Chapter 178
(Kyle
Calendar Year 509: Age 16)
The Second Year of School Life
Translator : PolterGlast
Autumn arrived, and I
advanced to the second year as a special scholarship student. New students were
pouring through the gates one after another to begin their life at the academy.
"Takuhir-sama, it
has been a while. I have been wanting to see you. And congratulations on your
military exploits and your promotion to Demon Territory Count!"
Yuka-san, who had
newly moved to the Royal Capital as a student, said this with a smile.
Part of it was because
I had been busy, but she had also been tied up with post-rebellion cleanup in
the Gorman domain and preparations for enrollment, so we hadn't been able to
see each other since the civil war.
Yuka-san is enrolled
in the civil servant training course to study domestic administration, and in
parallel, she is also enrolled in the Magic Tactics Research Department, having
skipped a grade.
"Yuka-san, I
heard you were also very active in defending the domain under Count Gorman. I'm
glad you're safe. And I'm also very happy to see you."
Yes, she is no longer
a sheltered young lady.
In Teigoon, she
endured half a year of merciless training from the Commander (that demon), and
she is a top-tier mage. When the invasion came, she defended the town alongside
the citizens armed with crossbows, and then advanced to the front lines with
the assembled Gorman soldiers, achieving the military success of pushing back
the invading rebel army.
That achievement was
recognized in a separate, additional conferment of honors held after ours, and
she was ennobled as a Baroness. At the academy as well, her ability and
achievements as a mage were recognized, and she was reportedly welcomed into
the Magic Tactics Research Department with grade-skipping honors.
She has apparently
gained immense popularity among the citizens of the Gorman domain, and
especially among the famously formidable Gorman soldiers.
You know, what with my
brother, the Commander, and now Yuka-san, I seem to be surrounded by incredibly
popular, charismatic people, and it makes me feel a little inadequate...
Since she came to the
academy, there has been a big change in my solitary "loner" life as
well. The biggest reason was Yuka-san.
I began to spend more
time with her during lunch and breaks. As a bonus, I sometimes spent time with
Yuka-san's friends (only when she was present, of course).
Surrounded by women
again... It goes without saying that the stares from those around us were
painful.
In addition to that,
there was one more person.
Alexis von Bauner, who
had served with us on the eastern front, also joined our circle. He had
completed the mage combat training course, returned to the knight training
course he had originally been in, and was now in the same grade as me.
Furthermore, he is also enrolled in the Magic Tactics Research Department.
"Well~, unlike a
little while ago, you've climbed to such lofty heights that are far from me...
so I feel a bit intimidated, you know."
Despite saying such
things, his attitude hadn't changed. As the second son of a baronial house
without a title of his own, he was on good terms with the students of
quasi-noble or commoner birth, and was popular for his friendly personality.
Seeing him and me
spending time together, his friends also gradually let down their walls around
me.
As for other
noticeable changes... there was the matter of occasionally being caught and
surrounded by those who had served in the Cadet Knights during the war.
"Please tell us
of the Commander's fighting style!"
"What is the
secret to joining the mercenary company?"
"I wish to enlist
in the Frontier Knights branch. Please, I beg you, put in a good word for me
with the Commander!"
"......."
『If you wish to shoot the general, first shoot his
horse. 』There is indeed such a proverb.
For them, who blindly
worship the Commander, it seems that I... was the horse. I was often cornered
and left speechless, surrounded by a sweltering group of muscle-heads. Well...
it's fine, I guess.
In fact, many of those
who graduated this autumn were taken on as soldiers under the Commander's
command in the Frontier Knights branch. For me, having soldiers with even a
little practical experience gather is a fortunate thing. That's what I've
decided to think.
And then...
"In addition to
two beautiful girls, now a lovely young lady from a count's family! I'm too
jealous, just explode already!"
Since becoming the
Demon Territory Count, I no longer had this said to my face, but Sigur told me
there was a group that was voicing such resentful cries behind my back.
So that's why...
It somehow made sense
why some students had been particularly aggressive towards me in the knight
training course's practical exercises recently.
In combat training,
it's normal to get injured from intense blows, and in fact, you get reprimanded
if you hold back. So they were tackling the training with the utmost
seriousness and passion.
Well, having been
freed from my various restraints, it's not like I just took it lying down. In
swordsmanship training, I didn't hold back my true strength, and I parried,
deflected, and soundly counter-attacked... no, I beat them down.
"Damn it! He's
got status, he's popular with the ladies, and he's rich on top of that... Am I
going to lose to such a cheater? The world is unfair, it's full of injustice!
One day, I will, surely one day... justice will prevail!"
Please don't say such
things with tears in your eyes. It makes me look like the villain!
I, too, was beaten to
a pulp every day by a demon since before I was 10 years old... You guys don't
know that hell, do you?
That's what I wanted
to say back...
Incidentally, it
seemed many students had the wrong idea, but it's not like I was enjoying my
academy life every day.
When I'm with
Yuka-san, Mary, or Sasha, we're constantly discussing the domain's domestic
administration, the improvements they've learned, and future urban planning.
When I was in Teigoon,
my position as lord meant I was often in my office, and they had been hesitant,
but the unique atmosphere of the academy seemed to have made them feel free
from strange reservations or considerations. We had become able to debate
freely, just like when we were studying at the lord's mansion in the town of
Est.
Apparently, from the
outside, it looks like I'm always attended by beautiful girls, chatting
happily.
Listen to what we're
talking about before you complain! I wanted to say, but I held my tongue.
It was the same with
Alexis. Like his brother, he was already a popular guy at the academy due to
his personality and demeanor.
With him joining our
circle, it seems our group looked even more glamorous. The perception among
some was that a plain-faced guy was mixed in with a circle of handsome and
beautiful people, getting his way with money and power.
I just... stopped
caring about it partway through.
That same Alexis had
also been ennobled as a Baronet in the additional conferment of honors for his
military service and my recommendation. Although he was a quasi-noble for one
generation only, with no domain and only a salary, he had become the head of a
noble house.
Since his older
brother is alive and well, he has no domain to inherit, so I have conveyed my
intention to invite him to Teigoon as one of my commanders after graduation.
He has gladly accepted,
and has apparently also obtained his family's consent.
Due to these
circumstances, my conversations with him are also always centered on
strengthening our defenses, discussing tactics, and scouting for promising
talent.
We are by no means
having frivolous conversations. To be precise, it would be more correct to say
we can't in front of Yuka-san and the others.
After graduation, I'm
thinking of entrusting him, a Wind Mage, with the role of captain leading the
longbow unit of former soldiers from the Istoria Imperial Kingdom.
Furthermore, depending
on his future performance, I'm even considering entrusting a portion of the
Demon Territory Count's domain to him as a barony.
With Yuka-san and
Alexis joining, my time as a loner at the Royal Capital's academy was over, and
it had transformed into a truly meaningful time.
Also, Rosa, who had
performed unparalleled feats in the plague response in the southern border
region, has now returned to the Royal Capital. She has been appointed an
Honorary Bishop of the Central Church in the capital.
Even Father Grace in
Teigoon was previously a priest of a regional church, several ranks below her
positionally.
Her contribution in
solidifying the church's role in combating the plague, and the value and profit
she brought to the church for the future, were very highly evaluated. In
addition to her achievements as a Holy Mage, she received this honor. It is
apparently an unprecedented exception for a non-noble who is not even a member
of the church to receive this honor.
Now, with nothing to
hinder her studies at either the medical school or the Central Church, she,
too, is enrolled in the Magic Tactics Research Department this autumn, while
also being registered at the medical school.
Rosa, when did you
become such an amazing person?
When I received this
report from her myself, I was quite surprised and froze for a moment, but it
goes without saying that I was extremely happy that she had been recognized.
As an aside, Father
Grace's efforts were also highly praised, and though his post remains in the
southern border region (Teigoon), his position has been elevated to that of
Bishop of the Central Church, a major promotion.
During the plague, he
and the churches in the southern border that followed his lead did not take any
fees related to the purification ritual, other than the cost of producing the
holy water.
"The church
should not profit from a plague that befalls everyone equally. It is in
situations like these that the church should show its value and the significance
of its teachings."
He apparently said
this, setting an example himself. Miseri, who was most surprised and bewildered
by his words, went out of her way to report this matter to me.
Hmm... there were
probably spies from the Central Church around him who had been following Rosa.
If he had accepted it as revenue, a large portion would have been siphoned off
to the central coffers.
If it's temporary
income that's going to be taken away anyway, who cares if it's gone? Was his
decision to choose fame over profit based on that judgment?
That was my
speculation on the unexpected actions of Father Grace, who normally loves
golden sweets (gold coins). That man is also a skilled old fox. Though it's cute
how his tail pops out as soon as you shake him up.
※
The new semester
began, and there are currently seven of my comrades enrolled in the Magic
Tactics Research Department.
Mars, Lilia, and
Astor, who have already graduated from the one-year course, are staying in the
Royal Capital as support staff and retainers, but I plan to send Astor back to
Teigoon for construction work soon.
This brings the number
of those officially fulfilling their promised course of study to 10. I'm
thinking of having the remaining 16 come to the Royal Capital as replacements
in shifts, depending on the situation in the domain.
"Once the new
semester settles down, we can return to Teigoon, can't we?"
"That's right,
Anne. I'm thinking of returning once after the harvest is over. There are a lot
of things I'm concerned about, after all."
Yes, the calamities
are not over yet.
And I have a feeling
that for all the ones we've averted, they'll come back at us again on an even
larger scale.
I renewed my resolve
for the battle against history.
※
~Academy Magic Tactics
Research Department Enrollment Status~
(Parallel Enrollment)
Mary (Earth Mage)
Sasha (Water Mage)
Rosa (Holy Mage)
※ Other Domains
Yuka (Wind Mage)
Alexis (Wind Mage)
(New Enrollment)
Gold (Wind Mage)
Danke (Fire Mage)
Wols (Water Mage)
Alal (Wind Mage)
(Support Staff)
Mars (Fire Mage)
Lilia (Wind Mage)
Astor (Earth Mage)
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