A Knife is the Cure for a Mad Dog (1)

The academy’s entrance ceremony concluded in less than two hours.

After all, entrance ceremonies aren’t events that typically take much time, and the academy’s ceremony wasn’t particularly different in atmosphere.

Moreover, from a gameplay perspective, there was no need to meticulously create an entrance ceremony that most players would skip anyway.

The ceremony proceeded relatively quickly, with most of the event consisting of a brief speech by the top student Seraphine and the presentation of scholarships and awards to the top students and vice presidents of each department.

Anticipating some chaos around the podium, I deliberately left the auditorium a bit early and waited outside for Ethan to emerge.

It seemed stifling to wait inside the crowded auditorium, and I figured Ethan would notice and follow me out.

As I stood outside the auditorium, waiting for the top students’ schedules to conclude, a male freshman approached me to ask for directions.

Slightly startled by the unfamiliar man approaching me, I answered with a guarded response.

“Excuse me.”

“…Are you talking to me?”

“Yes. I’m a new student and not familiar with the academy’s layout. Could you tell me how to get to the Pharmacy Department building?”

“The Pharmacy Department building is to the right after passing the Combat Department building in front of the auditorium. The first building you’ll see when you turn right is the Technology Department building, and the next one is the Pharmacy Department.”

“Ah, thank you!”

…I was being overly cautious. It was just a question about directions.

Given the somewhat tense atmosphere of 『Luminor Academy』, it was natural to feel on edge.

This was an academy where the empire’s most powerful individuals gathered, so it wasn’t uncommon to encounter those who lacked basic manners and courtesy.

As I absentmindedly stared at the auditorium entrance while waiting for Ethan, a woman in white priestly robes, clearly from the Theology Department, approached me with a question.

“Might I ask how to get to the Theology Department building, Sister?”

“The Theology Department building also serves as the Aurelia Church’s academy branch. If you follow the main road in front of the auditorium, you’ll see the Magic Department building. Go around it to the back, and the Theology Department building is right there.”

“Thank you, Sister. May the Goddess’s grace always be with you.”

“Could you tell me how to get to the academy’s central park…?”

“The central park is to the left of the Central Administration Building. If you follow the main road from here, you’ll see the building with the central bulletin board-that’s the Central Administration Building.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Where is Dormitory Building 3…?”

…What’s going on?

For some reason, I’m getting a lot of questions about directions today.

Even though I’m just waiting outside the auditorium for Ethan to come out, freshmen keep approaching me, leaving me quite flustered.

When my eyes inadvertently landed on the academy maids guiding people at the entrance, I quickly realized why everyone was asking me for directions.

Oh right, I’m wearing a modified academy uniform right now.

This outfit, which looks like a cross between a maid uniform and an academy uniform, could easily be mistaken for that of an academy-employed maid.

After all, I intentionally designed this outfit to clearly convey that I’m a servant, and to new students entering the academy today, distinguishing it from staff attire would be difficult.

Well, since Ethan would likely take a bit longer to come out, I figured I might as well volunteer to give directions in the meantime.

Having seen 24 endings of the game, I already had a rough map of Luminor Academy in my head, and guiding people away from the crowded area would help ease the chaos.

Even in a fantasy world, freshmen are still freshmen. It was somewhat enjoyable to help them out, much like assisting juniors at my old school.

While I was busy explaining the academy’s layout to other freshmen, a somewhat sleazy-looking noble boy approached me for directions.

“…Hey, I wanted to ask for directions.”

“Ah, yes.”

“After the entrance ceremony, I was supposed to meet an acquaintance at the student cafeteria, but it’s so crowded I forgot the location. If it’s not too much trouble, could you guide me there…?”

“Judging by your uniform, you’re from the Swordsmanship Department?”

“…Ah, yes.”

“The student cafeteria is behind the Main Library Building when you go up from the Swordsmanship Department building.”

“……”

The guy just stood there blankly, as if he had more to say, but I deliberately avoided eye contact and ignored him.

Pretending to help another approaching freshman, I naturally shifted my gaze away.

I planned to wait for Ethan while ignoring the annoying noble brat and helping other freshmen, but unfortunately, the sleazy-looking guy didn’t seem to grasp the hint.

“Um, our department seniors told us to come to the back gate after the entrance ceremony. Does the academy have a back gate?”

“The back gate is along the main road between the Archery and Pharmacy Department buildings…”

-Thud!

“……Ah.”

Suddenly, I felt a grip on my arm from the noble brat who had been standing there.

I could already guess his intentions, so curses naturally rose in my mind.

…Fuck this.

I deliberately gave him the cold shoulder to make him leave, but this bastard has zero self-awareness.

Grabbing my hand out of nowhere with his shitty manners wasn’t enough-now he’s arrogantly flaunting his family name?

Unaware of my disdainful glare, the guy who introduced himself as a scion of the Raidenhardt family began pulling my arm, urging me to walk.

Having reached my limit, I shook off his grip and spat out curses.

“For the sake of your pretty face, I’ll forgive you just this once. Quickly guide me to the academy cafeteria…”

“What the fuck are you babbling about, you damn bastard?”

-Slap!

Ignoring the surrounding gazes, I struck the Raidenhardt scion’s forearm with my palm, freeing my wrist from his loosened grip.

p>

Then, with a look of utter disbelief, I voiced my inner thoughts to the idiot staring at me.

“What the hell are you doing…?”

“What am I doing? That’s my question, you fucking bastard. Don’t you have a mirror in your dorm? What makes you think I’d follow you anywhere? Huh?”

“…What?”

“Are you deaf as well as ugly? Why the hell would I guide some random bastard like you to the cafeteria? No matter how I look at it, you’re just a fucking joke. Seriously.”

“……”

The Raidenhardt brat, seemingly unable to anticipate my reaction, trembled with unconcealed panic.

p>

-Swoosh.

Then, as if his pride had been wounded, he suddenly drew the sword at his waist and pointed it at me.

I thought he was just your average noble idiot, but turns out he’s a full-blown psycho.

“G-get on your knees and apologize right now! How dare a mere academy servant show such disrespect to a scion of a count’s family like me…!”

“Go fuck yourself, you piece of shit. Are your eyes just for decoration too? Can’t you see the academy emblem on this uniform? Why the hell would I be your servant? Huh?”

“…What did you say?”

“And stop puffing yourself up just because you’re a count’s brat or whatever, you idiot. This isn’t your territory-it’s the academy. A place where all the empire’s elite nobles gather. Do you really think your title as a count’s brat is some kind of unparalleled honor?”

“……”

The Raidenhardt brat, seemingly at a loss for words, nervously glanced around.

The sudden drawing of his sword had drawn attention, and now a crowd was forming around us, watching the scene unfold.

“W-what’s going on? A fight?”

“That guy was trying to drag that girl away earlier, and she refused. Is that why they’re fighting?”

I would’ve let him go if he’d sheathed his sword, but the surrounding attention made it impossible for him to back down now.

In the end, if he didn’t put his sword away, I’d have no choice but to draw mine in self-defense.

-Slide.

“……?”

The Raidenhardt brat frowned in disbelief as I pulled a silver dagger from my uniform pocket.

Still refusing to sheathe his sword, I pointed the blade at him and spoke.

“A freshman brat like you couldn’t even handle this single silver dagger, so go ahead and try me if you dare.”

“…What?”

“You told me to get on my knees and apologize, right? Then try winning first. I’ll do whatever you want-apologize or beg for your life.”

“You insolent bitch of unknown origins…”

“But the moment you lose, the Raidenhardt honor you’re so proud of will hit rock bottom. The Raidenhardt brat who picked a fight with a girl-not even from the Swordsmanship Department-with a longsword and got humiliatingly defeated.”

“……”

At least he listened to me until the end, hesitating as he glared at me, rolling his eyes as if weighing his options.

My confident demeanor seemed to make him think twice about attacking.

Since the academy was a gathering place for the empire’s strongest, he couldn’t dismiss the possibility that the woman in front of him might actually be formidable.

But by this point, the chance for a peaceful resolution was long gone, and I was already intrigued by the idea of dueling him.

To ensure the arrogant noble brat made up his mind, I deliberately provoked him one last time, poking at the inferiority complex he must have as someone who introduced himself as a mere “scion” of the Raidenhardt family.

“Ah, never mind. Thinking about it, you don’t need to worry about Raidenhardt’s honor.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Isn’t it obvious? What does some third son or lower-barely even a successor-acting like an idiot outside have to do with Raidenhardt’s honor? Right?”

“You fucking bitch…!!”

Struck where it hurt most, the enraged Raidenhardt charged at me with his sword.

Gripping the silver dagger tightly in my right hand, I focused intently on the incoming blade.

-Clang!

The clash of our blades echoed across the auditorium plaza.

The shockwave sent his blade flying, and his expression clearly showed panic.

…And with that single exchange, I quietly confirmed the outcome of this duel.

This… is an event where I can finally earn some experience points after a long time.