「Bishop」
Why had a word that originally referred to a bishop of the Catholic faith come to designate the vile beasts known as Creatures?
The reason was simple.
Their appearance resembled that of actual monks.
And it was not just Bishops.
Pawns, Knights, Rooks...
Every one of them possessed characteristics befitting its name.
What did that mean?
“There is a straightforward method for dealing with mass-produced units.”
Standing with the crimson-eyed Bishop behind him, Jin Crow continued speaking while facing the 500 cadets looking back at him.
“Pawns are fundamentally charging units, while Knights become relatively manageable once you break through their hardened exoskeleton.”
The cadets could not help but nod at Jin Crow's words.
Perhaps others would not understand.
But they did.
They had never encountered a real Pawn or Knight.
However, they had fought the Training Dummies enough to grow sick of them.
In fact, even the lowest-ranked squad could now competently deal with a single Knight.
What more needed to be said?
Perhaps sensing the atmosphere among the cadets, Jin Crow refrained from adding anything further.
Instead, he gave Naomi, who had just completed the final adjustments, a subtle glance before sweeping his eyes across the cadets.
“Ordinarily, Squad 1 would go first. However, since this one differs from the Knights you've faced until now, I'll take volunteers.”
The expressions reflected in his black eyes...
Were filled with all sorts of conflicting emotions.
Fear.
Or perhaps revulsion.
It was understandable.
Unlike the Pawns and Knights they had faced before, the Bishop's appearance instinctively provoked a visceral sense of disgust and unease.
—U... Uuuuu....
A low mumbling echoed through the speakers like a voice reverberating inside a cavern.
Its purple-and-crimson eyes blazed in the shape of a cross covering its face.
The ragged outer hide draped over its body resembled tattered robes concealing its grotesque flesh.
Of course, that was only at first glance.
On the surface, it merely looked like a somewhat larger monk.
Yet every cadet instinctively felt uncomfortable, hesitating to step forward.
‘...It looked terrifying enough just in the videos.’
‘Didn't it have tentacles too...? ...No thanks.’
However, there was one thing Jin Crow had overlooked.
The Creatures had already invaded planets several times.
Anyone interested in learning about Bishops could find information on them without much difficulty.
There was no need to delve into the dark web.
Across the vast galactic network, body-cam footage from soldiers before their deaths circulated frequently enough.
As such, the cadets who had taken an interest already knew a fair amount about Bishops.
‘I'd like to volunteer...’
‘But honestly, if I step up and get destroyed, it'll be humiliating.’
That was precisely why they found it difficult to volunteer confidently.
Naturally.
Though unintentional, attending lectures by squad had gradually fostered a sense of rivalry among them.
No one wanted to be utterly overwhelmed in front of the other squads.
“No one?”
Several seconds of silence passed.
Just as a trace of disappointment was about to appear in his voice—
A bronze-colored hand shot into the air with an excited expression.
“Me! Instructor!”
A familiar voice.
A familiar face.
How could he not recognize her?
Jin Crow looked briefly at her eagerly waving hand before shifting his gaze slightly toward the Riders of the Stars standing behind her.
“Ran, I told you to stop showing off.”
Famille stared at Dokgo Ran's dark crimson hair with an exasperated expression.
“I don't mind. I've wanted to face one properly at least once.”
“Same here.”
On the other hand, Hino Kanae and Beatus both nodded positively.
Perhaps that was only natural.
They too were Martial-type cadets.
“Squad 2 will do it.”
Baek Hwi-young did not appear reluctant either.
No.
It would be more accurate to say he had been hoping for this.
Dokgo Ran looked at Jin Crow with eyes full of anticipation.
The other cadets also reacted positively.
He had no choice but to nod.
‘If possible, Squad 2 was the one I wanted to avoid.’
Not because they lacked ability.
Rather...
Because they were too exceptional.
The cadets had already possessed overwhelming talent.
Then they had gained real combat experience at Mercato.
Although Baek Hwi-young's explosive growth overshadowed everyone else, the other Riders of the Stars would each be capable of defeating a Knight alone if given enough time.
‘Competitors who shine too brightly inevitably cause others to lose confidence.’
Of course, the Riders of the Stars possessed innate brilliance.
There was no hiding that.
But he wanted to avoid turning the other 500 cadets gathered here into mere supporting actors simply to make them shine.
It was not because he was an instructor overflowing with affection.
Rather...
Someday these cadets would all receive commissions and spread throughout the galaxy.
They would become the foundation needed to slightly alter the overwhelming current that no single individual could change alone.
“Squad 2. Forward.”
While mulling over those thoughts, he had the remaining cadets step back before calling Squad 2 forward.
—Uuuuu....
At the same time, the fully calibrated Bishop stepped forward before them.
Its body was draped in sleek yet repulsively tattered robes.
“Begin.”
Jin Crow spoke indifferently.
The instant he did, Dokgo Ran—the team's Attacker—kicked off the ground and charged the Bishop first.
BOOOOOM!
A small crater formed in the arena floor as dirt exploded into the air.
Her bronze muscles swelled explosively.
“Haa—.”
A short breath escaped her lips like a swallow.
Then, scattering her characteristic dark crimson aura, she shouted,
「Dokgo Style」
「Ran Style」
「Demon-Shattering Divine Fist」
Psionic Energy erupted violently around her body as she leaped into the air.
She twisted her waist.
Clenched her fist.
Pulled it back.
Using the foot planted in midair as a pivot, she drove power through her shoulder before raising her head toward the cross-eyed Bishop.
Then she brought her fist crashing down.
“Dieee!”
With her cheerful battle cry—
An overwhelming torrent of Psionic Energy momentarily created the phantom silhouette of something enormous behind her.
The impact of her strike crashing onto the Bishop's head shook the entire training ground.
KWAAAAAAANG!
RUMBLEEEEE!
With dust billowing and the ground split apart, Dokgo Ran landed lightly while shaking her tingling wrist.
At that very moment—
Hino Kanae's long black hair fluttered as she stepped onto Dokgo Ran's shoulder and launched herself upward.
“Huh?”
For that brief instant, Dokgo Ran had unwillingly become a human launch platform.
Yet Hino Kanae's judgment proved absolutely correct.
Shing.
She lightly twisted the hilt of the sword at her waist.
Pushed the guard forward with her thumb.
And drew the blade in a single instant.
A brief flash pierced through the dust and illuminated her vision.
Staring at the tentacles extending right before her eyes, Hino Kanae quietly spoke.
「Kage Style」
「Hino Style」
「Evening Shower」
The tentacles lunged greedily to devour Hino Kanae.
But at that very instant—
Light burst from her eyes.
Releasing the breath she had drawn only once, she swung her sword.
CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG!
The tentacles lost their trajectories beneath her blade, tangling chaotically together.
After cleanly cutting through well over dozens of them, she flicked her sword to clear it beneath the now-settled dust before shouting,
“Ran!”
“Got it!”
Taking advantage of the opening Hino Kanae had created, Dokgo Ran crouched low before exploding forward.
In a single bound, she reached the Bishop's solar plexus.
Clenching her fist—
She drove it straight into the Bishop.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The massive body shuddered violently.
However, the Bishop had no intention of remaining passive.
Its tentacles shot forward in retaliation.
“Aaaah!”
Struck midair, Dokgo Ran lost her balance and crashed into the ground.
Watching the scene unfold, Jin Crow inwardly nodded in satisfaction as he evaluated Squad 2's performance and filled in their assessment.
But then—
Beep.
Ginatio, who had likewise been watching Squad 2 with admiration, lowered his gaze at the sudden alarm.
Tilting his head slightly, he addressed Jin Crow.
“Instructor.”
“What is it?”
“The Headmistress is summoning you.”
“...Now?”
Jin Crow frowned slightly as he questioned him.
Ginatio found it just as strange.
A Headmistress summoning an instructor was nothing unusual.
It happened often enough.
The issue was that the summoned instructor was Jin Crow, who had already become a person of considerable interest.
And he was currently teaching.
Furthermore, considering Ideale's personality, it was rare for her to summon an instructor conducting a lecture where injuries or accidents were possible.
“...Perhaps it's something urgent.”
Ginatio seemed to share the same thought.
After a brief moment of consideration, Jin Crow looked once more at Squad 2, who were putting up an impressive fight.
Then he spoke.
“I'll be back shortly. Until then, maintain order among the cadets.”
“Yes, Instructor.”
Since Ginatio belonged to the pro-Ideale faction, he appeared more than willing to comply.
Naturally, Jin Crow himself could not ignore the possibility that something had happened to Ideale.
He immediately left the training ground and headed toward the Headmistress's office.
“Entering.”
Already having received the summons, he opened the office door without knocking.
What greeted him, however...
Was nothing like what he had expected.
“...Mmm.”
Only Ideale's quiet breathing reached his ears.
She was curled up asleep on the office sofa.
He frowned briefly at the incomprehensible sight.
After hesitating for a moment, he reached out and lightly shook her shoulder.
“Headmistress, please wake up.”
“...Mmm... Ah.... Ah?”
After several attempts, Ideale slowly opened her trembling eyelashes and looked at him.
The instant she realized the man standing before her absolutely should not have been there—
She jerked upright from the sofa in shock.
Why?
Why did her lips and chin feel damp?
Ideale subtly turned her head, quickly wiping the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand before looking at the still expressionless Jin Crow and forcing herself to speak calmly.
“I haven't slept properly for several days. So I was just taking a brief nap.... Ahem. So, what brings you here, Instructor?”
Yet after hearing her...
Jin Crow merely frowned even deeper before replying.
“That's what I wanted to ask.”
“Hm?”
Jin Crow's black eyes met Ideale's white ones.
Their gazes tangled together in silent confusion.
Just as they were both about to question each other—
KWWWWWWAAAAAAANG!
A deafening explosion—
One that neither should nor could have occurred within the academy—
Echoed throughout the campus.
At the same time, both of their watches erupted with frantic alarms.
“...Damn it!”
CRASH!
Sensing an overwhelming feeling of dread by instinct alone, Jin Crow shattered the window and immediately threw himself toward the training ground.
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