The Broken Possessors of the Infinite Regression Academy

Chapter 209 – Side Story: Summer Festival – 2

Time passed quickly, and the day before the summer festival began arrived. Thanks to this, the atmosphere at Bellium Academy was indescribably excited.

Starting three days ago, all the general education classes and even the formal theory lectures held in the morning were canceled, and professors went around evaluating the submitted works in advance.

The artificial dungeon our club created was no exception.

Professor Jayna, who visited first, stuck out her tongue and left, asking how she could have thought of such a thing. As word spread, other professors came one after another to try it out, one by one.

And I had the same reaction as Professor Jayna. It might be even more surprising because it is a theme that is completely unfamiliar to the people of this world.

“It’s done!”

Of course, we didn’t build the dungeons. The lords of the towers, who were slaves who asked to be treated like dogs, did it. All we did was provide ideas and blueprints.

The structure and content of the dungeon itself is something that stimulates the curiosity of magicians, and when I said that I would give them a magic lesson after the work was finished, they were so motivated that I was dumbfounded.

“Oh, ohhh… … ! This is… … !”

After learning intermediate status removal magic, they went around casting status magic on the heads of their normal colleagues, saying they were just trying out magic. I wondered what kind of people they were.

“It’s my first time seeing other academy students.”

Now, with less than 24 hours left until the festival began, Laura, Priscilla, and I stood at the Academy’s main gate, waiting for the guests who would soon arrive.

“I’ve never seen it either.”

“That’s what it must be like. They only set the setting and didn’t make him appear in person. I saw it a lot when I was able to move my body as I pleased.”

The two gave conflicting answers. He stroked Priscilla’s head and asked Laura a question.

“I heard that the two places that were chosen as exchange partners this time are Laila Academy and Rosemary Academy. Do you know what kind of places they are? It’s obviously very different from here.”

I did receive information from Erestica about the students who were coming, but since they were individual profiles, I couldn’t find out anything about the academy.

“Both are academies that only allow admission to nobles. You can see that they are fundamentally different from Bellium Academy, which prioritizes ability. One of the three major dukes of the empire also has a son at Laila Academy. I heard that Laila Academy has a lot of fun with that. That’s natural, since they are rivals.”

It was a word that brought up not so good memories, because it was a rivalry.

As I struggled to erase from my mind the memory of the school competition I had played as a member of Nobel University during my freshman year, two carriages began to appear in the distance.

“There they come.”

The carriages were coming side by side, as if to say that the two academies were rivals. For some reason, they seemed to be picking up speed.

The carriage stopped exactly at the main gate of the academy, and the doors opened at the same time. Inside, students in unique uniforms got out. They were the top students of each grade, just like the three of us.

“It’s my turn first. You don’t have any complaints, do you?”

The woman with long, ash-colored hair who got off the last carriage from the Lila Academy side strode forward. Judging from the fact that the three people from the Rosemary Academy side were silent, she seemed to be the daughter of the Duke.

The woman knelt on one knee in front of Laura and bowed deeply.

“I, Eichenhardt Lenitus, the next head of the Lenitus Dukes and the eldest son of the current Lenitus Dukes, greet Your Majesty the Crown Prince. I have come to Bellium Academy as the top student of the third year at Laila Academy.”

“Welcome, Eigenhardt. Raise your head.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The woman raised her head. She was a woman with a slender figure, but she had a strangely vicious feeling. In other words, she had the appearance of a typical villainess.

I thought that if we were to visualize the stereotype of the villainess Young-ae, it would look exactly like that.

“How have you been?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It is all thanks to the great virtue of Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“You’re giving me too much credit.”

“I-”

Laura cut off Eichenhardt’s words as he tried to continue the conversation. There was a brief silence, and the two duchesses looked at each other.

“It’s been a long time, Miss Priscilla Agnes. How have you been?”

“huh.”

Priscilla clung to me, greeting me halfway. She didn’t link arms or thrust her chest in like she usually did because she was being watched, but even this distance was more than enough to attract attention.

Eichenhardt, who had been looking at Priscilla clinging to me with great curiosity, turned his gaze toward me.

“You must be the top student in your first year. The youngest son of the Crate target group, Mira Crate. Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“There are a lot of rumors going around at our Laila Academy. Even though she’s attending Bellium Academy, there are rumors going around that are so surprising that it’s hard to believe she’s an academy cadet… … I believe it’s not just a rumor, since she’s the top student of her first year.”

Why is he using formal language even to me? He looks like he could easily speak informally to Laura without any problems. Could it be that he is similar to Aria from the original work, despite his appearance?

“Yes, you can believe it.”

I stepped forward confidently. I had no reason to be embarrassed anyway.

Rather, rumors tend to be underestimated, so whatever they expected from me, it was already certain to be more than that. Everyone who heard the rumors thought it was an exaggeration, but the truth was the opposite.

Eichenhardt, who had been surprised by my attitude for a moment, smiled.

“Good attitude. I look forward to it.”

“… … .”

Kuk kuk, Priscilla puffed out her cheeks slightly and poked my ribs. Laura was also looking at me with a slightly sullen face. No, we were just exchanging greetings while smiling. Why?

Eichenhard finished his greeting and stepped away. Only then did the other nobles bow in turn. The others simply nodded to me. Laura’s eyebrows twitched slightly at the sight.

“I believe you must have known why you gathered here a day early and visited.”

As soon as we finished our greetings, we headed straight to the Colosseum. That’s the magical Colosseum where we had our practical training session.

“Yes, Your Majesty. It was to determine the order of free sparring between grades.”

Eichenhardt answered first.

“I don’t care how you organize it, but wouldn’t it be unsightly to give up too early? This is a duel that involves pride between the academies.”

The reason why the top students of each academy gathered here was for another main event following the boss monster raid.

Free competition between the head students of each grade added a week before the festival starts. Regardless of whether it’s a team competition, tournament, or free for all. We decide the categories and competition order ourselves.

This is what is called an adult’s situation. Erestica knows our abilities, so it doesn’t matter what happens, but it seems like the other chairman doesn’t think so.

“Well, it is very difficult for you to think of me as I used to be, Your Highness?”

“No matter how big a sparrow becomes, it is still a sparrow.”

There was a bit of a war of nerves.

To be exact, it was Eichenhardt who was unilaterally antagonizing Laura. Laura didn’t even care.

Priscilla was burning with hostility in another sense. The eyes of the others were not ordinary. I could occasionally hear them muttering, “Who dares?”

I think it might be because Priscilla is sticking so close to me.

“Your Highness, isn’t one action worth a hundred words? Rather than wasting time with words like this, I think it would be better for you to measure my strength yourself.”

“I’m welcome. What do you think? Would you like to try first year?”

“Okay. Helpen?”

“yes!”

“What do you think, Mira?”

“All right.”

We nodded to each other. The boy named Helpen went up to the training ground first. I was about to follow him, but Laura passed by me and whispered to me.

“Let me show you an example.”

“Okay, don’t worry.”

If Laura was going to say something like that, then she was telling us not to end it that way. I wondered if there was some other reason we didn’t know about.

As I activated the magic in the Colosseum, I felt a fatal wound protection magic enveloping my entire body, then it disappeared. That was it, I was ready.

“Then let’s begin.”

Laura, with her characteristically arrogant smile, entered the counter. Priscilla was waving her hand next to her, her face free of any tension.

“Get ready.”

I confronted a first-year student called Helpen. The long sword in his hand was pointed at me. I also aimed at Eternity in name only.

“Start-”

‘……uh?’

Eichenhardt blinked.

As soon as the Crown Prince’s words, “Start” were out, Helpen, who was stuck in the corner of the training ground, started to sound the alarm, indicating that he had suffered a fatal wound. Still, the shock must have been great, as his limbs were still twitching.

‘What was it just now?’

Did you see it? No. I didn’t see any movement, let alone an attack. The decision was made so quickly that Eichenhardt couldn’t even perceive it. Everyone else was also looking at me with surprised rabbit eyes.

Except for the Crown Prince and Priscilla. Those two looked as if they had known this would happen from the beginning.

‘That’s ridiculous.’

Eichenhardt chewed his fingernails in impatience. If his mother saw him doing this, she would slap the back of his hand and say, “What a shame!” But he had no time to think about such things.

‘I have to show you a good side… … .’

He glanced at Laura. Although her feminine features had become more pronounced than before, she was still very handsome. Eichenhardt, who had almost lost his mind for a moment, shook his head.

Behind Eichenhardt, who was trying to shake off his distracting thoughts, a commotion spread. It was because he was overwhelmed by the top student of Bellium Academy, who was standing there calmly as if nothing had happened after committing such a crime.

‘I have to step forward.’

I noticed the atmosphere and braced myself. If I do this, I won’t be able to show His Highness a good image, and I’ll only end up being a laughing stock. With what determination did I become a partner for the exchange meeting, but this absolutely must not happen.

“Excellent, Mira Crate.”

Eichenhardt strode forward. Originally, he had planned to cross swords with His Highness the Crown Prince under the pretext of having a duel between the grades. However, now was the time to change his plans.

“It seems like the rumors aren’t exaggerated. If it’s okay, would you be willing to face me head-on? I’ll be honest with you.”

As politely as possible, I bowed and went in so as not to offend His Highness the Crown Prince.

Prince Jeon Ha-da, who had made a sullen expression just by smiling earlier. It must be because he has chosen Mira Crate as his closest aide when he becomes the next emperor.

‘Don’t worry. My heart is one with you.’

“great.”

As soon as the acceptance fell, Eichenhardt secretly cheered and registered himself as the next sparring partner and went up to the sparring area. He drew his rapier and confronted Mira Crate.

If you see and react, it will be too late. Here, you must rely on your instincts. It was time to show the power of Eichenhard Renitus, who was called the genius of the century at the Leila Academy.

Mana surged into every corner of my body, greatly enhancing my physical abilities.

“Where, if you want to come, come and see!”

“… … ?”

And when I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.

“How did this happen? Ahhh?!”

As Eichenhardt tried to get up in a daze, a sharp pain shot through the top of his head. He frowned involuntarily.

“Are you awake?! How are you feeling?!”

The second-year senior who was sitting on the stool next to the bed hurriedly supported her body.

Eichenhardt carefully raised his upper body and looked around. There was a white bed and white curtains. It was a space that had a strong feeling of a hospital room.

“… … What happened? Why am I here? What about the sparring?”

My head was spinning. I had no idea what had happened.

Why am I lying in a place like this? I clearly remember Mira Crate accepting the duel, facing each other, and using physical enhancements… … .

“That… … I didn’t see it myself… … .”

The second-year top student hesitated. He twirled his long, waist-length hair around, looked around, then closed his eyes tightly and opened his mouth.

“They said that Princess Yeong-ae fainted after being hit with a honey chestnut… … The Crown Prince laughed as he said that… … .”

Eichenhardt stood tall.

Honey chestnut? Who?

I?

“What?!???!!?”

A loud voice echoed through the infirmary.