Ch.52Chapter 52: Interlude (1)

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Even after Excel was carried off to the infirmary, Sister continued tirelessly evaluating each student who participated in the assessment, carefully selecting those worthy of joining the Subjugation Festival.

Although her purpose was assessment rather than actual combat, and she had moderated her fighting spirit accordingly, Sister’s evaluation was so rigorous that the word “demanding” alone seemed insufficient to describe it.

Me, Shizu, and Excel who was now in the infirmary.

Following us three, only two additional students managed to qualify for the Subjugation Festival by the end of the assessment.

One was Dan Augustine, who had been caught up in that major incident on my first day after returning, albeit unintentionally.

“Rufus Kessler. Pass!!”

The other was a young heir to a margravate family tasked with defending the Empire at the border region in the northern central continent, near the Dragon Claw Mountains.

But despite being selected from among so many candidates, the current state of these two successful applicants was quite a spectacle.

Unlike Shizu and me, who had begun training with our still energetic bodies.

“Huff… hah… I only faced her fighting spirit, yet I’m completely exhausted.”

“I agree. My mind and body are far more fatigued than when I encountered a group of ogres face-to-face during my training in the Dragon Claw Mountains.”

The two of them were sitting on the ground, looking no different from the failed applicants, catching their breath while sharing brief impressions about the assessment.

Normally, such unbecoming behavior from scions of prestigious families might have invited mockery or criticism, but…

“…”

“…”

“…”

Compared to these two who could at least speak, most of the failed applicants were lying flat on their backs, unable to even open their mouths, just gasping for breath. In that context, these two were actually in relatively good condition.

After finishing my training with Shizu, I turned my attention to the center of the training ground to observe the final stages of the assessment, but it seemed unlikely that anyone else would meet Sister’s standards after Rufus.

I could see the once endless line of eager students waiting for assessment had noticeably shortened.

And when that line finally disappeared completely…

“Fail!”

*Thud*

The last student, unable to withstand Sister’s fighting spirit, fell to his knees just as she declared him failed.

“…I admit defeat.”

As the student cleanly accepted his defeat, Sister slowly nodded and gently withdrew the fighting spirit emanating from her body, marking the end of the assessment for the Subjugation Festival.

The time it took her to withdraw the fighting spirit—which had been so dense it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it had filled the entire training ground—was literally the blink of an eye.

“…Amazing.”

“Does this mean the fighting spirit she just released and retrieved is only a tiny fraction of what resides in her true self?”

“Truly worthy of the direct lineage of Ranos.”

“Even though I failed, I feel more awe than frustration.”

As the students witnessed Sister’s fighting spirit dissipate in an instant, their voices finally emerged beyond mere panting.

They all expressed admiration for Sister, who had unabashedly demonstrated her strength even while limited to only releasing her fighting spirit for assessment purposes.

The time required to withdraw fighting spirit increases the closer the released amount is to one’s maximum capacity.

The fighting spirit Sister had been emitting throughout the assessment was so dense that not only those directly facing it, but even those experiencing it indirectly would find it overwhelming.

I momentarily thought it might strain her body to withdraw it so quickly, but watching Sister retrieve it effortlessly made one thing clear to everyone:

The skill that the Imperial Knights’ Vice Commander, standing there proudly without a hint of fatigue, had demonstrated during the assessment was merely a fraction of her true ability.

Despite having to constantly emit fighting spirit while gauging the capabilities of so many students—even with moderated strength—one would expect her to be tired, and yet…

“Everyone did well today.”

Sister’s voice was calm, and her expression showed not the slightest trace of fatigue.

Most of the students who had barely managed to withstand even a third of Sister’s fighting spirit were still sprawled across the training ground floor, unable to shake off their exhaustion regardless of when they had been assessed.

The sight of Sister showing no signs of fatigue after facing all these students one by one, assessing their capabilities while continuously emitting her fighting spirit, would inspire awe in anyone except the very few like me who already knew her true capabilities.

“With this, the assessment is concluded.”

After a light clearing of her throat, Sister announced the end of the assessment, and simultaneously…

*All rise*

The students who had been sprawled on the floor, still catching their breath, all stood up at once.

“Thank you for your guidance!”

Though not rehearsed, they all paid their respects to Sister in unison.

Despite confirming they couldn’t participate in the Subjugation Festival even after using all their capabilities, and despite still not having fully recovered from the immense physical and mental fatigue, they showed their respect.

Their expressions revealed not disappointment in today’s failure, but determination to use it as a stepping stone toward a better tomorrow.

Sister seemed impressed by the enthusiasm of these young juniors who were all looking at her.

“I hope you all use today’s experience as a mirror to strive for better versions of yourselves.”

She delivered these words of encouragement in a much more refined and calm voice than when she had been declaring failures, officially concluding the assessment.

“Those who passed should gather at the Director’s office at 8 AM not tomorrow, but the day after.”

With these simple instructions, Sister left the center of the training ground and headed toward the exit.

The students were expressing admiration for her elegant yet impenetrable gait, but…

*Creeeeak!*

Sister’s composure completely evaporated as she flung open the exit door even more hastily than Excel had done hours earlier.

“…What’s that about?”

“She seems in a real hurry.”

“Did something urgent come up besides the assessment?”

Murmurs of curiosity arose here and there as they watched Sister leave without maintaining her composure until the end.

She was, after all, the Vice Commander of the Imperial Knights, the pinnacle of the Empire’s military might.

One might think she was rushing to another appointment after the assessment, but…

‘…Sister’s in a hurry too.’

From where I was watching, quite far from the center of the training ground, I could easily tell that not only had she flung open the door, but her steps toward the exit, though not obviously so, were slightly more hurried than usual.

Her expression, too, showed subtle signs of impatience that would be difficult to notice unless observed up close.

Judging from her movements and expression, I could easily deduce that had this not been a place where all eyes were on her, Sister would have cast aside all pretense of dignity and rushed out the moment the assessment ended.

Where could she be heading in such a hurry?

This question briefly crossed my mind, but the answer wasn’t difficult to figure out.

“She’s going to the infirmary.”

She must be rushing to check on Excel’s condition, who had been carried to the infirmary because of her, albeit unintentionally.

Shizu, who had been slowly approaching me to suggest dinner together, seemed to have heard my muttered words. As she reached me, she blinked her eyes slowly and opened her mouth.

“Hm?”

*Blink blink*

With each blink, a beautiful blue light seemed to flash like a spark, emitting a gorgeous radiance.

I almost lost myself in that sight for a moment, but quickly regained my senses and briefly answered Shizu’s question.

“Where Sister is going now.”

“Ah…”

After expressing her confusion briefly, Shizu nodded slowly in understanding as she heard my words.

“I thought she would.”

She added her opinion with such deep conviction in her voice that I was about to ask why she thought so, but…

“I also… went to see Cal in the infirmary a few days ago when he went there because of me…”

“Ah…”

At Shizu’s slightly hesitant words, a brief sigh escaped my lips.

I recalled the first tender moment I experienced after returning.

When I opened my eyes in the infirmary after being carried there from taking a hit from you—who had stubbornly challenged me despite your insufficient skills—I was lamenting my situation when severe dizziness forced me to lie down. Just as I was barely regaining consciousness, I encountered your warm voice…

Your gaze, filled with warmth that could melt eternal snow, as you caressed my forehead with an expression that looked like you might cry at any moment.

It was the moment when warmth gradually began to fill my empty heart that had naturally hollowed out during my wretched life, and I made a promise to protect you.

“I think Sister probably felt similar. Even though he wasn’t seriously injured, she must have been so flustered because it was her fault.”

Just as recalling that moment made my heart feel warm again, Shizu seemed to be projecting the anxiety she herself had felt a few days ago onto Sister’s briefly displayed behavior.

“I hope she handles it well.”

In response to her voice tinged with strange concern, I gently patted her head with my right hand and spoke.

“Honestly, I don’t know about Sister, but I think Excel just needs to stay quiet.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I mean he should just lie quietly in bed and gaze at Sister tenderly to score points. If he opens his mouth and speaks up, he might get another chop to the crown of his head.”

“…???”

Despite hearing my words, Shizu’s expression still showed lingering doubt, but her uncertainty didn’t last long.

As we slowly left the training ground and headed toward the dining hall, a sound that penetrated through the soundproofing of the infirmary—which was on our way—dispelled Shizu’s remaining doubts.

“Hehe. Seeing Sister come all the way to the infirmary for me, I think I should get injured more often.”

“…!! Talking nonsense means you haven’t been hit enough yet!”

“No, that’s not what I—!”

“Quiet!”

*WHACK*

“Urghhhh!”

“Now I understand exactly what Cal meant…”

“…I won’t do anything like that.”

“I believe you.”

On our way to the dining hall, I had thought about stopping by to check on them, but we couldn’t interrupt their intimate(?) time. After exchanging a silent agreement with Shizu through eye contact, we quickened our pace past the infirmary toward the dining hall.

Even as we headed to the dining hall, I couldn’t help but worry.

I was confident I could help my friend avoid an untimely death, but I wasn’t sure I could help him succeed in love.

‘Sigh… I’ll let them figure it out.’

As long as he doesn’t die, there will be plenty of opportunities.

As I continued with these thoughts, we arrived at the dining hall.

While sitting across from Shizu eating dinner, I spotted Excel with a bump on his head and Sister with a slightly angry expression, holding Excel by the ear as they entered the dining hall.

Opportunities… would there really be any?