Volume 7 Chapter 40 It's Not Just The Body That's Big
"Well... It's not quite how I planned things, but I'd like to start investigating the true nature of the Wind Element now."
Randy raised the mesh insect net high, revealing a green orb about the size of a fist inside. It gave off a faint glow, pulsing quietly. The students watching stood at a safe distance from Randy, eyeing the strange object with cautious curiosity. Among them were those who had entered the old school building alongside him.
"You can't see anything from that far, right?"
Wayne frowned and raised his voice. "Don't be reckless."
The group murmured their agreement. Both the ones who'd joined Randy inside and the others who had waited on the playground knew now—the strange events they'd seen were connected to the Spirit King of Darkness, Shade.
This info had reached them while Randy was away in Beast Forest with Liz and Ellie, chasing down the Wind Element. According to what they'd heard, Shade—the dark Spirit King—had appeared because the Darkness Element had gone berserk after being attacked with magic.
"Things got out of hand real fast."
Because of that, many students hesitated to approach the Wind Element, even though it only gave off a faint light. It was hard to tell what it might do. Randy's careful posture made his concern obvious.
The story told by those who had entered the old school building went like this:
—They attacked the Darkness Element with magic.
—The Element got angry, and the Spirit King appeared.
—It was chaos after that.
Randy's unusual behavior during all of this had left a strong impression. The students weren't just afraid of the Element anymore. They were wary of him—the man who had casually said, "We're going to fuse, you know?" like it was a normal thing.
Now, quiet whispers passed among them.
"Is he okay in the head?"
"Kind of scary, honestly."
The image of Randy, once climbing in popularity, had taken a sharp hit. Leading the backlash was Wayne, who shouted directly at him:
"You idiot!"
"Mr. Luke said it too! This isn't the forest you grew up in!"
Luke stepped up beside him. "Yeah! Just go back to the forest already!"
"You guys..."
Randy's face twisted, caught between frustration and disbelief. But before he could answer, someone among the crowd couldn't hold back a laugh.
"Go back to the forest..."
"That's kinda harsh."
"But didn't he really enjoy hunting monsters back there?"
The tension that had been building began to ease. The mood lightened.
To the students, the strange threat that Randy posed now looked more like the wild energy of someone who just didn't fit into the usual mold. And surprisingly, it wasn't a classmate or teacher who helped shift the mood—it was someone unexpected.
"...He's chaotic, sure, but I think he'd protect us no matter what."
Everyone turned at the soft voice. The speaker was Gael—once a spy sent by Edgar's faction, and the same student who had cast magic under Randy's command in the old building.
Because he had been the first to step up and take action, Gael had earned the respect of many students. His quiet words now made them pause.
One student nodded. Then another. Slowly, the conversation shifted again—this time in Randy's favor.
They remembered. Randy might have summoned the Spirit King with a smile, but he had made sure no one got hurt. He took all the risk himself and crushed the Spirit King with his own hands.
"That punch was insane."
"He mixed magic into it too, right?"
"When he swung that net... kinda cute, honestly."
Gael realized he'd said too much. The growing cheer in the crowd meant that—the planned interaction event—might end up too lively. He quietly stepped back from the group, wearing a conflicted expression.
"...You okay with this?"
The voice came from Elcia, a spy like Gael but from a different faction. She had noticed his mood.
"Even if I hadn't said anything," he added with a sigh, "things probably would've gone the same way."
Gael gave her a questioning look. Elcia glanced over to where Randy was still being teased by Wayne and Luke.
With a bug-catching net in one hand, Randy shouted, "Who are you calling a gorilla?!" while Liz, Ellie, Catherine, and Julius tried to calm him down.
"So many people around him, all different types... but they all stick close. He must have that kind of presence. Everyone supports him without thinking about it. That says a lot."
Elcia's gaze moved to Wayne, who now boasted to the crowd, "That guy knocked out the Imperial Lord with one punch, I swear!" Though he had been one of Randy's critics just moments ago, now he fully joined the chorus praising him.
It wasn't just about raw strength. It was the kind of friendship where people could laugh, argue, and still say "He's amazing" and mean it. The students understood that now.
"See? We can't win against someone like that."
"...Yeah."
Gael sighed, a crooked smile on his lips. Just being around Randy seemed to make people change. Even Gael couldn't deny that.
"The courage to act on a promise, even if it's small."
"But he's still flawed."
"Yeah... maybe that's why people gather around him."
"Could be. But still..."
The two of them turned to look at Randy at the same time. A small crowd of students had already gathered around him, chatting casually and occasionally glancing at the Element of Wind with curiosity.
Among those students, Gael and Elcia recognized several familiar faces—children from noble parties hosted by both factions. Just like themselves.
They didn't know whether those students were infiltrators like them, or simply here for school. But one thing was certain—they were genuinely enjoying the moment, laughing and talking with Randy.
"There's no tension here at all," Gael muttered.
"It almost makes our caution look foolish," Elcia replied softly.
The atmosphere around Randy felt too relaxed. The students, who had kept their distance just a short time ago, now huddled close, voices overlapping with excitement. Even Instructor Leia, usually composed, was saying, "Victor, let me touch that," while smiling like a child. Gael and Elcia could only exchange awkward smiles.
They stood just close enough not to seem out of place, quietly watching the friendly group with something close to envy.
"...Why am I not part of that circle?"
Elcia whispered, squeezing her own elbow. Her usual polite speech had slipped into something more personal. It sounded like a voice that had escaped from her heart without permission. Her profile showed hints of regret and self-blame.
Gael nearly looked away, but instead bit his lip and stayed silent.
"It's not too late... is it?"
"Huh?" Elcia blinked, looking at him.
Gael scratched his head, clearly flustered. He didn't meet her eyes, but glanced at Randy as he repeated himself quietly, "I don't think it's too late."
"I believe... that person would accept even us. Even the way we are now."
Elcia let out a small laugh at his uncertain words.
"You should say that with more confidence."
"Don't expect too much from me. I'm in the same position as you," he replied.
They were spies. By all rights, enemies of Randy. Gael wasn't naive enough to think things would go smoothly.
Still, as Gael let out a helpless smile, Elcia gave a soft chuckle of agreement.
At that moment—
"Hey! Early birds! We want your thoughts too!"
Randy's cheerful voice cut through the crowd. He waved to them, standing at the center with his usual carefree energy.
Gael and Elcia glanced at each other, then smiled.
"...Just for now."
"Let's join them."
Together, they stepped forward, walking into the circle of students. The others welcomed them easily, calling out, "What do you think? We're tossing around ideas right now!"
This was the kind of moment they had longed for since arriving at the academy.
A space where status didn't matter. A place where everyone could speak freely, laugh together, and share their thoughts without fear of judgment.
That kind of environment didn't exist within their own faction, where numbers and order always came first.
So it wasn't surprising when Elcia, half without thinking, said aloud—
"Um... Senior. I know it's not my place, but... isn't this taking a bit long because there are too many people...?"
She didn't mean to complain. She just thought that working well wasn't about having more voices—it was about using them wisely.
But Randy only laughed.
"It's fine. This is school. Efficiency can wait."
He grinned as he looked over the increasingly lively students.
"What matters is saying what's on your mind. It's okay to be wrong. If that happens, you try again. We've still got time."
Elcia and Gael both froze. Those words cut straight through them—yet not with judgment. His gaze was gentle, full of quiet acceptance.
Before either of them could reply, Randy clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"That said, it is important to keep things organized. So let's turn this into group work."
He turned to Julius and Catherine and simply said, "I'll leave the rest to you." With a shared sigh, the two began directing students and organizing groups.
Catherine, Julius, Cecilia, Liz, Ellie, Wayne, Luke, and Livia all stepped up to take charge of different sections.
"Thanks for the advice. Um..."
"Elcia."
"I'm Gael."
They gave their names automatically. Randy chuckled and patted their shoulders.
"I'm Randolph. I think you knew that already. Looks like you're both in my group, so I'm counting on you."
He turned back to the other students and called out, "Alright, everyone in my group, gather up!"
Elcia, watching his back, murmured quietly.
"...There's no way to win against that."
"Yeah," Gael agreed.
Even so, both of them chased after Randy with genuine smiles.
Notes:
• Shade - Genderless. The Dark Spirit King, a being composed of dark Elements. It appears as a large humanoid draped in a robe, with an obscured face and hollow interior. Its power is darkness, absorbing all light. It is a formidable opponent, capable of using various dark magics, including Dark Bolts, Dark Scythe, and Abyss Gate.
• Gael - A quiet boy with green curly hair, from the Viscount Ernest family. He is a spy for Dario's faction, acting due to his family's precarious position after the fall of the royal family.
• Elcia - A serious girl with long brown hair tied in a bun, from the Baron Laurent family. She is a spy for Edgar's faction, motivated by her family's declining status after political shifts.
• Leia - An elf instructor specializing in magic theory. She is knowledgeable about magical creatures and will accompany Randy's group as a fieldwork security officer for elemental.
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