Chapter 5
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 5: It Wasn't Fantasy, But Romance Fantasy (2)
The Saintess, who should definitely be in the Theology Department, was in the Knight Department lecture room.
And sitting in the very front row at that.
However, it seemed I was the only one who thought this was strange; although everyone was stealing glances at the Saintess, no one looked at her strangely.
Not understanding this situation, I asked a male student nearby.
"Excuse me, isn't the Saintess supposed to be in the Theology Department? Why is she here?"
"Ah, you didn't know. The Saintess belongs to the Knight Department. The Vatican suggested enrolling in the Theology Department, but since she received a sword from the Goddess, she said she wanted to study swordsmanship more, so she came to the Knight Department."
".....I see. Thank you for telling me."
"It's nothing, really."
'...Can things get this twisted?'
Even Paladins go to the Theology Department, not the Knight Department, so I didn't know the Saintess would come to the Knight Department just because she held a sword.
Since the plan to eliminate contact points itself and make sure we never get involved was twisted from the first button, I decided to sit in the back seat, the exact opposite side from the Saintess.
10 minutes later, it was lecture time.
Perhaps there were no bold students late on the first day; the lecture room, which was not even half full 10 minutes ago, was filled up for the most part.
However, whether it was because there were no model students or because the Saintess was burdensome, the seats next to her were all empty.
It was then.
The lecture room door opened, and a male student walked in.
He was a handsome man with blond hair and golden eyes reminiscent of the sun.
His appearance, looking somewhat delicate yet overflowing with confidence, instantly captivated the gazes of the female students who had arrived earlier.
He looked around the lecture room, realized there were not many empty seats, and sat next to the Saintess as if it couldn't be helped.
As he lightly greeted the Saintess and sat down, the surrounding female students started making squealing noises, looking like they were dying of happiness.
The moment I saw that scene, I could intuitively feel it.
That man. He's a Male Lead Candidate.
I knew who that person was.
In this country, the only ones with blond hair and golden eyes were the Imperial Family, so I couldn't not know.
Just as I came to Franz Academy for the sake of solidarity with the Empire, a member of the Imperial Family enrolled this year to represent the Empire.
The 6th Prince of the Franz Empire, Kyle Franz.
He was a figure I had no interest in until I learned the fact that I had been possessed into a Romance Fantasy novel.
Since he's the 6th Prince, his succession rank is pushed back significantly, and since he's not someone related to the Baran Kingdom, ordinarily, there wouldn't be much reason to get involved with him.
But now it was different.
He sat next to the Saintess from the very first day of class?
This was undeniable evidence.
Whether that was pure coincidence or a calculated move to get close to the Saintess, with that appearance and that status, that man has no choice but to be a Male Lead Candidate.
I decided to raise his danger level to the maximum.
The commotion caused by the Prince sitting next to the Saintess calmed down as the professor arrived.
When he first opened the lecture room door, the professor looked puzzled by the squealing sounds of the female students, but seeing the two men and women sitting right in front of the podium, he seemed to understand and instantly gathered attention by lightly tapping the blackboard.
"Now, attention. I explained briefly at the entrance ceremony, but let me introduce myself again. I am Kell Dre, the head professor of the Knight Department and in charge of Basic Combat Studies. I look forward to working with you for the next year."
Clap clap clap clap clap clap.
At his introduction, the students responded with applause.
Listening to the applause for a moment, he began the orientation as soon as the sound subsided.
"Basic Combat Studies is a mandatory course for first-year Knight Department students. As the name suggests, it is focused on increasing understanding and experience regarding all combat."
He began to write a few words on the blackboard.
Enemy Type, Scale, Location, Objective.
"The types of combat are diverse, but broadly, they can be expressed like this. If the enemy is a human or a humanoid monster and is alone, it becomes anti-personnel combat, and if the location is a city, it becomes urban warfare."
He explained a few more combinations and examples, then continued.
"Until now, most of you probably focused on raising your individual skills. Basic Combat Studies exists to teach you how to use your power and to fill you with diverse experiences.
From now on, you will perform missions individually or in groups while taking this class. Therefore, today, we will take time to learn about each other's capabilities."
Having said that, he looked at the students and asked.
"Is there anyone who wants to listen to a lecture from the first day?"
"""No!!!"""
"Good, then come outside!"
A moment later, we gathered at the training grounds.
Since the academy uniform was magically processed, it also served the role of gym clothes, so it didn't take long.
Checking that all students had gathered, Professor Kell clapped his hands to focus the students' attention.
"The fastest way to understand each other's skills is to cross weapons. Therefore, we will begin 1-on-1 sparring from now on."
The students were flustered by the declaration of sparring starting from the first day of class.
However, some among them made expressions of competitiveness or smiled leisurely.
If I had to categorize myself, I belonged to the latter.
Franz Academy is counted as the best academy on the continent.
Although I didn't enroll here because I wanted to, after my enrollment was decided, I was always curious.
'Just where do I stand here?'
My level is an Aura User. Based on Baran Academy standards, I am in the upper tier among freshmen.
Then what about here?
I will find out before long.
"Now, draw a number ticket here. Two people who draw the same number will spar."
The assistants next to Professor Kell held out boxes.
Since there were many students, it seemed they divided the number tickets into several boxes.
A moment later, when all students had drawn number tickets, Professor Kell proceeded with the sparring.
"The two people who drew number 1, come forward."
As it happened, the number I drew was number 1.
I didn't know I would be sparring first, but I wasn't particularly nervous or anything.
After drawing the ticket, I picked up the wooden spear I had prepared and went up to the sparring arena first.
But suddenly, the watching students became noisy.
"Woah! It's the Sword Saintess!"
"I don't know who he is, but facing the Sword Saintess from the very first spar, he's pitiful."
"To think we can see the Saintess's skills already, I'm looking forward to it!"
Leaving the murmuring students behind, a slender female student came up to the sparring arena.
Putting down the holy sword she usually carried for a moment, she took a stance holding a wooden sword for sparring.
A calm attitude could be glimpsed in the pink eyes looking at me.
"Before the two of you spar, reveal your names."
At Professor Kell's words, the female student revealed herself first.
"Knight Department 1st Year. Alicia Florean."
"....Knight Department 1st Year. Ethan Ibres."
That's right.
What kind of trick of fate is this?
My opponent, out of all those many students, just happened to be the protagonist of this world.
"Then, start sparring!"
With Professor Kell's declaration to start, the spar began and...
"....Uh?"
A conclusion was reached not even a few minutes later.
The Saintess staring blankly at the wooden spear aimed at her neck with an expression of disbelief.
I said to her.
"Good work."
"......?"
"Then, I'll be going."
The Saintess seemed not to have come to her senses yet as there was no reaction, but I bowed politely to her and came down from the sparring arena.
I won against the Saintess, but I didn't feel much inspiration.
In the first place, she was a noble young lady before becoming a Saintess, so isn't her body one that hasn't even held a sword for a few months?
Since she held a wooden sword instead of the holy sword because it was a spar, it was natural that she couldn't beat me holding a spear.
However, it seemed I was the only one thinking that.
When I came down from the sparring arena, the students who were noisy about the Saintess's spar just a moment ago became quiet.
"....The Saintess lost?"
"Did you see how the Saintess lost? I don't know."
"Who is he?"
Students murmuring amongst themselves about me.
It wasn't very pleasant, but I decided to think it couldn't be helped since I fought and won against a Romance Fantasy female lead.
"Now everyone quiet. Until when do you plan to chatter. The two people who drew number 2, come forward."
Professor Kell, perhaps thinking time would be delayed at this rate, immediately proceeded to the next spar.
Number 3, number 4, number 5....
The sparring continued.
Some were evenly matched, and some had such a large difference that it didn't even constitute a match.
In the case of the Male Lead Candidate Kyle Franz, he exchanged blows with his opponent using standard yet clean swordsmanship before winning.
With his refined appearance and attitude respecting his opponent until the end, he made the watching female students scream once again.
There were a few people who caught my eye during this sparring session, and one of them was a handsome man who showed a belligerent fighting style.
He won by pressuring his opponent with domineering swordsmanship, and after the spar ended, he reached out his hand to help up the opponent who had fallen backward.
The other person was a cold-style beauty who suited a ponytail well.
She used a greatsword, and even though she used a wooden practice greatsword, she ended the match by shattering her opponent's weapon in a single exchange.
Seeing her look indifferently at the opponent staring blankly at their broken weapon and then turn around to leave the sparring arena, it seemed that woman also played a role of a supporting character or higher in the original work.
Afterward, the sparring of all students ended, and the first lecture time of Basic Combat Studies concluded.
While I was about to leave after returning to the lecture room and packing my things, thinking I should look around the area a bit, someone called me.
"Excuse me, wait a moment!"
"....What is it?"
It was none other than the Pink Head... no, the Saintess.