Ch.351How to Quickly Complete Administrative Procedures

“Haschal unni!”

As soon as I opened the door to the professor’s residence at the academy, Lena jumped out to greet me with a bright smile. She must have heard about my move and came to visit in advance.

“It’s been a while, Lena. Almost a month? How have you been?”

“I was bored!”

Lena ran over and wrapped her arms tightly around my waist.

Not just a light embrace, but clinging so tightly that she was rubbing her face against me.

…It was a bit embarrassing.

What’s this? Did she become more affectionate while I was away?

She always used to call me “unni” and follow me around, but she never clung to me like this before.

Was it a mistake to leave Lena with Lilith?

Her pink hair tickled my lower chest every time she moved her head.

…I must smell of sweat.

“Um… I see you were really bored. Sorry about that.”

I gently patted her head while trying to detach her.

Lena nodded and grinned happily. She’s cute.

“Then let’s always be together from now on! If you get hurt, I’ll heal you!”

“…Alright, let’s do that.”

“Really?!”

I nodded to Lena who looked back at me in surprise.

I’m still uncomfortable bringing her to the battlefield… but I need to help her grow.

She may only be able to use healing miracles, but when healing abilities reach higher levels, their range, speed, and efficiency become incredibly powerful.

I should at least train her to high priest level so she can pull her weight wherever we go.

After calming down the excited Lena, I went to the bathroom to wash up.

Unlike usual, the return journey had been comfortable, so I wasn’t particularly dirty, but I still smelled of sweat.

Especially my armor, which reeked of sweat and blood.

Asha had repaired the damaged parts, but hadn’t actually cleaned it.

Leonore took my armor away, saying she would have it washed.

She wrinkled her face after taking a quick sniff of the inner lining. Was the smell that bad? I couldn’t really tell.

Since Leonore took not just my armor but all my undergarments as well, after bathing I had to change into an imperial knight’s uniform instead of my Ka’har attire.

The uniform suited me well enough.

Come to think of it, this uniform should be closer to what I wore in my original world, but strangely, I find the Ka’har clothes more comfortable.

Is the sense of familiarity a feeling that comes from the body’s memory rather than the mind?

—-

After changing, I left the residence and headed to the academy’s administrative office.

I needed to find out where Demian and Millia were.

I walked down the main building’s corridor with a lit cigarette between my lips.

“Gasp…!”

Sounds of shock came from all around the corridor. Since the civil war had ended, the academy seemed to be returning to normal, as there were more students walking around than I expected.

There were even some students I hadn’t seen before. Had they accepted new students in the meantime?

“A blue-eyed Ka’har female warrior…?! Could she be the one…?!”

Even if they were new, as citizens of the Empire, there was no one who couldn’t guess who I was.

They just hadn’t expected me to appear so suddenly.

“Winter Slayer…!”

“So the rumors about her becoming a professor in the Knight Department were true…?”

So the nickname “Winter Slayer” had spread even here. I like that.

I hope everyone calls me that from now on.

“I heard the Winter Slayer was a 3-meter muscular giant with crimson skin and six arms… but seeing her in person, she’s completely different…?”

…Did they seriously believe such rumors? Is your head okay?

How is that even human? That’s just a monster.

“Isn’t she cool? Those sharp eyes, ice-cold gaze, and that sculpted jawline…!”

Some girls were squealing while staring at me from a distance.

I didn’t want to understand why they were blushing. At least it was better than guys doing the same….

Fortunately for me, the male students weren’t commenting on my appearance.

They were too far below me in both skill and status to speak so casually.

Back when I was just a special admission student, they used to say all sorts of things… but not anymore.

To them, my status as an imperial countess and future marchioness probably resonated more than being a barbarian princess.

To be frank, if anyone dared to gossip about my appearance, I could slap them, challenge them to a duel for their rudeness, and take their head without any consequences.

So they kept their mouths shut.

Ignoring their stares wasn’t difficult.

I’d experienced it so often that I was getting used to it.

Soon, I arrived at the administrative office.

—-

The female clerk at the administrative office answered my questions sincerely despite sweating profusely.

Such employees were typically commoners trained in administrative work rather than nobles. She appeared to be one of them.

She seemed accustomed to dealing with noble students, but meeting someone who ranked among the top ten nobles in the Empire was clearly a first for her.

She turned pale as soon as she recognized me, which was almost pitiful.

According to her, Demian and Millia had submitted withdrawal applications to the academy, but they were rejected.

Unlike noble children, commoners typically sign a contract promising to serve in the imperial army after graduation in exchange for tuition support. This was news to me.

In any case, those who applied for tuition support were restricted from withdrawing.

It made sense. The Empire would lose out if they invested in training imperial knights only to have them quit and run away.

“So they have to continue attending the academy? For another two and a half years? They’ve both already reached master level—there’s a limit to wasting time.”

“Eek! Uh, th-that’s not the case!”

When I frowned and leaned closer to question her, finding the situation annoying, the clerk shook her head desperately while trembling.

Tears welled up in her doe-like eyes.

“…You don’t need to be that scared. It makes it seem like I’m threatening you. Don’t you think?”

I clicked my tongue as I tapped cigarette ash into the nearby ashtray.

Why was she trembling so much? It made me look bad. Anyone watching might think I was using my power to coerce her.

“I-I’ll correct myself…!”

The clerk, having barely composed herself, continued her explanation.

While withdrawal was impossible in principle, Demian and Millia could leave the academy through “early graduation.”

Normally, even with early graduation, they would be obligated to serve in the imperial army, but…

“The Imperial Knights? That’s a problem… They’ve already sworn to become my knights. This would mean losing my knights to the Imperial Knights. Master-level forces at that.”

That can’t happen.

“About the Imperial Knights issue… should I ask Emperor Leopold for a favor?”

“No need! If they’re knights of Countess Median, they’re as good as imperial knights!”

Thanks to the clerk, who now looked like she might faint, the two were immediately transferred under my command.

Very efficient handling. I’m satisfied.

“Thank you. Now, could you please call Demian and Millia? I have some places to visit with them.”

“Yes! I’ll relay the message right away!”

The female clerk bowed deeply and called another employee to summon Demian and Millia.

I leaned back on the guest sofa in the administrative office and leisurely blew smoke rings while waiting for them.

“By the way, I noticed some unfamiliar faces among the students earlier. Did you recruit new students in the meantime?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Many existing cadets died when deployed to the field, and the Imperial Knights suffered massive losses as well. The demand for knight candidates has increased significantly.”

Makes sense. With knights and soldiers all melting away in the north, they’d need many new recruits.

The 3rd Legion, which was said to be nothing compared to the 1st and 2nd Legions, had become the strongest legion in the imperial army.

If it weren’t for the private soldiers of the great lords who preserved their forces, wouldn’t the Empire have collapsed already?

“So this academy has also changed its policy. Instead of educating around a hundred talented individuals through examinations as before, we’ve decided to recruit more people.”

Not a bad change.

The quality of students would decline somewhat as they accepted those with mediocre aptitude, but they all seemed the same level to me anyway.

Even the hundred-plus new students who passed the entrance exam were dying to kobolds, let alone trolls.

So increasing the numbers might be better.

—-

Not long after, Demian and Millia came to the administrative office.

After thanking the clerk for her help, I took the two of them out of the academy.

As we headed to Asha’s workshop by carriage, I informed them that they were officially assigned as knights under my command and that they could stay at the mansion I would receive tomorrow.

Millia seemed a bit burdened and tried to decline, but when I explained that I planned to send all my elite knights to that mansion anyway, she reluctantly nodded.

Of course, while she refused out of conscience, she couldn’t hide her joy afterward.

She kept thanking me repeatedly with a beaming smile.