Chapter 186 : Chapter 186
Chapter 186
“Well now…, so that’s how you’re going to be with me, is that it? Hmph! To think you’d ignore me just because you’ve made a name for yourself. How utterly contemptible. Fine, fine. We’ll see at the duel assessment.”
‘Cadet Duel Assessment.’
Unlike the one held during the Grand Festival, it’s private, but it’s held once more at the end of the year.
‘I’m looking forward to it.’
It wasn't just Adela. Luri must have made great strides as well. I heard they both played a major role in the battle against the laughing people.
“Ah, ahem! And.”
“…?”
I wondered what she was trying to say to be clearing her throat so loudly.
“…Con.”
“Pardon?”
“No. …Congratulations on becoming the head of the family.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Adela shot up and left the classroom.
Belatedly, the small gift box she had tossed landed shyly on my desk.
‘…My god.’
Unbelievable.
‘That princess, gave me a congratulatory gift?’
When I opened the gift, it was a small ring. It was made of gold and had a green-tinged mana stone embedded in it. My full name was engraved on the inside of the ring, and the shape of a hound was drawn on the mana stone. Upon closer inspection, it was even embedded with magic. It looked like a defensive spell that blocked attacks….
- Know-It-All (Lv 4) advises that you shouldn't just let this go.
I know. Even if I were a complete fool, I would know. That this was an expensive gift, made with considerable effort and delicate care.
‘…I can’t refuse this.’
It would be rude to refuse something so custom-made for me. Just as I was about to take out the ring and put it on.
‘A ring’s meaning also changes depending on the finger it’s worn on.’
- Know-It-All (Lv 4) shouts thumb! The thumb! Definitely the thumb!
'The thumb would be good.'
A ring on the thumb signifies leadership, will, and authority. Since my family has just started their Peacemaker activities, and Anette has also started running the slum organization Extra, let's commemorate that.
My personal ring, a gift from Adela, was placed on my right thumb.
- Know-It-All (Lv 4) laments.
“Yahoo! Hi, Martin!”
A bouncy voice. Lively pink twin-tails. It was Luri.
“Hello, Cadet Luri…. Huh?”
Luri’s appearance was bright. So bright it seemed to shine. Her skin looked dewy and firm.
‘Wh-what is this?’
Considering the situation of the Elidore family, who were scrambling to organize funds for the restoration of the destroyed Imperium Land and the capital’s damages, it was quite asymmetrical.
“…Did something good happen?”
“Yep! I saw you, Martin!”
“Ah, yes….”
Was that really all?
‘There’s something more….’
In the meantime, Luri leaned her upper body on my desk and thrust her face towards me.
“Did you hear the news? Something good is going to happen to our family soon.”
“Yes, well….”
The Deminiyan Ducal Family was demoted to Marquis. The now vacant ducal title will be inherited by the Elidore family.
It was an article featured in a front-page headline by the Imperium Magazine's Carl Peyton, so there was no way I wouldn't know.
“Dad said he’ll allow our marriage now.”
“Yes. …Pardon?”
“Hehe, it’s nothing.”
Advancing into central politics was a long-held dream of the Elidore Marquisate. On top of that, they had been promoted to a ducal family, so they couldn't not be happy.
Just like they say if you win the lottery, you feel good even if you step in poop on the street. Even though the damage from this Demon Lord invasion was great, was it not comparable to the succession of the ducal family?
Luri smiled brightly in front of me and tilted her head from side to side. She must know she’s cute.
- Wild Instinct (Master) says that Luri is cute.
Yeah, Luri is cute.
“Martin, Martin~.”
“Yes, yes. I’ll answer even if you only call me once.”
“Thank you. Always.”
As she said that, wasn’t she just placing a gift on my desk and leaving? The way she holds her cheeks with her hands makes me think she’s a girl of this age.
‘…No way.’
When I opened the gift.
‘Oh my.’
This time, it was an earring. Do people all think the same? Wasn't it also decorated with gold and embedded with a green-tinged mana stone!
(- Wild Instinct (Master) cheers! This is it! This is what I wanted!)
‘This is dizzying.’
Is this a trend lately? Making the base out of gold and embedding a mana stone in the center. The fact that it even has a defensive spell on it seems like they planned it together.
‘Hmm, the academy rules don’t prohibit the use of accessories.’
Even if they are cadets, they are nobles and royalty. Earrings, necklaces, or rings are not a problem.
‘And, and.’
Looking at the earring, it was again engraved with my full name and a picture of a hound, as if it were exclusively for me. It seems this is the trend….
‘Sigh, I can’t refuse this either.’
However, just like rings, the meaning of an earring also changes depending on how it’s worn.
- Wild Instinct (Master) suggests wearing only one of the earrings and giving the other to Luri! You must put it on her yourself!
Sharing a pair of earrings is proof of an engagement.
‘Then of course I should wear both.’
I attached the pair of earrings to my ears. Since they can be attached and detached with magic, they stuck on well even though I didn't have my ears pierced.
- Wild Instinct (Master) shakes its head.
I peeked at my reflection in the window. When I magnified the faint image with Wild Instinct.
‘Well, it’s not bad.’
The fact that rings and earrings are accessories that enhance one's appearance doesn't change.
‘I kind of look like a delinquent, too.’
I look edgy. And I look somewhat cold. No, maybe… is it just because my impression is bad?
- Know-It-All (Lv 4) logically affirms that is correct.
- Wild Instinct (Master) intuitively affirms that is correct.
‘Shut up.’
Anyway, class is about to start.
Just then, I saw Adela and Luri, who had gone outside, coming in bickering. They met each other's gazes, sparks flying, and then, looking at me.
“Hey, Martin! My ring?! Are you wearing it?!”
“Martin! The earring! You’re wearing the earring, right?!”
Weren’t they pestering me? Adela found the ring on my hand, and Luri confirmed the earrings on both my ears.
“Since you gave me a gift, I will gratefully accept it.”
Seeing me wearing the ring and earring, Adela and Luri's expressions brightened, then Adela's expression crumpled. Luri also hurriedly looked at the ring on my thumb and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Tsk!”
“Phew!”
“…”
I know what their intentions were. …In fact, I should draw a line in my relationship with these two someday.
…It won’t be easy.
“I was just trying it on. It might interfere with combat, so I'll usually take it off.”
As I said that and was about to take off the earring and ring and put them back in the box, Adela and Luri strongly opposed.
“Y-you brat, Martin! What are you doing?! How dare you not put it back on!”
“No! Martin! Let’s wear the earring, okay? The earring!”
Soon, class started, and the bickering Adela and Luri also sat down. Anette too. Prince Kazaks, Muller, and Shuga as well. But….
‘Are they not coming.’
The main character party. They hadn't arrived yet. Just then, the classroom front door opened, and a pink spring walked in.
“Tada! Hello everyone! It's been a long time!”
Teacher Hailey, who had become the official homeroom teacher of Class A, appeared with a tada. As a nature mage and a benevolent teacher, a spring scent wafted from her light pink hair.
…But it seems she couldn't help the small band-aid on her cheek. It must be a scar from the last battle.
“I’m so happy to be able to stand at the podium again. As you cadets know, there have been a lot of unfortunate incidents lately. I’m glad to see everyone without any injuries!”
She shouted, but.
“Huh…? Gilbert and the kids aren't here…?”
Had the news not spread yet?
“Excuse me.”
Just then, creak, the back door of the classroom opened, and familiar cadets were revealed. Gilbert, Lina, Bord, Mary, and… Elisha. They saw Hailey at the podium and bowed their heads.
“We’re sorry for being late.”
“We’re sorry, teacher.”
Of course, the main character party all had a bandage or a band-aid on them, but… Elisha was serious. She had a cast on her entire left arm.
At a glance, it was an unusual injury. The complexions of everyone in Class A hardened, and Hailey also paused, but.
“It’s alright.”
She soon smiled softly like a spring that had overcome winter and welcomed them.
“Hurry and take your seats. We were just about to start the morning meeting.”
The main character party sits in their respective seats. My gaze was drawn to Elisha like a magnet. It wasn't my will, but an act close to instinct.
Elisha didn't seem to have much trouble moving without using her left arm.
“I’m sure you’re worried about the successive school closures, but there are no problems with the curriculum, so don’t worry! The first thing we need to do is….”
Until the rather long morning meeting started and was about to end, I think I kept looking only at Elisha.
After the morning meeting, during break time. Cadets gather around Elisha. She was popular from the beginning, after all.
“Cadet Elisha, are you okay?”
“The cast on your left arm… it will heal soon, right?”
“You’ll be fine!”
At the encouragement of the other cadets, Elisha smiled nobly as always and.
“Of course. I’m fine.”
She answered that way, but.
‘But.’
[Name: Elisha von Tresha Harmadun]
[Age: 17]
[Gender: Female]
[Personality: Confident, Prideful, Self-assured, Despairing (New)]
[User Recognition: Questioning, Interested, Friendship (New)]
[Harmadun Archery Lv 7]
[Archery Proficiency Lv 9]
[Mana Cultivation Lv 9]
[Information Analysis Lv 7]
[Movement Lv 5]
[Special Status: Demon Lord's Brand - Left Arm (Irrecoverable)(Throbbing Pain)]
“…”
Her status window was telling me the truth.
‘She went through that because of me.’
Why has the recognition of me improved favorably? It’s painful.
“Alright, first period begins.”
The large training ground. The man standing in front of Class A was Hectia. He hadn't been seen for a while due to the injury from the Brahmus incident, but he had finally returned.
“Class president, greeting.”
“Yes, sir! Everyone, attention! Greet the teacher!”
When the class president Bord stood up and shouted, everyone greeted him cheerfully.
“Hello!”
“We’re glad you’ve recovered!”
“Your performance at the Grand Plaza was amazing!”
Still, he had appeared again during this terror incident and had greatly contributed to protecting the citizens and capturing the apostles.
“I’m glad to see you all alive.”
Instead of returning as the homeroom teacher of Class A, he had solidified his position as a teacher in the martial arts department's swordsmanship division.
“Before class, I did not hesitate to instill in the cadets a fear of real combat. Of course, it was a necessary process, and I thought it was indispensable. I had no doubt that it was a process of turning a naive cadet into a seasoned veteran.”
Hectia gave a speech before class.
“But you are already trained.”
This year's class is an unprecedented golden generation. On top of that… they have also experienced hardships and trials that will be remembered in the history of the Empire.
“You have gained real combat experience against the malice directed at humanity and have faced the fear and terror of struggle. You have done so several times and have not hesitated to become stronger. There is a saying that at the very least, an academy cadet is a Silver Knight by the time they graduate in their third year, but.”
They had already surpassed the level of a Silver Knight.
“Most of you now are at the peak of the Gold Knight level. I see several cadets who will rise to the position of a Platinum Knight and have their names listed in the Platinum Numbering like me even before they graduate.”
Previously, that statement referred to Gilbert and Martin, but now it included Adela, Luri, Anette, and Bord.
“In my opinion, no. In fact, you all know it.”
All of those present here are the top-ranking cadets of Class A, even at the Imperium Academy, where the most talented individuals on the continent are gathered.
“Brahmus, Kragach, Joverka. There won't be a single cadet who hasn't heard the stories circulating about the seven Demon Lords and the demons of hell. The disaster is just beginning. Things like this will continue to happen in the future. So I will not go easy on you. I will consider you not as cadets, but as a knight order on the verge of real combat.”
Hectia soon held his symbolic red greatsword in his hand. Against the cadets.
When he stretched out his hand, an insurance magic that automatically teleports them out upon receiving a critical hit was attached to the cadets' bodies.
“So come at me with all your might. Cooperate with each other. Otherwise, you won't be able to reach me. This is a guided sparring session personally supervised by Platinum Numbering No.1.”
Silence envelops the space. But that too is brief.
“This is interesting, Hectia.”
The two people in a master-servant relationship faced each other.
The Golden Princess Adela. The golden Desert Hierophant shines above her head.
Next to her, things that are a mixture of gold dust and sand gather and soon take a form. A pointed end, a spear.
“Good, I shall permit it. Bow your head and watch in awe. I will give you the opportunity to evaluate my skills!”
The golden spear is shot. The spear, shot heavily as if it had been placed on a ballista, goes straight for Hectia, but.
“Understood.”
The greatsword is swung and clashes with the spear. The spear, unlike its brilliant light, collapsed futilely. But the aftermath was not small, and the noise like two cannonballs colliding was a bonus.
“Heuaap!”
Following that, Kazaks charges in with a golden sword. Muller also stabs in with a blue spear. A pincer attack from both sides.
【Water Bomb!】
And Shuga's magic is shot from the front.
‘It’s drawn.’
Hectia, who faced the three of them, drew a picture in his head.
How should he deal with them? There was also swinging a powerful flame mana as if it were wrapped in fire, but that wouldn't be a lesson. It would just be showing off.
‘In order. Like flowing water.’
As the Star Child would say, to 'swing'.
‘Like dancing.’
Just as the greatsword was about to be swung!
Thwump.
With the sound of a bullet, the greatsword faltered and had to knock away the incoming bullet.
Hectia's eyes looked at the shotgunner who had taken a proper stance far away.
