The Academy Regressor is Obsessed

Grace and Ena’s connection wasn’t that deep. They had been on the battlefield together many times, but that was about it. They weren’t close friends, nor did they have many private conversations. They just treated each other as colleagues belonging to the same unit.

Back then, that was natural. The battlefield is a place where a comrade who was next to you until just now could die in the blink of an eye. Rather than building unnecessary emotional bonds that would devastate one’s mind, it was better for everyone to remain in a businesslike relationship. Both Grace and Ena were experts in that regard.

However, the two had slightly different tendencies.

Grace rarely spoke first to people other than Asel. She would say only what was necessary and leave. On the other hand, Ena, while not giving affection to others, would go around prying into things she was curious about.

Asel was among her targets.

-You. How do you cut magic? And how did you slice formulas with a sword?

-…I just did it because I could.

-What kind of answer is that? Explain so I can understand.

-I don’t know what you’re suddenly talking about, but what I explained is everything. Just as people don’t calculate how much air is around them and how much they’ll breathe before taking a breath, I just did what I could relying on my senses.

-So you mean you’re a genius.

-…

Their conversation ended with Asel’s silence. After that, the two never conversed again. Because Ena died in the battle that followed immediately after.

In a situation where everything was at a disadvantage, she alone held back a large army and postponed their demise.

So Grace had rather good feelings towards Ena. If one doesn’t think well of a hero who sacrificed themselves, who else would they think well of?

That’s why she felt relieved when she learned that Asel had become Ena’s disciple. Not only could she be trusted, but her skills were also excellent, so she would be able to polish the gem that was Asel well.

“…”

But she hadn’t expected this.

“Who are all these kids?”
“They’re my friends I made at the Academy.”

Inside Asel’s dormitory room. Grace, Ellen, and Elena sitting on the large sofa, and Asel and Ena sitting opposite them. In a formation that seemed like a confrontation, Grace swallowed hard.

While she was briefly organizing her thoughts under Ena’s expressionless gaze, Asel, who had returned with the two people, instantly created this situation. It was fortunate that he didn’t seem to have any injuries, but due to Ena stubbornly standing next to him, she couldn’t wholeheartedly celebrate his safe return.

She wanted to use every means to check his condition, but Ena’s expression that seemed to say she would bite if approached made her back down.

Unless it was before the regression, the current Grace couldn’t even touch Ena’s feet. If they fought, she would turn to ashes and be blown away by the wind before even drawing her sword. Grace knew her limits very well.

“Friends…”

While Grace was having complicated thoughts, Ena also narrowed her eyes and looked at the three people sitting opposite. One sharp-looking blonde woman, one vampire who looked like a puppy, and one woman with red hair.

Each of them had extraordinary auras. Though they hadn’t yet realized their potential due to their age, they were all talents capable of explosive growth given the opportunity. They weren’t admitted to the Academy for nothing. It was enough to be recognized as Asel’s friends.

However, there was one very big problem.

‘Why are they all women?’

Ena doesn’t know much about the creatures called men. But she knew that the existence they called “friends” usually meant other males. Sometimes people made female friends too, but generally their number didn’t exceed that of the same sex.

But… right in front of her eyes were only women. For some reason, that grated on Ena’s nerves. The excited feeling she had until just now suddenly sank, and something slimy started creeping up.

However, she didn’t show it. Even if she didn’t like it, they were Asel’s friends for now. It was right not to do anything that would make him dislike her.

“…Ena Renatus. Asel’s teacher.”

She introduced herself with a nonchalant expression. In response, the three also revealed their identities.

“I’m Ellen Hargelin. I’ve been with Asel since the entrance exam, and as the eldest daughter of the Hargelin family, I’ve volunteered for labyrinth exploration a few times. I plan to participate in the upcoming vacation as well.”
“I-I’m Elena von Valdemia! I’m a princess of the Valdemia Duchy, and um… I can use blood magic!”
“…Grace Baidel. I use spatial swordsmanship.”
“Spatial swordsmanship?”

Ena reacted to Grace’s words. She let out a groan, then chewed her lips as if recalling something.

“Baidel… Ah, I remember. The family founded by that eccentric who incorporated the power of handling space into swordsmanship. I think Baidel was the surname he received.”
“That’s correct. Currently, the swordsmanship is passed down only through blood inheritance.”
“I see.”

Ena glanced at the sword placed diagonally next to Grace, then soon showed a disinterested expression as if she had lost interest.

There are only two ways to handle space. Either interfere with the laws of the world using formulas, or directly tear it apart with force.

The Baidel family chose the latter. They interfere with the points, lines, and planes that make up space through aura, and directly cut to ignore physical laws.

It was impossible without innate mana sensitivity, spatial perception ability, and the unique dizzying mana flowing through their blood. That’s why only the Baidel family can use spatial swordsmanship.

Of course, not everyone with the Baidel surname can handle spatial swordsmanship. Only some among them whose talent allows it can cut space with a sword.

Ignoring distance from the opponent and launching slashes, or having sword strikes fall in completely different places from the sword’s trajectory. Their swordsmanship, characterized by irregularity and disorder, was quite tricky to deal with.

But Ena didn’t particularly like Baidel’s swordsmanship. Handling space is something that can be done with magic, and directly tearing it is a method with shattered efficiency. She wondered if there was any need to stubbornly stick to such a crude method.

It might be different if they could control the amount of aura consumed, but well. It didn’t seem like mere warriors could perform such a high-difficulty technique. Even if they could, wouldn’t they need to be at least a master?

Thinking that, Ena leaned her body against Asel’s shoulder. Asel, without any thought, slightly tilted his body to make it comfortable for her to lean. Grace, who directly witnessed this scene, opened her eyes wide.

“…Huh?”

Extreme cognitive dissonance ran through her brain. That Ena, who used to detest men, was directly grabbing Asel’s hand and placing it on top of her head. It was like a cat throwing a tantrum to be petted. From her slightly melted expression, one could fully feel her pleasant emotion.

No matter how you look at it, she seemed like a female…

‘…No, it can’t be.’

Grace erased the thought that suddenly came to mind and tried to smile.

There’s no way Ena would be like that. She was a woman who avoided physical contact as much as possible, not distinguishing between men and women. On top of that, she showed signs of disliking men even more.

Such a woman couldn’t possibly enjoy Asel’s touch, even if he was her disciple.

There’s no way-

“Do it harder.”
“You’ll fall asleep like that.”
“Then you can just carry me to bed directly.”

The conversation she heard stabbed deep into Grace’s heart. Doubt soon became certainty, and something slimy in her heart opened its eyes. The emotion she had been deliberately suppressing since regressing suddenly overflowed like a dam breaking.

Once she recognized it, there were things she could see. The shirt Ena was wearing. Looking closely, it wasn’t a size that fit her. It was too big for her small frame, revealing one shoulder, and the bottom of the shirt reached her upper thighs, covering her underwear.

There was no need to think about whose shirt it was. Grace’s mouth corners twitched as she alternately stared at Asel and Ena. She read some strange atmosphere flowing between them.

It was the same for Elena and Ellen. The two exchanged glances, then soon got up from their seats with awkward smiles.

“By the way, it’s quite late. We’ll be going now. The conversation was enjoyable, Lady Ena.”
“It, it was fun! We’ll go first!”
“Okay.”

Ena answered while roughly waving her hand towards the two who were greeting her. The two also said goodbye to Asel, saying they’d see him tomorrow, then hurriedly left the room. Now only three people remained in the room.

Asel waiting for midnight to pass so Aleph could become active again, and Ena who just enjoyed his touch. And Grace who was controlling her slimy emotions. They were in the same place, but their thoughts were all different.

Not long after that state continued, Grace stood up from her seat. She looked down at the two with an expressionless face, then soon grinned and fixed the sword she had loosened to her waist.

“I’ll be going too. It was nice to see you after a long time, Asel. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah. See you tomorrow, Grace.”

Asel answered with a smile. Grace also politely greeted Ena, then left the dormitory. The dark corridor welcomed her.

“Phew…”

Grace exhaled a long breath while staring out the window. The dark forest shimmered faintly in the moonlight, and the constellations in the sky twinkled beautifully. She thought while looking at that scene.

Actually, in this iteration, she hadn’t intended to obsess over Asel like in the previous one. She had suppressed her greed somehow, and forcibly controlled the desire that kept welling up. Whenever unhealthy thoughts arose, she adjusted her emotions by self-hypnosis, saying she wouldn’t do that this time.

It was all possible because there were no competitors. Grace realized that only now. She also clearly realized how arrogant that thought had been. She had been wearing clothes that didn’t suit her from the beginning.

‘There are already many women around Asel.’

Once she realized it, there were things she could see. In a situation where not only Ena but also potential threats were distributed all around, she shouldn’t prune her attitude to be wishy-washy.

Then she’ll be abandoned. Asel will go to match rings with other women, laughing and chatting, and she’ll have to writhe in agony while sucking her fingers.

She declines that. She’d rather die.

So, this time too, she had to somehow be the one laughing at the end like in the previous iteration. It didn’t matter if the process was filthy and dirty. As long as she was the one laughing at the very end, nothing else mattered.

Fortunately, she had experience. So pushing away and eliminating the bitches gathering around Asel wouldn’t be that difficult. It was enough to just recall what she had done in the past.

Thinking that, she turned her head with an expressionless face.

“…I’m the one who wins this time too.”

It was a voice dripping with sticky emotion.