Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Secret Friend is Enough (3)
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Shabel was a professor in the Swordsmanship Department, and I was one of her students, wasn't I? In fact, we could already call our relationship that of master and disciple.
Her offer of becoming her direct disciple was probably one step beyond that. I'd never been anyone's direct disciple before, so I couldn't say for sure.
"Truth be told, it's quite rare for the master to propose this themselves, but I'd appreciate it if you could think positively about it. I've given this a lot of thought before bringing it up."
Positively, huh...
Honestly, it wasn't a very appealing offer.
Shabel drew a ton of attention due to her reputation as a female knight whose strength rivaled that of a Sword Saint.
Becoming her first direct disciple? My name would naturally spread far and wide alongside hers. I'd end up the talk of high society for sure.
Dealing with attention at the Academy was burdensome enough—what more if the whole world turned its eyes on me...
It was the complete opposite of my plan to live quietly like a mouse. This was something I absolutely shouldn't do, even more than participating in that friendly match.
But I couldn't dismiss it outright. There might be benefits to being a direct disciple that outweighed the downsides.
So there was only one thing to do right now.
"Could you explain exactly what a direct disciple entails?"
"Just as it sounds—my direct disciple. Even if you leave the Academy, that relationship would continue."
"And what advantages come with becoming one?"
"Well, it varies by master, but I intend to pass on everything I have. All the experiences I've gained so far, even the secret techniques I've kept hidden."
Sip...
Hearing it laid out like that, it didn't sound half bad. Her handing over everything she'd learned through blood, sweat, and tears was basically free gains for me.
And secret techniques? Just the name alone made them sound powerful. Any man—knight or mage—would be tempted.
Who knows? Maybe I'd even learn to fly around on a sword.
"Wouldn't that cause complaints among the other students? Me becoming your direct disciple means I'd get more attention than them."
In short, it was a matter of fairness. Even if we were all students, if someone got blatant favoritism, others might resent it and challenge their grades.
Even if it was just rumors—like leaking exam questions or fudging scores—it could still cause damage.
And most students were nobles, weren't they? They'd chase that kind of gossip like hawks, so I'd have to be extra careful.
"Nothing like that will happen. As you know, eyes can be fooled, but the sword never lies. Besides, everyone would understand if you're my direct disciple."
What the heck made a direct disciple so special?
Or maybe I'd just lived in too harsh a world...
Did those thoughts show on my face? Shabel tilted her head.
"Do you not know what a direct disciple is?"
"Yes, it's my first time hearing the term."
"I figured as much..."
Shabel let out a sigh and slumped her shoulders.
I had no idea what was going on, so I just blinked at her vacantly.
"To put it simply, it's the one disciple you take for life. Well, that's just an unwritten rule among knights..."
Shabel explained what a direct disciple was.
It was the sole disciple who could invoke the master's name, and knights only ever took one in their lifetime—it was an unspoken tradition.
I'd thought it was just a closer mentor-student bond, but it sounded far deeper than I'd imagined.
Okay, I got that much, but...
'Why me, of all people...?'
Someone teaching at the Academy level could surely spot student potential. It wouldn't be hard for her to see that others had more talent than some backwater kid like me.
Sure, I'd taken first in the last two exams, but that was just a fluke. Yubel would surpass me by the second semester, no doubt.
I hated the spotlight, that much was true—but regardless, I couldn't fathom why she'd pick me.
"It feels like too much honor for someone like me..."
"You're undervaluing yourself too much. The exact opposite of those nobles strutting around on half-baked skills."
"I just think objectively that I'm lacking."
My father who'd taught me the sword as a child, and Chrome who'd mentored me in the Frozenheart household. Compared to them, I was hopelessly inadequate.
Of course, comparing myself to Northern frontline veterans was unfair to begin with...
Either way, my shortcomings were real.
"You should have a bit more confidence, but it doesn't really matter. You don't seem the type to slack off from discouragement."
"I do get discouraged sometimes..."
Like when the exam results came out and I learned I had to compete in the friendly match. That was beyond discouragement—pure despair.
Did that show on my face? Shabel burst out laughing with a "Pfft—."
"Just kidding. Anyway, I'd appreciate it if you thought positively about what we've discussed."
"Do I need to give you an answer right now?"
"Of course not. Come find me whenever you're ready."
That wrapped up our conversation. I bowed to Shabel and left the professor's office.
Next, I headed straight to the gardening clubroom, as expected.
Elena would surely be here without me saying a word...
...or so I thought?
Ironically, the clubroom was empty. But the faint scent of tea lingered, so they'd been here recently.
The bags were still there, so they hadn't left together...
I turned on my heel and soon arrived at the garden plot managed by the gardening club.
"Cain, are you seriously doing that with a seedling trowel?"
"W-what else am I supposed to do? I'm not used to manual labor."
"Well, weeding is important too. Don't push him too hard."
The idiot trio was squatting in the plot, doing something. Piles of weeds nearby suggested they were pulling them out.
Next to them, Erze, Elena, and Evie were doing the same.
'These guys wouldn't even think of helping when it was my turn...'
Erze and Elena had turned me down, so that was fine. I wasn't in a position to ask favors anyway.
Evie always helped diligently—I actually felt bad about it.
But the idiot trio was different. Evan being a prince was one thing, but Yubel and Cain were downright infuriating.
I got wanting to impress Elena, but their intentions were so transparent it was pathetic. They weren't earning points—they were losing them.
No wonder they were the idiot trio.
As I sighed inwardly,
"U-ugh?!"
Cain, yanking a weed, toppled backward and fell on his butt.
Everyone burst out laughing at the sight. Then Erze's gaze landed on me. She smiled warmly.
"Luke, come on over."
"Sorry I'm late."
"No need to apologize. It's not like you skipped on purpose. And clubs aren't mandatory anyway."
Maybe for others, but for me, it might as well have been.
Would you skip if your lady was watering plants? Or digging in the dirt?
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't dodge those questions.
Not that I wanted to escape, of course.
"I'll finish up the rest. Everyone else, go rest."
I said that and rolled up my uniform sleeves.
But no matter how long I waited, Erze showed no sign of getting up.
Elena beside her just stared at me steadily, rooted in place.
"Our hands are already dirty anyway—why not finish together?"
"I was thinking the same, Your Highness."
I appreciated the sentiment, but it only made me more uneasy. My lady and a princess, of all people.
I couldn't very well say no, though...
Just as I nodded along and was about to start, I noticed the trio hunching down again.
They'd apparently planned to quit after hearing me, but with Erze insisting on continuing, they had no choice but to squat back down.
There was no more disappointment left to feel, so I decided not to mind them. It wasn't the first time I'd seen this.
Still, it pissed me off more the longer I thought about it. Should I swing a carrot at them or what?
As I sighed deeply to myself, Elena sidled up beside me.
"Luke, I heard from Yubel. You got first on the exam?"
"Undeservedly so."
"Undeserved? You earned it through hard work."
"You're too kind."
"Argh, want me to bury you? Why do you keep saying it's undeserved?"
Because it really was.
Of course, I couldn't say that. Three times might actually get me buried.
She really had no filter, huh.
I didn't think I'd raised her this way—how'd she turn out like this?
"By the way, isn't your sword about ready?"
"Yes."
"Then we can head to the city together this weekend."
"You don't need to go out of your way for something like that—I can..."
"We'll go together, then?"
"...Yes."
Looks like my lady just wanted an excuse to head into the city.