A Chemist's Interstellar Saga

Chapter 54: Student Officer
Chapter 54: Student Officer

Ortiz still felt like he was dreaming when he thought about the news he had just heard. He replied, ”Well, this is actually good news. Arix’s physical power has reached the peak of Star-Class, so our biggest worry is now solved.”

He would never have believed that someone could improve so quickly if Arix hadn’t told him herself.

”Are you sure you’re not joking?” Bauer was skeptical at first. Arix had only been injured and hospitalized for a few days—how could she have improved during that time? It seemed like a fantasy.

Ortiz calmed down a bit, then responded, ”She told me herself, how could it be false?”

Then, Ortiz thought for a moment and shared his guess, ”I think there’s only one possibility for Arix’s sudden upgrade: someone must have fixed her body’s foundation. Remember? Arix had been malnourished for a whole ten years. If that was fixed, it’s not impossible for her physical power to skyrocket.”

”That sounds easy to say, but who could possibly do that?” Bauer looked at his two pals, raising his doubts.

Virtanen recalled something, then suddenly said, ”I remember there’s a Master Chemist in the Chemistry Department. Their family and the Kerings are distant relatives.”

With that statement, it felt like the case was instantly solved.

The three instructors all felt a bit sour inside. They thought to themselves that, Arix must be the Alliance’s strongest connection. She seemed to have a link with every big shot.

Finally, Ortiz stared blankly and said something that Virtanen and the others couldn’t understand, ”She must be the protagonist of some female-lead fantasy story, I guess.”

Meanwhile, Arix was crossing a log bridge. Because of the weight ring, every step she took was a bit shaky. The bridge was five meters above the ground, and she was afraid of losing balance and falling.

This morning’s training session was equipment training. The training area had a 3000-meter-long track. On the track were obstacles like a log bridge, cloud ladder, vaulting horse, and climbing rope, among others.

After a round of obstacles, Arix was sweating profusely. She lifted her sleeve to wipe her dirty face, rested for a bit, then started running the obstacles again.

When the morning’s physical power training was over, the students looked as miserable as if they were escaping a disaster. But they still lined up orderly.

The instructors used an opticomputer to score each student based on their digital bracelets and announced the scores aloud.

”Number 12, 5 points, failed.”

”Number 48, 8 points, passed.”

”Number 69, 8 points, passed.”

Arix, who was number 69, didn’t expect to just scrape a pass. Now, she was finally not at the bottom of the physical power training anymore.

She felt so happy, almost like crying.

After the scores were announced, Ortiz made a quieting gesture. Once the students calmed down, he began to speak, ”Tomorrow is Friday, the day to show what we’ve trained for this week. I won’t spill much about the format of the competition. Just don’t let me down tomorrow, or you’ll have me to answer to. Do you understand?”

”Yes, sir!” the students responded loudly and clearly.

Ortiz nodded in satisfaction. Then, glancing around at the students, he smiled and said, ”This afternoon’s psychic power training is canceled. At 2 PM, everyone should be in the auditorium for the military rank ceremony of our fellow student, Arix Kering. Let’s give Student Officer Arix Kering a round of applause in advance!” Ortiz led the applause.

Clap! Clap!

Hearing the thunderous applause around her, Arix felt a rare bashfulness and covered her face.

The other students were cheering and shouting around her. They looked at Arix with undisguised admiration and envy in their eyes.

Standing in the front row, Rei clapped and shouted, ”Arix, you are amazing!”

An unnamed student also shouted, ”You got a military rank before even joining the army? Arix, your career is taking off. Don’t forget me when you reach the top!”

”Arix, you are the pride of the Hecaris! Anyone who slanders you or speaks ill of you behind your back is an idiot!”

Arix, moved by her laughing and playful roommates and classmates, bowed slightly and shouted gratefully, ”Thank you, everyone!!”

A whistle sounded, and Ortiz said with a smile, ”Alright, you’re all dismissed now. Also, Arix, I need to speak with you for a moment.”

Arix had planned to go to the cafeteria with her roommates, but when she heard the instructor calling her, she had to cancel.

After saying goodbye to her roommates, Arix approached the instructors and asked curiously, ”Sir, is there something you need?”

”Have you prepared your speech for this afternoon?” Ortiz asked, a bit worried.

A hint of difficulty flashed across Arix’s face, but it was quickly replaced by a sweet smile. She flashed a smile and said, ”Sir, don’t worry, I’ve been preparing for this for a while.”

Ortiz felt something was off about Arix’s reaction, but he didn’t dwell on it. He pulled out a set of Alliance military uniforms from a container and handed it over, advising, ”This afternoon, you’re the star. Come to the backstage half an hour early, and remember to wear this uniform.”

Arix looked at the uniform in Ortiz’s hand; it was a deep blue military one trimmed with gold thread. She then solemnly took it and said, ”Thank you, sir, I understand.”

Ortiz ruffled Arix’s hair with a smile and said, ”Alright, you’re dismissed now.”

”Okay, goodbye, sir,” Arix replied, while putting the Alliance uniform into her Space Button. After saying goodbye to Ortiz, she headed back to her dormitory.

After finishing their physical training, students from all five military academies received notices from their instructors.

Instead of their usual afternoon psychic power training, they were all to attend the military rank awarding ceremony for Arix.

This change caused different reactions from the academies.

The students from the Koros, known for their dedication to training, frowned in displeasure. They felt attending such a dull ceremony was just a waste of their training time.

The rich kids from the Snorri, on the other hand, made snide remarks. They believed they deserved the spotlight at such opportunities.

Students from the Ceres were indifferent. Apart from their interest in chemistry, they hardly cared about anything else.

The students from the Mulado considered themselves a cut above the rest. Though they didn’t say much outwardly, internally, many were quite jealous.

In contrast, the students from Hecaris Military Academy were as excited as if it were a holiday. To prepare for the ceremony, they got up early from their afternoon rest to get ready. Some styled their hair, others admired themselves in the mirror. They were determined to be the best-dressed of the five academies that afternoon.

By 1:30 PM, the auditorium’s five sections of seats, arranged from top to bottom, were filled with students from all five academies.

Since the ceremony hadn’t started yet, the students were idly chatting. They occasionally glanced curiously at the instructors sitting in the front row of the stage.

Adrian and Cirilla from Mulado Military Academy sat near the stage. Feeling bored, Adrian nudged his sister and asked, ”Who do you think will award the military rank to Arix today?”

Cirilla casually replied, ”I don’t know, probably one of the instructors.” Normally, it would be an elder or a superior officer, and if no elder was present, an instructor would step in.

”I think there might be a surprise,” Adrian said expectantly.

Cirilla was indifferent, as she found this discussion uninteresting. She had seen such ceremonies many times. If it weren’t for Arix being the focus this time, she might have fallen asleep already.

However, Cirilla soon became restless. She was annoyed because around her, there was constant slander about Arix.

”Do you think Arix got this rank by cozying up to Drexel?” someone speculated nearby.

”It’s hard to say, but it’s possible. After all, no matter the merits, it’s unusual to be awarded a military rank before joining the forces. I heard that the title of Student Officer has rarely been given out before.”

”Definitely. I hate people like Arix who just suck up to those in power. It’s ruining the reputation of military students.”

Finally unable to tolerate it anymore, Cirilla and Adrian both stood up and sharply turned to face the three gossiping students behind them.

”What are you looking at, Cirilla?” Netta asked with a harsh tone. Obviously, she already had a contentious relationship with Cirilla before.

Cirilla scoffed as if she had just seen something amusing. ”What am I looking at? I’m obviously looking at a joke.”

Netta stood up abruptly, furious, ”What do you mean, Cirilla? Are you calling us a joke?”

Ignoring Netta’s brewing anger, Cirilla shifted the topic. ”I heard you like Drexel?”

”So what if I do? Are you taking Arix’s side? Why are you so nosy? Don’t you think you’re overstepping?” Netta challenged aggressively.

Cirilla laughed genuinely, pitying Netta. From the moment Netta slandered Arix, she had doomed herself never to get close to Drexel. Such a pity indeed.

Cirilla was no longer angry. She believed that mean people would get their karma from fate, especially those who are foolish and unaware, doomed to tragedy. She coldly chuckled and advised, ”Netta, as your classmate, let me give you a piece of advice: Don’t fall for Drexel, because you two will never happen.”

With that, Cirilla no longer paid any attention to the foolish girl behind her and sat down with her brother.

”What does Cirilla mean by that?” Netta fumed, ready to cause a scene, but was held back by her companions.

”Netta, let it go. We can’t afford to offend Cirilla,” one of her friends advised.

Another added, ”Yeah, and after the term starts, she’ll be the Prima of the Psychic Ware Department. If she holds a grudge and docks our credits, we might have to repeat the year.”

Netta understood this too—this was why her friends were able to hold her back successfully.

Fortunately, the military rank awarding ceremony began at that moment. Netta breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down.