piratefiction Chapter 168
Chapter 168
Droplets of water dripped from my hair. I finished drying off with a towel and handed the clothes I had worn to Selly as a gift. When the damp, fishy-smelling clothes got close to her nose, Selly grimaced in disgust.
“Ew! It reeks!”
“Looks like you’ll have some trouble doing the laundry.”
I chuckled and asked her about what I had requested.
“How’s the supply situation?”
Selly pinched her nose and replied,
“Well, it seems like they’re giving out a bit too much food.”
The academy’s storage held a decent amount of supplies.
Of course, with so many people, the consumption rate was fast.
Supplies were brought in from outside about once a month, and right now, there were about two weeks left until the next delivery. Given the situation, the fact that resources were being distributed generously now meant…
“They intend to move quickly.”
As I realized Rockefeller’s intentions, I nodded slightly.
After all, if we remained isolated for a long time, we would only run out of food. Acting swiftly was the right course. The defensive battle hadn’t ended that long ago, so our enemies likely wouldn’t expect us to take action so soon.
It was also a move that would catch them off guard.
“They’ll probably gather us soon.”
No sooner had I spoken than Rockefeller’s voice echoed through the loudspeakers.
“All unit leaders, assemble at the designated location.”
The scenario was progressing about two days faster than expected.
Despite the presence of some wounded, it seemed they had assessed our forces to be strong enough to handle it.
There were no complete novices here; after all, we have Arkandric and Ten Elites, so moving forward boldly made sense.
However, the real issue was the presence of high-ranking spirits like the Monkey King and the Giant Swordfish.
In this uncertain situation, I, as a student, had managed to defeat one of them so easily.
Would these forces really just leave me alone after that?
… It feels ominous. I have a strange feeling they might give me more than I can handle.
With a sense of unease, I deliberately walked slowly toward the assembly point.
***
The assembly location for the leaders was the auditorium.
While the professors had yet to arrive, a man was loudly boasting, clearly oblivious to others.
Bellman looked at Kerndel of the First Seat, who stood there arrogantly with his arms crossed, and felt whatever respect he had for him fade away.
“Pathetic. To struggle so much against mere spirits.”
His words were scolding, but his tone was full of superiority.
Bernthal of the Eighth Seat was about to say something but then shut his mouth, perhaps recalling Kerndel’s accomplishments.
Bellman considered putting up a barrier to block his voice.
Just then, Bernthal asked,
“Bellman, do you know where Emeric is?”
“Senior Emeric? I haven’t heard anything specific.”
“Really? That’s strange. That uptight guy would sooner be early than late, certainly not later than this irritating one.”
Despite the atmosphere, Kerndel was showing off his aura blade while peeling a supplied apple.
“Hah, I wonder how many of you will make it this far. Ten, perhaps? Or maybe you’ll all grow old and die without ever achieving it.”
At this boast, Ricks approached and asked,
“Bellman, about that guy… could it be that he has some kind of mental issue?”
Having recently joined the Adele Hall, Ricks wouldn’t know.
Bellman, however, tried to speak diplomatically, given Kerndel was a senior.
“His mind is… rather peculiar.”
Around Kerndel, a group of people gathered, eager to flatter him.
They were either fellow members of the Ten Elites or people who relied on the benefits of being in his good graces.
Ricks, observing this, seemed to entertain a different notion and asked a question that almost made Bellman spit blood.
“But surely, he must have a kind heart for people to support him like that, right?”
“No, his character’s twisted as well. Ricks, since you’ve joined the Adele Hall, you should join us. We plan on beating him up thoroughly before he graduates.”
“Hmm… sounds like an offer I’d rather decline.”
Bellman saw no need to reply further. Once Ricks experienced it himself, his attitude would change.
“Hm, with about half a year left, it feels a bit bittersweet. I wonder if I’ll ever see your faces again. After all, I’ll be taking a high-ranking position after graduation.”
Kerndel looked at each of the leaders’ faces as if trying to memorize them with a wistful gaze.
Unable to endure any longer, Bellman took out his staff.
“… I can’t listen to this anymore.”
He created a barrier to block Kerndel’s voice, and both Bernthal and Ricks visibly brightened.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door. It was Emeric. Bellman was about to lift the barrier to let him in, but then his eyes widened at the sight of a document envelope sticking out of Emeric’s pocket.
“Is that…?”
Emeric hastily grabbed the envelope and tried to hide it again, but Bellman had already seen it. The wax seal imprint on the envelope was unmistakably that of the Student Council.
“Could it be…? Did he take advantage of the chaos to
Yet his own body responded differently.
***
In the midst of the cheering auditorium, Kerndel’s emotions grew more and more conflicted.
While he felt pleased by the praise, he also sensed that if this continued, he’d end up with a dangerous task.
If another high-ranking spirit appeared, he honestly wasn’t confident he could handle it.
He closed his eyes, recalling the Giant Swordfish.
Despite his arrogance, he was actually well aware of his limits. Determined to regain control, he looked out at the students.
“Show them what you’re made of before graduation, Kerndel!”
“Yeah! As a third-year, have some pride! You can’t keep leaving it all to Hersel, right?”
“You may be annoying, but you’re our leader.”
It was hopeless.
They didn’t seem to be hearing him at all.
Kerndel glanced cautiously at the one responsible for all this.
Then, he witnessed something that made him freeze.
“Gah!”
Though Hersel had a hand covering his mouth, his eyes held a sly, sinister gleam that he couldn’t hide.
Cold sweat ran down Kerndel’s back as he staggered backward.
Thinking back, Hersel had no reason to promote him.
Their first impression of each other had been far from friendly; Hersel looked at him with barely disguised disdain.
In fact, if anything, they were enemies.
Murder was a grave crime within the academy. Yet, this timely opportunity had arisen. Kerndel wondered if Hersel had seized on this chance to send him into the jaws of death without dirtying his own hands. A mocking smile lingered on Hersel’s face.
Kerndel liked to boast, but he wasn’t someone blinded by his pride. As he scrambled to come up with a convincing excuse, a group of people began pouring into the auditorium. They were professors dressed in black robes. When Rockefeller, leading the group, stepped up onto the platform, Kerndel breathed a sigh of relief.
Rockefeller was a practical man. He would assign critical tasks to those who were truly fit for them. Kerndel shot a smirk in Hersel’s direction.
Feeling reassured that nothing alarming would happen, Kerndel listened as Rockefeller began explaining the objectives in detail.
“Spirits continue to pour in through a gate that has appeared behind the fortress.”
The plan centered on targeting this spirit gate and selecting key individuals for the mission.
“Some of you may have noticed the increased food supplies. We will launch the operation tonight, opening the barrier temporarily to form an attack force to destroy the spirit gate.”
It was a near-ambush strategy. When the barrier opens temporarily, a defensive line will form to stop any spirits from breaching. Because the outer barriers are linked, opening one would expose them all.
“They’ll do whatever they can to prevent us from reaching the gate, but we don’t have enough resources to hold a full line. Many forces will be deployed to guard the fortress.”
The remaining forces would charge toward the spirit gate. A handful of professors would lead the students, clearing a path through the spirits so the attack team could reach the gate.
“Of course, the spirit gate is critical to them. A high-ranking spirit will inevitably appear to defend it. I have Lady Bellen in mind to handle this, along with one other—”
Just as Rockefeller was about to name the other person, Hersel raised his hand and asked,
“What role will the Headmaster take on?”
Rockefeller, visibly annoyed, replied, “Headmaster Arkandric will remain stationed in the engine room to manage the barrier.”
As Hersel lowered his hand, Rockefeller pulled out the assignment list.
“Now, I will call the names of the unit leaders assigned to the attack team.”
Several names passed by. Kerndel instinctively sensed that whoever paired with Bellen to handle the high-ranking spirit would face the most danger. He silently prayed to be assigned to a simpler attack team, like the others. But then, he heard a familiar name from Rockefeller’s lips.
To read Chapters ahead ????
CH 166-170 (Invincible pinky) $3
CH 171-175 (Tyrant Dordone) $3
CH 176-180 (Alon Vs Ecok) $3
CH 181-185 (Academy’s downfall) $3
CH 186-190 (Rockefeller) $3
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CH 191-195 (Student council president) $3
CH 196-200 (The King) $3
CH 201-205 (Field Trip) $3
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