The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 233

In an instant, the admiration of the crowd gazing up at the beautiful fireworks display in the sky turned into screams.

“Kyaaaaaa!”

“What is that?! R-Run! R-Run away!”

Tanya, who had been standing at the podium and watching the fireworks with the crowd in the student square, also began to tremble.

In the sky above Silvenia Academy, beyond the clouds, the fireworks illuminated a strange sight… Anyone could tell at a glance that it was clearly the head of a giant dragon.

The festival’s fireworks were still lighting up the sky, and just one minute earlier, everyone had been laughing and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

However, in that single minute, a dragon appeared—declaring the end of the world with its roar.

I was well aware that it was a disaster with the power to obliterate the entire island.

The Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok.

The final boss of.

According to the original story, it was a catastrophe meant to destroy Silvenia. It appeared in the summer of the same year the protagonist, Taylee McLaure, was scheduled to graduate.

“Kyaah! Kyaaaah! Monster! It’s a monster!”

“Everyone, run!”

“My son! Bellain! Son! Where did you go?! I have to find my son!”

“Everyone, run! We need to get out of here!”

“Mexes Bridge! Run to Mexes Bridge! That’s the fastest way to leave the island!”

“Aaaaaah! My foot! My foot!”

The student square was thrown into complete chaos, filled with screams as people fled in every direction.

Caught in the middle of the fleeing crowd, I stood amidst the turmoil and quietly looked up at the sky.

It was unexpected.

Fortunately, I was able to remain calm, because it was something I had always expected to happen eventually.

Glasskan Subjugation, Glast Subjugation, Lucy Subjugation, Krepin Subjugation…

Nothing had ever gone as expected. So, I had never once believed that Velbrok would appear exactly on time as it did in the original storyline.

That was why I had always tried to stimulate Taylee’s growth and train my magical abilities, even if it meant going overboard.

Still… this was a problem…

“Ed!”

I heard a familiar voice rise above the chaos.

It was Yennekar, who had rushed out of the crowd while dragging her parents along. She, too, had been watching the closing ceremony with them in the student square.

Orte and Saila, who were running alongside her, burst into tears upon seeing me.

“Young Master Ed! You need to run away! In the sky… There was—”

“Ed.”

Yennekar quickly cut Orte off, speaking in a calm, composed manner.

“Is that the Holy Blue Dragon you told me about…?”

“Yeah… It came a lot sooner than I expected, but… it’s him.”

Yennekar’s expression stiffened, leaving her unable to respond.

I took a deep breath before speaking again.

“Evacuate with your parents. If you try to cross Mexes Bridge now, there will be too many people for it to be safe.”

“Th-Then…”

“I know this situation is difficult to grasp, but you are extremely valuable when it comes to evacuating people from this island. How many can you move using your flying spirits?”

“If I summon a mid-ranking wind spirit… I can probably take ten people at once. But after several long-distance trips, the spirit will become exhausted…”

“Then evacuate the most important people first. Saving your parents is your top priority right now.”

I checked the equipment on my body, choosing my words carefully and keeping them brief.

This was an emergency. There was no time for hesitation.

Kyaaaaaaaah!

Velbrok’s roar sounded like two slabs of iron scraping against one another, filling the sky above Silvenia.

Surrounded by bursting fireworks, its appearance was strangely different from the Velbrok I remembered. Massive magic chains were wrapped tightly around its enormous body.

It could only lift its upper body from the sea, as the chains strained to drag it back down.

The seal binding Velbrok had not fully broken yet.

Was it because it appeared too early? Or was there another variable at play?

From my memories, Velbrok had been completely released from its seal. But the one before me was still struggling against it.

Its roar sounded less like a cry of rampage and more like a scream of resistance against the seal.

It hadn’t fully broken free.

The shockwave from its roar sent people in the square tumbling to the ground.

A roar infused with magic power was an attack in itself. Naturally, its effect diminished with distance—but even so, seeing only its head was enough for the roar to knock people off their feet.

It made the sheer magnitude of Velbrok’s magic power painfully clear.

“Kyaaaaah!”

“S-Save me…!”

The screams continued unabated.

Yennekar clutched her parents and looked at me with a grave expression.

“What about you, Ed?”

“Take care of everyone you think is important. But put your parents first.”

“I’m asking whatyouare going to do, Ed.”

Her voice was firm.

Orte and Saila exchanged wide-eyed looks, but there was no time to dwell on her words.

“I…”

I lifted my gaze toward Velbrok, which was still struggling against the chains dragging it back into the sea.

“I need to stop it.”

I said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

So naturally, Yennekar didn’t question it. She could only laugh weakly.

Come to think of it, I had always been like this—making absurd declarations without hesitation.

And Yennekar had always been swept up by them.

She steadied herself and spoke slowly.

“If I use that ring you gave me… I could evacuate hundreds of people at once.”

The phoenix ring I had received from Professor Glast.

Its power allowed the user to draw magic from the future and use it immediately—an absurdly powerful artifact that anyone could wield, not just me.

The greater the user’s natural magic power, the more dramatically its effect increased.

“If I summon the ultimate water spirit, Friede, I could evacuate nearly all the visitors in just a few trips. Then… you could also ‘run away.’”

The resurrection of the Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok was not a catastrophe that a single person could prevent.

The most rational choice would be to flee.

“Of course,” she continued, smiling faintly, “you’d never do that.”

“That’s right.”

As if reading my thoughts, she dispersed the tension with a smile.

“Ed… are you really planning to take it down?”

It sounded impossible.

The Holy Dragon Velbrok was a monster capable of destroying the entire commercial district with a single step.

Even if the seal prevented it from using its full strength, once it broke free, evacuation would become meaningless.

There was no safe place anywhere in the empire.

“Alright, Ed. If I use the ring now, we won’t have it when things truly become critical. And I wouldn’t be able to fight alongside you. If anyone uses it, it should be someone strong—like Lucy or Headmaster Obel. That would be the most effective choice.”

“Young Master Ed, we need to evacuate right now. Please come with us—”

“No. This is probably your only chance to leave the island. Please escape with Yennekar immediately.”

I looked Orte straight in the eyes as I spoke.

People bumped into us as they fled past, but no one stopped. Everyone was in a state of panic.

“Young Master Ed—”

“Don’t make me repeat myself. This is an emergency, and I don’t have time to convince you.”

After that, Yennekar firmly grabbed Orte’s hand.

“Dad, let’s go. Arguing any longer is just wasting time.”

She held both Saila’s and Orte’s hands and looked back at me with resolve.

“I’ll come back as soon as I can. Where are you going, Ed?”

What was the first thing I needed to do in this situation?

The answer was already clear.

“I’m going to find Taylee.”

I began gathering magic power to summon Merilda.

The most important task was locating Taylee—the one capable of delivering the final blow to the Holy Blue Dragon.

This was happening earlier than expected. Taylee’s abilities hadn’t fully matured yet.

Still, he knew enough sword techniques to damage Velbrok, and he possessed the Dragon Slaying Sword—capable of piercing its heart.

It wasn’t ideal, but he met the minimum requirements.

With enough support and an opening to reach Velbrok’s heart, it would be enough.

And once Velbrok fell…

Once that monstrous dragon filling the sky crashed down…

My journey would finally come to an end.

The journey that began with being thrown into a forest. Crawling through dirt, suffering, surviving, standing up again and again.

That cruel journey would finally conclude.

I clenched my teeth as I continued gathering magic.

“Ed! Do you know where Taylee is?!”

To bring him to Velbrok’s heart, I first needed to find him.

Most students had been in the square for the ceremony, but—

“He’s probably in Trix Hall…!”

Before the ceremony, Taylee’s lover, Ayla, had told me her plan.

She intended to use the ceremony as cover to sneak into Trix Hall and read the Sage’s Seal.

If she told me, she likely told Taylee as well—and there was no chance he wouldn’t help her.

That meant there was a very high chance he had gone to Trix Hall.

The fact that he wasn’t in the student square all but confirmed it.

I completed the summoning, manifesting a massive wolf formed of wind.

The high-ranking wind spirit Merilda towered over the student square. Even fleeing visitors couldn’t help but turn back in awe.

Without a word, Merilda lowered her head. I leapt onto her back.

***

Mexes Bridge—the only land route off Acken Island—was blocked.

The news spread quickly.

Naturally, Lortel Kehelland, who kept herself informed of nearly everything happening on the island, learned of it immediately.

Mexes Bridge was vital to trade and one of the Elte Company’s major investments.

Because the Elte Company had funded its construction, many merchants operating there belonged to them.

“Th-Thirty-one merchants at Mexes Bridge are confirmed dead or missing. I-I’m only reporting what we could verify quickly. Th-The number may change after further investigation… It may even increase…”

“Calm yourself, Secretary Lienna. We are at the head of this company. We must remain composed, no matter the circumstances.”

Receiving the report in the commercial district’s square, Lortel looked up at the sky.

There, wrapped in chains, the Holy Blue Dragon roared.

Nearly ten minutes had passed since the monster revealed itself.

Velbrok continued struggling, releasing roars infused with magic power—as if proclaiming the world’s end.

Fear was a natural response. This was not a disaster human strength alone could stop.

Yet Lortel was a master of composure and rationality.

Taking a steady breath, she quickly regained control.

Her calm presence helped the panicking employees around her steady themselves.

“Anything else?”

Dozens had already died within the commercial district—many of them veteran merchants.

Under normal circumstances, such losses would demand her immediate resignation.

But this was Velbrok.

She set her priorities without hesitation.

“The commercial district is in disarray as residents and visitors attempt to flee. The pier is especially chaotic.”

“That’s expected. Anything unusual?”

“Those with influence are acting independently. Since Emperor Kroel is in the royal residence, people close to the Imperial Household are gathering there.”

An informant from the palace rushed over and bowed.

“In the education district, Student Council President Tanya Rothstaylor is working to calm the chaos. Princess Selah is also exerting control. Headmaster Obel and the faculty are preparing to act.”

“And the commercial district?”

“Saint Clarice is urging believers to gather in prayer at the cathedral. But without an escape route, the unrest remains.”

Thankfully, many influential figures were present.

Headmaster Obel in Trix Hall.

Emperor Kroel and Princess Penia in the royal residence.

Tanya Rothstaylor in the student square.

Princess Selah in the education district.

Saint Clarice in the cathedral.

Head Maid Bell Maya protecting Ophelis Hall.

And Lortel Kehelland herself in the commercial district.

They acted as pillars of order.

But leadership alone couldn’t solve the core issue.

There was no escape.

Velbrok continued struggling in the sky. No one knew when it would break free—or when evacuation ships might arrive.

Scales falling from its body shattered coastlines and cliffs.

Unless Velbrok was dealt with—or the island evacuated—only catastrophe awaited.

“How many can escape using other methods?”

“Spatial magic consumes too much mana. Only flying magic or large spirits are viable, but too few can use them effectively…”

“The imperial fleet has been mobilized, but it won’t arrive in time.”

Checkmate.

Acken Island had become a graveyard.

“I heard plans are forming to evacuate Emperor Kroel and the nobility first.”

Naturally.

Yet Lortel knew the emperor well.

“With his personality… he’ll try to calm the chaos before fleeing.”

His greatest flaw.

He always placed the people before himself.

If the emperor fell, chaos would only worsen.

That truth was often overlooked.

Lortel quickened her pace.

What must she do first?

Set priorities.

“What about using our own ships?”

“We have several small merchant vessels, but crowds are trying to force their way aboard…”

“……”

Booooom—! Boom—!

Kyaaaaaaaaaa!

Velbrok roared again.

It slammed its massive feet into the land near the commercial district.

The shock was earth-shattering.

Half the western coastline was obliterated.

Magic gathered around its mouth.

Dozens of magic circles formed.

Dragon’s Breath.

An attack rivaling ultimate magic—nothing more than an exhale for Velbrok.

If it struck a crowd, casualties would number in the hundreds of thousands.

Lortel held her breath.

Whoooooosh!

At that moment, a figure flew into the sky.

A girl soared from atop Trix Hall, clutching her witch hat.

A trail of magic power streaked across the heavens.

Lucy Mayreel.

The irreplaceable genius of Silvenia Academy.

Her eyes were sharp with focus.

She faced Velbrok head-on.

Clenching her teeth, she intercepted the Dragon’s Breath.

Eighty-one layers of advanced defensive magic.

Three layers of ultimate defense.

A miracle.

Yet even she had limits.

Some of the attack broke through.

Buildings collapsed. Fires erupted. Mountains crumbled.

Lucy was hurled into the student square, carving a massive crater.

She stood, dust-covered, retrieved her hat, and looked back to the sky.

The disaster was still coming.

***

An official notice summoned the faculty to the Trix Hall conference room.

Yet Headmaster Obel Forsyth was absent.

Instead, Deputy Headmistress Rachel Thyslin sat in his seat.

“Headmaster Obel Forsyth is currently missing.”

In a moment demanding leadership, only she remained.

“Until he returns… I will lead the school’s response.”

She inhaled deeply.

“Bring me all reports.”