The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 194

Bang!!

The scarecrow that was set up for the outdoor practical class was engulfed in an explosion as it fell over.

In fact, it was a target that was prepared to be used alternately between students. The students that were gathered widened their eyes upon seeing it fall apart with one magic attack.

Looking at the leftover debris that was seen in the rising smoke, that attack was clearly beyond the level of beginner elemental magic.

Point Explosion.

An intermediate magic that had relatively low firepower. It was combat magic that focused on speed rather than firepower.

Nevertheless, smoke spread out throughout the area due to the aftermath of that rather large explosion.

After a while, the smoke cleared up and everyone could see the magician behind that magic, Ed Rothstaylor. He was standing while shaking the hand that cast that spell.

It must have used quite a bit of magic power, yet he didn’t look to be the slightest bit uncomfortable or exhausted. Without a single drop of sweat, he had cast an intermediate magic of that magnitude with just one wave of his hand.

“Alright. That’s enough.”

Elemental Combat Magic, the practical class.

The third years, who had just taken their first full-fledged intermediate magic course since they started school, were all gathered together and completely nervous.

They were students who were there to learn their first bit of intermediate magic. That was why Ed Rothstaylor was an abnormality, as he had already mastered several spells.

Professor Kaleid turned his drowsy eyes to look at all of the students.

They all had their eyes wide open, as they had just seen that sturdy-looking scarecrow get shattered to pieces.

On top of that, Ed Rothstaylor—the one who cast that spell—didn’t look like he struggled one bit casting it.

He was already famous for having reached a high level of elementalism, but no one there had any idea that he was able to use elemental magic so skillfully.

Seeing Ed pat his clothes in the smoke, the students seemed to have lost all sense of hope.

“Ed Rothstaylor. Starting tomorrow, just go to Class A.”

“But I haven’t gotten my evaluation to transfer classes yet.”

“There’s no need to wait for that. I’ll make the report to Trix Hall, so just get ready to move classes.”

It didn’t seem like he would have a very good impact on the students who signed up for the class with the expectation of finally being able to learn intermediate magic for the first time. It was a pain for Professor Kaleid to deal with, but he felt the need to act quickly.

In the first place, it didn’t make sense for the top third year student to be stuck in such a basic class, all because he was waiting for his transfer evaluation.

“By the looks of it, you’re already quite good at intermediate magic. So, just go to Class A and start taking courses in Advanced Magic. Since I’m also in charge of that class, I’ll see you there later.”

“Alright.”

For a while, all of the students began to gossip with each other.

Being told to take an Advanced Magic course was one of the highest honors you could receive as a student in the magic department.

If you were capable of even casting one advanced magic spell before graduation, you would be considered one of the greatest talents of your generation.

Even if you looked at all of the students within Silvenia at that moment, the number of students capable of advanced magic was less than ten.

However, the number was slowly increasing due to the development of the education system. There was a long period of time where no one could have ever imagined that a student would be capable of using advanced magic.

“Just go back for today. You won’t learn anything in this class.”

Kaleid yawned as if annoyed. Since there was nothing more to teach him there, he waved his hand, telling him to go.

The others were all students who were just starting to learn intermediate magic. Ed wasn’t someone who should be mixed in with them.

Ed Rothstaylor looked at Professor Kaleid, dumbfounded. He then nodded his head before heading towards the exit.

Watching Ed leave the room calmly, all the students swallowed their dry saliva.

* * *

From the first day of practical class, I had time to kill.

I was instructed to leave the classroom out of nowhere, so I went to the student plaza.

I needed to go to my elementary studies practical class later, then eat something before going to my monster ecology class. I would need to stop by the library to borrow books on design and ask the maids of Ophelis Hall to give me some training that would help me raise my repair level.

After all of that, I needed to head back to camp to continue trimming the logs, check the hunting traps, prepare the fish, repair the cabin, and then I could finally sleep. I thought about all of the things I had to do that day in my mind.

I didn’t like suddenly having free time in my well-organized daily routine.

The hot summer was slowly coming to an end, and the autumn wind was starting to become cooler.

As I sat in the student plaza under the midday sun… I watched the students passing by in a hurry.

I’d never had the chance to idly watch the scenery of the school because I’d always been busy. As I observed my surroundings, I could see why Silvenia was considered a place of study, full of romance and youth.

Seeing the students wear their school uniforms, chatting and having fun, I realized just how peaceful the place really was.

There were a lot of things that I didn’t realize because I was living my life miserable and alone. Only after having a little free time was I able to realize just why so many children of aristocrats wanted to go to the school.

Was it pointless for me to live my life without any breaks?

There were times when I had that thought. However, I couldn’t help it. That was just the way I was used to living.

“Hmm…”

As I quietly sat on a bench, basking in the sunlight, I suddenly thought of something to do with my free time.

I couldn’t leave the school since I had another class later, so I decided to go to Obel Hall, which was right next to the Student Square.

Obel Hall was also home to the student council… So Tanya, who returned to school yesterday, would probably be there.

Since there was a lot to take care of after returning to school, I figured that Tanya would also be quite busy. There was also all the work that had built up while she was on break.

So, I originally planned to visit on the weekend when the student council didn’t have any schedules and there were no classes. Unfortunately, I was just as busy on weekdays.

However, since I suddenly had time to kill, I might as well go and see her.

“……”

I remembered seeing Tanya as I left the Rothstaylor mansion.

Standing in front of the collapsed mansion, clutching the flag that was engraved with our house’s seal.

Determined to be the next head of House Rothstaylor, she completely put aside any sort of childish attitude as she looked straight ahead. That final image I had of her kept coming to mind.

Not only that, she was also negotiating with the imperial family as a representative of House Rothstaylor. According to Trayciana, it seemed she’d been busy gathering support behind her…

She had become a lot more mature than the first time I saw her. It was particularly noticeable when she acted like a leader of a group.

I needed to exchange information with her about what happened, and if there was some way I could cheer her up, I should do it.

Well, it looked like she’d grown up quite a bit… So, I didn’t think there was any need for me to do that.

I was sure she’d be fine on her own. That was because everyone grew in the face of adversity.

* * *

“I want to punch every one of them… Sniff… Sniff…”

Despite such expectations, Tanya, who was sitting in the student council president’s office, had not changed at all.

“Obviously, it was my dream to become the student council president and spread the glory of House Rothstaylor. But now, my house has completely fallen. Everywhere I go, people gossip about the head of house, I’m getting pressured by the imperial family, and there’s so much work for me to do after returning to school. There is so much I need to take care of as the student council president. I don’t want to live like this. I want to forget everything and run away…”

“……”

“A house… Should I build a house…? Give up on school… Gather the leftover inheritance… Maybe somewhere in the Kohelton region, or in the Lamelin Mountain Range, or in a grassland where the wind blows… And after I build a house that is good enough to live in… I can spend my time embroidering in my room, or drawing pictures… It might not be that bad…”

No, to put it bluntly, it was the exact opposite.

Tanya Rothstaylor, who wanted to obtain power and authority more than anyone else, had ended up becoming greedier and more pessimistic than anyone else in the span of one year.

But thinking about what she’d been through, I thought I would be the same.

I tried to cover the tears that welled up in my eyes.

“Sometimes, I can read a book… Or go to a tea house in a nearby village and pretend to be a regular… When I hear the news from the city, I’ll casually laugh to blend in and… I’ll occasionally show up in town. I can live, pretending to be a woman who has a lot of money… That’s not a bad life… Ah… I want to become a farmer… I want to farm… Forget about power and lineage, it’s about peace and tranquility. I want to drink tea while enjoying that…”

“You’re struggling quite a bit… Tanya…”

“I don’t look fine…? Sniff… sniff…”

Burying her head in her large desk, Tanya let out a cry.

“I have to review ninety-seven complaints just today. I have to go to Trix Hall to have a discussion with Headmaster Obel and write a thank-you letter to House Felbron for supporting us as well… I also need to check the maintenance work of the student hall to make sure the construction was handled properly. All while going to class…”

“…Good luck.”

“And I also have to take care of House Rothstaylor. Princess Selah keeps throwing strange accusations towards me whenever she has the chance. Our vassals aren’t the only ones suffering now. Every day, it’s hundreds of different letters. I can barely read through all of them each day. And no one applauds me for working this hard, since I’m now the head of House Rothstaylor… Save me, brother.”

“……You can do it!”

In fact, Tanya herself was the one who took the seat of the next head of house. It was also her own choice to run for student council president.

Those decisions were made on Tanya’s own judgment, and I didn’t have the authority to do anything about it.

“When I saw you at Rothstaylor Mansion before, I thought you were much more imposing.”

“Back then… It was because the atmosphere was like that. I felt like I had to act brave. I needed to show that I could be the next leader of the house and pretend that I had a realization…”

“Yeah, that makes sense.”

“At the time, my heart was pounding like crazy, but… in reality, the only thing to do is handle the papers and tasks…”

Tanya sighed as she lifted her head, which had been buried on the desk. And when she made eye contact with me, she saw my bandages as she spoke.

“You still have a few injuries, but you’ve healed a lot, brother. Back at the mansion, you looked seriously injured so I was quite worried.”

“Thanks to you, I was able to rest in Silvenia. Something happened while you were back at the mansion taking care of things, but everything worked out in the end.”

“That’s good. You’re going to attend Silvenia until graduation, right?”

“Well, yeah.”

I had to take care of Velbrok. Since I was going to school either way, I wanted to get my diploma.

The moment I was thrown into this world, graduating from Silvenia had been my goal. At that point, it felt rather symbolically important to me.

“I wonder if I can even take care of both the school and the house… I’m starting to have my doubts.”

“Then… are you thinking of quitting school?”

“I don’t know. But there is meaning to graduating. At least for this semester, I’m going to continue going to school while taking care of everything.”

She really had grown.

Knowing what she went through, she could throw everything else aside and run away. No one in the world would blame her at that point.

Nevertheless, Tanya returned to school to complete all of the tasks she was responsible for.

Although she whined a lot, it was proof that she was somehow still holding on.

“Still, it’s nice that you personally came to visit. For the past few months, I’ve only been meeting with influential people and talking about serious topics that bear a huge weight… This is the first time I’ve been able to get things off my chest. I feel so much better…”

“You’ve gone through a lot…”

“Anyway, things with our House are moving along smoothly. I have also recruited Commander Magnus of House Callamore, Sinir Bloomriver of House Bloomriver, and Erkel Elpelan of House Elpelan.”

All of them were famous individuals whose names were well known across the empire. Even though we were House Rothstaylor, it wouldn’t have been easy to get them to join our side.

“How did you recruit such individuals?”

“Because I openly showed hostility towards Princess Selah, without holding back.”

Tanya sat up straight as she continued to speak. Though, she still seemed to be exhausted.

“Since she won’t ever be our ally anyway, I thought it would be best to solidify my position as opposing her, and to gather like-minded people that way.”

“So, it was a political decision.”

“I don’t like Princess Selah all that much. She keeps saying things that irritate me.”

Was it simpler than I thought?

“And, well, I don’t like the fact that they have so much power because of their blood. Is bloodline all there is? What’s so good about that…? It just means you have the same blood…”

I never thought the day would come when those words would come out of Tanya Rothstaylor’s mouth.

It was completely different from the Tanya I had seen in . In front of me sat a blonde-haired girl who had turned completely pessimistic, upset that one’s bloodline was considered precious.

Was she really the villain who risked her life for the prestige of House Rothstaylor, who was always laughing arrogantly? She had changed so much……

“For the time being, I thought it would be better to recruit allies. Well, I can somehow manage any House-related issues on my own. Though, whenever I have trouble or need help, I’ll come and ask you.”

“Yeah, you can tell me anytime. We’re a blood-related family, after all.”

It was important that I supported Tanya, who was suffering quite a bit at the moment.

I looked at Tanya as I spoke honestly.

“I know just how hard you are working, and I am sure that the day you will be rewarded for it will come. So, don’t be so upset. If you are having a hard time, please tell me any time. I am willing to help as much as I can.”

My response may have seemed too textbook, but in any case, they were still words of encouragement. However, Tanya’s reaction was more dramatic than I expected.

She opened her eyes wide as she looked at me, as if surprised.

“What’s with that strange expression on your face…?”

“Nothing… I’m just grateful that you’re encouraging me. It’s just… there wasn’t anyone else around encouraging me.”

“That’s because you’ve been doing a great job.”

“Well, thinking of things like that does make me feel better. Anyway… Thank you, brother. I’ll do my best.”

Tanya smiled as she straightened her back and clenched her fists. It seemed that she was determined to do her best.

It seemed that she was busy with all sorts of work as the student council president. Her desk was completely full of papers.

It wasn’t anything major, either. I had only come to talk to her as her blood-related brother, but that alone seemed to make her feel much better.

That was what family was. Even if there wasn’t anything particularly important to talk about… just sharing a few words with each other was enough to make you feel better.

“Brother, you will stay on Acken Island for the entire semester, right? Finishing your schoolwork is the most important thing, after all.”

“Yes. Though, I may leave Acken Island for a week or so next week. It’s not confirmed yet, but I can apply for an excused absence.”

“Excused absences? Are you participating in a public event?”

“No, not quite that… It’s complicated, so to speak…”

I told Tanya about the same conversation I had with Saint Clarice last night at the camp.

A religious ceremony at Cledric Monastery.

News that Princess Persica and various other distinguished guests were attending.

And finally, what Clarice had told me excitedly.

“She asked me if I could attend with her. She said that if I went with her, it would be a lot more fun.”

“Saint Clarice said that? I can’t imagine…”

“……”

“Well, I’ve never seen her long enough to have a private conversation. Still, Saint Clarice… she feels… rather mature… and also benevolent…”

I was suddenly reminded of Clarice standing in my cabin, holding a chair as punishment.

Thinking of when she was standing there with tears welling up in her eyes, I felt a sense of incongruity with what Tanya had said.

“Wait… Cledric Monastery?”

“Yeah. Do you know about it?”

“Of course I know about it. House Rothstaylor was also baptized by the Telos Religious Group. So, they always ask for a representative from houses like ours to attend the ceremony as a matter of courtesy.”

“Have you gone before?”

“Well, I did, but I’m not particularly in a rush to do so again…”

She seemed to know why so many distinguished guests attended. Most who were set to attend were heirs to their noble house.

Since they were individuals sent to represent their houses in front of the Telos Religious Group, it must be a rather diverse place.

Tanya bit her lip, uncomfortable as she thought of something.

“But… I don’t really recommend you going there…”

“Is that so…?”

“In the first place, it’s off -limits to men. And from my childhood memories… I remember it being a really strange place. It would be understandable if a maintenance worker was forced to enter, or a high-ranking cleric like the archbishop, but… For you to go inside, you would stand out too much.”

I didn’t think it would be a good idea, either.

Attending the ceremony meant I would also have to skip all of my classes for the time being.

For me, who was trying to learn as much as I could to graduate with honors, it wasn’t a good idea.

Still… the variable known as Princess Persica would appear there.

“Why would you be allowed inside a place that has strictly forbidden men for over 100 years?”

“I heard that Saint Clarice was going to try and push for my approval, stating some magic-related reason.”

“Still, it would be difficult to make such an exception that breaks a long tradition so easily… but maybe it’s possible with the authority of the saint.”

“……”

“Followers of the Telos Religious Group are eccentric people who sacrifice everything for the safety and convenience of the saint. It’s not particularly a big deal, either… Bringing in a man for some reason… Still, she must have some reason for doing this…”

“So, do you think it’s better I don’t go through with it?”

In response to my question, Tanya nodded her head.

“It’s a mysterious place that was built on the coast, only able to be entered at low tide… But from my point of view, after spending a few days there, it’s just another space where people are isolated from the rest of the world.”

“Well, I’m expecting that, too.”

“They are said to be holy nuns who follow the will of God, but they are also troubled daughters who were once exiled or sent away from their houses. There are also many orphans who have been abandoned there and illegitimate children whose births couldn’t be publicly revealed.”

People who prayed, following the will of God. It was just an excuse to hide the darkness behind their births or their shameful temperaments.

“A place where eccentric believers and the various children of noble backgrounds gather. Anyway, it’s just a regular place where those sorts of people gather. The nuns there are rather closed off… and they don’t get close with outsiders, either…”

“What do you mean?”

Tanya trembled as if she suddenly had a bad memory.

“So… you know how only men who handle maintenance are allowed inside. Well, those construction workers, most of them are burly, bearded old men.”

“……”

“But the nuns would giggle and avoid eye contact with them, acting embarrassed. That’s because they have no experience with men. That also means they are people with rather wild imaginations and dreams. So… What I’m trying to say is…. Uhm…”

I think I knew what she was trying to say… But I was too afraid to ask more about it.

“Anyway, I was able to become close with a few of them while I stayed there for a few days. But to them, whenever they make eye contact with a man, they can imagine their entire life unfolding alongside them as lovers…!”

“……”

“Even with those disgusting old men! So, what if someone like you went there… Your age is ideal and you’re rather handsome…!”

What kind of memory does she have of that place?

Seeing her seriously hate the idea, I couldn’t bear to say anything.

“It’s just… a disaster… A real disaster! Things will get complicated, and I’m sure an incident will take place. So… You can’t go… I don’t recommend it one bit. Thinking about the relationships around you already, I’m completely against the idea!”

After yelling all of that out, Tanya sighed as she buried herself back into her chair.

After taking a moment to calm down… she seemed to realize that she had overreacted.

“That… I got too excited on my own. I’m sorry, brother.”

“No… I… I understand your opinion.”

Even the faithful Saint Clarice didn’t want to go to Cledric Monastery.

So, when Tanya went as a child, I could only imagine how horrible that was.

I didn’t know how to respond to Tanya… so there was only an awkward silence in the room for a while.

* * *

Today, Yennekar only had morning classes. She had already returned to camp and was now preparing dinner.

Normally, she would decide on what to eat with Ed after looking at the leftover ingredients. However, that day she was preparing it entirely by herself.

She was pleased just thinking of preparing a meal in advance as she waited for Ed to come back. She rolled up her sleeves as she hummed.

Then, while she was contemplating what to eat while looking at the leftover meat, vegetables, and spices in the camp…

“H-Hello.”

A guest had arrived at the camp.

Since Ed’s camp was located in a rather remote place in the North Forest, people rarely came by unless they meant to.

Most of the people who came were acquaintances of Ed.

“……?”

Yennekar, who had been looking over the ingredients for a long time, looked up at the owner of the voice with puzzled eyes. It was Patriciana Bloomriver, a fourth year student in the magic department.

They weren’t close, but they knew of each other. That was what Yennekar thought.

From Patriciana’s point of view, Yennekar Palerover was a famous student within the school, and even though they were not well acquainted, she felt a strange sense of closeness with her.

Still, they weren’t close friends. Patriciana shyly spoke to Yennekar.

“Y-Yennekar, right…? You live in this camp…?”

“…Uhm, yes I do… Patriciana?”

“Ah, yeah! You remembered my name! Yeah… That’s right, I’m Patriciana.”

Seeing Patriciana come suspiciously closer to her, Yennekar tilted her head.

Yennekar didn’t know that Patriciana’s secret laboratory was in the North Forest. Merilda was aware of that fact, but she didn’t bother telling Yennekar about it.

If she reported every single thing that happened in the forest to Yennekar, they would be talking about the forest all day long.

In the end, the only things the spirits told Yennekar about was information that they thought she should know.

“Ed and I are acquaintances after an incident… It wasn’t all that pleasant, though… A-Anyway, do you have time?”

Patriciana shyly looked around her.

She then took out a reagent from her pocket, smiling awkwardly.

“I have an interesting item… Do you want to hear about it…?”

Yennekar tilted her head with an innocent yet confused expression on her face.

Then, Patriciana started to give an entire speech about the efficiency of the reagent she held in her hand.

At first, Yennekar was listening, interested… But then her expression began to harden, little by little.

No matter what, it was too much to use a drug to make someone reveal all of their secrets and control them.

She tried to firmly say she had no intention of touching such an insidious thing, but…

Unfortunately, Yennekar was already receiving reports about Ed’s every single move, no matter how personal, from her spirits.

Though, honestly speaking, rather than receiving a report… The spirits were just chatting with Yennekar however they felt…

Anyway, she wasn’t in a position where she could say anything…!

Yennekar began to realize that fact.

“Wh-What do you think…? It’s good, right? With these effects, won’t a lot of people be interested…?”

“Uhm… Uhh…”

Yennekar looked at the reagent in Patriciana’s hand as if she was imagining something pleasant. She then shook her head.

“Still, this isn’t right Patriciana.”

“I-Is that so…?”

“It’s not polite to the other person… In the long run, this will only ruin a relationship…”

Ed was also conscious to some extent that the spirits talked about him, though he didn’t really care.

However, using such a reagent completely against Ed’s will wasn’t right.

Unfortunately, Yennekar was much too kind to lay her hands on such a reagent.

However, from Patriciana’s point of view, she didn’t expect such a refusal… She was looking at Yennekar with wide eyes.

“N-No way…”

“I have no intention of using that… Patriciana. That reagent… just take it back with you…”

Patriciana looked at Yennekar, who calmly rejected her.

Seeing her act like that, Patriciana started to have a strange sense of stubbornness.

* * *

“You always do such a good job, Miss Bell.”

The hallway of Ophelis Hall.

Trayciana came out of her room as she spoke to Bell, who was cleaning up the hallway.

“Patrin left earlier. Did you see where she went?”

“You mean Lady Patriciana? Do you have business with her? I can have someone deliver a message for you.”

“Ah, no… I think I’ll have to find that girl myself… Because I… suddenly felt uneasy….”

“…Pardon?”

Trayciana looked at Bell as she squirmed, holding onto her wand tightly, as if nervous.

“It’s just… Maybe… There’s going to be another incident… Sometimes, I have that gut feeling…”

“I see. If you say that, there must be a reason…”

Bell stopped for a moment, pondering, before she asked,

“Isn’t it difficult having to be anxious about something that hasn’t even happened yet?”

“You think so…?”

“If something happens, we will take action and report it back to you immediately. So, don’t worry too much. How about you rest in your room for the time being?”

“Well, if you say so… Alright…”

Trayciana then nervously went back to her room.

“……”

Bell tilted her head for a moment as she then turned back around to finish cleaning the hallway.

Now that the semester started, her workload suddenly increased. Bell was also extremely busy herself.