An Angel Lives in the Academy
Chapter 71: The Angel Learns the Style (2)

Episode 71

Mumble mumble-

Countless students gathered in front of the bulletin board at the main building of the Central Academy.

"No, in this age of smartphones, does it even make sense to post an announcement on the bulletin board? Typical old-fashioned elf."

Soya grumbled.

Honestly, even Leffrey agreed.

"What's the point of even having an academy website if they're going to do this? Really..."

Grumble grumble-

Despite grumbling, Soya tried hard to read the notice, standing on her tiptoe.

'I-I can't see!'

Both Soya and Leffrey were short, in the 160 cm range, which put them at a disadvantage in a situation like this. (TL Note: 160 cm = 5’3)

Besides, using skills was strictly prohibited in front of the Central Academy main building.

These two shorties had no choice but to stand on their tiptoes to try and read the notice.

"Leffrey."

The voice of a savior came.

The savior, with long black hair and small horns, her name was Yumari.

As soon as Yumari appeared, the surrounding students started glancing at her. Yumari, who had become a bit famous after the Blessing of the Spirits.

Was now already a celebrity, with students even asking for her autograph.

"I took a picture. I'll share it with you on KakaoTalk."

"...Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Leffrey immediately called out to Soya,

"Soya!"

"What?"

"Mari took a picture of the notice. Thank her."

Soya hesitated for a moment, then slowly opened her mouth.

"Ugh, yeah. Thanks a little."

"What do you mean 'thanks a little'? Say it properly!"

"...No!"

Thus, Leffrey and Soya could finally read the notice written by the problematic professor, Lusa.

---

Final Exam Announcement

Since all the other professors have urgent business trips,

I'll be handling this final exam on my own.

Honestly, complicated exams are

A pain in the ass for both me and you, so

Let's keep things simple.

First test,

A thrilling many-versus-one battle with me.

Based on the score you receive here,

I'll divide you all into levels from S to F.

Second test, one-on-one battles based on your level,

I'll use the combined scores from these two tests,

To determine the final ranking of this exam.

If you have any complaints about the format, come to the Martial Arts Department office.

That is all.

---

Leffrey, after reading the notice, let out a deep sigh.

"Just as I imagined..."

He couldn't help but shake his head.

"...When was our final exam supposed to start again?"

Soya answered Leffrey's absentminded question in a dejected voice,

"This Friday."

"That's the day after tomorrow."

Honestly, Leffrey wasn't too worried about this exam.

'First of all, I've gotten stronger, and I got a high score on the last midterm, so it's okay even if I don't do so well this time. And it's the same for Soya.'

Although Soya was trembling, saying "Hmph, that damned elf. Don't underestimate a black mage,"

Truthfully, Soya didn't need to be so scared.

If she could hold her own against Hongwol in a spar, she would surely be able to rank high in this sparring exam.

But the problem was…

'There are so many students who are trembling like Soya. After all, not everyone is good at fighting.'

But Leffrey couldn't help it.

As heroes who would protect humanity, strength was essential, and therefore, an exam that tested strength was also essential.

'Everything should be fine with this exam, except...'

But what Leffrey was worried about was why the professors had gone on a business trip during this important final exam season.

'Even Hexi's gone on a trip. Lusa’s probably not here because of the final exam, but rather, as a reserve force to protect the academy.'

Just what was happening?

If it was something urgent enough to involve all the Central Academy professors, it could only be something related to the demon army.

'Don't tell me the demon army invasion has already begun?'

That’s impossible.

In Leffrey's memories, the demon army invasion was a tragedy that wouldn't begin for at least three more years.

'But there's no guarantee that the past I remember will unfold in the same way.'

Too many things had changed.

Hongwol being saved.

Soya entering the Central Academy.

Yumari becoming the top student.

Safely overcoming the Blessing of the Spirits.

From the fall of Drewmark, one of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings, to the awakening of Archangel Leffriel.

'...I need to find out exactly what's going on.'

That was the only way Leffrey could smoothly carry out his activities as an angel.

'Let's go to Professor Lusa. I caught Drewmark for her and helped her with a lot of other things, so she'll at least tell me what the professors are up to.'

Leffrey, making up his mind, slowly spoke,

"Guys, I'm going to the Martial Arts Department for a moment."

"...Why?"

"Why? What else could it be?"

At the two girls' questions, Leffrey smiled and replied,

"I think I need to meet with Professor Lusa."

"Leffrey, wait..."

Thus, Leffrey walked towards the Martial Arts Department, and the other students, seeing him, muttered,

"What did Leffrey say?"

"He said he's going to see Professor Lusa."

Then, with surprised expressions,

"...What a man."

"Wait, is he really going to confront Professor Lusa? He has some serious guts..."

The students gathered here thought,

Considering Leffrey's kind personality they had seen so far, and the strength he had subtly shown…

"...He's such a good kid. Really."

They couldn't help but think that Leffrey was going to confront that scary Professor Lusa about the exam, for the sake of the weaker students.

Thus, without Leffrey knowing, his reputation +1'd again.

Meanwhile, Leffrey, after shaking off Yumari and Soya who were chasing after him, stealthily arrived at the Martial Arts Department office.

The sign in front of the office read:

[Creating exam questions. Enter if you’re confident.]

"It's written in such a menacing red. Professor Lusa, I think she'd get along well with my mom."

Hongwol, who was next to him, shook her head.

"...Hongwol? Since when have you been following me?"

"Since when we were reading the notice at the main building?"

Goosebumps suddenly appeared all over Leffrey's body. He was so focused on shaking off Soya and Mari that he didn't even notice Hongwol following him?

'My Agility stat is already pretty high among the first-year Central Academy students. And I didn't even notice Wol following me?'

It meant that Hongwol's Agility was much higher than his.

'As expected of a hero candidate!'

Leffrey, seeing the potential of the Hongwol coin, smiled again. (TL Note: Author’s wild for making a bitcoin/doge coin reference.)

"Why are you following me?"

"...Just because?"

"You can go back. I have something to discuss with Professor Lusa privately."

"I see."

Hongwol, hearing those words, immediately tried to open the office door.

"Ah, don't open it!"

"Why? Boy, I don't want to let you go alone."

And Hongwol's pink tail swished strangely.

"I'm not going in there to fight. I have something to discuss."

"Really? Then it doesn't matter even more."

"No one else can hear this."

Hongwol's ears drooped.

"Are we strangers?"

Leffrey sighed, looked at Hongwol, and said,

"Wol, I know you're just acting. I'm going now."

"Meow! To think you would go meet another girl alone when I'm here!"

"Eh, what was that cat sound?"

"...Uh… huh? I didn't hear anything."

Hongwol, her face flushed, avoided Leffrey's gaze and stepped aside.

"C-Call me if anything happens."

Thus, Leffrey was finally able to enter the Martial Arts Department office where Lusa resided.

Thud-

The office, which was usually full of people, was now filled with an eerie silence.

Computers, documents, desks, chairs, they were all still there.

But everything was messy and unorganized.

And in the center was an elf meditating, controlling her breathing.

It was Lusa.

"Professor Lusa."

"Oh, you're here. I was just about to call you… perfect timing."

Lusa, sweating profusely, barely managed to speak.

"What is this mess? Did something happen to the professors?"

"...It happened."

Lusa looked up at Leffrey and said,

"The day has come. The day the demon king knocks on our doorstep."

"...!"

Leffrey was shocked.

The invasion was much earlier than in the past life.

"The other professors went to hold the line at Mariana… and I stayed here to protect you kids. With the help of the World Tree…"

The demon king has already launched an invasion? The future wasn't unfolding as Leffrey remembered.

"No, if that's the case… the final exam should be canceled. You’re already using up so much energy to maintain the barrier, Professor Lusa."

"Stop it."

Lusa's eyes sparkled. Her eyes shone with the responsibility of a hero of humanity.

"If the finals were canceled… society would be in chaos. The Central Academy is humanity's hope. We can't taint that hope with fear and anxiety."

"But..."

"And there's another reason."

Lusa, seeing Leffrey's worried expression, smiled a little.

"Kid, I have a favor to ask."

"Tell me."

"Someone among the Central Academy students is colluding with the demon army. From that Corestone incident to the plan to use the Mooncat Tribe to steal the holy sword… none of those were possible without an insider's help."

Lusa spoke with a serious expression,

"When the demon army is distracted by Mariana… we need to catch that spy."

Leffrey was a little surprised.

This was a really huge secret.

A secret she would never tell unless she truly considered him an ally.

'The professors finally trust me completely.'

Leffrey felt a little proud.

"Do you have a plan?"

"Yes."

Lusa said in a trembling voice,

"I'm thinking of awarding a World Tree sapling to the top student of the final exam. Of course, the youngest sapling."

"No, wait, why?"

"They're hoping that just like how those spies targeted the holy sword… they'll target the World Tree sapling if it appears. We're going to use that to lure the spy out. It's a direct order from the World Tree."

The sapling of the World Tree, a dryad, said to be the daughter of the World Tree… possessing potential almost equal to that of a demigod.

And you're going to award that to the final exam top student?

A dryad is a sentient being, right?

You're going to offer a girl as a prize?

Leffrey, flustered, asked again,

"To use her own daughter as bait to catch a spy… A-Are you sure that's the World Tree's will?"

"...Doesn't she have a bunch of daughters? I guess she doesn't care if she loses one. It's a bitch, but... as an elf, I have no choice but to obey."

Lusa gritted her teeth.

Lusa, as if she was ashamed of herself, laughed and quickly continued,

"If, that child falls into the hands of a large guild or a superhuman family..."

She'll be used as a research subject or become a plaything.

Just like what would happen to Leffrey if he was exposed as an angel.

'They won't acknowledge the authority of the other world...'

That cruel World Tree must have even calculated this… and decided to use her youngest daughter as a prize.

"Ha… I know this is an awful request, but..."

Lusa looked at Leffrey.

'...I can't believe it.'

Leffrey couldn't believe his eyes.

'There are tears welling up in Lusa's eyes.'

Lusa, in a choked voice, slowly asked,

"Can you… get first place on the final exam?"

Leffrey raised his head.

He gave a blessing on Lusa and said,

[Protecting the family of a hero is a duty you must fulfill as an angel!]

[Protecting an innocent life is an angel's duty!]

'A hero's family. That sapling... must be like family to Professor Lusa. Then...'

There was only one answer Leffrey could give.

"I'll give it my best shot!"