episode_0035

“Since you all probably already know everything, I’ll just explain the basics, okay?”

Charles clapped his hands, and an image unfolded in the lecture hall, depicting people fighting fiercely.

“This magic space is the subjugation war of the Sacralion family, who led the rebellion 82 years ago.”

“… Ugh.”

I could see the cadets already sighing.

The Sacralion family, comparable to the Seriratuss in size today—

One day, they suddenly revolted against the Empire. It was such a massive event that the damage they inflicted hasn’t been fully repaired yet.

The most unique aspect is that the cause of the betrayal has yet to be determined.

Now, the accepted theory is that the family head suddenly went mad, and everyone who could stop him went mad as well…

It’s hard to believe such a thing, so conspiracy theories abound that there must be something more to it.

Because of this, the final stronghold battle had the most magicians attached to it, and despite its enormous scale, they succeeded in achieving a 60% recreation rate.

However, the truth remains hidden behind a veil.

“Don’t worry too much, it’s not the Golgon battle. The arena for the test is a small local war that took place on the outskirts. But don’t underestimate it. Heh heh…”

“Is the objective the same?”

“Yes. You will be treated as elite members of the Black Hound Mercenary Corps. You all know this, but don’t say anything that breaks the setting, or errors will occur. If you complete the missions you receive, you’ll accumulate points, and only the top 10 teams that accumulate the most points in about 12 hours will pass. The rest are finished. And…”

Charles paused and said with a wicked smile.

“If the team leader is kicked out of the magic space, that team is done. Got it?”

The most important condition.

In the past, there was a crazy guy who slaughtered other teams to get points, right?

If you actually did that, you’d be marked and become an outcast…

But infighting with families that are likely to become enemies is allowed.

If successful, the other team won’t be able to attend advanced swordsmanship classes, a huge merit.

“Please fight like crazy. I don’t ask for much, just leave 7 teams, no, 6 teams…”

I left Charles, who was desperately starting his explanation, and approached the team members in the corner.

More precisely, one of them.

“Yo, nice to meet you.”

“…”

Arin looked at me in surprise, and Emily tried to avoid my gaze.

Arin, who was about to jump up happily, hesitated and looked around.

“…? Looking for something?”

“That, where is it?”

“That what? What are you talking about.”

“Still lacking strength.”

What is she even talking about?

I stared at Arin and frowned.

Her hands were wrecked.

“What about you, what’s this?”

“… Huh?”

Arin looked at her hands without much thought.

Her hands were covered in tattered wounds that tore open before the scars could heal, the kind that appears when they tear open again.

I knew it well because I had been in a similar situation while learning swordsmanship for Phyrnea. I sighed and took out the medicine and bandages I always carried.

And, kneeling down, I treated Arin’s hands while scolding her.

“Doesn’t it hurt? No, more than that, what the heck did you do to get to this point?”

“Training. Ouch…”

She frowned as if she felt the pain when I applied the medicine.

Strange. When you spray this disinfectant on a wound, it feels like the flesh is melting, but she only says “Ouch.”

I can’t help it since I’m in a hurry. I slowly wrapped the bandage, trying not to irritate it as much as possible, and asked.

“So, what kind of training?”

“I saw something in a book and followed it exactly. Swing it 10,000 times.”

“?”

“Here.”

I took the textbook that Arin carefully took out and opened it.

[Basics of Swordsmanship: If you know nothing about swords, to learn the basics, first swing the sword 10,000 times every day…]

– Rip!

I tore the book to shreds and asked Arin, who was staring at me with wide eyes.

“Where did you get this?”

“I, I have to return it. To the library.”

“You don’t have to. Did the librarian find it for you?”

“No. Someone else.”

Is she already being bullied?

There’s no way such a ridiculous book would be in the academy library.

Telling beginners to swing the sword 10,000 times, the muscles will melt, and if you repeat a broken posture, it will become ingrained in your body.

Arin is also a problem. No matter how little she knows about swordsmanship, she should understand the contents roughly.

“There’s no way this kind of content will help.”

“It, it does…”

Arin replied timidly, then took a pose as if holding an imaginary sword.

“Look.”

“What, hey, you need to be educated to get an efficient stance, if you just swing without knowing anything, it’s torture…”

– Swoosh!

I stopped breathing for a moment while speaking.

Arin’s posture, cutting through the air, was definitely different from the ordinary.

However, it was efficient.

Slightly twisted wrists, precarious grip, and unbalanced center of gravity, so I couldn’t even say it could be used in actual combat, but.

I could feel exactly where she was trying to go.

It was a blow that drew the result of a cut with a chilling, simple edge.

Arin looked up at me with a proud expression.

“How is it.”

“… You weirdo. Not bad. But stop swinging it 10,000 times. It really messes up your body.”

I nervously ruffled Arin’s hair.

“… Heh.”

Arin didn’t particularly resist.

***

‘… Ruined, ruined, ruined, ruined, ruined, ruined, ruined.’

Emily covered her head as she watched Birdeem and Arin’s farce.

It was a big problem, of course, that Phyrnea’s minion was chosen as a team member, but—

“… How are we supposed to pass…”

Emily bit her nails and looked around.

The teams talking seriously were all from flamboyant families.

Of course, she was confident. Lorencia’s swordsmanship is first-class.

Except for monsters like Paltis or Senphensia, she can win against anyone.

But—

“Hey, so why did you pretend to sleep back then?”

“… I didn’t pretend to sleep.”

“What are you talking about, you said you didn’t sleep.”

A scruffy cadet and a butler’s lackey.

She’s supposed to get points with these guys?

It was practically taking the test alone.

Of course, even though she was a rotten magic swordsman, she had heard that this Arin could fight to some extent. She had also seen her use strange abilities in the exam.

Her nose was three feet long, so she didn’t know the details, but she was said to be something similar to a witch.

… At best, it’s low-level talent, a silly trick.

If she really fought against nobles who had been taught secret swordsmanship, would she last 10 seconds…

As she was shaking her legs nervously, someone approached.

“Oh, isn’t this Young Lady Emily~?”

“Really~ I was so busy worrying about how to take the test that I didn’t see you. I guess Young Lady Emily also applied for the advanced swordsmanship course?”

“…”

They were annoying piranhas who kept sticking to her.

Emily glared at them fiercely and spat out.

“Elija, Sispia. Get lost.”

“Hmm, why would you say that, we were just asking?”

“We were just saying hello because we were happy to see you, but you’re too sharp~”

“Hmph…”

Emily snorted and glared at them.

As the Lorencia family was attacked by the hateful Seriratuss and gradually fell into a crisis of sinking—

Vermin who wouldn’t even glance at her usually were rushing in to eat her flesh.

These two were the most active. Even with Emily’s fierce attitude, Elija, who approached her with a sly smile, whispered so that others couldn’t hear.

“So, are you really not thinking of joining us~?”

“Then we might be able to help you with this test…”

“Ugh…!”

Emily barely suppressed the vulgar language that was about to explode and answered clearly.

“The Lorencia family will never bow down to others. Give up and get lost.”

“Aing, so scary~”

“Well, let’s talk leisurely after the test is over. Then, please do your best with your… butler and witch~”

“Kuhuhu…”

Behind the two young ladies who turned around with unpleasant laughter was a huge cadet.

Takrapishion, I guess. He’s on the side of the winning cadet.

Honestly, I was jealous…

“Why me…!”

A butler and a witch?

I have no luck.

I have terribly bad luck.

If I can’t even attend this advanced swordsmanship course, it will be telling everyone that the Lorencia family is falling.

My brother, Kyle, is researching something strange under the mansion, and he told me not to worry about anything… but it’s hard to believe.

To save the family, or at least to prevent it from being destroyed, I had to be in the top 10 teams no matter what.

‘If it weren’t for that guy, I would have had at least one ally…’

Emily, who glared hatefully at Birdeem, who had dropped her special student and passed so nonchalantly, inadvertently looked at Phyrnea.

And—

“Eek…!”

She quickly turned her head and looked at the ground.

Since the Star Princess hadn’t done anything since entering the academy, I was wondering if she didn’t consider me an enemy anymore~ I felt a subtle feeling mixed with bitterness and relief, but.

It wasn’t like that at all.

“… Tsk.”

‘Why, why is she so angry…?’

Phyrnea was looking at her with a gaze filled with anger that could melt even stones.

If you look closely, it seemed to be directed at Birdeem, but there’s no way she would give such a look to a butler, so it must be me.

… She hasn’t forgotten the grudge from the warehouse.

‘No…! Please forget it…!’

Emily screamed inwardly.

With her eyes still on the ground.

***

“Well, then, finally, good luck to you guys?”

“… Yes.”

Entering the magic space was easy.

When three people simultaneously touched the bead that Charles handed over, something entered through their arms and tried to touch their brains.

They could have resisted, but it was meaningless, so they just left it alone—

– Clunk, clunk!

“… Ugh.”

In an instant, the building disappeared, and a wide sky unfolded.

After shaking off the dirt attached to her back, she stood up on a carriage she had never seen before.

It was quite crude, so the vibrations felt as she moved directly pounded her head.

“Ouch, my head…”

“…”

Arin and Emily, who were riding together, also grabbed their heads and got up.

Then who’s driving?

“Hmm? Ah, you’re awake! Black Hound mercenaries!”

A furry mercenary was driving.

He saw us getting up and drove the carriage even more urgently.

“There’s no time, ask what you’re curious about! The war is in full swing, you must join quickly!”

“Um, uh, so…”

Arin was also anxious at the mercenary’s urgent tone and tried to draw her sword, so I grabbed her shoulder and sat her down.

“There’s no need to rush, calm down.”

“It’s wartime now…”

“Look around.”

“… Ah?”

Arin tilted her head as she looked at the plains where the carriage was running.

The carriage tracks were in a circle.

The mercenary was spinning around in the same place without going anywhere.

“It’s the initial setting. First, tell us the map and the conflict area.”

“Hmm, it’s in the box over there!”

When I opened the box and spread the map on the floor of the carriage, I heard a slightly disgruntled voice.

“… It’s not your first time in the magic space, is it?”

“Yes. I’ve done it a few times.”

Emily folded her arms and looked at me.

She looked quite confident, but what was in those eyes was definitely fear.

If this continues, there will be a problem with the test. I sighed and snapped my fingers.

“I know there’s a rift between us. But now we have to pass the test, so let’s put it aside.”

“I’m the team leader.”

“I will listen to your orders. Only in this place.”

“…”

Emily carefully approached and looked at the map.

Of course. She can’t afford to be picky right now.

If she fails the advanced swordsmanship course, she’ll have to bow down to another family, Lorencia or whatever.

“Have you ever done the Sacralion subjugation war?”

“Of course. It’s the biggest and most reproducible magic space. I’ve done it dozens of times? No matter how weak you guys are, you can pass if you just listen to my orders.”

I advised Emily, who started chattering.

“Forget everything you’ve done.”

“…?”

I looked at the sky. It was blue and vast.

As if nothing had happened yet.

I clenched my teeth and muttered.

“… It seems like they’ve made a variation.”

Charles, you crazy bastard.

If I’m right, this blond professor is not thinking of leaving 10 teams, but—

He’s thinking of leaving less than 5 teams.