Academy's Drunk Fighter-Chapter 31: First Crisis (3)

There’s a famous saying:

“Nothing in life ever goes the way you expect.”

And sure enough, the world always veers more wildly off-script than one might think.

That doesn’t change—even if the one in question is a regressor, a transmigrator, or someone reincarnated.

Maybe that’s why they scream and claw for every scrap of fortune, desperately trying to survive the curveballs that even they can’t predict.

Humans fear what they don’t understand, after all.

I never used to understand that line at all—but soon, I would learn exactly what it meant.

Why they struggled so hard in their second chance at life. Why they fought so desperately just to survive.

Why they hoarded the items of existing characters, devoured all the fated encounters, and stole away the blessings meant for others—just because they happened to know what kind of hell was coming.

Why they clung so fiercely to life, to the chance of returning to the world they left behind.

I found out.

****

A cathedral lined with coffins etched with crosses.

Countless masked figures knelt in front of them.

And before them all stood a man who began to speak, calm and quiet.

“This world... is truly horrifying.”

His mask was different from the others. Jet-black, shaped like a goat’s skull.

“There is hunger, war, fear, and chaos everywhere in this world.”

At first, it almost sounded like the typical line you'd hear from some pacifist.

A blend of words even a normal person wouldn’t find off-putting.

“How many must suffer? How many more have to die?”

“Because of pointless conflict and wasted emotions, this world is walking the path to its own destruction.”

He sounded like a man who had finally decided to put an end to a long-standing dilemma.

“We cannot stand by any longer. How can we watch others writhe in agony and do nothing?”

His words carried sincerity—and just enough madness to make them feel believable.

“When He descends... all sin will be wiped away. So please, I beg you...”

“Offer up your body to Him.”

No—this wasn’t sincerity. It was pure, unfiltered insanity.

“Tear out your organs, drain your blood into a chalice, and offer it.”

“Gather those doomed to die anyway, and lead them onto your path.”

“Step forward into the glorious End.”

“And then... let us all become one.”

Every single person in that room listened intently, eyes full of reverence. They truly believed in every word that man spoke.

“Come! Raise your cups.”

Then, the man drove a massive sword straight into the coffin before him.

KRSSHH.

“Gghk...”

A muffled cry rang out from inside, followed by the eruption of crimson liquid that began to soak the floor.

“Oooooohhh!! Drink!!”

“It’s His blessing!”

None of them knew what the liquid actually was—but they licked it up like dogs, tongues out, eyes rolling back in ecstasy.

“Hahaha! Drink! This is the sacrifice of one chosen for Him. May you too prepare yourselves by drinking the blood of the Lamb.”

A gathering steeped in pure madness.

But the man simply turned his back to them, eyes cold—like he was looking at livestock.

“Thank you for your work, Archbishop.”

“No need to thank me. It’s all for Him.”

“As expected...”

A few others followed as he stepped out of the cathedral hall.

They gently pulled back the hood of his robe and started to speak.

“By the way... what happened with the Central case?”

“We’ve secured one child from Central. It’ll begin soon.”

“Hmm...”

The red glow in his masked eyes shimmered as he came to a stop.

“Archbishop?”

“Give me a moment. I need to think.”

“Ah, yes.”

It wasn’t long, but in that brief silence, the air around them felt frozen in time. Not a single bug, not even the wind made a sound.

“...Yes. I’ve decided.”

“Decided what, sir?”

“He says... it would be better to start much sooner than scheduled.”

“Pardon? But wouldn’t that be a bit... premature...?”

“He says... there is an irritant. Something in the way.”

“He said that?”

“Yes.”

“...Understood.”

After another pause, the man looked at the hunchbacked elder he’d been speaking with and added calmly:

“And this time... you’ll be participating personally.”

“Me... personally, sir?”

The elder’s age was obvious even under the mask. The man gave the order with complete ease, without blinking.

“Does it trouble you?”

“N-not at all!”

The old man jumped in fear and bowed his head deeply.

“Then... what should I tell the student?”

“...You don’t need to tell them anything.”

“...Yes, sir.”

He didn’t ask why.

Because it was an order. And asking further would’ve meant questioning the will behind it—something that could very well cost him his head.

But then, the man glanced back at him... and offered a kind smile.

“If the student truly chose to follow His path... then they’ll throw themselves into the fire instinctively, don’t you think?”

“Y-yes... of course.”

Then, he climbed into the vehicle waiting for him, and without saying another word, disappeared.

“...What on earth is he thinking? No—doesn’t matter. I just need to do my part.”

The elder muttered to himself, clutching his trembling hands together.

“Yeah. There’s no way I’ll die in a place like that. He won’t let Death take me. He’ll protect me. He will.”

Even long after the man had left, the elder stood alone, trembling—while, at last, the chirping of insects returned to the night air.

****

Three weeks passed.

Not much had changed in my life.

On days with physical training, all the other classes disappeared, and I spent my time dodging air bubbles and building combat instinct.

In magic class, I stuffed endless memorization drills into my skull.

Beyond that, I crammed info from every other class—about monsters, magic beasts, history, geography, cities—and cross-checked it all with what I knew from the game.

“Urrggh! Done! Finally!”

I collapsed into a cafeteria seat after physical training.

My body had finally reached a point where breathing actual air didn’t hurt anymore, but I still hadn’t gotten the hang of it. So come lunchtime, I was starving.

“How the hell are you supposed to ‘master sensation,’ anyway...”

I clenched my fists and tried to think of how to use evasive assist techniques, but I still had no clue.

“...Nope. I’ve got nothing.”

I gave up for now and opened my lunchbox.

And rising up from within—was the warm, spicy scent of curry.

This time, I decided to eat my new batch of curry and rice instead of the porridge I threw out last time.

I’d learned the hard way that porridge goes bad faster than I thought.

And honestly, I knew I was being a burden, constantly storing my food in Noah’s fridge, so I figured it was time to change things up.

Sure, it cost more money this way—but I couldn’t keep being that inconsiderate.

And nutritionally speaking, fiber was something my body desperately needed... though when the doctor told me not to go digging around outside for it, I finally bit the bullet and bought some vegetables.

Strangely enough, I never minded spending money on tasty food, but for fruits and veggies? It always felt like a waste.

Still, they were way better than the random weeds I used to eat, so the texture wasn’t bad.

As I was eating in the cafeteria, Noah sat down in front of me and started eating too.

“Oh, hey, senpai. Done with work?”

“Mm... almost. It’s going okay.”

She said she was fine, but there were deep dark circles under her eyes.

Knowing her personality and how overloaded she’s been, she was probably sleeping less than five hours a night while drowning in work.

“Did you bring your lunch?”

“Ah... crap. Forgot again.”

Her brain, clearly fried from fatigue, didn’t even register that she’d forgotten to bring food.

“Want some of mine?”

Lately, this had been happening so often that I’d started packing extra to share with Noah.

It was a bit painful, money-wise... but oh well.

It’s not like she’s just anyone. She was the first person I got close to in this world—I’m not about to be stingy with her.

“Thanks...”

She took a bite of my curry, closed her eyes like she was really savoring it...

Ppppphhhheeeeeeww...

“...Senpai. Hey, wake up.”

And promptly fell asleep.

“Ugh... whuh? Ah—sorry.”

“Maybe go nap in the rest room or something?”

Even I could tell she’d collapse at this rate, so I gently suggested it.

“I can’t...”

“Then maybe I can help with somethi—”

“No, I’m... fine.”

“Your tongue’s literally slurring.”

She looked anything but fine, but no matter how much I offered, she wouldn’t take me up on it.

I guess it was something I couldn’t help with—something she couldn’t accept help for.

It probably wasn’t just student council work. More likely, her personal problems were keeping her up too.

“...Don’t overdo it.”

Honestly, I was starting to worry more about her than my own cursed body.

I spoke softly while scraping the last bit of curry out of my lunchbox.

God. Watching your favorite character suffer really sucks.

“Where are you going after lunch?”

“The archive...”

“Central? Or outskirts?”

“O-outskirts...”

I kept coaxing her gently, like I was trying to guide a lost child back to reality—because if I didn’t, she was definitely going to faceplant into her lunchbox any second now.

I honestly wanted to force her to take a nap, but... knowing what I knew, I couldn’t.

Family stuff... probably best not to touch that.

This wasn’t just student council business. It was something tied to Noah’s family. Her lineage.

Maybe someday, I could ask. But not now. Not when we were still in this... awkward kind of friendship.

If I had to rate our relationship like a game stat, it’d probably be around 60.

“I’ll head out first...”

“Okay. Try not to collapse on the way.”

She staggered off out of the cafeteria, looking like me on a blackout drunk—if I were watching from the outside.

Still... nothing major would happen to her. I was making sure of that.

Until the day those cult bastards warned me about finally arrived... I’d find a way to save Noah.

Everything was going smoothly.

Aside from Noah being exhausted, the next incident could still be prevented, and Charlotte’s barrier—last I checked—was more than 80% complete.

Follow curr𝒆nt nov𝒆ls on fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com.

Even if those freaks tried to invade the Academy, I figured nothing too serious would happen.

...Wait. This isn’t one of those flag moments, is it?

No way. This wasn’t a manga. Thinking positively didn’t magically make bad shit happen.

That’s what I told myself.

.

.

.

.

.

Ding!

Just then, a notification popped up on my new phone.

[EMERGENCY ALERT]

[A Gate has been detected within 4KM of your location. Please return home or report to the nearest shelter center...]

“...What the hell.”

Just a normal gate warning. No big deal.

One gate was nothing to worry about.

We’re at Central Academy, for god’s sake.

Ding!

[EMERGENCY ALERT]

“....”

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

Phones all over the cafeteria started going absolutely ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) berserk.

[EMERGENCY ALERT]

[EMERGENCY ALERT]

[EMERGENCY ALERT]

[EMERGENCY ALERT]

[EMERGENCY ALERT]

“...Why?”

Once is coincidence. Twice or three times, sure. But five? Ten?

No. This wasn’t random.

It didn’t make any sense.

We should have had more time. The bastards said we had more time.

But the world doesn’t care whether I understand it.

It just coldly shoves reality right in my face.

And for some reason... a single sentence popped into my head.

“What will happen, will happen.”

“...Shit.”

It was all I could say.