Chapter 93 - The Joint Grade Mock Battle, and Its Aftermath (1)

This is a trivial epilogue.

After that, well, nothing much happened.

Paaat-!

Since the examination had ended, I was naturally transported back to the examination hall as well…….

Clack!

“A-ahem. It seems to have ended just in time.”

Hugo, who rushed back into the examination hall with a rather urgent look, concluded the examination.

“This grade…… joint mock examination. The, the winner of the person-to-person battle is…… Team A. You all worked very hard……”

Hugo clearly didn't look well. He was sweating profusely, and there was also a sense that he was constantly watching someone.

-What’s with him……?

-Who knows?

The other cadets seemed to have noticed this strangeness as their whispers could be heard.

‘Was he always like this?’

I wondered if he was just flustered from rushing back and forth, but…… from what I remembered, the Hugo from the original work didn't show this much panic.

That means…….

‘What, did Regina do more than just collect evidence? Did she do something else?’

What I had hoped for was for Regina to collect evidence of Hugo's fraud and report it.

Furthermore, if she could get Milo kicked out too, that would be the icing on the cake.

Did Regina do something else to Hugo?

‘She must have handled it well.’

I didn't think too seriously about it. In a matter involving such political intrigue, it was probably right to trust Regina's judgment.

She must have taken care of it well.

Well, Hugo wasn't the only one acting strange.

The two guys who got a proper beating from me. That is, Theodore and Milo, couldn't properly raise their heads either.

“……”

Theodore’s case was a somewhat subdued, static atmosphere.

“Damn it……”

Milo muttered, unable to contain his anger.

His minions were anxiously watching Milo from the side.

“Ugh, damn……”

Dejan was in the same state. I couldn't tell which team this guy belonged to.

Well, anyway, if there was a commonality between Milo and Theodore, it would be that both of them were avoiding my gaze right now.

To be honest, this was better than them picking a fight over nothing and being a pain even after it was over.

Thud, thud.

After Hugo's perfunctory announcement of the exam's end, the cadets turned their steps and headed out of the examination hall.

The cadets of Team A, excluding Milo, Theodore, Dejan, and Team B, seemed to have a light spring in their step, and for good reason.

This Joint Grade Mock Battle was the final examination marking the end of the first semester. In other words, the first semester was now over.

Their steps would naturally be light at the thought of finishing the arduous first semester and taking a breather.

I, too, had a relatively lighter step as I tried to leave the examination hall, relieved to have safely passed an important period.

I also had someone I needed to talk to.

But…….

Grab.

Someone carefully grabbed my shoulder.

‘Huh?’

Is there someone who has business with me? I thought as I turned back…….

“……Ahem. Haha, Cadet Rain. Your performance was truly amazing. Needless to say, there will be a good evaluation for you. Haha……”

The one standing there was, unexpectedly, Hugo, who was suddenly praising me cautiously.

‘……Did he eat something bad?’

There's a limit to how much one can change their attitude. That bastard Regina, what on earth did she do?

Such thoughts came to mind.

Hmm.

Sigh.

“Ah, yes……”

I just nodded my head in response. I didn't want to talk any further.

After being held back for a while, I was released and tried to head out of the examination hall again.

However.

“Um…… excuse me, Rain-ssi.”

This time, a somewhat familiar voice came from the entrance of the examination hall.

“Shasha-ssi?”

As my reply indicated, the owner of that voice was Yuna's friend, Shasha Cristy.

What's her business? I wondered…….

“Um…… thanks to you, I was able to get through this examination well. Your instructions at the end were great too……”

Ah.

Is this a sign of gratitude?

“……Anyway, thank you.”

Shasha conveyed her thanks. Still, seeing as her guard wasn't completely down…… hmm.

Could it be the influence of the false rumors about my relationships with women?

Because of stories like I seduced Yuna?

“It’s the result of everyone working hard.”

Anyway, I replied as such. Of course, I was excluding the team leader, Dejan.

To my reply, Shasha responded with a smile.

“Thank you for saying so.”

“Don’t mention it.”

With that conversation as the last, Shasha also left.

‘Not bad.’

It didn't feel bad. Receiving sincere thanks from someone is always a good thing.

However, there was something that bothered me.

I had to go see someone as soon as the examination was over.

Someone who wasn't supposed to be at this academy.

“……Oops, she must be gone already.”

But considering quite some time had passed while talking to Hugo and Shasha…… hmm.

She probably already left.

Thinking that, I left the examination hall with a rather hurried pace.

And the moment I stepped over the threshold of the examination hall.

“You seem to be in a hurry, junior.”

The voice of a full-fledged adult woman, who had long shed her youthful appearance, came from right in front of the examination hall entrance.

And as I turned my head there, what I saw was…….

“Do you have an appointment to meet someone?”

A voice that naturally puts people at ease, intuitively revealing that she was a good person.

A woman with brown hair tied up comfortably, and glasses.

It was one of the seven protagonists of , ‘Pilgrim of the Lowest Place’, Pleta Templeton.

She was also the person I had originally intended to find.

“……No. Supervisor.”

Because of this, I replied as such. It was true I had to meet someone, but that person was right in front of me.

As she was a person who would greatly overturn the horizon of the world in the future, I intended to get acquainted with her.

“I’m not a supervisor anymore. Just call me senior comfortably, junior.”

To my stiff tone, Pleta responded nonchalantly.

‘Well, until five years ago, Pleta was also a cadet studying at Archenia Academy, just like me.’

In the original work, she had this anti-authoritarian side, disliking formalities like this.

“……Yes, senior. But what brings you here……”

“Ah, it’s nothing special. I was just impressed by your performance in the examination. I thought we could have a little chat.”

Oh…….

This was definitely good. For Pleta to show interest first.

“I saw the whole examination…… hmm, it was good. Really. Your instantaneous judgment, combat ability, and tactics.”

Oho.

Pleta was a person who, while polite, did not make up things she didn't mean.

For her to give such a direct compliment.

My combat must have been quite impressive.

‘Then shall I score a few more points?’

“I see. If you have time, would it be possible for me to receive your guidance on which parts were good and which parts I should fix?”

Pleta was on the older side compared to the other characters.

‘It’s been five years since she graduated from the four-year academy, so at this point, she's 26.’

Perhaps because of this age difference, the ‘mentor’ aspect was emphasized in Pleta’s character.

She was a person who did not spare advice to other characters and enjoyed helping those who tried to improve.

‘Receiving guidance from a practical Master Knight like this is good for me, and I can also make a good impression…… killing two birds with one stone.’

It seemed a bit materialistic, but anyway, Pleta responded to my words with a bright smile.

“I like you more and more. As for which part…….”

We stood leaning against the front of the examination hall and talked.

And after hearing her stories, I could clearly realize.

‘Her perspective is different.’

As Pleta was one of the top two intelligence characters in along with Arien, her teachings were remarkably easy to understand.

If Arien was knowledgeable, perhaps Pleta was wise.

She told me my strengths as they were, and also pointed out my bad habits.

“Hmm, I see……”

I slowly nodded and listened.

That time of learning probably continued for about 30 minutes on the spot.

“……That's about it. Did I talk too much?”

“No, the opportunity to receive guidance from a knight of your caliber is rare…… It is I who should be thanking you.”

“You’re good with words too.”

Pleta patted my shoulder with a rather pleased expression.

“Anyway, I’m sorry for keeping you for so long, junior. I should get going now…… Should I give your regards to Acaite-ssi?”

Hmm.

So she was friends with Acaite. Well, in the original work, there were occasional mentions that showed their friendship.

“Yes, senior. I'll see you next time.”

And as Pleta was about to leave, I bowed my head and said one last thing.

“Ah, and I’m using the notebook well.”

When I said that…….

“……”

Pleta turned to look at me, her eyes wide.

‘It’s understandable she’d react that way.’

Do you remember the book I brought when I went into the underground archives of the central library with Yuna?

『Pleta’s Secret Notebook』

Classification: Book Item

Grade: A

Effect: Increases learning efficiency in all subject areas by 20%.

A notebook bearing the name of ‘Pleta Templeton’, the knight who graduated as the valedictorian of Archenia Academy five years ago. It is densely packed with core study methods for various subjects. On the page right after the cover, a message is written: ‘I hope this becomes a small help to you who strives in unseen places.’

That book I had gone through so much trouble to find. I was telling its original owner, Pleta, about it.

“……Ahaha, I left it there hoping it would go to a junior whose circumstances were difficult enough to enter the underground archives and had the desire to do so……”

Soon, Pleta's surprised expression relaxed, and she then smiled gently.

“I’m glad it seems to have found a good owner.”

At her words, I too raised the corners of my mouth in a grin.

After that, well, naturally, Pleta left. I didn't hold her back any longer.

Her coming here in the first place must have been by squeezing out time she didn't have.

In the original work, Pleta was a person who helped others by carving out time from her incredibly busy schedule.

And something she said before leaving was quite impressive…….

“Don't go around doing only things that are so likable. Girls might get the wrong idea, you know?”

Pleta added such a jest.

Was she the type to make these kinds of jokes?

“No way.”

I lightly brushed off Pleta's joke.

“Take it to heart~ It's advice from your senior.”

Well, now.

I suppose that's that.

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