Chapter 54: Fate

Today marked the end of my probation period, and for the first time in ages, I stepped over the threshold of the Academy’s main building.

Yet I felt no excitement. Rather, the thought of resuming those tedious classes only made me sigh.

As if sensing my gloomy mood, Wolffang, who had been quiet as promised last night, began rubbing its hilt against my hand.

“Yes, yes… good girl…”

Touched by its concern, I whispered softly while gently stroking Wolffang’s hilt.

Of course, I didn’t forget to stroke Shadowstrike behind it too. Even without a soul, Shadowstrike is still my precious katana, so I can’t discriminate.

“…Ian?”

As I was whispering sweet nothings to my two katanas while heading to the central hall, a sudden voice called out.

I turned my head to find Hori looking at me with pitying eyes, as if gazing upon some poor wretch.

“A-Are you alright?”

“Uh…”

A swordsman showering love on his blades should be perfectly normal, so why did I suddenly want to die of embarrassment?

I removed my hand from the hilt and approached Hori, who was slowly backing away from me.

“I know this looks bad, but I swear I’m not crazy. Just calm down.”

“Not crazy… But thinking about it, you talking to your swords isn’t that strange, Ian. Why was I even surprised?”

Before I could explain myself, Hori nodded and muttered those words.

“Sorry for overreacting, Ian.”

“No, that’s not…”

Realizing further explanation would be futile, I tapped Wolffang’s scabbard.

[Woof woof!!]

“Huh? Eh?! Did… did that sword just bark?!”

“Now you get it? I was talking to this little one.”

After I explained the situation, Hori looked at Wolffang with newfound interest.

“You said you were making a new sword, but I never expected it to be a demon blade…”

“Yeah, a pleasant surprise. By the way, which class do you think you’ll be assigned to?”

Today marks exactly one month since I enrolled in the Academy, and it’s the day we’re officially assigned to classes after all the exams.

Hori pondered my question for a moment before answering.

“Based on my grades so far, probably Class C or B? I aimed for around that level… We’ll see what happens.”

“I see…”

Hori understood how a commoner should conduct themselves at the Academy.

There are three types of people at the Royal Academy.

First are those aiming for the top.

These students hope to advance to higher-ranked classes and usually come from prestigious families.

Trained since childhood, they have high self-esteem and constantly compete for advancement.

Lady Jessica with her formerly bun hair and the younger sister of the potential future Sword Saint likely belong to this group.

Second are those seeking social connections.

These are mostly lower-ranked nobles like barons or baronets who’ve only learned swordsmanship or magic at a basic level.

They entered the Academy for future networking rather than learning, so they’re not particularly interested in advancing classes.

The lower nobles who attended Victor and Jessica’s salon fall into this category.

Third are commoners aiming for advancement outside the Academy.

These are commoners who came to the Academy seeking employers or sponsors.

Unlike nobles who are admitted just by applying, they passed the Academy’s entrance exam, so their skills are at least Class B level.

However, they rarely advance beyond Class B.

That’s because the moment they advance to a higher class, they enter into competition with potential future employers.

No matter how talented, it’s incredibly humiliating for a noble raised with specialized education since childhood to lose to a commoner.

Unable to tolerate defeat by commoners, they use every means to attack any commoner who dares invade their domain.

Even if one somehow overcomes all that, it still means offending potential future employers, so there’s no good outcome.

‘So commoners just lingered in mediocre classes, desperately waiting for the occasional tournament.’

While not an official rule, there was an unspoken prohibition against high-ranking nobles participating in these tournaments.

The purpose wasn’t to identify the most skilled, but to discover and nurture promising talents. No high-ranking noble would risk the shame of competing.

“It must be tough being a commoner…”

“I hate to complain, but… honestly, it is. If I were a noble, I could conduct so many more experiments…”

“…More experiments?”

If this maniac had the power to mobilize lots of people…

The hellish scene that flashed through my mind made my hands tremble and sent chills down my spine.

“Hori… You’re the kind of person who should never have money or power.”

“What are you saying?! Someone like me should seize power for the advancement of alchemy!”

“This level of bullsh*t is a disease…”

[Woof woof!!]

See, even Wolffang the katana seems to agree, barking in response.

“…What exactly are you two doing in the Academy entrance?”

“Huh?”

That adorable voice suddenly ringing in my ears – even after two weeks, how could I forget that cute sound?

I quickly turned my head to see Jessica, her curled hair slightly longer than when we last met, arms crossed and looking at me with dissatisfaction.

“Jessica!!”

“Shut that noisy mouth. And who’s that person next to you…?”

Jessica pointed at Hori, who was already trying to distance herself from me.

I grabbed the frightened Hori and introduced her, saying:

“This is my friend. Remember you said you’d bully my friends if I made any? Feel free to bully her all you want!!”

“Eek…!! Ian! What are you saying?!”

“Hmm…”

Jessica stared at the teary-eyed Hori I was holding, then pushed my hand off Hori’s shoulder and said:

“A man like you couldn’t possibly have friends. You must have had a hard time getting mixed up with this weirdo. You should go now.”

“Uh… Ah, yes! I’ll be going then!”

Surprised by the unexpectedly kind response, Hori hurriedly left, albeit confused.

Watching Hori rush towards the central hall, I said to Jessica with a slightly dejected tone:

“Jessica! Why are you so warm to Hori but so cold to me?!”

“Are you seriously asking that?! Considering what you’ve done to me, it’s strange I haven’t smashed your head in already!”

“What did I do so wrong?! Even if I did something, just be cool and forgive me!!”

“Eek…!!”

I no longer needed to provoke Jessica like this, but for some reason, seeing her face made these words spill out.

Was it because of those ample breasts that looked so satisfying to hit, like a punching bag?

Or was there some devilish charm in that curled hair that made people want to pick fights?

“I don’t know why I keep saying these things when I see Jessica… I don’t understand my own heart!”

“That mouth of yours…!! Haah… By the way, what’s that suspicious potion you’re holding?”

“Hm? This?”

Jessica sighed, then suddenly noticed the poison in my hand and asked with a suspicious glare:

“What crazy stunt are you planning this time… No, never mind. Even you wouldn’t try anything weird with the headmaster present.”

Knowing the original story, I found this infinite trust in Marina strange.

Honestly, if I wanted to, I could massacre all the students gathered in the central hall.

“Weird stuff? I’d never do anything like that.”

Today, it’s not me doing anything weird, but Peter. I’ve provoked him enough, though he might not act. But we’ll see.

“I’m not going to do anything weird, but you might see something interesting today.”

“…You’re planning something again, aren’t you.”

“Who knows? If you’re that worried, want to try stopping me here? You must have trained hard during the three weeks I was gone.”

Indeed, not only had her muscles grown, but her aura seemed considerably stronger than before.

“…”

Taking my casual remark seriously, Jessica gulped and slowly reached for the hammer at her waist.

It looked serviceable, though not as impressive as the one I’d broken before.

For a moment, I wondered what expression she’d make if I smashed this one too, but even I couldn’t pull such a stunt right before the entrance ceremony.

“I’m just joking, don’t be so serious! Besides, Jessica, frowning doesn’t suit you. A bun curly haired young lady should go ‘Ohohoho!’ instead!”

“Ugh!!”

Leaving the enraged Jessica behind, I fled towards the central hall.

Unlike last time, the central hall was packed with second and third-year students too, making it much more crowded than the entrance ceremony.

Before it got even more chaotic, I hurried to my assigned seat according to the seating chart I’d received upon entering the hall.

And then, a moment later…

“Wh-what?! Why does this keep happening to me?!”

Seeing a familiar face appear before me not even five minutes after we’d parted, I grinned and said:

“Jessica, do you believe in fate?”