113. Scent of Grass

113. Scent of Grass

“… Hmm.”

A single sheet of exam paper placed before me.

The blank paper, about the size of A4, had a total of 4 questions written on it, front and back. All of them were essay questions with only a single line of text.

Just looking at them makes my head hurt.

I twirled my pen, deep in thought. The pen, spinning around, shot out sword energy, lightly slicing the corner of the exam paper and the hair of the girl in the seat next to me, but it wasn’t important.

“Question 1: Generally… when surrounded by monsters… what actions should be taken… write down whatever comes to mind.”

I closed my eyes and pictured the scenario. Countless monsters pouring in from beyond the distant horizon. A wave of death that shakes the earth and trembles the sky.

If monsters pour out and surround me, the action to take is….

I called out to Ur, who was in the form of a sword at my waist.

‘Ur.’

[Yes?]

‘If Ur pours out, it’s a downpour.’

[….]

Ur got mad.

I focused on the exam paper again. Perhaps because it was a practical subject, the exam difficulty was unexpectedly not difficult. It was at a level even I could solve.

If monsters surround me, the task is simple.

Cut them all down.

“Alright, Question 1 done.”

I wrote in detail, just in case I got points deducted. Normally, one should write diligently to get at least partial credit for such questions, so I even wrote down exactly how to swing the sword and in what posture. I even drew a diagram to aid understanding, so I don’t have to worry about the professor not understanding.

With a good start, I felt my confidence rising. It’s been so long since I felt like I did well on an exam. I smiled quietly and looked at the next question.

“Next question….”

Surprisingly, the second question wasn’t difficult at all. It was a question about what methods could be used to resolve a stalemate in a long front line during a war, and the answer was very simple.

“Just break through.”

Break through.

To elaborate, it meant to cut through the very center of the front line with a sword. It’s a similar answer to Question 1, but the answer differed in that the previous question was a horizontal cut, and this one is a vertical cut.

In any case, the front line, disrupted by the collapse of the center, would soon fall, and the stalemate would be resolved instantly. This answer was based on my experience fighting monsters in the north, so it was unlikely to be wrong.

I wondered if writing a three-character answer for an essay question would be acceptable, but I couldn’t think of any other words to write. It was such a simple answer that I didn’t even need to draw a picture.

The third question was on the back page.

Upon reading it, it was quite a difficult question.

“Write down the most important mindset when learning swordsmanship…?”

Next to it, it kindly said, ‘(Think about what I often say ^^)’. It seemed like a question given as a freebie, but the problem was that I had never properly listened to the professor’s words.

“….”

Hmm.

After a moment of thought, I began to move my pen. I didn’t know what the professor had said, but I could write down the mindset of swordsmanship that I thought of.

“The most important thing is… perseverance, after all.”

How hard it was to learn swordsmanship from my father. Rolling in the snow, getting cut, getting injured, passing out, starving….

But I didn’t give up. Because I had younger siblings to protect. Because I had something too precious to give up on.

“… I should buy something to eat on the way back to the dormitory.”

Freya seemed a little down lately.

I don’t know why… but eating something delicious would quickly lift her gloomy mood. That’s how it was from my experience.

[Master. If you buy something for me too….]

‘Of course. Naturally.’

Ur, who was sulking just moments ago but now hesitantly asked about food, was answered. After giving her the answer, I looked at the next question.

“Alright, the last question.”

The exam time is one hour, but it’s already the last question in less than 20 minutes. I thought I didn’t understand anything, but perhaps what I’ve learned so far has been steadily accumulating within me.

I vividly recall learning from Ella and receiving help from Priscilla. How difficult it was then… truly. Still, it’s fortunate that there were results.

Question 4.

Write the professor’s name.

“…….”

——

The sky is so high.

The other subjects I’m taking don’t have midterm exams. They only have final exams, or they grade based on my usual attitude.

Therefore, the exam period ended in one day. I left the classroom and looked up at the sky. I was very tired from using my brain after a long time. I was also hungry.

“Ah, over there.”

“Yes?”

There was a girl walking by, eating bread, so I called out to her. The girl trembled slightly upon seeing my face, but then obediently walked towards me.

“Wh-what is it….”

“Can you buy me some bread?”

Perhaps it was because I smelled the savory bread, but a strong desire to eat bread surged within me. I took out a silver coin from my pocket and placed it in her hand.

I could go buy it myself, but the reason I asked her to go is that I don’t know where the bakery is. And if I were to ask for directions and find my way, I was filled with the conviction that I would get lost in an alley completely opposite to the bakery.

Still, I had a rough idea of the average price of bread in the empire. A silver coin should be enough to buy one loaf.

“You can keep the change.”

“Yes, yes….”

“Ah- wait a moment.”

I turned around and stopped the girl as she headed towards the bakery.

If I’m buying bread, it would be good to buy something for Freya too. No need to waste time.

“Buy 2 breads. One is… yes, with chocolate.”

“Yes.”

To lift Freya’s gloomy mood, giving her something sweet would be best. And the epitome of sweetness is chocolate.

Speaking of chocolate and bread, I’m suddenly reminded of the chocolate cream-filled bread I used to eat often in my past life. It’s quite delicious, but I wonder if there’s such bread in this world.

Hmm.

[Chocolate?]

‘Huh?’

However, there was someone who reacted unexpectedly to the word ‘chocolate’, and that was Ur, who had become completely addicted to sweets after the incident at the cafe last time.

Come to think of it, I was going to buy something for Ur to eat too.

[U-Ur’s too…!!!]

“Uh, yes… Wait a moment.”

Calming Ur, who was shouting urgently, fearing she would miss the opportunity, I stopped the girl’s steps again. I felt sorry for bothering her so much, but it was unavoidable for efficiency’s sake.

“Buy 3 breads.”

“… Yes.”

The girl, for some reason, alternated between looking at her clenched fist and my face, and then nodded with an expression that seemed to swallow her frustration down her throat.

Ur shouted.

[Chocolate chip cookies too…!]

“-Buy cookies too.”

“Yes….”

[Ice cream too…!!]

“Ice cream too. Any kind.”

“Yes…….”

[Strawberry smoothie too…!!]

“Add a strawberry smoothie to that.”

“…… Yes.”

“No, wait a moment.”

It was because Ur mentioned it that I realized, but thinking about it, Freya’s throat would surely get choked if she only ate bread. I’ve never choked, but my sister hasn’t, so it would be right to add a drink here.

“Strawberry smoothie, orange juice, and mint chocolate milk too. Ah, two mint chocolates.”

“………… Yes.”

Orange juice for Freya to drink, and two mint chocolate milks for me. I eat a lot, so two.

Judging by Freya’s reaction when I gave her mint chocolate last time, she seemed to dislike it, so I ordered orange juice instead.

The girl made a very strange face at the mention of mint chocolate, and then, with a sad expression, headed towards the bakery. She kept looking at her hands on the way, but I don’t know why.

Hmm, it’s delicious though. It tastes strange with that grassy flavor, yet it has a peculiar addictive quality.

Anyway.

I ordered more things for the girl than I expected.

3 breads, 2 of which are breads with chocolate, cookies and ice cream, strawberry smoothie and orange juice, and 2 mint chocolate milks.

Suddenly, I felt sorry. The quantity was large, so it must have been quite heavy. Wouldn’t it have been better if I had gone with her and ordered myself?

But it was already too late, as I had let the girl go. Why do good ideas always come later, really.

Since it’s too late to do anything about it, I’ll give her something as a thank you when she returns. I spent the time stroking Ur’s sword body, who was trembling with anticipation of eating sweets.

——

“Oogok♡”

A little later, I expressed my gratitude to the returning girl.

It was a bit of a struggle to get her skirt off, but it was fortunate that she seemed to like it.

Leaving the convulsing girl lying on the ground behind me, I headed to the dormitory with the bread she brought. Ur, who was hanging from my waist, was clamoring to eat the food quickly, so I hurried a bit.

“Huh? Claire?”

“Skadi?”

It was Claire who blocked my path as I kicked off the ground and flew through the wind. And….

“Who is that…?”

“Uh, um….”

It was an unknown girl with long, green ears lying collapsed next to her.