The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 244

All-out war.

A situation in which victory could only be achieved by using every means available.

All of my efforts over the past couple of years had been solely to overcome that ordeal.

Watching the monsters swarm Acken Island as if the world were coming to an end… I hugged Lucy tightly.

Lucy let out a groan of pain, likely from the injuries covering her body. My condition was no different; I was injured all over as well. At that moment, I was forcing my body to move despite having already reached my limit.

Still, I needed to grab Lucy and take her to safety immediately.

“Run.”

After saying that to Lucy, who was in my arms, I ran into an alleyway between several buildings in the commercial district.

Silvenia’s main target was Lucy Mayreel.

That was because she believed Lucy was the sole person blocking Velbrok. If she could eliminate Lucy, the Holy Blue Dragon—currently bound by chains—would be able to wreak havoc freely.

That was why the immediate priority was to get Lucy, who was no longer capable of fighting, away from the battlefield.

Princess Penia and Yennekar weren’t enough to face Silvenia alone. However, it was possible for them to buy enough time for us to escape.

Silvenia was an enemy that even Lucy Mayreel could only fight by using her full power.

However, she couldn’t. That was because she had already been trying to hold back the Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok when the Great Sage Silvenia appeared.

“We’re heading straight for Ophelis Hall. Then, we’ll have to take on that mad magician on our own. Taylee is going to deal with Velbrok.”

Holding Lucy tightly, I ran as fast as I could. Blood poured from both of us, leaving a trail down the alleyway.

“What… a relief…”

“…What is?”

I was confused by Lucy’s sudden remark as I ran.

“That you’re alive.”

Lucy rarely spoke much. She was a girl who showed very few emotions.

Perhaps because she had just seen her life flash before her eyes, her emotions were beginning to surface. She continued bleeding as she struggled to speak.

“I wouldn’t know what to do if you died.”

“You should know better.”

After hearing Lucy’s worries, I tried to reassure her.

“Whatever it takes, surviving is my specialty.”

Hearing that, Lucy took a deep breath. That was something she already knew.

One way or another, I always survived. Because she knew that, she had tried to hold Silvenia back for even one second longer.

“E-Euk… K-Keuk…!”

Suddenly, Lucy began coughing up blood. I frowned and laid her gently against the wall of a nearby building.

Lucy was in pain. I brushed aside the blood-soaked hair stuck to her cheek and checked her condition once more.

Because of the urgency of the situation, I realized it too late. One of her hands was completely burned. Not only that, but her body was covered in cuts, gashes, and other scars from magic power bullets.

Countless injuries were visible through the tears in her uniform. But upon closer inspection, I realized her condition was far worse than it appeared.

She was also suffering from severe body aches and a high fever. Occasionally, she would nod off or wave her hand in the air as if hallucinating.

I knew exactly what state she was in. It was the same condition I had experienced after exhausting myself from overworking.

It happened when I twisted the flow of magic power in my body by repeatedly drawing on more magic power than I could handle. When the magic power was completely depleted and couldn’t be restored, the original flow within the body became impossible to locate.

Back then, I had been bedridden for several days. Lucy had used her own magic power to sever the twisted flow within my body.

It was a harsh treatment, but it had been effective.

“H-Heuk… Cough…”

Lucy leaned against the wall, coughing in pain. I drew out the tiny amount of magic power still left in my body.

Closing my eyes, I placed my finger beneath Lucy’s chin and concentrated. I could feel the flow of her magic power.

After being completely drained, her body was trying to restore it by finding its original flow. However, unable to locate it, the magic power had become tangled throughout her body.

The cause was the lack of harmony between her body’s recovery system and her magic power recovery system. Regardless, I needed to untangle her magic power.

Clenching my teeth, I gathered what remained of my magic power. Just as Lucy had done for me, I began untangling the twisted flow within her body.

Given my own condition, it wasn’t the time to worry about someone else’s physical state.

However, if I left Lucy alone, she would certainly die.

I poured my magic power into restoring her flow.

She had only just begun recovering, so she was still weak. However, because it was Lucy’s magic power, its amount and potency were extraordinary. I had to use nearly all the energy left in my body just to untwist and sever that tangled flow.

“Heuk… heuk…”

I was completely exhausted, barely able to keep my eyes open.

However, Lucy’s breathing began to stabilize. She no longer coughed up blood, and her lungs expanded and contracted at a steady rhythm.

With that, we somehow overcame a major crisis.

The next issue was the large burn on one of Lucy’s arms. The red scar was shaped like a flame.

It must have been agonizing. Although the pain hadn’t fully subsided, it was necessary to cool the remaining heat. The scar would likely last a lifetime, but if treated properly, she wouldn’t lose her hand.

Ideally, I would have used ice magic, but that was beyond my capabilities. Instead, I used wind magic to cool the surface of her arm. At the same time, I placed my hand on her forehead to lower her fever.

Gradually, Lucy’s breathing stabilized further. Her condition was slowly improving.

Boom! Boooooom!

I could hear Silvenia casting elemental magic at the entrance square.

I had told Yennekar to buy us as much time as possible and then escape, though it didn’t seem like it would be easy.

Silvenia had already allowed Yennekar to escape once. I doubted she would permit it again.

However, if Yennekar truly committed to fleeing, even Silvenia would struggle to capture her. She would first need to subdue the countless spirits that would flood the area, buying us valuable time.

Once Lucy’s condition stabilized, we would need to move again.

Grab.

Lucy slowly opened her eyes and raised her unburned hand, grasping mine.

She pulled my hand down and pressed it against her cheek, as if confirming the warmth of my palm.

Then, in a blank voice, she spoke softly.

“It’s not a dream.”

“……”

“I wondered if you surviving was just a dream… or if I was simply seeing my life flash before my eyes. I was worried…”

“You don’t have to worry anymore. I’m still alive.”

“Yeah. Thank you for staying alive.”

I was about to ask why she was saying things so unlike her usual self, but she answered before I could.

“I was planning on dying.”

“Why would you do something so stupid?”

“I didn’t think we could stop her unless I risked my life. So I tried to die without regrets.”

Lucy Mayreel had intended to die alongside Silvenia.

She didn’t know whether sacrificing her life would actually defeat Silvenia, but it was the best option she had.

“You’re the one who gave meaning to my empty, meaningless life.”

“……”

“So even if I died, if it saved you… wouldn’t that make my life meaningful? Wouldn’t I be able to say I lived a fulfilling life? I had thoughts like that… So even when I was about to die, I wasn’t afraid.”

Lucy spoke while guiding my hand along her cheek. Despite her face being covered in blood and scratches, she closed her eyes gently, as if at ease.

“It was a strange feeling.”

“If you say something so ridiculous again, I’ll get angry. Listen carefully.”

I lifted my hand from her cheek and reached into my pocket, pulling out the phoenix ring. I carefully placed it on her finger.

Lucy, who had once descended into the Soul Library, knew exactly what that ring was.

“Don’t ever think about dying for my sake. You need to live for my sake.”

“……”

“Whatever it takes, you need to survive. You can never accept death. Do whatever it takes to live for me. That’s what it means to live a meaningful life. Please—no matter what—you must survive. If you die, the loss and sadness I’ll feel will be unbearable.”

Ideally, Lucy would be the one to possess Professor Glast’s Phoenix Ring. However, her magic power flow was completely twisted, and her condition was poor. It would be difficult for her to use it properly without time to recover.

So, while we waited, I made sure she understood not to harbor useless thoughts of sacrificing herself for me.

“You need to live for me.”

Hearing those words, Lucy’s eyes widened, completely unlike her usual self.

As I placed the ring on her finger, her face flushed red. It would shock anyone to see Lucy Mayreel wearing such an expression.

As if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing, she stared at the ring in disbelief… then looked up at me with wide eyes.

“It may be hard for you to move right now, but once your magic power recovers even a little, this ring will help you a lot. So hold onto it. My body isn’t in good condition either… I don’t think we can run much farther. Rest here while I think of another plan.”

“But… this ring is your secret weapon…”

“I already told you. Do I need to say it again?”

Lucy looked down at the ring. Her face remained red, but she nodded.

After a while, her dazed eyes regained some clarity. She quietly replied, “Alright.”

Using a small amount of recovered magic power, she stopped her bleeding. Then she clenched her lips before saying, “I’ll live for you.”

“Good.”

I stroked Lucy’s head and forced myself to stand, despite the pain.

Once I managed to stand, I looked down at Lucy, who was in terrible condition.

She was a rare genius magician destined to go down in history. Yet leaning against the wall, she looked like a small, fragile child. Her petite body and thin limbs seemed as if they might break at any moment.

In the end, everyone was weak.

When pushed to their limits and faced with death, people could only struggle with everything they had to survive. That was what it meant to be human.

I slowly turned back toward the entrance square, where Silvenia and Yennekar were facing each other.

The madwoman, Silvenia.

She was an enemy who couldn’t be handled one-on-one. The only way to subjugate her was to unite every available force.

Like a raid, the more people we had, the higher our chances of victory. I wanted to gather as many allies as possible, but… there was a limit.

Boom! Booooom! Boooom!

We had been trying to escape toward Ophelis Hall together.

Suddenly, the sky—once filled with monsters—was dyed in a dark red magic circle.

It was different from Lucy’s. Unfamiliar, yet the shape felt strangely familiar.

As I quietly looked up at the sky, realization struck me.

In that moment, I couldn’t help but run toward the entrance square, frowning.

***

“Ahhhhhhh! Kyaaaaaah!”

“Save me! Deputy Director! My… arm… my arm…!”

“The store entrance has been breached! Half the mercenaries are dead! At this rate…!”

Lortel Kehelland rushed through the corridors of the Elte Store, voices echoing around her. Were they cries of agony, or reports?

As she ran, a window shattered from a Gremlin’s magic power, and a grotesque monster leapt inside.

Lortel instantly used ice and gravity magic to kill it, then rushed into her office and shut the door. Secretary Lienna followed, drenched in cold sweat. She looked up at Lortel, who hadn’t shed a single drop of sweat.

“Close the window and pull the curtain, Secretary Lienna.”

“Y-Yes!”

Shaken, Secretary Lienna quickly closed the window and drew the curtains.

After a while, the screams outside subsided. Occasional explosions and tremors still shook the building, conveying the chaos beyond.

Lortel, having just joined the battle, placed the letter she received from Yennekar’s spirit on her desk and sat down, taking deep breaths.

“D-Deputy Director…”

Secretary Lienna called out in a trembling voice, but Lortel didn’t respond.

She simply closed her eyes, contemplating the letter.

Please come to Ophelis Hall and help.The Great Sage Silvenia has been resurrected and is murdering all powerful individuals within the school.We need help to defeat Velbrok.

It was brief and written in haste, conveying only what was essential. He was calling for everyone to gather to subjugate Velbrok. Yet what confused Lortel most was Silvenia’s resurrection.

The handwriting was unmistakably Ed Rothstaylor’s. Because of that, she knew trusting him was the right decision.

The Elte Company’s Silvenia Branch was in complete chaos.

Yet even in the midst of hell, Lortel remained calm.

Her ability to maintain reason regardless of circumstances was her defining trait.

“If we go to Ophelis Hall, we’ll have to abandon the building.”

The store would likely be destroyed, and all assets—including the warehouse inventory—would be lost.

While countless merchants had already died, the valuables stored there were worth far more than hundreds of thousands of gold coins.

Even abandoning the store offered no guarantee she would reach Ophelis Hall safely. It was a dangerous gamble.

Still, Lortel intended to go.

Defending the building alone wouldn’t solve anything.

The true threat was Velbrok. And if Ed Rothstaylor had devised a plan… then it was a gamble worth taking.

Closing her eyes, she thought of the blond-haired man.

That strange sense of dissonance she felt whenever she thought of him… It was as if he stood on a completely different stage.

Ever since Ed Rothstaylor began shaping his own life at Silvenia Academy, Lortel had remained by his side.

She tried to walk alongside him, following his path as best she could, yet at crucial moments, a strange unease always surfaced.

Though it felt like they were walking together, Ed always seemed to be looking elsewhere.

Sometimes it felt as though an invisible screen separated them.

According to the main scenario, Lortel Kehelland belonged to the protagonist’s generation.

Ed Rothstaylor was merely an extra beneath the stage, never meant to be seen.

Sometimes the gap between them felt insignificant. Other times, insurmountable.

Lortel didn’t know the details, but her intuition was sharp.

At times, fleeting visions appeared before her eyes, stirring unease.

Was it a dream? Or a hallucination?

Taylee McLaure stepped forward.

He gripped his sword tightly, determination etched on his face.

Beside him walked his companion and lover, Ayla. Behind them were Princess Penia, who had hardened her resolve; Ziggs, who had adapted to civilization; Clevius, who had overcome his cowardice; and Elvira, who had learned to understand others.

The protagonist generation had endured hardships, overcome trials, and grown.

That was why they continued down the heroic path, bathed in praise and applause.

Far behind them walked Lortel Kehelland.

And Ed Rothstaylor passed her by.

He walked in the opposite direction—hands in his pockets, eyes trembling with anxiety. There was no glory, no spotlight, no applause.

Following him were Yennekar Palerover, Lucy Mayreel, Clarice, Daike Elpelan, Selah Einer Kroel, Trayciana Bloomriver…

The extras who had stepped off the stage.

Watching them fade into the distance, Lortel realized—

They stood on different stages.

The road filled with praise, happy endings, and fulfilled dreams…

Did not include Ed Rothstaylor.

“Deputy Director!”

Secretary Lienna’s sudden shout snapped her back to reality.

She would never interrupt Lortel’s thoughts without reason.

Lortel looked at her, startled.

Outside the window loomed a massive shadow.

A dark red magic circle blanketed the sky.

She instantly recognized that shadow.

She had seen it once before—only partially.

This was its complete form.

Even Lortel couldn’t hide her shock.

***

Yennekar Palerover was a girl who had once collapsed from failure.

Loved by many, burdened by expectations, she had worked tirelessly—only to fail.

Crushed by frustration and despair, she drifted helplessly until graduation… quietly discarded.

That fate was one Silvenia had observed across countless futures.

Yennekar’s failure wasn’t something her temperament alone could overcome.

Yet the colossal shadow rising before Silvenia’s eyes denied that fate.

The dark red magic circle covering the sky was the same summoning circle Yennekar had created while under Velosper’s control.

Yennekar lacked the capacity to complete it. To do so, she had to be prepared to burn every ounce of magic power within her body.

Even at the peak of elementalism, she had to risk her life.

Even if she survived, she risked losing her sanity.

But its power surpassed any other elemental spirit.

The shadow twisted and expanded, forming a demon of immense scale.

Yennekar knelt, gripping her wand tightly, layering magic circles atop one another as she stared up at Silvenia.

Silvenia had never seen a future like this.

Yet here it was.

Yennekar had resolved to protect Acken Island by any means necessary.

For her, that meant committing the most reckless act imaginable.

The trauma of her past failure clawed at her mind as she met Silvenia’s gaze with unwavering strength.

Half of her pink hair had turned pure white.

Dark engravings crawled across her skin.

Yet her will was not consumed.

She wasn’t drawn in or devoured by the dark spirit.

Though the darkness gnawed at her thoughts, Yennekar endured, fully subduing it—without the Phoenix Ring.

Her magic power burned, devouring her body from within.

It felt like being cast into a pit of fire.

Still, her resolve never wavered.

The sky darkened.

A devil towered over the square, taller than the spire itself.

Darkness.

The primal fear Silvenia had always feared.

And Yennekar Palerover stood, having conquered it.

The Ultimate Dark Spirit of the Mythic Ages—

Glasskan.

Its roar echoed across the commercial district.

***

At the summit of Right Mountain stood the Substitute Altar.

In ancient times, the Great Sage Silvenia had created it to act as a substitute for her magic power.

A man knelt before it.

Cold sweat dripped as he poured immense magic power into the engraved altar.

Wrinkles and short hair peeked out beneath his robe.

Swallowing dry saliva, he continued.

Chains of magic bound his arms.

Monster corpses surrounded him, and his clothes were soaked in blood.

Without lowering his hands, he persisted.

But he was reaching his limit.

His vision dimmed.

Clenching his teeth, he fought to retain consciousness.

The last headmaster of Silvenia Academy—

Obel Forsyth—

looked up at the dying sky.