episode_0041

Karl was sitting on the stairs.

The stairs were the pathway leading to the slope of the Academy’s campus.

At the end of the stairs, the outdoor training ground of the Knight Department appeared. It looked imposing, surrounded by pillars and decorations, unlike the vast sports field of the university Karl used to attend. The difference was that it gave a much grander impression.

It was late at night, so there was no one here. If there were, they would have to come up the stairs and inevitably meet Karl. That’s what Karl wanted.

Karl was waiting for someone. Someone who would pass by here.

Someone who was supposed to pass by here, someone who secretly trained alone every night, someone who wielded a sword away from people’s eyes.

Chloe Deminus.

In the novel, Chloe was struggling to adapt due to her outstanding skills that surpassed the first class. She had a gentle and kind nature, but when it came to the sword, she pursued competition and carried conflicting aggressiveness.

Her personality became apparent through repeated classes, and the students of the Knight Department began to avoid exchanging swords with her. Before coming to the academy, everyone lived in various praises such as “genius,” “prodigy,” or “pride of the family.” However, meeting Chloe made them keenly feel the difference in skill.

Chloe never did things half-heartedly. She didn’t know how to just go easy on their hearts. Such malice repeated itself, making Chloe an outcast whenever there was a sparring class. Until she met Karl.

In the novel, other students visited this place late at night, after everyone else had finished their day. Here, they could give their all without worrying about others’ eyes, even though they couldn’t spar. It was a time to practice swordsmanship, cutting through the air and honing their skills.

That was the story of Chloe known to the possessor Karl Meiner. Sitting on the stairs, meeting her was also part of the original story. However, he wasn’t placing high expectations now.

“Well, that’s true.”

Kal brushed off his clothes with his hands and got up.

He had waited quite a long time, but there was no sign of Chloe appearing here. He knew it would be different from the novel he had read before, yet he still waited with a hopeful heart.

Not expecting much, he wasn’t particularly disappointed or surprised. After all, there were other ways for him. Kal had changed with the changes in the story. He was no longer afraid.

Thump, thump—

Kal headed towards the dormitory.

There seemed to be no lingering attachment in his footsteps.

The route that used to become a secret sparring partner every night, just like in the original, had disappeared. But it didn’t matter. If there’s no way, you make one.

*

Sharing a secret is like the lubricant of human relationships.

Just by sharing a trivial secret, you feel special treatment. And if the weight of the secret becomes heavy and serious, the effect is even more pronounced.

Creating a big secret is no different from handing the other person a weapon. A deadly weapon.

If the other person wields it, I will undoubtedly be greatly harmed. So, I have no choice but to trust them completely. On the other hand, from the perspective of the recipient of the secret, it means that someone trusts them this much, so they can feel superior.

So, secrets are stimulating in many ways.

I’ve seen many cases where trusting and sharing secrets led to strained relationships later on, but watching Chloe made those worries disappear.

Chloe, pure and affectionate, holds my secret. She’s the only one who saw my blue eyes turn turquoise. The only person who saw my eyes while I was bare-faced, except for my side, has killed everyone else. The moment I truly showed my strength was when I swept away the bugs of the Inquisition.

Is Chloe on my side?

I can’t say for sure yet. However, since she saw my eyes, she never brought it up as a topic of conversation. She clearly holds the handle of the knife, but she never wielded it.

We’ve created another secret.

Right, we spar here every night.

This place isn’t suitable for sparring. It’s the rooftop of the first-class dormitory. It’s a cool, breezy spot, but not meant for sparring. However, the reason we chose this place is because it’s a location that Karl would never suspect.

Just like in the original, he might come looking for us at the outdoor training ground for the knight department….

So, we secretly spar here on the rooftop of the dormitory. Since the place is what it is, we don’t use any mana and only spar with our swords. Surprisingly, this method seemed to appeal to Cloe, as she couldn’t stop smiling.

Other than the sound of our wooden swords clashing, nothing else can be heard. Mana can’t even sense us. It’s a time with no disturbances other than watching each other’s movements reflected in the moonlight. Our own time.

As the sparring goes on, we take a break and catch our breath.

As I looked up at the night sky, Cloe tapped my shoulder. I looked at her. Despite moving almost as much as me, she didn’t seem all that tired.

“Here, have some of this.”

She handed me a glass bottle she had prepared. It was filled with water. I took the bottle and gulped down about half of it before setting it down.

“Beatrice, you’re a really amazing person.”

“…?”

“I’m starting to doubt if Second Class is the right fit for you. How can you be so strong?”

I stared at her. I saw eyes the color of the water in the bottle, a deep sky blue, a clear sea blue. You shouldn’t say that, you monstrous manipulator!

“Cloe, you don’t look tired at all?”

“No, I am tired too. I just don’t show it.”

She smiled and picked up the glass bottle from the floor.

Without hesitation, she brought her small lips to the opening of the glass bottle that I had been sipping from grudgingly. Then she drank little by little. I could see her delicate throat swallowing carefully.

“It feels like the distance isn’t closing.”

“Hmm?”

“Whenever I try to catch up with Cloe’s swordsmanship, the gap widens again in no time.”

“I feel breathless every time you chase me fiercely, though.”

“…”

Cloe took her lips off the glass bottle and looked at him innocently. She seemed genuinely delighted at this moment. It was exhilarating. By engaging only in swordplay without using mana, the contrast became even more distinct.

Despite restricting my mana to a second-class level, I could counter Cloe’s mana manipulation with creativity and cunning as a high-level mage, but it was impossible in pure swordsmanship.

However, thanks to this, I was able to improve my sword skills much faster. It was rewarding as it was challenging. Yes, it was incredibly tough. Cloe hummed a tune, seemingly oblivious to whether she knew that or not. How much does this woman love sparring?

“But why do you want to compete here instead of the training ground?”

Cloe asked with an innocent face.

“Oh, that’s… when a man who looks like a parasite appears. I don’t want to show you to him,” he couldn’t say that.

“It’s too far, isn’t it? It’s tiring to spar late at night, and all the way there…”

“I don’t mind.”

“I do! Also, secretly restraining and sparring like this, isn’t that kind of okay?”

“Well…! That’s true. It’s a different experience. I’m really enjoying it!”

Cloe smiled brightly.

Watching her, she looked so beautiful.

In reality, before being possessed, when I encountered heroines only through characters and illustrations, Cloe didn’t leave much of an impression on me. The saint was my top priority, and as most readers did, next was Beatrice.

But coming into the novel and actually seeing Cloe was devastating.

The refreshing impression with star-shaped decorations, bright face that suited her aquamarine hair. She was lovely in every aspect.

Furthermore, how about her thoughtful and pure nature? The love for Lugo Union was different in nature.

After a long duel, she sweated a lot, but she looked good. Her skin, moist with sweat, looked radiant. Her clean face shone even more brightly. She seemed to exude the scent of fabric softener.

If I were not Beatrice but possessed Karl Maier, I would have definitely gone straight to Cloe.

Needless to say, Beatrice was fatally beautiful, but is it because I’m in this body now? Other people’s assets seemed more significant. Things we don’t naturally possess tend to look more valuable.

“What’s on my face…? Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Huh? Oh, just because you’re pretty.”

…

She blushed slightly. Indeed, she was weak to compliments.

I’ve never seen a saint before. A saint who boasted an unrivaled popularity even in novels. It’s unimaginable how beautiful a saint, who drives men crazy, could be. But that’s not a concern for now.

Just looking at Cloe in front of me was enough to make her a heroine. It’s a figure that any man would easily fall for. I felt fortunate inside to meet her not at an outdoor training ground but on the dormitory rooftop.

Just in case Karl happens to find her at the outdoor training ground. I can’t let him see Cloe. I mustn’t let him catch sight of her in such a lovely state.

Yes, Cloe, I’ll protect you…

From the wandering ruffian who will harass women.

I will definitely hide you from the man who steals heroines’ hearts.

I’m doing this because I’m worried about you.

It felt like my heart was pounding. Perhaps the prolonged duel with Cloe made me short of breath. Even though I had rested enough.

“Nice to meet you, Knight Department students.”

– This is insane. The rumors were true?

– Wow! How can someone be so handsome?

– I think I’m going to break down. I feel dizzy.

– Is it true that Karl Maier handles the Holy Sword?

I can hear murmurs around me. Each word pricks at my heart, but my heart is already twisted. I’m in a very bad mood. I can’t control my expression.

“Starting today, I am Karl Meier, a student of the Knight Department. Please treat me well.”

“Wow!”

With Professor Smith’s introduction, the department change was complete. The blond handsome man is no longer part of the Royal Department. He has become a member of the Knight Department like us. I didn’t wish for this to happen…

The male students looked amazed as they listened to stories about the Holy Sword, while the female students couldn’t help but laugh and couldn’t take their eyes off. It was an intense welcome.

“These knights are from the sacred grounds of learning… What’s that supposed to mean?!”

I don’t like it. Not this situation either… Or those knights who seem to like Karl.

“Karl, as you know, unlike the Royal Department, the Military Department’s dorms are assigned based on one’s ability to handle mana.”

“Yes, I am aware.”

“After class today, will you undergo mana measurement?”

Now that he has become a member of the Knight Department, he must follow the new rules. No longer will he be assigned to the luxurious Royal Department dorms, but rather to a new dorm based on his abilities.

“No.”

“…?!”

“I want to test my abilities right now.”

His unexpected statement silenced the noisy training ground. Professor Smith looked at Karl with interest.

“There’s no mana measurement device here.”

“If I defeat the strongest student here, it’s as good as being in the first class, isn’t it?”

“Haha, that’s true.”

It was a bold statement. But it didn’t feel bold to me at all. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

Karl took a step. Toward me.

No, he’s walking towards us.

He walked toward Chloe next to me.

Thud-

Suddenly, he stood in front of us.

My heart feels tight.

I looked at him pitifully. I don’t know why. But he didn’t even glance at me. His golden eyes shone brightly.

The water-like hair of Cloe caught her eye.

“Hello? You’re Cloe Deminus, right?”

“Yeah? Uh, yeah. That’s me.”

“I’m Kal Mayner. Can I spar with you?”

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Her heart raced. She didn’t know why.

She struggled to turn her wavering eyes to look at Cloe. She was curious about the expression on her face.

…!?

She was…

Cloe was blushing and fidgeting. She seemed to have malfunctioned in some way. There’s a saying that when a woman sees an exceptionally handsome man, her brain stops working. I never expected to see her like this.

“Y-yes, of course.”

There’s no mirror, but I can be sure. My face must be more distorted than ever right now.

Cloe’s lovely shy face looks angry for the first time today.

Don’t make that kind of face.

…This damn domination.