a morning exercise route as well. In particular, people like Ziggs were regular visitors.

Well, that was when it was morning… It was night and the stars in the sky were reflecting off the water surface, shining faintly.

‘The Guardian Tree of Merilda’ stood on a small grass island in the middle of the lake.

Leaning against it, looking at the view of the forest, it was as if the night sky was the ground. That was because the night sky reflected clearly off the clean water, making it look as if it was the ground.

Everywhere in that forest, below that beautiful sky, only the sounds of grass bugs peculiar to summer nights or the sounds of animals running through the grass could be heard.

Summer nights were never quiet. It was quite different from a winter night where you feel as if you were left alone in the world.

Thinking about how in the forest, which seemed to be only full of trees, there were many things that you could consider alive.

“Thinking of the past?”

[Sometimes I just have that thought.]

Merilda was walking on top of the water. It was possible because her manifestation was released. Since I didn’t have any magic power, if it weren’t for the power of the wand, she wouldn’t be visible.

Watching her walk barefoot on the surface of the water that reflected the stars of the night sky, it was as if she was stepping on the sky rather than on water.

[Not long ago you destroyed House Rothstaylor.]

“It’s a bit much to say destroy.”

[Well, it can’t be helped. It’s the truth.]

Merilda, who held up both sides of the skirt slightly, swung her body around as a weak wind blew past.

[I don’t know what you might think, but to me, House Rothstaylor is a family with a long history. To the point even I heard their name quite often.]

“I don’t think much differently.”

[Well. Knowing their history and actually seeing it is a different story.]

“I guess that’s also true…”

Seeing me casually agree with her, Merilda smiled as if she knew I would say that.

[Every time I see such a large group or house disappear, I feel as if the times have changed again. How should I put this? It feels as if I lost a lot of energy.]

“Hmm…”

[Do you not understand?]

“To be honest, no. I don’t understand.”

Merilda smiled as she continued speaking.

[Sometimes I feel as if time is passing by me, leaving first. Is it because my life as a spirit has also entered the twilight age? I often have such useless thoughts.]

Entering her twilight ages.

Hearing that, I couldn’t respond for a moment as I had to organize my thoughts.

Merilda was a high-ranking spirit who had lived for a long time.

People believed that no spirit had the concept of a lifespan, but that was wrong.

They couldn’t die from a physical attack or magic, but no spirit would be able to live in the world longer than the amount of magic power resonance they held.

There was only one way to increase that period of time: to raise their status.

From a fluid spirit that emitted magical power for about a week before disappearing to a low-ranking spirit that could maintain its shape from its magic power for several years.

A mid-ranking spirit could sustain their life for several decades, and furthermore, a high-ranking spirit wouldn’t pass away even after living for hundreds of years.

However, no matter how powerful a spirit may be, they one day must also participate in the cycle of the world.

There was no concept of death, but the concept of disappearing into nature remained. It might seem like there wasn’t a difference from death but it’s possible to hold onto the hope that one day they could be reincarnated as a fluid spirit and start over from the beginning.

The life of a spirit was both long and monotonous.

“Merilda, you…”

[Don’t get me wrong, I still have a long way to go. At least a bit more than a hundred years. ]

Saying that, Merilda showed a wolf-like smile.

[Why? Are you worried that I will leave soon? Hehe.]

“…I would be lying if I said I wasn’t.”

[Wow, it really is strange how honest you are. You are quite the affectionate one.]

“Whatever the case, you have done a lot for me. And I’m not that cold-blooded.”

I leaned back against The Guardian Tree of Merilda as I looked up at the sky blankly.

“I was just worried about what change of heart you went through to seem so depressed. But now I know.”

[Depressed? Me?]

“You can try and act all you want, but I know you are depressed right now. Do I really have to tell you that though?”

Both spirits and humans had minds, and in my personal opinion, the way a mind works was the same whether you were a human, animal, or spirit.

The reason Merilda seemed particularly depressed and worried was the same.

“Humans are the same.”

I took a deep breath as I spoke.

That was something that could be said equally on the battlefield or in a peaceful society.

Young, youthful, energetic… spirits like Mugg could all see their ‘future.’

He became a mid-ranking spirit, increased his magic power resonance, increased his amount of magic power, and one day he’d become a high-ranking spirit… While commanding the spirits, he dreamed of running around the world with a powerful elementalist.

But, living such a life… Slowly, once they approached their twilight age, spirits started to see their ‘past.’

Meeting with a certain elementalist, looking at the various humans, and living through a certain generation.

The days they had lived thus far and the days they would live in the future. If you were to weigh the two to see which one weighed more, you could easily find out what kind of person you were.

Those who had more days to live in the future, and those who have lived more days in the past.

It was the same reason why a young man who had just graduated from college and an elderly gentleman who was about to retire couldn’t understand each other.

The young man spoke about the future, but the elderly man only spoke about the past. After realizing that difference, the elderly man fell into depression little by little.

His story was coming to an end. In the end, time left him behind.

After realizing that fact, he sometimes sheds a tear just looking at the setting sun.

[That kid, she is a lot like Silvenia. ]

Suddenly, she was talking about the Great Sage Silvenia.

I thought that Merilda was talking about herself, as she resembles Silvenia more than anyone else… But realizing that it wasn’t about looks, I shut my mouth.

Patriciana was a kid who was immersed in her own research to the extent that she didn’t even know a thing about the school.

[The great sage was also an outcast who devoted herself to her magic research despite the harsh and difficult environment she lived in.]

“Is that why you said they’re similar?”

[I was just thinking that as I thought of the old times. Though, I think I caused some trouble in the process.]

“That wasn’t any trouble, so don’t worry too much. Trayciana came and took care of everything.”

Merilda smiled as she tilted her head.

[In the end, I realized she was a little different from the Silvenia I had seen in the past. Well, that was obvious. As if such an outcast like her would easily show up again.]

“Is that so?”

[Yeah. Maybe it was just as you said, I was a little depressed.]

Merilda, with her skirt flapping in the wind, stood on the water as she looked up at the tall buildings in Silvenia. There were more than just one or two buildings that rose up among the stars in the night sky.

Silvenia’s buildings, which could even be seen from the lake in the northern forest, were the maintained buildings of an exiled outcast who came to Acken Island long ago.

Although in the start they were weak, it has now become the best educational institution on the continent.

That time took place long ago, but if thinking back on it, it might come to her mind as clearly as yesterday.

Memories of the past that Merilda had accumulated remained in her memory even now, when she entered her twilight age.

As I said, people who entered the twilight age live their lives looking to the past rather than the future.

The same went for Merilda when she thought of her distant memories as she closed her eyes. Memories that she would never forget and would continue cherishing for the rest of her long life. There’s no way that wouldn’t be special.

The time when she looked down at the entire view of Acken Island from the top of the right mountain.

Was it the same time as when Silvenia gave her a headache because she constantly caused incidents whenever she could?

The figure of Silvenia, who put her hands on her waist as she smiled wildly, was definitely… A memory that was not easy to forget.

[After thinking about it… I’ve never had a friend like that kid. ]

Merilda spoke in a quiet whisper. She had a relaxed expression that was far from being depressed.

[Yeah, it was great back then. ]

You can’t judge just on her expression though.

* * *

[I have the body of the ultimate wind spirit.]

I could see my increase in affinity with Merilda without having to open the stats window.

That was because the feelings an elementalist shared with a spirit were stronger than one’s affinity, one that’s just a stat. Going on various journeys together, talking often, that was enough to realize it.

Well, since I actually felt as if I got a little closer to her, I was sure that the affinity stat also went up. As a result, my spiritual skills and firepower should have also gone up.

However, after a deeper conversation with Merilda, what ended up falling into my hands… was a high level of information.

[Right now, the position of the ultimate wind spirit is vacant. Decades have passed, and still no one has reached that level. However, what remains is the body of the former ultimate spirit that has turned back into nature as it passed away.]

Coming over to The Guardian Tree of Merilda, she squatted down next to me as she said.

[Actually, it’s a bit much to call it a body. It’s more like a small silky mass of magic power. Of course, spirits wouldn’t have an actual body when they die, but the traces they leave behind is similar.]

Merilda spread her palms toward the night sky as she continued.

[Once you get your hands on it, it will make a major difference in your elementalism training. When Silvenia finished her research, she buried it in the ground. If you want, I’ll give it to you.]

“Did you have a sudden change of heart?”

[No. It’s just hard to find a friend like you. Yennekar is a good friend as well. However, if you were to ask if we were close enough for me to tell her my inner thoughts, I wouldn’t say that’s the case.]

The highest wind spirit, ‘Tyrcalaques.’

A giant bear-shaped spirit that was the size of an entire mountain ridge… It was a legend of the past that could only be found in history books.

[However, it won’t be for free.]

Saying that, Merilda smiled sinisterly.

“You seem to be thinking about something useless again.”

[Not at all! Like you said, I’m a little depressed. I just thought it would be nice to relieve some of my depression.]

“What do you want?”

Merilda suddenly swung her upper body up as she pulled on my tie and whispered into my ear.

[You know Yennekar likes you, right? As a lover.]

Hearing her sudden words, I swallowed a gasp.

[Well, when you were busy, it wasn’t that I couldn’t understand your position… But now that your life is a bit better and you’re on a break, you’ve got some free time, right?]

“What are you trying to say?”

[I want you to slow down now.]

Merilda twirled her hand that held my necktie as she said in a seductive voice.

[You are going to have to give Yennekar at least a kiss before break is over.]

“……”

As I stared at Merilda with a completely dumbfounded face, Merilda brushed her pure white hair, looking rather sneakily.

[I mean, once that fire fox girl settles down in the camp, Yennekar will basically be pushed out of the fight. Before that happens, I need something with substance to take place so I can feel a bit more at ease.]

“……”

[Deal?]

It was already the end of summer break.

Pretty soon, the students would start coming back to the school.

For some reason I started to have an ominous feeling as I stared at Merilda’s sly face for a while.