First Class

“Having sworn to protect Lady Yuria even with my life, remember this well. I will not forgive any disrespect toward her.”

At Theodore’s declaration, Yuria felt that his words didn’t seem to be merely out of obligation.

The emotion contained in his voice felt genuine, not an act.

Meeting Theodore’s gaze, Yuria looked at him with a slightly surprised feeling.

‘He grumbled about starting to give me affection… could this be the influence?’

Such a thought arose in Yuria’s mind.

“Senior Jade lost so pathetically.”

“To think he might be an archmage…”

“He’s unbeatable in swordsmanship, martial arts, and even magic.”

“I wonder if he’s also excellent in spirit arts?”

Though he hadn’t yet showcased his spirit arts abilities or some other skills, they were whispering, thinking that given his terrifying skills in swordsmanship, martial arts, and magic, and his confidence in all abilities except divine powers, his other abilities must also be outstanding.

“It’s almost time for class.”

Theodore said.

“Anyone who wants to challenge me, feel free to say so. I’ll make time to face you when it’s not class time.”

Theodore said this and then turned his gaze back to Yuria.

Receiving his gaze, Yuria felt embarrassed for some reason, as if she had received a public confession.

‘Ugh! Why, why am I trembling like this?’

Could it be because they had been getting along too well these past few days?

Feeling the sincerity in his words, his words sounded like a confession, making her heart tremble.

“Lady Yuria, shall we go?”

At the sight of Theodore smiling and reaching out his hand, Yuria sighed and said:

“Haah~ Thanks to you, I’ve become the center of attention.”

“Well, isn’t that not bad? You wanted attention anyway, right?”

“More precisely, I wanted to prove myself with my swordsmanship skills, not with gossip like this.”

At Yuria’s words, Theodore nodded with a knowing look.

“Yes, I know that well. That’s why today’s class will be meaningful, right?”

It wouldn’t be difficult to achieve Yuria Arsein’s desired goal first.

“Unlike Jeiha Academy, here you have to maintain the top and second positions while always accepting challenges, so isn’t it quite simple?”

“That’s true.”

Yuria also nodded at Theodore’s words.

It really was too simple.

But that simplicity only meant a beginning and an opportunity.

‘And I’ll continue to receive challenges.’

If Yuria became the top of the second-year Swordsmanship Department, there would be countless challenges aiming for her position.

And it was clear that the top students of the third and fourth years would also challenge her to clarify the hierarchy.

‘It won’t be limited to the Swordsmanship Department.’

Not only the Swordsmanship Department but also challenges from various martial arts or other weapon techniques, as well as direct challenges from magicians or spirit artists, would be frequent.

Overcoming all those challengers was Yuria’s goal.

‘It’s not just the Swordsmanship Department. I won’t lose to any department.’

She acknowledged that Theodore Skyroad was an unbeatable opponent.

But she, who had set becoming strong enough to get one over on him as her primary goal, defined him as a large, mountain-high wall that she would have to overcome someday.

Even if it was a high and rugged wall, she wouldn’t give up on her dream.

And today was the beginning of that.

The first class of the second-year Swordsmanship Department took place in a lecture hall.

The lecture hall, built large enough to easily accommodate hundreds of people, had a step-like structure that rose higher with each level, like a theater. Also, a podium was prepared at the front, where the professor would lecture.

Entering the lecture hall, Yuria felt the attention directed at her and Theodore.

‘So this is the kind of attention.’

Among those already in the lecture hall, there were those who had seen Theodore’s duels earlier. They had entered the lecture hall first while Theodore and Yuria were briefly conversing.

‘Unfamiliarity, fear, and desire along with reality recognition.’

Yuria could roughly guess what emotions and thoughts they were feeling.

Though she didn’t dislike being called the top beauty of the Arcan Empire in the Arcan Empire, she had come to Minst Academy in the Britannia Empire because she wanted to become famous for her swordsmanship skills, which she had worked hard to obtain.

As a place where House Arsein’s influence didn’t reach well, even if she had come here alone without Theodore, she would have fought to overcome everything.

‘In their eyes, I’m just Theodore’s trophy.’

They were jealous of, feared, and were wary of Theodore Skyroad.

But many of them had already been shaken and given up on confronting him, trembling at the overwhelming ability he had shown, truly as if standing above the sky.

Yuria was unusual; it would be hard to find someone in the entire world who, after seeing the overwhelming abilities shown by someone at Theodore’s age, would harbor the thought of surpassing someone with such terrifying talent.

Rather, there might be words suggesting that Yuria didn’t know her place, relying on her pretty face, or that she was being cocky because that man was her fiancé.

But Yuria was always sincere.

She sincerely wanted to get one over on Theodore Skyroad and first become someone whose skills he acknowledged.

And someday, she wanted to defeat him in swordsmanship.

Reaffirming her passion as a swordswoman like this, Yuria resolved to change the gaze directed at her in today’s class.

“You look determined.”

Perhaps noticing her resolve, Theodore said to her.

“Yes.”

Nodding, Yuria carefully sat down next to Theodore.

She was conscious of wearing a skirt rather than pants, but that was a problem that could be solved by changing during the break.

Thinking this, Yuria once again felt dissatisfied with the uniform dress code.

“Hey, should we approach them?”

“Didn’t you hear? He said he won’t forgive any disrespect.”

“Ugh, he’s definitely protective of his woman.”

“True, if I had a woman like that, I’d protect her for life. If someone took her away, I’d rather die.”

Yuria could hear their words.

None of them cared about how skilled she might be in the Swordsmanship Department.

Everyone was just looking at her beauty and figure, thereby defining her limits.

Yuria didn’t dislike her beauty itself, but she disliked the feeling that it overshadowed her efforts, making them seem devalued.

Not having her efforts recognized meant being treated the same as those who hadn’t made any effort.

She clenched her fist slightly and bit her lip firmly, feeling indignant that she, who had worked hard, was receiving similar treatment to those who hadn’t made any effort, as if her efforts were being denied.

At that moment, Theodore’s hand was placed over hers.

“Y-Young Lord Theodore?”

“Don’t worry too much. You’re here today because you dislike that, right? Just prove what you’ve been working hard for. You deserve that.”

At Theodore’s words, Yuria found it unfamiliar that he was kindly offering comfort.

“This kind of tone still feels unfamiliar.”

“I think so too.”

Theodore also agreed with Yuria’s words.

“I expected Young Lord Theodore to speak more arrogantly. For example, something like, ‘You have the qualification to look up at the sky from below the sky, so why not make those crawling on the ground realize their place?'”

“That’s not it.”

Theodore denied Yuria’s words.

Yuria was slightly surprised when he firmly denied her words.

“What?”

“If it were the current me, I would have said something like this: You are a woman acknowledged by me, who stands above the sky, so believe in my judgment rather than your own.”

At Theodore’s words, Yuria looked at him for a moment and then smiled slightly.

“What’s that? It’s still incomparably arrogant.”

“I’m just stating a fact. You shattered my expectations and were a woman more impressive than I thought. I told you to believe in my judgment, but since you broke my judgment and expectations, I guess it might sound unconvincing.”

At Theodore’s words, Yuria, who had been laughing, belatedly recalled that he still had his hand on top of hers.

Realizing this, she felt embarrassment rushing in.

‘This kind of physical contact… he’s doing it so naturally!’

By now, people were gathering in the lecture hall.

As people crowded in, Yuria worried that someone might see the state of her hand, which was hidden by the desk. But since it was covered by the desk, that was a meaningless worry.

She was just embarrassed by the physical contact right now.

It was too embarrassing. That was probably all it was.

‘How do I actually feel about Young Lord Theodore?’