Chapter 657






The Class 982 New Students recently became curious about a female swordsman who has been wandering around the Academy in a variety of outfits.

“That senior was really pretty, right?”

“The vibe was as impressive as the male seniors. Super charismatic!”

“Which department is she in and what year?”

“I don’t know. We just submitted a request to the Dark Trading Company. They say they have a wealth of information on campus.”

A proactive new student even spent personal money to request an investigation.

The information network managed by Jezel from the Dark Trading Company collected extensive data on the female swordsman in just one day, rivaling the Thief Guild.

━━━

Name: Unknown

Affiliated Department: Unknown

Areas Appeared: All facilities within the Academy

Investigation Results:

– Given her ease of accessing upperclassmen restricted areas, she is assumed to be at least a Third Year.

– A master swordsman capable of wielding 5th tier powers and Domain Expansion with ease.

– She appears in various female outfits, from formal wear to dance costumes, roaming night and day. However, she inexplicably disappears after being seen, repeatedly changing outfits multiple times a day, suggesting she has been confined in rigorous training for a long time and has fallen into eccentric habits.

– This swordsman does not speak under any circumstances.

– She does not allow any tracking from the Dark Trading Company.

– Her body shape appears to change occasionally, suggesting she uses disguise magic or transformation techniques through shape-shifting.

━━━

The investigation results only brought about more questions than before.

“Why does she keep changing outfits?”

“Is she trying to show off to someone?”

“Come on, she’s not an exhibitionist, right?”

Indeed, this senior’s aura did not seem to have any intention of drawing attention from others.

“Isn’t there some unavoidable reason behind it? Maybe to calm her chaotic mana, she needs to be seen by others.”

“Oh no, that’s so tragic! I want to protect her!”

“Isn’t it cool? A senior who, having been stricken with an incurable disease, has to put on a fashion show every day while seemingly cold but actually feeling blue inside.”

The reason the clueless juniors’ fantasies about their seniors could continue was that the situation for the Second Years, who typically love to torment First Years, was particularly relaxed compared to other classes.

In an environment where no one cares for the weak, the weak felt compelled to exploit the First Years to avoid falling behind, seeking help from the organization within the Class 981.

With Oknodie throwing around his enormous influence and feats that shake the world, and the Class 982 New Student has become the Empire’s Empress overnight.

While their peers are doing such remarkable things, the pitiful First Years should instead gather insignificant power and materials by bullying them, or, better yet, join organizations for support or make use of the Dark Trading Company to conveniently gather materials for their training. This was the main trend within Class 981.

‘As I suspected, those fools still can’t get it together; they’re too busy digging into the senior’s past!’

Jaku saw these oblivious newcomers as being in a very precarious situation.

The senior they were chasing was not even a member of Class 981.

They could be from Class 980 or even earlier.

A famous figure among the previous Class 980 members had already made a name for themselves during last year’s Second Year Four Kings and quickly became known among the First Years.

They were most likely someone from Class 979 or earlier.

Back when the Academy was still raw and unrefined.

A senior who grew up amidst the cruel world of survival of the fittest.

No one knew how long this senior would tolerate the sight of those First Years.

“Newbies, you should stop trying to get close to that senior any further. They’re not someone you can approach carelessly.”

“Why not? What has she done?”

Though she hasn’t actually done anything, it’s someone who could do anything at any time.

Jaku made a determined decision to undermine them and protect the newcomers.

“If you get left alone with that person… you’ll lose your Points.”

“I have no Points to lose!”

“… They’ll take your school uniform too.”

“The male uniform? I’d like to see that… but uniforms can be reissued, right?”

“There are students who disappear forever from the Academy.”

“If that amazing senior has a secret organization, how cool would it be to become a hidden member and work with her! I’m so excited just thinking about it!”

“……”

These kids are too strong.

Jaku’s kindness only served to fuel the New Students’ ambitions even more.

*

“I’m going crazy.”

The costume transformation requirements demanded by Professor Pinkberry had a success rate that felt like auto-hunting.

Just wearing different outfits would lead to being spotted by 20 different individuals, then admired by 30 more, until finally hearing “Wow” 40 times from witnesses.

Achieving the last one while properly walking forward and then suddenly turning around to hear “Wow” from behind was an incredible challenge.

“Who knew fooling Oknodie would be this difficult?”

If the preliminary preparations were this exhausting, just imagining how keen Oknodie’s perception must be.

Honestly, I couldn’t even imagine it.

The Emperor’s ability to deceive and succeed in revolution was sure to be extraordinary.

“Professor Pinkberry, I fear that no matter how thoroughly I disguise myself, if my skin is exposed, my muscles will be recognized, and my identity could be discovered.”

“Then we’ll need to enhance our disguise capabilities accordingly! The criteria may be tougher, but we’ll tackle an intense outfit that doesn’t take forever!”

“… What do I have to do this time?”

Sing felt a strange chill in addition to fear.

Despite acting coldly and maintaining her distance like usual, the warm gazes from those around her lingered stubbornly.

Seniors and juniors who were desperately trying to appear good in her eyes.

They thought they were hidden well, but actually, they had become aware of her presence while subconsciously allowing themselves to be observed to meet the costume witness requirement.

It was an exhilarating experience she’d never imagined in her life as a solitary swordsman who knew nothing but swords.

And now she was told to face even more daunting challenges…

Was she being asked to wear an idol costume and hold a handshake event with 100 people or something?!

Just as she was getting anxious, Professor Pinkberry beamed at her.

“How about wearing a firefighter suit and putting out a fire in a 1-hectare area?!”

Sing was obviously disappointed.

She didn’t even notice that a part of her was relieved at what was supposed to disappoint her.

*

Unfazed by Jaku’s schemes, the new students started to feel a little anxious.

“That senior keeps disappearing when we follow her, right? One moment she’s there, then she vanishes behind a building corner or wall and pops up somewhere completely different!”

“Yeah, yeah! Next corner was over 100 meters away, and she was gone in 2 seconds.”

“I spotted her by the window, but in the blink of an eye, she disappeared! I looked out, but no one was there.”

Their relentless vanishing acts made them doubt whether they were even chasing a living person.

“This is a story from a friend of a friend in the lower class: the upperclassmen at Gift Academy trick innocent new students into chasing beautiful ghostly figures that lead them to the Club Room.”

“Yikes! Why would they do that?”

“If you enter the Club Room, they lock the door and ask you to sign an entrance application. If you try to escape, they suddenly lock all the doors, and the beautiful ghostly figures start to melt, revealing the true forms of monsters! If you don’t sign a contract… they’ll curse you with a 20% reduction in point acquisition!”

“Ahhh!”

“How can such a terrible thing happen?!”

The innocent new students, shocked, fell backward off their chairs, trembling.

“I can’t believe it. This can’t be true!”

Yet amid the cowards, there was always at least one brave soul.

Some students chased after the silent female swordsman, rummaging through the campus with determination.

Effort doesn’t always guarantee reward, but those who don’t try certainly have a lower chance of reaping the fruits of their labor.

“Ah! The lecture hall for [Avoiding the Scarecrow’s Ambush in the Rye] is burning up!”

“When am I supposed to plant rye again before the midterms and cast the rapid growth spell at a suitable pace to grow it neither too large nor too small?!”

Amid the panicked instructors, one brave student dashed out with a sword in hand.

SWISH-

He deftly cut through the burning rye, stopping the fire from spreading.

The strong winds blew fiercely, and he swung his sword, using the wind as leverage.

Even though he was dressed as a firefighter, the sight of the swordsman exhibiting unmatched swordsmanship and a fearless charge moved the instructors to tears, and the new students chasing after the female swordsman noticed this.

“Oh my gosh, that swordsmanship is from the one we’ve been looking for!”

“Wow. A swordsman charging into a fire scene to put out the flames with a sword? How amazing!”

“But why is she only wearing her upper firefighter suit with just a bra on? Is she showing off those muscles?”

“Maybe her heat resistance is really high.”

“Got it!”

With a body trained not to give up on fashion even in extreme conditions and a noble heart using her highly trained skills for good!

“I’ve decided. I’m joining their organization!”

“Me too!”

“Senior, we’ll help too!”

“And put out the fire here! My heart is ablaze!!”

The first-years, exhilarated, rushed after Sing into the burning rye field.

The outcome was entirely opposite to Jaku’s intentions to protect the newcomers through slanderous manipulation.