Chapter 8
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The First Joint Class
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“Alia Torta paired up with Carlo Deneve?”
Inside a small café downtown, Pernyan asked, taking a sip of his iced coffee.
“Yes. After I refused, he asked a few more times before finally giving up.”
Ruina nodded, nibbling on a piece of Kraken ink chocolate, a specialty of Prasia.
“Is it good?”
“Yes.”
“Didn't you act like you wouldn't accept it?”
“It feels like I was played, but a victory is a victory. There's no reason not to claim the rightful spoils.”
She popped another chocolate into her mouth.
“Alia Torta was fourth in the Knight Department, wasn't she?”
“Yes. She was originally fifth, but she improved dramatically during last year's second-semester final exams.”
While she might fall a little short compared to the salutatorian, Ruina Bercefe, she was by no means a lesser talent.
For Carlo Deneve, it was a case of settling for the next best thing.
“…So, things have changed. Now I have to see how far this butterfly effect will go.”
Whether it will ride the wind and become a storm, or end as just a small flutter of wings.
Pernyan hoped for a moderate storm—one that wouldn't excessively derail the predetermined future, but would still offer hope that the future could be changed.
“What do you mean?”
“No, it's nothing. But I suppose the rumors will start spreading soon.”
“They already have.”
The Knight Department, just like the Magic Department, submitted the names of their chosen partners to form pairs.
From that moment, the fact that Ruina Bercefe had chosen Pernyan Fallenberg as her partner was spreading discreetly but quickly throughout the entire department.
“Are you alright with that?”
“I expected it all, and it's something I have to endure. Besides, it wasn't exactly untrue.”
“True, you did pair up with me for the money. This is why I like money.”
Hmm, Pernyan nodded.
“…”
Under Ruina's impassive gaze, Pernyan turned his head and took something out of his subspace.
“Take this.”
“What is this?”
“An elixir and a voucher.”
“An elixir and a voucher?”
Ruina looked puzzled by the sudden words.
“The elixir is made from refined mandragora root. And the voucher can be exchanged for top-tier equipment at the armory directly managed by our guild.”
“Why this…? I don't have the means to repay you.”
At the word 'mandragora,' Ruina's pupils quivered.
“Have you forgotten the contract we made?”
“Are you really going to sponsor me?”
“I don't say things I don't mean. And I always keep my word.”
After all, for a merchant, trust is paramount.
“A mandragora is priceless, isn't it…? And top-grade weapons from the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild…”
“They're not cheap, but that's not for you to worry about.”
It would be a lie to say it wasn't a waste, but as the price to prevent a future of destitution, it was incredibly cheap.
His plan was to win her favor by supporting her both materially and emotionally, thereby preventing a grim future and, as a bonus, empowering her to help fight against the demons.
“…But this is too much. I can't accept it.”
“If you don't accept, the contract is void.”
“What do you mean?”
“Have you forgotten the terms of our contract? The penalty for non-compliance is…”
“…I'll take it!”
Ruina snatched the box and the paper. A smirk on his face, Pernyan stood up.
“Take your time and come down when you're ready.”
He opened the door to the private room and disappeared. They were in a café run by the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild, in a secret room unknown to anyone but insiders.
Right after, Ruina realized something and exclaimed.
“…Was there a penalty clause in the contract?”
There wasn't. Realizing she'd been tricked, she let out a hollow laugh. She hadn't expected Pernyan to deceive her in a way that put him at a disadvantage, so she'd fallen for it.
“…Hah. Why is he going this far?”
It was hard to believe he was doing all this just because of her swordsmanship.
“…Whatever he's after, he won't get it.”
Having grown up keenly aware that there's no such thing as a free favor, especially as her family's fortunes declined, Pernyan's goodwill felt like a thorn scratching at her throat.
“…”
Steeling her resolve, Ruina's gaze fell. On the table lay the elixir and the voucher.
“…If I leave them, they'll just be abandoned here, won't they?”
…There was no issue with the contract, after all.
*Gulp*—
It would be a lie to say she wasn't tempted.
* * *
“I heard Almon paired up with Prince Ludger.”
“Just as expected. Does that make them the top of the year?”
“Ruina was the only one who could match Almon, but since she paired up with Pernyan instead of Carlo…”
At one student's words, another's eyes widened.
“What? Ruina and Pernyan?”
“What, you didn't know? Ruina…”
Arriving at the joint lecture hall for the Magic and Knight Departments' collaborative class, Pernyan glanced around before approaching the familiar back of a brown-haired head he'd seen a few times recently.
“You were here first.”
“You've arrived.”
As Pernyan sat next to Ruina, the hall, which had quieted the moment he entered, started buzzing again.
“So it was true.”
“What could Ruina possibly see in him?”
“Doesn't Ruina's gear look different?”
“It really was for the money…?”
A simple rumor was one thing, but seeing it in person was another. The pairing of the salutatorian and the tenth-ranked student, two people who had no notable interactions before, was a picture no one had expected.
“Your gear has changed.”
“…It would be a waste to let something valuable be abandoned.”
“I wouldn't exactly abandon it.”
“If I'd left it, it might have been blown away by the wind.”
At this unexpected side of her, Pernyan's lips curled into a smile.
“It looks like a mid-grade item. Why didn't you go for the top-tier one?”
“How could I walk around wearing something openly emblazoned with the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild's crest?”
Pernyan chuckled at Ruina's cautiousness and shifted his gaze. Among the people staring at them with curiosity, three stood out.
One was the pair of Ludger Schwaben and Almon Doneretz, who were sending him amused looks as if to say, 'So it was real.'
“…”
The other was Carlo Deneve, who was staring at Pernyan with a look of subtle hostility.
“He doesn't let things go, does he.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look over there. Doesn't he seem quite displeased that I 'stole' you away?”
“That's ridiculous. I belong to no one.”
“Well, that's obvious.”
Pernyan raised his voice.
“Carlo Deneve.”
His voice, faintly laced with mana, silenced the noisy hall in an instant.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
“…No.”
Carlo, whose pupils had wavered at the direct address, answered curtly and whipped his head away.
“For such a well-built guy, he acts pretty coy. Makes me want to summon a golem and punch him one.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
Just then, the tightly closed lecture hall doors slid open.
The click-clack of heels mixed with light footsteps. A man and a woman entered.
“The Knight Department is all here. Professor Rosalia, how is the Magic Department?”
A red-haired man with a rather large scar on his face spoke as he looked over the crowd.
It was Grad Xant, the professor for the second-year Knight Department's 'War and Practical Combat' course.
“The second-year Magic Department students are all here as well. Thankfully, no one is late.”
Answered Rosalia Vienderk, the owner of dark blue hair that fell to her waist and the professor for the second-year Magic Department's 'Combat, War, and Magic' course.
“I see.”
Grad strode forward and stood at the lectern.
“I see you've all paired up and seated yourselves nicely. I'll call roll. I hope there are no idiots who are with a different partner than the one they submitted.”
He began to call attendance. Among the 100 pairs, 200 students in total, there were no false or incorrect registrations.
“Hmm, there are some unexpected combinations, but it seems everyone's accounted for. Professor Rosalia, do you have anything to add?”
“I do not.”
“Then we'll begin the first joint class immediately. It will be a practical exercise.”
“A practical?”
“What kind of practical?”
As the students began to murmur, Grad tapped the lectern lightly. The noise subsided.
“There's no better way to confirm what you've learned than through actual combat. From now on, you'll be thrown into the field.”
Tap. Grad touched a crystal orb placed on the lectern. The orb glowed, displaying an image.
It was the mountainous region north of the academy.
“This class is a joint lecture for three Knight Department courses, including 'War and Practical Combat,' and three Magic Department courses, including 'Combat, War, and Magic.'”
Teaching assistants began moving through the aisles, handing out maps.
“The maps being distributed now have a destination marked on them. You have three days to reach this location. However, you must not be too early, nor too late. You must arrive at precisely 12:00 PM three days from now. Any questions?”
As soon as Grad finished his explanation, hands shot up all around.
“Will this be reflected in our grades?”
“It's the most important thing after the midterm and final exams.”
At those words, the expressions of the students who had considered it a light test changed.
“Are we allowed to fight each other?”
“If you capture another team, you get extra credit.”
After answering a few questions, Grad confirmed that all the maps had been distributed and clapped his hands once.
“Now that you have your maps, everyone get into the magic circle while in contact with your partner.”
Rosalia said, having drawn a massive magic circle in the hall's large training area with the help of the assistants.
And so.
“Well then, I wish you all good luck. Ho, there are some interesting pairs.”
*Flash—*
Just before mana and light enveloped them, Pernyan's eyes met Grad's.
The first class had begun.
* * *
After the light of the magic circle enveloped their bodies and the world turned upside down, Pernyan and Ruina opened their eyes to the sight of the northern mountains.
Lush mountains. A rugged land where the cries of beasts and monsters mingled.
“Where are we?”
“We'll have to figure that out now. Using map-reading…”
“Wouldn't it be easier to just use magic?”
“Is there a spell that can tell us our location?”
Pernyan shrugged nonchalantly.
“No, I meant we should get to high ground and take a look.”
“Isn't that still a form of orienteering?”
“Let's not get bogged down in the details.”
Just then, a rustling sound was heard, and two figures appeared.
“…Pernyan?”
“…Ruina?”
It was a man and a woman. Their names were, I think…
“Jain Hax, 71st in the Knight Department. And Ned Pallan, 77th in the Magic Department.”
Their faces paled. For them, who were in the middle ranks, encountering the tenth-ranked Pernyan and the salutatorian Ruina right at the start was terribly unlucky.
“Ah, hello. Pernyan…”
Ned, who usually kept his distance due to Pernyan's authority, gave an awkward wave.
“What should we do?”
The question wasn't for them. It was for Ruina, who was watching quietly from behind.
“I was about to ask you the same. What do you want to do?”
“I'll follow your lead.”
“Didn't you say you were a merchant?”
“But you're a knight. I can see the desire for extra credit dripping from your eyes.”
“You don't mind?”
“I'm saying I'll put up with it for you.”
“Why?”
“Because you're worth it.”
Of course. She's a guaranteed Royal Knight, a person connected to his downfall. I have to win her favor.
That's why I became her partner.
“…Frankly, I don't understand your reasons, but I won't refuse for now.”
After a moment's hesitation, Ruina nodded. In that instant, her form vanished.
“Run!”
Jain Hax shouted urgently, but Ruina was faster.
—!
The wind howled as a blade lunged toward them. With a clang, Jain's sword, which had moved on instinct, wavered.
A short exchange. After just five clashes, Jain staggered. Ruina did not miss the wide opening.
“No!”
Ned cried out desperately. A blade of wind shot toward Ruina's flank.
—!
A sharp aura sliced through the wind, but that brief opening was enough for Jain to regain her footing.
“Even if it's you, don't think we'll just become easy extra credit!”
Jain aimed for Ruina's exposed flank. Simultaneously, another gust of wind shot from the opposite side.
It was a touch-and-go situation, but Ruina remained calm.
Holding her breath, she split the wind blade and threw herself in that direction. Jain's sword cut through empty air.
“No!”
Realizing Ruina's objective, Jain gave chase. And in that moment, Ruina spun around and thrust her sword at Jain's wide-open chest.
—!
A shockwave erupted.
“…!”
Jain collapsed, trembling.
A translucent shield had appeared between Jain and Ruina's sword.
*Fwoosh—*
Its duty of protecting Jain fulfilled, the magic map burned away.
“One team down.”
Ruina looked down at her with cold eyes.