[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy":3,"chapter-the-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy-the-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy-chapter-241":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1027209,1339,"Chapter 241: Aestrea Against The World (XVIII)","the-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy-chapter-241",241,"\u003Cp>Chapter 241: Aestrea Against The World (XVIII)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Aestrea left both Cecilia and Kagetaro literally under an avalanche…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THUMP!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pale, blood-streaked hand burst out from beneath a thick layer of frozen powder, fingers twitching violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cecilia dragged herself up first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cloak was ripped, and her face was even worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her body shook with every movement, and as she knelt on the cold earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough, COUGH!” she coughed hard, before spitting out a thick glob of blood onto the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes, glowing faintly with that unstable crimson hue, narrowed in pure rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That bastard…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clutched her ribs, one clearly broken, her breathing shallow and harsh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That fucking bastard…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was shaking, half from the cold, half from fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuck, fuck, fuck, why is he so strong?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words came out bitter, fast, her mind racing through every possible explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But nothing made sense for her. He was growing stronger, too fast, far beyond the growth of any normal awakener.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pounded her fist into the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s not supposed to be this strong yet. We planned for this. We trained for this. I studied his entire damn arsenal!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She groaned, coughing again, her lips stained red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s surpassed every damn limit we predicted…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“HAHAHHAHAARAAHA!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, from behind her, a completely giddy laugh echoed, and she didn’t even need to turn to know who it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still partially buried, he sat up, his long dark hair drenched in white, his chest rising and falling as he slowly peeled himself free from the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes glowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vibrant, trembling violet, buzzing with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Haaaah~” he sighed, stretching his neck, his muscles cracking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was beautiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked like a man who had just fallen in love.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was flushed, his lips curled into a delighted smile, and his fingers trembled slightly from the rush still burning in his veins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you see it, Cecilia?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He licked a bit of blood off his own lips, grinning widely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He aimed the spell right under our feet. No hesitation or mercy. Just that stupid gun gesture and—boom!” He laughed again, louder this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A perfect trap. At the perfect moment. That rune didn’t appear before… which means that it was hidden. Meaning he planned it long before we even started talking…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh…” Cecilia growled under her breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t sound so happy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Kagetaro was smiling too brightly to care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Happy?” he chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no, Cecilia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His head tilted, eyes gleaming like a child given a new toy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m thrilled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose to his feet slowly, brushing the snow off his shoulders, his ribbon-like weapons twitching behind him like they were just as excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aestrea… he’s growing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took one deep breath, the cold air steaming from his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And it’s glorious!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cecilia looked at him like he was insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And maybe he was, but Kagetaro didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart was racing, blood was pumping, and his mind was buzzing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s becoming something special,” he whispered as his fingers twitched, flexing eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…And I want to be there when he breaks everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His grin widened, wicked and twisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to be the one who pushes him off the edge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cecilia spat again, wiping her lips, muttering a curse under her breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re sick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Kagetaro just laughed, until his breath hitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puhuhu…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His shoulders shook, his head dropping slightly as his shadow stretched over the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“PuhuhuhuhahahahahAHAHAHA—!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The laughter spilled out of him like a flood, loud and uncontrollable, echoing across the frozen forest like a scream of joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was raw with amusement, mouth wide in a feverish grin that refused to fade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His entire body trembled, not from cold, but from a twisted euphoria that curled into his bones and refused to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cecilia flinched at the sound, slowly backing away as he practically howled with laughter, clutching his ribs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahhh~ hahah…!” Kagetaro finally exhaled, wiping a tear from his eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gods, Cecilia… I-I just…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His flushed face twitched with excitement, a red glow rising to his cheeks like a love-struck schoolboy, lips quivering with pleasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to see his face,” he whispered, voice hoarse and breathy. “That face when he finds out…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pupils dilated as he brought a trembling hand to his mouth, biting his knuckle softly, trying to contain the pure rush overtaking him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That beautiful, calm expression of his… that arrogant confidence he always wears… just shattering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His smile turned almost gentle now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When he realizes…” he said slowly, his tone savoring every word like it was honey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That the Dark Elves he thought he could save… are under my complete control.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cecilia’s eyes narrowed in complete surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t told her about that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Kagetaro didn’t even glance at her. His gaze was far away, dreamy, almost delusional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the Goddess he met… Gaia…” he sighed like her name alone tasted sweet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That soft, caring presence… all that holy light…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tilted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just a projection. A beautiful, harmless illusion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lips parted, and a soft moan escaped his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A hologram, really… built from fragments of the old goddess. So easy to control once I linked into the ruins beneath the capital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned toward Cecilia now, his grin back and bigger than ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everything she said to him? All those sweet little promises?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled, licking his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My script.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re insane…” Cecilia’s face went entirely pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kagetaro didn’t argue with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just took one step forward, eyes glowing brighter with every breath, voice dripping with glee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want him to believe. I want him to hope. I want him to think he’s saving someone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hands curled at his sides, ribbons twitching behind him like they were excited too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because when he finally realizes that all of it was fake…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed his eyes and whispered with pure bliss:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the moment he’ll truly fall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright,” Aestrea muttered, adjusting the straps of his cloak one last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m heading out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was early morning, the frost still clinging to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snow sparkled under the light like crushed diamonds, and Aestrea’s silhouette stood tall at the edge of the camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or so he thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because behind him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“WAIT!!” James came sprinting up, slipping and nearly crashing into a tent pole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-You’re really just gonna go?? Just like that?! Without a dramatic goodbye?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes?” Aestrea blinked slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Derek was right behind, dragging a heavy sack of snacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At least take this, idiot. You barely eat. You’ll probably pass out halfway from hunger and make peace negotiations while half-delirious again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t do that—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“YOU APOLOGIZED TO A TREE.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That was one time,” Aestrea muttered, face twitching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came Zeva.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In full dramatic fashion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She marched up, arms crossed beneath her chest, chin lifted, snow fluttering around her like a scene out of a romantic movie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So you’re really going alone?” she said, voice solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was the deal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She narrowed her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll miss you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be back in a few weeks… probably.” Aestrea sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stepped closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll really miss you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll cry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now right up in his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll scream.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Then scream.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’LL DIE—!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aestrea put a finger on her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please don’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them, James was sobbing exaggeratedly while Derek opened a bag of dried fish jerky and threw a piece in his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So dramatic,” he muttered, chewing loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Zeva dropped the final bomb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before you go… say you love me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whole camp suddenly turned quiet at her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“DO IT!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“C’MON MAN!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“SAY IT BACK, BRO!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“SHOW HER YOU ARE A MAN!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if waiting for the right moment, random soldiers, some shirtless for no reason in the cold, suddenly appeared and started chanting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone even brought a drum, and another person had lit a torch, and if that wasn’t enough, one guy was waving a banner that said “TEAM ZEVA.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aestrea’s eyebrow twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not saying it in front of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then whisper it in my ear~” Zeva teased, leaning in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aestrea inhaled deeply… very deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m leaving now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“BABY—!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come back safe, my emotionally constipated friend!” James tackled him in a hug from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Derek followed, patting him on the back with the grace of a wrecking ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t die. You still owe me one punch in the gut for earlier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll wait for you foreverrrrr~!!” Zeva clung to his other arm like a desperate bride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers sang some awful off-key song in the background.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aestrea stood frozen at their actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost dead inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then his lips finally parted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He literally turned on his heel, shoved James and Derek off, dragged his arm free from Zeva, who made sad puppy sounds, and walked straight into the forest like a man escaping a cult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as he disappeared into the treeline…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“BABYYYY I’LL KEEP THE BED WARM FOR YOUUUU!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“COME BACK VIRGIN OR NOT, WE STILL LOVE YOU!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“BRING BACK ELVEN SNACKS!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I hate all of you,” Aestrea muttered as the cheers echoed behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He really should’ve just ghosted them in the middle of the night.\u003C\u002Fp>",1538,"2026-06-03T09:18:17.304Z","2026-06-03T09:18:22.612Z",1,"novelbin.me","1a0f05c63cdba401ee15d58c6678b7f0256ea13f0519f340265ddfdf3b0abbd0","the-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy-chapter-242","the-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy-chapter-162",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy-cover.jpg"]