49
Chapter 49
Today is Friday. I always like Fridays because the weekend is just one day away, but today is even more special.
Once today's classes are over, it's not just the weekend; practical training starts next week. That means I get a whole nine days off.
I've already planned everything out.
I intend to drink my fill with Old Man Daph, head home to rest, and leave for Creta on Sunday.
I won't have to escort Imperial Princess Helena to Old Man Roy tomorrow or the day after.
Since outings and overnight stays are permitted this weekend to prepare for the training, she said she'd make her own way.
Humming to myself, I grabbed breakfast in the dining hall and headed to the faculty office.
Chief Instructor Berman spoke passionately about various precautions for the training, but since it was useless information for me, I barely listened and headed to the classroom.
Whether it was the training or the prospect of getting out for a while, the students seemed excited, and the classroom was bustling.
I opened the door and walked inside.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning!"
"Instructor, are the training groups out yet?"
"I heard they will be posted on the first-floor bulletin board of the main building during lunch."
The first-year practical training is conducted in groups.
Five from the Magic Class, five from the Knight Class, and four from the Ranger Class.
Each group consists of 14 members. There are 20 groups in total, and the group that achieves the best results during the training receives the highest score.
Each group is accompanied by a manager, who could be an instructor, a ranger, a knight, or a wizard.
Usually, they don't help and only intervene in dangerous situations, but since Creta is populated only by goblins and kobolds, I doubt that will happen.
"Instead of a lesson today, I will go over the precautions regarding the practical training."
I provided a detailed explanation of the ranger's role, along with basic camping knowledge, know-how, and things to be careful of in the forest.
"Any questions, trainees?"
May was the first to raise her hand.
"Um, Instructor, do we have to do all the chores?"
May asked.
"The leader will distribute the tasks, but rangers are not servants to knights or wizards. Everyone must pitch in, from preparing the camp and cooking to taking watch."
Some trainees from high noble families might try to avoid lifting a finger by using their status, but points will be deducted as soon as such behavior is reported.
"This will be reflected in your evaluation, so if you experience any unfair treatment, report it to an instructor upon your return."
"I heard a rumor that being a leader gives you extra points. Is that true?"
Someone next to May raised their hand high.
It was Leah, the second-highest student in the class.
"There are extra points for leaders who achieve great results, but points are deducted when performance is poor. And... never mind. Next question?"
I almost mentioned that it would be difficult for those from the Ranger Class to become leaders, but stopped myself.
The leader of a training group is usually chosen by vote.
Since everyone will likely vote for someone from their own class, it'll be hard for the Ranger Class trainees, who are one person short, to lead.
I think I should make a suggestion about this later.
Since there were no more questions, I finally opened my subspace and took out the items I had prepared.
"Instructor?"
"What are those?"
Everyone looked puzzled.
"I've prepared some things that trainees will find useful during the training."
They were Lapiert Powder, which is useful for repelling insects like mosquitoes when burned in a campfire, and medicinal herbs for light abrasions, bleeding, or snake bites.
I'd heard that while the accompanying managers carry first aid kits, they don't help with minor injuries.
I figured the meticulous students would prepare, but some wouldn't, so after dropping off Imperial Princess Helena yesterday, I stopped by a herbalist.
Since the training site is a forest, they might be able to find some, but it could be difficult.
After a brief explanation of the contents, everyone looked touched.
"As expected of Instructor Bio."
"You're the best, Instructor!"
"Thank you."
It took some effort to divide them into individual portions, though it didn't actually cost much.
They were so grateful that it actually made me feel a bit shy.
'Look at the passionate instructor over here.'
'Since you're not going with them, you should at least provide something like this.'
"Well, have a great trip. I'll see you all in... no, the week after next. That's all."
****
Coffee tastes quite good when sipping it while gazing at the rolling blue waves of the ocean.
The sun beats down almost as strongly as in midsummer, but the salty sea breeze cools my body.
Of course, if it got too hot, I could use Temperature Control Magic, but I didn't really want to.
'You've certainly got it easy.'
'Stop picking a fight and just enjoy the scenery.'
As I looked at the ocean while soothing Ark, I felt the accumulated fatigue of the past few days simply vanish.
'What's the point of looking at a view alone? Look around you.'
Following Ark's words, I looked around and saw nothing but couples and families.
'So what?'
'You think you'll stay young forever? Time flies.'
'I'm a Sword Master, so I don't age that quickly.'
I replied bluntly, but honestly, it wasn't that I wasn't envious.
I know all too well that two are better than one, and three are better than two.
Back when I was active, I used to go on trips with my peers.
They said they gathered regularly every summer, but some were always deployed on missions, so we never all went together.
Since I was the busiest of all, I only managed to attend about twice, but it was truly enjoyable.
Of course, it wasn't a famous tourist spot like Creta Island, just a nameless beach in the South.
Some people fished while others played in the water.
After playing for a while, we'd fill our bellies with meat we'd prepared for dinner and drink heavily while badmouthing our superiors.
There were plenty of complaints about missions, and I got roasted quite a bit because of Anna...
Still, looking back, those were the happiest times I spent in the Intelligence Agency.
It might be difficult right now because I'm busy, but once Imperial Princess Helena's matter is settled, I'll have some free time.
I don't plan on being an instructor for long; I intend to leave once the current trainees graduate.
Not that I'm saying I'm desperate for romance or marriage.
Even so, Old Man Daph nagged me yesterday, asking why I wasn't getting married.
When I told him I'd stop helping the Princess to date and marry, he retracted the suggestion immediately.
However, he did say he'd set me up once my work was successfully completed.
I refused because I had a feeling he'd bring some strange woman, but thinking about it now, it's a bit of a waste.
Since he had the eye to recognize Anna at a glance, he probably wouldn't have brought someone weird.
Lost in these thoughts, I suddenly noticed an island appearing in the distance.
After disembarking, I showed my ID to the guards and passed through the port, where the first thing that caught my eye were the towering buildings.
Not just the high-rises, but the polished roads, people in extravagant clothing, and carriages bustling about.
A tourist destination is truly something else.
After looking around, I arrived at the accommodation I had reserved.
[Unfading Light]
When I mentioned I was going to Creta, Old Man Daph had kindly made the reservation for me via communication crystal ball.
I heard this was the most popular spot in Creta; I wonder if this is the place.
It's significantly taller than the other buildings.
Upon entering, I found the interior spacious, and unlike typical inns, the decor was as luxurious as a noble's estate, complete with a small fountain in the lobby.
The magic automatic doors at the entrance were already a sign of something extraordinary, but it even had a magic elevator like the Magic Tower.
According to the directory beside it, the building went up to the 20th floor.
Not every floor was for guest rooms; it had everything from a swimming pool, bar, and restaurant to a training hall and library.
With a place this nice, wouldn't even the cheapest room be quite expensive?
Setting aside the cost, it's a famous tourist spot, so booking must have been difficult. He must be very grateful for my help with the Princess.
I was told to pick up the key at the information desk. Ah, is that it?
I headed toward the crowd and noticed the staff were all wearing blue uniforms.
Looking closer, there was a black wolf embroidered on the left chest.
I thought it might be a family crest, but the emblem of the Lapierre Viscountcy, the lords of Creta, is a white whale.
Other noble families wouldn't have been allowed to build such a structure here, so perhaps it's a merchant guild's emblem?
While I was pondering this, it was finally my turn.
"Welcome to the Unfading Light. Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes. It should be under Daph... no, Daph Neumann."
The employee scanned the list, but her expression seemed uneasy.
A silver-haired man who looked like a manager, who had been standing behind her, stepped up beside the employee.
Could it be that the reservation didn't go through?
"If it's not under that name, could you check if it's under Bio Rain?"
"Bio Rain... here it is! You've booked for seven days."
So he booked it under my name.
He could have just told me that beforehand.
But why seven days?
Since practical training ends on Friday, I thought I asked for it until then. Ah! I remember now.
While drinking last time, the old man said he was envious of my trip and mentioned he'd be coming on Friday evening.
"Yes, that's correct."
I took out my identification plaque and handed it over; after verifying it, she returned it to me.
"Your identity is confirmed. However..."
The employee stepped back, and the man who appeared to be the manager stepped forward.
"I'll take it from here. Hello, Baronet Bio Rain. I am Rayul, the manager of the Unfading Light."
"And?"
If the check was done, he should just give me the key.
"There is a slight issue with the room you reserved, so we were wondering if you'd be open to moving to a different one. In addition to refunding the difference in price, we would like to provide three meal tickets for the Roundtree Dining restaurant on the 19th floor."
I was about to agree, but the mention of the price difference and the free meal tickets felt a bit suspicious.
Offering such services usually means they're moving me from a good room to a bad one.
They aren't running a charity; they wouldn't give away freebies if they were moving me to a room of the same quality.
"What's the problem?"
"Ah, well... the Royal Suite Room you booked is the only one of its kind here at the Unfading Light..."
Royal Suite? The name alone sounded incredibly luxurious, and if there was only one, the old man had really gone all out.
"What's the issue with there being only one room?"
"That's..."
His hesitation was frustrating.
Every second spent here was eating away at my precious vacation.
"Manager, how long do you plan on keeping me waiting?"
At that moment, a blonde man who looked to be in his early thirties approached.
"Count Raymon, I apologize. The guest who booked first has arrived, so if you could just give us a little more time..."
"It's already been ten minutes... Is this him? Hey, you there, what's your name?"
What on earth is happening?
"I'm Bio Rain. And who might you be?"
"Didn't you hear me? Raymon Kreis. That is my name. Now, I'll pay you double the room rate, so hand it over."
Now I understood.
Because the room the old man booked was so prestigious, someone was trying to hijack it.
"Why aren't you answering? Are you deaf?"
You'd think he already owned the place.
Normally, the inn should shut down such absurd demands, but I suppose his status makes this possible.
Even a Count is a high noble, but unless he's in his own territory, he shouldn't be this pushy.
Raymon, the Mad Dog of the Kreis family.
He's the second son of Duke Kreis, the Great Lord of the West and overseer of the Northwestern Imperial Army.
He looks just like his father, the Duke, but his skills are abysmal and his personality is foul; he's a known degenerate whom only his father can control.
Perhaps he grew up a bit at eighteen, as he earned merit in local wars alongside his father and was granted the title of Count at twenty-five, despite being the second son.
However, as a former member of the Intelligence Agency, I know the truth.
The Western Legion had deliberately credited him with all the achievements.
I had intended to report this to the Emperor immediately, but the old man, who was close to the Duke, advised the Duke to report it himself.
Surprisingly, the Emperor took no action.
It was likely due to his relationship with the Duke, and the old man had also sided with the Duke at the request of Duke Marshall.
Since most of those achievements were actually the work of Duke Kreis, it didn't seem to be a major issue.
Even the territory he received as a Count was a vacant plot right next to the Duchy, meaning the Duke had essentially just carved off a piece of his own land.
"Why is this dog barking? If there's no problem with the room, just give me the key."
I might have considered it if he'd asked nicely, but this isn't the Kreis Duchy; the nerve of this guy.
"Wha... what did you say?"
"Um... Baronet Bio, please..."
"Baronet? How dare a mere Baronet!"
He stepped forward to grab me by the collar, so I simply pivoted and twisted his arm.
"Aaaaaagh!"
As he screamed, the staff and nearby tourists all turned to look.
"Now that I think about it, I missed a descriptor. You were the Mad Dog, right?"