episode_0128

“Well, it’s not like I don’t understand.”

I shrugged. Since the current emperor’s reign, the discriminatory treatment between commoners and nobles had diminished significantly. After all, overt acts of discrimination were outright banned under imperial decree, and the emperor had effectively crushed the power of most noble factions.

With the exception of a few nobles who managed to evade the tide of imperial authority, the majority could do nothing but grovel under the emperor’s overwhelming influence.

Still, the majority of the academy’s students were the children of high-ranking nobles who had undergone elite training from a young age to become pillars of the empire. Naturally, they far outperformed their commoner-born peers. For students steeped in a toxic blend of aristocracy and elitism, it was unthinkable that someone like Lucella—a mere commoner with no remarkable background—could possess talent surpassing theirs.

Humans, by nature, tend to envy and seek to diminish those superior to them rather than admire them.

I could also see why Lucella had been assigned this particular training ground. For students who had trained systematically with top-tier equipment, being compared to a commoner who might have never even held a sword before was the ultimate humiliation.

So, it made sense that they’d resorted to outright ostracizing her.

Technically, the training grounds were provided for all academy students, and functionally, there was nothing wrong with them—even if the equipment was subpar and even other commoner students avoided using them.

Given this plausible justification, even Lin, the student council president, and the other three couldn’t act recklessly. However displeased they might be with such blatant exclusion, openly siding with Lucella risked alienating other noble students.

When there’s too much to lose, caution is inevitable.

Which means, once again, the dirty work falls to me.

I can’t say I relish tearing down the image I’ve so carefully built, but opportunities like this don’t come often.

First things first—

“Eric?”

Lost in thought, I only registered Lucella calling my name when her voice broke through my mental planning.

“Hm?”

“Are you alright?”

“Oh, sorry. Just had something to think about.”

“Something to think about?”

“Yeah. Anyway… Where’s the nearest training ground? We should probably head there.”

“The closest would be the Third Training Ground. The others must be closed by now.”

“Is the Third on night rotation today?”

Lucella nodded.

The academy was filled with students who had all been regarded as prodigies back in their hometowns. Coming to Penned Academy of all places meant they had resolve.

But even among them, divides formed naturally. For those who found regular classes insufficient, the academy provided large-scale training grounds.

From the First to the Seventh, the facilities improved with each numbered ground, and naturally, the hierarchy among those who trained there became starkly apparent.

If an outsider dared intrude, silent pressure would weigh on them from all sides: You don’t deserve these facilities. They’re wasted on you.

Of course, those with unshakable conviction or overwhelming skill could ignore this pressure. But those who couldn’t were gradually pushed down to lower-tier grounds.

A cunning system, expertly exploiting human competitiveness and the instinct to exclude outsiders.

“Were there people here before we arrived?”

“It was quiet. Most would wait for the First or Second Training Grounds to open—those are the only times ordinary students can reliably train.”

The students privileged enough to frequent the First and Second grounds didn’t need night training. Lecture hours and spare time were enough for them.

Meanwhile, the Fifth to Seventh Training Grounds had only basic equipment, so unless you were an eccentric like Lucella, there was no reason to train there at night.

That left the Third and Fourth.

“Let’s hope nobody’s there.”

If it was empty, I could just grab a sword or two, and even if a bill came later, I could cover it.

And if students were there? Well, proving the difference in skill would be enough.

Without hesitation, I strode forward—until Lucella grabbed my arm.

“Stop.”

“Why?”

“You don’t need to go this far for me.”

“Why not? Not confident you can win? Let’s show them equipment isn’t the deciding factor.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Her voice was calm.

“I will win. There’s no one in this academy who can match me.”

“Confident, aren’t you?”

“It’s the truth. But if I do, their resentment will turn toward you. I can’t let that happen.”

“So you’re refusing to fight because you’re scared I’ll get criticized? Who asked you to worry about me? Or is this pity?”

“Th-That’s not—! I would never pity you—!”

“I’ve already spent a year here hearing enough insults to last a lifetime. ‘Idiot.’ ‘Disgrace to the empire.’ ‘Academy’s bottom feeder.’ What’s one or two more slanders like ‘a senior who can’t set a proper example’? Besides, if I’m doing something like this, playing the madman works better anyway.”

Once Dave and Cheryl started rewriting their articles, I’d have to be careful, but for now, they hadn’t even properly published yet. Making a scene here wouldn’t become an issue.

“Come on, let’s go.”

I dragged Lucella along toward the Third Training Ground.

“…If that’s what you think, Eric.”

She had more than enough strength to stop me if she wanted. Yet, silently, she followed, gripping my arm.

The sight of someone several times stronger than me trailing behind like a duckling was almost comical.

——————————-

“Please turn back, Young Master Grave. We’ll overlook today’s incident.”

“This training ground is for our use. Even the Grave family’s influence has its limits!”

“……”

Yeah, of course things wouldn’t go smoothly. Maybe I should’ve listened to Lucella.

“How much longer? By my estimate, we should’ve arrived by now.”

“Almost there.”

True to her word, reaching the Third Training Ground didn’t take long. Unfortunately, groups of students were already training there.

“What? I thought nobody would be here today.”

“I don’t know every student’s schedule.”

“…Right.”

Now that I thought about it, it made sense. While the Third Training Ground was inferior to others, it still allowed for systematic training. Some students likely used it on days when the First and Second were closed.

“Eric, let me be clear. You don’t need to do anything for me. If they refuse to lend a sword, that’s fine. Please, don’t push yourself.”

“I’ll try not to push myself, then. What kind of sword do you need?”

“Any will do. As long as I can swing it and kill with it, that’s enough.”

“Got it.”

Ignoring the stares, I picked a sword of suitable length from the armory. The size of the Holy Sword was etched in my mind—something similar would suit her.

“Hah, sharp.”

I examined the blade appreciatively.

My eye for craftsmanship wasn’t master-tier, but even I could tell this was leagues beyond the swords Lucella had shattered in the Seventh Training Ground. It wasn’t a legendary blade or an enchanted relic, but finding steel of this quality wasn’t easy—especially not for commoners like her.

Just as I turned to hand it over, four or five students blocked my path.

“Hold on, Young Master Grave.”

“What?”

“That sword belongs to the Third Training Ground’s inventory.”

“And?”

“However prestigious the Grave family may be, within the academy, we are all equal as students. Arbitrarily taking academy property to favor a specific student violates the rules—”

“Cut the crap. How much do you want?”

It was something I’d always wanted to say.