The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 91

Drip, Drip.

Even the same old raindrops have a different feeling depending on the season.

The spring rain felt as if it were dripping to the ground one drop at a time. It was different from the cool summer rainfall, which would storm down.

Going out in the rain during the summer felt as if your entire body was being drenched but walking out in the spring rain felt like nothing more than a nice relaxing sprinkle.

The moisture in the air was noticeable, but there was none of the usual sounds that came from the rain beating on the leaves and grass.

The forest was only filled with the sounds of my feet tracking through the mud and the splashing from when I stepped into small puddles.

[This is my first time going out to the northern coast. I’m sure the cliff is wide, and since it was barren and doesn’t have much human contact, there won’t be much to see there! But it really is far away!]

The one sitting on my shoulder clearing his throat was Mugg, the only one I could talk to.

[And even though I am an unworthy spirit, I wanted to say that I am confident that making a contract with the mid-ranking water spirit Lacia was an excellent decision! Above all else, Lacia’s ‘Water Lion’s Blessing’ is different from my Blessing of Fire Fortune, in that it’s specific to only certain situations. It’s not as versatile, but once those conditions are met…]

There’s never a quiet day when I’m with Mugg, who continuously opens his mouth to explain every little thing. Seeing how proud of himself he was whenever he spoke about all the different spirits, I couldn’t help but like him more.

As I continued to converse with Mugg, we proceeded further north.

The size of the north was by no means small. Although I’d lived in the forest for a year, there were still many places that I was unfamiliar with. Though, that was probably because I always stuck to the same paths that I already knew.

“So, the path ends up going down this way.”

It took a rather long time to reach the cliffside, which was at the northernmost tip of the island.

Simply put, Acken Island started to develop the further south you went. That was because all of Silvenia’s major academic facilities were gathered together in the south. They were built there because there were two bridges down in the south that connected the island to the Nofaren Continent.

Once you passed the upper half of the island, most of it became a forest that had barely been touched by humans. And if you traveled all the way to the northernmost part of the island, it was like an entirely new world, one that was completely disconnected from Silvenia Academy.

Generally speaking, all water spirits—not just Lacia, the water spirit that I’d made a contract with—received increased influence in areas that were full of moisture.

An old eagle was better than a young crow. Since she was a mid-ranking spirit, she had a power level that was incomparable to that of a low-ranking spirit even in a desolate area with little to no moisture. However, her true strength only showed in an environment that was full of moisture.

It was a rainy day near the oceanside. There was no better environment when it came to handling a water spirit.

I’d been told that once every single difficult condition had been met, she was able to exert a power that was comparable to even a high-ranking spirit. Though, honestly, I was not really looking for that type of power. After all, I wouldn’t even be able to handle the sheer amount of magic power needed for that.

I took out the bow that I had been carrying.

It was a recurve bow that had been painstakingly refined over a long period of time. Out of all the ones that I had made through trial and error, it was the one that came out the best.

I pulled the bowstring as I faced the wide sea. Covering my hand in magic power, with the resonance level I had, I created an arrow of magic power that glowed softly.

It wasn’t just a simple magic power arrow. It was a magic power arrow that was imbued with water energy. It wasn’t just a one-dimensional attack that pierced through an enemy, inflicting damage upon them.

“Hmm… It doesn’t consume much magic power like this, but that changes after I fire and activate it…”

[The amount of mana needed to make the magic power arrow directly isn’t a large amount, but after using a Spiritual Skill with it, that changes.]

“I’ll just have to get the hang of it for now. I’m sure I’ll get the feel for it.”

[That doesn’t mean you should go firing it blindly. Young master Ed, the amount of magic power you have has increased a lot, but it won’t be able to offset the inefficient loss of mana caused by your lack of spiritual resonance.]

I nodded my head as I canceled the Spiritual Skill. The art of Spiritual Skills was a rather vast and deep field within spirit magic. It was something I’d have to consider more after I got used to manifesting spirits.

The rain continued to fall as the waves crashed against the shore. There really was no better environment to effectively deal with a water spirit.

With that thought in mind, I was about the gather all my magic power at once when—

“It’s an honor to see you again after such a long time, young master Ed.”

I looked back towards the voice that called out to me.

Two men, dressed in gloomy robes, had come to see me before I even realized it.

***

The final chapter of Act 4. The mid-boss of the third phase of the Krepin Subjugation.

The vassals that were in charge of the darkness within House Rothstaylor.

The two knights, Kadek and Nox, who swore allegiance to Krepin after being promised fiefs.

***

Kadek and Nox were veterans that shared the history of the Rothstaylor Family, living alongside them for the entirety of their lives.

Underneath a robe that covered him from the rain was Kadek’s slender figure, wearing a neat suit and a wide tie. He was similar in age to Nox, but his appearance was much cleaner and more proper.

On the other hand, Nox with his well-trimmed beard and confident appearance appeared much more easy-going.

His sharp jaw and muscles beneath his well-made attire showed proof that he would be no easy opponent.

Two of Krepin’s first-class henchmen that had and would continue to go through everything for him had arrived in Acken Island. At that point, I realized that an anomaly had occurred.

“Even though I should be happy to see you two, I can’t say that I am.”

The two men looked towards the edge of the cliff.

There, a boy with blonde hair stood in the pouring rain. In one hand he held a bow.

He turned his upper body towards the two knights. Behind him was the view of the sea. The rain fell, and between his drenched hair were his two eyes glaring daggers towards the men. The recurve bow he was holding aimed at the floor was quite large. It was nearly the size of a person’s upper body.

“Even though I was excommunicated, you still call me young master. Is this something I should be grateful for?”

He already knew enough of what there was to know about Kadek and Nox.

The mid-boss of the final chapter of Act 4. The Eagle Knight Kadek, the Brown Bear Knight Nox. Neither of them were easy opponents.

“I have heard the news about you, young master Ed.”

The one that responded was Kadek, who was kneeling.

“After being excommunicated, many things have happened. And despite what you went through, I have heard all about just how hard you are working as you continue to do your best.”

“That’s right, young master Ed. We… had no idea.”

Nox, who had a sturdy build, also knelt down and bowed his head.

“I will tell you this without hesitating. The two of us… We lived with great resentment towards the Ed Rothstaylor that we saw and lived with in House Rothstaylor. Being put in such a difficult situation, giving you the opportunity to repent, we had also thought your excommunication was justified.”

There was some sincerity in his heavy voice.

“However, after coming to Acken Island and seeing how much you have reflected on your mistakes and changed, we have changed our minds.”

Nox pulled out a leather pouch with a dagger from his pocket, placing it onto the grass.

“We came under the orders of the head of house, Krepin. No matter what it takes, we are to kick you out of Silvenia Academy and, if an opportunity arises, to even assassinate you. Those are the orders we received, and this is the dagger given to us, engraved with a deadly poison.”

The two knights continued to kneel in the pouring rain as they calmly continued to speak.

“But we both know. Your actions have always been strange. Even in your youth, you would disappear like a ghost and suddenly reign over the house as if you were a completely different person… But that was probably not the true version of you.”

“And now, we know the truth. This version, the current young master Ed, is the very person that is truly suitable to be the heir to the family.”

There were many rumors and opinions about Ed that were being spread across Acken Island. No one knew the effect they would have on the two knights.

And now, with both of their heads bowed, there was not a trace of hostility coming from them.

“Please, make everything right again and pave the way for House Rothstaylor’s honor to be raised high across the world once again.”

“As vassals… We are ready to follow you wherever you go. We will explain the entire situation to the head of the house, Krepin, ourselves.”

The two knights continued to bow their heads as they remained quiet, waiting for Ed’s answer.

Walking a few steps forward, he looked down at the two knights with their heads down… Then, closing both his eyes for a moment, he opened them and began to talk.

“Don’t speak such nonsense.”

“You have grown up, young master Ed.”

The sword attack that sent the wind spiraling came from the Eagle Knight Kadek. Quickly ducking to dodge it, Ed rolled across the muddy ground.

Kadek, who quickly adjusted his posture, swung his sword again and sent the wind spiraling. His sword attack used the wind to override the concept of distance between him and his opponent. Facing off against him, you needed the mindset used against a ranged magician rather than a melee knight.

However, there was something that wasn’t right. Kadek, unlike a magician, was also good at close combat.

“Hyaaaa!”

The cry that came from the Brown Bear Knight Nox was sent out in a wave. The flames that instantly erupted around him were put out by the falling rain, but his mace—enchanted with magic—was still a powerful force to deal with.

In an instant, Ed quickly created distance from the two of them as he grabbed his bowstring. The place that he had been standing just a second ago had a heavy mace stuck in the ground.

People that were driven into a corner tended to be distracted by even a single ray of hope.

For Ed Rothstaylor, who had been living out in the wild for a year, the trap of once again being a nobleman was powerful and extremely tempting.

However, Ed didn’t lower his battle stance until the two knights finished talking. It was clear to both of the knights that Ed was paying close attention to them.

The past year of his life was clearly not an easy feat.

“Do you remember my daughter, Meliana? My poor child, who lost the sight in one of her eyes because of your playing.”

Creating more distance, Ed stared at Nox for a moment as he fixed his collar.

“Come to think of it, I guess that did happen.”

“Ha…”

He clenched his fist and raised it into the air, and in an instant a streak of flames were sent flying. Ed quickly reacted, neutralizing all of the flames with beginner defense magic.

“We must have gotten complacent. There’s no one in the world that could rekindle my loyalty after taking my daughter’s eye… I’m sure you knew well about that, too. There’s no way you would be easily tricked by such lies.”

Nox then picked up his mace once again, fixing his posture clenching his teeth.

“Revenge isn’t worth it, Nox.”

“I know that. After getting my revenge, all that’s left will be an endless void. However, that’s not something I need to hear from the person that hurt my daughter, young master Ed.”

“…That makes sense.”

As Nox slammed the ground and leapt, Ed bent down and pulled a dagger from his inner thigh before shoving it straight into the ground. Meanwhile, Kadek’s sword attack, which used magic power, was aimed straight at Ed.

Kadek and Nox. The attack patterns of the two knights were already settled. Nox, in charge of the vanguard position, wielded a mace covered with fire magic. Every time he spun it, flames would spurt out of it. So, you need to keep your distance from him to make sure you could dodge his attacks.

Kadek is able to cover medium and long-range, making sure to keep you constantly pressured. You had to be careful because if you were hit even once, all subsequent attacks would also make contact.

Fwoosh!

The flames from the mace scorched a few strands of Ed’s hair.

As Ed continued to dodge, rolling backwards, at the end there was only a steep cliff awaiting him.

If he allowed Nox to land even a single attack on him, he would die instantly. That came from not only the sheer weight of the mace, but also the intensity of his flames. However, in terms of battle composition itself, Kadek’s sword attack was much more difficult to deal with.

The sense of walking a tightrope on the borderline of life and death. That was enough to send a chill run down your spine.

Fwoosh!

No matter how obvious and slow the movements of the mace were, it couldn’t be avoided forever. Everything that Ed had avoided at that point was more of a fluke than anything else. If the battle continued like that, they would eventually land an attack on him.

Realizing that there wasn’t any more room to evade the attacks with, Nox readied the final blow. Suddenly, Ed held out his hand and a streak of blood started to spurt from Nox’s back.,

“What…?”

Having more information was the key element to Ed’s fighting style.

Ed was able to memorize Nox and Kadek’s specs, position in battle, attack methods, and more. The two knights, however, had no idea just how much Ed had grown.

Such an informational advantage was the only way he could make up for the difference in specs.

A dagger that he had planted into the ground flew back out, lodging into Nox’s back.

“T-Telekinesis magic…? Th-That can’t be…”

It wasn’t telekinesis magic. It was actually a spiritual skill. After going off to a quiet place to think it over, it was not something that would be difficult to realize. However, in an intense battle situation it isn’t something that could easily be figured out.

Booom!!

All at once, explosive magic was fired off all around the edge of the cliff. Ed, who was protected by theBlessing of Fire Fortune,was able to get away free from the damage.

“Nox!”

Fwoooosh!

There was no time to rest.

A magic power arrow flew through the smoke as it pierced Kadek’s leg.

“Eughk!”

Dodging the next arrow with practically inhuman reflexes, Kadek thought for a moment before mercilessly sending another sword attack through the thick smoke.

Nox might have ended up getting hit, but more importantly, he would also be able to completely take Ed down.

Unsure of just how much Ed had to go through to survive, it was clear that he had grown leaps and bounds when compared to when he was living a luxuriously idiotic life in House Rothstaylor.

Carelessness was the enemy of a knight. Even if Nox were at risk of being hit by the attack, he would understand that there wasn’t any choice. That level of rapport between the two, who had been fighting alongside each other for a long time, was possible without directly saying it.

There was no room to dodge it. It would definitely hit. The question was if it would be enough to take down the enemy.

The gust of wind blew the smoke away, revealing Ed with stab wounds all across his body.

However, he was still standing, pulling on his bowstring. Unless it was a sword attack that would completely cut off his body parts, he would continue to have the will to fight until the very end.

The pain of a sword attack had the power to completely destroy a person’s composure, regardless of how deep the wound even was. Even if he wasn’t taken down by a single attack, aimed straight at his vitals, he should have still felt enough stress on his mind to crumble.

In the first place, the wounds he had weren’t at a level that could be considered shallow. But somehow, Ed remained standing.

And just like that, Ed continued to fire. However, Kadek was born with a natural talent with reflexes and quickly raised his sword, deflecting all of the arrows.

But with Nox still incapacitated, it would be difficult to get a final blow in.

No matter how he thought of it, facing Ed in close combat was the best option. Even if Kadek was normally good at long-distance pressure, it was necessary to stay close to him.

However, he suddenly realized a variable that would make him double-think their battle composition.

Hoof.

Nox’s collapsed figure could be seen through the smoke. It looked as if he had completely lost his consciousness.

“Nox… My man…!”

Nox was a veteran in his own right.

He wasn’t actually defeated. He was just ‘acting’ as if he were.

It was all to convince Ed that the only opponent he had left to deal with was Kadek.

Ed didn’t have the time to check if Nox was really dead, or to finish the job. That was because Kadek’s constant attacks made it too difficult.

Kadek quickly noticed Nox’s intentions. Kadek’s job wasn’t difficult at all. All he had to do was create a chance for Nox to land a blow.

With that in mind, Kadek took a step back once more to control the distance between the two—when his ankle was suddenly eaten by a ‘puddle of water’.

“…What…?”

As the rain continued to pour down, he looked down at his left ankle.

The arrows that had missed and hit the ground. Those arrows that were imbued with water energy… they weren’t meant to hit him.

The magic power arrows, which were engraved with the spiritual skill Manifestation of a Water Source, created a large puddle of water on the clear land.

A new source of water that was manifested by magic power… It had made another battlefield for the water spirits to play.

A surprise strategy was only effective when it was used unexpectedly outside of your opponent’s field of view.

An arrow that had completely missed would be put aside from the opponent’s consciousness. In fact, it was nearly impossible to notice that the arrows were just a means for a surprise attack.

Looking up from his left foot, which was completely submerged in water, he saw the large puddle of water that spread out behind Kadek. And then, ‘from the water’, the mid-ranking water spirit Lacia the Lioness came out and bit Kadek’s neck.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaghk!”

Kadek rolled over in the puddle of water. It went without saying, but he wasn’t able to breathe properly. Water began to enter his airways and esophagus. Little by little, he lost the strength to resist as the water spirit continued to push him down.

“C…Can’t breathe…!”

Struggling in the middle of a puddle… Eventually, Kadek lost consciousness.

However, that didn’t mean the end of the battle.

Nox, who seemed to be completely unconscious, stood behind Ed in an instant.

His body was in ruins after having been through explosions and attacks of such a large size without being protected by magic. However, uncaring of the fact that his body was covered in burns, he ran towards Ed with a dagger in hand.

His speed was so quick that it was difficult to follow with the naked eye. And right when the knife was about to pierce Ed’s back, Nox was certain of his victory.

Whoooooooooosh!

However, the blowing wind immediately knocked Nox away as it went over the cliff.

Clang!

The dagger rolled on the floor.

The high-ranking wind spirit’s passive skill, Storm’s Blessing. Just once, every set amount of time, the defensive-type magic would instinctively activate and block a physical attack.

Nox, whose last attack had been defended against, had no means of fighting left.

The lioness made of water rose up from a puddle as she stood behind Ed. The bat flying near his shoulder was still burning like usual, and the bow he held horizontally was not damaged in the slightest.

As Ed slowly turned away, he suddenly stopped as he swallowed hard.

Ed then walked back slowly, approaching Nox.

Death always came. Even though it might come slowly, it was something that always came.

Ed looked down at Nox, who was a complete wreck, without saying a single word. He had a calm expression on his face, as if he were thinking about something.

Nox slowly opened his mouth.

“Is it too much to ask you to finish me in one hit?”

“That’s what I was going to say.”

“What?”

Ed looked up at the rainy sky as he spoke.

“This was all so useless. A life like this, a life full of misery.”

The spirits around him were canceled. They disappeared and the bow he was holding was thrown off to the side.

“It seems like my father has decided it’s best to kill me. If that’s the case, then one day I will surely die. After all, my father is someone who even makes the rules of casualty favor him.”

“That’s…”

“Even if I were to end you here, this issue won’t end. One day, he will try to kill me again in a grander, more absurd way. Once he makes up his mind… he’s not the type of person to change it.”

Having said that, Ed picked up the dagger Nox had dropped. A curse of extreme poison was engraved onto the surface of the dagger. The dagger with a terrifying pattern on it only needed one cut to kill. A deadly curse that would cause death upon one’s opponent with just the smallest of cuts.

“It hasn’t been that great a life. The things I had to do and the filth I dealt with to survive… If you look at me now, I’m sure you are more than capable of figuring it out, Nox. Nobility? The respect that comes from my lineage? Those things… I threw it all away when I was forced to survive off of eating the boiled bark off a tree and the carcass of a boar.”

“……”

Looking up, the dark clouds were starting to grow thick. It was just like the life Ed Rothstaylor had lived through.

“I’m not one to act like a coward and escape my sins by paying the price with my death. I’m not that good of a person, and more than anything, it’s meaningless to do. But to you, who has given your life in dedication and servitude to House Rothstaylor… It should be enough to offer as a final gift to you.”

After seeing what Ed had just done, Nox doubted what he was witnessing. He had thrown the dagger over to Nox, handing it to him.

And just like that, the cursed dagger rolled down at Nox’s feet. The shiny handle called out to him, as if urging him to grab it.

“Like I told you, getting revenge will leave you with nothing but emptiness… But that doesn’t make it meaningless. Once you finish getting your revenge, it’ll feel like you have completed one of your life’s greatest longings.”

Then, Ed Rothstaylor raised his arm defenselessly towards him.

“Stab me. If it’s come to the point that my own family rejects my existence, I don’t want to live a miserable life like this any longer.”

The rain continued to fall on the cliff.

Nox stood up, clasping his trembling hands… He faced Ed, who looked at him without doing anything else.

Nox constantly doubted what was happening, thinking it might be a trap. But that didn’t make sense. There was no reason to continue making any other traps against Nox, who had already been completely incapacitated.

And for a moment, grinding his teeth, Nox rushed forward.

A streak of blood flowed through the used blade.

At the same time, Ed’s mouth began to bleed.

“Ughk… Keu…!”

His blood was boiling. His mouth was filled with the bitter taste of iron.

“Eugh… Ugh… Heuk… Keuukk…”

“Wh-What… Is this…?”

Nox felt a faint smile grow from Ed’s groaning.

Even on the brink of death, the sight of him not losing his sanity until the very end gave him the biggest sense of fear.

The curse that was engraved onto the dagger was now imprinted on Ed Rothstaylor’s body. A curse swelled up from his skin as an excruciating pain engulfed him… Ed slowly raised his head, looking at Nox as he spoke.

“Good… Congratulations.”

Seeing him smile while covered in blood was terrifying.

“You finally… Got your revenge.”

Seeing that… Nox broke out in a cold sweat as he quickly pulled out his sword, pushing Ed away with his feet.

Ed staggered as he was pushed towards the edge… before falling down the steep cliffside.

It was at that moment that everything ended.

***

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

A sharp scream cut through the air.

The northern cliffs were the most remote place on Acken Island. Therefore, the two knights that had followed Ed were able to carry out their orders without worry.

Despite his expectations, seeing a student come to a place this far away bewildered Nox greatly.

Lighting cut through the sky.

The screaming girl came all the way over towards the cliff. Nox no longer had the strength to restrain the girl.

“Ed, Ed…! Ed!”

The basket the girl had brought rolled onto the floor. Several of the snacks that were piled inside spilled out and grew wet in the rain.

Desperately running, she sat on the ground, looking over the cliff… But the cliff was so steep that only an endless darkness could be seen beyond it.

“This… This is…!”

Nox tried to say something, but his completely exhausted body wouldn’t listen to him.

Rather, the strength in his legs had completely given out as he fell to the ground.

How many minutes had passed?

The girl, who had been sitting for a while, slowly began to stand up.

At the edge of the cliff, where the rain and wind blew, the girl that was completely drenched from head to toe turned towards Nox… and it felt as if an unknown spirit was standing next to her.

“Y-You…”

The magic power began to rise, filling the atmosphere.

The girl’s expression couldn’t be clearly seen, but Nox could guess what it was. Even judging by the amount of magic power there was… Nox knew she was an opponent that he could never defeat.