Ch.13Disciplinary Committee (2)

“That’s all for today’s class. Review is optional, but I believe that proud Imperial Academy students will make wise decisions for their future. That’s it.”

Hersy Minerva stood up as soon as class ended. She walked out of the classroom with quick steps. Her destination was, of course, Dellin’s Lake.

‘Now that I’ve passed Magical Zoology too, I should have plenty of free time.’

Magicians are a race sensitive to time. They extremely despise investing time in unnecessary tasks. That’s why the so-called “Pass System” was created.

Subjects that magicians should fundamentally know were bundled as “mandatory courses,” and this system allowed for early completion of those courses. Teaching students what they already know is a loss for both students and professors.

Besides Magical Zoology, Hersy had also passed “Magical Mathematics” and “Magical Engineering.” She had passed three mandatory courses in less than a month since being placed in the Expert class.

While her basic skills supported this achievement, it was clearly the result of hard work.

Originally, Hersy had no intention of working toward passing courses early. After all, there wasn’t much else to do even if she completed courses ahead of schedule.

But now things were different. She had developed a desire to spend more time with Ruide. For that reason alone, she had passed three courses with an effort that surprised even herself.

It was a secret known only to Hersy, one she could never speak aloud.

“I wonder if he’s sleeping today too?”

Hersy smiled sweetly. Just imagining Ruide sleeping made her smile.

The magical concentration gradually thickened, and a familiar landscape appeared. A wide lake filled with magic, turned emerald green. It was Dellin’s Lake.

“Rui…”

Hersy, who naturally assumed he would be sleeping today as well, stopped in her tracks. Today she witnessed a scene clearly different from usual.

“…vow.”

A golden magic circle.

A pattern and mana arrangement she had never seen before.

“Your body beneath me, my fate upon your sword.”

Ruide extended his right arm in front of the magic circle and chanted. The light of the magic circle grew stronger.

“I am eternally the one who accomplishes all good, I am eternally the one who suppresses all evil.”

‘That’s no ordinary spell…!’

Hersy swallowed hard.

“If you follow this will, this principle according to the Chalice’s will, then respond. Guardian of the Scales—!”

As soon as Ruide finished his chant, a blinding light burst forth. Hersy instinctively covered her eyes.

As the light gradually weakened,

She felt the mana that had heavily filled the atmosphere noticeably thin out.

Hersy slowly opened her eyes.

A blonde female knight holding an ornate sword stood on the magic circle. Her appearance evoked both beauty and intimidation.

“I ask you.”

The blue-eyed girl spoke in a low voice, looking down at Ruide with cool eyes.

Hersy couldn’t believe what was happening before her eyes.

Because that blonde female knight—

“Are you my boss?”

It was Amelia!

“Ah, sis.”

“U-um?”

“Not boss, but master. How many times do I have to tell you before you remember?”

Ruide grumbled with a dissatisfied expression. Amelia put away her sword with a troubled look.

“The lines are too difficult.”

“It’s only two lines. Mine are much harder.”

Amelia scratched her head. The intimidating aura from earlier was completely gone, replaced by a silly expression.

Hersy approached with an incredulous smile.

‘…Ruide must be the only person in the world who can handle Amelia like that.’

Ruide noticed Hersy and asked:

“You’re early today?”

“And you’re… doing something rather unusual today.”

Hersy laughed awkwardly. Amelia’s face turned somewhat red when she realized Hersy had been watching.

She cleared her throat and waved her hand in the air. Her armor disappeared, returning her to her usual school uniform.

“Lady Hersy. You’ve come again today. I’m glad to see you spending time with my brother so often.”

Amelia bent one knee and lowered her eyes to the floor. It was a knight’s salute.

“I-I’m the one who’s honored.”

Hersy extended her hand. Amelia took it and stood up.

While receiving a salute from a knight was natural, Hersy honestly felt uncomfortable when Amelia did this.

That’s why she tried to arrive as quickly as possible. When with Ruide, his sister would prioritize him, allowing for a simple nod instead.

But she couldn’t show her discomfort. If she asked Amelia not to salute her, it would imply ‘you are not yet a knight.’

Refusing a salute would be quite rude. Hersy regretted even having such thoughts.

“What were you two doing?”

Hersy asked out of genuine curiosity.

“Ah, I was just playing with my brother for a bit.”

Amelia Windsor. In truth, she was a master at childcare.

“Like… playing house?”

“Yes. Ruide is still young, after all. His demands have become more diverse lately, which is challenging, but what can I do? He’s my only brother.”

Amelia stroked Ruide’s head with a satisfied expression.

‘Really now.’

Ruide didn’t like being treated like a child. But since Amelia had fulfilled all his requests, he decided to put up with it.

“I see.”

Hersy’s curiosity was satisfied. She looked at Ruide with sparkling eyes.

‘So this is how they played when he was at the Windsor house.’

She learned another fact about Ruide. When bored, Ruide plays house with Amelia. Noted.

“Oh right, Ame sis.”

Ruide, who had been imitating an anime he’d seen in his previous life, suddenly remembered something he’d forgotten to ask.

“What about what I asked before? Did you find out?”

Investigation was a knight’s domain.

And the Academy emphasized practical training.

That’s why most incidents at the Academy were handled by the Swordsmanship Department. Amelia was the head of the Investigation and Inspection Department.

Ruide had asked Amelia to let him know what Catherine’s verdict would be.

“…It’s confidential, but.”

Though Amelia strictly followed regulations, she had a soft spot for Ruide. She sighed softly and spoke as if she had no choice.

“The disciplinary committee is meeting today. The result is already decided.”

“Already decided?”

“Yes. The Chancellor got involved. Our department only conducted a simple investigation.”

Ruide recalled Chancellor Clifford Finance. He was a figure very friendly to the protagonist’s group.

“What’s going to happen?”

“Expulsion. This decision probably can’t be overturned. He’s very adamant.”

Ruide’s eyes widened. Hersy’s reaction suggested she had expected this. Though she had no information about the Chancellor, she understood well what it meant to mess with the Windsor family.

“…Expulsion?”

“She dared to touch my brother, so of course. Even if the Chancellor hadn’t decided, I would have intervened.”

Amelia’s eyes turned cold.

“If it were up to the Swordsmanship Department, I would have made sure she could never use her arms again.”

Though usually kind, she couldn’t tolerate anyone messing with Ruide.

‘What should I do?’

Ruide was troubled.

Of course, part of him wanted to agree with that decision, but…

Catherine wasn’t a main heroine for nothing.

Her nasty personality proved valuable when Justin was in difficult situations.

Most nobles would respond to Catherine’s antics with “Ugh, what’s wrong with her?” and avoid dealing with her.

For Justin, whose commoner status was already a huge penalty, she was a reliable partner. Without her, he would struggle quite a bit.

Above all, Catherine was a character with many plot hooks. The protagonist grows by feeding off those crumbs.

While Ruide was contemplating what to do next…

“I sense a suspicious presence.”

Amelia muttered, hiding Ruide behind her. She took a drawing stance as if ready to unsheathe her sword at any moment.

“Who goes there!”

Amelia shouted sharply.

Ruide was puzzled. He hadn’t sensed anything. But he soon understood.

The person who emerged from the forest was Justin. He was too insignificant for his mana to be detected.

However, his condition was serious. He was in tatters, and his skin had turned blue.

He staggered and soon collapsed on the ground. It was mana poisoning. Ruide sighed and cast a spell on him.

An air bubble enveloped Justin. He exhaled with a gasp, as if he had just emerged from the sea.

Ruide moved his arm. The air bubble came right in front of him. When he clenched his fist, the bubble burst and Justin collapsed.

Ruide looked down at Justin. He had been planning to go find him anyway, but he hadn’t expected him to come in such a reckless manner.

“If you were five minutes later, you’d be dead.”

“…Please.”

The spell Ruide cast wasn’t a healing spell. He didn’t feel obligated to go that far. Justin, with his internal mana in disarray, spoke with labored breathing.

“Help Catherine.”

“Commoners have no shame, I see.”

Hersy said coldly. Hearing that name again—one she never wanted to hear again—made her extremely displeased.

“Why should Ruide help you?”

“Go back. There is no help for you here. Besides, solicitation is a clear violation of regulations.”

Amelia chimed in. Justin looked at Amelia and his gaze wavered. Amelia’s name was famous even among commoners.

As Ruide’s sister and the only investigator who judged commoners and nobles fairly.

As Justin’s expression turned to despair, Ruide stepped forward. He was thinking, ‘What a stroke of luck.’

“Ame sis and Hersy, stay out of this.”

“Yes.”

Hersy immediately became as docile as a lamb.

Amelia seemed somewhat dissatisfied, but she had no intention of stopping Ruide from trying to resolve things himself.

“I don’t see why I should help you.”

“…I know you don’t want to help. But.”

Justin spoke desperately.

“Expulsion is too harsh, don’t you think?”

“That girl has lived a life you can’t even imagine. Always ignored, despised as a filthy black mage. She had no choice but to develop strong self-defense mechanisms.”

“For you, it might just end as an unpleasant incident, but… this ends Catherine’s life. So please. Give her one last chance.”

‘I couldn’t care less.’

That’s what he wanted to say, but…

‘It’s a problem if Justin can’t fulfill his role.’

It would only hurt Ruide if these shield-bearers who did all the dirty work disappeared. He couldn’t give up his comfortable, enjoyable life as a freeloader.

‘I guess I have no choice.’

But he didn’t want to help for free.

“Fine. I’ll help you.”

“…!”

When Ruide agreed so easily, Justin looked at him as if asking if he was serious.

“Thank—”

“But I have a condition.”

Ruide reached into his pocket and pulled out a wand. It was very small, like a child’s wand. He used it because it was convenient to carry in his pocket.

He usually didn’t use a wand, but it was necessary for complex spells like this one.

Ruide twirled the wand.

A complex magic circle unfolded. It didn’t stop at one layer but expanded to two, three, and finally eight layers.

It was a spell called ‘Vow of Covenant.’ This spell made it impossible to break whatever oath was made. The downside was its narrow scope. If the exact content wasn’t specified, it had little effect.

Ruide cast it multiple times in different ways to make it unbreakable even for himself as the caster. Now, not even a dragon could break it.

“Swear that you will never appear before me again.”

Ruide really didn’t want to get involved with the protagonist.