Chapter 11
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 11: Trouble Breaks Out When You're Next to the Protagonist (2)
"Huu.... How was it?"
"Wow... That was really dizzying, Junior."
The assistant extended his hand to me, who had collapsed from exhaustion.
"I didn't know you would aim for my chest, so my reaction was late; if I hadn't blocked with full power, it would have been dangerous. That's really amazing?"
"Thank you."
"Are the two juniors over there okay too?"
"Yes, we're fine!"
After checking the condition of the three of us, the assistant began his feedback.
"First, shall we talk about the formation the three of you stood in? Standing with two in front and one in the back according to range was a good choice.
Looking at it, the two people standing in front seemed strong in anti-personnel combat, so the method where if one marks the enemy, the other attacks, was good."
He started with feedback on the formation first.
Our formation with Jean and Asel standing in front and me standing in the back.
He inferred the way we formed the formation based on facts found through sparring and praised that it was a well-founded formation arrangement.
After the formation feedback, he moved on to the contents of the spar.
"Do you remember during the spar when I moved to the swordsman junior's side to create a momentary 1-on-1 situation or threw the martial artist junior? That happened because your team combat experience is still lacking.
Although the spearman junior coordinated in between, there was a limit, right? Remember that having many people can become a hindrance if breathing doesn't match well."
The point we were mainly critiqued on was the lack of team activity rather than individual capability.
In fact, the mistake we made most in this spar lay in the movement with allies not being coordinated smoothly.
Aiming for that point, the assistant induced our movement paths to overlap, then dealt with us one by one or made us unable to react properly even when opportunities arose.
Since we felt that part most during the spar, we were able to accept the feedback clearly.
After the feedback, we returned to our seats.
After briefly reviewing the contents the assistant gave feedback on, we watched other groups.
Just in time, the Saintess's group was entering for sparring.
The Saintess's group consisted of her, Kyle, and a large-built student holding a sword and shield.
It seemed the large student took on the tanker role in front and the two were in charge of attacking from behind.
Their opponent was an assistant holding a greatsword.
He possessed a larger build than the tanker in the Saintess's group.
Since the suffering of the tanker friend was expected, I decided to pray for his soul in advance.
As expected, the spar was full of the tanker friend's suffering.
He did his best to mark the assistant and diligently received attacks.
In the meantime, the two diligently aimed for the assistant, but the result was obvious even without looking.
'Poor guy...'
It seemed he formed the group falling for the Saintess's name value, but he was practically no different from a sandbag.
Thanks to him, the two were attacking comfortably, but the opponent was an assistant with overwhelming skill.
Taking advantage of the fact that movements are large due to the nature of a greatsword, they seemed to be looking for openings, but the difference in capability was too big.
The result was a defeat like us, but they seemed to receive praise for grasping the opponent's weapon and dividing ally roles well, meaning it wasn't a bad attempt.
After all sparring ended, Professor Kell called the students to gather.
"From now on, you will perform many group projects. Someone here might become a comrade, or you might form a group with students from other departments. I hope you felt something about team play through this spar."
Ending with those words, he dismissed the students.
Since the lecture ended earlier than expected, we decided to eat together.
Just in time, since Asel and I had to submit a gourmet report to the club by this week, we were going to a place Asel suggested.
"I heard from a club senior that there is a delicious meat restaurant just a little away from the Knight Department building."
"Oh, meat is good. I lost some energy doing sparring today, so I should replenish my stamina there."
I worried if it would be crowded since it was a restaurant recommended by a club senior, but fortunately, thanks to the lecture ending a bit early, there weren't that many students around.
We didn't miss this opportunity and headed to the restaurant, arriving a few minutes later.
When we opened the restaurant door, a delicious scent brushed past our noses.
I could know just by smelling.
This is a gourmet restaurant.
Asel had received a recommendation for a proper place.
"Welcome! How many are you?"
"Three people."
"Yes~ Please sit at a comfortable seat!"
We looked around.
Even though we came quite early, perhaps because it was a definitely guaranteed gourmet restaurant, most tables had owners.
"That one over there is empty, shall we sit there?"
"Sure."
We headed to the empty seat Asel mentioned.
And I ended up seeing it.
The Pink Head I hadn't seen because it was hidden by the wall.
""Ah...""
We looked at each other and let out a small sigh.
Clutching my head, I said to Asel.
"Explain."
"A... No, I didn't know either!"
"Explain."
"Well, we're in the same club! Recommended restaurants are bound to be similar there! They have to find gourmet restaurants just the same."
Asel's words were correct.
Since he said he heard it from a club senior, the Saintess must have been there too.
Isn't it common sense that the Female Lead's club activities are done with the Male Leads?
Since she also sparred today, she must have wanted to eat meat.
This shop is near the Knight Department and the way there is close, so there was no reason not to come.
Asel gave all the clues, but it was my fault for forgetting that fact and coming here.
So it can't be helped.
If I had come to eat alone, maybe, but isn't Jean here too?
Asel? There was no mercy to give to a living, breathing Saintess detector.
I decided to compromise by sitting at the inner seat.
The Saintess seeing that appearance made a very aggrieved expression, but the justification was weak to say anything about me just sitting in the inner seat.
"Order please!"
"Yes, just a moment!"
There was a brief happening, but for now, we decided to order first.
Since it came to this, it seemed we should relieve stress by eating.
A few minutes later, the ordered meat came out.
We chatted while grilling the meat.
"The assistants we sparred with today were really strong."
"I know. How long will it take to reach that level?"
"About 2 years?"
"Oh, Ethan. You're overflowing with confidence? Then I'll go with 1 year."
"Phew..."
Somehow, Asel's words seemed like they would really come true.
Becoming the level of an assistant who already graduated in the 2nd year of the academy?
Commonsensically, it was impossible.
But who is Asel.
Isn't he a figure speculated to be in charge of martial power even among the Male Lead Candidates in a Romance Fantasy?
Considering the sudden appearance of warlocks and the birth of the Saintess.
Thinking of the countless conflicts and trials that will occur there, I was just afraid that Asel's words spat out like a joke could become reality.
While talking about this and that like that, Asel asked me.
"Ethan."
"Why?"
"Why do you dislike Alicia so much?"
"Alicia...? Who is that?"
".....?"
At my question, Asel made an expression asking how you don't know her.
At his appearance, I started seriously pondering who Alicia was.
In the meantime, what caught my eye was the Saintess looking this way with a shocked face.
Only then could I recall.
'Ah, the Saintess's name was Alicia.'
To maintain distance, I always called her Saintess when calling her, and since I called her Pink Head inwardly, I had forgotten her name.
I said with a nonchalant expression.
"Now look. Warlocks who disappeared from history for hundreds of years suddenly appeared, right?"
"Yeah, right?"
"And the Saintess appeared, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then whom would the warlocks target?"
"....The Saintess?"
"But the Saintess has the Holy Sword, which is a natural enemy to warlocks. Then the next person to target?"
"People around her?"
"That's it."
It was a very simple logic.
When warlocks invade the academy, the targets to be attacked most intensively are naturally the Saintess and her group.
If I stay in the eye of that storm, I'll have no choice but to choose between growing or dying.
Just by graduating here or dropping out when an opportunity arises and returning to my home country, only days of my life unfolding well remain, so why must I take such a gamble?
Since I'm a person with no affection for the original work, it didn't matter as long as my life unfolded well.
The protagonist Saintess? There wasn't even a tragedy tag, so she'll grow well on her own.
Rather, if I take away a fortuitous encounter in the process of helping her... I might needlessly twist my happy future.
"I cannot just listen to those words and pass them by."
At that moment, a man at the opposite table spoke.
It was the 6th Prince, Kyle.
"Franz Academy is a place nurturing the future of the Empire. Where do you think anti-state forces like cultists or rebels aim first? Naturally, the Empire and the Academy are preparing against intruders."
Those words were true.
Franz Academy is a place where only the best talents gather even within the continent.
Historically, there were many terrors targeting this place.
However, it only suffered damage a few times in the early days; afterward, the academy reached the point of practically turning into a fortress to protect students.
Around the academy, dozens to hundreds of defensive barriers were prepared to prevent external intrusion, and inside the academy, numerous veterans who were active in battlefields were protecting students under the name of professors.
Perhaps if one had to pick the safest place after the Imperial Palace within the Empire, it wouldn't be strange for the academy to come up, so there was no need to say more.
But what can be done.
This world is a Romance Fantasy, and the fact that the background is an academy means...
"Die, Saintess!"
Eventually, doesn't it mean there is a villain who pierces through these numerous defensive measures and enters?