Chapter 35

　　As they rode their Skeletal Steeds back to Kizen, Lorraine broke the silence.

　　"Thank you for your cooperation. For now, your safety is the main concern. We don’t know when or where that priest might try to kill you. You should probably skip your classes for the time being and…"

　　"No." Simon shook his head. "I’ll carry on as usual."

　　"Won’t that be too dangerous?"

　　"It’s fine," he insisted. "They might not have seen my face, and even if they do target me, it’ll leave some kind of clue."

　　A strange light flickered in Lorraine’s red eyes. "Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need clues that cost you your life."

　　"Hear me out, Lorraine. If I skip classes or act out of the ordinary, the priest will only become more certain of my identity. What will they think if they see Kizen’s guards following me around? They’ll know I told the higher-ups everything, and they’ll realize they’ve been cornered."

　　"That may be true, but—!"

　　"When a fanatic is cornered, can you predict what kind of rash actions they’ll take?"

　　Lorraine bit her lip, her argument faltering. The enemy was loyal enough to have a Core—what they considered an unforgivable sin—carved into their body just to complete their mission. The actions of such zealots were often beyond rational comprehension. Large-scale hostage situations and suicide bombings were their calling cards. If something similar happened at Kizen, not only would the academy’s reputation be severely damaged, but it would also give a powerful pretext to those who already questioned Kizen’s authority.

　　"Alright," Lorraine finally conceded with a sigh. "But if there’s even the slightest hint of trouble, I will protect you, even if it means restricting your freedom. Remember that. You don’t need to sacrifice yourself for everyone’s safety."

　　"I’ll keep that in mind."

　　Of course, Simon didn’t consider it a sacrifice at all.

　　I can’t put my school life on hold for something like this.

　　If he missed classes, the gap between him and the other students would only widen. What if he was forced to leave Kizen later because of poor grades or a lack of skill? Kizen wasn’t a flexible institution that cared about individual circumstances. If he did nothing, he would be the only one to lose. If he had to take a risk either way, he judged it was better to press forward. There was still so much to learn here.

　　Upon arriving at Kizen, the two parted ways, and Simon returned to his dormitory as if nothing had happened.

* * *

　　The next morning, the Class A students waited to enter the building, their faces bright with excitement.

　　"Today’s finally the day!"

　　"I can’t wait."

　　It was the day of Professor Jane’s Beginner’s Black Magic class—specifically, the Cyclops simulation everyone had been eagerly awaiting. Instead of their usual uniforms, they were all dressed in specialized training gear.

　　"That’s Professor Jane for you," Dick remarked, wiping his nose. "Usually, you don’t even get a taste of the simulations until the second semester. We’re doing this before our protection period is even over."

　　"Ugh, I couldn’t sleep a wink last night," Kamibarez muttered.

　　Meirin let out a short, confident laugh. "Getting nervous already? It’s just a virtual battle."

　　"Alright, Class A, please line up in your groups!" one of Professor Jane’s teaching assistants called out.

　　The students formed lines and filed into the building. The hallways were immaculate, suggesting it was a newer facility. While most chattered excitedly about the simulation, Simon felt the hair on his arms stand on end, an inexplicable tension growing with every step.

　　"Groups one through eight, this way."

　　"Groups nine through sixteen, this way."

　　They boarded a magic circle elevator that descended deep underground, opening into a vast, cavernous space.

　　"Whoa…!" the students gasped in unison.

　　Before them was Avalon, Kizen’s virtual combat simulation system.

　　It was a technological marvel that only Kizen possessed, capable of recreating any monster as a magical life-form for hyper-realistic combat. It had been built by relocating and heavily modifying an ancient ruin known as ‘Halukina’, the fortress of illusion and hallucination.

　　"Welcome, Class A," a crisp voice announced.

　　From a magic circle on the opposite side, Professor Jane and her TAs descended. The students immediately bowed their heads in greeting.

　　"We’re short on time, so I’ll get straight to the explanation." It was the kind of efficiency they expected from her. She pressed a button on a control device, and a magic projector on the ceiling hummed to life, casting an image in the air.

　　"Groups one through four will conduct their simulation on the left; groups five through eight on the right. The rules are identical to the performance evaluation: one combat member and three support members. The support members cannot move from their designated positions, and only the combat member may use direct attacks. The Cyclops will only recognize and attack the combat member."

　　Professor Jane gestured to a vest held by a TA. "That said, you need not worry excessively. The virtual Cyclops’s attacks will be fully absorbed by this vest’s barrier magic. Each time it absorbs damage, the barrier gauge on the screen above will decrease. When the gauge reaches zero, the training ends. You will then return to the waiting room."

　　The students nodded, their faces tense.

　　"You will experience a maximum of three virtual combat sessions. I expect you to use this time to evaluate your strategies and hone your practical combat senses to their absolute peak."

　　As soon as her explanation ended, the simulations began. Groups 1 and 5 entered their respective training rooms, while the others were guided to a waiting area.

　　The waiting room was a comfortable lounge with spacious sofas and refreshments. A large mana projector on the ceiling allowed them to watch the other groups’ progress. Simon and his team decided to observe the others before finalizing their own strategy.

　　Oh, Cindy Vivace is up.

　　Group 5 was led by the pickpocket from Rochest, an aspiring Necrology student. She was the combat member, supported by students specializing in Cursology, Jet-Black Dynamics, and Venomology. The balance, Simon thought, wasn’t bad.

　　"We will now begin the simulation battle," Professor Jane’s voice announced over the loudspeaker.

　　The air thrummed with mana, and the sterile training room instantly transformed into a dense forest. It was so realistic they felt as if they’d been dropped into the wilderness—trees surrounded them, birds chirped, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. The watching students gasped in admiration.

　　Thump! Thump! Thump!

　　In the distance, heavy footfalls shook the earth. Birds scattered into the sky. The sound grew closer until a hulking, blue-green monster over six and a half feet tall burst through the undergrowth. Its body was a mass of muscle. One eye was a mangled ruin, while the pupil of the other darted frantically up and down.

　　"GROOOOOOOAR!"

　　The beast let out a deafening roar, and the faces of the students inside the simulation hardened.

　　"Alright!" Cindy shouted, reaching behind her back. A sleek black scythe materialized in her hand. "Let’s do this!"

　　With a thunderous crash, the battle began.

　　And just as quickly, it ended.

　　[Simulation Failed]

　　Time Elapsed: 1 minute 16 seconds

　　Damage Dealt: 22%

　　Barrier Gauge: 0%

　　Overall Evaluation: F

　　The results flashed across the mana projector. Jaws dropped at the one-sided defeat. Simon was just as stunned.

　　This is no joke.

　　Cindy’s teammates rushed to her side as she lay on the floor. She pushed herself up, laughing awkwardly as she scratched her head. "Sorry, my dematerialization timing was a little late. I’ll definitely dodge it next time!"

　　Group 1 fared even worse, finishing faster than Group 5 for the same reason: the combatant was overwhelmed by the Cyclops’s relentless assault. A single hit was enough to deplete more than half the barrier gauge. Both teams had planned to use curses to restrain the monster, but their combat members were knocked out before they even had a chance to cast.

　　"Their movements were completely frozen," Dick observed.

　　Simon nodded. "There’s a psychological element, too."

　　No matter how many teammates stood behind you, the sheer terror of facing a Cyclops alone was not easily overcome. Simon turned his head.

　　"Meirin. Are you really going to be okay?"

　　"Uh, huh?" Startled, Meirin, whose face had gone white as a sheet, quickly nodded. "O-Of course I’m okay!"

　　The tremor in her voice suggested she was anything but. She soon excused herself to the bathroom, joining a small exodus of other nervous students.

　　The matches for Groups 2 and 6 followed, but the results were the same. Both combatants were struck down by the Cyclops’s powerful swings.

　　"Group 3 and Group 7, please enter the training rooms."

　　Their turn had come much faster than expected. As Simon stood, he saw another team heading toward the opposite training room.

　　Ah, so Group 3 is Hector’s team.

　　It was a powerhouse lineup: Hector, the group leader; Pierre Buckler, Class A’s top Summoning student; and two others who had scored over 90 in Jet-Black Dynamics and Necrology. They were, by all accounts, the top-ranked team in Class A.

　　Just then, Hector’s gaze met Simon’s. A smirk played on his lips.

　　"I assume you’ll be the combatant for Group 7?"

　　Simon shook his head. "Not me. Meirin."

　　"That clueless girl?" Hector scoffed. "Did you give her the spot to boost her ego?"

　　"The most skilled person is going out. That’s all."

　　"Don’t be so dull, Simon Polentia." Hector’s eyes flashed. "Give it your all. This time, I’ll crush you properly."

　　"Group 3, Group 7! Please enter the training rooms immediately!" a TA urged.

　　The two rivals turned their backs and headed to their respective chambers.

　　Simon entered the training room to find Dick and Kamibarez stretching. A TA holding a clipboard looked around. "Where’s your fourth member?"

　　"Sorry I’m late!" Meirin cried, rushing in at the last second.

　　The TA pressed a button on his controller. The countless magic signal devices on the walls lit up, and the door sealed shut.

　　"Combat member, step forward."

　　"Yes," Meirin replied, her face a rigid mask.

　　"Indicating support positions now."

　　A light on the ceiling flickered, and three glowing circles of mana appeared on the floor. Kamibarez took the left, Simon the center, and Dick the right. Meirin stood before them.

　　"The Cyclops cannot see the support members, so do not worry," the TA explained. "However, if you take a single step outside this circle, you will be disqualified."

　　"Yes!" they answered in unison.

　　"Combat member. Are you ready?"

　　"Ah… Yes!" Meirin snapped out of her daze.

　　"Meirin, get a grip," Dick muttered. "Are you really okay?"

　　"I told you I’m fine!"

　　"Please don’t be too nervous, Meirin!" Kamibarez added encouragingly. "It’s just a virtual battle! You can do it!"

　　"Yeah. Thanks."

　　With everyone in position, the TA stepped back. "Then, Group 7’s first simulation battle will now begin."

　　The TA’s body seemed to dissolve into thin air as a fierce wind swept through the room. Simon’s eyes narrowed.

　　Wind indoors. This is no simple illusion.

　　The floor turned a vibrant green, the walls melting away into a dense forest and a murky swamp. A leaf, carried on the wind, brushed against Simon’s arm. He touched it, feeling its texture as if it were real.

　　Watching from the outside was nothing compared to this. The overwhelming realism was a sensory storm, leaving no room for other thoughts.

　　And then.

　　Thump! Thump!

　　The floor began to vibrate.

　　"Everyone, get ready!" Dick shouted. "It’s coming!"

　　Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

　　The thunderous footsteps grew louder, and a hulking Cyclops burst through the dense foliage.

　　"GROOOOOOOAR!"

　　The hair all over Simon’s body stood on end, his heart hammering against his ribs. It felt exactly like encountering a real monster in the wild. If the pressure was this intense from the support position, he could only imagine what Meirin was feeling…

　　He saw her take a deep, steadying breath. Her expression sharpened, becoming deadly serious.

　　"Alright. Let’s just do what we practiced."

　　Her trembling subsided. A small smile touched Simon’s lips. Contrary to his fears, she was adapting quickly.

　　Right. Who am I to worry? No one here needs my concern.

　　Simon gripped an imaginary lever.

　　I just need to focus 200% on my role!