The Academy Regressor is Obsessed

The day after Ena attacked the Academy. Naturally, all Academy operations were temporarily halted. All academic schedules were suddenly canceled, and senior students who had been secretly looking forward to the inter-grade competition all expressed disappointment.

But there was nothing they could do. Since the academic officials had made that decision, it was impossible to argue.

No, even if they argued, what difference would it make?

“…”

The scenery visible from the 2nd year dormitory window.

Originally, there was a huge mountain behind where their dormitory was located. It was a place that was like a sanctuary for the 2nd years, carefully managed to prevent monsters or dangerous wild animals from appearing, and even paved with walking paths.

When exams didn’t go well or they were feeling down, 2nd years would usually go into the mountain and spend time in their own sanctuaries. Lighting a bonfire and blankly staring at the fire, or sitting on benches prepared along the walking paths and looking up at the sky. They quite liked the comfortable atmosphere nature provided.

That mountain disappeared overnight. Instead, a shattered and broken plain was flaunting its appearance. Squirrels and beavers that had lost their homes rolled around on the ground, and 2nd years who had likewise lost their sanctuaries wailed. Then occasionally when electricity sparked from the ground, they would scream and hurry back to the dormitory.

“…Sigh.”

It was too devastating to be the result of one magician’s attack. They say a great magician can change the terrain when they get serious, and it seems that wasn’t an exaggerated expression. Hamon Yankoff, the top student of the entire 2nd year, thought that and let out a deep sigh.

Born as a natural warrior, he liked stories of knights but didn’t pay much attention to magicians. So he didn’t know at all how amazing a person Ena was. He had vaguely heard her name and knew she was a strong magician, but he never dreamed her majesty would be to this extent.

“…The more I look, the more unbelievable it is.”

The scenery visible through the window. The devastated plain and various wild animals and 2nd year students running around on it.

And above that.

The trace of pure white thunder crossing the sky occasionally flashed deep in the sky.

Part of the Academy grounds was completely destroyed. And it wasn’t from an attack by some group, but cleanly demolished by a single magician.

It was an unbelievable incident to have occurred at Luminus Academy, which is teeming with formidable powerhouses. No wonder letters asking what happened flew in from other academies.

Some were mocking letters, but after realizing the attacker was Ena, they all sent lukewarm condolences. Frida shed tears reading the sincere letters from those white-haired old men.

She didn’t want it to be destroyed to this extent.

She really didn’t know they’d have to move an entire mountain for restoration!

Even lamenting like that, the water was already spilled. Ena had the talent for destroying but not for restoring. The same was true for Frida. Without an earth magician, they couldn’t make land rise from below.

In the end, they had no choice but to directly bring in a mountain or create an entirely new natural environment.

Either way, it was certain that a considerable budget would be consumed. For Frida, an elf who naturally loved nature, leaving it as is wasn’t an option. So she decided, with tears in her eyes, to create a forest on the plain. With that, her wallet and the Academy budget were instantly depleted.

But where there’s expenditure, there’s also income. Frida pushed through the conclusion of granting Ena’s demands at the naturally convened emergency Academy meeting.

There were objections. Most were from those who had briefly left the Academy and urgently returned today. They strongly requested to make a decision after grasping the full situation first.

However, their arguments disappeared like bubbles as soon as they saw the white scar engraved in the sky.

People are just like that. Just seeing the trace of irresistible violence makes one’s fighting spirit vanish. Even to Frida, who had lived through the same era as Ena, no, an even longer time, the extreme magic Ena used was extremely dangerous.

If she hadn’t controlled the output of the magic, the entire western part of the Academy would have blown away. Some might say that’s an exaggeration, but Frida knew Ena’s full power. It wasn’t for nothing that she had the nickname of a longevity species not to be messed with even among longevity species.

Anyway.

The conclusion of the meeting was ultimately decided to grant all of Ena’s demands and provide appropriate compensation to the victims. Though some vested interests still sent displeased looks, Frida paid them no attention. With justification given, there was no one to stop her.

“Wait, please wait a moment! This isn’t my fault, it’s my assistant professor’s fault! She must have made a mistake in the process of helping vet the requests.”
“Shut up and get out.”
“Just a moment, Headmaster! Headmasterrrr!!”

She immediately cut off the professor who had been vetting requests coming into the Academy. He was originally on the vested interests’ side. There was no hesitation in kicking him out. Though a large-scale purge was unfeasible at this point, it wasn’t so difficult to get rid of one.

Thus, along with announcing the name of the dismissed Academy professor, what happened in the 1st year 1st assignment was widely publicized to the world. Frida herself came out on the official stage, bowed her waist, and promised to provide maximum compensation to Gorcel and his deceased team members, and Asel. Along with that, a 2-week temporary break for the Academy was implemented.

Naturally, the Academy was in an uproar. All sorts of criticism and condemnation were received, and contacts from nobles who had enrolled their children in the Academy poured in endlessly. Frida personally became the Academy’s shield and received all those attacks.

Thanks to that, only her assistant Plum died. No, he died along with Frida. It took a week to settle the chaotic Academy interior. Though the date for reopening the Academy promised with Ena in advance was approaching, Frida politely asked for a little more time.

Ena gladly accepted this. She had no reason to refuse since it meant the period she could stick with Asel increased.

But for Frida, there was one more huge adversary after Ena.

“The tea tastes good.”

He was an old man with striking pure white hair and neatly tied beard. Though the robe he wore was huge, it couldn’t hide the physique contained within. Despite being a magician, trained muscles peeked out from inside the sleeves, and the dizzying and complex magical power pattern unique to spatial magicians emanated from his entire body.

As far as Frida knew, there was only one person on the continent who possessed such a magical power pattern.

A genius who completed his circle at a young age. However, he forcibly shattered all his circles to learn spatial formulas, and rebuilt from the beginning, an oddball among oddballs. Yet he instantly reached the 8th circle and seized the seat of a great magician, a monster.

Nori-um Ibarren.

He rattled his teacup and smiled with a “ho ho”.

“My, my. I’d like to learn whose handiwork this is.”
“…It’s tea brewed by my assistant. If you wish, I’ll tell him to give you the recipe anytime.”
“Oh my, there’s no need for that. An old man can’t take up a young woman’s time. I’ll be satisfied with this today.”

Nori-um said with a kindly smile. But Frida couldn’t just smile along.

Though he pretends not to be, he’s a man who lives with dozens of cunning snakes let loose inside him. He clearly used to have violent tendencies similar to Ena’s, but since taking on the role of alliance leader, it seemed his methods had changed from physical violence to pen tip and tongue.

Personally, Frida preferred his former self. Because it’s easier to deal with a magician who does as they please than one skilled in tactics.

Still, there was no need to worry much if Nori-um hadn’t come here to fight. Though the magician sitting next to Nori-um smoking a pipe was concerning, she didn’t seem to have any will to fight either.

In the end, the purpose was a negotiation table. And Frida planned to grant most of what he wanted as much as possible.

Anyone who knew righteousness had to do so unconditionally. Of course, she couldn’t accept all the conditions offered, but still, she intended to adjust that well and aim for the direction that would benefit Asel and Weiheim as much as possible.

That was better than pointlessly engaging in a battle of nerves. There was no need for actions that would raise voices in a situation where the superior and subordinate were clear.

Thinking that, Frida first opened her mouth towards Nori-um, who was smiling brightly.

“First, I’ll offer an apology. I’m truly, sincerely sorry that an unfortunate incident occurred at the Academy you trusted and sent him to. I have no words even with ten mouths.”
“You should apologize directly to Asel, not me. I’m not even directly involved in the incident. I was a bit angry, but I’ve calmed down now.”
“Still, I’m sincerely sorry.”

Instead of answering, Nori-um grinned and picked up a cookie to eat. Irina exhaled smoke into the air with a whoosh.

“Of course, I intend to compensate for the apology as well. To both Weiheim and Asel. So don’t hesitate and tell me what you want. I’ll grant it as much as possible.”
“My demands can come later. Let’s start with Asel’s first.”

Nori-um took out a neatly folded paper from his bosom. Frida confirmed the contents and let out a groan.

[I want to take a magical tool from the Academy’s underground vault. Of course, with me as the owner.]

There weren’t many people who knew about the existence of an underground vault where magical tools were collected in the Academy. So how did Asel accurately grasp the existence of the vault and want something inside it?

The answer was obvious. Frida turned her head towards Irina, who was looking at her, and let out a deep sigh. Irina grinned and extinguished the flame of her pipe.

“Have you been well, Headmaster?”
“…I’ve been fine. Though it’s been tough recently.”
“Hang in there.”

That was the end of the conversation. Irina, who couldn’t drink caffeine, gulped down milk and split a cookie in half to nibble on. Frida turned her gaze from her and leaned back against the chair to ponder for a moment.

A brief silence fell. But no one was feeling impatient.

Nori-um quietly appreciated the birdsong heard from outside the window, and Irina smiled while freely manipulating the smoke she had exhaled.

After quite some time.

The Headmaster’s mouth opened.

“Alright. I’ll provide one magical tool. Anything else besides this?”
“I think we should hear that directly.”
“…What did you say?”

Instead of answering, Nori-um smiled and strongly struck down at the air.

[Other World]

Clang!!

Centered on where his fist made contact, a crack appeared in space. The crack soon spread into a fissure extending in all directions, eventually forming a complete black passage.

And from beyond that, before Frida could grasp the situation, Asel walked out. Ena followed behind him.

“Seeing that the passage opened, it seems things went well?”

Asel asked Nori-um. Nori-um shrugged and answered.

“That’s right. I’ve already been promised one magical tool.”
“Good. Then let’s move on to the next plan.”
“Just what I was hoping for.”

The two turned their heads towards Frida in unison. Ena quietly sat down next to Irina, and Irina looked down at her and exhaled cigarette smoke with a whoosh.

Crackle!!

“Gak!”

Lightning struck Irina’s side. The punishment was swift and precise.

And watching all of this, Frida wore an enlightened smile.

The number of opponents she had to face suddenly increased from two to four.

Her vision went dark.

It was her own doing.