The Second Prince's Seclusion (4)
The next day.
From the previous day, rumors had spread secretly through the First Prince's faction.
These rumors, separate from the news of the Second Prince's seclusion, rocked the academy in a whole new way.
Zeke heard the story that morning while receiving bread from Soy Spoon.
Tch, that sly fox. If he knows the full context from the rumors, he's playing us all. The kids don't realize it.
The First Prince had kept his promise.
By emphasizing that it was his own 'request,' he implied Zeke wasn't someone to be trifled with, offering him protection.
At the same time, he showed generosity to the Second Prince's faction.
And by discussing future matters, he subtly revealed his intent to recruit Zeke.
Hm?
Zeke frowned at the sudden heaviness in his hand.
"Elise."
"Yes?"
"This bread's a bit heavier than usual."
"Ah! Yes, it is! You noticed right away? Ahem. I knew you use it as a weapon, Instructor! So I made it a little harder than normal!"
Soy thrust out her chest, appealing like did I do good?
Hmm. I'll have to test it, but the kids coming to class today are in for it.
Zeke swallowed the words, seeing the expectation in her eyes.
Instead, he commented on the texture.
"But starting tomorrow, go back to the usual bread. This is too hard to eat."
"Huh? You're going to eat it?"
"Yeah. I don't waste food."
Soy was stunned.
She'd assumed he'd toss out any dirty bread after using it on students.
Our bread is so delicious—how could he just use it to hit people without eating it!
Recently, some customers had visited the bakery seeking the bread Zeke used as a weapon, which had made her feel oddly resentful.
But he was going to eat it!
"Uh, um. Anyway! H-how was the taste?"
"Delicious. Stayed soft even after time passed. Nice."
"Hehehe…"
Soy beamed at the praise for her bread.
"Th-then should I bring today's bread back too? It's tight on time before the common class, but I'm really fast at running!"
"No need. I'd feel bad making you rush. I'll use this today."
"Okay, see you later!"
Soy bowed energetically and left.
Oh? You're coming to class today? Should've asked her to bring more then…
But her claim about being fast was true.
She was already sprinting energetically toward the training grounds entrance.
Hm, good physical ability. As expected of a heroine. In the original novel, the protagonist's fate draws protagonists to them.
Whoosh—
Boom!
Zeke swung the bread experimentally, cratering the ground.
Soy? What the hell did you make?
*
After Zeke finished his personal training, as students' lunch break ended.
A large crowd gathered for his class.
"That instructor really uses bread? For real?"
"Yeah. I'm taking this class. I know the entrance ceremony story was true now."
"True. No one expected a duel with the Second Prince there."
"Suck in that breath—that strong? Could we recruit him to our knight order…?"
"Hey, no way. Looks like the First Prince got him first. You wanna spit in that?"
Commoners who remembered Zeke's words from the entrance ceremony.
Noble students wary of him for beating the Second Prince, but drawn by his ties to the First Prince.
Some came to gauge his skills out of admiration or suspicion.
And Soy Spoon too.
He said training would be brutal, but so many people… Can I really do this?
Soy had confidence in her strength and speed from years of odd jobs.
But she'd never held a sword beyond a kitchen knife.
No, the instructor said he wanted me in his class. I must have some talent.
"Hey, was the training ground always like this?"
"Yeah, what are all these craters?"
"What's this?"
The training ground was pocked with deep craters, big enough for several people.
Traces of Zeke adapting to the hardening bread during practice, adjusting his strength.
A light mana coating, swung 100 times in the same spot—craters formed.
Hm, with so many of you, just spinning around would be boring. So I prepared this myself. Kids, feel free to be impressed.
Zeke planned to use the craters for student training.
"Oh? It's the instructor."
Gazes turned to Zeke.
He scanned the students and called Eric.
"Eric."
"…Y-yes."
Eric snapped out of his daze at Zeke's voice.
He'd been verifying the First Prince rumor that morning.
Couldn't watch Zeke's training from the start.
After reporting to the principal, heading to the grounds—
Boom. Boom. Echoing sounds.
Zeke cratering the earth with bread.
A feat beyond overwhelming the Second Prince with swordsmanship.
Is this absurd feat even possible through training…?
The bread had mere dirt smudges—no scratches.
"So, how many showed up?"
"Capped at max 200."
"200?"
"Yes. Non-participants rescheduled."
Zeke nodded and stepped forward.
"I'm Zeke Clayman, swordsmanship instructor at Lamieli Academy."
"Crazy bastard's really holding bread…"
A student's mutter drew Zeke's cold gaze.
His face paled, hiccuping.
"Hic! …I'll do a 13-syllable acrostic! Hic!"
Good reflexes. Spared.
Zeke looked away.
"You probably know already, but my training is harsh. I'll only take those who endure. Others, out. Got it?"
"Yes!!"
"Good. Line up, grab sandbags—one set per leg."
Overwhelmed by Zeke's presence, students formed neat lines, tying sandbags to ankles.
No wrist weights enough for all—unavoidable.
Make the course tough then. Gotta test Soy Spoon's stats today—try everything.
"Four groups of 50. Pass first crater, circle clockwise to last and back. 10-min rest, repeat 10 times. Eric, divide groups."
"Yes."
Eric weaved through, splitting into four groups of 50.
*
Students stood tensely in line.
Some exuded confidence—those trained with knights since childhood.
"Phew, this is nothing. I'm from the White Lotus Kids Knight Order."
"White Lotus Kids? Which batch?"
"14th."
"Since when does 14th drop honorifics to 12th?"
"Gasp! You joined that young? Senior!"
"Mm, nice meeting a junior. I could do this walking backward."
"As expected!!"
Everyone has grand plans before starting.
Until hit by the baguette.
They forgot specialized students had trained far longer, more seriously.
Moments later.
"Huff— huff— We're the cool! White! Lotus! Kids! Knight! Order! Many! And! Many!"
"Hiiik— hiik— Senior, screw White Lotus—we're all fucked."
"Don't give up! Junior! Guh!"
Thwack!
"Tighten your ankles. Or you'll get hurt."
Thwack!
"Kuhek! Wh-why me…?"
"Ah, sorry. Keep going."
"…"
Zeke patrolled craters, bread-whacking poor posture.
Soy Spoon got it too.
Why's he so strict only with me!
Already hit several times on waist and back by her own bread.
Others got one—she got three.
Others got leniency for minor slips; he nitpicked her details.
Tears welled in grievance.
I'm human too!!
Soy bit her lip, straining to climb, barely gripping crater edge.
Thwack!
"Ow!"
"Elise, don't use wrists—pull with your back."
She glared through teary eyes, but Zeke was expressionless.
"Why… why me!?"
"Expectations."
I don't need that kinda expectation!
Soy admitted her resolve was too light.
Too hasty promising her benefactor.
But weakness? Worse than death.
Commoner life without father—underestimation meant getting eaten alive.
"Hup!"
She tensed her back, climbing the final crater.
"Good."
Group 1 finished craters; Zeke moved to next drill.
"Bodies warmed. Now agility training. Next groups follow—watch."
Th-this is just warming up?
Students' faces turned ashen.
* * *
Finally, the endless time passed.
All students collapsed like corpses.
Not one stood properly.
"Patrasche… sleep's coming…"
"Kiiing…"
Zeke approached Soy Spoon, sprawled face-down.
"You okay?"
She mumbled from the ground.
"Instructor, I don't wanna do it. No… I can't…"
She'd come lightly, but endured lifetime agony.
Her gritted successes prompted Zeke to ramp intensity, gifting hell.
No more hits, no more pain.
Tears flowed freely. She rubbed eyes with arms.
Soy had no desire for Lamieli Academy this grueling.
Yeah, learn accounting, earn money, hire guards.
The thought hit while running, fearing heart burst.
"I'm dropping your swordsmanship class."
Her quavering declaration!
Zeke panicked—foundation of plans crumbling.
Did I overdo it? They all handled tests well…
Soy had talent.
Superior agility, keen senses.
Muscle use lacking, but full potential…
Watching her, Zeke plotted sword-and-buckler build exploiting strengths.
Hey! Romance-fantasy heroine wielding sword? Way cooler than damsel. Live actively!
Overdid testing talents.
Must dissuade.
"Think again."
"No."
"I want you in my class."
"No. Not doing it. Go away."
Her firm refusal furrowed Zeke's brow.
Sigh… really didn't wanna stoop this low…
Zeke gazed afar like distant mountains, casual tone.
"Listen up. Got a fun story."
Prone kids perked ears.
"Few days ago, met Soy Spoon by chance. Saved her mother."
"Soy Spoon? What's that?"
"Dunno… tired…"
"Bought her bread too. For one gold coin."
Bread!? Eyes snapped open.
But heads too heavy to turn.
One-gold-coin bread? Explains… Strongest bread… Hilais Bakery's…
Murmurs rose.
Everyone knew the source from the cloth on Zeke's bread.
"Taught how to protect her family from those bastards too."
Soy's eyes twitched violently.
"And Soy Spoon's name too… Mmph!"
Suddenly, she bolted up, clamped Zeke's mouth, scanned around.
"Soy Spoon? Mudsucker? What?"
"Huh? Name? Ugh, dying."
"Nah, can't be a name. Nickname. Oof…"
Luckily, kids delirious, half-asleep mumbling.
She bit lip hard, whispered urgently in Zeke's ear.
"O-okay!! I'll do it!! Just stop saying that name!!"
Zeke nodded, mouth covered.
She sighed deeply, released hand.
Training hellish, truly hated it…
But debts spilling from his mouth killed her refusal.
Without him, might not be here… Blackmail! Evil man!
Soy looked skyward. Thoroughly entangled wrong.
Haa… how'd it come to this…
She narrowed eyes, glared at Zeke.
How could someone be so infuriating.
He brushed gaze lightly.
"All for your good."
"Shut up!!!"
Hey, I hate this too. Someone's gotta do it.
Mm. Mm. Zeke nodded.
Soy, glaring, vowed floppy bread tomorrow—then switched.
No. Can't suffer alone!!!
Tomorrow, harder bread.
Hilais Bakery's legendary mega-bread awakened.