26
Chapter 26
The academy was in an absolute uproar.
Much more than I had anticipated.
Instructors, the Dean, and even uniformed Knights were mobilized to search the trainee and instructor dormitories.
Honestly, I didn't think they'd search the quarters of the instructors—who were all nobles—just because some trainee's underwear went missing, but they showed no mercy.
Which makes sense, considering one of the victims was the Eighth Imperial Princess, Helena.
There were no names on the underwear, only numbers, so I had no way of knowing.
I figured someone of the Princess's rank would have a personal servant handle her laundry.
I really didn't expect her to use the laundry room just like any other trainee...
The Knights from the Imperial Family were interrogating every single man, regardless of whether they were trainees or instructors; it was complete chaos.
Things escalated further than I expected, but thanks to that, the rumors about May died down.
They weren't entirely forgotten, but baseless rumors lose their power if they aren't constantly talked about.
"May? Aren't you doing your squats?"
"Ah, sorry!"
May, who had been spacing out, resumed her squats.
I'd handled the interrogation well and the rumors about May had vanished, so things were going as planned, but May herself was still in a bad state.
This time, I felt a bit more responsible.
May was also a victim of the underwear thief, after all.
I'll say it again: the laundry baskets and nets were labeled with numbers, not names, so it was truly unintentional.
I did this to put May's mind at ease, but if I had known beforehand, I never would have taken hers.
And the selection match is tomorrow...
I thought about returning them now, but that would be the same as confessing I was the culprit, so I couldn't.
"Are you still thinking about the things you lost?"
"...Ah... I'm sorry."
"Some merchants came by during lunch; did you happen to miss out on buying any?"
May was poor.
Although a gold vein had been discovered recently, it would take some time for the mining and construction to actually turn a profit.
"No. I bought some with the money you gave me last time, but I can't stop thinking that the thief might do something weird with them..."
Something weird? I felt truly wronged.
I did all this for your sake.
"Ahem, I understand why you're bothered, but focus on tomorrow's selection match. Now isn't the time to worry about such trivial things, is it?"
"Yes. I'll focus."
Fortunately, my words seemed to work a little, and May focused diligently on her supplementary lesson.
Though, not that she was significantly different from before.
I sent May back earlier than usual to help her manage her condition, and then I returned to the dormitory myself.
As expected, the moment I stepped inside, I felt a familiar presence.
"Old Man, when did you get here?"
Just as I thought, a familiar figure was visible by the left window.
"Do you usually come back this late?"
"Tomorrow is the Greeta selection match, and I was in charge of the supplementary lessons..."
"Ah, that's right."
This old geezer glaring at me with sharp eyes was Daph Nois.
The Director of Intelligence of the Beluga Empire.
He's the only person who knows Ghost's true identity, so I expected him to suspect me, but I didn't think he'd show up this quickly.
"But what brings you here? For a man as busy as you to visit the academy in person."
"I heard a thief broke into Belliard Academy yesterday. Was it you?"
...Of course he knew everything.
I decided it was impossible to fool the old man, so I confessed everything.
"You... you did all that just to put a single trainee's mind at ease?"
"I didn't have a choice. The selection match is tomorrow, and the girl couldn't focus because of the rumors, so I had to do something."
"...I thought you hated being an instructor in the capital. Have you changed your mind?"
"Changed? My goal is still to get fired."
"Then why did you do it?"
"What do you mean 'why'? I already told you. I made a bet with a colleague."
Seeing him ask again even after my explanation, it seems the old man really is getting old.
"Regardless, I can't believe the great Ghost is stealing female trainees' underwear. A real professional move."
"I told you, I didn't do it for my own pleasure."
"Enough. I'll help you with your excuse."
Ho, what a surprise.
Honestly, I had a plan prepared so I could handle it alone without his help, but it would be much easier with the old man's assistance.
"How?"
"I'll send you the family information of the four trainees who suspected you of spreading the rumors by tomorrow lunch."
"Thanks, Old Man. You're the only one I can count on."
"If you're so thankful, hurry up and hand over the underwear. His Majesty ordered the Intelligence Agency to find the culprit and recover the items."
"His Majesty gave the order?"
That's unexpected.
Princess Helena is royalty, but as the Eighth Imperial Princess, she's quite far from the line of succession.
Yet, if he issued a direct order to the Intelligence Agency on the day of the incident, he must dote on her quite a bit.
Since I had no other intentions, I opened my subspace and pulled out two bags.
"Why did you put them in separate bags?"
"One is laundered, and the other isn't... Why are you looking at me like that?"
He's looking at me with total contempt.
"If you just wanted to cause a stir, taking the laundered ones would have been enough. Why on earth take the unwashed ones too...?"
"I'm telling you, it's not like that. It would be weirder if a thief actually distinguished between the two."
"I suppose that's true."
I'm glad he seems to understand.
"By the way, how do you plan to find the Princess's among these? Did you find out what her underwear looks like?"
"As if they'd tell me that. Once I hand them all over, the higher-ups will handle it. I'll just tell His Majesty that the Intelligence Agency shot the culprit."
I was actually worried that things were escalating too much, so I'm glad the old man is here.
"Our Director is truly dependable."
"You only call me Director when you want something, you brat. You're not even an agent anymore. Are you confident you'll win that bet?"
"Of course."
Even if May's condition is poor, I believe she's already far beyond the level of other trainees.
"Hmm, should I look into that instructor as well?"
"Amelia. I don't know her last name, but she seems to be a former Northern Ranger. I don't think she holds a title herself, but she likely comes from a high noble family."
"That's enough. I'll send that instructor's info tomorrow as well."
"Thanks."
I'll win the bet anyway, so I wondered if it was necessary, but there's no reason to refuse help.
****
"That's all for today."
Finally, the afternoon classes were over.
The moment I finished greeting them, several students bolted out the door.
They ran in the opposite direction of the dining hall; it seemed they were all heading for the auditorium.
Today was finally the day of the selection matches.
It was the day to choose the trainees who would represent Belliard Academy in the Greeta tournament.
Some were likely rushing to secure good seats in the auditorium, while others probably wanted to squeeze in a bit more practice.
After all, eating makes your movements sluggish.
However, as usual, I headed toward the dining hall.
I spotted May among the students ahead of me.
May asked if I was going to skip lunch to practice, but I told her I had no such intention.
It wasn't because I was lazy, but because a little more practice now wouldn't make a significant difference.
I told her to just eat well and make sure she didn't overfill herself so as not to hinder her movement.
Seeing her still heading to the dining hall alone, I almost asked her to eat with me, but I stopped myself.
No one was bringing up the stories about May anymore, but the rumors hadn't been completely cleared yet.
The Dean offered to help, but I asked him to hold off for a bit.
I already had the perfect place in mind to clear my name.
When I arrived at the auditorium after finishing my meal, it was already crowded with trainees and instructors.
They were selecting representatives for all classes simultaneously—not just the Ranger Class, but the Knight Class and Wizard Class as well.
No wonder the dining hall had been so empty; it seemed everyone had skipped lunch.
The instructors weren't competing anyway, so it shouldn't have mattered to them.
Everyone was really pushing themselves.
Looking around, I spotted Amelia teaching dagger technique to some trainees.
That woman is seriously dedicated.
I waited, browsing the scene, and before long, my May arrived.
"You're here?"
"I'm sorry. I'm very late, aren't I? I had to get my weapons from the dormitory..."
It really seems like the phrase 'I'm sorry' is permanently etched into her vocabulary.
"Late? We've still got plenty of time before we start. Did you eat enough?"
"Yes. I ate plenty."
May's expression was considerably brighter than yesterday.
This was because I had told her during lunch that the underwear thief, who had tormented her all yesterday, had been caught and executed.
I told her I heard it from an acquaintance working in the Imperial Family.
I had asked the old man to make the news public around tomorrow, so currently, no one in the academy knew except for May and me.
"Then shall we take a short walk to help with digestion?"
"What? Shouldn't we be training too?"
Seeing Amelia and the trainees swinging their daggers with such intensity, she seemed a bit anxious.
"Like I said, doing that now won't change anything."
"But..."
"May, do you get good grades if you just cram right before an exam without studying normally?"
"Ah... no. You have to work hard consistently. You can never get good grades that way."
That was exactly the kind of answer I'd expect from a model student with excellent written scores.
"Training is no different. Haven't you worked hard until now?"
Now was the time to manage her condition.
I walked around the campus with May for about thirty minutes before returning to the auditorium.
The Wizard Class, who went first, seemed to have finished, and the selection matches for the Knight Class were in full swing.
I usually don't pay much attention to other departments, but as luck would have it, I recognize both of the people fighting right now.
"Go Misha!"
"Go Raining!"
The cheering was absolutely electric.
Misha and Raining.
They were among the first I met upon entering the academy; I had a feeling back then, but seeing them in person now is a bit surprising.
Their swords, clashing against one another, were both coated in a blue Aura.
Of course, it was very faint and thin for both, but it's impressive to manifest Aura while still just a trainee.
May has plenty of magic power, so once she manifests it, hers will be far clearer and more powerful than that...
It's a shame, but I don't believe she'll lose.
Looking at May, she too had become completely absorbed in the two fighters in the arena.
"What do you think, watching your seniors?"
"Huh? What do you...?"
"Do you think you can win?"
"Me? But the Ranger Class only competes against other Rangers..."
"Doesn't the overall winner of the Greeta tournament face off against the other champions in the end? From where I stand, the person selected as the representative here will likely win the Knight Division this time."
Raining had the upper hand, but in a fight between novices, variables always pop up.
"I don't even know if I'll make the representative selection..."
Honestly, I think the odds are slim too.
I meant it as encouragement, but it seems to have had the opposite effect.
"Have confidence, May. Like I said before, haven't you worked incredibly hard?"
The duel, which had dragged on a bit, eventually ended with Raining's victory, just as expected.
Now it's finally our Ranger Class's turn.
The first match is between trainees taught by Amelia.
It had to be that way; while I only taught May, Amelia had several trainees.
Watching their level of fighting only makes me more certain that May won't lose.
However, unlike me, May looks very anxious.
I told her not to be nervous. Tsk tsk.
"As expected of Sophia!"
The first duel was won by a trainee named Sophia.
Out of the four I suspect most of spreading the rumors about May and me, she's the most suspicious of all.
As the arena was reset, the instructor acting as the referee called May's name.
"Instructor, I'm..."
"May."
"Y-yes? Yes!"
"Do you see those kids over there, next to Instructor Amelia, looking at you?"
"Yes."
"Those are the same kids who came to you and asked why you're doing such mindless training. You told me they said they couldn't understand why on earth you're learning from me, right?"
"Yes. I should have pushed back harder..."
"Once today's selection matches are over, those kids will ask you again."
"What?"
"They'll ask how on earth you did it."
"Instructor..."
"May, go out there, show them, and prove it. I believe in you."