Steel giants and armored machines cleared the path. Countless spells combined and merged, pouring out from the spire.
“Haaaah—!!”
Alvitr overcame countless attacks and enemies to reach the dragon’s body. Just climbing up that massive body took what felt like an eternity.
Alvitr was the only one capable of delivering a decisive blow to the giant dragon. With the help of many comrades, she alone climbed atop the dragon’s body.
With her wings shimmering, Alvitr ran.
The two swords she held in each hand blazed with a crimson glow.
Tat, tat, tat!!
The dragon no longer spoke.
Its mouth, an abyssal nightmare, unleashed a roar filled with the curse of death that dominated the surroundings.
『……!!』
“Guh…?!”
Alvitr, blocked by the curse, raised her sacred sword to withstand it.
Clang, clang, clang—!!
Black tentacles, reaching to the sky, struck down upon her relentlessly. Each one was strong enough to crush even boulders.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
-Alvitr!!
-Alvitr, comrade!!
-Hero—!!
From the sky, the Nameless Hawk circled, crying out. The goddesses on its back prayed, sending a pink aura to her.
It seemed as though everything would crush Alvitr at any moment. But then, a massive light burst forth from the distant World Tree.
Everyone turned their heads to look at it…
6:59:59 AM.
“…!”
Alvitr opened her eyes.
It was later than her usual waking time, but she had gone to bed late after spending all night preparing a speech.
A slight creaking sound.
The cuckoo clock on the wall began to signal the alarm.
She wanted to sleep a bit longer but had forgotten to turn off the alarm.
‘Sometimes, being this sensitive is such a nuisance…’
It had been over ten months since she had reached the realm of Unique Ether.
By now, she could sense even the smallest of noises like this.
In the split second she had, her thoughts accelerated, thinking, ‘Ugh, I don’t want to get up.’ Now, the movements of most things seemed slow and sluggish to her.
“…Oh well.”
In any case, Alvitr sat up.
She reached out and fired a crimson flash. The small bird-shaped ether projectile flapped its wings, carrying out its master’s command.
The ether projectile struck the alarm stop button and dissipated.
Pop—!!
The cuckoo, which had been about to pop out, widened its eyes and quickly retreated back into the clock.
-What the—?! You… you…! Worse than that pink airhead…!
Imagining this, Alvitr scratched her foot absentmindedly.
Scratch, scratch…
“…”
And then, she lowered her head.
Sigh… She had fired it out of laziness, but she never imagined she’d use her Unique Ether ability, which only the greatest geniuses awaken, for something so trivial.
She blamed it on the influence of her bad seniors.
“Sigh…”
Eventually, she kicked off the bed and got up.
The neatly organized room greeted her.
Two swords hanging on the wall welcomed her as well.
She stood in front of them for a moment, stroking the handles.
The memory of that day was still vividly clear.
“…”
She turned away and opened the window. The hinges, well-oiled, no longer made any creaking noise.
And then…
A peaceful Academy City came into view.
From the hill where <Central Prism Academy> was located, the people moving through the streets were clearly visible. Beyond the warm sunlight, they looked like lines moving about.
Alvitr leaned against the window, staring blankly at the scene.
“…”
From the morning, students and dwarves were bustling around, busy with their tasks. They moved about like frogs waking from hibernation.
All the shattered remnants seemed to have vanished as if it were all a lie.
[Hello, Academy City! This is Herr from the <United Student Council>’s press department…! Today is a day filled with joy and a bit of sadness… Because it’s the graduation ceremony for the third-year students.]
Winter had passed,
and with spring arriving once again,
they were preparing for the graduation ceremony before the entrance ceremony.
Lively laughter could be heard.
It was truly a paradise for students, where countless schools rose above the plains. But the students living there were no longer just doing what they liked.
They were now discussing news from the outside world, something that was previously unheard of.
“What?! The kingdom’s drought has caused the price of flowers to skyrocket by ten times—?!”
“Haa… What should we do? Should we just cancel the event?”
“Ugh, canceling now would be disappointing for the seniors…”
Even the dwarves were huddled together, discussing the news with serious expressions, holding newspapers.
“Hmm… Is the Republic finally moving towards a dictatorship?”
“If it continues like this, it’s a return to the Empire of a thousand years ago.”
“No matter how much dwarves have gained the right to vote and participate in politics… it seems power still flows that way.”
A few tall female students were laughing as they dragged along some large equipment.
“What’s up with this thing? It’s weird! It’s even smoking…!”
“Still, isn’t it amazing? An engine that runs on oil instead of ether!”
“Who made this?”
“Um… someone pretty famous? They disappeared from <Mimir Industrial High School> and were found three months later in the dormitory…”
“What were they doing for three months…”
“Who knows.”
Alvitr felt no discomfort in this scene anymore.
This was the final piece to move forward toward tomorrow.
‘An era without isolated destinies…’
The land, once divided into nine, had been united by the World Tree, and to control it, all wars and battles had been entrusted to the students… to the Valkyries.
It was a control that was no different from death, isolated from the outside world. Order was maintained by controlled fate.
But the order that had sustained this world for thousands of years had disappeared as if it had never existed.
“…”
Indeed…
Indeed, everything had crumbled,
and it seemed like this world could have turned into hell.
Yet, the world was functioning so peacefully, as if it didn’t care about such fate and rules.
‘This must be due to the changed form of the World Tree that the senior left behind…’
Alvitr looked up, trying to catch a glimpse of the altered form of the World Tree beyond the horizon.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
Knock, knock!
-Alvitr, aren’t you going to eat? Should I just leave it in front of the door?
It was Rota’s voice.
“Oh, no! I’m up!”
-Really… Kara’s been spending all her time reading newspapers with the merchants at the market… Everyone’s busy asking about magic, yet here I am, cooking all the time…
Grumble, grumble…
Rota seemed to have picked up that pouty tone from hanging around Freyja too much.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Rota! I’ll wash up and come out!”
Alvitr quickly turned around and headed for the washbasin.
She washed her face while looking in the mirror,
then reached for her uniform hanging on the wall.
She almost missed something out of habit.
“Oh, right.”
Alvitr removed the first-year emblem from her uniform sleeve and replaced it with the one signifying the second year.
It might not matter during the winter break, but from now on, she couldn’t afford to make such small mistakes in official settings. That was the leadership Hilde had taught her.
“…Hilde, senior.”
Even as she guided Alvitr through her remaining time, Hilde had often looked lonely. Understanding her senior’s feelings, Alvitr had reached out to her more warmly than before.
‘She didn’t seem to dislike it, and once I broke the ice, everyone approached easily.’
Nodding to herself, Alvitr resumed putting on her uniform.
“Kiyaaah—☆”
“Haha… Clara, you always make such weird battle cries.”
“Well~ It’s kind of like my signature line.”
Verdandi senior smiled at me warmly.
“Today, right?”
“Yes…”
“You’ve done well.”
She was sitting with the dark man… the Prophet… asleep on her lap, gently stroking his head.
Verdandi, who had the appearance of a little girl, made my heart ache for some reason.
“…Verdandi senior.”
“…Yes?”
“Fixing the present… It’s uncertain when it will end.”
“Yes.”
“Recovering those who were lost to fate will take a long time too.”
“Yes.”
So, I spoke of the difficulties ahead.
“Redistributing the souls and races the World Tree had erased, placing them back into history, maintaining the balance so that the past and future don’t collide, and projecting souls from a universe without fate…”
“That’s right. It might still be difficult even after thousands of years.”
But Verdandi senior’s face remained calm.
She had willingly taken on the fate of being trapped inside the World Tree forever. Even so, she continued to smile, lovingly gazing at the Prophet who slept in her arms.
“Even so… if I can meet Jinsoo again someday… that’s enough.”
“…”
I looked at the Prophet, asleep before the glass orb sapling.
In the end, the one who had lost the fight chose to live inside the World Tree.
-Someday… if I can meet Ymir again…
He slept in the darkness that might never end. He became a kind of reference for maintaining a world without fate.
Perhaps, it was a curse worse than death.
Yet, he chose it without hesitation.
Though they were so close…
They would need an eternity to truly reunite. Yet, they were grateful for that.
“…”
I turned to leave.
Verdandi senior blessed me as she watched me walk away.
“Congratulations on your graduation.”
“…Thank you.”
Goodbye.
With that resolve,
I opened the passage leading out of the World Tree.
Now, I will abandon all divinity,
returning to an ordinary human.
That was the condition I set with the World Tree.
With each step I took.
The things I had gained through fate disappeared.
And the things that had been lost to fate returned.
Flash—!!
The scars on my neck vanished.
And I distanced myself from the power of divinity, the realm of Imperial Perfection.
Flash—!!
The faded color of my hair brightened.
And the power of Grand Perfection, the authority of [Bifrost], disappeared.
Flash—!!
The lost memories of my past life slowly returned.
No longer cut away like with a knife, but fading naturally with time.
Perhaps I could have become a god.
Perhaps I could have returned to being a man and gone back to my original universe.
But…
I decided to return as Clara.
Leap!
I kicked through the shining door and ran out.
『May your path be blessed. O Valkyrie of tomorrow.』
Urd climbed a hill and stood beside the Nameless Hawk, watching the World Tree. Pink petals were fluttering over the half-burnt, blackened World Tree.
“Wow… It’s changed beautifully…!”
“…Goddess, what do you plan to do with your life now?”
“Hmm? Haha! What do you mean, goddess~ I’m just an ordinary lady now~”
“…”
The Nameless Hawk didn’t respond, just quietly watched. Urd chuckled at his gaze and replied.
“Well, no matter what… Going outside Academy City… is still a bit scary.”
“Is that so?”
“Maybe I’ll build a little cabin here and help the first-year students who come to Academy City?”
“Then I shall assist you. Squeak!”
“Hahaha… With a big chick like you, the first-years won’t be so nervous, will they?”
Urd and the Nameless Hawk smiled at each other.
Thus began the story of the ‘teacher’ guiding Academy City and her pet ‘Vedrfolnir,’ starting on that small hill.
Alvitr was horrified by the ceremonial robe made for the student council president. The long coat tails were adorned with countless decorations.
“Ugh…?! This is so uncomfortable, do I really have to wear this? I don’t think Hilde senior wore anything like this…”
“Yes, President~ Hilde only got away with it because she was from a top-tier school~”
“Secretary Bell… But <Central Prism Academy> has a branch on Gold Street now…”
“Call me Secretary Bell here~ And we don’t consider a tiny office a branch~”
“Secretary Bell…”
“Yes, yes~ It’s me, your cute third-year senior, Bell~”
Secretary Bell replied half-heartedly, with a candy in her mouth.
Then she patted Alvitr on the back and said.
“Go on! Everyone agrees you’re the strongest, so don’t be nervous!”
“Weren’t we supposed to be President and Secretary here…?”
Bell didn’t answer, just giggled.
Leaving her behind, Alvitr walked forward.
The familiar large arena.
There, the graduates who were graduating this time were gathered.
Waaaah—!!
[Ah, right now! The <United Student Council> President! Never backing down from a challenge! The legendary hero!! [Crimson Flash] President Alvitr has made her appearance!!]
Waaaah—!!
As Alvitr walked to the spot connected to the loudspeakers, she smiled wryly.
‘It’s like I’m making some grand entrance…’
Sure enough.
The press department’s Herr adjusted his glasses and began introducing the new Unique Ether users.
‘Told you so.’
Alvitr chuckled as she held the student council president’s speech.
This darn Academy City never seemed to function properly.
[And the second rank in Academy City!! The cheerful rebellion of the steel giants!! Dwarves are my comrades!! [Azure Wave] Kara—!!]
The audience followed Herr’s gesture to Kara, who was sitting in a corner of the large arena. Startled, she waved her flag frantically and fled.
Waaaah!!!
[Third rank!!! All magic is mine!! Your magic is mine!! Your thoughts are mine!! Greedy cat!! [Orange Fairy Tale] Rota—!!!]
Rota hastily hid among the exploratory girls of the <Public Bana Dormitory>. But at the same time, the influx of attention caused the exploratory students to burst into tears.
Herr didn’t stop.
Waaaah!!
He responded to the cheers by pointing to the black knight standing far away.
[Fourth rank!! Has the legend of the five colors ended? No!! Now begins the era of the six colors!! The hidden power!! [Gray Knight] Helena!!!]
But the knight had already vanished.
Anticipating a broadcast failure, Herr quickly redirected his attention.
[And!! Fifth rank!! Do you see the half-burnt World Tree? I plan to burn the other half!! [Fiery Comet] Fiona!!]
Fiona, with her short red hair, roared.
-Hyaaaah—!!
Unlike the others who had fled, she stood proudly against the attention, and the audience cheered even louder.
Finally, Herr pointed to the highest seat and spoke.
[Sixth rank—!! Who is the true heir of Academy City? The President? No! It’s me, the cute Secretary!! [Crimson Needle] Secretary Bell!!]
Secretary Bell jumped up and down, winking playfully at the attention.
-I’m the cute Secretary~!
After what seemed like endless cheers, the audience finally turned their attention back to Alvitr on the podium, long after it should have ended.
Herr scratched his head awkwardly.
[Ah, I’m sorry, President…]
Alvitr chuckled in response.
“No, well… this is just so typical of Academy City Yord, isn’t it?”
Her words made the entire audience burst into laughter. When the laughter died down, Alvitr spoke again.
“There have been many events, and many memories have passed. Seniors are graduating, and…”
Alvitr looked at the speech paper in her hand.
“…”
Suddenly.
She thought of a certain girl.
‘If Clara senior had come to the graduation, would she have liked this kind of speech?’
The long sentences, the elaborate rhetoric.
It seemed like she’d fall asleep with a yawn before the first sentence ended.
She quietly folded the paper in half.
Alvitr smiled at the surprised audience and said.
“…Congratulations on your graduation. I wish you all blessings on your future paths.”
Waaaah—!!
Ah…
Oh?
The audience’s reaction was strange.
They were staring at her with shocked expressions.
“…?”
Alvitr tilted her head and looked back.
There stood a pink airhead.
Her vivid pink hair fluttered in the spring breeze.
“That’s my seat☆”
“Gah?! Senior?!”
Clara snatched the microphone and shouted loudly.
“Hilde!!! I’m back—!!! I love you!!!”
“Lara!!! Welcome back!! I love you too—!!!”
Far off, Brunhilde jumped to her feet.
“Damn, I believed in you—!!”
Eir, who had been sitting indifferently, burst out laughing and stood up.
“Huh? Me? Why am I standing? Wait, hold on?!”
Freyja, who had been sitting shyly, was pushed to her feet by the exploratory students.
“O~ hohoho!!! A wild farewell! A perfect send-off for the Night Princess as she heads to a wider world!!”
Astrid rode the mist over to the podium.
“Haha… we’re truly ourselves to the very end. Yeah, this is so like us.”
Anna laughed brightly as she ran toward the podium.
Waaaah!!!
The audience cheered,
the juniors flinched in surprise,
and the countless students living happily in the city.
Friends running toward her.
“…”
Clara smiled as pink petals from the World Tree rained down on her.
“I’m so glad I came to Academy City…”
Whooosh—
Waves crashed, bringing the color of the blue sky.
On a beach where a cool summer breeze blew, there was a small studio belonging to an artist.
A pink-haired woman, wearing a ring on her left hand, carefully opened the door. She held a fairy tale book in one hand.
Creak…
The rusty hinge, worn by the sea breeze, made a dragging sound.
Rustle, rustle—
Inside the studio, a small woman with a cloth tied around her head was painting. She couldn’t bring herself to turn around and hastily responded.
“Oh, are you the one who requested the couple’s portrait? I’m sorry…! I’m really behind on work right now…!”
“…Take your time—☆”
Flinch
The familiar voice made the small artist turn her head to look at the woman.
“…Clara?”
“…It’s been a while.”
Creak—
The rusty hinge creaked,
bringing a calm silence to the beachside studio.
Amidst the sound of waves, the two women were lost in memories, returning to their days as students at Academy City.
I Became the Academy’s Pink Airhead
The End