Chapter 208
Chapter 207
Today was the long-awaited…….
「☆Cele★bration! MacGrim’s Academy Dormitory Move-in Party! ★Congr☆」
“Miss MacGrim, congratulations~! The uniform suits you very well!”
Pop-! Pop-!
The gentlemanly manager, Wisdom, burst small party poppers while wearing a cone hat.
“Hmm~!”
MacGrim stood before him in her academy uniform, humming to herself.
As if in a great mood, the corners of her lips twitched upward again and again.
She, too, wore a cone hat atop her head.
Her hair, dyed in soft pink and blue, was exactly as the public knew MacGrim to be.
“Then, will you reveal your identity from the very beginning of the semester?”
“Mmm, no.”
MacGrim snapped her fingers and transformed into a black-haired girl with straight hair.
“I took my application photo like this, and I took the exam in this form too. I’ll stay like this for a while.”
“So that is your decision.”
“Yeah. During the Admission Visitation Event and even during the exam, no one saw my original appearance. There’s already a rumor going around that ‘MacGrim proudly applied for admission~ but sadly failed~.’ It worked out perfectly.”
If the famous diva MacGrim revealed her identity from the start, there would inevitably be an uproar.
……And she had already felt it within noble society.
Whether for money or power, the way people approached her with ulterior motives, trying to curry favor, had been terrifying and disgusting.
So…… her plan was to first pretend to be someone who merely shared the same name as ‘MacGrim,’ become close with her classmates without any preconceptions, and only then reveal who she truly was.
“Oh, Manager. Don’t worry about where I’ll stay. I’ve already secured a promise.”
MacGrim spread out the academy map and pointed to a place labeled ‘Upgraded Livestock Shed.’
“There’s a pretty big house over near the livestock area. I think I can stay there.”
“……The academy built a house by the livestock shed?”
Wisdom blinked.
As far as he knew, there were four dormitories for each gender.
And villas for royalty and nobles would surely be located in scenic areas.
There was no reason for any building to be constructed in a smelly livestock area like that.
“No. The academy didn’t build it. Villed built it. It was just completed, so let’s go see it together.”
“……Villed, you say?”
He had heard that name somewhere before.
If his memory was correct, that man was…… dangerous.
A sense of unease washed over Wisdom.
“Yes. I heard he’s the son of a great noble house, but he was wearing work clothes and building a house together with his friends. Isn’t that strange for a noble?”
Ah.
Wisdom’s unease struck true.
The second son of one of the great Four Houses, the Dedencman family.
Among noble society, he was known—at least to those who knew him—as a complete scoundrel.
Even Wisdom, who had long since stepped down from his position as Knight Commander of the Empire and now lived an ordinary life, had heard his name several times.
But…….
‘Is he deceiving Miss MacGrim?’
Most likely, wasn’t he?
A high-ranking noble wearing work clothes and building a house?
That was absurd.
Even if the Empire collapsed, such a thing would never happen.
However—
“I saw it myself. He built it so skillfully, like someone who’s constructed houses many times before.”
“…….”
Hearing MacGrim’s words, Wisdom felt deep confusion.
MacGrim was observant.
This wasn’t mere praise.
……Truly, her powers of observation were chilling.
‘By the way, Manager, what did you used to do? I’m pretty sure you weren’t originally a butler.’
‘Were you a mercenary…… or maybe a knight?’
‘Manager…… the way you move is similar to other Imperial Knights. Your gait, your disciplined posture. You always feel dependable, like a knight.’
MacGrim had once questioned him about his past, even asking if he had been a knight.
That was despite the fact that, after deciding to raise her, he had deliberately altered his speech to sound like a butler.
And yet, she now thought favorably of Villed.
Of course, Wisdom had no intention of scolding her.
After all, he did not believe she would be fooled by some rotten wastrel.
A diva who brought blessings and happiness to people. To the public, she was forever imprinted as cheerful and positive—but that was only the exterior.
To become a diva, she had unfortunately experienced the darkest depths of the world from a young age.
Because of that, MacGrim despised nobles.
And yet…… if she trusted Villed, then there must surely be a reason for her judgment.
Yes, meeting him at least once would be fine.
According to rumors, Villed was ignorant, rude, and incompetent.
A man like that wouldn’t require much probing.
After exchanging just a few words, he would easily reveal what kind of person he was.
If he proved to be human trash, then Wisdom would scold Miss MacGrim and settle for living in the truck instead.
“Understood. For now, we shall proceed as you say, Miss MacGrim.”
“Yeah! Let’s go right now!”
“Right now, you say?”
And so, led by MacGrim, Wisdom headed toward the Upgraded Livestock Shed.
……But at some point, Wisdom abruptly stopped in his tracks.
“Why, Manager?”
MacGrim asked, but Wisdom remained silent.
A strange sense of incongruity ran down his spine and rooted his feet to the ground.
Yggdrasil Academy was the finest institution for nurturing talent.
Those who taught there were among the best.
Because of that, some of Wisdom’s former comrades were scattered throughout the academy.
When Wisdom fixed his gaze on one side of a nearby tree, someone revealed himself with a chuckle.
“I sensed unusual magical energy and came to check…… It seems an unexpected guest has arrived.”
A student in uniform emerged from the tree.
The man, with his distinctive narrow eyes, stood before Wisdom.
Wisdom recognized him and widened his eyes.
They had met before.
It had been a very long time ago, but there was no way he would fail to recognize that face.
……The Empire’s Current Greatest Swordsman, Ruga.
Wisdom smiled faintly and stepped in front of MacGrim.
“Miss MacGrim, may I speak with that gentleman for a moment?”
“Why? Do you know him? We need to hurry.”
“Please wait just a moment, Miss MacGrim.”
“Okay. But you have to come back quickly.”
Leaving MacGrim behind, Wisdom brushed past Ruga and walked toward a nearby building.
Ruga quietly followed.
……They arrived at the end of an alley where almost no light reached.
Wisdom stopped.
“……Though I have grown older.”
He extended his hand into the air.
“My skill has not withered.”
Blue light flashed in midair, and a sword appeared in his grasp.
“When there is someone to protect, one grows stronger. That is how I taught you.”
Shing—!
Wisdom aimed the blade at Ruga.
“Is it the Empire’s command that you see this through to the end with me?”
“Hm?”
Ruga tilted his head slightly at Wisdom’s hostility.
“……Ah!”
After staring at the sword pointed at him for a while, he struck his palm with his fist.
“Ahaha, please wait a moment. It seems you’ve misunderstood quite seriously.”
‘The Empire’s traitor who fled after refusing to carry out the Emperor’s orders.’
That was how the public had insulted Wisdom.
But—
“You may call me the Empire’s dog if you wish…… but I am human too.”
Ruga was different.
Wisdom had been one of the people who taught emotions to Ruga, who had once lived as a cold human weapon.
“I will never forget the debt I owe my master. I am not a beast.”
“…….”
When Wisdom continued to glare silently, Ruga raised both hands in surrender, smiling.
“It has been years since we met. I simply came to greet you out of joy.”
“……There is not a shred of falsehood in that statement?”
“It is the truth. I, too, must conceal my identity. Why would I challenge my master at the academy? If you wish, you may take the sword at my waist.”
At that, Wisdom withdrew his blade. It vanished as if dissolving.
“……You have grown quite differently.”
“It is all thanks to you, Master.”
Wisdom eased his guard slightly and spoke.
“If you are here…… it must be to guard the Imperial Princess.”
“That is correct. Even in retirement, your information network remains sharp.”
“Did the position of Knight Commander not suit you?”
“Unfortunately not.”
Ruga had once risen to the position of the Empire’s Current Greatest Swordsman and even became the First Knight Commander, the highest among them.
But it had only lasted briefly before he handed the position over.
The Empire had been unwilling to give him up and granted him the honorary title of Empire’s Honorary Grand Captain, hoping to keep him under its banner.
However—
“I did not experience particularly pleasant things within the Empire.”
“…….”
Was the disciple following the path of the master?
Wisdom fell silent.
“If Her Highness the Imperial Princess had not been there…… I do not know what would have become of me.”
“That is not something a dog of the Empire should say. It sounds as though you do not pledge loyalty to the Empire.”
“Yes, I do not.”
Ruga opened his narrow eyes. His gaze held no wavering as he looked at Wisdom.
“I pledge my loyalty only to the Imperial Princess.”
He spoke nothing but the truth.
“I did not teach you that.”
“Anyone who experiences enough absurdity within the Empire will turn out this way. Just like you, Master.”
Ruga stepped closer as he continued.
“I tried to retire like you, but my retirement was denied, and instead I was exiled as Her Highness’s guard. Once this mission ends, I’ve been promised complete retirement.”
In any case—
Ruga finally asked what he had been curious about.
Why Wisdom was here.
“And you, Master…… where were you headed?”
“To meet a student.”
“A student……? Who?”
Wisdom paused briefly before answering.
“Villed. The second son of the Dedencman family.”
“Huuuuum~?”
Ruga suddenly leaned in close, his narrow eyes flashing open.
“Disciple, remove that unpleasant face from mine.”
At Wisdom’s words, Ruga smiled and stepped back.
“……Pfft, hahahaha!”
What exactly had amused him?
At Ruga’s sudden laughter, Wisdom frowned.
“Dedencman again…….”
Ruga had said ‘again.’
Which meant he, too, had his eyes on Villed.
“Is there some issue with him?”
Ruga shook his head.
“Ah, nothing major. He’s simply someone I’ve been watching with interest lately.”
Ruga answered and fell into thought.
He could not bring himself to ask his former master to monitor Dedencman.
……But.
If Dedencman were plotting something sinister, Wisdom would surely notice first.
Wisdom was not a man who bowed to injustice.
In that case, he could trust him.
“If you will be staying at the academy, let us see each other often, Master.”
Ruga smiled and extended his hand.
……And so, MacGrim and Wisdom arrived at the Upgraded Livestock Shed.
Just as MacGrim had said, there stood a large house…… and before it, a man.
The man with dark blue-black hair was tall like a telephone pole.
As if he had been working just moments ago, he held a shovel in one hand and wore work clothes like a farmer.
His face was unmistakably that of a noble. Yet his attire was that of a common laborer stained with dust. Wisdom was momentarily speechless at the dissonance.
Could this truly be the rumored Villed……?
“Sir Villed!”
At MacGrim’s shout, Wisdom could not close his mouth.
……It was absurd.
Was he truly a high-ranking noble?
Even if it were a disciplinary measure imposed by the academy, how many nobles would obediently carry it out?
As Wisdom considered how to address him, Villed spoke first.
It was a reply he had never expected.
“Let’s conduct a move-in interview.”
……An interview?