episode_0003

The boss was knocked back from me.

“You, a fool like you…how did you block my attack?”

“Thanks to you.”

[Occupation) Priest]

[Release condition) Acknowledge yourself as a priest]

It was a message written in the empty status window that had nothing written on it.

In the end, I accepted it positively.

Both the original owner of the body and I.

I ended up admitting that I was a priest, despite denying it before.

But that’s not important right now.

I’ll blame myself later, for now, I deal with that brat first.

I looked at the status window again.

The status window displayed information about me and available skills.

[Skill) Ehoro]

[Recovers 5% of health]

[Skill) Abdis]

[Weakens opponent’s physical abilities by 10%]

Fortunately, with these skills, I could block the brute force attacks. But my health didn’t recover much. And I have no more skills left.

I have to either kill him as quickly as possible or run away.

The boss’s surprised expression disappeared.

“I was a bit careless.”

“A pitiful excuse.”

“Don’t worry. I was just testing how strong that sword is. Now, let’s get serious.”

The boss readied himself again.

“Your tongue is sharp.”

Angered by his words, the boss rushed towards me.

Honestly, it was a bluff.

I couldn’t think of a way to defeat him in a normal way.

Thousands of thoughts raced through my mind. Will I die again?

How can a person experience death three times in one day?

No, I already died once.

I gripped the sword tightly. They say the riskier the gamble, the more thrilling it is.

I too ran towards the boss.

If I can’t win in a normal way, then I’ll win in an abnormal way.

As the distance between the boss and me closed, just as my head entered a certain range, he swung his club.

But I didn’t stop and kept running.

“Are you giving up, fool?!”

In that moment when the distance between me and the club was as thin as a piece of paper.

Boom!

I dodged the club, passed through between the boss’s legs, and struck his knee joint.

“What!?”

The boss collapsed weakly.

“You don’t even have the strength to give your last words. Die.”

“Wait, I might have been a bit harsh…!”

As I cut the boss’s throat, his voice no longer sounded.

I let out a sigh of relief as the tension in my legs eased.

I narrowly escaped death. If luck hadn’t been on my side, I would have died again. Perhaps now, the boss has become me.

But this should be enough to gain the people’s trust, right?

As I looked around, everyone who had been watching the fight was now avoiding my gaze.

“Yeah, I didn’t think I could settle the score with the bully so easily.”

From now until I go to the academy, I’ll practice and improve my reputation, so at least I won’t live like a loser at the academy.

I can’t ruin my ordinary family life any further, let alone ruin school.

This could be my last chance. I won’t just let it end like this.

But I was really scared just now.

As I reaffirmed my determination, the people around me who had been watching the fight were now comforting the woman who had been bullied earlier.

“Well…there are people who care about you.”

“If the young master is okay, this old man will take care of you.”

“Surprise! No, it’s okay. And from now on, at least give a signal before speaking.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I stood up with real strength in my legs.

“Butler.”

“What’s the matter?”

“How should we dispose of this body?”

“I’ve called the soldiers. Young master, you don’t have to worry.”

“Thank goodness.”

“Um…Priest.”

I heard someone calling me. I turned my gaze to the source of the voice with a puzzled expression.

“Who are you?”

There stood a woman.

In response to my words, she lowered her head with a gaze that seemed to be consumed by fear and dread.

“Hel…help…thank you…”

It seemed like she was the woman I had helped before.

The stares around us felt piercing.

“Why have you come to me without even properly thanking me?”

If I speak too kindly now, rumors might spread that I am being hypocritical.

Of course, it might be better than being called a vagabond, but I don’t like that nickname.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“No need for thanks. Leave.”

Even with my command, she didn’t move. Or maybe she couldn’t.

Just by looking at her trembling legs, I could tell. I sighed and said to Steven, “Let’s go.”

“Understood, sir.”

As I walked past her and a few seconds passed, I heard someone sitting down behind us.

‘Just how terrifying am I for them to act like this?’

With that thought, a question arose in my mind.

“Butler, when is the academy entrance ceremony?”

“Next month, sir.”

“…Haha, I must have misheard, when is it?”

“Next month, sir.”

“Go prepare for the inspection.”

***

Several weeks passed since then.

The incident on the first day seemed to have been resolved well by the soldiers and the butler.

My actions didn’t quickly spread throughout the village as a rumor; it seemed to have ended with just the story of a strange vagabond. It must have been the butler’s doing. She’s too valuable for me to write off.

And I wanted to ask my father to extend the time for the academy entrance ceremony next year.

[Main) Pass the prestigious Tuaros Academy]

[Edit] Main) Pass the prestigious Tuaros Academy next month]

With that message popping up, there was no reason to argue. I didn’t need to show any more resentment.

But still.

This father of mine, it seems he never had any intention of giving me a chance from the start.

For a kid who had been living as a vagabond all this time to pass the prestigious academy entrance exam within a month was a nice story, but in reality, it was just impossible.

Of course, if this is a game, then it’s a game. Just tell me to die. Why beat around the bush?

Swish! Swish!

So now, I trained using a single sword instead of the twin swords, using training dummies to improve my skills and stamina.

It’s been two weeks already. Honestly, it’s getting boring.

I want to use the twin swords as soon as possible.

But using twin swords suddenly on a body that doesn’t even have the basics down is not a good choice.

So unless there’s a reason like the first day, I decided not to use the twin swords.

Still, starting from the basics again, my agility and stamina increased relatively easily.

Especially focusing on stamina.

Agility can be compensated for without it, but if you don’t have stamina, you can’t even endure, so stamina was more important to me than anything else.

Fortunately, I could even see that my body had improved a lot compared to before.

This should be enough to pass, right?

Swish!

“Lord Roberts, your swordsmanship was very clean.”

It was an unbelievably clean swordsmanship and delicacy for a wooden sword.

Thud!

“Lady Rose, your magic was truly amazing.”

Even though I’ve never used magic before, I could tell how amazing her magic was.

“Ugh.”

For the past few days, the second and third siblings have been appearing at the same training time as me, practicing.

I even changed the time myself each time to avoid any misunderstandings…

Why do they keep training at the same time as me!!

Could it be that Father ordered them to interfere? Is he really that petty?

No, even if that’s true.

I feel like my spirit is about to die so easily, or that I want to give up…

Thud!

Bang!

“As expected, both of you are amazing. With this level of skill, you’ve already secured your spot in next year’s Academy entrance exam.”

I will never give up…

“No, this level of swordsmanship is something everyone does at the Academy, isn’t it?”

It seems like it’s already too late, should I just give up.

There is still plenty of time until the end of training, but I let go of the wooden sword in my hand.

“Are you leaving already, sir?”

“Resting occasionally is important too. Bring me food quickly.”

“Understood.”

Now, the Academy entrance exam is in 2 weeks.

The time I have to train will be much shorter than the time until the departure date.

And if what Roberts said is true, my chances of passing the Academy based solely on practical scores are almost nonexistent.

So.

I will pass not with practical scores, but with written scores.

Returning to my room, I immediately sat at my desk and opened my textbooks.

Graduating from college and studying again.

Fortunately, among the subjects here, I had confidence that I would get good scores in math with less study compared to other subjects.

Of course, in proportion to that, I was facing a completely different history from the history I knew, as well as new subjects on magic and magical devices instead of science.

Still, memorizing is my specialty.

I might be able to get a score in the top or middle range even if I can’t do it perfectly.

In this time of 2 weeks, which is short for some and long for others.

“I will memorize everything no matter what.”

***

“Sir, we have arrived.”

It was tough for me, who was riding a carriage for the first time, to be in a narrow space shaking for a long time.

“Ah… my back hurts. Ouch…”

“You’ve worked hard. Oh, and this is a gift from your younger siblings.”

I looked at the box in Steven’s hand with a puzzled expression and then at his face.

And a quiet word came out of my mouth.

“Why?”