The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 259

It had been more than ten days since Katin Palerover had returned to Torren Village.

After learning that Pulkrox’s curse was contagious through magic power, Katin refused to return home.

Thousands of villagers searched the forest and mountains to find the girl who suddenly disappeared… But they couldn’t find her.

In truth, there were only a very few people in Torren Village who knew how to properly use magic power. Given the fact that the curse was only contagious through magic power, particularly against those who had a large amount of it, even if she went home, it wouldn’t cause much damage.

Pulkrox’s curse had previously destroyed a magic city in the west.

However, the chance of her village suffering that same level of destruction was low. Even so, there was no easy way to tell who might possess enough magic power to be put at risk. It was not the sort of thing one could recognize at a glance.

Her existence in itself would end up taking the lives of anyone who was capable of wielding magic power. It might be too late, but she decided that she would reduce the possibility as much as she could.

Deciding to do so, she moved to the forest, making it her new home.

Alongside Tyrcalaques.

* * *

Yennekar and the villagers also wanted to watch.

However, it wasn’t an easy sight to see. That was because… Katin’s appearance as she was gradually engulfed by the curse was very similar to Yennekar when she was being controlled by Glasskan’s curse, back when Yennekar fought against Taylee and the others at Nail Hall.

It wasn’t an easy memory that could just be forgotten over time.

* * *

Because of the curse, Katin’s condition worsened every day.

She lost sight in one eye, occasionally got nauseated, suffered from a high fever, and sometimes even fainted. She was in a state where she could no longer properly move her body. It was no longer Tyrcalaques who was lying in bed, but rather Katin.

Tyrcalaques’s condition had improved.

His magic power was slowly returning. At that point, he was stronger than a regular human.

He took care of Katin as he managed the cabin. He was making the necessary preparation for when he would be completely free from the curse.

However, seeing Katin slowly die ate away at his heart. He couldn’t help it.

Pulkrox’s curse was transmitted through magic power. It also became more effective the stronger and larger your magic power was. At the time, he wasn’t certain—but given the symptoms, that seemed to be the case.

That meant it was because of Tyrcalaques that Katin was suffering from the curse and would eventually die.

The reason Katin came into contact with the curse was because she had used her magic power to save Tyrcalaques, and the reason the curse was more effective was because she had grown as an Elementalist while caring for an ultimate-rank spirit.

If she had never come across Tyrcalaques while walking through the forest that day. If she had left him alone or run away in fear… She would have never experienced such a painful death.

Humans lived a short life that lasted no longer than a hundred years. However, it was still Tyrcalaques himself that ruined Katin’s short life.

As he regained his strength little by little, he took care of Katin as much as he could, but… No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t lift Pulkrox’s curse.

The curse that the high-ranking spirit Pulkrox left behind in exchange for his own life was more of a ‘phenomenon’ than magic.

It was a spell that any creature, no matter how strong, had to fall victim to. An ultimate-rank spirit might have enough magic power to resist the spell over a sufficient period of time, but with a human’s potential magic power, it was an impossible task.

Still, he continued to do everything he could. He analyzed the flow of magic power, researched the spell, examined Pulkrox’s corpse, and even conducted all sorts of experiments.

However, no matter what he did, he couldn’t remove the curse that was engraved on her body. Ultimately, she would have to overcome it with her own magic power.

Of course, Katin possessed nothing close to that level of magic power. She had been born with only ordinary talent as an Elementalist. The only reason she had even grown capable of communicating with mid-ranking spirits was because she had spent so long beside the ultimate spirit Tyrcalaques.

“Don’t make that face, Tyrcalaques.”

It was a habit he had as he looked down at Katin lying on the bed.

Every time he looked towards her, he had a habit of biting his lower lip. However, she was always the one trying to comfort him.

“I told you. Compared to spirits, a human’s life is incredibly short. There’s no reason to extend my short life a little longer.”

“Don’t say that… Katin.”

“Alright. Even if I die, I know you will remember me. Thinking about it like that, even though I might die a few decades early… It is all the more meaningful.”

That wasn’t true. She was simply saying that to comfort him.

Tyrcalaques was well aware of that, so he continued to try and find a way to remove the curse over and over again.

And after agonizing over that fact for a long time, the conclusion he came to wasn’t a normal one.

“Katin… You…need to become a legendary elementalist…”

If she couldn’t fight back against the curse with her own magic power, she would end up dying…

That was why she needed to have a relationship with Tyrcalaques, one where they could exchange magic power. Something that could only be done through a contract.

However, was there even an elementalist out there that could make a contract with an ultimate spirit?

Even just being able to summon them once by chance was enough to be considered a historical feat… But to make an entire contract with one, you would have to become the greatest Elementalist, unprecedented throughout history.

However, he couldn’t just sit still and do nothing. So Tyrcalaques made a decision.

He would make Katin the greatest Elementalist there ever was. If she became a legendary elementalist who signed a contract with him, he would be able to save her by giving her his magic power.

Hadn’t he already helped her grow enough to make a contract with mid-ranking spirits already? That was the influence an ultimate-rank spirit had.

Determined, he planned to repeatedly push his magic power into Katin to help her get used to it. That would also bring out her spiritual resonance past its limits.

Of course, the stronger she got, the more effective the curse would be. However, if she could bear with it to the end… she would grow enough to be able to share magic power with Tyrcalaques.

And then Tyrcalaques could save her.

“Katin, listen to me… This will be a very painful process, but… It might just be a way to save you…”

Rain fell outside the cabin. With his back towards the flickering campfire, Tyrcalaques spoke with his head lowered.

After hearing that, Katin looked up at him with blank eyes.

She couldn’t bear to see his face twist in pain because he felt responsible for her. Tyrcalaques couldn’t help but want to do whatever it took to save her.

She realized that if she were to lose her life, it would become a life-long scar for Tyrcalaques. So she nodded her head with a serious expression on her face. He was right. They both needed to do everything they could.

And then, an indescribable amount of time passed.

As for how things ended up… we already all knew.

* * *

In fact, Tyrcalaques already knew it himself.

The plan had always been reckless, perhaps even hopeless, but he could not bear the thought of simply sitting still and accepting her death.

It might have been more humane for him to use his own two hands to let Katin die comfortably.

However, doing something like that would be much too cruel and difficult for him. So, after a lot of pain and patience, while trying to help her grow stronger, she ended up dying in his arms.

On the day Katin passed away, the sorrowful roar of a giant bear could be heard across the sky.

The wrath of the ultimate-rank wind spirit that no longer had anywhere to go was shouted at the cruel world. If fate were to take her away like that, then it should have never allowed him to meet her in the first place.

That was right. It would have been better if they had never met in the first place.

He would have struggled in pain for a longer period of time, but ultimately, he would be able to overcome the curse himself. Katin’s help wasn’t necessary. She had simply shortened the duration of his torment briefly.

If she had never reached out to help him, she would have continued to live her regular life, dying normally.

It was Tyrcalaques himself that ruined her ordinary life.

Tyrcalaques had fully regained his power, and he turned that power against the world. A single gust of wind tore through the forest, uprooting trees and destroying everything in its path.

Tyrcalaques was no longer in his human form as he descended onto the world in the form of a spirit. He screamed out in pain at the world.

With his gigantic claws, he split apart the mountain range, creating various valleys with one swoop. With nowhere to release his anger, it led to the destruction of the world.

The shadow of that giant bear rising above the clouds looked like a calamity descending from the heavens. What the people of Torren Village had witnessed long ago… was nothing more than a spirit writhing in grief.

To any creature with intelligence, the feeling of loss was a heart-wrenching pain.

Even an ultimate-rank spirit was no exception. That was why spirits refrained from growing too attached to humans.

Unable to do anything, the ultimate-rank spirit unleashed his anger upon the world. If he had been left unchecked, the aftermath would have completely changed the map of the Kroel Empire. Thousands of people would have died, with thousands more being affected by the damage… However, Tyrcalaques himself no longer felt anything towards the world.

Boom!

As he drowned in grief, he swung his massive claws at random. After he destroyed a few mountains, what ended up surprising him was…

A massive level of Celestial magic.

A massive magic circle with dozens of layers was cast to restrain Tyrcalaques.

A white-haired magician dressed in a luxurious magician robe landed on top of the mountain. Her name was Silvenia Robester, the Great Sage of the Kroel Empire.

The Great Sage Silvenia, who could perceive the moment disaster descended, always appeared when humanity stood in danger.

Tyrcalaques was running wild, wholly consumed by sorrow. Silvenia had already seen what had happened to him only a few days earlier.

Massive chains stretched out as they began to wrap around his body.

It was the very same sealing spell she had researched in order to bind the Holy Blue Dragon. Even an ultimate-rank spirit could not fight back against the Great Sage’s magic, which twisted and overturned the providence of the world itself.

Silvenia watched as he roared out in grief. She then spoke with sad eyes.

“You loved humans.”

A supreme being and a kind-hearted woman from a rural village.

Anyone could have guessed that such a story wouldn’t end well.

However, one’s mind didn’t always move rationally. Silvenia was also well aware of that fact as she spoke quietly.

“It must be painful to live forever having to endure that pain of loss. So, once you experience Natural Regression, start over again from scratch.”

She spoke like a holy saint rather than a young and immature girl.

That was because she knew that she was the only one who could ease his pain.

“That memory of loss will be left with this body. Go back to being a spirit that belongs to nature… Go back to being a fluid spirit.”

Looking up at the massive bear, whose eyes were dripping with tears, the girl raised her wand.

“The lifespan of a spirit is an endless circle. You will go back to being a fluid spirit. And from today on, the seat of the ultimate wind spirit will become vacant.”

Her Celestial Magic called forth a violent storm. Tyrcalaques endured that pain, but it was nothing compared to the pain in his heart—the pain of having lost someone.

Tyrcalaques wept endlessly until the moment he returned to nature at the hands of the Great Sage.

Far away, a single pansy blew along sadly, following the breeze.

Like Katin had said, it was a Wind Flower.

* * *

When I opened my eyes, the sun was already beginning to set. I woke to the red light of sunset dyeing Torren Village’s square crimson.

It was hard to adjust to the sudden return to a peaceful and beautiful landscape after watching the mountains of Pulan be devastated. However, I also felt confused as I looked up at the sky over Torren Village and saw how it was just as clear as before.

“Euuk…”

“You are awake.”

I must have been asleep, as I was lying on an old bench in the middle of the square.

The village chief Glems, who was guarding us, saw me wake up as he greeted me.

“Eeuuk… What time is it?”

“It’s quite late. A fair amount of time has passed since you activated that device. Most of the villagers have already gone back to their work.”

“I see… I wasn’t even able to say thank you yet… “

“It’s okay. Everyone was happy to hear that they could be helpful to you.”

My left shoulder felt heavy. Looking over, Yennekar was holding onto my left shoulder tightly, fast asleep.

Since it was a device that used magic power to operate, it seemed that only Yennekar and I were able to glimpse into the past, as we were the only ones who could properly use magic power.

Chief Glems sat across from me, then asked in a polite tone of voice, “Were you able to finish your research?”

“…Yes. I learned quite a lot.”

The fact that Pulkrox and Silvenia were related to the end of Tyrcalaques was something that wasn’t known among academics. In any case, it seemed that many history books were going to have to change quite a bit.

Was it because I used too much Celestial Magic power? I had a throbbing headache. I pressed hard on my temples.

I frowned trying to bear with the pain when Yennekar, who was wrapped around my arm, suddenly grabbed my hand tightly.

Then, Yennekar opened her eyes as well.

“Hnng…”

Yennekar groaned. She slowly opened her eyes, and we made eye contact.

She looked up to me while holding onto my arm… Then, tears started to form from the corner of her eyes.

“Sniff…”

What did Yennekar think of that story?

She must have also known beforehand that it was going to be a rather sad ending, but seeing it herself must have been an entirely different feeling. Especially because she was someone with a kind and emotional heart.

“Sniff… Sniff…”

As Yennekar began to cry, I hugged her quietly.

Even though he must have been confused by the sudden situation, Chief Glems didn’t say a word as he quietly waited for us. It must have been a particularly heartbreaking story for Yennekar.

The pansy flowers that quietly moved their heads where the wind blew…

The flowers that yearned for the wind that was roaming freely across the world would quickly die if they were uprooted…

Perhaps Yennekar felt akin to them…

Thinking back to herself and how she was in love with Ed Rothstaylor.