Chapter 143: Grave of Swords (2)

‘Should I just drop out?’

My original goal was to defeat the protagonist of the original story and spread the Baldo technique widely.

But now that other possessed individuals had made that goal impossible, there was no reason to stay tied to the academy.

Even if I dropped out, I wouldn’t be kicked out of the academy housing since it wasn’t exclusively for students.

In the past, I had reasons not to get expelled, but now the academy was nothing more than a heavy shackle holding me back.

‘My name’s already well-known, so beating up a few academy students now wouldn’t change much…’

The only thing I’d miss was Elaine, the future Sword Saint, but I could fight her as soon as I got a new katana for dueling.

As my mind increasingly leaned towards dropping out, Jessica, as if reading my thoughts, tapped my shoulder and spoke up.

“You’re not thinking of dropping out now, are you?”

“Jessica, do you like me so much that you can read my mind just by looking at my face?”

“…I’ve been with you long enough to guess what you might be thinking. And just so you know, it’s absolutely not happening.”

“Why? Is there anyone here who can teach me anything?”

“As I’ve said before, the academy isn’t just a place for learning. Besides, if you’re the only one who drops out of a school most of the kingdom’s nobles graduate from, how could you show your face anywhere?”

If it’s about saving face, there’d hardly be any brave nobles who’d dare say anything to my face just because I stopped going to the academy…

Even if there were, they wouldn’t be long for this world.

However, if it’s about education, I did have some thoughts on that.

There’s a huge difference in impression between a high school Baldo user and a college graduate Baldo user, even though only one word changes.

“And… there’ll be a few more balls over the next three years. Think about me having to go alone without a fiancé each time…”

Come to think of it, all the young ladies with fiancés would come with their partners. The thought of Jessica wandering the ballroom alone made me feel a bit guilty.

“But as I’ve said before, even if we go together, I won’t dance.”

“That… I’ve already given up on. If I tried to make you dance, you might suddenly lose your mind and draw your sword…”

“Now that we’ve been intimate, you’re starting to understand me better.”

“Don’t say such vulgar things in front of people…”

Now that we’d decided what to do next, the remaining issue was how to get my attendance recognized, but honestly, I wasn’t too worried about that.

After all, right next to me was someone who got their attendance recognized without even coming to the academy, thanks to special treatment.

Although I wasn’t from a prestigious family like the Sword Saint’s lineage, I had made significant contributions to the kingdom, so the outcome was predictable.

“Well then, we’ll be going now.”

“Alright… If you don’t pass the test, don’t do anything stupid. Just come back.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t make promises I can’t keep from the start.”

After briefly exchanging farewells with Otar, we headed straight to the academy to get my attendance recognized.

Although it was a holiday, many students remained to study areas they were lacking in, so it was fairly busy, if not as much as on weekdays.

“Hey, look over there!! Lady Elaine is back!!”

Elaine hadn’t come to the academy since enrolling, so first-year students didn’t know her face, but second-years did.

Even if they were from different departments, any second-year student who didn’t recognize Elaine might as well be a spy from another country.

Seeing the attention focused on Elaine, I worried that students might crowd around her, but fortunately, that didn’t happen.

Everyone seemed to both respect and fear Elaine as the future Sword Saint. They just whispered among themselves, watching her from a distance like a rare animal in a zoo.

Elaine wasn’t the only one attracting attention. Many students recognized me too, as I’d made a name for myself with the Baldo technique.

Some students, particularly those who seemed to be from the South, even saluted me like knights.

“…You’ve become quite the celebrity.”

“Yeah… But why isn’t anyone stepping up to learn the Baldo technique?”

“Any sane person wouldn’t want to learn something like that. For example… if someone knocked out a dragon with a forehead flick, would you go learn forehead flicking from them?”

“Are you crazy? If someone defeats a dragon with a forehead flick, it’s the person who’s strong, not the flick itself.”

“Yes, exactly. That’s why no one wants to learn the Baldo technique from you.”

“Wait, I don’t get it. That analogy makes it sound like the Baldo technique is weak.”

“…Never mind.”

Passing through the noisy campus, we knocked on the headmaster’s office door for the first time in ages. After a moment, we entered with Marina’s permission.

Seeing Elaine standing behind me, Marina’s expression suddenly hardened.

“Headmaster? What’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing. Ian, it’s fine to visit the headmaster’s office, but from next time, please make an appointment. I might not be here.”

“Have you ever had an appointment with anyone even once?”

“……”

This level of banter was just light teasing between us, but Jessica seemed to think differently. She elbowed my side and whispered in my ear.

“Why do you keep picking fights with everyone…! I’ve told you so many times not to do that. Have you already forgotten we’re here to ask the headmaster for a favor?”

“I know, but… Maybe it’s because my first impression of her wasn’t great, but whenever I see her, I can’t help saying these things…”

It was fun teasing her, especially since she reacted immediately like Jessica.

“Ian… I don’t know what favor you’re going to ask, but don’t think I’ll grant any request just because you’ve made contributions to the kingdom.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t intend to make any unreasonable requests. I’m just here to ask about attendance.”

“…Attendance?”

Marina rarely showed surprise, but she looked quite shocked that I’d mentioned attendance.

“Attendance… What exactly are you asking? Don’t tell me you want the students learning that strange swordsmanship under you to be counted as attending…”

“No, it’s not that… But if I asked for that, would you allow it?”

“Of course not.”

“Tch…”

After I explained the situation, Marina glanced at Elaine beside me, then nodded and readily agreed.

“It’s not without precedent, and for someone like Ian, there won’t be any students or teachers complaining. I’ll allow it. Just don’t be absent from the academy too often.”

“You’re agreeing more easily than I expected… I was prepared to lie down here and spend days if necessary.”

“Learning doesn’t only happen within the academy. More importantly, though it’s embarrassing to admit, we currently don’t have any teachers who can instruct Ian…”

It seemed they were still looking for a new homeroom teacher for the S class, but talented individuals of Swordmaster level with free time weren’t common.

Well, any Swordmaster-level swordsman with free time would probably be managing their own territory in peaceful retirement. No one would want to come all the way to the academy to work hard.

“Well, if that’s all, we’ll be taking our leave.”

“No, Ian, please stay for a moment. I have something I’d like to say to you.”

“Huh?”

At those words, everyone who was about to leave the office hesitated, but when I gestured that it was okay, they nodded and went outside.

“Something to say… Is there anything else?”

“I wanted to ask Ian something, so I asked you to stay. After offering your sword to this Sword’s Grave, are you going to face Elaine?”

“No, not right away. I’ll need to get a new sword first. But why…”

“I just… wanted to tell you to be careful. I acknowledge your strength, Ian, but Elaine is also far beyond the category of a student.”

I thought she might have something serious to say since she asked me to stay alone, but it was just concern.

Even without Marina saying so, I had no intention of underestimating Elaine.

After all, she would have been the protagonist of this world if the possessed hadn’t intervened.

Even if she didn’t use the Baldo technique, she was not someone to be taken lightly.

“I’m being most careful about that, so don’t worry. But Headmaster, your expression hardened the moment you saw Elaine. Did something happen?”

“Wh-what do you mean… Nothing happened in particular…”

“……”

Her voice trailed off towards the end, suggesting that something must have happened.

Considering Elaine’s personality, she might have inadvertently said something that hurt Marina, but seeing a hint of fear in Marina’s demeanor, another possibility crossed my mind.

“Did you perhaps lose to Elaine?”

“……”

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