episode_0025

Weekend morning.

I woke up, basking in the pouring sunlight.

Looking at the position of the high-rising sun, it was already noon.

“I slept for a long time.”

“Yes, you slept for a long time. To sleep until noon. You must have been tired from the early morning work.”

“Huh?”

The familiar voice I heard from the side as I was about to stretch.

“Why are you here?”

Ellaime was sitting quietly on a chair beside the bed.

She was a supervisor, but she respected my privacy to some extent and didn’t come into my room. Of course, it was because she didn’t want to run into me, but she didn’t enter without permission.

“I came to observe the Young Master’s condition.”

“Is that so?”

There was a hint of excuse in her tone. She couldn’t hide the faint desire within at all. Remembering what happened yesterday, I decided to just understand.

“Did you handle the cleanup well?”

“Yes. When I mentioned the family name, they cooperated kindly.”

“I guess so.”

The Arden family is the only founding meritorious subject in the Tyran Empire. Moreover, the first emperor and the first family head were the closest of friends.

As a result, the Arden family’s power within the empire is immense. Almost on par with the imperial family.

Of course, it was thanks to the imperial family giving the Arden family a lot of authority and interests, but even excluding that, the family’s power was enormous.

“It seems like all the arrangements will be finished by the day after tomorrow.”

“You don’t need to report to me. Now that Bellum is dead, Cantia is over.”

And all I needed was Bellum’s corpse. The rest wasn’t of much use. With Bellum, Cantia could be rebuilt at any time.

“If that is the Young Master’s wish, I will do so.”

Ellaime bowed deeply. Then her gaze fell on a large sack placed beside her. A pile of gold coins that I told her to bring yesterday.

“You brought it?”

“Yes. Because you told me to.”

“Hmm….”

I stared blankly at Ellaime.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

She asked with a puzzled expression. I said without lying.

“You seem different somehow.”

What should I say? Her tone and atmosphere had softened. She felt gentler than yesterday. It wasn’t the same sharp reaction as before.

“Did something happen yesterday?”

And her mana state is also different from yesterday….

‘Ah, could it be.’

Uneasy imaginations came and went. Ellaime spoke as if my thoughts were correct.

“I had a small, enlightenment.”

“Really? That’s good. Are you a Supreme-rank now?”

“Yes.”

It was five months faster than in the novel, but I congratulated her.

“I am happy to be able to tell the Young Master this fact first.”

Hearing her say that made my head feel dazed. I couldn’t break this atmosphere.

“I’m also thankful that you told me.”

Hearing my words, she smiled softly and said.

“You have really returned to your former self. This appearance suits you best, Young Master.”

“I don’t think anything has changed….”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t realize it. This appearance is also worth seeing.”

It seems that my physical reaction to her is showing.

“More than that, Young Master.”

“Yeah. Tell me.”

“The story I told you yesterday….”

“About taking you to the family?”

“Yes. As a result of telling the family about the early morning work, it has been canceled.”

“That’s good.”

“…It’s something I caused, but it’s not something to laugh off.”

Ellaime seemed a little angry at my too calm reaction.

“Well, isn’t it good if it’s resolved well?”

“I’m sorry. For rashly causing trouble….”

“No, it’s also my fault. I did it too secretly.”

If I had known this would happen, I would have taken her a long time ago. That would have been much faster and easier to solve.

“Let’s stop talking about depressing things. I’m okay.”

“But….”

Hearing the voice full of guilt, I said softly.

“Ellaime. I’m okay, you know?”

“Ugh….”

Ellaime blushed again. It’s a fun reaction no matter how many times I see it.

“More than that, aren’t you hungry? We have money now, so shall we go to the capital and eat?”

“I’m fine, but… can I ask where you’re going to use the money?”

“What is it? Are you worried that I’ll use it for something strange?”

“It’s not a small amount.”

It’s a natural worry. 10 million gold coins is not a small amount of money, as she said.

Well, I don’t intend to eat all of it. I’d get sick if I did.

“I’ll tell you later.”

“I understand.”

“You’re giving in quite easily?”

“Because I know very well what happens when I make hasty assumptions.”

I smiled brightly and called her teasingly.

“Shall we go then? Ellaime?”

“…Yes, Young Master. Let’s go.”

Ellaime stood up from the chair with stiff movements. And she didn’t look at me, only straight ahead. I followed her.

Leaving the room, leaving the dormitory.

Ellaime still had her head facing forward. Then she stopped walking for a moment.

“Young Master.”

“What’s wrong?”

A voice calling softly. Her voice was full of shyness.

“If, if only the Young Master is okay with it….”

She paused slightly. Her neck was already red.

“When we’re alone. Like now, could you call me by that name….”

The words she squeezed out were too low. In the end, I couldn’t hear them at all. I wouldn’t have heard if I wasn’t close.

I found her different appearance cute. The supporting character, she wasn’t well portrayed in the novel. Maybe it’s an appearance that only I can see.

I said in a brighter voice than ever before.

“Okay. But how long are you going to keep looking ahead?”

Ellaime turned around then. Her face was so red that I thought of a ripe tomato. In the end, she couldn’t bear the shyness and covered her face with both hands.

“Don’t do that and put your hands down.”

I held out my hand as if to say, put them here instead.

“Ellaime. I’m hungry, you know?”

When I urged her, Ellaime reluctantly lowered her hands. And gently, she placed her hand over mine.

There were many calluses and glorious scars as a knight, but I didn’t care much.

“Then please take good care of me today, Ellaime.”

“Me too, Kyle….”

We walked side by side. And I thought.

The feeling of getting closer to a favorite character, not just through conversation.

‘It’s quite nice to do this too.’

Really, it wasn’t bad.

***

1 month. The time it takes to adapt to the atmosphere and life of a place, no matter how unfamiliar. During this period, the academy conducts special classes.

A joint practice for 1st and 2nd year students. A practice conducted with the two grades paired together.

The content of the practice differs depending on the department. The magic department and the knight department go hunting. This is because they are departments specialized in combat.

And like the entrance exam, the two departments work together. One freshman from the magic department and one sophomore from the knight department. They form teams in this way.

For reference, 3rd year students do not participate. They are the most senior in the academy, but they are now graduating. In a few months, they will go out into the world. Therefore, they are working hard to improve their skills.

Hunting Field.

The name of the place where we are practicing today.

Located outside the academy, many monsters live here. Basically, goblins, orcs, and kobolds. If you go deep inside, there are trolls and ogres.

Of course, it is a place made for practice, so the number of individuals is controlled, thoroughly managed, and weakening magic is applied to the entire field. So it’s not dangerous.

“There are a lot of people….”

About 2,400 people in total. Even if they were scattered across 10 entrances, that’s 240 people. There are too many. It’s all because Trianis is so big. Trianis Academy was bigger than most large cities.

“Kyle~!”

Then a bright and energetic voice was heard. Lana was running from afar. Reaching me, she said in a welcoming voice.

“Hello!”

“You were assigned here too?”

“Yeah! I’m lucky. I was assigned to the same place as Kyle.”

Hunting Field Zone 1 entrance. This is where I am waiting. Lana was assigned here as planned.

“But are you okay?”

“I’m fine, so don’t worry.”

Lana asked in a worried tone.

Doing that in the early hours of Saturday morning, eating lunch with Ellaime in the afternoon, and even working, it was truly hell. The next day, my face was so pale that everyone I met was worried. Even Ruina and Lindel told me to rest. I rested in the dormitory that day.

“If you’re still sick, do you want to try eating this?”

“What is it?”

“Ginseng. My grandfather said it’s good for people who don’t have energy.”

Latral Heitalde is a noble and a high-ranking magician. His family has plenty of medicinal herbs.

You might wonder what ginseng is doing in a fantasy, but ‘Academy Undercover Agent’ is a novel written by a Korean. In the first place, the east side of the continent has an oriental atmosphere.

“Tell him I said thank you.”

I picked up the ginseng and brought it to my mouth. The bitter taste spread throughout my mouth, but I endured it for the sake of my health.

“Ugh, bitter….”

“Here, here’s cola.”

“Thanks.”

I chugged the drink she handed me. Nevertheless, the bitter taste didn’t go away.

“I can’t eat it at all. Kyle eats it well.”

“It’s not a taste that our age group likes. I’m also eating it reluctantly.”

If I had to, I could also eat monster meat. But I have preferences, so I like salty, sweet, and spicy stimulating tastes. If my body was in good condition, I wouldn’t have eaten it. Absolutely not.

“Shall I bring you more next time?”

“I’ll decline.”

I politely refused. It was too hard to eat again. She knew the power of ginseng, so she didn’t force me any further.

In the meantime, someone was coming this way. Of course, it’s the protagonist Evan.

“Oh, hyung-nim! Hello.”

Sigh, that bastard is as noisy as Lana.

“Yeah, I’m doing well too….”

“Lana-sunbae, hello too. Have you been doing well?”

“Yeah! Nice to see you too, Evan-hubae!”

The two were exchanging greetings amicably. But again, there were glances that I couldn’t catch. I don’t know what they’re talking about.

“Did you come here alone?”

“No. I was assigned with Chloe. Veil went to District 6.”

It’s as planned. It’s an episode related to the protagonist, so it’s impossible for it to go wrong.

“I saw it earlier. The Princess is here too, right?”

“Saw her.”

“I saw her too.”

The 2nd year students moved first and checked a long time ago. The princess is in the center of the group over there. The princess is a popular figure in the academy, along with Lana.

The reason why it’s quiet near Lana right now is because of me. After about a month, rumors about me spread among the freshmen.

They’re still ostracizing me, but they’re spreading rumors well. Well, I’m thankful for that. It’s good if freshmen don’t approach me. Except for these guys.

“Sunbae, hello~”

Again, someone I know well is approaching. She comes up to me very nonchalantly, as if she’s forgotten what happened last time.

“Yeah.”

I replied briefly. After that, she saw Lana next to me and approached her with a welcoming expression.

“Lana-unnie, hello too?”

“Hello, Chloe too!”

The two were close because they had the commonality of being the top students in the magic department. But I couldn’t leave Lana as she was. I separated the two, saying that I heard a voice at that moment.

“They’re calling you over there. Evan and you.”

I called Evan and Lana’s names. That meant the two would be practicing together.

“Huh? I’m on a team with the runner-up?”

“Yeah.”

“Kyle. You weren’t like this before, were you?”

“That’s right. They match the skill balance for fairness.”

If the power is skewed, the balance will be tilted and one side will not be able to participate properly in the practice. To prevent that, they divide the rankings by grades and form teams accordingly.

But sometimes this happens. And the saying they say at that time is.

“What can you do? Luck is also a skill.”

It’s the representative saying of the first emperor.

It may be too irresponsible, but his actions proved that luck is also a skill. Therefore, unless it is manipulated, it is generally accepted.

“Go quickly. They’re calling you.”

“Okay. See you later.”

“Hyung-nim, I’ll see you on the field!”

The two disappeared like that. And Chloe next to me had a sly expression on her face.

“Sunbae is so mischievous.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You have to interrupt unnie’s time alone?”

“Shut up….”

“Ah, there, they called sunbae’s name.”

Chloe interrupted me and pointed to the front. As she said, my name flowed out at the end.

I ignored her and moved my steps.

I didn’t hear it, but I roughly know my partner. Next to the extra is the extra. An extra named Dien is attached. This is to allow me to move alone in this episode.

“But why are you following me….”

“Because I’m on a team with sunbae?”

“What do you mean….”

At that moment, I almost arrived and heard the professor’s voice.

“Kyle Arden, Chloe. You’ve come. Stand in slot 17 over there.”

“Yes?”

“You two are a team, so I told you to stand there.”

My mind started to go blank.

“Sunbae. Let’s have a good day today?”

She smiled and grabbed my arm and dragged me away.