SWNOVELXO Chapter 91
Magung Academy Slayer Side Story.
The Rise of Blue Flame.
The Rise of Blue Flame focuses solely on the protagonist Eve’s 1st year of life.
The reason is simple.
The Rise of Blue Flame is itself an epilogue to other stories in Magung Academy Slayer.
Magung Academy Slayer consists of three parts in total.
The first two parts, called the Butterfly of Fire, take place in different time periods.
Both are set before the Butterfly of Fire part.
I haven’t played the first two parts much.
Because one is a puzzle game and the other is a bullet hell shooting game.
As someone who enjoys dot RPG games, they didn’t suit my taste.
Perhaps because of this, Magung Academy Slayer ended up having different fan bases for each part.
Among them, The Rise of Blue Flame is an appendix to the second part.
It’s an epilogue released as an RPG by the game company to promote the third part, Butterfly of Fire.
Therefore, the playtime of The Rise of Blue Flame isn’t very long.
The entirety of the 1st year life at Ordo Academy proves that.
“In other words, right now Eve is.”
A character whose scenario has already ended.
And it was the only part I’ve played aside from the other two.
She confidently walked in, her blue hair flowing behind her.
“Blue Flame.”
“The only star of Ordo.”
Eve’s accomplishments in the Ordo Kingdom are quite famous.
So maybe other students seemed to know about Eve too.
“…So that’s Blue Flame.”
Isabel reacted as she looked at Eve.
It seems Isabel had heard Eve’s name as well.
“Well, she was mentioned often in the Butterfly of Fire part.”
Eve is one of the six stars who made a name for herself in the same generation.
The reason I ended up playing The Rise of Blue Flame was due to my curiosity about Eve.
From the game developer’s perspective, they probably intended to create this kind of curiosity to drive sales of the previous two parts.
A bit of a cruel tactic, but it allowed me to encounter another story’s protagonist.
I could feel the warmth radiating from her body.
Seeing this, I was assured.
“I must transfer Eve to Jerion Academy.”
During the summer vacation, the headmaster’s event had already concluded.
The headmaster had agreed to initiate the transfer process for Eve if she wanted.
“I really went through a lot to prepare that.”
That was why I hardly got to rest during the vacation.
All that was left was Eve’s decision.
But that’s the toughest wall to overcome.
Even if she is Eve, she likely has some affection for Ordo Academy.
Even if the people at Ordo Academy are jealous and envious of her.
“Finally, we’ve all arrived.”
Zebara, the only ordinary kingdom that hasn’t recorded a star among the six.
The president of Rozly Academy from Zebara stood up to head to the round table.
Then the other presidents followed suit.
The temporary chair Iris also got up and headed toward the round table.
Soon after, those seated at the round table began discussions.
I didn’t pay much attention to the meeting.
After all, the meeting was just about discussing the international individual matches.
“While the power of student council presidents at the academy cannot be ignored.”
A scale like the international individual matches is managed and conducted by the headmaster and professors.
So this meeting was merely formal.
In reality, networking with future leaders at the party afterwards was much more important.
“But still.”
They engaged in conversation without missing a beat during the meeting.
Everyone present knew they would represent their countries in the future.
Missing out here meant the same for the future.
A meeting bearing the country’s nameplate.
It’s truly an intense power struggle.
“Yawn.”
Sharine, seemingly uninterested in all of this, let out a yawn.
Isabel scolded her for that, but she was already nodding off.
My eyes were on Eve.
Eve was distanced from the students of Ordo Academy.
The Ordo students chatted among themselves, not once speaking to Eve.
It looked like they were deliberately keeping their distance.
Eve had shown such magnificent achievements that her name spread to other nations.
That’s why she was an outcast among the students at Ordo.
The fallen kingdom, Prelitz, which is laughed at.
The students there were also submerged in that negativity, with their self-esteem crushed and filled with cynicism.
With the economy collapsing and no future in sight, the citizens had succumbed to pessimism.
Once, Prelitz was the brightest among the five kingdoms.
But the citizens could not keep up with the kingdom’s growth.
As a result, society struggled, suicide rates rose, and birth rates sharply fell.
Meanwhile, the royal family and nobles became corrupt.
The reigning king, criticized as the most incompetent king of all time for ruling a collapsed country, added to the blame.
Thus, Prelitz could not shed the stigma of being a fallen kingdom.
The impact was directly felt by the children, the future assets.
Children from fallen kingdoms no longer expect a future.
No matter how hard they try, they cannot be happier than the adults who tainted society.
A life where even survival is uncertain.
So, the children have all given up their dreams.
During that time, a star was born in the Ordo Kingdom.
The unyielding Blue Flame.
Eve.
Those who have already lost their light couldn’t bear her brilliance.
Thus, what they chose was not to illuminate the star but to turn away from it.
It was better to avoid the star than to burn trying to shine beside it.
Thus, Eve became an isolated island at Ordo Academy.
All the children who feared burning next to a star chose to stay away.
At that moment, sensing a gaze, Eve looked up.
Her blue eyes were fixated on me.
At first glance, her expression appeared emotionless, but I could clearly sense the strong confidence contained within.
Just like the unyielding Blue Flame.
Suddenly, I felt something poking my side.
When I turned in surprise, there was Isabel pointing her finger at me.
“What are you staring at so intently?”
For some reason, Isabel’s eyes held a hint of irritation.
It seemed like she noticed that I was looking at Eve.
“Where I look is my business.”
“Scolding is also my business.”
Isabel’s comeback skills have been improving over time.
Is she growing in that area too?
With Isabel’s glare, I reluctantly shifted my gaze.
After all, we’d have a conversation soon enough, so it was fine.
＊＊＊
The meeting concluded successfully.
The reason it went well was simple.
While the other kids did their best, Iris led the meeting.
The imperial princess.
Moreover, she is highly likely to inherit the throne.
No matter how royal one is, facing Iris directly would be daunting.
Thus, Iris was able to run the meeting as she pleased.
Seeing her like this made me realize anew that Iris was royalty.
“Hanon.”
After the meeting, in the designated room for resting, she opened her arms in front of me.
There was a strong intent for me to embrace her.
Isabel was staring at me intently.
As if there was a significant question contained in her gaze about whether I would really do it.
“Hanon?”
Iris tilted her head.
It was a gesture urging me to rush over.
I quietly inhaled and exhaled.
It felt like both of them would end up fighting again.
I guess it’s time to draw the line.
It felt excessive.
“Iris, your pranks have been a bit much lately. Even I can’t handle this if you keep it up.”
I conveyed my message to Iris very politely.
And looked at Iris carefully.
Iris seemed to realize something as she repeatedly clenched and unclenched her hands.
She’s not someone who doesn’t understand.
Her exaggerated behavior lately is likely due to possessiveness triggered by Isabel.
She’s someone who can control herself if she wants to.
“I will gladly assist you if you wish to sleep peacefully, Iris.
But if you continue like this, it will tarnish Iris’s name. More than anything, it would be troublesome for me as well.”
Isabel and Sharine aren’t the type to boast about such things to others.
But if someone were to witness this, it could become a huge headache.
No matter how much they are cousins, it isn’t good for an 18-year-old boy and girl to be in such a situation.
Especially for someone like Iris, these things could easily spiral into a bad rumor.
There are always people looking to take advantage of even the smallest flaw in her otherwise perfect exterior.
“…Alright, I’ll only do it when we’re alone.”
But she didn’t say she wouldn’t.
Still, Iris showed an intention to restrain herself.
I turned back to look at Isabel.
She was nodding as if agreeing that Iris was right to scold me.
Isabel, you’re the same.
“And Isabel, you’ve been interfering with me a lot lately.”
Isabel flinched at my words.
Having developed feelings of affection and resentment towards me, Isabel was inserting herself into everything, like a true childhood friend.
I let her be because I understood her anxiety, but her obsession was growing more intense.
“I know you hate it when I talk bad about your friend, but please stop.”
I reminded Isabel of the fact that I had spoken ill of Lucas.
Recently, it didn’t seem to have much effect, so I hadn’t bothered, but we had originally been rivals.
We went through various stages to become rivals.
But our relationship wasn’t meant for friendliness.
“……”
Isabel lowered her gaze to the floor.
I’ve warned her sufficiently, so she should be able to restrain herself for a while.
“Lastly, Sharine.”
I called out to Sharine, who had quietly entered and was munching on popcorn.
“If you give me that kind of curious look one more time, I’ll apply a German Suplex on you.”
“Mmm.”
I couldn’t tell what she was saying thanks to the popcorn in her mouth.
I really wanted to yank at her puffed cheeks.
But if I did that, I would be on the receiving end of the German Suplex, so I held back.
“Well then, everyone take it easy. I’ll step out for some fresh air.”
Not wanting to stay in this atmosphere any longer, I quickly made my exit.
Fortunately, no one chased after me.
I finally got out of the room and took a breath.
Today, I learned one thing.
The tension between Isabel and Iris is the worst.
I should avoid putting those two together in the future.
As I thought about this and walked, I noticed something by the window down the hallway—flowing blue hair.
Seeing that familiar hair color, my eyes widened a bit.
It was Eve.
As soon as Eve spotted me, she walked straight over.
It was as if I were her target from the beginning.
Her eyes were fixated on me.
As the protagonist of the side story, an unusual aura radiated from her.
“You.”
Eve specifically called out to me.
Right after, my body froze up.
“You were affected by the magic of the ancient dragon.”
This is a direction I didn’t anticipate.