Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance Chapter 62

Special classes to hone their skills against the growing number of demons were usually held after dinner, when all classes were over, or on weekends.

 

It was a killer schedule, coupled with the preparations for the festival, but Cordelia headed to the training center with no signs of exhaustion.

 

“Today we’ll be practicing group mock battles based on the tactics we’ve been learning. The groups have been mixed in terms of attributes and age to mimic the real thing as closely as possible, so I want everyone to do their best.”

 

Cordelia took the grouping sheet from the TA.

 

“I’m in the same group as Lucian.”

 

Unable to hide her trepidation, she turned her head to see Lucian staring back at her with a bitter look on his face. Cordelia stalked over to him, barely holding back her rising middle finger.

 

“Why don’t you straighten up?”

 

“That’s the best I can do.”

 

A frail, trembling voice interjected between them as electricity crackled.

 

“Is that… you three, right?”

 

Cordelia and Lucian’s heads snapped around at the same time. A petite girl was looking at them, scratching her cheek nervously.

 

“My name’s Liz, I’m a third year in the School of Magic, and—”

 

As Liz stopped speaking, a figure walked lazily out from behind her, a white-faced man who looked as though he was about to burst into tears.

 

Lucian frowned impatiently.

 

‘Strange how often we tangle.’

 

Neumann stammered, unable to open his mouth, and finally shut it. Cordelia didn’t have any good feelings for him either, so she simply acknowledged Liz’s greeting before turning her attention back to the podium.

 

There was a bracket on the wall.

 

“We’re up against Team Eight.”

 

“This time, the first ten teams will compete, and the rest of the groups will observe the training. All students, except those called, please stand back and take your seats.”

 

Cordelia and her group of three remained, as they were on the list. Lucian spotted Felix among those remaining at the podium.

 

Lucian mouthed the number, and Felix snapped his fingers to indicate the group. At that moment, Lucian’s eyes sparkled with interest.

 

A dark glint of pride flashed in their eyes. The three of them were considered geniuses, but Felix had never formally dueled in a different discipline, and he was glad for the opportunity.

 

Lucian was quite unhappy that Felix was a member of the same magical faculty as Eileen, and that they had run into each other throughout the preparations for the festival.

 

If it was a legitimate duel, he would have no problem kicking his ass. Behind him, Cordelia grinned wickedly and tightened her grip on her wooden sword.

 

“We’ll see who’s the strongest of us three.”

 

Soon it was the turn of the third and eighth team to duel. Group Eight consisted of Felix and Emma from the School of Magic, and two first and third year students from the School of Swordsmanship.

 

Emma waved excitedly at Cordelia. Cordelia was equally excited about her first chance to fight an Elemental.

 

The colorful grouping of students outside the training grounds also had a sparkle of interest in their eyes. Albert explained the precautions before the tournament.

 

“There will be two Spirit Masters, so don’t get too excited! Both of you should control your spirit power to a level that won’t break the shield surrounding the training center. Of course, you shouldn’t use broad attacks either.”

 

Albert had to remind Cordelia and Emma several times, as they had been pummeling the ground in their special move training. Lucian, watching, whispered in her ear as Albert left the training center.

 

“You can’t even control yourself, can you?”

 

Cordelia’s brow furrowed, shaking with rage at not being able to hit the same, and she took a deep breath before taking her seat. The duel had begun.

 

“Stay in formation, everyone!”

 

Lucian shouted, swinging his sword at the forefront. He deflected Felix’s bolt of lightning into the Auror’s face and took a large step backward to avoid the flames from Emma’s fingertips.

 

“Stay back!”

 

Emma’s flames in pursuit of Lucian were intercepted by a barrier of water led by Lynn. Cordelia, who had broken through the barrier, swung her sword at the panicked group of eight.

 

“I’ll stop him!”

 

Before her sword could reach Felix, the third-year swordsmanship student parried her blade.

 

Cordelia clucked her tongue at the heavy, finesse-less blow and stepped back into the shield Liz had created. Blocking his pursuit was Neumann in a flash of light.

 

“Hmph.”

 

Cordelia took a moment to readjust her stance, her eyes bright with interest.

 

“I thought you’d be a douchebag for what you do, but you’re pretty good.”

 

For an idiot, he had good combat sense and skill. It was a shame to waste a talent that didn’t match his personality, she thought as she leapt back into the fray.

 

“This is amazing.”

 

“Those two over there are Gaudium’s wings, right?”

 

“Emma and Felix are amazing, too. They specialize in AoE attacks, but they’re great in close combat.”

 

The eyes of those watching the training below turned from interest to pure admiration. Lucian, energized, threw a blow at Felix’s shield.

 

“Is this how you’re going to defend her?”

 

He didn’t say who, but it wasn’t hard for Felix and Cordelia to guess what he meant.

 

Felix grinned ferociously and transformed his shield to grab Lucian’s foot. Lucian staggered for a moment, then hurriedly shattered the shield, blocking the intangible energy that followed.

 

“Damn, isn’t this why you’re just a burden?”

 

Felix smirked as he said that. It was a smile that would have been heart-stopping to anyone who didn’t know better, but Lucian’s face flushed red in response.

 

“Then I’ll show you how it’s done, and you can try to stop me.”

 

“Try me.”

 

As the two of them pushed the momentum even further, the onslaught was followed by the members of both sides who had been swept up in the atmosphere. It was an overwhelming duel, even compared to the others, and Albert stuck his tongue out at Amanda.

 

“I see the goddess still loves the empire, the future is very bright.”

 

“Still a gemstone, though. They’re still children, seeing as how they’re so easily provoked.”

 

Behind the two professors nodding and evaluating Dalian, a teaching assistant came up with an awkward look on his face.

 

“I… still have the next group, don’t you think we should stop them? They’re tearing up the training ground.”

 

“……”

 

Albert’s gaze snapped to the training ground. He chewed his lip and yelled, “Stop! Stop! Stop!”

 

“That’s enough! That’s enough!”

 

 

* * *

 

 

“I need money.”

 

In the empty classroom, Laquerta stared down at his palm-sized coin purse. He didn’t even bother to take it out and count the money inside.

 

“Whoa.”

 

He sighed and sat back in his chair dejectedly. Even with the small amount of money the temple gave him, it was still a tight budget for books and supplies.

 

“I never realized portals were so expensive.”

 

Laquerta remembered the faces of Lua and Moa. The first time he’d been to the Port Estate, and every time after that, Eileen had paid for the portal, so he hadn’t known much about it.

 

But on his first holiday after midterms, when he went to the portal alone to visit the children, he was shocked at the high cost.

 

“The carriage ride to the portal gate cost me a month’s pocket money, and the portal fee was ten times that.”

 

After spending all of his hard-earned scholarship money to meet the children, Laquerta couldn’t help but shed a few tears when he saw his wallet was even more meager.

 

If he didn’t win the scholarship in the final exams, he might not be able to visit the children during the summer vacation.

 

If it weren’t for the portal, he would have held out for the scholarship, but he had one more small goal.

 

“I want to get Eileen a gift.”

 

This goal wasn’t limited to the “Pleasing Eileen” contest; the event was small in comparison to the gratitude he felt for her and the desire to reciprocate.

 

“I’ve always been a recipient, so I wanted to give her something nice.”

 

The realization that he couldn’t afford even a simple silk handkerchief at this rate weighed heavily on his shoulders. Finding a regular part-time job as a student, even as a Suyin, was more difficult than he could have imagined.

 

“Maybe I should sell my scales.”

 

As he continued to ponder what he would have done if Eileen had known, the back door to the classroom slowly opened and closed. 

 

Laquerta turned around, feeling the sting of recognition.

 

“You?”

 

There stood Andrew, his back to the light coming in from the window, his face in shadow, but the corners of his mouth upturned.

 

He’d seen him often in clubs, but he’d only ever spoken to him a handful of times. With his wariness still evident, Laquerta asked Andrew.

 

“What do you want?”

 

Andrew, still wearing his coy smile, replied in a soft voice.

 

“If you need money, would you like to work with me?”