Ch.201EP.45 – The Knight Get Autumn Blues (7)

“It’s my first time seeing your face in person.”

“…Y-yes, it is.”

“Don’t be nervous. Even though I can see your face now, I have no intention of harming you.”

“Um, by ‘timid one,’ do you perhaps mean Derrick?”

“You catch on quickly.”

“Hehe, it’s such a fitting nickname. I should start calling him that too.”

“……”

“Why are you looking at me like that-?”

“No, I just thought that timid fellow has found his soulmate. You’re equally skilled at rubbing salt in wounds.”

“!!”

“You can do that in front of me, but keep your displays of affection moderate in front of others. Honestly, it’s annoying.”

“Y-yes…”

A reaction like that of a fresh young girl.

She was so confident in front of 30,000 people, but when talk of her lover comes up, she shows a reaction appropriate for her age.

‘I thought she was the one being led around, but it seems it’s not so one-sided.’

Watching her face turn bright red, Ihan thought that perhaps she liked that Taechang fellow even more, and he was glad the boy wasn’t here right now.

If he had been…

…He might have given him a knock on the head?

They say a man blinded by jealousy is ugly, but Ihan was simply planning to be honestly jealous.

That’s the way to experience less stress.

Just then,

“Now I understand. Why Lady Irene, Lady Levi, and the trio from the Swordsmanship Department suddenly joined the Student Council—you arranged it, didn’t you, Instructor?”

The girl with eyes reminiscent of mysterious amethyst nodded as if she had finally realized what had been happening for the past few days.

As if her assessment of the situation was complete.

She muttered to herself, organizing the situation.

“Lady Irene doesn’t have the personality to enjoy being in the spotlight. The same goes for Lady Levi and the trio. But they suddenly knocked on the Student Council’s door, which seemed strange. If it was your influence, Instructor, now it all makes sense… Hmm, is something big going to happen during this exam?”

Speculation.

“Like the monster terror attack during the midterm evaluation…? Ah! I see! Not a terror attack, but suspicious individuals targeting something at the Academy? Sending the combat-strong trio to the Student Council suggests they have a protective duty!”

Understanding.

“Then the suspicious individuals’ target could be… Lady Irene, Lady Levi, or perhaps me? It’s a bit embarrassing to say myself, but there’s no one of higher value or worth than us within the Academy. Hmm, with so little information, it’s hard to be certain of anything.”

Assessment.

“How can I help you?”

“……”

…The words had poured out in an instant, and Ihan hadn’t even had a chance to explain anything.

He could only listen to her conjectures, and after hearing everything, he was dumbfounded.

“You figured it all out without me explaining anything. What are you, Holmes?”

“…Who’s that?”

“He exists—a master detective who solves unsolved cases without leaving his seat.”

“Oh my, I’d really like to meet such a person! But more importantly, let’s hear about the plan. How are we going to proceed?”

“…Don’t you have any other questions?”

“Isn’t solving the problem more important than questions? We need to move efficiently, efficiently.”

“……”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing, just thinking there are many geniuses around.”

“?”

…That Taechang fellow is going to be wrapped around her finger.

Ihan was certain of it.

*

*

*

To enter the Academy, one needed to pass a total of five tests.

The first was a written exam.

The second was a special talent assessment.

The third was a practical test.

The fourth was the first interview.

The fifth and final was the second interview.

Most ordinary applicants were eliminated in the written exam, but in the special talent assessment… that is, after evaluating various individual capabilities including mystical abilities, if the Academy deemed someone worth nurturing, they could have a chance to make up for poor written scores in the practical test and interviews.

Of course, in the Academy’s long history, fewer than fifty people had been admitted based on special talents, and in reality, failing the written exam meant failing altogether for most people.

And now, 30 minutes after the written exam ended.

“T-this can’t be! I couldn’t have failed!”

“Do you know how much money my father paid! H-how dare you fail me!”

“You damn bastards…!”

About half of the applicants had been eliminated.

Those who failed the written exam were causing disturbances everywhere, and examiners and guards approached with practiced ease to subdue them.

The examiners wore expressions of being sick and tired of these scenes that played out year after year.

“Kunta’s head is dizzy. Is this test really meant to be passed?”

“Anyone who studied diligently could answer these questions. We even provided level-appropriate questions for each department of interest. Failing means they didn’t study properly. So they had to be eliminated.”

“You, Kunta, were really fortunate to have entered through the special talent selection.”

“Kunta is happy to be a barbarian!”

The mystical race who had invested everything in combat ability expressed happiness at not having to take such tests, but Kunta had actually received perfect scores in the practical test and interview.

It wasn’t widely known, but the person who ranked third in the Academy entrance, right behind the top-ranked Roen and second-ranked Irene, was none other than Kunta.

…Though he himself didn’t care about his high ranking.

“Is the Swordsmanship Department’s practical test a duel like last year?”

“Probably not. They said the content of the tests changes every year.”

“Hmm, I wonder what test the Instructor has prepared?”

“Kunta thinks the Instructor didn’t do anything. The assistant probably prepared everything overnight.”

“……”

They nodded in agreement.

True, their instructor was diligent in other areas, but somewhat lacking in diligence when it came to paperwork.

Especially since it was his hobby to torment his assistant, Damian Pollet, by passing on everything he could…

“Poor assistant.”

“What’s more terrible is that he has to endure this for two more years.”

“I’d rather start from the bottom in a mercenary group than ever be an assistant.”

The trio was about to offer a silent prayer for Damian Pollet, who would likely be as exhausted as an undead.

“Stop fooling around and get to work, Mr. Arno, Mr. Kunta, Mr. Garand.”

If only they hadn’t heard the stern yet gentle voice of a girl.

“Is the bear cub here?”

“Yes, I’ve finished most of the first test. It’s harder than I expected.”

Levi Jeanne d’Arc.

Having served as a deputy exam supervisor, she looked quite exhausted in many ways.

She still had physical stamina left, but was mentally drained.

Well, it was natural to be tired after having to move around to supervise 30,000 people.

…However, in terms of physical and mental strength, Levi ranked among the top in the Swordsmanship Department.

The fact that someone like her was so exhausted from supervisory duties was incomprehensible in many ways.

It was clear she must have done additional “odd jobs” that accumulated fatigue, and sure enough:

“Did you find any suspicious individuals?”

“About twenty or so?”

“You found many! I only managed to find twelve.”

“Finding that many while also doing supervisory duties seems more impressive to me.”

“I agree. You’re an amazing young lady.”

“Y-you all praise me too much…”

Levi blushed and appeared embarrassed.

As if being praised was unfamiliar yet pleasing.

“B-but the Temple is really terrible. To think they would pull such a stunt at the Academy—it’s unforgivable.”

Levi displayed quiet anger as if she had never been embarrassed.

She rarely spoke ill of specific people, but this time she seemed unable to contain herself.

And for good reason—a series of incidents had been occurring in the kingdom.

At a time when everyone needed to work together, the Temple’s attitude of committing such petty crimes to consolidate their power was enough to infuriate Levi.

“…Lady Levi, you don’t seem to have very positive feelings toward the Temple?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Though she appeared to be a devout believer on the surface, her attitude revealed strong resentment toward the Temple, and as they blinked in surprise:

“No matter how much I searched for God when I was young, He never helped me. Since then, I’ve stopped looking for God. Ah, but these days I do look for the Instructor instead of God.”

“……”

They felt like they had stepped on a landmine.

They felt guilty for unnecessarily digging into her dark past, but Levi didn’t seem to mind.

She simply:

“Let’s do our best to drive out the bad people. At least so that innocent applicants won’t be harmed.”

Levi was trying her best to do what she could.

“W-we will…”

“Kunta will do his best.”

“Sigh, never a quiet day.”

[Seed of a Saint.]

An aura that naturally earned people’s trust and led them.

Even those with heroic talents couldn’t help but follow someone born with heaven-bestowed abilities.

Naturally.

Meanwhile, while Levi’s group was catching suspicious individuals who might be Temple spies, on the other hand, Irene Windler:

“Ah, found it.”

Had just succeeded in finding her target.

* * *

“That’s… the Duke’s ‘real daughter’?”

“Yes! That’s what I’m saying!”

“……”

“Well? You can see it now, right?”

“…Yes, they do look alike.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying!”

The rookie was chattering excitedly, but Ihan could fully understand her feelings.

‘They really do look alike.’

Like the Duke himself.

Irene Windler offered him a telescope, but Ihan could clearly see the appearance of the woman in the distance even without it.

Unlike Irene’s long straight hair, the woman had short hair and boasted a rare blonde color.

While the nobles of Pendragon had all sorts of colorful hair, silver and blonde were particularly rare, and only the rookie had such deep blonde hair in the Academy.

But that woman had deep blonde hair.

Perhaps because it was such a rare color?

Quite a few among the applicants and supervisors were casting glances at her, and reading their lips:

‘Wow, she’s really beautiful.’

‘What a beauty…’

‘Still, compared to that senior from earlier…’

‘Ah, I agree with that!’

…Men, as always.

“Instructor?”

“…It’s nothing.”

“??”

Ihan pressed his lips together and observed the woman as if glaring at her.

‘…She does resemble that old man in her eyes and atmosphere.’

If placed side by side, one might mistake her for being more similar than the rookie.

However, Ihan instinctively felt certain.

‘Why does this feel so artificial?’

Her appearance is certainly similar.

Her atmosphere and wavelength also resembled the Duke’s in some ways, and even her scent had similarities to the Duke’s.

‘But how should I put it.’

It feels awkward.

She resembles him, but doesn’t give the impression of being the Duke’s daughter at all.

Was it because he harbored some antipathy?

‘No, that’s not it.’

If he had to give an example, it felt like looking at an exquisitely well-made but “uncanny doll”—that’s why he had this certainty.

A doll, meaning it felt artificial, and Ihan concluded:

That’s a fake.

And with that…

—A succubus added to the mix.

At last, he understood how the Magic Tower and those cult fanatics planned to get their hands on Galahad’s demon sword.