Book 1 Chapter 638
638
Rustle- Rustle-
The second-year students, who formed a party, walked through the dark forest with tense faces.
"Haa~ it's really dark."
At that moment, Shasha, who was at the center of the party, folded her fan with a snap and sighed deeply.
The place where the second-year party was currently walking was as dark as night.
No, it was darker than night.
At least at night, there's moonlight and starlight.
But this dense and thick forest did not allow even a sliver of sunlight.
The party was currently relying on the mages' Light magic.
Before entering the forest.
Some students even suggested cutting down trees to secure their vision.
But such claims were buried by the students from the Summoning Department.
"If we do that, we might have to face the Great Spirit of Darkness, not Senior Shiya."
The forest located on Island No. 6.
This forest, named the Forest of Darkness, was a sanctuary for dark spirits.
And just before these second-year students enrolled.
Ignite, the Abyssal Spirit, settled in Lumern.
At that time, Ignite, who was invited to Lumern to strengthen its defenses, settled in this Forest of Darkness and it became Ignite's territory thereafter.
Entering and exiting was not an issue.
However, it was clear that damaging this sanctuary of dark spirits recklessly would incur Ignite's wrath.
Ultimately, the second-year students had no choice but to explore the forest relying on magic.
"Aina. Are there any suspicious presences?"
"Not yet."
At Aina's dry response from the very front, Shasha unfolded her fan again and fanned herself lightly.
Currently, the second-year students were divided into four groups, and Aina and Shasha were in the same group.
Just then, El Jane, who had been scouting beyond the darkness, appeared.
"How's the surroundings?"
"Nothing."
"This might take quite a while, won't it?"
Shasha let out a small sigh.
El Jane, with her hands on her hips, also sighed lightly.
"Finding the Princess is absolutely not an easy task."
"Yes, yes. That story is getting old."
Shasha said primly.
"Finding Senior Shiya will definitely be difficult. But she won't just avoid us, will she?"
"That's true, but."
El Jane shook her head.
Aina tilted her head for a moment, looking at El Jane.
It was then.
"Everyone!"
Another student from the Shadow faction, who had finished scouting, returned with a serious face.
"There was a battle."
"What?"
The second-year students' eyes widened.
This forest was quiet.
But that didn't mean sounds were completely blocked.
Even in the darkness, sounds of fighting from afar could be heard.
The quieter it was, the more distinctly it could be heard.
But there was a battle?
The second-year students, guided to the battle site, could only remain silent.
Threads hanging here and there on the trees sparkled in the light of Light magic.
A student from the Magic Department gulped, seeing that.
"Isn't that 'Thread Knife' that Senior Chen Shiya used during last year's first semester midterm exam?"
It was a knife in the form of a thread.
Chen Shiya showed how she used the Thread Knife to create her own territory and hunt opponents.
Just like a spider.
The sight of Emio, who was ranked highly in the second-year Magic Department at the time, being hunted so easily, was strongly imprinted in the first-year students' minds.
"It looks like they were all wiped out?"
"Wow. How could there be no sound?"
The second-year students shivered, looking at the traces of battle.
"Mages, deploy your Search magic."
Shasha quickly gave the command.
"El Jane, just in case, guard me."
"Leave it to me!"
Even with Light magic, Chen Shiya might still be able to approach Shasha.
Since Shasha was the main dealer of this party, Shasha's escort was essential.
Moreover, Shasha was the commander of this party.
Aina was capable of fighting alone but was clumsy at leading people.
Without Shasha, there would be chaos in the command structure.
Thus, El Jane stood behind Shasha.
The second-year students scanned their surroundings.
The moment El Jane raised her hand behind Shasha's back.
Flash-!
A golden flash sparkled.
Brilliant golden aura targeted El Jane.
Kwa-ga-ga-gang-!
"Eek?"
Shasha unconsciously shrieked at the slash that grazed her so narrowly, almost touching her.
El Jane frantically avoided Aina's slash and shouted.
"What are you doing! Aina!"
The other party members also gaped.
While everyone was trying to understand the situation, Aina said briefly.
"It won't work, Senior."
"What are you talking about!"
El Jane grew angry.
Shasha, looking at El Jane, said.
"Aina. Are you saying Jane is Senior in disguise right now?"
"Yes."
"What? That's ridiculous!"
"First of all, El Jane and Senior Shiya have different physiques."
"Right! That's true! To pull off such a disguise, it would be impossible without the power of magic or summoning."
"I don't feel any magic or spiritual power?"
El Jane usually respected Chen Shiya and tried to emulate her.
From her hairstyle to her clothing.
As such, it was perfect for Chen Shiya to disguise herself as El Jane.
However, El Jane was taller than Chen Shiya.
The current El Jane looked just like the usual El Jane, no matter how one looked.
But the second-year students firmly began to be wary of El Jane.
Because Aina wouldn't say anything foolish.
"What's your basis?"
Shasha also asked, not taking her eyes off El Jane.
No matter how she looked, she seemed no different from usual.
To that question, Aina said.
"Her chest."
"Huh?"
"The chest size is different. It's bigger than El Jane's."
"……"
"……"
At that remark, the students' gazes turned to her chest.
"Oh dear. I tried my best to flatten it."
El Jane. No, Chen Shiya, made a troubled expression.
And with a smile, she said to the male students.
"How long are you all going to stare?"
At that, the startled male students' gazes scattered in all directions.
Seeing that, Shasha shrieked in horror.
"You idiots! Why would you turn your heads!
Daggers were thrown from Chen Shiya's hand like bullets.
Peu-buh-buh-buh-bung-!
In an instant, with an explosive sound, the daggers flew in all directions and stuck into things.
A sound that made it impossible to think the daggers were struck down by a sword echoed.
Kei-ing-!
The sword tip trembled slightly.
Aina gripped her sword-wielding wrist.
The daggers weren't just fast.
The destructive power contained in each one was also immense.
The male students who had turned their heads for a moment gulped.
If it weren't for Aina, they would have been judged incapable of combat.
While the male students shivered.
Flash-!
Aina, having closed the distance, swung her sword at Chen Shiya's neck without mercy.
"Hmm. As expected, Aina is merciless."
One might expect her to be a little intimidated by a senior, but Aina showed no such sign.
The moment she judged someone an enemy, she attacked without hesitation.
As a knight.
As a swordsman who handles a sword, the best quality.
And it was the reason Aina could be the strongest among her classmates.
Chen Shiya smoothly moved her palm, deflecting Aina's sword.
However, Aina's sword sharply changed direction, pursuing Chen Shiya.
The movement of the sword was like a snake.
'The class representative is still Luke, right. But…'
Aina had never stepped down from the position of the strongest second-year student since last year.
During the first semester final exam, Luke, who caught up with Aina in an instant with terrifying growth speed, succeeded in surpassing his limits and getting one step ahead in his duel with Aina.
But after that, Luke had not completely surpassed Aina.
Luke's power was the ability to take one step forward when faced with a limit.
For a short moment, he could be on par with Aina, but he couldn't completely overcome her.
Yet, the reason Luke was the class representative was simple.
The fighting spirit had disappeared from Aina.
'More accurately, the venom had disappeared.'
Under Luke's influence, during the second semester, Aina chose to look out for her surroundings rather than aiming to be the best in her year.
The successor to the Sword Saint, who had always been isolated, naturally assimilated with her surroundings.
And as a result.
'She has definitely progressed.'
The other second-year students weren't realizing it.
But it was clearly visible in Chen Shiya's eyes.
She had returned to her freshman year self.
Aina's skill level was now a dimension higher compared to other second-year students.
Her face was expressionless, but a single will could be felt in her eyes.
A resolute will to soon reclaim her place.
Aina hadn't gone easy on Luke.
She had honed herself to be able to win decisively.
Chen Shiya's eyes followed the trajectory of the sword, which disruptively confused her vision.
Terrifying speed.
'But it's not just fast.'
Among the third-year students, the representative students who wield swift swordsmanship are Duran and Iliana.
And the characteristic of Duran and Iliana's swordsmanship is only one.
Overwhelming power using speed.
But Aina's sword had a different texture.
It was fast, ever-changing, and abstruse.
The noble sword of the Sword Saint.
Swish-
Aina's sword lightly brushed Chen Shiya's cheek.
Tap-
Chen Shiya, who poked her left cheek with her index finger, smiled sweetly.
"Whoa!"
"As expected of Aina!"
"She's not even falling behind against Senior Chen Shiya!"
Cheers erupted from all over.
But Aina bit her lip tightly.
"No."
"Huh?"
"Senior Shiya… hasn't even started."
Aina tensed all the muscles in her body.
This fleeting moment was Aina's only chance to defeat Chen Shiya.
Crack- Crackle-
Joint sounds were heard from Chen Shiya's body.
To the rhythmic sound, Chen Shiya's body gradually- gradually shrank.
After lightly wiping her face with her palm, her face also returned to normal.
El Jane's uniform, which was somewhat loose.
Chen Shiya massaged her shoulders and sighed lightly.
"This technique is good in all aspects, but it makes my body stiff."
That's not all.
As the skeletal structure changes, the flow of aura is not smooth, and the body cannot properly exert its original strength.
"Ugh-!"
Chen Shiya stretched.
Doo-doo-doo-dook-
After the refreshing sound of bones echoed.
She flapped her feet, took off the shoes that didn't fit, and then casually- took off El Jane's uniform.
El Jane's uniform top and skirt fluttered and waved in the air.
Seeing that, the male students, startled, turned their heads away.
Shasha, seeing that, thumped her chest.
"Argh! Seriously! How many times do I have to tell you! You idiots! Don't turn your heads! Are you stupid! She didn't take off her clothes, so don't have any embarrassing thoughts!"
Kyah-! Shasha shouted as if she would breathe fire from her mouth.
Shasha usually spoke politely and showed off her elegance, but when she got angry, her personality and words became rough.
"One, two, three, four."
Chen Shiya, neatly dressed in her own uniform, was loosening her body and warming up while barefoot.
The second-year students looked perplexed at her relaxed demeanor.
Time was on the side of the second-year students.
That's why they expected Chen Shiya to attack quickly.
But that expectation was beautifully missed.
Chen Shiya was full of leisure.
She looked as if she was waiting for someone.
"Senior Shiya…!"
"Form a pincer movement!"
As other parties arrived, Chen Shiya was soon surrounded by the second-year students.
Excluding the party that was first wiped out by Chen Shiya, three-quarters of the entire second-year student body had gathered.
"Senior Shiya. Aren't you being too leisurely?"
At that, Shasha covered her mouth with her fan and furrowed her brow.
Anyone could see that Chen Shiya had waited for the second-year students to gather.
'Does she have some ulterior motive?'
"I don't have any ulterior motives."
Chen Shiya smiled sweetly.
"I'm just confident."
At that, Haviden's eyes twitched.
"Senior. I respect you. But no matter who you are, this is too much disrespect towards us."
"Perhaps it might seem that way if you think of me as Hero Candidate Chen Shiya."
"Excuse me?"
Chen Shiya nodded as if she understood.
"Do you all know? You see, in the darkness."
Chen Shiya smiled sweetly.
At that moment.
The eyes of the knight students who were surrounding Chen Shiya from the front were filled with horror.
Slide-
Chen Shiya's body was slowly disappearing.
"Except for one person."
Chen Shiya smiled faintly.
"I'm the strongest among the third-year students?"
With those words, Chen Shiya vanished.