Magic Academy Mayhem: A Class Full of Maniacs - Chapter 33

Chapter 33

An existence the world saw as mysterious and powerful had been destroyed?

What force could possibly have had the power to wipe out a family that strong?

And a hundred years ago, no less…

If word of this got out, it would definitely cause an uproar.

Even Cynthia herself found it a little hard to believe. “Would it be convenient for you to tell me why they were destroyed?”

“There is nothing inconvenient about it.” More than a century had passed, and You Xia did not think it was some secret that could not be mentioned. “It was merely because of the Heavenly Punishment. As for why we suffered the Heavenly Punishment, I was young at the time, so I don’t really know.

“The entire family territory has long since become ruins. At present, I would guess only the Family Forbidden Ground still exists. If you wish to go there when the time comes, just follow the guidance of the Bone Key.”

Heavenly Punishment…

Cynthia was unfamiliar with the term.

From the way various texts described it, Heavenly Punishment should be similar to divine punishment brought down for defying the rules, only even more severe than divine punishment.

What choice had the Prometheus Clan made to suffer such a disaster of extermination?

Even the last direct-line descendant did not know the specific reason. It was truly strange…

Cynthia was curious, but digging deeper would not benefit her in the slightest.

Suppressing the curiosity that had surfaced, she gave her promise. “After the team competition ends, I’ll leave the academy and scatter your ashes in the Empire’s seas, returning your freedom to you.”

Every time she had left the academy, it had been through Griffin’s teleportation, so she had never had a chance to get close to any other place. That was why the matter had been delayed until now.

So much time had already passed. It was time to find an opportunity and fulfill the promise she had made back then as soon as possible. More importantly, she was also starting to wonder what secrets were hidden in a place of opportunity that the Prometheus family regarded as its forbidden ground…

“Just handle it however you see fit.” After leaving that annoying deserted island, You Xia was no longer in a hurry. “The academy is pretty fun too. I’m not anxious.”

“All right.” Cynthia responded, then did not continue the conversation. After treating her injuries, she lay back down.

It was very quiet around her, so quiet that even the fatigue she had been hiding these past few days surged up in waves.

She really was tired.

The Heavenly Scourge Seven Killings Destiny… To put it bluntly, it was a fate destined to be unloved by fortune, an unlucky existence that had to struggle to survive amid endless slaughter and danger.

If there were a shortcut, if simply slacking off could let her achieve what she wanted, who would want to be this exhausted all the time?

Cynthia stared up at the galaxy-like sky. She had just been about to raise a hand to block out the light that was not even that dazzling when, before she could move, the sound of footsteps came over.

“…”

Cynthia dismissed the thought and tilted her head slightly toward the source of the footsteps. She saw Vernel, who had left earlier, walking out of the forest.

“Where did you go?” Cynthia asked from where she lay.

“To find food.” Vernel approached her and took several pale-golden Moon Fruit out of her Storage Ring, offering them to Cynthia. “Want some?”

“Of course. I’m starving right now.” Cynthia sat up and accepted them with both hands. “Thanks.”

“…It’s nothing. No need to thank me.” Vernel usually saw her refuse everything Richter gave her, so she had thought Cynthia would refuse this too. Seeing her accept it, Vernel felt an inexplicable, somewhat… subtle feeling.

The two of them leaned against the Moonshadow Tree and quietly ate the fruit.

After a long while, Vernel said, “Let’s rest for tonight. We’ll continue tomorrow.”

Cynthia really was exhausted right now, so she did not refuse. “Okay.”

–

The night was exceptionally peaceful. Until dawn arrived, they did not encounter a single Magical Beast attack. Cynthia and Vernel finally managed to get a rare, proper rest.

It was already the third day since they had arrived on Moonlight Island. The two of them picked up their pace and headed into the forest.

Like the sea, the forest hid countless dangers. Considering that splitting up would be even more dangerous, they did not choose to separate and continued acting together.

It was not until the night of the sixth day that they finally managed to gather all the materials before the final deadline.

After they went to the faculty’s part-time work office to hand in the materials, exchange them for points, and return to their faculty, Cynthia, Vernel, and Eli happened to run into one another downstairs from the dormitory building.
Cynthia’s gaze swept over them.

Clearly, their trip hadn’t gone smoothly either. Who knew how much torment they’d endured out there? All three of them had dark circles so heavy they were practically panda eyes.

Their bodies were covered in bandages stained red with blood, making them look especially frightening.

Cynthia asked, “Did you collect all the materials on the list?”

“Mm,” Eli replied flatly. The other two said nothing.

As long as they had collected everything, that was enough. Cynthia offered a token bit of concern. “The interdepartmental competition is the day after tomorrow. Get some proper rest tomorrow.”

Only after she said it did she realize that had not sounded like concern at all. It sounded more like the tone of a heartless corporate overlord.

Cynthia fell silent for a moment, then decisively gave up.

Forget it. She really wasn’t the type to comfort or care for others.

Cynthia said goodbye and turned to enter the dormitory. After taking a few steps, she suddenly thought of something, stopped, and turned back to Richter. “Richter, remember to apply your medicine on time.” She did not want to be in pain all night.

At that, Richter, who had not said a word until now, lifted his eyes and stepped closer. A smile, impossible to tell whether genuine or false, gathered in those beautiful eyes of his. “Can Captain apply it for me?”

Cynthia stared at him for two seconds.

Richter waited for her to refuse, but the person in front of him smiled and agreed.

“Sure. Where would you like me to apply it? Your hand? Your shoulder? Or…” Cynthia’s gaze drifted downward.

The three people watching the show instinctively followed her gaze.

Richter’s smile vanished at once. “…I was joking. I won’t trouble Captain with something so minor.”

He hurried past her toward the elevator.

Cynthia gave a soft scoff.

He clearly didn’t like being touched, yet he always insisted on acting like he was clingy.

What a spoiled, willful little ghost…

Thinking that, Cynthia turned and headed toward the magic elevator on the other side.
The next day was a rare moment of leisure.

To her surprise, after they turned in the materials Griffin had requested, he was uncharacteristically generous and gave each of them 500 points.

At that moment, Cynthia felt that all the suffering of the past few days had been worth it.

Together with the part-time job points she had split with Vernel, plus what she had left over from before, she currently had 652 points.

At least two months’ worth of meals were settled.

It was a rare day off, and the weather was clear and bright.

Cynthia had no intention of training. She planned to give herself a break.

She had just opened her dorm room door, ready to go browse the shopping street, when she ran into Richter, who was stepping out of his own room at the same time.

His room was directly across from hers. The instant their eyes met, Richter spoke first. “Where are you going, Captain?”

There was nothing worth hiding, so Cynthia told the truth. “To the shopping street for a look around. I’ll grab breakfast while I’m there.”

“I see…” Richter smiled slightly. “May I come with you?”

Cynthia closed the door and walked toward the dormitory exit. “Can I say no?”

“No,” Richter said, following behind her.
Half an hour later.

Cynthia looked at the huge pile of desserts on the table, then at Richter, who was sitting quietly by the window eating strawberry cake. For some reason, the scene felt strangely out of place.

She hadn’t expected this guy to love sweets so much…

But she had to admit, that face of his really was pleasing to the eye. When he was quiet, he did look like an angel.

Sensing her gaze, Richter looked up at her. “Aren’t you eating, Captain?”

Cynthia propped her cheek on one hand and said lazily, “You eat. I can’t really handle sweets.”

Richter’s hand paused. After a long moment, he suddenly said, “…I don’t like them either.”

“?”

Cynthia pointed at the empty plates on the table, amused. “Then did a puppy eat all these?”

“…” Richter said nothing. Sulking, he ordered a huge pile of non-sweet dishes.

Cynthia glanced at the point cost on the menu.

Mm. If this guy didn’t get a part-time job soon, he was probably going to starve to death.