2. The Academy

2. The Academy

The Empire’s Academy, boasting a long and rich tradition.

As an academy that had nurtured and produced countless talents, the entrance ceremony for the Empire’s new sprouts was considered a sacred ritual.

However, despite it being a proud entrance ceremony day, none of the new students could lift their heads carelessly.

It was because of the girl sitting in the very center of the grand auditorium where the entrance ceremony was held.

White hair, distinctive wolf ears and tail. Strikingly beautiful appearance.

But what made the students cower was not her beautiful face, but the white one-handed sword hanging at her waist.

She came to the entrance ceremony with a weapon.

A weapon!

Who in the world would bring a weapon to a sacred entrance ceremony!

Although weapons were strictly inspected on the entrance ceremony day to prevent any potential clashes, the problem lay in her status as the daughter of the Northern Grand Duke.

Vidar von Lyra, the Sword Master who guarded the North where monsters poured down, the one who split glaciers with a single sword.

There was no need to mention the power that came with the simple sentence, ‘his daughter.’ Even the guards who approached to fulfill their duties, disregarding her status, fled without being able to utter a word, intimidated by her emotionless gaze.

The commoner students sitting at the front of the auditorium didn’t know her status, but they understood how much a single sword radiating coldness disrupted the atmosphere among students brimming with anticipation.

In the end, no one approached her, and the entrance ceremony began with the frozen atmosphere intact.

——

It’s cold.

I definitely came south, so why is it so cold? I’m sick of the cold. It feels like someone turned on the air conditioner.

The Academy was located in the center of the Empire, in what could be described as a temperate climate zone. Perhaps because of that, the school uniform was made of a light material, and its warmth was insufficient to withstand this severe cold.

So, even though I was wearing the scarf my sister made for me when I came, it felt strangely cold. My waist area, in particular, felt chilly.

Are there no heating magic tools here? With that thought, I glanced around and suddenly noticed that the students were quiet.

On a day like today, an entrance ceremony, shouldn’t everyone be chattering?

No, that’s a memory from my past life. It might be a little different in this world.

I scanned the auditorium again. I saw the packed auditorium, and as I turned my head, my gaze reached my side.

“H-hiik.”

A child trembling with their eyes lowered.

Hmm.

It seems the auditorium is indeed a bit cold.

Turning my gaze forward again, I saw the interior of the grand auditorium, which pursued a stately elegance while maintaining practical utility.

Yes. Perhaps the Academy’s reputation was not a lie, as the Academy buildings all possessed a refined and stately elegance. It was a stark contrast to the architectural style of the North, where roofs seemed to pierce the clouds to withstand heavy snowfall.

My sister would like it if she saw it.

Suddenly, I remembered my sister, who had thrown a fit and cried when I told her I was going to the Academy. My sister, who cried her eyes out, asking why I had to go, if I couldn’t not go, if I couldn’t live with her forever.

The last part seems a bit strange.

Anyway.

When I told her it was something my father had ordered, my sister couldn’t argue and just pursed her lips. My father was still a very intimidating figure to her, so she probably couldn’t refuse his words.

I sighed.

“Hoo…”

“Hiik!”

Will my sister be alright?

I’m worried about my sister, who is left alone. Isn’t she crying without me? Can she endure training without me?

My sister was almost an adult, but to me, who had raised her, she still seemed like a young child, so I was extremely worried.

Without my sister, how would I learn common sense?

…

Hmm.

Right.

Since I don’t have my sister, maybe I can make a friend who can teach me common sense instead? Yes, there’s no need to learn common sense from my sister.

After the entrance ceremony, I’ll try to find someone to befriend.

——

Perhaps the concept of boring entrance ceremonies is universal, as the entrance ceremony in this world was also incredibly dull. Thanks to that, I dozed off soundly and only woke up when I heard the noisy announcement of dispersal.

My body felt stiff. As I swung my arms around, I heard a popping sound, and a refreshing sensation spread through my bones. Now I felt like I could live.

… It feels like people are subtly avoiding me.

Is stretching a strange concept in this world?

I have no one to ask, even if I’m curious.

I need to make friends quickly.

The schedule for the Academy entrance ceremony ends with the ceremony itself. Instead of going to classes after the entrance ceremony, you can go straight to the dormitory.

That’s what I overheard the kids saying.

Good.

I don’t want to attend classes on the first day.

Then let’s head straight to the dormitory. They said it’s a two-person room system, so I’m sure I’ll naturally make friends.

Fortunately, I had visited the dormitory to unpack my luggage before the entrance ceremony, so I didn’t have any trouble not knowing the dormitory’s location.

Yes, I didn’t have trouble not knowing the location.

Only the dormitory’s location.

“… Where is this?”

The problem was that I didn’t walk to the grand auditorium, but followed the crowd of new students.

Knowing the destination but not the starting point, getting lost was a natural consequence.

After wandering through various parts of the Academy for a few minutes with the hopeful prediction that I would see a familiar place, I was about to swear.

Just as I was about to swear in the vast Academy grounds, a female student with red rolled-up hair, whom I had never seen before, suddenly blocked my path.

The student, who seemed to have been running around for a long time, was sweating profusely. Catching her breath, she pointed at me and said.

“Huff, huff, I, I found you. Why are you in a place like this!”

“…”

Even if I asked her why she suddenly appeared and asked me, I could only answer that I was lost.

If I told her the truth, the student shook her head vigorously and shouted. How should I put it, she felt a bit like a cat.

“W-what kind of ridiculous excuse is that! Just say you ran away because you were afraid of Priscilla von Louer, the second daughter of the House of Judgment!”

“…”

“Huhu! The wolf of the North was also afraid of the House of Judgment! Of course! You’ve committed so many wrongdoings, you must be afraid of being judged for your sins!”

… What, what are you talking about.

While I was dumbfounded, the student, who called herself Priscilla, pointed at me and continued speaking.

“I, Priscilla von Louer, hereby challenge Skadi von Lyra to a public duel!”

——

The Academy seems to have a unique concept.

A duel.

I accepted it, thinking it was another piece of common sense I didn’t know, and then, for some reason, many spectators started to gather around.

A large area within the Academy. In a place that felt like a sports field, Priscilla activated a magic tool in the corner of the field.

With a humming sound, a barrier was placed around my body. Similarly, a barrier was placed around Priscilla. Also, a barrier was created in a dome shape, enveloping both of us.

Oh… How fascinating.

When I trained with my father, I was just stabbed with a sword on bare skin. Is this technological advancement?

Priscilla, shaking her red rolled-up hair, took a position far from me.

“Well then, let’s begin! I, Priscilla von Louer, the second daughter of the House of Judgment, will punish the wicked deeds you have committed!”

“… What?”

It’s cringe-worthy.

My hands and feet are curling up.

Do I have to speak like that too? Is that common sense?

Frowning, I decided to ask her directly. Even if it were common sense, I would never want to do it.

“Do you introduce yourself like that every time you fight?”

“W-what…”

Then Priscilla blushed and let out a shriek.

“D-don’t insult our family tradition!”

“…?”

I don’t understand why she’s angry, but since it’s a family tradition, I’m glad I don’t have to do it. Truly, sincerely.

“I won’t forgive you!”

Priscilla, flushed bright red, grabbed a staff she had produced from somewhere.

“Oh…”

I stopped watching and drew my sword. My father told me to be serious when fighting.

The swordsmanship I had internalized through one-sided beatings under the guise of training. The forms that I could now perform with my eyes closed were lightly swung.

The sword moved. A tiny thin line was drawn along its trajectory.

“He, Hya?”

Beyond the staff, which was now cut in half, my sword tip touched Priscilla’s neck.

Crisp, Priscilla’s school uniform was slightly cut off belatedly. A trickle of blood flowed down.

“H-hiik.”

Priscilla, whose legs gave out from the suddenness, collapsed. It seemed to be her first time seeing a sword blade so close, and soon Priscilla began to whimper, her eyes welling up with tears.

“U, uuu…”

Hmm.

Did I overdo it?

Since the only fights I had were memories of being beaten to death by my father, I didn’t know what level of sparring was appropriate.

Right. Common sense.

I lacked common sense in these matters.

Therefore, I needed someone to teach me common sense.

… Right.

Isn’t there someone right in front of me? Someone to teach me common sense.

If fighting is fate, then this is also fate.

I stroked Priscilla’s cheek with a smile and asked.

“Shall we be friends?”

Shhhhh…

Then, a warm stream of water flowed from beneath Priscilla.