Deviation II

The sudden appearance of demons at Mythos Academy sent shockwaves rippling throughout the world, stirring up a frenzy of concern and alarm.

Nero massaged his temples, attempting to quell the rising tide of anxiety as he recalled his discussions with envoys from the top powers.

Their ire was palpable.

The incident at the Freshmen Ball was one thing, but an outright demon attack raised the stakes to new heights. With demon counts and even a demon marchioness making an appearance, doubts surfaced about the academy's ability to safeguard its students.

While no casualties occurred this time, Nero couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that this might be just the beginning. Two major attacks in a single term signaled potential for more violence and escalation.

In a world where personal power held immense sway, the withdrawal of talented students under the threat of danger could spell disaster for Mythos Academy. Nero's strength lay in the <Immortal >-rank, but he paled in comparison to the might of the <Radiant >-ranks.

"If only the Headmaster were here," Nero sighed, lamenting the absence of the academy's esteemed leader.

The Headmaster's presence alone would have deterred such brazen attacks and quelled external pressures on the academy. The mere mention of his name commanded respect and authority.

But alas, the Headmaster was absent, leaving the defensive spells vulnerable to exploitation.

Nero had managed to pacify the powerful forces temporarily by proposing improvements to the defensive enchantments and pleading for more time. However, discussions veered into unexpected territory.

"I can't believe Archmage Charlotte herself will be coming," Nero muttered incredulously.

Archmage Charlotte, a formidable <Radiant >-rank and a 9-circle mage, towered over the Slatemark Empire's magical hierarchy. The intricacies of repairing a 9-circle spell necessitated the presence of a mage of her caliber, yet the notion of her direct involvement left Nero reeling.

Legendary figures like Archmage Charlotte devoted much of their time to bolstering their strength to keep pace with rival powers, leaving little room for hands-on involvement in world affairs.

The unexpected deployment of such a powerful figure underscored the gravity of the situation facing Mythos Academy.

In the midst of the chaos, the Academy found itself making an unprecedented decision, coerced by external pressures.

With Archmage Charlotte unavailable until the next year, the Academy succumbed to the demands of influential factions. The drastic measure involved skipping an entire term and shutting down for 'protection,' transforming the curriculum for the missed term into an unwieldy load of homework.

It was a decision bordering on the absurd, a compromise struck to prevent students from departing the Academy. Nero, the Academy's figurehead in the absence of the Headmaster, had no choice but to acquiesce, albeit with a bowed head. The administrative upheaval that followed was nothing short of massive.

For starters, the notion that students could seamlessly complete a full term's worth of work as homework was utterly implausible. Consequently, the subsequent two terms after the extended break would need to be condensed and accelerated to compensate.

Complicating matters further, all ranks were frozen during this period.

Nero concluded his announcement before Class 1-A with a heavy sigh, "Due to these circumstances, Mythos Academy finds itself with an extended winter break. However, there's a substantial amount of work to tackle, so please give it your best effort. Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me, and I'll do my utmost to respond."

Mythos Academy's once-stellar reputation now lay in ruins.

As Arthur observed Nero, a subtle narrowing of his eyes betrayed his thoughts. "The novel changed once again. But this works for me."

While Mythos Academy was undoubtedly the best globally, Arthur questioned whether it truly facilitated the most significant growth for every student. For those with exceptional talent, the Academy's limits could be surpassed by a more intense, albeit hellish, form of training.

Arthur had devised a method to accelerate his growth far beyond the confines of the Academy, a regimen akin to the grueling swordsmanship training Lucifer had undergone to ascend to <Ascendent >-rank. This approach could be tailored to any level.

After Nero concluded the class with another heavy sigh, the Class 1-A students made their way to the dorms together.

"Is everyone going home, then?" Cecilia inquired, stretching her arms behind her head.

All nodded in agreement, except for Arthur.

"What about you, Arthur?" Ian asked, tilting his head.

"I'm going to train first, then go home," Arthur replied.

"You're a training addict," Ian sighed, while Jin shot Arthur a sharp look.

"You should meet your family, Arthur," Lucifer expressed concern.

"Don't worry, I will," Arthur dismissed the worry, adding, "My parents are actually traveling right now because they didn't know about the extended break."

It wasn't a lie, and it provided Arthur with the excuse to postpone meeting his family from this world.

Once everyone left, only Seraphina and Arthur remained. As Arthur was about to enter his room, Seraphina caught his hand.

"What's up, Sera?" Arthur asked, turning back with a smile.

Seraphina pursed her lips before saying, "Come to Mount Hua if you have time."

She handed him a jade token infused with her mana signature, a Princess of Mount Hua's mark granting him unprecedented access throughout the sect's territory.

Arthur smiled softly, clenching the token before entering his room. As he placed the token away, a cold expression settled on his face. Closing his eyes, he recalled the astral energy emanating from the sword of the Mount Hua Elder.

A grin formed as he opened his eyes.

He could see it.

A path to reach <Ascendent >-rank in three and a half years unfolded before him.

__________________________________________________________________________________

I had to reshuffle my winter break plans because of the extra months on my hands. If everything fell into place, I was aiming to hit <High Silver>-rank and give my swordsmanship a solid boost, making me reach at least Rank 3 in the new year.

Swordsmanship, like many martial arts, has two main components. One involves refining those fundamental techniques that are applicable to pretty much every weapon art out there. The other is delving deep into the specific art itself.

While labeled as "basic," mastering those fundamental techniques can make you a force to be reckoned with, especially if you take them to their peak.

That's what Lucifer had to focus on to reach <Ascendent >-rank. He'd leaned heavily into the arts, neglecting some of the foundational aspects of swordsmanship that could be universally applied.

Thrusting, slashing, control, instincts – these are the bread and butter for swordsmen. But the more honed and perfected they are, the more significant their impact becomes. This means a swordsman with less mastery over a particular art can still come out on top with superior fundamentals.

That was my primary goal for the upcoming break. I initially planned to dive into this after acquiring the beast will, but I decided to save that adventure for December since the novel clearly stated that's when it happened.

I didn't want anything to go awry, after all.

So, the game plan: Train hard for six weeks, spend some quality time with the family, then embark on the quest for the beast will. Maybe swing by Mount Hua before heading back to the family fold and eventually making my way to Mythos Academy.

Simple and hopefully foolproof.

Before everyone set off on their respective adventures during the break, we threw a party together.

In a surprising twist, Rachel even managed to wrangle Jin and Ren into joining the festivities. She truly lived up to her Gift [Saintess].

"So, your old man is sending you off somewhere?" Ian queried Lucifer, casually stirring his soft drink as he tossed the question, prompting Lucifer to groan.

"Yeah, he's never been a fan of letting me chill in the safety of home," Lucifer replied between bites of a dumpling.

"That's smart," I chimed in, "Nothing beats battle experience when it comes to getting stronger."

"True," Rachel chuckled, leaning her shoulder on Lucifer's, "But a little break won't hurt anyone, right?"

"Speaking of breaks," Cecilia interjected before Ren could protest, "Arthur, you live in the Slatemark Empire, right?"

I inwardly sighed at the thought of tangling with Cecilia again, but I had no choice but to respond to her question.

"Yes," I replied, "My father is the Knight Captain of Count Chase."

"He must be decently strong," Ren commented.

I simply shrugged. My father was <Integration >-rank, as per Arthur Nightingale's memories that I had, but that wasn't impressive compared to the fact that every one of the seven geniuses around me had parents who were <Radiant >-ranks.

Not that I cared much anyway. There was no point in fantasizing about better circumstances and envying those who had them.

"Hey, Lucifer," I said, "I want to talk to you for a bit."

His verdant eyes gleamed uncertainly as he nodded, following me to the side. "Sure."

"What's up?" he asked.

"If your father sends you off to the Kobold Sea, let me know because I might be there," I told him.

"Why would you be at the Kobold Sea?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"To train my water magic, duh," I lied, "Maybe some wind magic as well."

"Hmm, okay," Lucifer said, seemingly convinced I wasn't lying, "I'll give you a call."

I flashed him a smile, but suddenly, Cecilia appeared beside us.

"Mind if I have a word with him, Lucifer?" she asked, her scarlet eyes scanning my face without acknowledging him.

Lucifer, well aware of Cecilia's unpredictable nature, shot me a troubled look before making a quick exit.

I did feel a bit betrayed, but honestly, I'd probably have done the same in his shoes.

Cecilia is, well, a bit crazy.

"Hey, Cecilia," I greeted her.

"What's with that forced smile?" she pouted, "Not happy to see me?"

Closing the distance between us abruptly, she made me take a step back to avoid looking down her dress.

"Don't be so shy," she teased, smirking.

I felt a hole being drilled into my head. When I turned, I saw Seraphina staring at me with a cold expression, her eyes like frost on fire.

"Stop, Cecilia," I said firmly, turning back to the princess.

"Aww, don't ruin the fun," she pouted again, "Anyway, come to the Imperial Palace when you have time."

She handed me a gold plaque with her mana signature before returning to the others. Though I had the urge to toss it away, I knew it could be too useful to discard in a fit of anger.

Sighing once more, I was about to head back to the party when Rachel approached. Her blue eyes held a mix of slight pity for dealing with Cecilia and warmth that eased my heart.

Her golden tresses cascaded down to her hips like a waterfall of molten gold, momentarily stealing my breath with her beauty.

If Cecilia was a seductive beauty and Seraphina a cold one, then Rachel embodied a warm and innocent beauty, playing with the heartstrings of every man.

"Just wanted to give you this, Arthur," she said, handing me a sapphire plaque, "Feel free to come to the Creighton family anytime, okay?"

She smiled, and for a moment, I mistook the glow of a halo above her head. Barely managing a nod, I watched her retreat.

Wait, why are all these princesses giving me their plaques and inviting me to their families?