The Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy - Chapter 50

Chapter 50: The Moonlight Swordsman (XVI)

“No.”

The word left my mouth before I could even think twice.

Honestly, why would I want to join the same group as Lucas—the novel’s protagonist who’s practically a walking trouble magnet?

My refusal seemed to catch them off guard, after all, their eyes widened slightly. Lucas’s cheerful face also faltered, and the others exchanged glances.

“…Why?”

Yet, surprisingly, it was Ella who asked me why I refused them.

“Well… I’m better off alone.” I took a bite of my food before replying.

I wouldn’t tell them that the real reason I rejected Lucas’s offer was because he was a magnet for trouble.

Ella wasn’t satisfied by my response though.

Her brow furrowed slightly as she pressed on: “You do know there are limits to being alone, right?”

To her words, I shrugged my shoulders.

“I haven’t reached any yet. Besides, I already have a few partners.”

I was, of course, referring to Lumi and Alaine. They were more than enough.

At my words, Ella’s eyes narrowed slightly before her lips parted:

“…Really?”

“Yeah,” I replied, meeting her eyes.

I don’t know why was she so persistent, but whatever. I lifted my head and locked my eyes with her for a moment.

She kept the same straight face as she stared at me.

Yeah…

She doesn’t seem to like me in that ‘way’.

I cleared my throat and broke the eye contact.

“Well, I’m done eating.”

“Huh? Already?” Lucas blurted, glancing at my plate.

It was spotless—completely cleared of food.

…It was so clean that I could see my own face reflected in it, which made me frown a little. But I wasn’t frowning because of the plate… no, it was because of my eyes.

Usually, my eyes had a deep blood-red color, with a faint glow that grew brighter when my emotions got stronger.

But now…

My left eye had changed.

A soft blue glow mixed into the red, making it look more bluish, with hints of purple at certain angles.

This had never happened before.

Was it because I had broken the seal on my Aura?

When could this have started?

It felt… strange.

“…When did you eat the whole thing?” He couldn’t help but ask in surprise, breaking my thoughts almost immediately.

I raised an eyebrow at his words.

“It had already passed more than ten minutes… what do you exactly mean by that?”

Lucas blinked, looking genuinely confused.

I was also confused as I looked at his puzzled expression.

Was he so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t notice the time flying away?

“Yeah… Lucas, are you okay?” Iris couldn’t help but ask in concern, looking at his face.

“Yeah, you’re acting kinda weird.”

Maya also leaned in, waving a hand in front of his face.

I also took a look at his face, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

“I’m alright…” he replied.

Whatever.

Not my problem.

So, I stood up, adjusting my chair as I did.

“I’ll be going, thanks for the invite though,” I said, giving them a casual nod before walking away.

‘Around this time… I should have mana theory classes….’

I thought to myself.

I glanced at a clock on the wall. There were still about fifteen minutes left before class started.

That gave me just enough time to kill some time in the library.

For now, I had nothing to do except continue to read a book I had found earlier.

…

As soon as Aestrea left…

Lucas sat with his friends at the crowded cafeteria table, absentmindedly pushing food around on his plate.

Maya was excitedly debating with Iris about which dessert stall they should visit during the Snow Festival, while Ella quietly interjected with her own sarcastic remarks.

Rose, as usual, remained quiet, her focus on her own meal.

“Seriously, Iris, you don’t understand! The chocolate lava cake at the main square is divine!” Maya declared, dramatically pressing a hand to her chest.

“You said the same thing about the raspberry tart last year,” Iris replied with a smirk. “Are you sure you’re not just obsessed with sugar?”

“Hey! It’s not my fault the best part of any festival is the food!” Maya shot back.

Hearing their conversation, Ella sighed deeply, rolling her eyes: “You’d probably survive a dungeon raid if the treasure at the end was cake.”

The others laughed, but Lucas found himself distracted.

Something felt… off.

His thoughts drifted away from the conversation as a soft voice echoed in his head.

<I’m here. Please, come get me.>

His fork froze mid-air, his eyes narrowing slightly. He scanned the room, half-expecting to see someone standing behind him, whispering in his ear.

“Lucas, are you okay?” Iris asked, noticing his sudden stillness.

“Yeah, you’ve been zoning out a lot,” Maya added, leaning closer to him before saying in a teasing manner.

“Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about Aestrea refusing your offer?”

“No, no. Just tired, I guess.” Lucas shook his head quickly, forcing a smile.

“You don’t look tired. What’s going on?” Ella asked with a slight frown.

Before he could answer, the voice returned, clearer this time.

<Come closer… find me…>

Lucas blinked, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. The voice felt so real like it was coming from someone right beside him.

“Lucas?” Rose’s quiet voice broke through his thoughts.

He looked up, realizing they were all staring at him.

“Uh, sorry. I think I just need some air.”

Maya raised an eyebrow: “Are you sure? You’re acting weird.”

“Yeah, seriously, if something’s up, just tell us,” Iris chimed in, leaning forward.

Lucas forced another smile upon hearing their words.

“It’s nothing, really. I just need to clear my head.”

Ella’s frown deepened as her eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’re hiding something….”

Plop!

Lucas stood up abruptly, grabbing his tray. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you all later.”

Before they could press him further, he turned and walked away, his steps quick and purposeful.

“Jeez, what’s his deal?” Maya muttered, watching him leave.

“He’s probably stressed.” Iris sighed.

Outside, the crisp air hit Lucas’s face as he stepped into the quiet courtyard. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the strange sensation building inside him.

<To the right… in the garden…>

The voice returned, soft and melodic, like an angel’s whisper. Lucas hesitated, glancing back at the cafeteria.

Should he tell the others?

No, they’d think he was crazy.

With no exact choice, he turned to the right, following the voice.

The path led him to the large garden behind the main building, its flowers, and statues bathed in the soft afternoon light.

<Closer…>

Lucas’s footsteps slowed down as he approached the center of the garden. There, standing tall and proud, was a statue of a woman clad in ornate armor.

Her expression was serene yet commanding, and in her hands, she held a sword that seemed to glow faintly, even in the daylight.

“What is this…? How come I didn’t see this state before…?” Lucas muttered to himself, his gaze drawn to the statue.

<Press the flower at the base of the statue…>

Lucas’s eyes lowered down, finding a small carved flower at the base. He hesitated, his fingers hovering over the intricate design.

“This is crazy,” he whispered to himself. “Why am I even listening to this?”

But the voice was so soothing, so persuasive.

It felt… familiar.

With a deep breath, Lucas pressed the flower.

Immediately, a faint hum filled the air, and a glowing magic circle appeared beneath his feet.

“Wait, what the—”

Before he could react, the light enveloped him, and the garden vanished.

“Agh…!”

When the light faded, Lucas found himself standing in a massive corridor. The air was heavy with an ancient yet powerful aura.

The walls were lined with hundreds of statues, each one holding the same beautiful sword as the one in the garden.

His footsteps echoed as he walked forward, his eyes darting around in awe.

<These are your ancestors… they can be called such.>

Lucas stopped as his breath hitched.

The voice was much clearer now.

“Ancestors…?” he murmured.

The statues seemed to watch him as he continued walking, making him feel strange.

And then, up ahead, something caught his eye.

A rock stood in the center of the corridor, its surface smooth and unyielding. Piercing through it was a beautiful sword, exactly the same as the statue’s sword.

Lucas’s heart raced as he approached the rock.

<Come get me… let’s be partners… once again…>

The voice was filled with longing, almost pleading.

Lucas hesitated, staring at the sword.

“Partners…?”

<Yes… take me, and we will achieve greatness together.>

Swallowing his doubt, Lucas reached out. His hand wrapped around the hilt, and an overwhelming warmth spread through his body.

With a deep breath, he pulled.

Swssh!

The sword slid out effortlessly, as though it had been waiting just for him.

Golden light burst from the blade, filling the entire corridor. Power surged through Lucas, brimming and vibrant, as if the sword was pouring its essence into him.

He staggered slightly, overwhelmed by the sheer energy coursing through his veins.

<Welcome back, my forever partner…>

The voice was stronger now, filled with joy.

<Let us be great again!>

Upon hearing the sword’s voice, Lucas tightened his grip on it.

“Excalibur…”

He whispered softly.

The name came to him naturally, as if he had always known it.

At that moment, in many different locations, a handful amount of people seemed to feel something that made their hearts shudder.

Amongst all of them, one particular stood quietly, already looking at Lucas’s figure.

She was breathtaking.

Her long, sparkling purple hair cascaded down her back like a shimmering waterfall, glowing faintly in the light.

Her eyes, a piercing light blue, seemed to hold the secrets of the stars.

On her head, she wore a tall, elegant witch hat in deep purple, decorated with silver embroidery and a single gemstone at its center, gleaming like a tiny star.

Her outfit was just as striking as her appearance.

She wore a fitted, sleeveless black dress that hugged her curvaceous figure, the neckline plunging just enough to reveal a teasing glimpse of her flawless skin.

Her slender arms were adorned with elegant black gloves that reached her elbows, and she wore high-heeled boots that would click softly against the floor with every step she took.

A dark purple corset accentuated her already voluptuous body, cinching her waist and highlighting her impossibly massive breasts, which were far larger than Christina’s.

The fabric strained slightly, as if barely able to contain her chest.

She stood in her room, surrounded by bookshelves filled with grimoires.

On the table before her rested a small crystal orb, glowing faintly as it showed Lucas standing before the sword.

“He’s finally found it,” Eleonora murmured in a soft tone, her eyes slightly widened with curiosity.

Her full lips curved into a faint smile as she tapped the table lightly with her gloved fingers.

“And much earlier than I expected…”

Through the crystal orb, she watched Lucas carefully as he slowly brushed his fingers along the edge of the blade.

The Excalibur.

What Lucas was experiencing now by brushing his finger along the sharp blade, was just one of the various effects of the Excalibur…

The sword couldn’t damage its partner.

“Now… I wonder how Aestrea is supposed to beat him,” she thought aloud, leaning slightly closer to the orb.

Her chest shifted with the motion, though she seemed oblivious to the effect it might have had on anyone nearby—if there were anyone.

“His identity is known now, not just to the other headmasters but to those old fools as well…”

Her fingers stopped tapping, and a frown crossed her beautiful face.

“Maybe… after being defeated for the first time, Aestrea will finally take my offer to be my disciple… if not…”

A red malicious glint appeared in her light blue eyes, and her hand clenched into a tight fist.

“…I wouldn’t know what to do.”