The academy has various purposes.
Fundamentally, it is an institution for nurturing talent, but it also serves as a means to build strength against the Demon King’s army or to increase the influence of a family.
In this world, battles involving force and risking lives are very close to everyday life, making such phenomena natural.
Therefore, like any other academy, the Imperial Academy Arcana also has rigorous practical lessons prepared.
“Pleased to meet you, my soldiers.”
On the podium, the professor in charge of this lesson looked down at the students.
His skin was tanned by the sunlight, he had a scar on his face, and his armor was well-maintained.
True to his position in the Department of Knight Studies, he wasn’t holding any textbooks or the like.
“As you are well aware, the lesson you will receive is ‘The Reality of Squad Missions.’ Until now, you have proven your abilities through individual efforts, but this time you must combine forces with your teammates.”
Kalian, the other students, and I listened silently to the professor’s explanation.
To call it an explanation, there was nothing particularly special about it.
In simple terms, it was like a team project or group assignment.
We gathered at the entrance of a forest called Pellgard.
Pellgard is inhabited by various wild beasts living in groups, making it a dangerous place for most knights or wizards to enter casually.
The professor stated that after forming teams, the students must enter there and complete the assigned missions.
“Pellgard… Isn’t that a bit dangerous?”
“It shouldn’t be, since we’re not going in alone but in groups of five.”
I said to Kalian, who was worried.
But in reality, it wouldn’t be fine.
Arcana typically conducts many dangerous lessons. The students are highly skilled, making the lessons very practical in nature.
Even among the students gathered here, there would likely be some who couldn’t keep up with the lessons. Some might get injured.
Moreover… there’s an event.
Since I’ve read the original work, I know that the mission Kalian is assigned to is particularly dangerous.
He has been trained so strongly that it won’t pose a threat to him, but it’s likely that his teammates will inevitably find themselves in danger.
I need to take advantage of this opportunity.
After finishing the explanation, the professor took out a clock and said, “From now on, you have ten minutes to form your teams.”
I looked around and spoke.
“Kalian, is there anyone you want to bring as a teammate? If not, I’ll find someone myself.”
“I have one person.”
“Really… Oh? You do?”
“Yes. It’s a woman I’ve recently become close to. We communicate well, and she has a kind heart.”
Kalian said with a smile.
This is a variable.
This lesson is overseen not only by the Department of Knight Studies but also other departments. I had planned to fill three slots with the heroines I had previously scoped out.
I’d have to adjust my plan a bit. Since he wants to bring a woman he likes directly, there’s no point in stopping him.
“Is that so? Then bring her along. I’ll handle the remaining two.”
“Understood. Don’t worry, she’s really a good person.”
“Got it, so hurry up. We don’t have much time.”
Seeing Kalian weaving through the students, I also pushed through the crowd to find the heroine I wanted.
It didn’t take long for the students to form groups of five. Since many had already bonded before forming teams, it was easy to assemble new groups by merging those with only two members, like Kalian and me.
Of course, during this process, some people were left out and looked bewildered.
They might have come alone, lacked skills, or both.
“Um… Could you include me in a group?”
“Hmm? We’re already full, five people.”
“Ah…”
Lumia wandered around, unable to join any group.
This is troublesome… The professors are the problem, as I mentioned.
They should consider students with low social skills. By not responsibly organizing the teams and just throwing everyone together, people end up getting left out.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah, Waid?”
As I approached, Lumia looked at me with moist eyes.
We had met a few times since I helped her with training and after we had a meal together at a restaurant.
We had become fairly close.
Even though we were closer… she still kept her distance because she hadn’t yet adapted to being around men.
“Where are the teams? Where did they go?”
“They’re… not here yet…”
“There’s not much time left. What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know… What should I do…?”
“If you have nowhere to go, come with us. Right now, including Kalian and me, there are three of us. If you join, we’ll be four.”
“Is that okay?!”
Lumia, who had been nervously rubbing her hands, widened her eyes at my suggestion.
She must have been really cornered. Her face looked like she had found a lifeline in a furnace.
“Yeah, let’s go. We need to find one more person, so we have to move right away.”
“Alright. Thanks, Waid.”
“Thanks are unnecessary.”
Alright, with this, I had secured one of the heroines.
Time to find the next heroine.
“Wait a moment, hold on.”
Just as Lumia and I were about to go find the pre-decided woman, someone blocked my path.
With elegantly styled blonde hair and blue eyes, and an arrogant expression… it was the villainous heroine, Evelyn Rose.
“Why are you coming out here?”
“Is there a reason you shouldn’t be here?”
“Not exactly… Please move aside. I don’t have time to be doing this here.”
After losing to me in a duel, Evelyn had stayed quiet without causing any trouble.
We had crossed paths a few times during lessons since we were in the same department, but that was inevitable…
But to appear openly like this was unexpected.
If it were elsewhere, it might have been different, but not here. There’s no need to engage.
“Why should I follow your orders?”
“I have the right to do as I please with you.”
“When was that? The deadline has already passed.”
“Was there a deadline…? Anyway, if it’s not a command, it’s a request, so please come out. If you have something to say, you can do it later.”
“No thanks. By the way… I know that you still haven’t found your last teammate, right? If that’s the issue, don’t worry about it.”
As always, she lightly ignored my words, crossing her arms with her usual arrogant and confident smile.
“I’ll join your team.”
“Excuse me?”
“If a talent like me participates, this lesson will surely end smoothly. What do you say? You can’t refuse this offer, can you?”
“I’ll decline.”
“Eh, why’s that?”
“I have someone I’ve already scouted. It seems you still haven’t properly found your teammates, so I wish you luck to avoid being left out. Goodbye then.”
And that was it.
“Wait a moment!”
As I tried to walk past, Evelyn grabbed my shoulder.
“What is it now?”
“Look at me how you will! If I wanted, I could gather not just four people, but 400. I’m not talking to you because I don’t have any friends!”
“Understood. Then goodbye.”
“Even if you tell me to wait! Do you think you can ignore me even after seeing this?”
She pulled something out of her bosom.
It was a piece of paper with numbers written on it.
“This is the cost to repair the dueling arena you destroyed. I’ve covered it for now, but I can charge you for this anytime.”
“Uh….”
“If you continue to ignore me, I’ll inform the school. You’re the real culprit!”
Wait a minute, is she really doing this?
Strictly speaking, you were the one who initiated the duel, and I accepted it.
You were the one who used a powerful technique first to damage the dueling arena, so I just countered.
But I had no choice but to swallow her words.
Her family’s power is too great. If she so desires, she can expel someone like me in an instant.
“Now, answer me. What do you think about joining your team?”
‘…Hmm, come to think of it, it might not be so bad. With Evelyn’s skills, there should be no problem even if any danger comes.’
“Hahaha, you should have listened to me right away. Let’s go, Wade.”
Evelyn led the way with a proud smile.
There was nothing I could do. If she tried to manipulate Kalian, I could step in and stop her.
“Have you arrived? Oh, you know each other?”
Kalian, who had joined us, exchanged brief greetings with Evelyn and Lumia.
Even though it’s Evelyn, she was quite happy because she had a certain degree of familiarity with Lumia.
“Who was the person you said you would bring as a team member?”
“Ah, right. This is her.”
In response to my question, he called the woman standing behind him.
She had purple hair and eyes.
A woman characterized by a warm smile.
As a student of the Department of Magic, she was dressed in a light robe rather than armor.
“Hello. I’m Elia Belmore. Nice to meet you.”
“She’s someone I’ve gotten to know recently, and she truly has a kind heart. I’m sure you, Wade, will have to acknowledge that too.”
“Kalian, please don’t overpraise someone as inadequate as me. It’s embarrassing.”
As Kalian complimented her, Elia smiled gently and shook her head.
Evelyn added a remark.
“Hmm, the Belmore family. They’re known for standing out in magic. Not quite at the level of the Rose Dukedom, though.”
“The next successor of the prestigious Rose Dukedom, as Ms. Evelyn mentions, I don’t know what to say.”
“Hooh… You have basic manners, unlike some uncouth people.”
Elia gracefully held her robe like a skirt and bowed her head lightly.
“Oh?”
Then she approached Lumia, who was standing behind me, and pointed to a tear in Lumia’s clothes.
“It seems your clothes tore somewhere.”
“Uh… That… I….”
“Could you wait a moment? I can fix it quickly.”
Elia took out a needle and thread from her bosom and quickly mended the damaged clothes.
Originally, the clothes were old and torn, and other nobles might have laughed and passed by, but she finished them by even adding a nice pattern.
Lumia nodded gratefully, and Kalian watched her with a pleased expression.
“I’m sorry, Wade. I was late with my greeting, wasn’t I?”
Elia came up in front of me one last time.
Kalian had told me about her well.
They had been best friends since childhood. Surely, Wade, you’re a warm-hearted person too.
“Right?”
“Not necessarily.”
“Oops, let me get my act together. I have something I made as a gift for you, Wade.”
She handed me a small teddy bear.
It was a cute doll made with excellent craftsmanship.
I grabbed my head.
If she were an ordinary schoolgirl, she would have pretended to know me first.
Because the fact that I’m Kalian’s best friend is something that any girl interested in Kalian would know.
Has she recently gotten to know Kalian?
No, that can’t be.
She must have acted like this on purpose to show that ‘I’m such a selfless person.’
Showing humility to Evelyn and fixing Lumia’s torn clothes… she just wanted to appear as ‘a good person.’
Elia Belmore.
She is a despicable hypocrite, a wolf laughing wickedly among a flock of sheep, and a madwoman who only sees people as toys.
It’s ironic that Kalian recently became close with someone like her.
She is the villainous heroine.
To be continued