Broken Possessors of Infinite Regression Academy

Aria informed me that the Sword Saint had come to the academy. Not long after, I was summoned by the Chairman, as expected. I found Priscilla, who had been holed up in her room practicing, and conveyed the news. After sharing some warmth with her, as Priscilla would put it, I headed to the Chairman’s office.

It had been a while since I last came here. As I reached the top floor, I ran into Brynhild, who was just coming out of the Chairman’s office. She waved cheerfully when she saw me.

“Mira, you’re here too?”

“Yeah, I guess. The Sword Saint called for me, right?”

“Yes. She said she wanted to catch up. We just talked about various things, like how I’m doing at the academy and my midterm grades. I also got to meet her first disciple.”

Her first disciple must be Karna. It seemed she had brought her here. The Chairman probably knew about her past as a monster, and the Sword Saint must have come to show she had completely moved on from that.

“She also asked if I made any friends. I told her that Aria and you were enough. She just laughed and said I could do as I pleased.”

Brynhild whispered quietly. It had been only about two months and a week since I first met her at the entrance ceremony. It was quite surprising that we had become close enough for her to call me one of her only two friends, alongside Aria, whom she’d known since childhood. Though I might not be on the exact same level as Aria, the fact that she said that indicated a significant level of trust and friendship.

Considering Brynhild didn’t seem like the type to open up quickly, it was remarkable how little she interacted with others.

“Should I feel honored to be called one of the Hero’s only friends?”

“If you’re grateful, don’t forget our deal. You have to help me buy those desserts, no matter what.”

“Of course. If you want, I could hire those people to make them for you all day.”

“Who said I wanted that? Just stand in line with me.”

Laughing, Brynhild waved and left, saying she’d see me later. Left alone, I knocked on the Chairman’s office door. A voice responded as if expecting me.

“It’s open. Come in. Everyone’s waiting.”

Entering, I was greeted by the Chairman, who, as usual, sat with her enormous height and tightly fitted suit. Opposite her on the sofa were the Sword Saint, in a loose yukata-like outfit, and Karna, who looked remarkably different from the first time I saw her.

“Ah, hello! It’s nice to meet you!”

Karna, who must be much older than me, stood up and bowed deeply. It felt strange to receive such formal respect.

“I couldn’t properly greet you back then. I’m Karna! Please take care of me from now on!”

“…I’m Mira Crate.”

The greeting was awkwardly received. The Sword Saint watched us with a pleased smile. After the introductions, the Chairman patted the seat next to her.

I approached and sat down. Despite being quite tall myself, sitting next to the over-2-meter-tall Chairman made me feel small.

“It’s good to see you again. Have you been well, child?”

“I’ve been doing well as always. How about you, Sword Saint?” I asked politely.

“Busy as always, but happy,” she replied, casting a loving glance at her disciple. “Had to use some strength after a while. I realized I had grown a bit rusty.”

It occurred to me that the Sword Saint might be capable of confronting the dark energy to some extent. I wasn’t sure, but considering she had been overwhelmed by the Demon King to the point of trauma, it was hard to say. Perhaps I would discuss it with her during a sparring session later.

“But why is Karna here?” I asked, curious.

“She insisted on coming to thank her benefactor when she heard I was visiting the academy. So, can it be arranged?” she inquired, turning to the Chairman.

“The Chairman has the authority to grant permission,” the Chairman responded. “With the Sword Saint’s endorsement, there shouldn’t be any noble objections. However, ensure that it doesn’t cause unnecessary disturbances. This is Bellium Academy, after all. Even with your recommendation, Sword Saint.”

“Don’t worry,” he reassured. “Karna is not someone who would cause trouble. She’s shy and delicate, you see. Too much attention, whether good or bad, might overwhelm her.”

“That’s not entirely true… Master…” Karna muttered, looking embarrassed.

The Sword Saint’s manner of speaking didn’t change even in front of the centuries-old dragon  Chairman. Whether it was because she was bold or the Chairman was broad-minded, I couldn’t tell. However, considering their youthful appearances, there wasn’t much of a problem with their speech. Both looked to be in their early thirties at most.

“By the way, the child should know,” the Chairman said, turning to me. “Karna will be staying here for a while.”

“Here at the academy?”

“Not as a formal student. She will be here for a maximum of six months before resuming her duties as the knight commander.”

I glanced at Karna, who quickly looked away, clearly embarrassed. It was understandable why she felt that way, given her age. The Sword Saint had introduced her as her only disciple and former knight commander of the royal guard, and she had become a monster about seven years ago. This meant she was much older than she looked.

It was safe to assume she was at least in her twenties, possibly even in her thirties. It would indeed be embarrassing for someone of her age to attend the academy with much younger students.

“Isn’t she a bit too old for the academy—” I began, but stopped mid-sentence as I felt the sharp gazes of the three people around me. Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, I wisely closed my mouth.

Considering the ages in this room, it was quite an impressive lineup. The dragon Chairman was ancient, and the Sword Saint, despite her youthful appearance, was no less significant in age. As for Karna, the comparison was extreme, with academy students on one side and beings like the Chairman and the Sword Saint on the other.

“…Never mind. Please continue,” I said, opting to stay silent.

I hadn’t meant to be derogatory. It was just a genuine thought about her age and the suitability of attending the academy. Plus, Karna herself seemed embarrassed about it.

After all, even my age, when combining the time lived in my original world, the first world, and this one, was quite significant. It wasn’t something to dwell on.

“Ahem. The reason I’m telling you this,” the Sword Saint continued, “is because you and Karna have met before. There’s a connection, so I hope you’ll look after her. Of course, I didn’t come empty-handed. Consider this a token of my sincerity.”

She pulled out a well-packaged bottle from her loose sleeve. Unlike typical potion bottles with round shapes and cork stoppers, this one resembled a test tube with a unique metallic stopper. The liquid inside was a vibrant blue.

“This is a special potion. It can enhance your abilities temporarily and help in critical situations. I hope you’ll accept it and take care of Karna.”

I took the bottle, examining it curiously. The potion inside swirled with a captivating glow, promising extraordinary effects.

“Undiluted pure elixir, that’s what it is.”

“Why are you giving this to me…?”

“Think of it as a kind of bribe.”

“Even if you give me something like this and ask me to take care of things, I don’t think it will change much.”

“Not at all. It changes a lot. The difference between having no one to share your heart with and having even one person is quite significant.”

I thought the latter was probably a reference to the Sword Saint herself. Her greatest achievement came about simply because the Demon King spared her, and due to the trauma from that time, she couldn’t even properly hold a sword. She couldn’t tell anyone that humanity would be doomed if the Demon King ever got serious. Although it was unlikely the Demon King would ever get serious against humans again, it was still too soon to reveal this information.

The Sword Saint and I exchanged some mundane conversation after that. We talked about my academy life and my midterm grades, just like she did with Brynhild.

“Once again, please take good care of our Karna.”

And interspersed were several requests to take good care of Karna.

“Um… could we talk alone for a moment?”

“Of course, feel free to do so.”

“We’ll be chatting casually, so go ahead.”

Karna, who had been smiling ambiguously beside us, finally couldn’t endure it any longer and cautiously made the request. The Sword Saint and the chairman readily agreed.

We stepped out into the hallway. The entire floor was the chairman’s office, so the hallway was empty. Karna stopped at a spot she thought was far enough and bowed deeply.

“Thank you again for saving me. I’m truly indebted to you. I don’t know how to repay this kindness…”

“It was just a coincidence. I didn’t do it to help you. There’s no need to consider it a debt.”

“But as a result, I was able to return to being human thanks to you. Regardless of the intent and purpose, I was saved because of you. So I must thank you. Ah, don’t worry, I keep insisting to my master that I was able to return because of my own merits. But still…”

“You don’t think she believes it, do you?”

“No. You’re right. She seems to have decided not to dig into it if you’re trying to hide it.”

Karna showed an awkward smile. Seeing her display such rich emotions made me curious about what fate the original Karna met with.

It’s just a guess, but considering they were already contemplating ‘disposal’ when I visited, it’s unlikely she ever appeared directly in the original story. Even if she did, it would probably be just a brief mention.

“So, I have one question, if you could answer it…?”

“If it’s within my power to answer.”

“As my master mentioned, soon she’ll come as a special instructor and I’ll attend here for a while too… but…”

It took quite some time for the next words to come. After what seemed like preparing himself, Karna closed her eyes tightly and spoke.

“Do, do I have to wear a uniform too…?!”

“…Why are you asking me that?”