Approaching Truth

Bang, crash─!

The sound of explosions echoed throughout the underground.

The concrete floor shook violently from the power of the strong magic.

“Groooo──!”

From within, the roar of a giant fire bear was heard.

The creature, which was so large that its head would still be visible even if two men were combined, resisted while swinging its massive front paws.

Whoosh!

It breathed fire from its mouth.

With an impressive body size incomparable to the big-horned wolf, and powerful magic that could scatter the cadets…

It clearly showed the power possessed by a Grade 4 individual.

“Aim for the belly with the white circle drawn on it, it’s the weak point.”

But what did that matter?

To me, it was just a creature that would take a little longer to bring down.

It wasn’t much of a threat.

No matter how strong the monster was, I was confident I could overcome them all.

It was just a matter of how troublesome it would be.

Having already encountered numerous monsters, I knew most of their characteristics, even weak points that ordinary cadets wouldn’t know.

Like this──

Didn’t I tell my team members?

“Ha, I already knew that.”

“…I understand.”

“O-Okay!”

The team members gave different answers while fixing their gazes.

Among them, Wolf, who had the worst relationship with me, retorted as if looking down on me, but he didn’t completely ignore my advice.

Because the monster’s weak point really was near its abdomen.

“Tsk.”

Therefore, while Wolf clicked his tongue as if annoyed at having to take advice from me, he created a large water pillar.

Then he shot it towards the monster.

Towards the area I had mentioned.

“Groooo…”

Towards the white circular patch of fur located on the upper body.

Boom!

The bear that had been standing firmly collapsed to the ground.

The earth shook.

The gray floor was instantly covered with the monster’s dark blue bloodstains. The warmth that had been felt from its skin gradually cooled.

“We-We finally brought it down, Yena!”

Erika came running as soon as the long, long battle ended.

“Well, if it’s all over, I’m leaving. Clean up and submit the record sheet on your own. That’s your job.”

Wolf made a vile expression, curling his lips, and left the place.

“Well done.”

I lightly ignored him.

There was absolutely no benefit in listening to him.

“Hehe…”

For that reason, while patting Erika’s shoulder as she grinned and smoothing out the wrinkles in her clothes, I just looked at Rina, who was maintaining an emotionless gaze nearby.

“How did you know its weak point?”

She moved her lips with her arms folded.

With a doubtful gaze.

The fidgeting of her fingers on her arms seemed to represent Rina’s current state of mind.

“We learned it earlier.”

“That may be, but…”

“I remembered it well by paying attention in class. It was all written in the monster encyclopedia that the instructor handed out just before.”

Rina questioned as if interrogating.

However, I answered without any change in expression.

“…Then how do you explain your skills? It’s not at all the kind of movement a lower-ranked cadet would show.”

“You should know that better than anyone, right? That I’ve been honing my combat skills by training without missing a single day.”

Rather, I countered with a question.

The best way would be to act in a way that doesn’t arouse suspicion, but as someone who needed to get good scores from the instructors, I couldn’t move passively.

And in the first place, what did it matter even if Rina harbored suspicions about me?

She wouldn’t be able to find any proper evidence anyway.

The monster elimination training that finally began──

Even if I aroused curiosity by showing outstanding performance during the process, it was enough to add an appropriate reason.

Just like now, citing the previous education.

We finished the boring theoretical classes in the morning, starting with the origins of monsters, their types and characteristics.

And now…

We’re doing practical training with team members from past noon until early evening.

Since we had already received detailed instruction about monsters, no matter how many doubtful questions Rina asked, I could smoothly brush them off.

“How would I know that you trained?”

“…You didn’t know?”

“We’re not close, and we don’t even meet, so how would I know? And I don’t think it’s a skill that can be created with just a little training.”

However,

I didn’t expect to hear such an answer.

Something’s strange.

I looked at Rina, who was glancing at me with narrowed eyes.

Silently stroking my chin.

If she was deceiving me, I would easily notice, as even though she was a princess who had gone through hardships, she was still just a cadet candidate.

But isn’t her expression too innocent to be a lie?

Then that means she’s telling the truth?

I couldn’t understand.

Hadn’t Rina instructed Helena to investigate me?

Recalling how Helena had followed me and confirmed all my actions in the past, she should know that I had been training.

Surely that information would have been conveyed to Rina?

Could it be.

I blinked while staring at Rina.

What if Helena hadn’t told her anything about me even before I warned her not to disclose anything?

No,

What if she couldn’t tell her?

I tried hard to maintain seriousness.

I forcibly held back the laughter that almost came out for a moment.

If it was true, it was just laughable.

It meant that Helena hadn’t gained anything from all her following me so far.

That the document with my personal information she had handed over before was truly all the results she had obtained from her investigation…

It was admirable.

And pitiful.

It was praiseworthy that Helena hadn’t broken her promise with me, but it was pathetic and pitiful that she had followed me for over two weeks but gained nothing.

Of course, that’s all it was──

I had no intention of showing mercy in consideration of this.

It was something they brought upon themselves.

They shouldn’t have bothered me in the first place, isn’t it their fault for approaching me first?

Knowing the whole story now made me feel refreshed.

On the other hand, I curved my lips into a smile, considering if I could use this.

Use every situation as much as possible!

That was my motto.

If Rina and Helena hadn’t obtained any meaningful data about me, their past perception would surely remain unchanged.

Just like Helena who assumed I had a huge backing, Rina would probably be judging similarly.

“What exactly is your identity? There are too many incomprehensible aspects to see you as just a commoner cadet…”

I could infer from Rina’s current appearance as she spoke like this.

Although I’m not sure exactly how, the fact that Rina still greatly misunderstands me.

“Erika?”

“Y-Yes?”

Then I should make good use of it.

“Have you finished writing the report?”

“Not yet…”

“Tell me if you have any questions. The more detailed you write, the better score you’ll get from the instructor, so please put in a little effort.”

“Okay, I got it!”

I answered Rina’s words with a shrug.

Then I avoided her fierce gaze and conversed with Erika.

I clearly took an attitude of ignoring her.

“Are you avoiding answering?”

“……”

Even though she kept sending glances my way and asking questions, I consistently ignored her and didn’t give her any attention.

What need was there to correct her judgment even if it was wrong?

There wasn’t.

There was no reason to answer Rina’s sharp, probing questions.

That’s why I didn’t respond to those words.

Isn’t it like they can’t touch me carelessly now?

As long as they believe I have a huge force behind me, there was a high possibility they wouldn’t move recklessly.

Wouldn’t they act cautiously, exercising discretion?

In the end, it’s not wrong to say that Rina and Helena’s actions have unintentionally become constrained, and isn’t my true identity, which still has no backing at all, being hidden?

They might find out someday.

But until then, I would be able to protect myself.

“…Ha!”

Was that why?

Perhaps because I didn’t show any reaction and didn’t meet her eyes at all, Rina sighed with a forced laugh as if dumbfounded.

“Someday, someday I’ll find out.”

Soon after, she spoke softly in a cold tone,

Click─! Click─!

And left the place with her arms trembling.

At the resolute sound of her military boots, the atmosphere seemed to freeze even more for some reason.

“Ye-Yena. Is there some problem with Rina?”

“No.”

“If you have any difficulties, tell me! I’ll help you anytime… After all, I’ve received a lot of help from you so far…”

“No, it’s really okay. Rather, it’s good.”

I reassured Erika, who was speaking with her eyebrows lowered as if worried, while pulling at the hem of my shoulder.

Why would I be angry when they fought so hard?

The monster corpse sprawled in front of me caught my eye.

…Still, they follow well.

I couldn’t hate her even though she was pushing me with misconceptions.

She distinguishes well between public and private matters.

Various parts of the giant fire bear’s body were blackened by white beams of light, all due to Rina’s magic.

Although we weren’t on good terms, she didn’t do the stupid thing of intentionally ruining the group training to make everyone get bad scores.

So I could happily respond even if Rina acted like that.

In any case, my goal was one──

To receive the best evaluation possible in this training.

“Good.”

Indeed, they’re not stupid.

Swish─

I muttered inwardly and looked at Wolf, who was already far away chatting with his friends.

“Has your team finished training too?”

“Not yet, why did you finish so quickly? Looking at the corpse, it seems you only attacked the weak points.”

“Isn’t it all thanks to me and Rina? With two people of noble blood, of course we finish quickly. The other team members were just burdens.”

“Haha… Is that so?”

Even though he said such irritating words, I could let it slide today.

Because he didn’t do anything like that either.

Although cold conversations were exchanged throughout the education, he never neglected killing monsters.

“Hmm? What is it, Yena?”

“I think we should go to the instructor soon.”

“Okay, got it!”

Erika wasn’t worried at all.

She’s a child who always follows my words well, how could she neglect training?

Rather, she fights hard to be of help.

Trudge─ Trudge─

I smiled brightly even while walking towards the instructor.

Thanks to them, we achieved good results.

Considering just the combat power, all the team members were at the top of the class, so we were bound to achieve excellent results from the start.

How could the corners of my mouth not twitch?

I had sworn that if even one of Rina or Wolf maliciously ruined the test, I would absolutely not let it slide, but I was satisfied that the class ended peacefully.

If anyone had tried to taint my beautiful and perfect plan, I intended to trample them thoroughly so they could never struggle again, no matter who they were.

Very thoroughly, like breaking a wet, tough branch.

“Hmph.”

But that didn’t happen, did it?

Perhaps because of that.

I even felt a fondness I didn’t have before for Wolf, who had changed to a noticeably more compliant attitude compared to before.

I was proud.

Some of the murderous intent that had been building up disappeared a little.

If he just moves like this, I would be nothing but satisfied.

“Hm, has Rina’s team finished too?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Put the record sheets on this desk before you leave. I’d like you to know in advance that the detailed evaluation will reflect the opinions of the researchers who were watching you.”

“I’ll take note of that.”

“Good, you worked hard. You can go now.”

So I,

Bowed to the instructor with a brighter face than usual.

Then I headed towards the dormitory, stepping lightly.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, thanks for helping today too, Yena!”

Hoping this trend would continue in the survival training as well.

But.

“…Yena Freud.”

“Hm, Helena?”

“I’ve brought the materials you requested.”

That joy didn’t last long.

How far had I walked?

On my way to the dormitory, Helena suddenly appeared and blocked my path in the empty white corridor.

“You mean about the man who was with Wolf?”

“Yes, here it is.”

“You investigated quickly.”

“…He’s a well-known figure. Anyway, now that this investigation is over too, I hope you’ll stop threatening the young lady.”

“Alright, let me see this document first.”

No, to be precise──

Rustle!

“…Hm?”

The paper she handed over.

The text written on it shattered all optimistic imagination.

[Identity Verification Data of the Man Accompanying Wolf

─Manfred von Eckhart

Concluded to be the same person as most of the reference materials and facial features match. An officer who has served at Astrahan Military Academy for a long time and recently has a record of losing a large amount of Dena in gambling…]

The sentence at the very bottom.

[Commonly referred to as the Maintenance Officer. This man holds the high-ranking position of Equipment General Manager at Astrahan Military Academy, and recently took on the role of final inspection for individual training equipment of military academy candidates]

It was just a few words,

But there was an ominous smell coming from there.