Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Academy Entrance Exam (1)
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Rattle, rattle—.
The carriage was racing down the road.
Of course, the ride was far from comfortable. Every bump in the path jolted straight through to my body.
Thank goodness for the thick cushion on the seat; otherwise, my back would have been screaming in agony by now.
Elena, sitting across from me, let out a short sigh.
"Luke, keep frowning like that and your eyebrows might grow together. Are you that worried about the exam?"
"Not particularly..."
"Then why the sour face? Don't tell me you're unhappy sharing a carriage with me?"
"As if. Riding with you, milady, is an honor."
"You're so..."
Elena trailed off, turning her gaze out the window. The snowy landscape had given way to lush green fields.
'In the original story, we ran into bandits around here, didn't we...'
The reason I'd been furrowing my brow was because I'd been recalling the original plot.
But those memories were hazy now, like a painting weathered by time.
Then again, it had been nearly ten years since I possessed this body, so maybe that was inevitable.
If only I'd jotted it all down somewhere...
I'd been too busy adapting to this world to think of that.
How much time passed after that?
Elena had dozed off, her head resting against the window.
Neighhh—!
Suddenly, a horse whinnied, and the carriage lurched to a halt.
There was no such thing as a seatbelt in a carriage like this. I was fine, facing away from the driver's seat, but Elena pitched forward.
And since she'd been nodding off, she couldn't grab anything to steady herself.
"U-Ugh?!"
"Are you alright?"
Thankfully, I was right there across from her. She hadn't gotten hurt. She just blinked up at me with wide eyes from within my arms.
Regaining her composure, Elena returned to her seat and straightened her clothes.
"Luke, what happened?"
"Looks like bandits."
Several rough-looking men were visible outside the window, armed with swords and other cold steel weapons, surrounding the carriage.
At that moment, a snippet from the original story flashed in my mind.
'Elena definitely got taken hostage.'
Luke had shone in the end, saving her without injury, but it had been a wake-up call to her own vulnerability.
After that, she'd always hidden a dagger under her clothes.
Not that I had any intention of letting our lady turn into someone that dangerous.
A dagger? Too fierce. It didn't suit her.
"Milady, stay inside no matter what. I beg you, as your secret friend."
"I don't like just sitting still, but... fine."
I left the smiling Elena behind and stepped out of the carriage, the sword she'd gifted me strapped to my waist.
As soon as I emerged, the bandits' eyes turned to me.
"Hey, buddy. You alone? No one else?"
A man with a large scar over one eye—probably the leader—approached.
I ignored him and glanced sideways.
'Driver seems unharmed at least...'
He looked terrified, but no visible wounds.
Good. Both because an innocent man was safe, and because I wouldn't have to drive the carriage myself.
I'd learned how as a servant, but no need to volunteer.
I'm an examinee too, after all.
'Now, how to deal with these guys...'
Eight bandits in sight. Probably ten or more including those hidden by the carriage.
Against one on our side. Pure numbers made it hopeless.
"Give up, pal. Surrender and we'll make it quick."
Their confident smirks made sense—they thought they'd already won based on numbers alone.
But my dilemma wasn't about winning or losing.
It was how to handle them.
'No helping it...'
Targeting a Frozenheart Ducal Family carriage that fed me? First trial: death.
Aiming for the carriage carrying my lady Elena? Second trial: death.
Possible retaliation when the driver returns? Third trial: death.
Bang, bang, bang—.
Sentence finalized.
'Why do free-loaders never die out, no matter the era?'
Not that I had room to talk, freeloading as the lady's exclusive attendant.
I let out a long sigh and drew my sword.
There weren't many roads from the northern Empire to the central regions. Most of the north was rugged mountains.
Bandit leader Faern had exploited this, claiming one of the few viable paths.
Tall grasses provided cover, and the narrow road was perfect for surrounding carriages.
A road made for bandits.
Thanks to the terrain, his gang had racked up countless successful raids.
"Boss, this is a goldmine! Look at all this... how much you think?!"
"Cool it, kid. This is just the start. Don't get too excited yet."
Piles of gold coins, endless booze. Paradise on earth.
In just a few months, they'd amassed enough for a proper house in the capital in half a year, maybe a year.
Then quit banditry and live honestly.
Blood money from kills and thefts—who'd ever know?
Faern pursued his ambitions through more raids until the big one finally came.
"Boss! Frozenheart Ducal Family carriage!"
"Let it go. Tangling with knights would cost us."
"Wait... not two carriages, just one!"
Nobles earl-rank and up usually traveled with two: nobles up front, knights and servants behind.
But a ducal carriage alone? Odd.
Faern puzzled over it briefly, then shrugged it off.
"Let's go."
Reasons didn't matter. A once-in-a-lifetime shot at ducal loot.
Maybe a knight or two inside, at most.
Faern's guess was spot-on. Only one young knight stepped out.
Against over ten on their side. Victory was obvious without checking.
How much treasure were they carrying?
Faern grinned wickedly...
But it didn't last.
Thud—.
The knight swung his sword, and a head rolled across the ground.
Then two, three, four. Four dead in an instant.
His movements were efficient, strikes pinpointing weaknesses. No ordinary fighter.
Faern, who'd trained with swords once, could barely track it—his ragtag crew never stood a chance.
"K-Kill him! Take him down any way you can!"
Faern shouted, backing away. Instinct screamed he couldn't win.
'G-Good, actually. Better this way.'
He'd planned to ditch the crew once rich anyway. Dead weight for his new life.
Clang—!
Metal clashed fiercely as his men engaged fully.
Faern bolted at the same moment.
Tall grass would hide him, no matter how skilled the knight.
How far did he run?
"Ugh...!"
Faern tripped over something, tumbling into the grass amid a grassy scent.
'What, rocks on the ground...?'
As he looked up, a blood-soaked ghost loomed before him.
The sword in its hand gleamed brilliantly.
Drip—.
A drop of blood beaded on my sword tip and fell.
I sighed deeply, wiping blood from my face.
'Not exactly pleasant...'
I'd swung swords countless times, but this was my first real kill.
The tactile feedback through my hands, the scenes before my eyes—they lingered vividly.
Nothing for it but to get used to it. Holding a sword meant cutting someone down eventually.
I sheathed my trembling blade and stepped forward.
'What about my clothes, though?'
Soaked in their blood. Unpleasant aside, I couldn't board the carriage like this.
I had spare clothes, but without a wash, it'd just repeat.
'Maybe ask Elena...?'
Clinging to faint hope, I hurried back and soon reached the carriage.
"E-Exclusive attendant, sir...!"
The driver, pacing like a lost pup, rushed over.
"A-Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. And you?"
"You saved me. Thank you."
He bowed deeply in gratitude.
I gave an awkward smile in reply and turned—straight to Elena, naturally.
She'd flung the door wide and was sitting on the steps.
I sighed shortly and approached.
"Milady, you shouldn't sit like that. Dignity..."
"Worry about your own state before lecturing me on dignity."
"Sorry for the gruesome sight. But this was unavoidable..."
Elena sighed and snapped her fingers.
Snap—.
A magic circle bloomed underfoot. It glowed, and the blood vanished—clothes, body, even sword.
A miracle. No, magic.
"Let's go."
Elena brushed off her rear nonchalantly and retreated inside.
Stunned, I stood frozen before boarding belatedly.
Rattle—.
The carriage resumed with a faint jolt.
Elena's gaze turned to me.
"Luke."
"Yes, milady."
"Good work."
"Just doing my duty."
"Still, don't do it alone next time."
I couldn't respond. As a servant, I couldn't agree; as her secret friend, rejecting her felt wrong.
What a pickle...
Half a day later, past midnight, we reached the city near the Academy.
Exhausted from the day's ride, Elena and I checked into an inn and slept.
The next day arrived.
The day of the Academy entrance exam.
"Luke, I have no intention of failing this exam."
"Haha..."
Of course I didn't plan to fail either, but why did her words sound so intimidating? Go figure.