Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Maha Empire Academy (1)
"This is a rare occasion. Your Grace personally brought a sponsored candidate."
The principal of the Maha Empire Academy, Viscount Rosis Beyvalent, was welcoming a rather unusual visitor today.
"It's been a while, Principal."
"Yes, the first time since we met at the imperial banquet celebrating the Crown Prince's birthday last year."
Kaitel and Rosis seemed to know each other well, as they shook hands expressing their delight at seeing one another.
Rudian also looked at the elderly man before him with fresh eyes.
'Rosis Beyvalent... Guardian of the Northern Front.'
A war hero who earned military merit by countless battles against the barbarians of the northern unexplored territories who gave headaches to both the Morian Empire and the Ergon Kingdom 30 years ago.
Meeting a famous person in this world rather than a character from felt quite strange.
Kaitel grabbed Rudian's shoulder and introduced him.
"This is Rudian. A boy I discovered in the Iskar border territory this time."
"I heard you left the capital to verify the authenticity of the holy sword. It seems you had an unexpected gain besides the holy sword."
"He's a useful child. I'm personally placing quite a bit of expectation on him."
"...Oh?"
Rosis truly opened his eyes wide in surprise.
It was because Sword Master Kaitel rarely ever used the word 'expectation.'
"Do you mean not just talented but a genius? Like Elvin or Karen?"
"Perhaps even at Crux' level."
'No, that's a bit...'
The bluff is being taken way more seriously than I expected?
Sword Saint Crux, Crux van Richtofen.
The incomprehensible genius who, excluding the protagonist, was the only one who could face gods with a sword.
"Crux, haha, Crux...?"
Even to someone like the Guardian of the Northern Front, the name Crux carried considerable significance.
"I don't doubt your judgment, but it's certainly hard to believe. Talent comparable to that of Crux..."
"There's no need to verify particularly. In just a few years, we'll be able to distinguish whether he's a gem or a stone."
Kaitel asked for some special consideration because Rudian came from a commoner background.
"I doubt such inadequate individuals would dare exist in the Academy... But I'll keep an eye out. With Princess Luciella here too, it shouldn't be difficult."
"Thank you."
After that, Rudian went through simple procedures and received his dormitory assignment.
'Damn, this is literally a hotel?'
As befitting the Empire's finest educational institution, there was no such thing as multiple people sharing a room.
All rooms were private, and each came equipped with bathing facilities.
'This seems even better than Calline's room?'
It's better than not just Calline's room in the Iskar main castle, but probably even the mansion that the Count's family maintained in the capital.
"This is where you'll stay for the next seven years. Do you like it?"
"Of course."
Rudian looked at Kaitel with fresh eyes.
Meeting Rudian's gaze, Kaitel smiled gently and asked.
"Why the look?"
"I don't understand why you're doing all this for me."
Rudian had carefully examined the contract offered by the Delphione Foundation.
Except for the point about joint sponsorship with the Iskar Count's family, there were no coercive conditions or obligations to be found.
"Reason? Is wanting to pave the future for a promising talent not enough?"
"No, it's not enough."
It's too much money to be considered charity work.
By Rudian's calculations, having just ten sponsored candidates would cost about the same as the annual tax revenue from a small territory.
With that level of investment, it was suspicious that the contract had no provisions against the possibility of a candidate running off.
"Having been a petty lord's seed and worked as a scribe as well, your mind certainly works well."
"Is there another reason?"
"I made a bet with the Count."
Kaitel showed a curious smile.
"A bet on whether you'll join the Lion Hearts or the Glory Knights after graduating from the Academy."
"...?"
What's this about now?
"Well, that's not exactly it, but that's roughly the gist. Know that this is why there are no obligations in the contract."
Universally, when comparing the Lion Hearts and the Glory Knights, ten out of ten people would inevitably choose the latter.
No matter how renowned the Lion Hearts might be, the Glory Knights were a knightly order directly under the Duke's family, comparable to the Imperial Direct Royal Guard.
But...
'I don't intend to choose either one.'
Kaitel didn't seem to imagine that right in front of him was a madman who would turn down a knighthood from the Duke's family.
For Rudian, the Academy and the path of the sword were merely intermediate stages he needed to pass through.
"I look forward to seeing what choice you'll make."
"......"
'My choice is to run away, actually.'
Of course, Rudian wasn't foolish enough to voice this thought and throw away the good fortune that had rolled his way.
***
In any world, a 'transfer student' at an academy inevitably attracts everyone's attention at once.
Even though the attention might cool off after a few days as if it never happened, the concern and gazes during that time were quite burdensome.
'I understand transfers are difficult to come by, but these stares are too blatant.'
Even with a slight glance around, he could feel the sideways looks from those nearby.
-Indeed, there are many who recognize Master's true value.
-So many delicious-looking souls. Is this what they call a feast?
'Just shut up for a bit.'
Rudian pondered the cause of the current situation.
'Is it because I'm sponsored by the Delphione Foundation? No, I've heard there are others like that too.'
The number of sponsored candidates in the Knight Faculty was nearly thirty, he'd been told.
Of those, seven had entered the first year, including Rudian himself.
Not a large number, but not rare enough to draw such attention either.
Rudian soon discovered why he was the center of attention.
"Hello?"
"...Yes, hello?"
After the lunch bell rang, a young man with plain features and brown hair approached Rudian, who was absentmindedly examining a map.
"I'm glad to meet the talk of the town transfer student! I'm Adel. I'm from the same foundation and your senior."
"Ah, I'm Rudian. Nice to meet you, senior."
Looking at the yellow academy emblem pinned to the right chest of his uniform, he was an upperclassman, even a third-year.
"But, what do you mean by 'talk of the town'?"
"Huh? You didn't know? A foundation-sponsored candidate entering as a transfer student rather than a freshman is something that happens only once every 10 years."
"...Even if it's once in 10 years, is that really such a big deal?"
No matter how long a period 10 years might be, value comes from matching the appropriate situation.
It's not like a prince or princess transferred in, so why would an unknown commoner be the subject of gossip?
"Hmm, you really do seem clueless."
Adel made a slightly troubled expression.
"Basically, transfers are prohibited at this Maha Academy."
"Yes, I know that."
"The only ones who can overturn that rule are those who have built tremendous reputations or high nobles close to the imperial family."
Especially in Rudian's case, since Sword Master Kaitel personally brought him in, it stirred up a huge buzz.
"Particularly since after 'Senior Crux,' the foundation rarely creates transfer students anymore."
'Was Sword Saint Crux from the Delphione Foundation?'
Surprised by this unexpected setting that didn't appear in the original work, Rudian asked Adel with shining eyes.
"Is this Crux person famous?"
"What? You're from the same foundation and don't know about Senior Crux?"
"Yes, being from the provinces..."
Adel seemed to accept Rudian's innocent answer with an understanding nod.
Adel began excitedly talking about Crux in great detail.
'I see, at this time period, he must have graduated from the Academy and joined the Royal Guard.'
An unprecedented genius who was already approaching Sword Master level in his mid-twenties and belonged to the Royal Guard.
It was inevitable that attention would focus on someone who had transferred in under similar circumstances as such a famous person.
"The small lord from the Iskar County family who gained immense fame by conquering a dungeon and retrieving a holy sword is similar for the same reason."
Apparently, Calline was also receiving considerable attention, no less than Rudian.
Come to think of it, although they were in the same Knight Faculty, they had different classes, so Rudian hadn't met Calline yet.
'Not that I'll actively seek him out anyway.'
I sincerely hope there aren't any ladies charmed by his reputation.
"The reason I came looking for you is because of special instructions from the student council president."
"The student council president?"
"Princess Luciella. Surely you know her name at least?"
"Ah!"
No matter how prestigious the Maha Empire Academy might be, the number of high nobles who enrolled each year was very small.
Typically, even a child from a Duke's family would receive treatment nearly equal to royalty among their year's students, so it was natural for a Duke's princess to hold various important positions, including student council president.
Adel smiled brightly and continued.
"When commoners enroll here, they're often confused about what to do. That's why those of us from the foundation have a tradition where seniors guide new students."
That's how Adel had been appointed as Rudian's mentor.
"Still, since we're in the Knight Faculty, it would be a shame if our first meeting ended with just formal introductions, wouldn't it?"
'Umm...?'
At Adel's peculiar tone, Rudian's smiling expression slightly stiffened.
"It's great to see the talk of the town transfer student! I'm Adel. From the same foundation and your senior."
Adel said he would introduce other seniors after school and told Rudian the location of the training ground.
"......"
"Hahaha, don't be too nervous. They're all good people."
Adel meant well with his words, but Rudian's expression was far from pleased.
'This isn't like athletic seniors disciplining freshmen or anything. Wait, this is an athletic department, isn't it? Damn.'
Rudian, having lived as Kim Seong-jun before, had strong trauma from his military service during a time when corporal punishment still existed.
'Back then, right after my transfer, a senior soldier called me out the same way.'
And when I answered incorrectly to the question of whether I was handsome or if another guy was handsome, I got beaten to death.
"I'll be looking forward to it, see you after school."
"...Yes."
Rudian seriously began contemplating escape.
***
In this world, one's class origin was still considered more important than one's year.
Of course, he'd heard that the Military Studies Faculty valued year over class more, but this was still the Knight Faculty.
Still, he couldn't help feeling anxious.
'Should I just beat them all up and assert dominance?'
Though technically lacking, Rudian possessed magic equivalent to that of a decent knight.
Moreover, his magic had grown even more after dealing with Caslay and now Alec Hyuma as well.
Rudian arrived at the training ground with his nerves completely on edge, and there were four people—two men and two women—including Adel, waiting for him.
The purple-haired beauty at the front extended her hand toward Rudian first.
"I'm Karen Leticia. Final year. Pleased to meet you."
"Oliver Dran, fifth year. Glad to see the celebrity."
"Claudia Rage, same year as this guy. I was expecting some kind of monster given how much favor you've received from His Excellency, but you're just a pretty little thing, huh?"
"I'm Adel, you already know me?"
Each of them extended their hands with warm smiles.
Rudian looked at the seniors who seemed genuinely happy to meet him and swallowed the guilt rising within him.
However, that guilt didn't last more than five minutes.
"I hear the SwordMaster personally brought you as a talent, is that right?"
"It's thanks to Viscount Kaite seeing something good in me."
"There's no way that person would think highly of just anyone."
Rudian read the fiery glow in Karen's eyes and decided to flee.
But Karen was faster at thrusting forward a wooden sword than Rudian was at withdrawing.
"Let's have a match. I need to see your skills."
'Oh for fuck's sake.'
As usual, nothing good ever comes from getting involved with knights.