Chapter 93: Recommendation

“It’s been a while.”

After classes and training ended that day, I went to see Otar to introduce Wolffang. He greeted us warmly.

“Yes, it has been a long time.”

As we entered, it was clear he was still in the middle of a meal. Various foods, likely bought from a nearby grocery store, were laid out on the dining table.

Hadi, who was about to put a steaming sausage into her mouth, paused when she saw me, then took a bite.

“Oh, it’s you? I heard the news. You’ve been promoted to Count? Should I call you ‘Lord Count’ now?”

“No, just call me as you always have. Titles are just for show anyway.”

“You weirdo… So, what brings you here today?”

“Well, about that… Wolffang! Come out for a moment!”

At my call, Wolffang, who had been sleeping in her scabbard, took human form and appeared before the two.

“Hmm… Master, what’s going on?”

“I came to introduce this child. And I have a few things to ask about…”

“Oh ho…!! I knew it had a consciousness, but to think it could take human form…”

“Indeed, it’s rare for a demon sword to go this far.”

Whether due to differences in material or not, while there were demon swords that could speak like humans, ones that could transform into humans like Wolffang were extremely rare.

Even in the original work, among the numerous demon swords that appeared, only two could transform into humans like Wolffang.

Otar and Hadi looked at Wolffang with appraising eyes, then nodded with satisfied smiles.

Wolffang, on the other hand, seemed uncomfortable with their stares and stepped back to hide behind me, asking,

“Master, who are these guys? They’ve been staring at me…”

“Don’t you remember when you were barking like a dog? These people made you.”

“They made me… Then I should thank them. Thanks to you, I was able to meet my master.”

As Wolffang bowed her head awkwardly, I felt my face flush for some reason.

Unlike me, who felt embarrassed, Otar and Hadi looked at Wolffang’s bowed head with warm expressions and said,

“We forged you for our own purposes, so there’s no need to thank us. Go ahead and raise your head.”

“Is that so? Then I’m not very thankful. I take back my thanks from earlier.”

“…Like master, like sword…”

It didn’t take long for the satisfied expressions on their faces to sour.

Otar, who had been sighing deeply while looking at me, suddenly seemed to remember something and asked,

“I almost forgot to mention. Have any suspicious individuals tried to contact you since that fight?”

“Contact?”

At first, I thought he meant nobles or royalty, but seeing Otar’s expression more serious than usual, it didn’t seem to be that.

“You used a demon sword so spectacularly in public. There’s a possibility you might receive some kind of solicitation from demon-related organizations.”

Many demon worship organizations had appeared in the original work, but perhaps they had been dealt with by the previous possessors, as their shadows were not visible in this world.

“If those bastards do show up…”

“You want me to run away?”

“No, find them all, kill them, and bring their weapons to me. We might be able to forge more good swords.”

This was one of the things I really liked about Otar – he was the complete opposite of Marina in this regard.

“If I get my hands on any promising materials, I’ll be sure to bring them. By the way, since we’re talking about swords, can I make a request?”

“A request?”

“I’d like to order about a hundred katanas. If that’s too difficult, fifty would be fine.”

“Why so many… Are you planning to form a knightly order?”

“No, I’m thinking of decorating my house with them.”

“…What?”

Everyone must have an ideal home that they picture in their mind.

For example, if someone dreams of a house with a beautiful garden full of colorful blooming flowers, I longed for a dream mansion where katanas would always be waiting for me, no matter where I went.

The thought of a life where there would be katanas in the bedroom, living room, and even the bathroom… Just imagining it made my expression falter with ecstasy.

“Master!! Why do you keep trying to bring in other swords when you have me!! It’s already annoying enough being with that disabled sword at your waist!!”

After Wolffang shouted like that, I frowned and said,

“Listen, Wolffang. The more swords and women, the better. And a reverse-edged sword is supposed to have its edge on the opposite side, so don’t ever call it a disabled sword again. Got it?!”

“What nonsense!! Even if it’s made that way on purpose, a disabled sword is still a disabled sword!!”

“You little-!!”

“Eeeek!!”

Unable to contain myself any longer, I gave Wolffang a knuckle rap on the head. She returned to her scabbard, crying.

“Phew… So, how long would it take to make the katanas? Would a month be enough?”

“Stop talking nonsense and get out of my forge right now.”

“Hmm…”

On my way to school as usual, I realized that today, unlike other days, there was no sign of students chatting with each other.

Not only were voices absent, but the overall atmosphere was tense.

As I pondered why, I suddenly remembered today’s date and realized the reason.

‘The class transfer exam is coming up soon.’

Students in Class C and below might view the academy as merely a place for socializing and not take their studies too seriously, but it was different for Class B and above.

For those who focused on training every day to improve their rank even slightly, this period was the most sensitive time.

And as the surroundings were filled with sensitive people, Class C had also become quiet, causing the atmosphere of the entire academy to become cold and subdued.

‘How pathetic…’

If they had learned Baldo, they wouldn’t need to worry about such trivial things. They say if you’re not smart, your body suffers – this was exactly that situation.

While everyone was on edge, there were some students who seemed no different than usual. One of them was Hori, who was beside me.

“The atmosphere doesn’t seem very good, does it?”

“The class transfer exam is coming up soon. Are you well prepared? If you fail the exam, I might have to reconsider the sponsorship.”

“Don’t worry!! The alchemy exam is just theory and making a specified potion! It’s simple! The class placement exam was actually harder!”

According to Hori, while the theory and production exams simply involved making potions normally, the class placement ceremony required understanding other students’ grades, making it much more difficult than a regular exam.

“Ian, about the exam… Well, you’ll be fine, right? In fact, do you even need to take it?”

“Just because I don’t need to doesn’t mean I shouldn’t. If everyone else is taking it, I should too.”

I intended to take the exam, if only to promote Baldo more widely.

“Well, we’ve reached the alchemy department building, so I’ll go ahead.”

“Alright. And the repairs on the workshop in the mansion will be finished soon. If there’s any equipment you want, write it down separately and send it to me later.”

“Okay!”

Leaving Hori behind, I made my way to the classroom. As expected of S-class, the atmosphere inside was much calmer than outside.

I supposed they had more composure than the lower classes, given that they trained in better facilities.

As I entered the knight department classroom, everyone seemed largely unchanged from usual, befitting a class in its prime.

“Everyone’s so calm?”

“Of course. It’s rather strange to be so flustered over a mere exam.”

“As Lady Jessica says. If one is so rattled by an approaching exam-“

“Huh?”

Unlike Jessica, who couldn’t completely ignore me despite her usual demeanor, Rain, who had been perfectly ignoring me, opened her mouth.

Seeing this rare sight, I looked at Rain, who averted her gaze shyly before speaking.

“Um…”

However, just as she opened her mouth, the door opened as if to interrupt her, and Marina entered the classroom.

Rain, who was about to say something, immediately turned her head to look at Marina standing at the podium, and we who were watching her also turned to look at Marina.

“Good morning, everyone. Before we begin the lesson, I have something to say about the upcoming class transfer exam. Ian?”

“Yes?”

“Ian is exempt from the class transfer exam. There will be no change in his class, so please be aware of that.”

“…Pardon?”

Unable to read the emotion that welled up in my chest at those words, Marina spoke calmly as if it were no big deal.

“It’s exactly as I said. The class transfer exam is meant to assess students’ abilities. We already know Ian’s abilities sufficiently from the recent fight.”

“But still…! Isn’t it unfair to not take the exam at all?! People will talk!”

“It’s not unfair. The future Sword Saint will also automatically advance to S-class in this way, and above all, students lacking the discernment to question the academy’s judgment wouldn’t even be able to cross its threshold, so rest assured.”

“Even so…!!”

“Moreover, what crime has a student committed if they’re unlucky enough to be matched against Ian in the exam? This is already a decided matter, so I won’t allow any objections.”

“Ugh!!!”

Faced with such flawless logic, I had no choice but to close my mouth.

And so, a long and irritating class proceeded, and it was around break time.

“…Lord Ian.”

Rain stood before me to say what she couldn’t earlier when Marina interrupted.

“You seemed like you were about to say something earlier. Did you have some business? Perhaps you want to learn Baldo…”

“There’s no idiot in this classroom who’d want to learn such a thing. Lady Rain, shall I vacate my seat if you wish to have an intimate conversation?”

“No, it’s fine. It’s not decided yet, just a confirmation.”

“Confirmation?”

As I tilted my head, not understanding what she meant, Rain hesitated for a moment before sighing heavily and opening her mouth.

“Lord Ian, do you have any plans for an arranged marriage meeting?”

…Arranged marriage?