Chapter 10
Chapter 10
To the Academy
This isn’t limited to just this game, but protagonists usually fall into three types.
They’re either strong from the beginning, or they grow stronger over time.
In Solomon’s case, it was both.
He was strong from the start, and he continued to grow stronger.
In fact, even Sylvia—whom Solomon defeated—
was already a master whose pure swordsmanship rivaled academy instructors.
Yet Solomon defeated her without any formal training.
A genius.
Taking down some low-level loan sharks was nothing.
I sent that weirdly bearded guy flying with a single punch,
and crushed his underlings who rushed in shouting, “How dare you touch our boss!”
Honestly, as someone who trained in martial arts, I was impressed by my own strength.
I’m strong.
It felt good to have my body move exactly as I wanted.
But—
while I was immersed in my own abilities,
Evangelin stormed past me with an angry expression and suddenly slapped Louis.
Smack.
The sharp sound echoed, and the atmosphere sank heavily.
“Louis! You idiot! What were you thinking!”
“N-noona… why did you come back?”
“Of course I came back! I heard you were in danger!”
“Did Mr. Solomon… tell you everything?”
“Yes! Waaaah! Do you know how worried I was!”
Evangelin cried as she hugged her younger brother.
The two younger sisters began crying as well.
“Waaah! Brother Louis! I don’t want to be separated! Take Luna with you!”
“Lucy too! I don’t want to be apart from you!”
“You guys… seriously.”
Before long, Louis was wiping his tears too.
The place had turned into a sea of tears.
This kind of atmosphere was uncomfortable.
Though… I was the one who brought Evangelin back.
“Miss Evangelin. It seems your brother is planning to sacrifice himself for the family.”
“What…? Louis? Are the debt collectors coming today?”
Despite being a bit slow, Evangelin immediately grasped the situation when her family was involved.
Impressive.
“I’m sorry, noona… I just wanted you and the others to be happy.”
“Idiot! Idiot, Louis! How can we be happy without you! If it means sacrificing you, then I’d rather not go to the academy at all!”
No, that wouldn’t work.
It was about time I stepped in.
“It would be better to go to the academy.”
“Sniff… what are you saying? This is a family matter, don’t interfere.”
“Noona, we survived thanks to Mr. Solomon. Let’s hear him out.”
More mature than his sister, Louis guided the conversation.
“Please explain, Mr. Solomon. Why is going to the academy better?”
“I beat the debt collectors for now, but they’ll come back like flies. You need a place to hide. The academy has facilities, including an orphanage for children. Students can use it for free. It’s best for your siblings to stay there. Thugs won’t dare approach.”
“…That makes sense. You’re very knowledgeable for someone from a slave background.”
“Just something I’ve heard.”
“That’s amazing…”
Louis looked at me with shining eyes.
“Someday, I want to become a strong and wise man like you… Mr. Solomon, you’re my role model.”
“Louis! What are you saying! You should become a far greater noble than him!”
“Noona, thank him. And ask him to take care of you.”
“Ugh… why should I…”
Forced by her brother, Evangelin awkwardly expressed her thanks.
Later, when her siblings weren’t around, she called me separately and properly expressed her gratitude.
She even knelt on one knee—despite being a ducal family head.
“As the 78th head of the Polignac family, I sincerely thank you for saving my foolish younger brother. I will repay this kindness.”
For that moment, Evangelin didn’t seem like a fool, but a refined noble.
“Well… don’t worry about it too much. I just couldn’t leave him to die. More importantly, there’s not much time left before academy enrollment. We should get moving.”
“Alright. But you.”
“Just call me Solomon.”
“Then Solomon, you keep switching between formal and informal speech. Just speak comfortably. Of course, it’s natural to feel nervous in front of someone as cute and noble as me, but you’ll get used to it.”
“Got it, Evangelin.”
“Huh? You adapted already?!”
“Honestly, formal speech was uncomfortable. Thanks for suggesting it.”
“That was too natural! Not even a moment of hesitation?! I’m still a noble, you know! Your master!”
“Let’s have Louis and the girls stay at a nearby inn for now, and once we enter the academy, send them to the orphanage.”
“…You’re just ignoring me? And why are you deciding my family’s matters?”
“Is there a better plan?”
“…………”
Evangelin puffed her cheeks in frustration.
“There isn’t, right?”
“…Kuu…”
In the end, we followed my plan.
Louis and his sisters would stay at an inn far from the hut,
and Evangelin and I would head to the academy.
“Mr. Solomon… no, Brother Solomon. Please take care of my sister.”
“Don’t worry, Louis. I’m her guard knight. It’s my job to protect her.”
“That’s right! You’re my subordinate! So treat me with proper respect!”
“Quiet. Let’s go, Evangelin.”
“Ugh! I take it back! Use formal speech!”
“Nope. Too late.”
“Aaaah! Why did I make such a stupid mistake! It’s like giving fish to a dog!”
“More like a cat.”
With this fool, life certainly wouldn’t be boring.
But what awaited us at the academy wasn’t just fun.
After all, this world wasn’t that peaceful.
Still—
just being able to enter the academy with a noble partner
made me feel like I had taken my first real step forward.
Our next destination—
the academy.
The Volanschefort Count family was a prestigious house that had existed since the founding of the Aurelia Kingdom.
Their mansion was built in ancient times when human rights were far less valued.
Because of that, there were rumors of hidden, secret places within it.
“Ah… ahh… please… my lady… I’m hungry… at least give me some water…”
In a torture chamber beneath the mansion,
Sylvia—once a proud swordswoman—was bound in rags, her limbs tied, begging desperately.
To Roze Volanschefort.
“My lady…”
“Not ‘my lady.’ Say ‘Master.’”
“…Master… water…”
“I could give you urine. Want that?”
“…………”
Sylvia shut her eyes tightly.
Even her tears were scarce from dehydration.
Roze mocked her.
“Oh my, tears? Why not drink those to quench your thirst?”
“…Ugh…”
It was miserable.
How had things come to this?
She had wanted to get along with Roze.
As women.
As nobles.
She had been confident she could.
But Roze’s hostility toward her was incomprehensible.
Since arriving, she had been subjected to nothing but torture.
Roze lashed Sylvia again as she collapsed from thirst.
“You! Will never! Be! My! Guard knight! Understand?!”
“Y-yes… my lady…”
“You’re just a temporary substitute. Don’t forget that! Don’t ever mistake your place or overstep your bounds!”
“Sniff… yes… I understand…”
From their very first meeting, Roze had refused to acknowledge her.
She spoke of “that person,” as if Sylvia had stolen someone’s place.
If that were the case, it would’ve been easier to just dismiss her.
But things became complicated.
Because Roze’s parents forced her to take Sylvia as her guard knight due to the imminent academy enrollment.
“You have no other choice.”
“Mother, I’d rather go without a guard knight.”
“That’s impossible. Your admission could be denied. A guard knight is required—it’s tradition.”
“I’ll find one at the academy.”
“Stop being stubborn and take Sylvia. She seems talented and well-mannered.”
“Mother!”
“No more arguments. This is an order.”
“…………”
After that conversation, the torture began.
It wasn’t meaningless cruelty.
Roze had a purpose—
to engrave something into Sylvia through pain.
“Listen carefully, Sylvia. You are my slave. Not a guard knight—just someone who moves at my command. Never try to become my guard knight. There is only one person in all time and space who can hold that position. If you ever act like my guard knight, I’ll kill you.”
“I… understand…”
“Good. If you obey, I won’t kill you.”
“Water… please…”
“Water? Of course, I can give you water.”
Roze returned with a bottle full of water.
“Ah…!!”
Sylvia’s eyes lit up with hope.
But in the next moment, Roze poured the water onto her own foot.
“…Why…”
“Lick it.”
“…What?”
“I said lick it.”
Her foot, wet with water.
Sylvia felt humiliation, anger, and despair—
but she was desperate.
Like a dog, she stuck out her tongue and licked it.
“Lick… lick…”
“That’s your place. Always understand it. Or next time… I’ll really kill you.”
“Yes… Master.”
Feeling the terrifying magic emanating from Roze,
Sylvia realized—
this wasn’t a bluff.
This woman truly could kill her.