episode_0039

Get up from your seat and walk slowly. Just like the times we have walked so far, we confidently move forward on a path filled with darkness.

“Here is the oath.”

I glanced at the crown prince sitting in the front row, then stood in the center of the stage and looked at where the entering students were sitting.

“Oath――”

[Oath]

Everyone stood up following my words and looked up at me with one hand on their chest.

I never thought the day would come when I would read the oath that I had always heard about with my own mouth.

“Trueno Academy’s new students, Charlotte La Rochelle and 209 others, solemnly swear that they will refine themselves here and become stars that shine brightly in the kingdom.”

As soon as the oath was completed, everyone sat down.

[Next, there will be a speech by the new student representative, Princess Charlotte La Rochelle.]

Then, in an instant, the surrounding sounds faded away. In the auditorium, which was so quiet that even my breathing could be heard as noise, my voice began to resonate.

“First of all, I would like to praise everyone standing here.”

The people sitting in their seats blinked at the sudden remark, and I smiled and continued talking.

“There must be someone here who swings a sword every day, and there must also be someone who reads a book until dawn. I think we were able to stand here because everyone put in a lot of effort. So, before I tell you my thoughts. I would like to praise you for your efforts.”

Most people nodded or cheered and clapped at what I said. As I looked at that scene for a moment, the applause slowly subsided. Silence fell once again.

Now it is my turn to tell you my thoughts and my resolutions.

“I have put in as much effort as you all to be here. And this is probably the result of that effort.”

took one step forward. A bright light pours in from behind. It poured out towards me, not anyone else.

“And I have no intention of being satisfied here.”

I opened my eyes and looked down. 209 people’s eyes were on me. In the darkness, eyes shining in various colors were looking up at me.

“Because I don’t think standing here is a success, but just standing at the starting line.”

The humiliation he had experienced so far, the contempt, persecution, hatred, and 16 deaths. I tried to cover my mouth. As if you didn’t deserve to be in that position, as if it wasn’t my fate, it climbed up my body and strangled me, trying to stop me from speaking.

Yes, my place was always somewhere over there, not here. But I ended up standing here. I came to this position solely on my own strength.

“And, I have no intention of giving up this position.”

Do you think you’ll ever go back to that place again? Will I end up living a life that makes someone shine? I will never again accept fate or anything like that and live like a worm.

I looked down at those who were looking up at me with their backs to the light and smiled.

“No one will be able to walk on me. No one will be able to stand next to me. No matter how hard you try, we will crush it so overwhelmingly that it all feels meaningless.”

I declared war against the 209 enrolled students.

“So please struggle hard.”

Pours of applause. Envy and jealous gaze piercing through my body. Indeed, the main characters were standing in this position. I can’t believe I was enjoying this thrill alone. I’m jealous.

Well, it’s my place now. I laughed and got off the stage.

It was a pleasant presentation.

.

.

.

When I came down after giving my speech, which was going to contain a lot of words, a princess with a red face greeted me.

“I was looking at it wrong… … . You are completely different from your brother. Because you’re a coward, you can’t do something like a declaration of war.”

“Oh my, this is the most pleasant compliment I’ve heard today.”

After saying that and sitting down, the princess chuckled and started chewing her finger.

“Exciting. How long has it been since I felt this way? … . Hehehe… … . It might be embarrassing to suddenly say something like this, but I’m a person who can’t hide my feelings.”

The princess, who was muttering to herself, looked up at me with eyes similar to the way Mel looked at me when she was extremely excited, and poked my chest with her finger.

“I really want you.”

A sinister word with a mixture of literal meaning and many other hidden meanings flowed from her mouth.

okay. It was a bit cheap from the beginning. But I never imagined that they would attack me like this already.

“As I said above, I have no intention of falling under anyone.”

“Hmm… … . Even if it’s the princess’s orders, won’t you listen? This is lese majeste.”

“I thought the princess was someone who could accomplish things with her own strength. Was I wrong?”

When the princess heard those words, she blinked and looked at me, then smiled fiercely.

“Are you provoking me now?”

“I was just curious.”

“… … Phew, kekekeke… … . Yes, that’s right. It’s as you said. It wouldn’t be meaningful if I didn’t get it through my own efforts.”

After saying that, the princess sat up straight and looked ahead. Although he is looking ahead, his eyes are looking into the distance, so it looks like he is thinking hard about something in his head… … .

Really, it was annoying in many ways because I got it wrong. I sighed deeply, covered my mouth with my fan, and waited for the entrance ceremony to end.

Did my wish work? The dean’s welcoming speech ended very early, and it was time to introduce the academic affairs committee members.

[Finally, there will be an introduction by the academic affairs committee member! First of all, this is Sir Germa, who is in charge of the basics of swordsmanship!]

The person who walked out as soon as the host finished speaking was an old gentleman with an eye patch over his left eye and his short, white hair.

“It’s the real Sir Germa… … ?”

“No way, Sir Germa is watching our class… … !?”

As soon as he appeared, everyone sitting in the main auditorium began to murmur. That’s right, there was no one here who didn’t know the war hero of the Kingdom of Trueno.

His hair was gray and his face was full of wrinkles, but his strong body still seemed to have not weakened. The moment he gained momentum, most people were overwhelmed and the loud auditorium suddenly became quiet.

As he looked around the audience, he quietly opened his mouth, and his deep voice echoed throughout the auditorium.

“My name is Germa and I am in charge of basic swordsmanship at the Trueno Academy starting this year. It’s my first time teaching someone, so I’m sure there are a lot of shortcomings, but I hope you’ll take good care of me.”

Nodding, he bowed lightly, and thunderous applause erupted.

The next person to come out was an elderly witch who was going to teach the basics of witchcraft. Ah, I owe a lot to that person too.

“Hihihi, my name is Agnes Fell Draco, and I am in charge of the basics of lore. Nice to meet you! Young chicks.”

Since we are introducing it in order of age, the next part is history. Next is dance. Musical instruments, theology, elementalism, medicine, and finally–potions.

[Lastly, this is Priscilla de Arbel, who is in charge of the basics of potions!]

As soon as the host finished speaking, a sharp-looking woman with platinum-blond hair that reached down to her waist and wearing a white gown over a black sheath-line dress walked out.

The woman who handed me the microphone glanced down at me and made eye contact with me. I immediately smiled, but the other person’s eyes fluttered and he quickly took his eyes off me.

“Hello.”

Let’s talk about the past for a moment.

During the 6th episode, I was poisoned by Sarah. Aside from other questions, where did Sarah get the poison?

Did they go outside the academy to buy it? no. Unlike this episode, Sarah at that time was my exclusive maid, so she couldn’t leave the academy without me.

Did you make it yourself? No, this is also wrong. A poison that takes effect immediately on the spot was not something that could be made at Sera’s level. Above all, Sarah at that time didn’t even have a chance to learn potions.

Surprisingly, I was able to find out the answer right before I died after taking poison.

“I am in charge of Potions and Herbalism――”

Behind Sarah, who was looking down at me.

“My name is Priscilla de Arbel.”

Because that person was standing there.

After learning that, I naturally started looking for the reason. Why does that person hate me? Why did they make poison and kill me?

I researched her over several rounds to find the answer. I investigated it even more thoroughly, not because I wanted to destroy her, but because I didn’t want to die.

What I found out in the end was a reality that I couldn’t laugh about.

“Lady, that person… … . Don’t you think she looks a lot like the duchess?”

“Okay then. Because that person and your mother are sisters.”

“… … Yes?”

I laughed at Sarah’s harsh answer and folded the fan.

okay. My mother’s original name was Genea de Arbel. She is the first daughter of Marquis Arbel, and the person standing over there is Marquis Arbel’s second daughter. The two are sister companies.

They were sisters who fell in love with the same man and ended up in a love that was bound to lead to misfortune.

“Hehe.”

A love that he could not achieve, a love that was taken away from him by his sister. How can I stay calm when the crystal of that love is right in front of me? How can I smile?

“――Hani, please take care of me in the future.”

While I was thinking for a moment, Priscilla, who had finished what she had to say, looked down at me once more, then turned her back and returned to her seat.

The intense murderous intent I felt even in that brief moment when he was looking down at me. Sticky malice like hatred, irritation and anger.

‘I hate you. ‘I hate you to death, the crystal that the bitch who stole my love made with him.’

The words I heard then rang in my ears once again.

okay. If you want revenge like that, you should do it. Of course, I plan to help you make sure you don’t make a mistake with the street number this time.

‘Please take care of me in the future.’

I made eye contact with Priscilla, who was staring straight at me from beyond the shadows, and smiled, saying that with her mouth.