Chapter 8: The Tutorial That Changes Fate (3)

The surroundings were filled with chaos.

Due to the sudden appearance of swamp orcs, the Entrance Festival had long turned into a pandemonium, with countless citizens screaming and fleeing from the beasts.

“Huff! Huff!”

The professors instructed the 890th class freshmen to evacuate to a safe location.

She, too, was blindly running toward the designated place.

Discovering a mother and child being chased by a swamp orc in that situation was pure coincidence.

What followed was instinctive movement.

Before she even decided to save them, she was already chasing the swamp orc at full speed, and, by sheer luck, she managed to rescue them from danger.

Swoosh!

She raised her sword, staring directly at the orc in front of her.

Her skin prickled at the beast’s ferocity, and her body was drenched in sweat from the suffocating tension.

Fighting a beast wasn’t her first time.

During her long life as a wanderer, she had witnessed countless battles and fought in many herself.

But the orc before her was a kind she had never seen before.

It was larger and seemed far more dangerous.

Still, that changed nothing.

She had to win.

She was here.

She unleashed all the strength she had kept hidden.

“Haaap!”

In the end, her longsword severed the swamp orc’s lifeline.

The swamp orc collapsed, bleeding.

Thus, she emerged victorious and successfully saved the mother and child.

Or so she thought.

Until a sharp sound of flesh being torn came from behind her.

Splatter!

When she hurriedly turned her head, what she saw was a rusty iron sword covered in crusted blood.

The sword trembled, stopping just inches from her nose.

Then, it stilled and moved away.

Thud!

The fallen swamp orc had no head.

“…….”

Her heart pounded wildly.

The thought that, had it been a fraction slower, it would have been her head, not the orc’s, sent a chill down her spine.

In truth, her shoulder was injured, but at that moment, she didn’t register it.

The rush of adrenaline left no room to feel pain.

She merely stared blankly, raising her eyes to the man who had killed the swamp orc.

Their gazes met in the air.

“You are…….”

──Snap.

And Yuria woke from her dream.

“Ah.”

Opening her eyes, Yuria ran a hand over her face.

Again.

It was that dream again.

Since that incident a week ago, the dream had visited her every single day without fail, and today was no exception.

She let out the words she couldn’t say in the dream as a sigh.

“Gerard…….”

That infamous name, known to everyone at the Academy.

Even she, who wasn’t well-versed in Academy affairs, had heard of it, so his notoriety was truly remarkable.

Among her peers, his name was already treated like some kind of legend.

He was undeniably real, but it was hard to believe, rationally, that he had committed all those eccentric acts as the rumors claimed.

Her first meeting with him naturally came to mind.

Looking back now, it could hardly be called a good encounter.

‘Before believing in things that can’t be seen, believe in what’s right in front of your eyes.’

Those sharp words were directed not only at the guard captain but at everyone present.

Yet, she felt as though they were aimed specifically at her.

Especially that cynical expression he wore while looking at her—it was still vivid in her mind.

A surge of hot anger welled up inside her. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t upset by his seemingly dismissive attitude.

But, attitude aside, she had ended up owing him a debt.

If it weren’t for Gerard, her mistaken testimony would have unjustly ruined those men’s lives.

“……And this time, too.”

Yuria unconsciously touched her right shoulder with her hand.

Under the soft silk shirt, she felt the rough texture of bandages.

It was the wound she had sustained from the swamp orc’s attack a week ago.

That day, too, she had received his help.

To be precise, he had saved her life.

She knew well that, without him, the swamp orc’s attack wouldn’t have ended with just a shoulder wound.

“I’d be dead.”

It didn’t matter what kind of person he was.

She owed him a great debt.

That was an unchanging fact.

After everything was over, she had briefly expressed her gratitude in passing, but it was just that—passing.

He brushed it off nonchalantly and left immediately.

It almost felt like he was avoiding her, which oddly irritated her.

Regardless, Yuria kept thinking about Gerard.

She wanted to repay him for his help.

What could she do to repay him?

How could she meet him?

‘I heard it’s harder to meet him at the Academy than to pluck a star from the sky.’

Yuria turned her gaze to the window.

As if reflecting the gloomy atmosphere spreading across the Empire, a drizzle was falling over the world.

Before she knew it, it was eight o’clock.

It was time to get up.

Leaving the dormitory, the outside air felt oppressively heavy.

It was as if all sorts of negative emotions were pressing down on the ground.

After the entrance ceremony ended in the worst possible way due to a terrorist attack by an unknown group, the Empire was submerged in immense anger and sorrow.

Yuria met up with her peers and headed straight to Icata Cathedral.

The joint funeral had concluded, but the chapel was still lighting candles for the victims amidst the pouring rain.

The footsteps of citizens continued unabated even now.

Yuria gazed solemnly at each portrait, offering her condolences.

After praying, she turned with a bitter expression.

“……!”

Yuria’s face brightened ever so slightly.

The joy of unexpectedly encountering him in such a place and with the thought that this time, she would properly express her gratitude, Yuria immediately approached him.

“Ah.”

But she had to stop in her tracks.

The complex emotions etched on his face.

The deep loneliness and intense gloom surrounding him completely blocked anyone from approaching.

Thus, Yuria could only watch him from a distance.

“What are you doing standing there, Yuria?”

“Ah. Rachel.”

Someone approached from the side, linking arms with Yuria and clinging to her.

It was Rachel, a peer with beautiful blonde hair and a charming mole near her lips.

She looked at the man Yuria was watching and her eyes sparkled.

“Huh? That guy’s been here the whole time during the funeral. He’s here today, too? Do you know him?”

“Yeah. An 888th class senior.”

“Really? But why didn’t I know? That’s weird. I’m seeing him for the first time. Did he not come to orientation?”

Yuria nodded.

“He didn’t come, they say.”

“What!? The mysterious vibe I’ve only heard about!? Who is he? What’s his name?”

“Gerard.”

The excitement sparkling in Rachel’s eyes cooled instantly.

It was as if a blazing candle had been snuffed out with a puff.

“……What? A guy not even worth paying attention to?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Oh? Nothing, never mind. Don’t worry about it.”

Yuria felt a strange sense of unease watching Rachel, who quickly returned to her bright smile as if nothing had happened.

But recalling the rumors about him, she let it pass.

She only mulled over in her mind that he didn’t seem like that kind of person.

“By the way, about Ivan. Will he be okay? He looked really devastated. Classes start tomorrow, but will he be able to focus on Academy life?”

At the mention of Ivan’s name, Yuria pictured the face of a peer who was always smiling.

Ivan, with his handsome face, warm eye-smile, and bold yet ever-positive personality, had a knack for making everyone around him smile.

Yuria thought fondly of him, too.

But it was possible she might never see his charming eye-smile again.

Among the victims of the terrorist attack were Ivan’s family.

What must it feel like to lose everything in a single night?

What kind of world was he seeing, and what kind of emotional swamp was he floundering in?

She couldn’t dare to understand.

So, Yuria answered Rachel’s question with a faint sigh.

Even on the way back to the Academy, Rachel chattered nonstop.

Though they had only known each other for a few days, Rachel seemed exceptionally sociable, treating Yuria as if they had been friends for a decade.

Yuria didn’t mind her and responded briefly but consistently.

“By the way, Yuria, which senior are you going to apply to be your mentor? Classes got delayed because of the attack, but they start in earnest tomorrow. That means we need to choose our mentors, too! Right?”

“Mentor?”

“Yeah! Yeah!”

Mentor, huh.

She vaguely recalled being informed about it during orientation.

For one semester, a senior would guide and advise them.

It was said that the senior you were paired with could greatly impact your grades.

Conversely, if a mentee’s grades improved significantly, the mentor would receive merit points.

Merit points were added to completed credits and were the greatest reward given to cadets who made significant contributions to the Academy.

Naturally, they were hard to earn, but if you did, you could even aim for early graduation.

It was entirely possible to make up for lacking credits with merit points.

‘Huh? Wait, maybe…….’

A sudden idea struck Yuria, and she decided to think deeply about this matter.

“I asked the others, and as expected, Senior Asuka is the most popular. The competition seems really fierce.”

Asuka Raymond was a senior from the 888th class, beloved by everyone at the Academy.

Top of the Martial Arts Department, his skills were exceptional, his stunning appearance drew gasps, and his kind, gentlemanly demeanor earned him the respect of many juniors.

‘Completely the opposite of a certain someone.’

The corner of Yuria’s mouth twitched briefly.

“So, who are you going to apply for, Yuria?”

Yuria thought for a moment before opening her lips.

* * *

Long ago, when the Frey Empire was in the midst of its conquest wars.

Among the professors, some were fully retired knights or soldiers, but others temporarily took on teaching roles to take a break from active duty.

So, when war broke out, it caused a troublesome problem.

The professors, being experts in their fields, naturally had to return to their original duties at the Empire’s call, but this left a significant gap at the Academy.

There was no one to fill their vacant positions.

Thus, born out of necessity, was the ‘Mentor System.’

Seniors would take on the role of professors.

Of course, due to the vast gap in teaching experience, skill, and real-world expertise, they couldn’t fully perform a professor’s role.

But they could sufficiently act as guides, helping their juniors safely follow the path they had walked.

In practice, this proved quite effective.

Seniors guided their mentees well, and some even received praise for understanding and advising their juniors better than the professors.

This was how the ‘Mentor System’ became an established institution at the Academy.

In Heroes of Frey, the Mentor System is a recurring element.

Given the Academy’s nature, where various characters interact and intertwine, the Mentor System occupies a significant portion of the main storyline, making it a weighty component.

Of course, it has absolutely nothing to do with me.

The Mentor System is based on the mentee’s unilateral application, and there’s no way any cadet would apply to me.

What cadet would choose the Academy’s worst failure as their mentor?

Unless they were insane, there’s no way.

……Or so I thought.

Summoned to the Student Affairs Office in the morning, I asked in disbelief at the staff member’s words.

“Excuse me?”

“Someone sent you a mentor application, Gerard.”

“Excuse me?”

“Someone sent you a mentor application.”

“……Excuse me?”

“Someone! Sent you, Gerard! A mentor application!”

Staring blankly at the red-faced, huffing bespectacled staff member, I scratched my head.

And asked again.

“Excuse me?”

“…….”

The staff member let out a long sigh before continuing.

“Right, Gerard. You don’t believe it either, do you? Neither do I. I’m utterly baffled. What kind of crazy freshman would pick you as their mentor? Huh?”

“Exactly.”

“Curious?”

“Yes.”

“Shall we crack open that freshman’s head and find out?”

“You’re joking, right?”

“Of course it’s a joke. A joke. Though I really do want to crack open the person standing in front of me.”

Is working at Student Affairs that tough?

Why is this person so brutal?

“Take it easy. You’ve got a scary look on your face.”

“It’s because of you, you punk……. Anyway, if you’re curious, ask them yourself. I don’t know anything.”

Thud. The staff member tossed an envelope containing the mentor application toward me.

I took it and returned to the dormitory.

“It’s a mistake, right?”

It has to be.

No, it’s definitely a mistake.

Judging by that staff member’s clueless expression, they don’t seem like someone who handles work meticulously.

Yeah. Who am I at this Academy?

Who in their right mind would choose a guy like me as their mentor?

Sure, I’ve been working hard to improve my image since the Entrance Festival, but compared to my peers, I’m still the trashiest of trash.

There are plenty of other peers with better reputations and grades.

Anyone with a brain would obviously choose them.

That’s only logical, natural, and in line with the story’s flow.

In the main storyline I know, no one from the 890th class ever chose Gerard as their mentor.

“They should do their job properly.”

Tch. Clicking my tongue, I tossed the envelope onto the desk.

And with that, the mentor application was completely erased from my mind.

I turned my gaze to the mirror.

Reflected in it was a status window that had completely changed from two months ago.

Name: Gerard

Age: 30

Occupation: Thief / Frey Academy 888th Class Cadet

Level: 31

Strength: 35

Agility: 50

Stamina: 33

Mental Strength: 37

Traits ─ Versatile / Instinct / Endurance / Memory and Understanding / Coolheadedness / Sharp Perception / Gaius’s Insight

It was a testament to my efforts over the past two months.

Experience points from the Cult’s request, combined with hunting beasts at a known lucrative spot after getting outing permissions.

And a week ago, the Vault mission led to significant level-ups.

Plus, I achieved the feat of gaining additional permanent stat points through an optimized training routine.

It was like wringing every drop of water from dried jerky—I pushed myself to the limit for extreme growth every single day.

I’d never do it again, but that made these days all the more satisfying.

I moved my body around, striking poses for no reason.

This level of growth is enough.

Next is the Vision.

Yes.

Stats are important, but just as crucial is the Vision.

Like a skill tree in any typical game’s progression system, it’s the same in Heroes of Frey.

Which Vision you learn is a critical factor in determining future growth.

On the desk, five Secret Tomes were lined up neatly, catching my eye.

Perhaps because of the post-terror cleanup.

The Academy still hadn’t realized these Secret Tomes had been stolen.

But it’s only a matter of time.

On the day when all students select their Visions.

The Academy will realize the Secret Tomes are gone, and given the circumstances, they’ll also figure out a thief infiltrated the Academy.

Before that happens, I need to secure my own safe infiltration route into the Vault.

Anyway, the five Visions I stole are these.

From left to right, in order:

One Magic, one Martial Art.

And three Summoning Arts.

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