episode_0099

“I feel like the academy has become incredibly quiet..”

“That’s right.”

Cosette muttered while they were gathered around the table and resting. It had been quite some time since the magicians had left, but Cosette still muttered something like this every now and then.

And of course, that was true. It was true that the current situation of the Academy, where both the lower and upper grades quietly attended classes without any particular incidents, was quiet and boring. When the wizards were there, strange things really happened every day, so the fact that it seemed quiet was not a feeling but a hard fact.

Even if you look at Rin alone, everyone knows how much influence she has had on this academy. What about two male and female magicians who simply wander around Jeolla Province for fun? If those who do such things disappear, it would be strange if you don’t feel a sense of reversal.

“Wouldn’t something fun happen..”

“Wouldn’t it be better if nothing happened..?”

Mathias muttered with a bitter smile, but I slowly shook my head. If you settle for peace like that, your skills won’t improve. When you face hardships and adversity and realize your own shortcomings, you’ll improve in swordsmanship or anything else. When I explained my thoughts in this way, Mathias nodded with a serious face.

“What are you listening to so seriously again.. It’s the same nonsense the princess always says.”

“That’s bullshit, I’m serious. Besides, don’t you agree that actual combat is more important than training? I’ve experienced it too.”

“That’s true. But the princess who whines that it’s an excuse to cause trouble is weird.”

“I only have pure intentions to help you become stronger.”

“That’s right.”

I took a sip of tea, looking a little hurt. I was like a heroine who realized that she had no choice but to break up with her lover due to her family’s opposition, and I was so surprised that no one cared about me. I guess I was really hurt.

“Still, I’ve said this many times… It’s true that things are quite different now from what I imagined when I was a freshman. I thought that we would be able to enjoy our academy life very busy and happily like our seniors…”

Agnes, who had been quiet, muttered in a bitter tone. Aila also seemed to agree with that and didn’t say anything. If there was a reason for that, it would be because of the incident that happened last year. Everyone would know that the rumors going around in the academy were that the Shinigami Cult was behind it.

“What.. What can I do? It’s just a shame.”

“If you plan an event on an academy scale… and something else happens…”

Mathias trailed off. Normally, by that point, people would have said something like, “It’s a school closing down,” but… would this academy really close down like that? I had some doubts about that.

Well, if another incident occurs because of the Sashin Church, it would be a big deal, but no matter how much I think about it, I don’t think it will go as far as closing down. If they were running the academy like this in the first place, there would have been similar or bigger incidents, but seeing as it’s still intact until now…

We stood up without saying much about the subject. We thought, “Wouldn’t it work out somehow?” The sun was setting, so it was getting dark, and we had to go back to the dormitory. As we were walking through the shopping district and heading to the dormitory, we passed a bulletin board. I just glanced at it as I passed by, but I felt like I saw something unbelievable, so I had no choice but to turn back.

“Princess?”

The children, including Cosette, followed me and looked at the bulletin board as if wondering what was going on, and then they made astonished expressions and muttered, “What is this?” I felt the same way. I was hoping that something fun would happen, but this was a bit too much, wasn’t it?

The bulletin board had information about this year’s event. Up until now, events were held separately by grade level, but it was written that all grades would hold the same event. Well, that’s understandable. The academy management must have had a hard time preparing because they had to do various follow-up work, so let’s just do it all at once! I think it’s okay if it’s like that.

But the content of the event… The content was a competition format where the best students were selected by grade level. Up until this point, it didn’t really matter. The problem was that the format of the competition was like throwing an entire grade on a deserted island and telling them to survive on their own. If it was difficult, they could always drop out, and if they were injured and couldn’t continue, they were eliminated. That was the end of the rules.

For a moment, I wondered if the dean was in his right mind. If this is the rule… what if a massacre could occur because of one or two crazy people? At least there would be at least some safety measures, right? I looked through the rules to see if there was anything else, and fortunately, there was a note stating that since the teachers were capable of watching, any intentional killing would be punished. That was fortunate, but…

Usually, when an event like this is held, it’s not like they proceed with a non-killing principle, or that combat can only take place under someone’s supervision, right? Well, the Academy isn’t usually very interested in people dying, but… you’re saying this is happening even after that incident last year?

“I think someone said last time that he wasn’t at that age, but I think I’m right. The dean definitely has dementia.”

“That may be true, but isn’t this an event that’s too advantageous to the knights? What do we want to do?”

There was also some truth to what Agnes muttered in annoyance. In the case of Agnes, who had absolutely no combat ability, wouldn’t it be a miracle if she could survive even a day? In the case of a match, there were elements that could help each other, but in this… how should I put it, a survival test?, it seemed like she would just be a burden.

“What will the princess do?”

“I think… I’ll do it as much as I can. Of course, I think it’s okay if you guys just abstain, too. I don’t think there will be that many students participating in the first place…”

“The event itself seems fun. It could be a little… no, quite dangerous. I want to try it. What about Mathias?”

“Of course I should participate. As the princess said earlier, I need to experience these types of battles so that my sword can develop further. Lately, I’ve only sparred with Ayla and Cosette…”

Mathias clenched his hands and his fighting spirit burned. His eyes were glancing at Ayla, though they seemed not to be there, but Ayla seemed completely oblivious. Mathias’ plan to hone his skills to surpass Ayla before graduation was still ongoing.

After giving my heartfelt support to Mathias, who was trying to find love, I looked at Cosette. Cosette answered with a look of disgust at my gaze that seemed to ask, “What are you going to do?”

“I will never do that!”

“..Well, I’m not forcing you. Honestly, even if I did, it wouldn’t mean much. Please take good care of Aniesna.”

Although Cosette was relatively strong, it was hard to say that there was no opponent stronger than Cosette among the top students. It was hard to believe that Cosette could live properly on a deserted island, even if it was Ayla who had lived as a hunter.

They say nothing much will happen, but you never know… If Cosette is a mess in many ways, it wouldn’t be strange if something happened. She could get involved with some bad boy and get into some terrible trouble. I had faith that Ayla would somehow be able to escape or protect herself.

“..Somehow, I feel like the princess is treating me like an idiot.”

“I’m not being stupid, I’m just worried. Anyway, I think I’ve looked at everything, so should I go back?”

We left the bulletin board behind and went back to the dormitory. We first greeted the kids who were staying in other dormitories, and then we said goodbye again on the stairs after entering the dormitory. Without thinking much, we walked over and opened my door and sat down on my bed, and there I saw Yu-Geum, who looked quite uncomfortable.

..did you do something to make Yugram angry?

“Miss.”

“Huh?”

For some reason, the atmosphere was such that I felt like I was being scolded, so I answered while being a little cautious. Yugram spoke to me with a frown.

“Are you thinking of participating in that ridiculous event?”

It was event-related. Well, from the perspective of my guardian, Yu Gram, it must have been quite an event that he was quite nervous about.

“Yes. You know very well that no one can do anything to me in terms of ability, right?”

“That’s true, but…”

“And, I’ve been able to complete the Knights’ schedule without any problems. Spending a few days in the forest isn’t that hard.”

Even though what I was saying was information that Yugram already knew, his face looked a little uneasy. Did he not trust me that much? Or was he worried? If I had to choose between the two, I thought it would be the latter.

“Of course I know that you are capable of that, but as an employee and a doctor, I can’t just stand by and watch you participate in such an absurd event.”

“..Uh, Yugram, you don’t want to follow me?”

When I looked at Yugram with surprised eyes, Yugram looked at me with a face as if asking what on earth I was talking about.

“As stated in the official document, you must participate alone, excluding all employees regardless of type.. Didn’t you know that?”

“Oh..”

Yugram sighed deeply upon seeing my reaction. It was something like, ‘I knew it, you idiot.’ So I felt my face turn bright red and desperately tried to make excuses.

“Well, still! Isn’t it okay? I’m not a kid!”

“That would be great, but…”

“If it’s dangerous, I’ll abstain immediately..”

I could only answer in a hushed voice to Yugram, who was holding his forehead as if his head hurt.