The Identity of the Officer in Charge?

“This cadet has achieved excellent results during the Sevirpol joint training period, and we commend her for her accomplishments…”

I received a commendation certificate on the podium, below the cadets lined up in an orderly manner.

As announced before, that they would give an award to the person who achieved first place in the overall evaluation, it was a ceremony to congratulate the child who achieved the best results after returning to Astrakhan.

“Well done.”

“Thank you, Principal.”

And I was the protagonist.

Thud─

I received the certificate handed by Lustet and shook hands with him. Then I turned to face the podium crowded with cadets.

“We’ll take a picture!”

“Look over here, please!”

Then, flashes burst from all around, illuminating my entire body.

Journalists, no, photographers?

Since the military academy itself would be a confidential facility, it won’t be reported in the media, so they must be writers directly under the Imperial Intelligence Department taking photos to commemorate this moment for later.

Still, it feels good.

I drew a smile befitting a young girl on my lips to better capture my image. Although it wasn’t an official occasion, it was enjoyable to receive such treatment.

It’s a reward for effort, isn’t it?

Moreover, being praised in such a public place was also an opportunity to change the perception that had been known to cadets as a weakling or psychopath until now.

At least I won’t hear any more backbiting about lacking skills just because I’m a commoner. It was good that I approached the education passionately.

Though I didn’t expect to be first place.

Despite engaging in an intense battle with Wolf and having to leave before the individual duel ended, I proudly took a ranking position.

It was all thanks to Erika’s help.

“Yena, I’ll do my best! Let’s catch all the cadets together!”

“Uh, um. Let’s do that.”

“You said it before! That you wanted to show a better image than any other candidate. I’ll try hard with you too!”

The content of the conversation I had with her during the individual duel came to mind freshly.

While there might be merit in achieving the highest scores in various tests such as monster defense training or group duels, Erika’s performance in the individual duel was the biggest factor.

If I receive prize money, I should buy her a cream cake with it. I should give her a modest gift.

“I’ll call you to the principal’s office later to give you the promised money. I’ll let you know when the exact schedule is set.”

“I understand.”

“Continue to show excellent performance at the military academy. You’ll surely be able to pass the eligibility screening easily.”

“Thank you for the encouragement.”

Clap clap clap─!

I saluted the principal with the applause of the candidates as background music. Then I returned to my original position.

“The same goes for other cadets! You all have proven your potential through this training, and excellently demonstrated the ability to be the light that will brighten the gloomy Empire!”

“I hope you will grow into proud pillars of the Empire as you are commissioned as official cadets, and I wish you all the best.”

Not long after, the return ceremony also ended.

“For the Empire──!”

The cadets, as always, paid their respects to the principal with the Imperial salute, and Lustet also raised his marshal’s baton in response to their shout and descended from the podium.

“I’m going to rest inside.”

“I’m going to wash up first. The Federation training center was good in other aspects, but the water quality was bad. It was so uncomfortable…”

As soon as the dismissal order was given, the children headed to their respective dormitories, chatting. It was the same for my class.

“What are you going to do today?”

“Just rest. But did you know that Yena got first place? I thought she was just a commoner, I really didn’t expect it…”

They were no different from students in other classes, but if there was anything special, it was that their conversation topics were different.

Things have certainly changed.

Rustle─!

I glanced at the lingering students while comfortably loosening my hair that I had tied up to receive Lustet.

In the past, they avoided me with eyes mixed with fear and terror, but now, holding a certificate with my achievements written on it, their faces showed a little, but noticeable, reverence.

“Yena, you were so cool!”

“It was thanks to you that we could rise. Thank you.”

“No, it’s nothing. Heheng!”

Erika, well, was full of her usual energetic spirit.

Thud, thud.

I casually wiped my nose once and walked along the dirt path, taking her with me as she showed off her majestic presence while holding her side.

“What did they say while I was up there?”

“They were saying Yena is really amazing? They didn’t use to say that before…”

Along the way, we chatted busily on various topics.

We mainly talked about the food I ate while receiving treatment, what kind of classes Instructor Gartel had, and what rumors were currently circulating among the students.

“That Wolf bullied and ostracized children, so he was transferred to another region?”

“Yeah, weren’t you one of his victims too, Yena? Instructor Gartel said you were one of the people who suffered from Wolf?”

“…Yeah, that’s right. I’m just surprised how quickly it spread.”

So I could learn interesting information.

Wolf’s disappearance wasn’t due to violating military law, but forced transfer according to school rules. It seems the military academy went to great lengths to cover up the incident.

Well, they wouldn’t announce it as it is.

For the sake of the school atmosphere, and to avoid responsibility, they wouldn’t want anyone to find out about the evil deed where a student colluded with a staff member to attempt murder.

“Pfft.”

“What’s wrong, Yena?”

“Mm, it’s nothing. Just a sneeze, a sneeze.”

Even so, I couldn’t help but laugh that no one questioned this false rumor.

How badly did he live?

Even other candidates who didn’t directly witness his atrocities easily accepted it. It was a moment to realize how bad the reputation of the Stremann family, and Wolf, was.

“Yena, we’ve arrived.”

Walking with Erika, we soon reached our destination. I stopped and looked up at the building stretching into the sky.

It was the main school building that I used to visit every day without fail before going to Sevirpol.

I shouldn’t miss it since there’s not much time left until the assignment submission. Although I was tired on the day of return, it was polite as a candidate to at least greet the officer in charge and seniors.

This way, I’ll remain in their memory longer than other children. Well, even if that’s not the case, I also want to see who the new person is.

According to Derian in the past, someone would come to replace Lutz, who left his position to coincide with the end of the expedition. If so, they should be in that department room now,

I hope it’s someone I know.

Shall we go in?”

Nod─

I climbed the stairs with Erika to the floor where the Magic Tactics Planning Department was located.

---

“What are your plans now?”

About an hour after Yena’s award ceremony ended, Helena knelt on one knee and looked up at the woman in front of her.

“Princess.”

“Hmm…”

Rina, the protagonist of that burdensome gaze, rather than answering Helena’s question, sat on the sofa in the dormitory room, enjoying the refreshment gained from showering with her eyes closed.

“Helena.”

“Did you call me?”

“I think we can stop now.”

“…Pardon?”

After meditating like that for about ten minutes and finally opening her eyes, she made a statement that her former self could never have imagined.

‘I was on the wrong path.’

Were the grounds for suspecting Yena until now really justified? This was the thought that occurred to her while applying soap to her body in the bathroom.

Looking back now, it was all just absurd conspiracy theories.

Saying that Yena was an undercover cadet planted by her father and that all the information about her birthplace and parents recorded in her personal details was actually a lie, she had justified her delusions with nonsensical talk.

‘A stereotypical prejudice about commoners…’

Saaah──

Helena formed holy magic at her fingertips and dried her hair with its heat while recalling that day she met Yena.

If at first she had faced Yena in a state filled with anger, by the time that child left her and went outside, only shame remained inside her.

‘Because I couldn’t refute.’

Each word Yena shouted in her ear dug deep into her heart. That’s why she couldn’t say anything even when she dared to grab her collar.

“Stop investigating Yena.”

“…”

“I don’t want to continue this harsh life at the military academy anymore, Helena. Now that Wolf has gone somewhere too, I’m going to throw off the shackles of the past and live freely.”

Isn’t that the true meaning of rebellion against the family?

Rina looked down at the head maid with a fresh smile fitting the bright spring weather, and abruptly stood up from the chair.

“Then I’ll go to the research department. I have to finish my assignment. Head maid, please don’t overwork yourself and rest comfortably.”

Click!

After she left the dormitory like that, Helena, left alone, silently straightened her kneeling legs and stood up desolately.

“…”

Her lips were twisted by tightly clenched teeth.