Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: A Rewarding Entrance Ceremony
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A long cascade of silvery-white hair fell to her waist, and near the nape was a blue ribbon—gifted by her master in childhood—tied into a butterfly shape.
Her electric-blue eyes sparkled with mischief, and her playful smile carried a belligerent edge, the kind that relished a good fight.
"Wh-wh-what are you! Ch-challenging Lord Rubelt to a match! Such rude, shameless…!"
"Lady Eli. That's not what I meant."
"Huh?"
"…I meant this."
Whisper whisper
"Ah, a-ah! I see, that's what you meant! Still rude!"
Eli's gotten a bit bolder in her thinking ever since we hooked up.
But she's adorable like that.
"Picking a fight with Rubelt out of nowhere? Even back in high school, guys would hassle you over your popularity. Guess that works for you too, Rubelt."
Isihoon shook his head, reminiscing about high school.
Even so, he'd step up for me if things got dicey.
That's the bond we've built over the years.
"N-no fighting on the first day of school!"
"Want me to handle it, Rubelt? Time to show what training's done for me."
Yume was trying to calm Denrai Chisaki down to keep things from escalating, while Kagura glared daggers at her.
Despite the unfriendly stares, Chisaki just grinned wider.
"Ooh~ So popular. Plenty of challengers for me… but I'd love to start with you, Young Master Rubelt~."
"You…!"
Before Eli could snap back, I spoke up first.
"Feel free to call me junior apprentice, Senior Apprentice Denrai Chisaki."
"Junior apprentice?"
Everyone but Rize looked puzzled, glancing between Chisaki and me.
"Oh, so polite? Figured a rich kid like you'd be a snob."
"I've been taught manners befitting my station, Senior Apprentice Denrai Chisaki."
"If it creeps you out that much, just call me Chisaki. We're the same age—drop the formal speech too, eww~."
"If that's what you want, Chisaki."
"Um… Lord Rubelt? Who exactly is this? Junior apprentice…?"
"She's my Heavenly Thunder Style tutor, Master Denrai Satoru's daughter, Denrai Chisaki. She trained under him before I did, so she's my senior apprentice."
"Oh, really?"
"So that challenge earlier was just a sparring request."
"Huh, is that it?"
"Someone Rubelt already knows."
Everyone relaxed at my explanation.
Chisaki waved off Kagura's comment.
"Know him? First time meeting. But… I've been dying to see the guy my dad broke tradition for. Wonder what kind of freak he raised with all that fuss."
She narrowed her eyes, brimming with curiosity.
"I was dying to know if he really has talent worth teaching."
Tradition got broken by money.
Master probably glossed over it to save face as a dad.
"Huh? Wanna spar? You're game, right?"
"Sure. I've always wanted to test the skills Master brags about too."
"For real? Hehe, then… we're on?"
"Yeah, let's spar as fellow apprentices. Not right now, though. How about during practicals? Plenty of chances then."
"We get along great. Deal~ See you in practicals. Can't wait for your skills, Young Master Rubelt~."
Satisfied with my answer, Chisaki flashed a grin and headed back to her seat.
"She's… kinda unique."
"Even I was surprised by her vibe."
Lies.
I already knew Denrai Chisaki's personality.
"Lord Rubelt! Show that cheeky senior what you're made of! I'll cheer you on!"
"M-me too!"
"You got this, Rubelt! Hmph! No pamphlet for her!"
Kagura.
If you're gonna say that, don't look so bummed about losing a potential customer.
Still, their reactions were fun.
The first morning of school focused on theory classes.
Basics on dungeons.
Tactics for facing monsters.
Explanations of simple skills and spells.
For me, Eli, and Rize, it was all review.
Time flew by to lunch.
We headed to the cafeteria for a meal.
In this world, hunters were humanity's precious hope—valuable resources.
And unlike the original story, with hefty funding, the welfare here was top-notch.
"Whoa, what's this? King crab and roast beef for free? Just tap what you want?"
"Yep."
"Prometheus Academy is the best."
Lunch was free for everyone.
Menus were diverse, cooked by top-tier retired hunters turned chefs with solid stamina.
In the original game, it cost money, but now Eldra funding made it gratis.
Partly to flex my influence here.
But with all the work ahead—beyond just conquering the academy, tackling the final boss—I couldn't stomach bad food.
People run on good eats, after all.
"Woooah! Food! Real food!"
"Academy's the best! Woo!"
"Gotta watch the calories…"
"This isn't just today, right?"
Other students marveled at the lavish spread.
Made the investment worthwhile.
We grabbed our trays and sat at an empty table.
That table.
"Mind if I join~?"
Denrai Chisaki slid right in without hesitation.
"You again?"
"What's up?"
"Huh? Eating together~? Figured I'd get buddy-buddy with my junior apprentice, Young Master Rubelt~?"
Chisaki spoke playfully, with a sly grin.
My beloved fiancée Eli wasn't thrilled from the first impression.
"If you're gonna hang, couldn't you start with some class? Not street-thug."
"Ooh~ The fiancée's mad? Sorry~ But how can I resist when I'm so curious about your skills?"
"Curious doesn't make it sound hostile."
Chisaki shrugged off Kagura's jab with nonchalance.
"Cut me some slack~ Our sword style's one-on-one lineage, but Dad's always out tutoring, so… he flat-out forbade me from meeting you despite my begging. Made me super curious."
Blame Master's doting.
"Plus… he brought home this amazing liquor called Brainstorm Brew—Dad loves booze—but said he had to share the first sip with you. Didn't give me any! And the day he drank it with you? Chugged the whole bottle! I wanted some too!"
So the attitude was over booze.
"Thirsty? I can get another bottle. This time, Master and his girl can share nicely."
"Whoa, really?"
"Don't want my drinks causing family drama. I know all about Master's daughter-love from my lessons."
"Waa~ Turns out my junior's got a great personality, generous, hot too—yeah! One of a kind~! Best junior ever!"
Her snark vanished.
Chisaki gave me a thumbs-up, switching "Young Master" to "junior."
Bribes work just like on Master.
"Still… you'll spar, right? Booze or no."
"Of course."
"Grr! Dad's gonna love you! Yeah!"
"Who even is this girl?"
"Such a loud one."
Eli and Isihoon eyed Chisaki's instant flip with distaste.
After lunch.
Afternoon class gathered all cadets—new and old—back in the auditorium.
"Hepai distribution starts now! Come up one by one!"
Most cadets lined up neatly.
Hepai—the hunter world's revolutionary tool, newly adopted this year.
Academy rolled it out now, but the industry started a month ago. Its convenience and safety were common knowledge.
Biggest buzz: summon/swap weapons freely for easier handling, and skin-sticking mana barriers freed up fashion choices.
Practical hunters might layer armor over barriers for safety.
But for flaunting style or speed-focused types, it was a godsend.
Freshmen uninformed till lunch briefing now eyed it eagerly.
Me, Rize, Isihoon, and Yume—who got ours early—watched idly.
"Rubelt, shouldn't we line up?"
"We already have 'em. Told the faculty ahead—no worries."
"When?"
"Pre-enrollment, sent our names under Eldra for early delivery. Saves them extras."
"Hmm~ Feels like we're cutting, sorry."
"No need, Yume. No big difference from getting it now."
"You think?"
While waiting for everyone else, I whispered to Rize alone.
"Rize."
"Yes, Young Master."
"After academy today, take Eli, Kagura, and Yume to a café. Help them bond."
"Understood. …Lay some groundwork for you too?"
"You read my mind. Thanks."
Rize is my perfect maid.
She gets it without me spelling it out.
Once distribution wrapped.
"Now! Hepai practice time! One hour—test 'em freely!"
"Junior~! Let's try it out~!"
Teacher's words barely done, Chisaki bolted our way.