Chapter 280: Academic Exchange [2]

Chapter 279

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Episode 73 - Academic Exchange [2]

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Upon arriving at the plaza with Veronica, I separated from her and looked for a place away from anyone who might recognize me.

Or, at the very least, anyone who might recognize Ivan’s appearance. I still hadn’t gone after him because of what had happened with Director Bernice.

I joined one of the rows of first-year cadets from Class B-2 and, just like the others, "looked" toward the line of carriages that had just entered.

There were ten in total, surrounded by several guards, especially the carriage at the front.

There were more than ten guards altogether, and every single one of them was an Eight-Star Awakened.

However, when I extended my senses to "see" inside the carriages, I slightly furrowed my brow.

’There’s no one in there.’

The interior of the most extravagant carriage, the one with the largest number of guards and supposedly carrying the Elvenheims Princess, was completely empty.

Well, not entirely.

There was someone inside, but judging by her appearance, she seemed to be nothing more than a simple maid.

’However, it seems like she has Illusion Magic covering her body.’

The pieces of the puzzle quickly fell into place in my mind.

I used my senses and spread them throughout the Academy, covering a radius of fifteen kilometers.

Then, in a particularly concealed area of the Academy, several figures emerged from a Teleportation Circle.

Among them was a woman.

Although I couldn’t see her, much less distinguish what kind of attire she was wearing, there was something I could perceive with absolute clarity.

She was not only elegant and surrounded by an aura of reverence, but her strength had reached the Ten-Star level.

’The Queen of the Elvenheims and...’

In front of the Queen of the Elvenheims, Director Bernice appeared the moment the Teleportation Circle activated.

Behind the Queen stood a figure slightly shorter than her. Her strength was also not far from the Six-Star level.

A Peak Stage Five-Star Awakened.

The Elvenheims Princess.

The very same princess all the cadets around me were waiting to see step out of the carriage.

When, in reality, she was somewhere else entirely.

’It seems they even fooled the professors.’

The professors standing on the podium wore bewildered expressions as they realized that the real princess wasn’t inside the carriage.

’Using the Imperial Capital’s Teleportation Circle and then spending half an hour traveling to the Academy by carriage was a strategy to find out whether any villains were planning to interfere with the Academic Exchange.’

Meanwhile, the Princess would be escorted by the Queen and received by Director Bernice at a predetermined location.

Everything had been prepared for a single purpose: to find out whether the villains were planning to make a move.

’But this time, the villains won’t appear immediately.’

Their move would take place during the final week.

And by then, they would come with nearly all their forces.

A few minutes later, the carriages were arranged in a designated area of the Academy Plaza.

A line of guards formed in front of the carriage doors, and shortly afterward, the doors began to open.

The cadets from Elvenheims Academy descended one by one.

As the cadets around me focused their attention on them, murmurs naturally began to spread.

"Damn, the rumors weren’t false."

"Yeah, look at their faces. They look like they were sculpted by the gods."

"......"

"I thought the red color of their eyes was a lie, but they’re actually real."

"I heard they have fangs and drink blood with them."

"And their ears. They say they have a sixth sense, and that their other senses are superhuman from birth."

The Elvenheims were a mixture of vampires and elves.

The characteristics of both races were reflected in them.

Although, of course, vampires and elves didn’t exist in this world.

The Elvenheims possessed peculiar crimson eyes. However, only the Elvenheims Chosen by the Tree of Dreams and Desires possessed that eye color.

Those who had not been Chosen had gray or white eyes, representing their status as the Unchosen.

The Chosen were those who possessed "power" over the Unchosen.

It was similar to the division between Nobles and Commoners.

That said, Elvenheims belonging to the Royal Family also had crimson eyes. However, there was another characteristic that distinguished them from all other Elvenheims: their hair.

While the Chosen had blood-red or crimson hair and the Unchosen possessed pale green hair or various other shades, the Royal Elvenheims had completely white hair.

Before long, the cadets from Elvenheims Academy formed rows on the opposite side of the Plaza, guided by their professors.

And finally, everyone’s attention turned toward the extravagant carriage.

The moment one of the guards opened the door, everyone standing in formation bowed in absolute respect.

"......"

".....!"

"...."

Silence suddenly descended upon the cadets.

Not a single voice rose to break it. Every eye was fixed on the door as it slowly began to open.

’If they only knew that the person inside isn’t the real princess, but someone else in disguise...’

I laughed inwardly as I "observed" the emotions and expectations of the cadets around me.

Honestly, the scene was rather amusing.

Tap! Tap!

The sound of heels striking against the ground echoed through the silence.

The cadets’ eyes widened, and thanks to my senses, I could hear their heartbeats quickening all at once.

Then, a girl stepped out of the carriage.

And the very next second, a loud, thunderous voice echoed throughout the entire plaza.

"We welcome Princess Very’Daal Elarion Valheim."

With that, the cadets from Elvenheims Academy had arrived at the Holy Academy.

***

At the top of a tower overlooking the Plaza from every angle, a large number of cadets had gathered.

Three figures had appeared at the top of the tower.

One of them was Director Bernice. Standing beside her was the Queen of the Elvenheims.

Her name was Lyr’Vorn Elarion Valheim.

Beside the Queen of the Elvenheims stood a girl who appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old.

She was the Princess of the Elvenheims, Very’Daal Elarion Valheim.

Her deep crimson eyes and snow-white hair made her look remarkably similar to her mother.

If not for the fact that the Queen had finished growing centuries ago, Very’Daal could easily have been mistaken for her mother’s twin sister.

Director Bernice turned her gaze toward Lyr’Vorn before speaking.

"The odds were low, but they still didn’t send any assassins or High-Class villains."

Hearing Director Bernice’s words, Lyr’Vorn nodded slightly.

"Yes. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, they didn’t send anyone. We could have found out whether they were planning to attack the Academic Exchange."

Director Bernice and Queen Lyr’Vorn had spoken in secret during their recent meeting at the World Congress.

The two of them had prepared a trap with the intention of luring out a few villains, interrogating them, and finding out whether any of the Five Greats—the five largest villain organizations—were planning to launch an attack on the Academic Exchange.

For that reason, Lyr’Vorn considered it unfortunate, but also fortunate, that no villains had appeared.

"Since they didn’t send anyone, I have to leave, Miss Bernice."

Lyr’Vorn spoke those words as Bernice gave a slight nod.

"You can leave without worry. I’ll take care of your daughter."

"Thank you, then..."

Lyr’Vorn turned her head toward Princess Very’Daal and observed her for a few seconds before speaking.

"Don’t cause Miss Bernice any trouble. You came here to compete against the best of the Holy Academy, not to show off or take advantage of your status as a Princess."

"Don’t worry, Mom. I have no intention of causing you any trouble."

"Good. Then I’ll see you at the end of the month."

After saying her goodbyes, the figure of the Queen of the Elvenheims disappeared.

Princess Very’Daal let out a soft sigh before looking at Director Bernice.

"I promise I won’t cause you any trouble."

She gave a slight bow while keeping both hands over her skirt.

Director Bernice smiled faintly.

"I certainly hope so."

Meanwhile, a professor’s voice rang out from the podium, spreading throughout the entire Plaza.

"Attention, all cadets from both Academies. The Opening Ceremony of the Academic Exchange officially begins now."

The professor’s voice continued to echo throughout the Plaza, reaching even the top of the tower where Director Bernice and Princess Very’Daal were standing.

".....!?"

Suddenly, a voice echoed inside Very’Daal’s mind.

The Princess immediately reacted and began observing every cadet from the Holy Academy.

’What do you mean, Ryn’Syra?’

Ryn’Syra was the name of Princess Very’Daal’s Spirit.

’I said that I sense an utterly absurd Natural Affinity coming from one of the Holy Academy’s cadets.’

’How great is this Natural Affinity?’

Very’Daal asked her Spirit the question.

Ryn’Syra’s answer came without delay.

’It’s so great that even the Queen of Spirits would do whatever it took to obtain the human with that Natural Affinity.’

"......!?"

Very’Daal’s eyes widened, unable to hide her surprise.

If what her Spirit was saying was true, then...

"Is something wrong?"

Director Bernice’s question snapped Very’Daal out of her thoughts.

The Princess looked at Bernice before forming a faint smile.

"I’m fine. It’s just that I’m excited about the Academic Exchange."

"Mhm. Then I hope you enjoy yourself."

Very’Daal nodded slightly, but her mind was elsewhere.

As she continued observing the cadets from the Holy Academy, her thoughts remained fixed on Ryn’Syra’s words.

And without realizing it, she began to drool as if she had just found the most delicious fruit in the world.

Not just her, but also her Ancestral-Rank Spirit.

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Author’s Note.

Spirit Ranks.

<Minor Spirit> <Greater Spirit> <Superior Spirit> <Ancestral Spirit> <Ancient Spirit> <Spirit King/Queen>