The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 232

The Imperial Library was, naturally, the largest in the Empire.

The Eastern Magic Tower’s Library was known for its magic books. Silvenia Academy’s Central Library was known for textbooks. The Holy Father Building’s Library of Faith was known for its holy texts.

There were many libraries, each with its own specialty. However, in terms of the sheer breadth of its collection across numerous fields, nowhere could compare to the Kroel Imperial Library.

That was the main reason many imperial scholars chose not to leave the palace, why the Great Sage Silvenia chose to conduct her research at Lily Palace, and why the Kroel Imperial Family placed such importance on education.

The vast scale of Rose Palace made it feel as though an entirely separate mansion existed within it.

Inside were hundreds of bookshelves. In the circular main hall, some shelves were so tall that ladders were required to reach their uppermost levels. Reading tables and shelves were scattered throughout the hall, making it impossible to count the total number of bookcases.

There were dozens of librarians, all of whom had requested additional help due to the overwhelming workload. The sheer number of books under their care was staggering.

It was also the place Princess Persica had visited regularly ever since she was a child.

The greatest repository of knowledge in the Empire—she came every day, reading three to four books, studying subjects such as history, culture, religion, economics, geography, and magic.

Princess Persica had become more familiar with the library’s layout than even the librarians who worked there. She knew every corner of it.

Slam!

It was already late at night, nearly dawn. The entire library was enveloped in darkness.

Princess Persica moved through the aisles, relying on the faint light of a candlestick.

She was not permitted to enter at this hour, and bringing fire inside was strictly forbidden due to the books.

However, ignoring those obvious rules, Persica pressed on, following the flow of magic emanating from the ring.

Her closest aide, Imperial Knight Commander Dylux, stood guard at the library entrance under her orders.

She had instructed him to prevent anyone from entering and to turn them away, regardless of who they were.

Even though those orders were not entirely justifiable, Dylux followed them without hesitation.

With a trustworthy guard standing watch, she had nothing to fear.

Persica continued deeper into the library until she reached the location indicated by Lindon’s ring—a long-forgotten bookshelf tucked away in a corner of the vast hall.

It was a shelf reserved for books that were difficult to categorize or whose contents were obscure and hard to interpret. As a result, few people ever approached it, and it remained hidden in the shadows of the library.

Passing through the forest of shelves, she finally arrived at the innermost bookcase.

At that moment, Lindon’s ring began to glow.

“……”

Persica swallowed hard, her throat dry.

The hand holding the candlestick trembled slightly, and her heart began to pound.

As she slipped the ring onto her finger, a brilliant energy surged forth from the bookshelf in the corner.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

It felt as though all light was being drawn toward a single point. In that instant, her vision twisted, as if caught in a whirlpool.

Subtle vibrations filled the space as magical power converged on the shelf. In the blink of an eye, the bookshelf vanished.

It had been nothing more than an illusion.

In its place stood a staircase descending into the depths below. Persica’s heart raced.

The secret laboratory of the Great Sage Silvenia.

A completely hidden area, designed so that no one without the Crown Prince’s ring could ever enter.

And the source of what had driven Crown Prince Lindon mad.

Persica felt panic rise within her.

Was it truly wise to descend those stairs?

Now that she had confirmed the laboratory’s existence, perhaps she should turn back and report everything to Emperor Kroel once he returned.

As those thoughts surfaced, she shook her head sharply, casting aside such hesitation.

She did not know what lay hidden below, but she was certain it was something whose existence would have enormous consequences for the Empire.

And she alone had the chance to see it first.

Yet when she recalled Lindon’s condition, fear crept down her spine. Even so, she knew she could not turn back now.

After all, it was merely a laboratory sealed away for hundreds of years. It was not as though something immediately dangerous would be waiting inside.

Princess Persica descended the stairs.

As she walked down into the absolute darkness, a strange sense of fascination welled up within her. How could someone create such an underground space without anyone ever discovering it?

Perhaps for the Great Sage Silvenia, such a feat had been trivial.

Lost in thought, Persica reached the bottom of the stairs. Before her stood a large wooden door.

Once she opened it, there would be no turning back.

She swallowed, her throat dry, and slowly pulled the door open.

Whoosh!

Persica nearly shut her eyes in shock.

The instant the door opened, lights flared to life throughout the laboratory.

Even after all these years, the magical engineering devices created by the Great Sage continued to function perfectly.

It was astonishing to see the interior illuminated the moment she stepped inside.

Magic-powered torches lined the walls, bathing the room in steady light.

“Th-This is…?”

Yet it was not as grand as she had imagined.

The space felt unexpectedly cozy. Wooden walls enclosed a room that was neither particularly large nor small—moderate in size, comparable to other private laboratories used by imperial scholars.

Tables throughout the room were covered with stacks of papers, books, and research journals written in Silvenia’s own hand.

A blackboard along one wall displayed numerous theories and experimental formulas.

And at the center of the room rested a carefully preserved crystal ball.

Persica approached it cautiously, remaining on guard.

Every piece of research left behind by the Great Sage Silvenia was considered an invaluable treasure, subjected to rigorous study and analysis.

The fact that such records lay piled throughout the room made the scene priceless to any scholar.

Persica, who cherished knowledge herself, understood just how extraordinary it was.

Any damage would be an immeasurable loss to humanity. Moving carefully, she crossed the laboratory toward the crystal ball at the center.

She recognized it immediately.

It was a Recording Crystal, a tool commonly used among scholars.

Such devices stored organized knowledge for later recall, but they were notoriously inefficient, prohibitively expensive, and difficult to operate.

For someone like Silvenia, however, using such a device would have been effortless. Still, given the vast amount of knowledge she possessed, it would have been far more efficient to record her findings with ink and parchment.

Indeed, most of her research had been preserved in written form.

And yet, she had deliberately left behind this Recording Crystal.

This was likely the core of Silvenia’s lifelong research.

It was almost certainly the ultimate compilation of everything she had discovered.

No one could encounter it and simply walk away.

Perhaps this was what had driven Lindon to madness.

With that thought, Persica steeled herself and placed her hand upon the crystal.

And what flowed into her mind were the future records Silvenia had observed through Celestial Magic.

The world advanced endlessly, branching into infinite possibilities.

A future that diverged, converged, and expanded without limit was not something a human mind should ever observe. The sheer number of possible timelines and outcomes was immeasurable.

That was the theory Silvenia had proposed.

Yet theory and reality were not always aligned.

The Great Sage, who had reached the pinnacle of Celestial Magic and acquired the power to defy the world’s providence, had confirmed one final truth.

Before her exile to Acken Island, the last discovery she made within the imperial household was—

A cliff.

No matter how many possibilities she examined, no matter how many futures she traced… there existed a point beyond which the future ceased to flow.

Like a vast cliff at the end of the world, beyond which stretched only endless darkness.

The end of all things.

After recording this revelation within the crystal, Silvenia smiled.

Beside her, Prince Lienfell watched the results in silence, his pupils trembling with fear.

Before such overwhelming terror, human reason could not remain intact. When faced with a disaster that seemed impossible to resist, surrender felt inevitable.

As though it were a decree of the world—or perhaps the will of God itself.

The message was clear: the world would end there.

No reason. No method. Only the certainty that one day, the countless futures ahead would be severed, plunging everything into darkness.

Even so, Silvenia did not succumb to fear.

Instead, she murmured softly, as if declaring defiance against both God and the world.

“No matter what, I will survive.”

In deserts devoid of food, in blood-soaked battlefields, in lightless underground depths, and upon endless seas—humanity had always endured.

Through struggle, someone had always found an answer and lived on.

“This is fun!”

There was only a thin line between a great individual and a mad one.

As if to prove it, Silvenia smiled brightly even as she stared into absolute despair.

The eyes of the extraordinary Great Sage—one who would never be replaced—shone brilliantly as she gazed toward the sky.

***

The Grand Crestle Festival was held once every four years.

It was the time when the greatest number of people gathered on Acken Island to visit Silvenia.

On the final day of the festival, the grand closing ceremony was underway.

As if symbolizing Silvenia’s golden age, thousands of people filled Acken Island, drinking, chatting, and celebrating.

Seen from above, the island would have resembled a radiant jewel shining in the darkness.

With the festival reaching its conclusion, everything was more extravagant and luminous than ever.

Mexes Bridge, which connected Acken Island to the mainland, was lavishly decorated.

Merchants gathered on the bridge, sharing drinks along the route that had served as Silvenia’s gateway for decades.

Passing through rows of vendor stalls along the bridge led visitors to the grand gates of Silvenia, adorned in splendid fashion.

After brief formalities, one would arrive at the entrance square, directly connected to the commercial district.

The square itself was modest in size. Visitors and merchants lounged beneath glowing lights, eating and drinking as they relaxed.

Many outsiders who came during the festival had no connection to Silvenia Academy. They were people of humble status, simply enjoying the atmosphere provided by the school.

From the entrance square to the narrow alleys of the commercial district, the area overflowed with laughter, food, and drink.

Following the main marble road led to the education district used by students and faculty.

Beyond that lay the road to Ophelis Hall, located not far from the commercial district.

Within Ophelis Hall, maids bustled about preparing food. Head Maid Bell Maya oversaw their work, issuing instructions to ensure the students enjoyed the festival to the fullest.

In the rose garden before Ophelis Hall, an orchestra performed while students who had skipped the student square gathered to chat.

Compared to the lively entrance square, Ophelis Hall exuded a more refined and aristocratic atmosphere.

Meanwhile, at the royal residence, Emperor Kroel and Princess Penia remained behind, choosing not to attend the closing ceremony at the student square.

Though it was an event they would normally attend, they believed their presence would disrupt the festive mood.

As it was the final night, Emperor Kroel wished for the citizens and students to enjoy the celebration without restraint.

When the sun rose the next morning, he would depart Acken Island by carriage. Before that, he wanted one final conversation with his daughter.

Princess Selah, on the other hand, rode in a carriage toward the student square. This was her last opportunity to win Ed Rothstaylor to her side.

Along the way, she saw streets filled with revelers, visitors and residents alike drinking and singing beneath the vibrant lights.

Fireworks burst repeatedly over Silvenia Academy, bathing the campus in warm brilliance.

Yennekar Palerover had dragged her parents to a corner of the student square. Orte drank merrily as Saila crossed her arms, scolding him. Despite her complaints, laughter soon followed.

Though she had been exhausted and frustrated at times, Yennekar ultimately gave in to the festive mood, smiling as she gazed at the fireworks blooming overhead.

Lortel Kehelland busied herself managing her employees in the commercial district. It was the final chance to capitalize on the festival’s surge in sales, leaving her scarcely a moment to rest.

Yet when she glanced toward the illuminated sky above the student square, she felt an unexpected pang of nostalgia. At heart, she was still a student.

Lucy Mayreel sat atop the roof of Trix Hall, staring blankly into the sky.

The school looked entirely different—noisy, vibrant, alive. Though she preferred quiet nights, this view had its own charm.

Still, she was disappointed that the fireworks drowned out the stars. Chewing on jerky, she kicked her legs idly, enjoying the cool autumn breeze.

Saint Clarice knelt in prayer within the chapel. Her schedule during the festival had been relentless, leaving her utterly exhausted.

Even so, the distant cheers brought her a quiet sense of fulfillment. She looked forward to returning to her life as Kylie Eckner.

Ziggs Eiffelstein guided Elka toward the student square. Though most performances had ended, spending the final moments together felt worthwhile.

Clevius Nortondale leaned against the outer wall of Obel Hall, gazing toward the center stage alone—until Elvira appeared, grabbed him by the ear, and dragged him into the crowd.

Tanya stood upon the center stage of the student square.

After her closing speech as student council president, everyone would look up together to witness the grand finale of fireworks.

As far as the eye could see, Silvenia was alive with celebration.

Tanya inhaled the night air and slowly closed her eyes.

At that moment, everyone looked up at the blazing fireworks overhead.

Daike Elpelan sat alone at the Combat Department’s training grounds, wrapped in bandages.

Trayciana Bloomriver arrived at the student square, removing her robe.

Anise Haylan exited Trix Hall with a stack of documents.

Professor Kaleid lay drunk by the roadside as Assistant Professor Cleoh struggled to support him.

Deputy Headmistress Rachel sat alone in her office, watching the fireworks through her window.

Countless students and faculty gazed skyward from wherever they stood.

For a fleeting moment, peace filled every heart, warm and gentle.

Such was the magic of a festival.

Peace bloomed most brilliantly when one was least aware of it.

Unaware of the tranquility they felt, people laughed, chatted, ate, and drank.

Ed Rothstaylor, seated in the student square, also looked up at the sky.

He understood the value of peace more deeply than anyone.

Closing his eyes, he immersed himself in the moment.

If he did not close his eyes, he would not be able to enjoy it.

That was peace.

Whooooosh!

A towering column of water surged upward. Those watching could not comprehend what they were seeing.

Splash!

Seawater cascaded down like rain, revealing enormous reptilian feet beneath it.

They stood beside Mexes Bridge.

For decades, the bridge had been the sole land route between Acken Island and the mainland. Connected to Zahul’s Frontier Territory, it served as a vital trade artery.

Because of this, land travel was far more common than sea travel for visitors.

Thus, Mexes Bridge functioned as Acken Island’s primary gateway.

Though a pier existed, it was too small to accommodate large ships.

Now, massive scaled feet emerged from the sea beside the bridge, glowing faintly red beneath the fireworks’ light.

The merchants nearby screamed in terror.

Before anyone could understand what they were witnessing—

Booom!!!!!

In a single strike—

Mexes Bridge, steeped in decades of history, collapsed like a toy.

***

Thud!

“H-Huff…!”

“P-Princess Persica?! What happened?!”

Princess Persica burst from the library, drenched in sweat and barely able to stand.

She collapsed into the arms of Imperial Knight Commander Dylux the moment she entered the corridor.

“R-Right now… Gather all available troops… No matter their affiliation, assemble every soldier of the imperial household immediately! Do not leave a single one behind…!”

The man from Cledric Monastery.

Ed Rothstaylor’s words echoed in her mind.

Coincidence—or necessity?

She did not know yet. But it was far too precise to dismiss.

Ed Rothstaylor knew something. Perhaps it was connected to the future Silvenia had foreseen.

“P-Princess! You cannot issue such orders—the authority to command the troops—!”

“Neither Father, Selah, nor Penia is present. That authority falls to me.”

“You cannot claim such power arbitrarily! If this is deemed reckless—”

“Dylux. I will bear full responsibility. If this is judged an abuse of power, I will accept the consequences. So stop arguing and follow my orders. Right now.”

“Princess Persica… This could be considered defiance of imperial authority…”

“Then gather those who will follow me! Every one of them! Whether I am punished or exiled, I will face it!”

With Dylux’s support, Persica forced herself upright.

“Gather as many soldiers as possible. Immediately… We are going to Acken Island…!”

***

Boom!

Amid the fireworks over Acken Island, another explosion rang out.

At first, it was mistaken for part of the celebration.

Moments later, the royal residence trembled violently.

“Tremble…”

Emperor Kroel and Princess Penia gripped the armrests of the sofa.

“Are you injured, Father?”

“No… I am fine. But why must such a thing happen on a night of celebration…?”

As he prepared to summon a servant—

Bang!

Princess Penia’s escort, Claire, burst into the room.

“Claire…?”

Her breach of protocol would normally warrant punishment, but her expression left no room for reproach.

“Your Majesty… Mexes Bridge—the only land route off Acken Island—has collapsed. The logistics bridge beneath it has also been destroyed.”

“Wh-What…?”

Acken Island was now filled with influential figures beyond count.

With the land route gone, evacuation would not be easy.

Something was happening on Acken Island.