episode_0037

“Xian, have you given it some thought?”

“I’m sorry.”

Even while honing her swordsmanship in the training grounds.

“Let’s talk over a cup of tea. I’ll treat.”

“It’s okay.”

Even when she was running laps in the drill grounds.

“I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Please don’t.”

And even when returning to the men’s dormitory after finishing her daily tasks.

Rosaria continued to follow me around, suggesting becoming my personal guard.

Since the day we dined together in front of Lloyd and Bobby during lunchtime, this repeated for about a week.

Despite expressing my refusal, why did she persistently keep following me annoyingly?

Initially, out of politeness, I politely declined, fearing it might be considered disrespectful.

But with her relentless proposals, I grew increasingly irritated and could only respond curtly.

I made it clear from the start that I wasn’t the person she was looking for.

She should have understood that talented individuals abound elsewhere, and it didn’t have to be me.

Yet, why…

“Isn’t he the man the princess has been chasing after these days?”

“Oh my, what to do… In the end, even the princess…”

“But seriously, who is he to reject the princess? Isn’t that incredibly rude? He needs to know his place.”

“I heard he hides his lineage and all, maybe he’s from a fallen noble family or a commoner?”

“That makes sense. Even the impudent girl, Hedie, who hangs around with him, is said to be from a fallen family.”

“Birds of a feather flock together.”

“….”

Due to Rosaria’s actions, whispers about me started circulating in the vicinity.

I couldn’t bear it.

Hearing gossip about myself was tolerable, but I felt extremely uncomfortable as discussions about Hedie surfaced due to our association.

Gradually, I became accustomed to being on guard, as Rosaria seemed to stick to me wherever I went, causing stress.

“Sigh… I just want to graduate quietly, why is everything so chaotic…”

It was during one of my usual sword practice sessions in the drill grounds.

“Hey, you there.”

I heard someone calling out to me.

It was a voice I didn’t recognize.

Turning around, I saw three male students, a year above me, standing there.

With a puzzled expression, I asked them, “What’s going on?”

In response, the three of them spoke in turn.

“Are you the stalker who’s been following the princess around lately?”

…Stalker?

What are they talking about?

“You’re in trouble today. Julius is really angry.”

“Haha, it’s been a while since we’ve had some fun.”

I couldn’t grasp the situation.

“…A stalker? What does that mean?”

“Don’t play dumb! You’ve been tailing the princess recently, aren’t you the stalker everyone’s talking about?”

Listening to the man who seemed to be the leader of the group, I finally understood the situation.

Rumors had spread.

It seemed that those who suspected Rosaria of being stalked by an ordinary student like me were spreading rumors.

It was entirely plausible.

“Ugh, seriously…”

I just wished she would stop following me.

I should probably inform Rosaria separately about this and reject her.

“As of today, I, the writer Barcel Julius, will put an end to your misdeeds.”

At that moment, the man who appeared to be the leader of the group approached, saying, “…He’s just full of crap.”

A writer, huh.

In this world, his status is lower than mine. While I obtained my status through possession and chance…

Was he picking a fight with me because of the rumors about me hiding my status and mingling with commoners?

Seemingly plagued by inferiority complex, he appeared to boost his ego by stepping on commoners.

…This might work out well.

If I reveal that I am Gongja, they will probably flee.

So, I won’t disclose it.

Given the stress I was under, this was a perfect chance to relieve some frustration.

I threw one of the two wooden swords I had at a guy named Yurius.

In response, he caught the flying wooden sword while saying something to me, and then suddenly spoke up.

“What is this?”

“Weren’t you looking for a quarrel? Since we’re both in training, come on up here and finish it.”

“…! You insolent fool-!”

The other two standing beside me seemed displeased upon hearing my words, their faces turning grim.

“Hey, Yurius. Just the three of us should…”

“Are you telling me that three people are needed to deal with such an arrogant piece of trash? You all stay put!”

I retorted to Yurius with a sarcastic tone.

“You’ve recruited quite the debater.”

“Shut up! You unclearly sourced trash, I’ll make you understand your place!”

He confidently climbed onto the training platform.

And impulsively rushed towards me.

I was confident.

Judging by the level of the grade-level tournament, up until the third year, no one could be my match.

The swordsmanship taught by Iris in the Duchy was indeed a cheat, but reaching the level of a 3-star adept in this world felt somewhat precious.

Having trained efficiently by absorbing the essence of old-school techniques, my skills were significant.

Perhaps my current skill level would be equivalent to a decent fourth-year graduate.

“Crush that unlucky face!”

He exclaimed in anger as he drew a semicircle with his sword.

Seeming excited, almost like a second-year student, his movements were quite restrained.

He was definitely more skilled than a first-year.

But it wasn’t enough against me.

“Your moves are too predictable, senior.”

-Clang!

“Agh-!”

I deflected his sword, striking the handle of his sword.

Startled, he dropped the sword he was gripping.

-Thud. Thump.

His sword weakly brushed the training platform.

“No matter how much you telegraph your intentions, you can’t land a hit. Please pick it up and try again.”

“T-That was a mistake just now! Don’t get cocky!”

“Sure thing.”

“You insolent trash-!”

Repeating “trash” over and over was irritating to hear.

Once again, he aimed his sword at me and charged.

However, this time was different.

Without making the same mistake twice, he began to unleash his true skills.

Just from his preparatory movements, it was clear he was a superior fencer.

At the academy, they only taught basic brain, hand, and sword techniques. His fencing style showcased unfamiliar preparatory movements.

“It’s probably the Visionary Family’s fencing technique.”

An ordinary first-year student would definitely fall prey to it.

But…

-Clang!

“You’re too transparent.”

“Argh!”

It didn’t work on me.

During my days as a veteran, I had memorized most family sword techniques.

His fencing style resembled the Hand Sword technique.

Hand Sword focused on defensive maneuvers and countering based on footwork and angles.

While the academy taught Brain Sword and Hand Sword techniques, which formed the basis of the Hand Sword style.

His version seemed slightly different, likely an adapted technique borrowed and modified from another family.

“If it’s for security, fine, but if it’s a borrowed technique, it’s sloppy.”

Adapted techniques often have many gaps when transitioning between moves.

Exploiting those gaps was easy for me, given my knowledge of handling opponents’ moves.

Yurius, who had taken a blow to the head from my wooden sword, tumbled on the training platform.

“Aaah! My head…! My head!!”

“Y-Yurius-!”

Even as a second-year academy student, he was barely sixteen.

Being inexperienced in receiving proper blows, he must have been even more bewildered. Growing up in a family where discipline was lax.

I grew up in South Korea, where teachers hit students with sticks at school. There’s a difference between us in terms of life experiences.

The leader of the group was attacked, and the other two suddenly rushed towards me.

“This crazy stalker! What trick did he use… Ugh!”

“Uh, uh… Ugh!”

Naturally, the guys weaker than the leader took a friendly hit on the head from my sword and fell back.

I smacked those lying comfortably as if catching moles with my sword.

“Why are you doing this, seniors? What happened to your earlier bravado?”

“Ahh! Stop it! Please!”

“Squelch…!”

After teasing them for a while until I felt refreshed, I pushed them aside, who had become a ridiculous sight, and headed towards the training ground.

Having relieved some stress, it was time to get things done today.

I needed to investigate about the Dark Mage.

Whether during the previous tournament incident or now, the Dark Mage is definitely a threat to me.

I should be prepared.

Since the Black Mage Cult often appeared in the story around Cain’s Academy or its surroundings.

Who knows when a similar incident might happen again like during the tournament.

The magical library, which can be considered the best source of information in Ariel Academy.

It was a suitable place for investigation.

With my steps feeling much lighter after letting go of the stress, I made my way towards the magical library.

*

“Now please stop this!”

“….”

For a moment, silence fell between her and me.

I was exasperated.

It was an emotion that went beyond annoyance now.

…Despite repeatedly declining.

She was looking at me with a stubborn expression.

“Please become my bodyguard. Miss Cyan.”