Academy Research Lecture Hall Alley

    Artoria and Sophia stood facing each other as if in confrontation.

    “So… you and Vess were angels serving Deus. And you were lovers?”

    “That’s right!”

    Artoria vigorously nodded.

    “Are you asking me to believe such absurd nonsense? To think you’d tell a lie even a child in the neighborhood wouldn’t believe. Did I seem that ridiculous to you?”

    Sophia retorted fiercely.

    Though it was the momentum of a seasoned warrior that she faced, the saint’s face that received it was surprisingly composed.

    “It’s not a lie. Vess and I were truly angels in our past lives. I can swear on Deus’s name about the truth of this.”

    Swearing on Deus’s name.

    If a priest breaks the oath to the god they serve, they receive the severest punishment. The same applies to the saint.

    So, is it the truth?

    Sophia was confused.

    Is it not just a lie to have Vess by her side?

    “Then would you be willing to step back from my lord? It’s a bit uncomfortable for me as his wife to hear rumors spreading because you were seen with him yesterday!”

    My lord.

    Wife.

    …Whose idea is this?

    In the previous episode, it was I who Vess whispered love to.

    It was also I whom he threw himself to protect.

    I am his rightful lover alone.

    No one can take Vess away from me.

    “I should be the one speaking. In our past lives, Vess was a hero who fought alongside me to defeat the demon king. At the same time, we were lovers. He loved me enough to sacrifice his life to protect me.”

    “…What?”

    “If you’re a saint, you should be able to discern the truth of what I’m saying, right?”

    “Why…?”

    With divine power, Artoria could only be astonished.

    Huh? The truth?

    Is this the truth?

    Was my lord in a relationship with another woman in his past life?

    “So step aside. After all, it was because of you that our Vess lost his position as an angel.”

    Artoria, who was in confusion, regained her composure.

    “Hah. Isn’t it because of you that the prince lost his life in a previous life?”

    The two women’s gazes clashed fiercely.

    “Then let’s make a bet. Let’s leave everything to him, the one who receives Vistus’s choice.”

    “That’s what I wanted! Don’t whine later if you regret it!”

    And so, the parties involved entered into a bet without knowing at all.

    Vistus packed his things and headed out of the inn room for class.

    Today’s class began with practical swordsmanship training.

    If it were an academy, it would be a common practical combat-oriented training.

    In the events within this class, the protagonist had garnered tremendous attention.

    When I first devised a plan to take away the protagonist’s events by winning against the strong in a duel, there was relief in taking away the attention as the protagonist, but I abandoned it.

    From the beginning, the interest of others, excluding the three heroines, would only be harmful, especially since my skills were weak at the early stage.

    I can’t possibly defeat the strong when I haven’t even properly acquired my abilities.

    Vistus clenched and unclenched his fist.

    It would be great if I could have that power from my dreams.

    He had broken the doorknob of the bathroom after waking up from the dream, but he simply attributed it to his mood.

    “Hey, Vistus!”

    “Jenice, is it?”

    As they approached the training ground, a student raised his hand from a distance and approached Vistus.

    “It’s been a while. Are you here to attend the practical swordsmanship class too?”

    “Yeah.”

    “Surprising. Weren’t you reluctant to move your body? Did you suddenly want to learn swordsmanship?”

    Due to his pitiful position as a viscount and his mediocre skills, Vistus found it difficult to make friends in the noble social circle.

    Nevertheless, despite his best efforts, there were a few whom he had made friends with, and one of them was the feminine-looking male student right in front of him, Jenice.

    The biggest reason this guy is the protagonist of [Eclipse].

    “I don’t want to learn yet.”

    I have learned martial arts in the past.

    Because Vercia’s body was so weak, she couldn’t learn properly and ended up failing.

    “It’s because a reason to learn has arisen.”

    Gaining strength through Kiyeon doesn’t make you instantly strong. You must learn how to handle that power and gain practical experience.

    That was why Vercia signed up for martial arts classes.

    “Ah! I see.”

    Jenice responded as if she knew.

    “That?”

    “The princess of the Republic! Isn’t it because of Princess Sophia?”

    “What?”

    Vercia was flustered.

    Sophia?

    Did the story of sitting together and taking classes yesterday spread?

    “You were walking arm in arm with that princess from the Republic yesterday?”

    “Huh?”

    “And they said you argued with the Imperial Princess in the principal’s office?”

    “Huh?”

    “I can’t believe my friend has become a man who captivates such high-ranking people from the first day at the academy. It was shocking.”

    Wait a minute.

    Why does he know about that?

    If this guy, who doesn’t enjoy gossip or socializing that much, knows about it…

    It means the news has already spread throughout the academy, right?

    Only then did Vercia notice that all the students around him were looking at him.

    “Is that him?”

    “He has a face worth looking at… is he that handsome?”

    “Isn’t he talented? If high-ranking people are trying to take him, he must have exceptional abilities.”

    “He looks dangerous, doesn’t he? Scary.”

    Why didn’t I notice while walking here?

    Ah.

    I didn’t realize because I was lost in thought.

    This is awkward.

    I’ve become a strange guy who has caught the daughter of the Republic’s president and the imperial princess.

    If it goes like this, I might attract their attention.

    If I become a target of those guys in my current weak state, I won’t survive…!

    Vercia and Jenice arrived at the training ground.

    “Vercia!”

    And Sophia, who was waiting for him inside the training ground, ran towards him.

    “As expected.”

    “Is that so charming?”

    “In the Republic, that style might work.”

    “Good morning, Versus.”

    Sophia greeted with a bright smile.

    “Yeah. Good morning….”

    On the contrary, Versus couldn’t greet as brightly.

    “Hello, Miss Sophia.”

    “Who?”

    Sophia was cautious when Jenice greeted her next to Versus, but upon realizing that Jenice was wearing a male school uniform, she relaxed her guard.

    “I’m Jenice Skylar, Versus’s friend.”

    “I am Sophia de Ruelleon.”

    Rustling

    As they exchanged greetings, there was commotion near the entrance of the training hall.

    Then, the center of attention among the students approached Versus.

    “Good morning, Versus!”

    “Ah, Saint?”

    It was Saint Artoria.

    “Why is the Saint in the training hall?”

    “I’m taking this class too! Please take care of me?”

    Huh?

    The Saint who hadn’t taken swordsmanship classes in the novel was taking this class?

    Versus was confused by the many differences from the original novel.

    “This is unbelievable. Even the Saint?”

    “What kind of charm does he have?”

    “I envy you, Versus! How did you get the Saint too?”

    Versus felt the surrounding gazes on him intensify.

    Ah. No more. Please.

    “…This is why you all should take practical swordsmanship classes.”

    The swordsmanship professor, Valdrake, began the class targeting the academy students gathered in the training hall.

    As a veteran professor at the academy, not swayed by any status of students from the Empire or the Republic, his gaze in this class continued to focus on two female students sitting on either side of a male student.

    Why is the Saint here?

    I knew Sophia de Ruelleon was taking my class, but the Saint is unexpected.

    His name is also on the attendance list?

    I don’t know.

    Therefore, the purpose of this class is to improve skills through sparring. Since today is the first class, I would like to start with a simple example of sparring. Do we have any volunteers?

    At the professor’s question, a sturdy male student raised his hand.

    “Good. It’s great that a volunteer has come forward for this term. Please come forward.”

    Looking at the male student, Vyrnus stroked his chin.

    Naber Shraig.

    The eldest son of Count Shraig.

    He was an early antagonist in the novel “Eclipse,” who, after losing in a sparring match with the protagonist, became the reason for Sophia’s interest in the protagonist.

    “It seems there are no other volunteers, so you can choose your opponent.”

    Probably, he called out the protagonist here. If nothing has changed, it should be the protagonist again this time…

    “I will spar with student Vyrnus Granquinel.”

    Not choosing the protagonist as the opponent… What?

    “Vyrnus Granquinel, please step forward.”

    What? Me?

    Why me?

    Vyrnus noticed Naber staring at him.

    I didn’t do anything!

    Ah.

    That’s right.

    This guy liked Saint Sophia.

    Damn.

    “Both students, take the training swords and take your positions.”

    Vyrnus walked forward like a pig being led to slaughter, dragging his feet.

    Then, he weakly picked up the sword lying in front of him.

    “Huh?”

    At that moment, Vyrnus’ body felt lighter, and a sense of omnipotence filled his body.

    This sensation…!

    Like in a dream…!

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