The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 216

The Great Sage Silvenia Robester was a genius who seemed perfect.Born as the daughter of a moderately wealthy translator in the empire’s capital, Kroelon, it took her less than a month to learn how to read and write the Empire’s official language.

At the age of seven, when other children her age were running around in gardens, grumbling about their parents, Silvenia was busy reading large magic books nearly the size of her torso. By the time she was baptized at the age of nine, she had already taught herself intermediate elemental magic.

It was at that point that her father—Dexton Robester, a renowned magic book translator—began to feel that his daughter was extraordinary.

After that, he appointed several reputable tutors to teach her. However, most of them quit within only a few months of instructing her. When asked why, the reason was eerie.

At times, Silvenia’s behavior was that of a young girl her age. She had a rather cute and innocent appearance and was someone who cried when she scraped her knee or lost her favorite doll… However, the moment she picked up a quill for class, she became a completely different person.

Those eyes of hers that stared at the characters on the blackboard, absorbing knowledge… Were they really the eyes of a thirteen-year-old girl? She was like a beast that devoured all forms of knowledge, constantly staring into her instructors’ eyes, as if trying to gnaw at their brains.

In the summer of that year, she looked through months of research done by her monster ecology instructor, only to present them with an entirely new theory regarding monster evolution. Then, later that winter, she pointed out various issues in the reagent manufacturing theory her instructor taught.

At eleven years old, she suddenly wanted to learn swordsmanship. Three months later, she went alone into the mountains with a rapier, returning with a wild deer. A month later, she researched and successfully imbued a spiritual skill into her father’s personal bow. That same month, she signed a contract with a mid-ranking spirit.

The following year, she took an interest in alchemy. She then successfully created the Blue Brilliance Reagent and Devil’s Red Flower Reagent—things that even famous alchemists struggled to produce.

That summer, she successfully cast the advanced wind magic Eye of the Typhoon… which subsequently blew away the entire fountain in the central square of Kroelon.

At the time, the youngest magician in recorded history capable of using advanced magic was Melgis, the commander of the Magic Knights of the Imperial Household, at age twenty-nine.

When Silvenia did it, she was only twelve.

***

Silvenia awkwardly tapped her fingertips together with a playful expression, as if she had caused a small accident. Dexton, who had gone to pick her up at Kroelon’s central square, felt that the time had come.

Looking at the Imperial Army acting defensively toward her, seeing such a young girl use advanced magic to destroy the square as if she couldn’t properly control her strength… Their eyes trembled.

It was time to reveal Silvenia’s existence to the world.

***

“If you study the positions of the stars, you can see a rather strange flow of magic power. I don’t know if there’s some kind of causality hidden beneath it, but if you look closely, there do seem to be certain rules. If one were to successfully research it, they might be able to bend the basic rules and principles that build this world. The study of the positions of stars and their flow of magic power… You could call it Celestial Science!”

***

At thirteen, by the decree of Kroel the 2nd, Silvenia Robester became the youngest imperial magician. Such an honor was completely unprecedented in history.

However, no one could complain. At thirteen, she had already anonymously submitted two papers on theories of magic power resonance to the Elemental Research Society. She then accomplished the feat of having both unanimously accepted.

All of the scholars of the Togg Magic Power Society were stunned to learn that such groundbreaking theories—ones that shook their entire perception of magic power response—had come from the mind of a thirteen-year-old girl.

Among them, a few even came to realize the gap in talent between themselves and her, ultimately choosing to leave academia behind.

Silvenia actively received support from the imperial household. She was allowed to live in the grand Lily Palace and was given a laboratory the size of an ordinary house. With magic inks, books, blackboards, chalk, and magic engineering equipment filling the room, she finally began working to prove her theories.

Even though everything in the Kroel Imperial Household was constantly cleaned and maintained, no one dared to even consider entering Silvenia’s laboratory to clean it.

To her, Lily Palace and her laboratory had already become her own unique world.

Kroel the 2nd had a good eye for people. He decided that a girl like Silvenia Robester should never be forced into etiquette training. Instead, he actively arranged for her to meet as many scholars as possible.

During that time, experts from various fields came in and out of Lily Palace’s laboratory.

Many of the scholars wanted to meet Silvenia in advance, as she was a treasure protected by the Kroel Imperial Family.

Seoin Elpelan of the poisonous House Elpelan. Kelaison Bloomriver, head of House Bloomriver—the Witch’s House—and a known troublemaker. The famous backcountry adventurer Dalex Elderbane. And finally, the one known as the researcher of disaster reagents, Jane Velaxus.

As Silvenia spent most of her time immersed in research alone, it was a valuable opportunity for her to expand her personal connections.

It was a time when she met all kinds of people, learned about various research fields, and gradually became brighter in personality. She was influenced by many things and impressed by many people, but the one who stood out the most was the swordsman of House McLaure—Duke.

Duke McLaure.

A descendant of the first swordsman, Luden McLaure… A man who breathed new life into House McLaure, which had long been trapped in darkness.

The stories about the first swordsman Luden that he told Silvenia left a deep impression on her. In particular, the anecdote of his subjugation of the Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok became engraved in her memory, making her even more interested in swordsmanship.

After that, Silvenia began expanding her knowledge of daggers, archery, and spears by borrowing from the royal weapon inventory. Though she was born with a petite body and small muscles, she displayed unrivaled speed when it came to mastering various techniques.

***

When she turned seventeen, she no longer felt like a naïve child, but a proper adult… And she was already capable of using over a dozen ultimate magic spells. Among humans, it was safe to say that no one possessed deeper knowledge of magic than her.

Even scholars with thick beards who had studied magic until the twilight of their lives gladly bowed their heads to her with bright smiles.

From that point on, Silvenia was granted the title of “Great Sage.”

Yet Silvenia Robester never acted arrogantly, nor did she show particular interest in elevating her status or accumulating wealth.

While she wore majestic magician robes when attending academic conferences… she was usually running around her laboratory in a leather tunic and shabby cloak, clutching several reagent bottles.

The best place to observe the stars was at the top of the observatory. There, she carefully measured their positions.

As she began to study Celestial Magic in earnest, her laboratory grew increasingly cluttered.

Because Celestial Magic twisted the laws of the world, its research came with many dangers. In particular, since Celestial Magic Power was difficult to control, it often manifested in ways different from the caster’s intentions.

As a result, explosions frequently occurred in her laboratory. At first, the imperial household was understanding, given her position and value. However, when the incidents continued for several days straight, their opinions gradually began to change.

Eventually, the imperial household summoned her after each incident, warning her that casualties could occur. Every time, Silvenia merely scratched the back of her head, giggled awkwardly, and apologized.

Even though she could have died, Silvenia shone brighter than ever while studying Celestial Magic.

For Silvenia, no matter how difficult a magic theory or problem was, she could fully understand it and reach a proper answer within a few days.

However, Celestial Magic was different. Because it was a completely unexplored realm for mankind, the more she learned, the more she realized how much remained unknown.

To Silvenia, it was like discovering a new continent filled with unexplored lands—especially for someone who had devoted her entire life to research and knowledge.

Her eyes, shining as she studied Celestial Magic, were brighter than those of any other scholar. She immersed herself in research, believing it was her destiny to study the world’s principles and twist laws once thought unbreakable.

Confined to her laboratory in Lily Palace, she achieved accomplishments no one could have imagined.

Everyone within the Lily Palace was in awe of her. Her actions and efforts inspired those around her.

She was destined to stand at the forefront of unprecedented progress in this world. Of that, everyone was certain.

…That was until the following year, when the Crown Prince of the Kroel Imperial House, Lienfell, was caught in the aftermath of an explosion from one of Silvenia’s failed experiments.

After that, matters became complicated.

Injuring the Crown Prince during an experiment… It would not have been strange if she had been sentenced to death immediately.

However, Silvenia’s immense achievements could not be ignored. Her value was far too great to be discarded lightly.

Therefore, Kroel the 2nd decided to exile her to a secluded area on the empire’s outskirts for the time being.

While having passion for research was admirable, being overly consumed by it was unhealthy. That was the lesson he hoped to teach her.

There were many things she could learn by resting in a quiet, isolated area—breathing fresh air and taking a break from her research.

Even though his son was injured, Kroel the 2nd’s benevolent nature allowed him to perform one final act of kindness toward Silvenia. Knowing this, she departed for Acken Island with sincere gratitude.

In fact, Silvenia herself had hoped that Acken Island would be chosen as her place of exile.

***

[And that was when I met Silvenia for the first time.]

In a corner of the cabin, Merilda spoke with a soft smile.

[She was always smiling confidently, as if she were proud of being expelled from the imperial household after causing an accident. Back then, I was too busy to care. Do you have any idea how much I suffered because of that girl?]

“What did she do to make you suffer?”

[She constantly came to me for help with her research. There were no proper sources of magic power or research facilities back then, yet she stubbornly continued her experiments. Absolutely stubborn.]

Merilda’s recollection of Silvenia began as a simple biography but gradually grew more detailed.

After all, everything she had mentioned so far was something she must have heard from Silvenia herself… But from that point onward, it was what Merilda had personally witnessed.

[She was always coming to me, talking about her visions. Just how ridiculous were those goals of hers… She really was a girl with lofty dreams.]

“Visions?”

[Her dreams.]

Merilda grabbed her hair and tied it into a ponytail, shifting into a brighter tone as if imitating Silvenia.

[Perfect foresight of the future. Changing what has already been decided!]

“…What?”

[Merilda, bypassing the natural flow of time to peek into the future is entirely within a god’s domain! But I believe in human potential! The evil god Mebula, the holy god Telos—I’m not interested in relying on gods and living a life that simply accepts a predetermined timeline!]

Was that really how Silvenia spoke when she was alive? With a bright, high-pitched voice, she spoke as if she were focused solely on herself.

[Seeing the future… No, I won’t be satisfied with that alone.]

With a smile, she said something utterly absurd.

[I’m going to the future.]

Hearing those words, my expression stiffened.

Just how far ahead had the Great Sage Silvenia been looking back then?

[Am I supposed to simply accept my fate? No matter how miserable it is, I have no intention of surrendering to it.]

“……”

[I will survive, Merilda.]

That girl smiled as she said it. No matter what trials fate placed before her, she would leap over them all.

When she came to Acken Island… she definitely knew something. Was it because of Celestial Magic?

“What… did she mean by that…?”

[I don’t know either. She might have just been bluffing. It wasn’t the first time she said something ridiculous. She said so many absurd things that I lost count. Maybe she was just trying to comfort herself after being exiled.]

“Hearing that, I think I understand what kind of person she was.”

[What’s certain is that her life wasn’t all sunshine. Even if she were thrown into a desert, she would still smile brightly. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t know sadness.]

“Yeah. After all, even though she was the Great Sage, she was still human.”

[Yeah. Anyway, after she arrived on Acken Island, her way of thinking began to change. She was influenced by many people… But ultimately, it came down to the one person who helped her decide to build a school.]

“One person…? Who?”

The name Merilda spoke was a familiar one.

[Glockt Elderbane.]

Among Silvenia’s disciples, he became the most famous archmage. He was also the teacher of Lucy Mayreel, one of the greatest geniuses of this generation.

[After exiling Silvenia to Acken Island, the imperial household didn’t want to leave her completely unsupervised. So they immediately assigned her a task. They wanted her to take in children from the lawless region of Kohelton, as well as untalented children who had been expelled from the imperial household.]

“Even though she was the Great Sage, they made her look after kids?”

[Pretty much. But she didn’t seem offended. Anyway, she was entrusted with three children. They became the first students of Silvenia Academy. Back then, there weren’t even proper buildings—so it was more like a classroom than a school.]

Merilda recited several names from memory.

[Teslin McLaure, Glockt Elderbane, Philona Bloomriver.]

The first three disciples of the Great Sage Silvenia—also known as the first students of Silvenia Academy.

[I don’t know if you’ll believe this, but… among them, Glockt Elderbane was a complete dud. You couldn’t help but wonder if it was even possible for someone to be so untalented. It took him months just to learn a single beginner elemental spell. He was a kid who should never have become a magician.]

“But… I heard Glockt Elderbane was an archmage blessed by the stars since childhood.”

[That was just a rumor spread by House Elderbane to elevate their name.]

“…Even knowing such a dangerous truth, you kept silent.”

[That’s because I’m not interested in the rise and fall of noble houses or politics.]

As if reminiscing, Merilda gently closed her eyes and smiled.

Between an improvised table and blackboard, a girl stood cheerfully with her arms crossed.

A rare genius who would never be born again.

A young boy sat at a shabby table that could barely be called a desk, staring nervously at the blackboard.

A cursed dud born with such poor talent that one would wonder why he ever dreamed of becoming a magician.

It wasn’t hard to imagine the two of them facing each other back then. I remained silent as Merilda continued.

[So, why do you think Silvenia built this school?]

“……”

[She never understood what it meant to be a dud. Through teaching Glockt, she learned how vast the gap in talent between people truly was. You’d think she’d simply accept that and move on, but… like I told you. More than anything else, he became the driving force behind Silvenia Academy. He was kind-hearted, tried to act strong, and always did his best. Haah…]

Merilda hopped off a pile of books and trudged over to open a window.

Silvenia Academy’s steeple rose high into the sky, visible even from the distant northern forest.

[At some point, it became the most prestigious academy in the empire, where geniuses and budding talents gathered… But it wasn’t always like that.]

“Then…”

[That’s right. This school was originally built for duds—those without talent.]

Merilda gazed at the distant steeple, recalling the past.

[That’s how it started.]

As if the words held little weight, she muttered the end of her sentence before turning back and leaning against the windowsill.

***

Yennekar Palerover’s distraction plan was fairly effective.

For outsiders unfamiliar with the school, the magnificent Silvenia Academy in its festive state was a delightful sight. Everywhere they went, groups of cheerful students gathered, enjoying their youth—it was dazzling to watch.

Yennekar’s parents, Orte and Saila, were completely enchanted by the scenery. They happily followed Yennekar as she guided them around.

She had wanted to spend the festival with Ed Rothstaylor, but that wasn’t important right now. What mattered most was letting her parents enjoy the celebration without worries—and then sending them home as soon as possible. Of course, she was also determined to avoid letting them meet Ed Rothstaylor.

…Though, in truth, that was the main objective.

Regardless, Yennekar took Orte and Saila to watch magic showcases, magic tool demonstrations, concerts, plays, and countless other spectacles they had never seen before.

After resting in the dormitory, they went right back out the next day. She showed them around the campus, magician demonstrations, the Saint’s religious ceremony, and everything else she could gather into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“Yennekar…! Thanks to you, we’re having such a wonderful time! You really are the best daughter in the world…!”

“Hehehe… It’s nothing…”

Yennekar replied shyly, scratching her head. As she spoke, she noticed several imperial carriages crossing Mexes Bridge.

“U-Um… so… when… are you going back…?”

“Oh my…! Is that the Kroel Imperial House’s royal carriage? This is the first time I’ve ever seen one!”

“You’re right, dear! The emperor and princess must be inside… Does that mean we’ll see Princess Selah in person?!”

“What an honor… for simple villagers like us…”

“Don’t belittle yourself! We’re the parents of a baroness now!”

“Th-That’s right… How embarrassing of me… To still think of myself as Orte Palerover, always bowing to others…”

“That’s right! You weren’t like that before. Don’t you remember? I moved to Pulan after seeing how confident and lively you were!”

“You’re right! I forgot! I’ve lived proudly as a man who provides for his family—whether cleaning cow dung or fixing fences! That flame inside me that I had forgotten… It’s been reignited… And it’s all thanks to our lovely daughter, Yennekar!”

“U-Uh… y-yeah…”

After watching the imperial carriages pass, it was time for the third-year Joint Competition.

“We need to watch that! We can’t leave without seeing Young Master Ed at least once!”

Yennekar tied her hair back, lost in thought. With such a large crowd, it should be easy to hide among the spectators.

Still… she couldn’t help wanting to ask again. She knew it was impolite, yet she desperately wanted to know when they planned to return home.

Unaware of their daughter’s anxiety, Orte and Saila didn’t bother hiding their rustic manners. Stuffing bread bought from a street vendor into their mouths, they consulted a guidebook while heading toward the arena seats.

Yennekar followed behind, repeatedly wiping her face. Cold sweat trickled down as panic crept in.

***

Daike, seated motionlessly in a corner of the dim waiting room, slowly lifted his head.

This was the same place Wade had occupied when he trembled at the thought of fighting Lucy a few days ago. Now… it was Daike sitting there.

A long hallway stretched ahead, ending at an iron gate.

Across the massive arena, he could see the small waiting room on the opposite side. Watching the blond aristocrat seated in the distance, Daike smirked.

The audience seats were packed. At the highest level, seats had been prepared for Emperor Kroel and Princess Selah—though they had yet to arrive.

Defeat wasn’t frightening. What Daike truly feared was his fragile confidence.

He reminded himself of that repeatedly, determined to live without regrets.

With that resolve, the King of Power, Daike Elpelan, rose from his seat.

If you were born a man, there were moments when you had to keep moving forward—even while anticipating defeat.

Daike understood that better than anyone else.