Chapter 146: Iona''s Observation Diary (1)


    Iona Francheska.


    A 372-year-old Lord-ss vampire.


    She was an academy professor.


    She liked killing cultists.


    She disliked cultists.


    Her specialty was blood magic.


    Her appearance was characterized by deep red hair, eyes like blood, and a seductive figure.


    However, she couldnt seduce students, so she hid her charm by acting clumsy and consciously suppressing her allure.


    Sometimes, it was natural enough to make one wonder if that was her real personality.


    Surprisingly, the original Iona was much more dangerous and violent.


    That was because Iona was a powerful vampire known before the War of the Gods and an heir to a fairlyrge n.


    However, as the war intensified, vampires, like other races, were faced with a choice.


    As a result, some converted to cultism, while others allied with different races to fight against the army of Evil Gods.


    Ionas n, which chose to ally, was active on many battlefields but was eventually ambushed by cultists and annihted.


    The only survivor was Iona.


    Driven by revenge, Iona recklessly plunged into various battlefields, risking her life.


    In an era where even powerful beings like Sword Masters and Great Magicians could die unluckily, it was a perfect storm for a tragic end.


    However, Iona survived, thanks to her innatebat sense and her vampires tenacious vitality.


    And she became stronger.


    It was a time when survival inevitably led to strength.


    She reached the realm of Great Magicians and umted enough deeds with blood, the essence of vampires.


    Thanks to this, she seeded in earning the qualifications to establish her own n as a Lord


    However, Iona, stating that her n had all died, chose not to create new kin and continued to fight alone.


    Until the hero sealed the Evil God and ended the war. Without rest. Continuously.


    That was why Iona was called a Lord-ss vampire, not a vampire Lord.


    Just as a king without subjects was not a king, a Lord without kin couldnt be called a Lord.


    But to call her just a vampire would underestimate her strength, hence the term Lord-ss.


    Afterward, well realizing the limits of what one person could do, she became a professor at the academy, leading to her current state.


    Despite her bloody past, as a professor, Iona became a rather frivolous person.


    Yet, her goal had not wavered for 300 years.


    To kill all remaining cultists.


    If it was impossible alone, then she would train her students to be strong enough to kill cultists.


    Even if it would take several hundred more years, she was willing to endure it.


    After all, Iona still couldnt forget the sight of her n, who were like family to her, dying.


    That was all I knew about Iona.


    Oh, and one more thingshe yed a significant role in thetter half of H&A.


    But this was merely a brief scene of battle in a cutscene, so it was unclear how exactly she fights.


    It seemed like I knew quite a lot but these were just her actions.


    What I needed to know were more detailed elements.


    ording to stories from the library, it had been a long time since she directly fed, which changed her constitution.


    So, I wondered if her suppressed instincts would react and if her mind would be disturbed at the sight of blood.


    If so, could I use this to my advantage?


    Also, her personality, hidden behind her bubbly behavior, and how her personality affected herbat style, etc.


    I needed to understand Iona herself, not just her footsteps.


    That way, I might be able tond a hit on her.


    For that reason, Ive decided to observe Professor Iona for a few days. Ill be moving alone after ss for a while, so you guys wait at the dormitory. It gets noisy with everyone around.


    Master thats called stalking.


    Ha! Stalking? Its strategic information gathering!


    There was a lot I wanted to say, but Ca seemed to be holding back her words.


    It was like pondering how to exin to a child who proudly brought an answer of 1+1=11 from where and how to start exining.


    Perhaps Elisha, who actually started the conversation, felt no different.


    Until yesterday, she was buoyed by myvish praises, her blue bun hair bobbing joyfully.


    Now, she presented a calm demeanor as if she had swallowed ice water.


    Yandel. My dear. Even if you grasp a weakness, always remember to think about what follows.


    What follows?


    Professor Iona is not your enemy. Shes someone trying to help you, no matter what. So, you must avoid doing things that could make her too hateful.


    Yeah Thats right.


    The methods might be rough, but Iona was sincerely teaching me.


    Besides, she even showed goodwill, promising conveniences if I just dealt with the cultists properly.


    There was no need to reduce our allies with my own hands.


    Maybe we should put off strategic information gathering for now


    So, lets wear this robe today, shall we?


    ???


    Confused by thepletely unexpected suggestion, Elisha gently dressed me in a transparent robe.


    After neatly adjusting my clothes, she tapped my chest twice and pulled up the corners of her mouth in a grin.


    A smile like that of a noble scheming some mischief.


    I gazed nkly between the robe and Elisha for a moment, then nodded.


    Right. Its fine as long as were not caught.


    Yes, its fine as long as youre not caught.


    Kuhuhuhuhu!


    Ohohohoho!


    Cas sigh leaked out amidst the room filled with our nefariousughter.


    It was time to go to school.


    <hr>


    Hello, hello again today! Is everyone preparing well for the exams? Even though you just need to duel for the magicbat subject, there are many things to prepare for in other subjects!


    Of course, I was properly prepared. Thanks to my exceptional memory trait, Id memorized the entire theory course, so I didnt have to worry about it.


    And with Ca, who had been up to the fourth year, guiding me with precise predictions on what to expect, I was covered in other areas as well.


    Even in the top ss, ss A, grades were important.


    That was because achieving certain grades tranted into points, sort of like a store credit system.


    This was referred to as the achievement store among yers, where outstanding students could exchange for various items.


    Most students exchange for elixirs, rare scrolls, or high-level magic tools


    But those items could ultimately be bought with gold.


    Items that required a lot of points but couldnt be bought with gold were the true purpose of the achievement store.


    Especially the dragon heart fragment at its pinnacle was essential for my n


    Thanks to much more significant achievements in the game, I might be able to gather all the points I needed by the third year no, maybe even by the second year.


    Even as I calcted the points I could earn from this exam, my gaze never left Iona.


    Despite carrying a substantial blood bag, her exaggerated actions, like somersaulting, hopping, and waving her hands, didnt show any sign of disturbance.


    It was an inexplicable phenomenon, even considering she was wearing loose clothing.


    Focusing my mind just in case, I didnt feel any magic either.


    So, there was only one conclusion left.


    She perfectly controlled her bodys center of gravity.


    What kind of magician was so physically adept?


    But upon further thought, it made sense.


    Unlike other magicians, Iona fought cultists alone.


    Naturally, she would have prepared for a magicians chronic weaknesses in physical abilities and closebat.


    Somehow, during sparring, whenever I tried closebat, I always ended up being countered.


    I guess it was time to abandon the thought that closebat would somehow work out.


    It was true that I moved better than other magicians, but it seemed I wasnt quite at Ionas level.


    Id already learned something new. Why didnt I realize this before?


    Just as I was mentally crossing out the closebat section from my strategy against Iona


    Suddenly, Iona, turning her gaze with yful eyes, asked.


    Whats this? I feel a burning gaze Student Yandel, do you know where itsing from?


    My respect for the professor is anything but ordinary.


    <em>Eek</em>


    Iona blinked, her expression suggesting she was a bit taken aback.


    Uh, uh maybe you ate something bad this morning?


    No. Since I end up throwing up everything during morning sparring with the professor, Ive been skipping breakfasttely.


    Ah


    Iona seemed a bit sorry, perhaps aware that her lessons had been somewhat roughtely.


    Hey, hey. Should we lower the intensity of the sparring a bit? You even copsed yesterday. And got scolded by Priest Cohen


    So the stern, middle-aged priest I sawst time was named Cohen?


    But then, asking to lower the difficulty would be something I would actually refuse.


    I shook my head firmly.


    No, please continue as is. Im fine.


    As I said this, staring directly into her blood-red eyes, Iona, for some reason, looked away, seemingly annoyed.


    Strange Im sure it was his heart that got pierced, not his head that got injured


    Thats a bit rude.


    Im perfectly normal.


    Probably.