Chapter 38

Chapter 38

With less than a second to spare before the impending collision, the palpable loom of death hung in the air.

I need to stay calm. Sirone, still very much alive, was fixated on the iron monstrosity barreling toward him. I have to think. A surge of electricity jolted his brain into high gear, elevating his already sharp senses to new heights of awareness and power. It took a tenth of a second to get here. Do I have time to spare? No. Not yet...

His thought processes sped up even further. A hundredth of a second. As the internal structure of the Dragon’s Maze shifted, Sirone initiated a simulation to find an escape. A thousandth of a second...

The maze had six intersections, and to escape, nine consecutive teleports were needed. It’s impossible. It might have been possible alone, but escaping through the opening with Mark was impossible. I need to find a different route... But before he could start a new simulation, the Dragon’s Maze engulfed them.

Around them, students averted their eyes, and several girls screamed. Seryel’s was the most piercing.

A resounding boom echoed through the narrow space, as if life itself was shattering. One ten-thousandth of a second. Between the fractions of time, far fainter than any sensation, Sirone swiftly executed a chain of teleportations according to the pattern he determined. Subsequently, a beam of light pierced through the Dragon’s Maze, crossing the finish line.

Sirone crash-landed in front of the shocked students and collapsed to his knees, clutching them tightly as he groaned. His body was at its limit, and pain throbbed through every inch.

It took a moment for him to catch his breath, during which no student dared approach him. They looked on as if they had seen a ghost.

Etala hurried to the control room to find Sienna.

Shortly afterward, the machinery came to a halt, and a voice declared, “The mechanical device for the Pathless Bridge has been deactivated. Level zero. Level zero.”

With the mechanical noise ceasing, the twisted iron bars retracted like wilted vines. The upperclassmen from the advanced class were the first to regain their voices, murmuring in disbelief.

“How... was that possible?”

“There’s no way. It was level ten. And he also made it through the Dragon’s Maze.”

Disbelief coursed through the onlookers as Sirone took in his surroundings, feeling the weight of every gaze upon him. Each face was etched with anticipation. No one wanted to miss a single detail.

Sirone recalled the situation. Did I actually make it? His memory was hazy, but the fact that he was alive and breathing was undeniable. Rubbing his aching backside, Sirone let out a sigh of relief mixed with a pained expression. “Whew, I thought I was a goner.”

The students, who had expected a triumphant declaration of success, exchanged bewildered glances. However, Amy grasped the unsaid reality. Moving forward isn’t about being impressive or not. Individuals who grapple with fear and pain and contemplate giving up while persisting in their pursuits view their accomplishments as something not meant for display.

Seryel hugged Amy. “Sirone did it! Your boyfriend really did it!”

The word “boyfriend” was perhaps unnecessary, but Amy, seeing her friend’s tears, felt her authenticity and chose not to correct her.

Upperclassmen quickly flocked to Sirone.

“Congrats! That was incredible!”

“So, are you moving up to Class Five now? Ha! Class Six is going to be so jealous!”

Amid the commotion, the three professors who had been in the control room appeared at the scene via teleportation along with Maria.

Sienna quickly searched for Sirone. When Etala had told her what had happened, she struggled to believe it. However, the unbelievable scene was unfolding right before her.

Did he really overcome the Dragon’s Maze? How is that possible? It’s a challenge even for the graduating class. Feeling regret for having missed such a significant moment, she shot a glance at Thad.

Thad gave her a nonchalant shrug. “As you may or may not know, I did what I could.”

With a sigh, Sienna approached Alpheas.

Recognizing the importance of clarifying the situation and definitively determining the winner, particularly due to the simultaneous finish of both Sirone and Mark, she sought to prevent any potential misunderstandings in the future.

“Headmaster, regarding the winner...” Sienna, ever perceptive, noticed a hint of sorrow in Alpheas’ eyes. Why does he look so troubled?

Thad quickly stepped forward. “Let me handle this. The headmaster appears to be preoccupied right now.”

“Preoccupied? But he did allow the exam to proceed, and it concluded without any accidents.”

“Yes, but...”

Thad held back his words. Knowing Alpheas’ history as his former student, Thad could empathize with his mentor’s emotions. Sirone’s energetic and dynamic presence likely reminded the headmaster of his younger days. Don’t harbor guilt, Headmaster. No single person is to blame.

Alpheas was once known as the Shining Star of House Mirhy. He had earned recognition as a mage by reshaping our understanding of photons. Now, it was an outdated theory, but at the time, it was a radical and shocking idea. He had even received the Gold Circle Award bestowed by the emperor of the kingdom for his discoveries. Yet, his radiant talent led the young Alpheas into a chasm of despair.

If that incident had never happened... He could have become an archmage remembered in the annals of history. Trying to maintain a cheerful demeanor, Thad encouraged him, “Headmaster, please say something. A talent has emerged that will surely brighten the school’s future.”

“Hmm? Oh! Indeed, I must pull myself together.” Alpheas, breaking away from his thoughts with a kind smile, turned to face the students. “The successful candidate for this advancement exam is Sirone Arian. Although only one of you has advanced, I wish to commend all participants. The courage you displayed today is the very strength that will shape the future of our world. I encourage each of you to persist in your efforts for even greater achievements.”

Applause erupted among the students. With the school’s history reshaped, there was no dissent over Sirone’s early advancement.

Mark shared in the sentiment. I was wrong all along. Sirone might not remember, but he could vividly recall the moment they escaped from the Dragon’s Maze. If it were me, I wouldn’t have had the courage to even attempt an escape. Yet Sirone had pressed forward, showing the bravery to take one more step, even in the face of the seemingly impossible. Maybe... that’s a talent in itself.

As Mark slowly got up, he turned towards Sirone, who had attracted everyone’s attention.

Suspicions about his interference had circulated among the students to such an extent that even Sirone had heard about it. Maybe that was why Mark felt even more embarrassed, but he had already made up his mind. With a lowered head, he admitted defeat. “I’ve lost. I don’t expect forgiveness, but I will take responsibility.”

Sirone looked at him. It was certainly unusual to see the normally confrontational Mark bow his head to anyone. A part of him believed that while he might accept the result, it was more characteristic of Mark to act in defense of his pride.

“All right. I hope the best for you too.” Though his feelings were mixed, Sirone decided it was best to let the school address Mark’s actions.

As Mark raised the proverbial white flag, the students from Class Seven began to extend their congratulations one by one.

“Congratulations. You were truly amazing.”

Having demonstrated his capabilities, Sirone was no longer seen merely as a peer but as someone to be respected.

Amy watched with a gentle smile. Congrats. After observing Sirone a moment longer, she turned decisively to Seryel. “Let’s go.”

“Huh? Are we leaving already? It’s okay to stay with your boyfriend on a day like today.”

“I don’t have time for that.” While a part of her wanted to stay, Amy was determined to use even that hint of regret as fuel for her training. Now it’s my turn.

As Amy walked away, Sirone, who was being greeted by his new underclassmen, turned his head. He understood the emotions she harbored while watching over him and conveyed his gratitude silently from his heart. Thank you.

When the upperclassmen departed and only Class Seven remained, Thad approached Alpheas. “Headmaster, there’s a matter concerning Maria’s actions I need to report.”

“Hmm...” Alpheas, aware that the examination process had been unconventional, had been expecting this discussion.

Thad began relaying the events accurately, neither defending nor condemning her actions.

“I see. What could have driven you to do such a thing, Maria?”

Maria lowered her head. “I’m sorry. I’ve made an irreversible mistake. I’m ready to accept any punishment, no matter how severe.”

Alpheas’ gaze deepened as he pondered.

Of course, disciplinary action was inevitable, but he also considered the bullying she had faced.

Maria communicated her thoughts to Thad through her gaze. Don’t worry, Professor. I’ll endure whatever comes my way. She was intent on accepting responsibility to demonstrate her resolve to the one person who had reassured her that her journey wasn’t over yet.

“Please forgive Maria. Honestly, this whole mess is my fault.”

Confused, the professors turned around.

They saw Mark standing there with a slouch.

“What do you mean?”

“I taunted Maria this morning because she reported me to Professor Sienna. I guess I would have snapped too if someone treated me like that.”

“Mark...” Maria looked at him with surprise, but Mark subtly avoided her gaze.

“Even so, the direct responsibility is Maria’s,” Sienna remarked. “Why admit to this? It’s something we might have overlooked.”

“I just... felt embarrassed.”

“Embarrassed?”

It wasn’t a deeply considered decision. It was simply too embarrassing to remain silent when even Maria, whom he considered to be weak, was prepared to face the consequences.

“I know I have a short fuse, but I’m not a coward. I may have acted cowardly during the exam, but...” Mark trailed off. The admission was what led him to acknowledge Sirone. “The responsibility lies with me, so I ask that you go easy on Maria’s punishment.”

“Regardless of how you put it, breaking a rule is breaking a rule.”

A male student from Class Seven stood up and said, “Professor, I also harassed Maria. I believe I should take responsibility as well.”

His confession was going to lead to punishment. If he had opted to stay silent, he might have been able to let the matter quietly fade away. However, that wasn’t what he desired. Following his confession, more students from Class Seven stepped forward.

“I’ll accept punishment too. I’ve looked down on her all this time, so it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t take responsibility as well.”

“Professor, I’ve wronged her as well.”

With each admission, Sienna’s concern grew.

“This is not a class meeting. You’ve all clearly violated school rules, and there will be consequences.”

But the students stood firm.

“You brats! Why would you do such things if you were just going to—”

“That’s enough,” Alpheas interrupted Sienna. “I’m sure they’ve all recognized their mistakes, especially after witnessing Sirone’s level of mastery, which was equivalent to the graduating class.”

It was a day that shattered the preconceptions of Class Seven, a class thought to be grounded in just the basics.

“But there might be some crowd psychology at play that’s making the students believe that facing punishment together is more acceptable. How can we be certain they are truly reflecting on their actions?” Sienna inquired.

Alpheas chuckled with a sparkle in his eyes. “I’ve never noticed it before, but Professor Sienna, you have quite an endearing side to you.”

“Pardon?” she replied after a moment of hesitation.

“Don’t expect too much from humans for we are simply humans. Our kind is neither exceptionally evil nor exceptionally good by nature. The children’s willingness to accept consequences is a testament to their conscience and desire to shoulder responsibility, even if they haven’t fully comprehended their mistakes.”

Sienna fell silent, contemplating his words.

“Sharing a burden is a challenging endeavor, not only for the graduating class but also for a class as high as Class Four. It’s how children evolve into adults, and it’s a process I don’t particularly oppose. If their newfound awareness today extends beyond the school and endures in society, the world may indeed undergo a transformation.”

It’s something only the students of Class Seven are capable of. And someday... these kids will move forward, their memories of today fading away. Finishing his thoughts, Alpheas turned to the students. “I understand your sentiments. Are you all willing to accept the disciplinary action I propose?”

Some students flinched, but after exchanging glances, they responded in unison,

“Yes, Headmaster!”

Alpheas smiled warmly. “Very well. I will now explain the details of the disciplinary action. The entirety of Class Seven will be on probation for one month.”

“Wh-what?”

The students were taken aback by the unprecedented disciplinary action, and the shock was even more profound for the professors. Not only was the duration extensive, but it also implied a complete suspension of classes for the Class Seven students.

“But, Headmaster, the students’ families will surely express their concerns. And what about maintaining the curriculum?” a professor questioned.

“I will take full responsibility,” Alpheas firmly cut off any further objections and turned to Sirone, who was standing apart from the group. It appeared he was on the verge of saying something, but instead, he gave a gentle smile and made his way down the mountain.

The students left behind were momentarily at a loss for words.

“One month of probation...”

For many, it was their first time facing such serious consequences, yet the anticipated dread was less intense than expected.

“I-it doesn’t matter! We’re all on probation together, so none of us can attend classes anyway,” one student said.

“Yeah. It’s actually better than three days of strict punishment. Besides, probation won’t be noted on our academic records,” another student added.

The mood among the students brightened.

“Ha! What now? Are we free to just have fun starting today?” a student joked.

“Have fun? No way! We should spend tonight at the library. How about we all get together and study?”

“That sounds fun! Maria, are you going to join us?”

“Well, I...” she hesitated, looking toward the professors. Seeing Thad’s reassuring smile and nod, Maria found her confidence in her timid way. “I’d love to join you.”

While it was certain that things would be awkward initially, as long as the disciplinary action brought the children closer together, Maria would manage just fine.

Was this the headmaster’s intention all along? You’re always thinking ahead. Once the month of probation ends, the intense competition will probably resume, but... They will have these shared moments.

Thad turned to leave, his thoughts lingering on the hope that the day’s lesson would remain with the students for a very long time.