Chapter 245: Ascending the heavens

Ash was ascending to the heavens. His mood was at the peak of happiness, something he had never felt since transmigrating into this world. A smile refused to leave his face, and he had finally managed to overcome the lingering emotions that weighed on him after returning from the dwarven continent.

A few days ago, he and Elysia... at night.

Ah! No, we didn’t cross the line, it was just a kiss, just a kiss...

Even though several days had passed, that grin of his never faded. Whether he was training or completing other tasks, it always lingered. After that night, the distance between them had lessened considerably, and their closeness had reached a new level.

Every time he recalled that moment, the warmth of her lips and the gentleness in her eyes replayed in his mind like a memory carved into his very soul. And it was actually carved into his soul.

It was just a simple kiss, filled with hunger to devour each other, yet it carried a weight he could not put into words.

For Ash, who had lived in constant struggle ever since coming to this world, that fleeting moment felt like the first ray of dawn after a long, endless night. It was something he wanted to hold onto, a quiet strength that made him believe perhaps he truly belonged here, not just as a stranger in another body but as someone who could live and laugh.

It was this feeling that carried him forward, making even the bitter memories of the dwarven continent a little easier to bear.

The Moon and Star Stone, which Ash was supposed to deliver to the Saint in the dwarven lands, had been destroyed. And even if the stones have survived, the dwarves being under the control of the Hollow Mo-, No, Queen made the task meaningless.

To add to it, just a day ago, the principal had summoned him. Because Ash technically failed to complete the mission, no matter the circumstances, he had been given another task—to secure the first position in the semester exams.

What a grumpy old man... can’t he just give me a privilege at once? I swear he was smirking when he handed out that task...

With that thought lingering in his mind, Ash walked toward one of the academy’s examination halls.

Today was special, after all. It was the beginning of the exams.

The academy grounds buzzed with students. Groups huddled together, their voices overlapping in excitement and nervousness. Ash moved among them quietly, his Absolute Concealment active, making him nearly invisible to their senses.

Now that the Charm Suppressors he was supposed to purchase from the dwarves were out of reach, this skill had become his only reliable option.

He did not waste time lingering and walked at a brisk pace. But even then he heard the talks of the students.

"Bro, I feel like my head is going to burst. I crammed everything I could, but I still feel like I’ll fail the written test."

"For real, man, I feel the same."

"What did you even study? I didn’t touch a single book, I slept through the whole day yesterday."

"Look at this liar trying to act casual. If you score higher than me, I’ll make you see stars in the morning."

"Yeah, I’ll help too. This bastard probably studied days ago. Traitor."

Ash overheard their chatter and could not help but smile in amusement. ...No matter the world, no one likes exams...

..but,

He actually liked them. At least now he did.

Because unlike others, he could cheat. Reading any book and storing its contents perfectly in his mind made exams nothing but child’s play for him. Reasoning questions related to mana and magic required actual understanding, but even those he could solve with enough focus.

As long as he grasped the concept, his mind could do the rest flawlessly.

The exams in Starlight Academy were divided into three phases.

The first was the written phase, the most basic. Yet it was also the least rewarding, contributing only twenty percent of the total marks. Usually, it was completed in just one day.

The second phase was the practical examination, where students had to demonstrate what they had learned over the months. Every detail of their performance was recorded, and they were strictly forbidden from repeating the same techniques in the following semester.

This rule existed so students would continue to grow instead of remaining stagnant. Those who failed to improve were immediately expelled. The practical phase generally lasted one or two days, depending on the number of participants. It covered 30% of the total marks.

The third and final phase was the most challenging and unpredictable, stretching over a week. In this phase, 2 teams of five randomly selected students were dropped onto unknown islands scattered across the ocean.

The academy had built bases on a hundred such islands specifically for this purpose. On each island, two teams would be released, and they had to compete directly with one another. The final evaluations were then made by the instructors, based on several factors that went far beyond mere strength.

But this time, even Ash was uncertain whether the last phase would remain the same.

According to the principal, the dungeons are spawning faster and faster. That means the space itself is weakening... a clear sign that the demons are up to something.

Because of this, Ash could not be sure if the academy would risk sending students into dangerous territory again. Still, he leaned toward the least possibility.

If in the original novel the academy had sent students even after so many demon attacks, then the chance of them doing so now was very high as well.

"Hey Ash!!"

As he was walking, a voice suddenly called out to him.

Turning his head, he saw a girl with black hair and blue eyes walking toward him, smiling brightly while waving her hand. It was Amelia Veynar.

Ash stopped and gave a small nod in response. Coming in front of him, She asked, "Let’s go together, I was also heading to the exam hall."

"Alright," Ash replied.

And just like that, they started to walk side by side.

This time, whether it was because he was walking with a girl or simply because presence of Amelia, the gazes of the surrounding students shifted toward them, their eyes filled with curiosity. Whispers began to spread quietly through the hallways as more people noticed.

What a headache..

Ash’s mood turned slightly sour, his expression tightening a little.

He looks happy...

Amelia thought as her eyes lingered on Ash, noticing the faint glow of emotions surrounding him. And it seems like he isn’t even trying to hide it.

She wasn’t sure what had happened with him after he returned to the academy, but she had noticed the change. There were times she could see emotions radiating clearly around him, and other times, she saw nothing at all. From this, she guessed that Ash had gained some kind of ability to control his emotions.

In truth, Ash had not gained complete control, but with the help of the Soul Library, he could at least regulate them partially. Still, there were always moments when things slipped through, events that even he could not fully suppress.

Even so, the fact that he had gained this much control shocked Amelia. She knew well how difficult it was to restrain one’s emotions, which made her even more curious.

If Ash had truly gained full control, she would have been able to see absolutely nothing from him.

As they walked together, Amelia noticed the students’ eyes constantly following them. Some looked at her, while mostly stared at Ash, whispering among themselves. That was when she saw the shift in his emotions, a faint ripple of irritation slipping through his calm façade.

Does he get irritated due to attention...?

Amelia sighed inwardly. She had called out to him on a whim, simply because she had seen him walking ahead, but now that they were together, she found herself at a loss for words.

Ah!! Wait... maybe I could ask that...

"Hey, should we take an empty path?" Amelia suggested, her voice quieter than before. What she wanted to talk about wasn’t something to discuss in the middle of a crowded hallway.

"Yeah sure," Ash replied casually, almost relieved, and agreed without hesitation.

They changed their route and took a slightly longer path that was far less crowded, a calm silence settling between them. After taking a deep breath to gather her courage, Amelia finally spoke.

"Ash, I wanted to ask something."

"Ask away," Ash replied nonchalantly, keeping his eyes straight ahead.

"Do you know about my powers?"

The question made him pause for a moment, confusion flickering across his face. Still, he answered smoothly, "Elysia told me it was somewhat related to receiving revelations. After all, wasn’t it you who told her about the demons’ attack on the academy?"

He twisted his words carefully, choosing them with precision. By including Elysia’s name, he made it sound like he only knew the same things everyone else did. He had no intention of letting Amelia discover that he knows about her affinity with fate. That secret was hidden from all the students, and he intended to keep it that way.

"I see," Amelia replied softly, lowering her head a little. "Then, do you know why... can’t I see you in my... revelations?"

Her question made a small crack appear in Ash’s control, but he quickly smoothed it over. He did not hide everything, though, which could possibly make her even more certain there was something he was hiding.

...Nervousness...

That was what Amelia caught for the briefest moment before it vanished completely.

No wait, was that even nervousness..? It felt slightly different, but it was too fast for me to catch clearly... still, it was definitely there...

The truth was, Amelia already knew the answer. She wasn’t asking to find out why, she was asking to see how Ash would react. After all, she still hadn’t told her grandfather about Ash, and her grandfather hadn’t told her to stop investigating the Anomaly either.

Today, however, she wanted to confirm something for herself.

"I don’t know why you didn’t see me. Let me guess, the visions you saw must not have been complete, so obviously I wouldn’t appear in them. You’re just asking unusual questions. Are you fine? Or do you have exam fever?" Ash replied, trying to turn her serious question into something lighthearted.

"But, I saw..."

Before Amelia could press further, a sharp ringing sound echoed. It was a call coming through Ash’s watch.

He glanced at the caller, and the moment he saw the name, his lips curved into a smile. Thank god you called and saved me from this questioning.

"It’s Elysia. I’ll go now, she’s waiting for me." Without giving her a chance to respond, Ash teleported away in an instant, ignoring the academy rule that forbade using abilities inside the grounds.

"W-wait..."

Amelia instinctively tried to stop him, reaching out her hand, but it was useless.

He was gone.

Ah!!!!! Damn bastard, he ran away. Now what should I do? Right, if he wants to run, then I’ll just tell Grandpa... about him yeah...

Though....I will include that he is not evil....Humph, but that is only because of Elysia.