051

The school's chairman of the board and the department head teacher came up and began to explain the school's systems.

A fast-paced organization consisting of a Basic Class, an Advancement Class, and a Graduation Class.

A grading system of A, B, and C.

And even a mentor system connected to the seniors of the Basic Class.

For such a modern system, one you would only expect to see in the Empire's capital, to be implemented in a remote academy like this, the students focused on the explanation with quite surprised expressions.

“First, the Basic Class students will be placed without any distinction between A, B, and C classes. After a month of autonomous classes, grades will be divided according to the subsequent grade evaluation.”

As the chairman's words ended, the eyes of several students shone.

It was a chance to showcase their skills and prove their superiority over others.

The students from the Empire, in particular, crossed their arms as if they had been waiting for this.

They were students who had spent their childhoods proving their skills in the education-zealous Imperial Capital.

‘I’ll eat an academy of this level for breakfast.’

It was when they were showing off their confidence with such thoughts.

“Next, we will invite the advisor who has made a great investment in our school to say a few words. This is Avril Goldline of the Goldline Merchant Guild!”

With the chairman’s announcement, people's gazes focused on him.

‘He must be the young master of the Goldline.’

‘I heard it’s been about 5 years since he started working in the field. He wastes a lot of money.’

‘I heard he not only remodeled this rural academy but also turned the entire town into a fortress, right? His hobby is too extravagant.’

Whether he knew of people's evaluations or not, Avril looked at the students with an indifferent expression.

The students didn't know.

Unlike them, who were just now looking at and evaluating Avril, Avril had already finished evaluating all the students.

His indifferent gaze moved as if flowing, then stopped on one male student.

He was a handsome man from whom a cold aura emanated even at a glance.

Despite his young age of 14, he had a mature feeling from his neat posture and gracefully lined features.

‘He was Rozalin’s right-hand man.’

He was an adjutant to Rozalin, who had entered the military.

He himself had seen him a few times from a distance.

He wasn't the type to use particularly outstanding strategies or tactics.

Rather, he was the type to steadfastly push forward with what needed to be done and carry out ‘necessary defeats.’

In other words, the type who could sacrifice allies as much as needed for the sake of formation and strategy.

And those allies included himself.

‘He died five years later.’

Avril liked his strategic style.

Viewing people as numbers and then examining the formation in a utilitarian way by repeating addition and subtraction was a useful talent.

‘I just need to turn population into capital.’

Avril, having thus quickly ruminated on his evaluation of the students, raised one corner of his mouth and smiled.

“I am investing a bit in Akarind Academy.”

He knew well what they would think of him.

He didn't bother to correct them.

Because people who looked down on him and treated him like a sucker were easier to exploit.

“I hope there are many people who are worth the money. As long as you prove your worth, the money will be invested without limit.”

To tempt them, Avril cast a sizable bait.

“Of course, that includes after graduation.”

At those words, a sound of ‘Ooh―’ flowed from among the students.

As Avril stepped back, the chairman came up to the podium again.

Just when they thought the entrance ceremony was ending like this.

“Now, we will invite the chief of security of this school to say a few words.”

The chairman suddenly called out an absurd person.

‘Chief of security? It says chief, but isn't he just a security guard?’

‘As expected of a rural academy, I guess they even prop up a long-serving security guard, talking about people's affection or whatnot?’

‘For a mere security guard to come up to the podium at the entrance ceremony. It speaks volumes about the level of this academy.’

The students' concentration began to waver.

Just when no one was looking at the podium, lost in the fantasy of the rose-colored path of money that Avril had just thrown them.

The clacking sound of footsteps echoed softly from the podium.

‘Huh?’

One by one, gazes gathered on the podium.

There stood a student, wearing the Akarind Academy uniform just like them, with a formal coat slung over her shoulders.

A sky-blue ponytail and the chief of security's cap placed on top as if resting there.

And the security team's insignia on one forearm and a single sword hanging from her waist.

It was a sight that no noble of the Empire could fail to recognize.

“V-Vürhelm?”

One student's jaw dropped as if in disbelief.

He knew that Rozalin attended this Akarind Academy.

But he didn't know that Rozalin wasn't a student.

No, it would be strange to have known.

“Hello! A strong and good morning! I am Rozalin Vürhelm! I'm in charge of being the chief of security at this academy! If you cause trouble, you'll meet me! And then you'll write your will! You'll die! The end. Got it!”

Moreover, for that Rozalin to have such conduct and tone, it was even stranger to have known.

“What is the standard for trouble! First is the school rules, and second is the arbitrary judgment of the security team! Especially you bastards who are rude to the school teachers, you better worry about your lives!”

Furthermore, for that Rozalin to (abbreviated below).

“It's not the security team that's going to mess you up, there are countless things in this academy that can threaten your lives! In particular, if you witness a small, child-like creature with flashing purple eyes wandering alone as if it were a student, ignore it! Such a student does not attend classes at Akarind Academy!”

With each story that could or could not be a warning, the students' expressions became peculiar.

Rozalin, who was talking about various school rules and warnings, seemed to be in high spirits.

The students from the Empire, who had been casting dubious glances at Akarind Academy, were now filled with anxiety.

They couldn't tell if this academy, which employed the child of such a noble as the chief of security, was even sane, or if they had come to the right place.

Leaving such confusion behind, Rozalin went down the podium with a smile.

Her address had been a little longer than the chairman's.

“Those were truly educational warnings. I hope we can have a good time together with all you students.”

The chairman simply laughed even that off and then declared the ceremony closed.

It was a confusing entrance ceremony in many ways.

But every confusion has its end.

The teachers who had been sitting in the front of the entrance ceremony auditorium came out in a group and led the students.

“Temporary Class A~ Class A students, please follow me!”

“I will be your homeroom teacher for Class B, Quantai! Temporary Class B! Follow me!”

“Class C is here! This way~!”

Since there were many students, considering the classroom situation, the classes were divided up to Class F.

Thus, students from Class A to Class E all left, and soon only the Class F students remained in the auditorium, looking around blankly.

“What, what about our class?”

A female student from the Empire frowned.

“Is there no teacher?”

Another male student from the Empire looked around with an expression as if searching for a servant.

“But what’s with this class?”

Yet another female student from the Empire looked around in displeasure.

And for good reason; in the other classes, about 3-4 students from the Empire were assigned to each.

However, in Class F, a whole 15 students from the Empire were assigned.

Many faces they had seen in the Imperial Capital were gathered here.

“Just what level of instructor is in charge of us for the personnel to be organized like this?”

A male student from the Empire looked around with an expectant expression.

He didn't have high expectations when he first enrolled, but considering the shock of the entrance ceremony shown by Avril and Rozalin, there might be a pretty decent teacher—.

“You guys don't have a teacher.”

“……What?”

A large man who had come in to clean up the auditorium spoke to them.

He wasn't tall, but his sturdy frame, more than three times that of a normal person, exuded an intimidating aura.

Even among the renowned knights of the Empire, it was rare to see someone with that much muscle.

And such knights did not have things like snake-shaped tattoos drawn on their bald heads.

“D-did you perhaps kill our teacher!”

He had the looks to warrant such a misunderstanding.

Hati, who heard that, clicked his tongue with a dumbfounded expression.

“Did a bunch of greenhorns enroll as freshmen at Akarind Academy this semester? Their personalities are peculiar.”

As his fierce impression moved, his scalp also moved smoothly, and the snake drawn on his scalp also moved as if it were alive.

This meant the students were effectively scared.

“Your teacher is a bit sick and is scheduled to come to work a day late. Instead, there are seniors who will lead you, so I'll guide you to them.”

“Seniors?”

“Pan, Elibes, Bridget.”

At Hati's call, three students entered the auditorium.

At that moment, the gathered Class F students felt as if the inside of the auditorium had brightened.

A pretty boy, to the extent that it was hard to tell if he was a man or a woman due to his elegant lines, with a faint hint of arrogance and mischief, was standing there.

The only way to know he was male was thanks to his firm and well-balanced physique for his age.

“Wow……”

Forgetting the dignity they had maintained until now, a small gasp escaped from the lips of both boys and girls alike.

“Until the teacher comes, these three seniors will lead you. Have fun with your seniors today.”

Hati said so and moved sluggishly to clean up the back of the auditorium.

Bridget, who had glanced at his departing back, stepped forward.

The past two months with Avril had been what one could only call hell.

He had spent all day wearing a mask, following people to dispose of various monsters and receiving training to kidnap or assassinate specific individuals.

He didn't know if it was okay to teach this kind of thing at an academy, but the rewards provided to him and Elibes in between were too sweet.

If it was that much even for him, who was from a noble family of the Empire, how sweet must it have been for Elibes.

And now that the training was over.

“Before introductions, shall we sort out the pecking order first?”

He wanted to check the gap between him and Pan.

At his words, Pan looked at Bridget.

Unlike before the vacation, his eyes held confidence.

“The number is just right, too. Thirty. Let's each take ten, and the person who takes down all of them the fastest wins.”

Was he really saying he would take them on, and ten of them at that, by himself?

The students looked at Bridget with dumbfounded expressions, their pride hurt.

“You’re going to lose.”

Pan provoked him.

“……Why do I have to do it too?”

Elibes expressed her reluctance.

“Alright. Everyone, let's move to the training ground!”

Bridget, stung by Pan's words, led the students and moved to the training ground.

It was spring.

* * *

I slowly tried to move my body.

I planted my foot.

It was okay.

I tried to move my arm.

It was okay.

I straightened my back and fixed my gaze.

It hurt a little.

And I steeled my will.

In that instant, a pain that pierced from the crown of my head to my waist shot through me.

I could endure it.

I swing the sword.

Saaaaaak!

It was a sound as if it were cutting even the air in the void.

The sound of a blade, painstakingly sharpened by a blacksmith, slicing through paper.

“How is it?”

“It hurts.”

My arm still hurt as if it would break.

One eye closed on its own, and I had to bite my lower lip just to endure it.

In other words, I could endure it.

“……It hurts.”

I said so and looked up.

Yuria nodded.

“At this level, twice. You can swing the sword about that much.”

One of the nine mana roads had recovered.

The medicine was effective.

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