Chapter 37 - Perseverance Theory, Sweet Cookies, and Horrible Crimes (5):
A heart-stirring tale of adventure. No matter how grand an epic may be, its beginning is often humble.
Heroes aren't made overnight. And so, it was inevitable that the young knights who had decided to take on the impossible would face numerous hardships and trials.
"Excuse me, how did you get in here?"
"Little one, the older students are having an important discussion. Could you step aside for a moment?"
The students, unable to associate the grand title of "Mercenary Queen" with the dazed-looking girl before them, were left baffled.
It took the administration head showing them a newspaper photo to confirm her identity, and then they had to console the pouting director of Leon Academy.
Fortunately, a few words of praise quickly brought a beaming smile back to her face.
Everyone worked together to muster words of admiration, even obtaining five autographs for family members, narrowly overcoming this first obstacle… but barely had they recovered when the next hurdle arose.
Having hugged and calmed Karyn, the administration head turned to the eager students with a simple but crucial question.
"Since you're planning to leave the academy and wander for a while, how exactly do you intend to handle that?"
Only then did they realize—they were all still academy students. If a large group of students were to disappear, especially in light of the recent frequent demon attacks, it would undoubtedly cause a major incident.
Someone suggested simply dropping out, but that was immediately dismissed. If all of Professor Lian's students suddenly withdrew, it would surely attract attention.
Professor Lian was already in a fragile state. If any demons noticed the oddity and launched an attack, humanity would lose its greatest protector on that very day.
Thus, they had only one option.
"I'll go and inform Professor Lian," Cain declared, looking around at the group.
Given that even Sion, the Great Ancestor Dragon, had been controlled by demons, there was no one else they could fully trust besides Professor Lian.
Sweat began to trickle down his back.
Professor Lian would surely be angry when he heard of their plan, scolding them for attempting something so foolishly dangerous without knowing their own limits.
Cain was sure of it.
"So, you're telling me that you'd like to leave the academy for a while to roam around and hunt for treasures?" Professor Lian asked.
"Yes…"
"And you're asking me to create a plausible excuse for Sion so you can skip all your classes and roam around freely? You'd have me lie for you, even at the risk of my teaching career?"
Something felt strange. Despite his scolding tone, Professor Lian wore a smile so filled with pride it seemed like he could burst.
With a soft curve of his lips, Professor Lian gave his reply: "I accept."
Cain stared in confusion, but Professor Lian continued warmly, "A professor's job is to guide their students. If you wish to pursue your dreams, who am I to stand in the way?"
Only then did Cain realize the truth.
The crippling aftereffects continued to eat away at his beloved professor. The man famed for his wisdom, known for outwitting even the most powerful demons, couldn't recognize their true purpose in setting out on this journey.
Even as Cain explained their intention to explore dungeons, Professor Lian showed no sign of connecting it to his own deteriorating condition.
A pang of sorrow rose in Cain's heart.
"I am always on your side," Professor Lian said with unwavering certainty. "Whatever dreams you may chase, I will support you. And even if everyone else doubts you, I alone will believe in you."
Despite his ailing body and foggy mind, Professor Lian's conviction in his students never wavered.
Cain knew he couldn't betray that faith.
If Professor Lian believed his students could achieve anything, then Cain would prove him right.
"Go. Pursue your dreams, my student," Professor Lian said, sending him off with a gentle smile.
Thus, Cain moved forward.
He would achieve the unachievable, endure the unendurable, fight the unbeatable, and capture the stars beyond reach.
He relayed Professor Lian's words to the others, steeling their resolve as they began their journey into the impossible.
As always, reality proved cold and unrelenting, and countless trials awaited them.
But none of that mattered anymore.
Professor Lian had sent his students on this quest. If demons attempted to take hostages, they would fight them off with all their might, raising their teacher's name in victory.
Running out of supplies while deep in a dungeon?
They made meals from captured monsters, eating what they could. For Professor Lian's sake, they'd gladly endure anything.
…And now, this moment. Despite clearing numerous dungeons, they had yet to find a cure for their teacher. Their final challenge was the Tomb of the First Emperor, one of the Empire's most formidable ruins.
The immortal king, obsessed with eternal life, wielded his sword, and with only Cain left standing, they were in dire straits.
But Cain, facing the undead ruler, simply closed his eyes.
"I think I finally understand what Professor Lian meant."
He had wondered before. Why had Ciel, who trusted Professor Lian implicitly, failed to reach the Heart Sword technique?
Maybe he had been too obedient.
In trying to follow Professor Lian's instructions without question, he had missed the true meaning behind them.
Forget sword forms and focus on the essence.
The blade is wielded by one's spirit, not just by one's hands.
If he had erased everything but the essence, he had to refill that empty space with his resolve.
With unbreakable determination, Cain let his spirit fill the sword.
He did not need to swing the blade, for his will alone struck down the undying foe.
Cain, with his spirit as his sword, had cleaved through the impossible.
The moment he carved his path into the uncharted territory of the Heart Sword, a young knight had stepped into legend.
[The Empire's Greatest Dungeon Conquered!]
Reclining in a sunbed with sunglasses on, I sipped my bubble tea under the warm sunlight, casually skimming through the headlines.
Though the Empire was abuzz with the news, I remained serene.
"This is the life," I thought, relaxing with no fear about the plot or any impending threat.
For once, everything had gone perfectly according to plan.
Supporting truant students, encouraging them to dodge classes—I'd pushed them toward delinquency, even falsifying reports to encourage them.
And now, this deserted training hall—pure bliss.
Looking out at the empty field where my students, evidently choosing their own "self-study," had abandoned my grueling class, I felt…
"…Huh?"
I rubbed my eyes at the sight before me, but it didn't change. There, running toward me, was a crowd of students, battered and bruised, their bodies smeared with dirt and blood.
"P-Professor! You've collapsed! There's no time. Shove in every herb that could help!"
I wanted to show I was perfectly fine by removing my sunglasses, but that was impossible. Several students lifted me up, gripping me tightly from behind.
My mouth was forcibly pried open, and they began to shove unknown herbs into my mouth.
With tears in my eyes, I had no choice but to gulp it all down.
My students cheered, hugging me with tears streaming down their faces.
But my misfortune didn't end there.
"Is it true you've reached the level of the Heart Sword?"
"They say you made a mere student a Sword Master in an hour. How did you do it?"
"What's it like to be named one of the top two swordsmen by the Empire and the Adventurer's Guild?"
A horde of reporters swarmed me with questions.
…Something had gone horribly wrong.