The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 237

“I don’t know why I have to live.”

The boy was named Glockt.

A boy barely over ten years old had been able to meet and speak with the Great Sage Silvenia Robester… all because he had inherited the blood of the adventurer Dalex Elderbane.

The emperor had allowed Silvenia to meet people from all walks of life across the empire. He was convinced that if he could broaden Silvenia’s perspective, she would go on to create even more magical innovations that would benefit the world.

The emperor was right. Compared to when she had remained in her laboratory at the Lily Palace, her knowledge expanded more rapidly than ever.

In the process, she met Glockt—a boy with messy hair and hollow eyes.

Silvenia could never forget the empty gaze of the boy who sat quietly, staring back at her without expression.

His father, the adventurer Dalex, had died just a month earlier while exploring the far eastern lands. Glockt’s mother had died on the day he was born. As a result, he was, by all accounts, an orphan.

Glockt, now without family, requested a private conversation with the famous Great Sage Silvenia.

In honor of his father, Dalex Elderbane, the emperor granted his wish. On the day he finally met Silvenia, the words spoken by that absent-minded boy were far too heavy for someone his age.

“I was born with a horrendously weak body. I obviously have no talent in magic that would allow me into the magic towers. I’m not particularly smart, either. I’m not sociable and have trouble talking with other people. I have no close friends, and my family has all passed away.”

“……”

“If I continue to live, I doubt I’ll ever see any light at the end of the tunnel. There are no clear goals for me. I don’t think I have anything I can call a dream, either. Nor do I think I ever will. I’m convinced that my life will never get any better.”

There was certainty in the boy’s eyes. Because he was the one living his own life, he understood its value—or lack thereof—better than anyone else.

“I don’t know what happiness is.”

“What are you saying?”

“You never know. Even though I am stupid and incapable of doing anything, if I continue to live… I might somehow make it through. If I’m lucky, I might even become successful. But… even so… in the end, I’m just going to die alone. In an empty place, with nothing by my side, I’ll sit there alone and die. After all of that… in the end, I’ll be just as I started… empty and alone…”

It was a feeling everyone experienced at some point.

There came a moment when a person realized that if their life continued as it was, there was no point in going on—because it would never get any better.

To some, the peak of one’s life might seem clearly defined. But when you began to realize that even such a peak might not be high enough to deserve that name…

That was when you truly began to understand emptiness.

What was the point of continuing to live such a miserable life?

A life where something extraordinary happened and everything miraculously turned around—that was nothing more than a fairytale.

Ninety-nine percent of those who lived such miserable lives were destined to meet miserable ends.

In fairytales, misfortune was merely an ordeal meant to be overcome.

In such stories, misfortune existed solely to be conquered. The protagonist always overcame it and moved toward the bright future awaiting them.

But in reality, misfortune was simply misfortune.

That was reality. Just as hands and feet were attached to the body, misfortune clung to people throughout their entire lives.

It was not an ordeal that guaranteed a happy ending once overcome, nor was it nourishment for the soul that would help one grow.

In reality, no one was the protagonist.

For those who were not protagonists, misfortune was nothing more than misfortune.

“Since I heard you are the wisest person in the world, I wanted to ask you.”

Then he asked Silvenia, his eyes hollow.

“Do I really have to live such a life until the very end, even when I can’t see a bright future ahead of me? Just… what is the point?”

When life was nothing but an endless struggle, was there any point in living?

It was a completely unexpected question to come from the mouth of a ten-year-old boy.

As for how Silvenia responded… she could no longer remember.

***

To deal with an opponent who held an absolute advantage, you had to use any means available.

The first thing I needed to do was move to another location. Remaining in an open area against such overwhelming power was suicidal. I needed to shift the battlefield to somewhere I could use the terrain to my advantage.

After deciding on that course of action, I pulled several smokescreen generators from my pocket and scattered them across the ground.

Whoosh!

Boooooooom!

Velbrok’s breath tore through the night sky. While its massive roar, filled with overwhelming magic power, echoed across the island, I sprinted through the smokescreen.

I ran back toward Trix Hall, which I had vacated only moments earlier. If I remained in the wide-open front yard, I would be forced to endure every attack directly. Inside Trix Hall, I could use the walls and doors as blind spots.

As if Silvenia had anticipated my movement, she fired dozens of magic bullets at me with a single swipe of her hand.

From her perspective, it was nothing more than a casual, disposable attack—utterly insignificant.

Yet those dozens of bullets, each powerful enough to obliterate a human body, came hurtling toward me with that single motion. I narrowly avoided the ones aimed directly at me and leapt into the lobby of Trix Hall.

Boom! Crash! Smash!

The entrance collapsed behind me.

Rubble poured down onto the floor where I had been standing moments earlier.

The lobby of Trix Hall was wide and exposed. It would be better to escape into a hallway on the second or third floor, draw her attention, and buy time.

However, just as I was about to run toward the stairs—

Boom!

The roof was sliced apart like tofu.

Silvenia, who had been on the rooftop, smashed straight through the ceiling to the first floor with a single stomp.

Her robe fluttered as dust filled the air, yet the girl standing at the center of it all erased the aftermath instantly with one sweep of her massive wand.

Her movements suggested that the laws of physics simply did not apply to her.

Emerging from the dust, she bent forward like a corpse risen from the dead, grinning as she fixed me with an eerie stare.

“Brave. Brave. How brave.”

Had she completely lost her reason?

“You didn’t run away. Brave. Oh, so brave. Incredible. Even with the Holy Blue Dragon rampaging in the sky. Even as you watch me destroy buildings as if they are nothing, you still chose to face me head-on instead of running. Incredible. Incredibly brave. Amazing.”

Her voice cracked and warped, yet she continued speaking without pause.

“When people like you gather, you can overcome any ordeal, no matter how great—even the Holy Blue Dragon that is being resurrected right now. Incredible. Because of people like you, with such incredible courage, the future continues. Yes. That’s right. Incredible. Amazing. Brave. I’m surprised by brave individuals like you.”

“……”

“That’s why you must die.”

The corners of her lips sank unnaturally, making it hard to believe she had been smiling just moments before.

“You need to die. Die. You can’t exist. You’re a variable. If you live, you will stop the Holy Blue Dragon from ending this useless world. You need to get out of our way. I will kill you quickly. Without pain. Like falling asleep… I will lay you to rest. So don’t move. Don’t resist. Listen to me. If you resist and fight back, I will have to kill you painfully.”

“……”

“I will twist your neck. Crush your heart. Rip out your veins. Tear your intestines apart. Peel away your nails. Strip the skin from your face and burn the flesh. Sever your tongue, fingers, and ankles. Light a fire in your mouth until you beg me to kill you. Blood will flow like a river. Your exposed organs will spill onto the floor. It will hurt. It will hurt terribly. Kahah. Kahahaha.”

She laughed eerily for a long moment before returning to that unsettlingly blank expression.

“That’s why you should die peacefully. Let’s all die peacefully together. Don’t do anything unnecessary. Rather than falling into an endless void—wandering through infinite futures, consumed by endless fear—let’s die here. Together. I will help you. I can help you.”

“Silvenia Robester.”

When I softly called her name, the girl who had been brushing dust from her robe twisted her neck grotesquely to look at me.

“What did you see?”

“I didn’t see anything.”

At that moment, blood dripped from her lips.

Looking closer, I realized she was biting them.

“I didn’t see anything. There was nothing. The only thing I saw was endless darkness, stretching on forever.”

“……”

“Hey. Have you ever absentmindedly stared at a dark mountain at night? Or looked out over a black sea? Have you ever gazed into an endless darkness with no end in sight? Have you?”

Silvenia spoke as if mad, her blood boiling. She was not someone who could be reasoned with.

Still, I managed to buy time to gather magic power. I focused, drawing together more than half of what remained.

“Fear of the dark is natural for humans. Having to traverse endless darkness forever… is far more painful than dying. More painful than having your fingers severed or your guts spilled out.”

“……”

“But we can die far more comfortably than that.”

Booooom!

Her Celestial Magic Power flooded the area once again. Though Trix Hall’s lobby was large, the density of magic within it made breathing difficult.

Before Silvenia could act, I launched several magic power arrows toward her.

I never expected them to deal damage. I only hoped to distract her long enough to sprint for the stairs.

Silvenia didn’t even attempt to defend herself. She cast no defensive spell at all.

The overwhelming magic power filling the space erased my arrows as if they had never existed.

All of that power then converged on me. Silvenia extended her hand and clenched her fist.

In that instant, I realized what spell she was casting.

Advanced Celestial Magic: Instant Death.

A close-range spell so irrational it would instantly kill any human.

The only requirement was that the target be human. Nothing more.

The spell had no physical form, and defensive magic was meaningless. If one was within range and the spell was cast properly, death was unavoidable.

It required a long casting time and an absurd amount of Celestial Magic Power—but for Silvenia, a pioneer of Celestial Magic, those requirements were trivial.

Even so, casting advanced Celestial Magic was no simple task. But ending everything with a single spell made it worthwhile.

She had too much to do. Too many variables existed in the world, all trying to stop Velbrok. She had no time for a prolonged battle with me.

However, I resisted.

The only way to oppose Celestial Magic was with Celestial Magic itself.

Given how rare it was, it was normally unthinkable. Unfortunately for her, I had learned it.

Clenching my teeth, I gathered Celestial Magic Power from within my body. It was pitiful compared to Silvenia’s vast reserves, but it was enough to resist.

Intermediate Celestial Magic: Death Immunity.

I had not mastered it completely, but I could still invoke its basic effect.

Silvenia’s overwhelming power made my veins bulge, blood stream from my nose, and my bones tremble as if they might shatter… but enduring it, I managed to survive.

Clang!

As my consciousness wavered, I poured the rest of my magic into a Wind Blade.

While Silvenia was focused on casting her advanced spell, my Wind Blade shot toward her.

She easily deflected it with a casual flick of her wand—but her pupils expanded.

“You aren’t dead?”

Seizing that moment of shock, I sprinted up the stairs to the second floor of Trix Hall. My entire body felt on the verge of collapse.

“You aren’t dead? How? How are you not dead? Why? You should have died peacefully… You could have died peacefully… You should have died! Why? Why? Why aren’t you dead? You could have died peacefully, so why didn’t you? Why? Why? Why?”

She repeated the same words again and again in her warped voice, twisting her head as she stared at me fleeing upward.

“It’s fine. I will definitely kill you.”

Another magic circle began to glow—

And Trix Hall was obliterated in an instant.

***

“Save me! Please save me! If we don’t do something, we’re all going to die! There are too many monsters falling from the sky!”

“President! What should we do now?! Should we escape to Obel Hall?! M-Mexes Bridge collapsed, so we can’t escape…!”

“Everyone, calm down!”

In the student square, where the closing ceremony had been held, the remaining student council members worked desperately to gather survivors.

They had descended from the podium and constructed a temporary garrison using shattered stage equipment as barricades. Terror filled the air.

Fortunately, the student council president, Tanya Rothstaylor, still appeared composed.

“There’s been no contact from the school, correct?”

“Yes. I believe Trix Hall was attacked. It will likely be difficult to receive any communication from them.”

Ziggs, who had just returned from fighting at the northern entrance of the garrison, sat beside Tanya while wiping blood from his sword.

Since the chaos began, he had not stopped fighting even once. He was exhausted—but still dependable.

“This area isn’t ideal. It would be better to take shelter in a building than to face monsters in an open space where they can attack from every direction. Of course, there’s a risk of collapse, but it’s still preferable to being surrounded.”

“Considering all the students and visitors here, there are over two hundred people. Are there any buildings nearby that could house that many and still be defensible?”

“Obel Hall won’t work. Glockt Hall seemed viable, but it collapsed earlier from a monster attack. It may be better to move toward the classrooms.”

“Wouldn’t moving toward the classrooms inevitably result in injuries?”

“It would. But even so, it’s the correct decision.”

Ziggs analyzed the situation calmly as he spoke.

The circumstances were desperate. Any hope of escaping without casualties had to be abandoned.

Everyone in the garrison was placing their lives in Tanya’s hands.

The weight pressed heavily on her shoulders, yet she swallowed and forced herself to decide.

“If we move toward the classrooms while protecting as many as we can…”

“At least half will die. But if we stay here and wait to be surrounded, we’ll all die.”

Ziggs’ sharp gaze never wavered. He was certain.

Kwaaaaaaang!

Velbrok roared again, its cry tearing through the sky. The light of magic pouring from its maw threatened to devour the world, but Lucy Mayreel deployed hundreds of magic circles, deflecting the attack toward the sea.

A colossal explosion erupted where the attack struck. Seawater surged upward and crashed across Acken Island like a storm.

Splash!

Tanya raised her arms to shield herself from the rain of seawater, gritting her teeth.

“Then tell everyone in the garrison to gather their belongings! Anyone who refuses will die! We’re heading straight to the classrooms! They’re close to the commercial district—if we’re lucky, we might be able to join forces with Saint Clarice’s garrison!”

“Should I alert the students near the combat department’s training grounds? It’ll take time, but I can take the risk.”

“Over there… I’m sure Daike is handling it. We can’t spare you right now. The combat department should be fine—let’s move to the classrooms. Even if it’s not safe, it’s better than here.”

“I understand.”

Just as Ziggs replied and began to stand—

“President! Another survivor has arrived from the east entrance…!”

“We don’t have time to meet them! Explain the situation while we evacuate! Right now, we need to prepare to leave—!”

Before the report could finish, Ziggs froze.

From a distance, he recognized the figures approaching.

“That’s… Taylee? It’s Taylee… Taylee’s alive!”

“Z-Ziggs…”

Supported by Ayla, Taylee staggered forward, blood soaking his clothes.

Ziggs rushed over, supporting Taylee’s collapsing body.

“Taylee! What happened?!”

“Trix Hall! Trix Hall has fallen, President!”

Tanya felt the air leave her lungs.

Trix Hall was effectively the heart of Silvenia Academy—the center from which all emergency measures were coordinated.

“Fallen? What do you mean? Was it attacked by monsters?”

“The Great Sage Silvenia… has returned. I know it sounds insane. I don’t even understand it myself.”

Ziggs’ eyes widened. Nearby students stared in confusion.

“I know it sounds ridiculous! But the situation is desperate! You have to believe me! With that monster in the sky rampaging, nothing makes sense anymore! There’s no time to convince you properly!”

“Then… Trix Hall…”

“She destroyed all of it. Ayla and I saw everything. And Ed Rothstaylor… he’s there alone, stopping her… cough… cough…”

The surrounding students stared in disbelief.

Had Taylee McLaure lost his sanity? Was he hallucinating from stress?

“Please believe me. Right now… it’s not just that monster in the sky. At Trix Hall… there’s another one. I don’t know why, but the Great Sage has gone mad and is slaughtering everyone she sees! If we can’t stop them, it’s over!”

Regardless of the truth, what Taylee said was devastating.

Whether delusion or reality, one fact remained—Trix Hall had fallen.

And Ed Rothstaylor was there alone.

“My older brother is at Trix Hall?”

“If we don’t help him soon, he’ll die! It’s not something he can defeat! Even if we gathered all the power on the island, it wouldn’t be enough!”

“But…”

Tanya hesitated.

Hundreds of lives rested on her shoulders. Abandoning the garrison to rush to Trix Hall would be tantamount to condemning them all.

If the student council president left, the consequences would be fatal.

Even a moment’s hesitation risked dozens of deaths.

Tanya clenched her fists, trembling.

“More importantly, we have to deal with the Holy Blue Dragon, Taylee!”

Ayla raised her voice.

She had heard the full truth from Ed. She understood the gravity of the situation better than anyone.

“We have to gather every bit of strength we can and defeat Velbrok!”

“I-Is that even possible…?”

“Wh-What are they saying?!”

“How are we supposed to defeat that thing?! We need to escape!”

The garrison erupted in fearful voices. Still, Ayla stared straight at Tanya.

“President. We have to kill Velbrok now. If we can get Taylee close to its heart… he can cut it down.”

Tanya swallowed hard as she looked at Taylee. He was injured, exhausted, barely standing.

Even as the pride of the combat department, it was difficult to believe he could defeat such a monster—especially when even Lucy Mayreel was struggling against it.

“Once the seal fully breaks, it’s truly over. But right now, we might be able to reach its heart! If we just run away, people will keep dying!”

Ayla spoke desperately, fully aware of how reckless she sounded.

But she couldn’t stay still. Taylee was the only one who could end the calamity.

Reason urged Tanya to reject the idea.

The rational choice was to bring Taylee and Ayla to the classrooms. Every capable fighter was precious. Having Taylee nearby would significantly increase their survival chances.

Yet the thought of Ed Rothstaylor troubled her.

He would never act without purpose.

To go to such lengths to save Taylee… it was as if her instincts were warning her.

Reason and intuition.

There came a time when a leader had to weigh both.

Neither could always be followed blindly.

The situation was dire.

A single mistake would cost lives.

Tanya closed her eyes tightly, then spoke.

“Ziggs. Go help Taylee.”

“Wh-What…?”

Ziggs was the strongest fighter in the garrison. Sending him away endangered everyone—including Tanya herself.

“Join them and help find a way to resolve this. I’ll stay here and lead the garrison.”

“President, I can’t agree. I need to stay here and—”

“I swear on House Rothstaylor that I will risk my life to protect Elka.”

Tanya understood Ziggs’ priorities.

Though a student council member, he was here primarily to protect Elka.

“I’m trusting my brother’s judgment. That’s why I need you to help them.”

She said nothing more, meeting his gaze steadily.

There was no time to hesitate.

Ziggs exhaled, wiped his blade clean, and sheathed it.

He turned to Taylee.

“To get close to Velbrok, we need to withstand the magic surrounding its body. The closer you get, the stronger it becomes. Even reaching its heart won’t matter if you can’t endure that pressure.”

Ayla felt a surge of relief hearing Ziggs speak calmly.

“Which is why we need a countermeasure. The most common solution… is a resistance reagent.”

“The alchemy professors should be able to make one!”

“Unfortunately, we’ve lost contact with most of them, and Trix Hall has been destroyed.”

Ziggs remained composed as he supported Taylee.

“But there are students—not just professors—who can make reagents. Elvira, for one. In fact, all top alchemy students should be capable.”

“But… we don’t know where she is…”

“Whether it’s Elvira or another top student, we need to find them.”

Ziggs turned to Tanya.

“I’ll head to Ophelis Hall. It’s under the management of Head Maid Bell Maya.”

As dependable as ever, he spoke simply.

“Please survive.”

Tanya nodded.

Ziggs ran.

***

People continued to die. By that point, counting the dead was impossible.

Velbrok roared endlessly in the sky, its presence plunging Acken Island into deeper chaos.

Its magic power was so immense that even Lucy Mayreel was struggling. Casting countless advanced spells simultaneously—something that would exhaust an ordinary mage after a single attempt—was astounding.

Floating above Acken Island, Lucy’s clothes were torn and battered.

She pressed her hat down firmly as she faced Velbrok, which remained bound in chains.

A calamity rampaging as if determined to destroy the world.

The Holy Blue Dragon—the so-called god-eater—lived up to its name. It was an existence no human could handle alone.

No matter how powerful Lucy’s magic was, it could not pierce Velbrok’s scales. She clicked her tongue softly.

She was exhausted.

How many times had Lucy Mayreel ever felt exhausted in battle? Even against Mebula, she had only been mildly tired.

This was the first time in her life she had truly felt exhaustion.

Even so, she continued to gather magic power. Despite everything, her voice remained characteristically sleepy.

Kaaaaaaaaang!

The Holy Blue Dragon roared again, attempting to instill the fear of death.

“You seem rather angry.”

She raised her arms, preparing to intercept its next attack. Brilliant magic power—like starlight drawn from the Milky Way—filled her vision.

“Come.”

Because of Ed Rothstaylor’s existence, the original story had twisted beyond recognition.

Yet among all the changes, the greatest variable—the one with the most overwhelming influence—

Was Lucy Mayreel.

The girl who faced the calamity alone, gazing down at the raging Holy Blue Dragon with a detached expression.

Amid the storm of magic and destruction, only the sound of her collar fluttering in the wind remained.