Chapter 8
Chapter 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: First Dormitory Watch
-----------------------------------------------------------------
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Early in the semester, swordsmanship classes focused mostly on building stamina and strength.
Swords were heavier than they looked, and many first-year students—especially the girls, who were only fourteen—lacked even the basic strength to hold one.
Of course, kids who had already trained with swords in their families were different, but education had to be tailored to the average.
Philip's job was to supervise the first-years running laps around the grand plaza.
...No, I didn't know how to use magic right off the bat.
It had already been three days since Archmage Ilroksina had taken away Ruen, one of the protagonist twins.
This kinda defeats the purpose of me butting in there.
Philip had intervened in what people called the "protagonist selection" to minimize the mental shock on the remaining protagonist and to pry some information out of Ilroksina.
But he'd been hit with a sleep spell out of nowhere, barely achieving his goals. And because he'd resisted so hard, he'd ended up with a nosebleed and passing out.
"Hngh... Hah... Hah..."
Just then, a male student in the gym uniform issued for swordsmanship class tried to pass by Philip.
"How many laps?"
Philip asked, and the student, too out of breath to speak, held up four fingers.
"You think I don't know you only did three? I'm counting. Giskald."
"Tch."
The kid clicked his tongue in frustration and started running again. Philip chuckled and shook his head.
"Kids these days are such weaklings."
It was inevitable for kids that age to try fooling adults. They thought they were so clever.
All he had to do was not fall for it.
Soon, other kids passed by. There were sixty-three new students, minus Ruen who'd been taken by Ilroksina, making sixty-two.
Thirty-two of them had signed up for swordsmanship.
"...We're all done, Instructor."
Lua, the girl chosen as the protagonist, boasted top stamina among the forty.
Having spent nearly her whole life running around mountains with animals, she outdid even the family-trained kids in endurance.
Her face darkened from being separated from her sibling looked like she'd lost everything. Philip knew no one had explained to her why she had to be split from her lifelong companion.
Philip forced a smile at Lua.
"Good job. And... sorry."
He truly felt guilty toward her.
If he wanted, he could have snuck Ruen and Lua away somewhere safe. But he didn't have the confidence to handle the consequences.
Even in the original story, they'd be separated anyway. But Philip couldn't ignore the guilt and responsibility he felt now. At least he knew their fates.
Seeing Lua on the verge of tears made all the plans he'd built over the past ten days tangle up in his head.
"I heard too. That bad lady who took Ruen... she's the most famous mage in the world. I... I don't get it. Why would such a strong, famous mage take Ruen? No one's telling me..."
Of course, Philip knew why.
Ruen, who vanished with Ilroksina, would be raised as a member of her group, the Star Creation Society, and appear as an ally in the game's later stages.
The protagonist siblings had two destined paths: "Star Contractor" and "Sword Saint."
One would inherit star magic, wielding the power of constellations to make a name for themselves, while the other would take the "Sword Saint" fate and inherit the swordsmanship of the first Sword Saint, Solbein, slumbering in Previa Academy.
"...Someday, we'll meet again. I'll make sure of it."
Lua stared at Philip, eyes glistening.
"...Really?"
"Yeah. I promise. And if anything tough happens, come find me."
Lua forced a smile at his clumsy comfort.
"Thank you, Instructor."
Philip started to pat her brown hair but pulled his hand back. He didn't feel he had the right.
This girl needed to face trials and grow strong.
For this world, and for Philip too.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It was that evening.
Philip was in the faculty office receiving handover notes on dormitory patrols from Instructor Diana Frenhal.
Instructors from combat departments like swordsmanship or magic had to do overnight shifts two or three times a week to ensure the safety of dorm students.
"Patrol every hour to check headcounts. If you hear noise from kids not sleeping or sneaking snacks, go in and stop them. If it's too much for you to handle alone, report to the on-duty professor."
Philip questioned Diana as she pointed to the guidelines.
"You mean just barge into the girls' dorm?"
Diana shot back like it was the dumbest thing she'd heard.
"...What's weird about that?"
"Well... they're at that sensitive age. A strange man going in and out of where they sleep feels off, doesn't it?"
"Kids who'd care about that all have private rooms or live off-campus. How else are you gonna solve problems without going in?"
Philip had no choice but to nod.
No such thing as privacy in this world, huh.
Thinking back, he remembered male instructors entering the heroine's dorm a few times while playing the game.
"We don't have many female instructors, so it's unavoidable. Anyway, you're a hard one to figure out, Instructor."
Diana muttered while looking at him.
"Me?"
Philip tilted his head.
"Nothing. Good luck, then. Rest until sundown."
"Ah, sure."
As Diana Frenhal returned to her quarters, Philip reread the guidelines. Nothing special—just mostly locations of key supplies, since improvisation was key for instructors.
Meanwhile, the other swordsmanship instructors whispered about him.
"...Heard if he causes trouble here, he gets shipped to the northern front."
"Gonna suffer. Guy who just boozed and smacked escorts' asses."
"Yeah, if it were me, that damn battlefield..."
Philip overheard their gossip and slander. They talked like this with him present—what went on without him?
What pathetic lives.
Could people who taught others really be like this? Then again, it was common back in his old world too.
Few worked with any sense of duty, no matter the world.
"Fucking idiots."
The words slipped out unconsciously.
"What'd you say?"
One whispering instructor scowled. The one who'd mentioned escorts.
Philip recalled his name.
Haron Babe. A commoner instructor for fourth-years. Philip gave a slight bow.
"Oh, sorry. Some fucking idiot came to mind. Imagine, a commoner with no background insulting nobles so boldly. Sure, instructors use honorifics here, but that's too much, right?"
"You... you..."
Haron Babe's face turned beet red, snorting in rage. But he couldn't curse or draw his sword.
As Philip said, status mattered even in the academy. The dean wouldn't back someone drawing on a noble first.
Philip stood, lightly slapping Haron Babe's cheek with his palm.
"You think I'd just take it lying down? Sorry to disappoint. I'm a delinquent, not an idiot."
Haron's hand trembled between his sword hilt and chest. Philip smirked and whispered in his ear.
"Draw it, idiot. If not now, keep your eyes peeled from now on."
A grinding of teeth echoed. Philip could hear Haron's heartbeat.
Haron Babe didn't draw. Philip patted his shoulder twice.
"Then I'll prep for duty. Gentlemen."
He left the office.
—...That was kinda cool just now, Master.
Back in his room, Neria praised him in a drowsy voice.
Philip sighed heavily.
"Cool? It was childish. I don't even know why I did it. Just got pissed all of a sudden."
Looks like his guilt over Lua ran deeper than expected. He needed to manage his mentality.
—...To Neria, anything handsome Master does looks cool.
Unable to handle the sappy words, Philip muttered.
"...Guess I'll train Moonlight Sword. Wake me when the sun sets."
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he closed his eyes and calmed his mind for a few minutes. Images flooded his head.
The inherited Moonlight Sword had no "forms" or "stances."
It was as if it said only those unbound by such frames deserved entry.
...A sword symbolizing moonlight.
The images distorted, collapsed, reformed repeatedly. Through it, Philip gained something.
Moonlight. It's really sunlight, right? Reflected from the sun. Am I overcomplicating? But all these images metaphorically point to the moon.
Hours later, Neria called.
—Master, sun's setting.
"Thanks."
Philip half-drew Neria, gently stroking the blood groove on the blade.
—Ahh! That feels good!
For some reason, Neria loved that. Strapping her to his waist, he left for duty.
A short walk from staff dorms up the hill revealed two student dorms.
Girls' and boys' dorms were spaced apart. In the clearing between was a small management building where shifts started.
"Ah, Instructor Oswald."
A bespectacled magic instructor greeted him nervously. Not bad-looking, but thick glasses and acne made him seem introverted.
"Hello, Instructor Perek."
Philip bowed lightly, and Perek's eyes widened in surprise.
"How do you know my name?"
"Gotta know who I'm working with, right? Nice to meet you."
"Ah... sorry. Rumors must be wrong. You're so kind..."
"If it's not rude, what rumors?"
Philip asked carefully, and Perek eyed him fearfully.
"Uh... drinks more than water, broke a family knight's leg, half-killed your sister Professor Felicia's fiancé and dunked him in the garden pond dozens of times..."
Philip blinked in shock.
"Wait, I did that too?"
"Pardon?"
"No, I mean, y'know. Kids get angry for no reason sometimes, right? Haha. I'm repenting my youthful mistakes now."
"Repenting doesn't fix it..."
"You're... right. Gotta make up for it with effort."
Philip smiled stiffly.
But this guy...
Perek played timid but slipped in his jabs slyly.
After a pause, Perek ventured.
"We switch between boys' and girls' dorms every four hours, right? If it's okay, could you handle the girls' dorm the whole time?"
"Why?"
"...On patrols, I run into girls heading to the bathroom. Fine for young first- and second-years, but from fourth-years, they look at me... mockingly, y'know."
"I get it."
Philip knew all about dynamics between innocent male teachers and precocious girls. Perek's timid type was perfect prank bait.
Perek bowed gratefully, beaming.
"Thank you, Instructor. Kids won't dare prank you."
"Why not?"
"They'd get smacked for messing around... no, you're too handsome to joke with casually. They won't risk losing points."
This guy's been pushing it all along.
Philip gritted his teeth slightly. The guy's finesse at toeing the line was impressive.
Decisively, it was kinda funny. Philip suppressed a laugh.
"Time to start. Good luck, see you at six a.m."
Perek grabbed a book and short staff, heading to the boys' dorm.
"You too."
Thus began Philip's first overnight shift.