Peace Hunter

One week before the first academy exam, which will be held at the end of September.

That morning, at the second-year training ground.

"What do you think we'll be doing in this first exam of our second year? Will we be fighting wooden dummies again like in our first year?" Noa asked.

"When senior Gretta was still a student at this academy, I was told that the first exam for the following year would be the same as the first year, which would involve fighting against a group of dummies created by Mr. Alan and the other staff. However, the dummies for the following year would be made of a stronger material than the ones created for the first-year exam. Well, guess what material would be stronger than wood for the dummies the second-years would be made of," I said.

"A material stronger than wood, perhaps stone or even iron," Noa said.

"Well, it's certainly stronger than wood. But if we, as second-year students, have to fight against fighting dummies made of iron in this first exam, what kind of fighting dummies will we face in our third and fourth years during the first exam?" I asked.

"Of course, against a fighting doll made of a material stronger than iron. Maybe we'll be fighting a fighting doll made of diamond," Noa said.

"I'm sure no one could clear the exam even on the first day if they had to fight a fighting doll made of that," I said.

-

That afternoon, in the Elevrad room.

Currently, all the Elevrad members were gathered to work on some documents needed to prepare for the tournament and academy festival that would be held next year. While the tournament and festival were still a long way off, planning had to start well in advance to ensure optimal preparation.

All the Elevrad members were currently working on these documents in several other rooms on the 7th floor of the central building. In addition to the main Elevrad room, there were several rooms on that floor that could be used by other Elevrad members. They decided to use these rooms so they could focus on their documents. It seemed they wouldn't be able to focus on the documents in the main Elevrad room with so many Elevrad members gathered there, so they decided to split up. I used one of the rooms too, but I wasn't alone in the room. Irene and Elaina were also there helping with the paperwork.

"I still can't believe that Senior Rid is the vice chairman of Elevrad, even though you're only a second-year. Logically, if Senior Florian, the chairman of Elevrad, is a fourth-year student, shouldn't the vice chairman also be a fourth-year or one year below, a third-year?" Elaina asked.

"I didn't expect to be chosen as vice chairman either. Even the other members of Elevrad didn't object to me being vice chairman," I said.

"But, considering Senior Rid's achievements, popularity, and strength, I think Senior Rid deserves the vice chairman position. In fact, I think it would be even more fitting for Senior Rid to be the current chairman of Elevrad," Elaina said.

"Becoming the current Elevrad chairman? I'm still not used to the duties of vice chairman. Besides, I'm still a second-year student. Being vice chairman as a second-year is already an extraordinary achievement. There's no way I could be chairman as a second-year," I said.

"Well, that's just my opinion," said Elaina.

-

About an hour later.

"It's finally done. I never thought I'd have to do so much paperwork as vice chairman. I can't imagine how much paperwork I'd have to do if I were chairman," I said.

"You'll have to get used to it, Rid. Besides, next year you'll be the Elevrad chairman, replacing senior Florian," Irene said.

"That's true. It looks like next year will be very busy," I said.

"Here, I'm done with my paperwork," Irene said.

"Thank you, Irene," I said.

"I'm also done with my paperwork," Elaina said.

"Thank you, Elaina. With this, we have completed all the paperwork that is our responsibility. I need to give this to Senior Florian. Then, I'll be going," I said.

I then left the room and headed to the main hall of Elevrad to give the document to Senior Florian.

"Since all the paperwork is complete, I'll take my leave now, Senior Irene. I need to practice because the first exam for me and the other first-year students will begin in a week," Elaina said.

"You're welcome to go home early to practice. I'll be back after Rid finishes his business," Irene said.

"Ok. By the way, you don't seem nervous at all about the exam, do you, senior? As expected of someone as strong as you, you're not afraid of the upcoming exam at all. I'm a little nervous because I don't know what I'll face," Elaina said.

"Even a sword princess can be nervous. Well, that's natural, since you've never taken this exam before, so you don't know what to expect. Unfortunately, I can't tell you the details of what the exam will be like, as it would be punishable by the academy if a senior revealed the exam content to a junior. But you don't need to be so nervous. I think with your current abilities, you can easily complete the first exam perfectly," Irene said.

-

In the main hall of Elevrad.

"Thank you for working on these documents, Rid, ah, I mean, vice chairman," said senior Florian.

"It seems like you're trying to emulate Senior Vyn when he was still the chairman of Elevrad, aren't you, Senior?" I asked.

"Ahahah, no. By the way, are you going home after this?" asked Senior Florian.

"Yes," I said.

"I'd like to ask you to deliver this document to Miss Karina for her signature, since you also happen to want to return to the dorm," said Senior Florian.

"Ok, Senior," I said.

"Sorry for bothering you even though you already want to go home," said Senior Florian.

"It's ok, Senior. Then I'll take my leave and deliver this document first," I said.

"Yes, please go ahead, Vice Chairman," said Senior Florian.

I then headed for the door to exit the main room of Elevrad. Just as I was about to open the door, it was suddenly opened by someone.

"Rid? You haven't gone home yet?" asked Enzo.

It turned out to be Enzo who opened the door. Enzo wasn't alone; Princess Amelia was also behind him.

"I'm going home, but I want to deliver this document to Miss Karina first," I said.

"I see" said Enzo.

"Are you home yet, Enzo?" I asked.

"Not yet. I still have business with Senior Florian," Enzo said.

"I see. Then I'll take my leave and go home now. See you later, Enzo, Princess Amelia," I said.

"Yes, see you later, Rid," said Enzo.

"See you later," said Princess Amelia.

Then I left them and went to the room I'd previously used for paperwork because I wanted to take Irene home too. After that, Irene and I went down the stairs to exit the academy's central building. Meanwhile, Enzo and Princess Amelia went into the main Elevrad room to discuss something with Senior Florian.

-

In the academy principal's office.

I was currently talking with Miss Karina in that room, while Irene was waiting for me outside the academy's staff and teaching building.

"What do you need here, Vice Chairman?" asked Miss Karina.

"Please just call me by my name as usual, Miss. The nickname 'Vice Chairman' makes me uncomfortable," I said.

"Ahaha, okay. So, what do you need here for?" Miss Karina asked again.

"I'm here to deliver this document. Please read and sign it, Miss," I said.

"Okay. It's been a while since we've seen each other and talked like this," said Miss Karina.

"Well, that's because I haven't had any business with you, Miss. So, our opportunities to meet are rare," I said.

"Well, you're right. By the way, you seem quite friendly with the commander of the knights guarding this academy," said Miss Karina.

"Friendly? I've never spoken to her," I said.

"You don't have to lie. I know you and her always spar in the academy garden at 4 a.m.," said Miss Karina.

Hearing Miss Karina's words, I was a little surprised.

"I've been caught, my apologies for lying, miss. And I also apologize for using the academy grounds as a sparring ground," I said.

"It's okay, don't worry. Besides, the academy grounds weren't damaged during your sparring. So, what was your purpose in sparring with Violetta?" Miss Karina asked.

"There was no purpose, miss. I sparred with Miss Violetta purely because I wanted to get stronger," I said.

"I see. I thought you were sparring with her to gauge a commander's strength," Miss Karina said.

"Measuring a commander's strength? Why would I do that?" I asked.

"You know, there are two ways for fourth-year students to graduate from this academy. The first is to accumulate 150,000 points by the end of the school year or to defeat a one of the Troops Commander of the San Fulgen Kingdom. If you manage to defeat a Troops Commander, even at the beginning of the school year, you'll graduate immediately. So I assume you're measuring a Commander's strength because you want to try fighting them in your fourth year," said Miss Karina.

"No, Miss. I don't think that. I simply want to train to become stronger. Besides, isn't Miss Violetta a Troops Commander too? She only guards this academy, unlike other Troops Commanders who have territories they guard," I said.

"Indeed, Violetta is only a Commander who guards this academy. But she's already one of the Troops Commanders in the San Fulgen Kingdom. And besides, her strength is on par with the other Commanders," said Miss Karina.

"I see," I said.

"Well, I won't question your reasons for sparring with Violetta. Rather, how is Elevrad doing now? Is there anything suspicious you find?" Miss Violetta asked.

"Something suspicious, huh? Perhaps. Before I came to Miss Karina's room, I met with Senior Florian in the main room of Elevrad. Then I left the room and ran into Enzo and Princess Amelia on my way out. Enzo said he had something to do with Senior Florian, and it seemed like Princess Amelia was there too. Then Enzo and Princess Amelia entered the room. Seeing the three of them, the children of the three Dukes, in the same room, I felt like they were planning something suspicious," I said.

-

1 Week Later.

The first academy exam had begun, and we successfully completed it.

-To be continued