Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Reunion
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Juniang asked at my words.
“...Don't tell me the one you suspected was the martial arts teacher?”
“For now, yes.”
“He really doesn’t fit the image.”
Juniang seemed quite flustered.
“I could understand if it were another Grand Master Teacher…”
“For example?”
“...Teacher Tanko?”
*This woman has no eye for people either.*
*He looks shady at a glance, so I don’t get why everyone keeps saying it’s unexpected or impossible.*
“...Fine. The martial arts teacher’s room is on the third floor, the last one on the right. There are no communication crystals, but other instructors might be around. If you run into anyone, just say you’re running an errand for me.”
“Yes.”
“And while you’re there, grab some tobacco from my room for me.”
“……”
*Then isn't this a real errand?*
With a reluctant look, I nodded and headed for Juan’s room.
Fortunately, I didn't run into any other instructors on the way.
The doorknob turned easily.
The rooms in the instructors' wing, like the cadets' rooms, didn't have locks.
*Click.*
I slipped into Juan’s room without difficulty and closed the door behind me.
Actually, I'd been to an instructor's room once before my regression.
When I was talking with Juniang.
Back then, given the circumstances, I didn’t get a good look inside…
It seemed a little bigger than our rooms.
Not that it was spacious—it felt more like an inn room, furnished with only the bare essentials.
I slowly looked around.
*It’s unlikely that a man who concealed his identity even from the Bednickers would leave a clue here, but…*
*…since I’m certain Juan is the High Priest, maybe I’ll see something others would miss.*
First, the desk.
On the desk were a few stacked books, all about martial arts.
The worn corners suggested he read them often.
*Flip-.*
I picked up a book and skimmed through it; the pages were faded and filled with various annotations and opinions.
I didn’t know Teacher Juan’s handwriting, but it felt like he had written them himself.
*Could this also be part of his act?*
For some reason, I felt that wasn’t the case.
I put down the book and then searched the drawer.
Nothing special here either.
Writing utensils, a mirror, accessories, perfume, even cosmetics…
I always found Teacher Juan to have a vaguely greasy look, and it seemed he was quite interested in his appearance.
*Unexpected, I guess.*
There was also tobacco.
It looked like he’d bought it and just shoved it in a corner; the leaves were a bit yellowish.
Then I found a notebook, but there was nothing special here either.
It contained detailed notes on supplies, lesson plans, and even assessments of each cadet, written down whenever the thought occurred to him.
[Karon Woodjack.]
[Possesses outstanding qualities in every aspect. He is so accomplished that the training camp’s curriculum seems almost meaningless for him. He appears to be the type who grows stronger faster when he has a rival…]
[Hector Bednicker.]
[Possesses above-average talent, but I would hesitate to call him a genius. My assessment is that he is more of a diligent hard worker. However, he possesses leadership skills remarkable for his age, so his future is promising.]
[Seren Goodspring.]
[Fundamentally skilled, but seems reluctant to associate with others. Or perhaps she is hiding her true self because this is Bednicker territory.]
Summaries for all 39 cadets were written down meticulously.
Ah. All but one.
[Evan Helvin.]
[Well ■■■■ ■■■.]
Only a single word was written for Evan, though there were traces of something having been written and then erased.
I grew curious and looked for my own entry.
[Ruan Bednicker.]
[Doesn’t seem as hopeless as the rumors suggest, but his attitude in class is somewhat poor. Fundamentally unmotivated and seems to do only the bare minimum required.]
[Surprisingly, his social skills seem better than expected.]
“Hmm.”
*I thought I’d been participating in class pretty diligently… Guess not?*
In any case, I closed the notebook, a complex feeling washing over me.
If I hadn’t known any better, I wouldn’t have suspected him of being a cultist in the slightest.
In fact, in some ways, I even thought he was an ideal instructor.
The contents of the notebook were too detailed to have been written simply for a meticulous disguise.
I couldn’t say for sure about anything else, but it seemed the martial arts teacher had been dedicated to his duties as an instructor right up until he showed his true colors.
Feeling strangely deflated, I dropped the notebook back into the drawer.
*Clunk-.*
“...Hmm?”
A slightly strange sound came from the drawer.
*Is there… a hidden compartment underneath?*
I tapped the drawer a few times and realized my suspicion was correct.
I lifted the false bottom of the drawer and discovered the hidden space beneath.
There was a rare piece of paper there.
This was no ordinary paper.
“This is……”
*It’s a photograph.*
The camera, said to exist in Ulkua, the holy land of alchemy.
It could capture a moment, a landscape or a person, and store it on paper. I had only seen one once, back in my mercenary days.
Anyway, photographs were fascinating every time I saw one.
Even the most skilled painter in the empire couldn't draw a picture this realistic.
I’d heard that some artists had foamed at the mouth over its invention…
But that wasn’t what mattered now.
In the photograph, two young men had their arms around each other’s shoulders, with a woman beaming between them.
I knew who one of them was.
It was Kaljak, the man I had just been with.
*Was this from his mercenary days?*
He was as handsome as he’d boasted, though his face was covered in scars.
Next to him was a man with a rather gloomy appearance, dressed in the formal uniform of a knight order.
For some reason, he had a sullen expression—I had to stare for a while before I realized this man was Juan.
*I didn’t know his exact age, but could he really be the same age as Kaljak?*
It looked like this was from before either of them became a Grand Master Teacher.
I never knew the two of them were personally acquainted.
*Wasn’t Juan from a noble family?*
The Vasquez family, or something like that.
*Why would the son of such a noble house be with Kaljak during his mercenary days?*
*Was he a mercenary?*
*In my experience, a noble would have to have a pretty miserable life to fall so far as to become a mercenary…*
Numerous questions arose, but I pushed them aside.
It was time to leave.
Believing I’d learned all I could, I left the room.
* * *
Juniang was not in the infirmary.
I left the tobacco on the desk and then left the instructors' wing.
I didn’t plan on rejoining the other cadets just yet; there was something I needed to check.
The cadets were gathered in the open ground, and Juan was standing on the platform.
“—Now that you are all aware, I will make the announcement. The rule Cadet Karon added was: [Points can now be traded between cadets.]”
*So, it’s that time.*
The moment the cadets’ scores were posted and the application of Karon’s rule change was announced.
In that case, there was something I needed to check.
I deliberately took a wide route around the clearing, keeping myself hidden.
And I looked at the bulletin board on the first floor of the cadets' wing.
[1st. Karon Woodjack 43 points.
2nd. Zeros Silver 31 points.
3rd. Shinba 29 points.
4th. Hans Vander 28 points.
5th. Hector Bednicker 25 points.]
The top scores were the same as I remembered.
*Then my score…*
[19th Ruan Bednicker 17 points.]
It was one point lower than I remembered.
My rank had dropped from 16th to 19th.
It was only a one-point difference, but it seemed there were many others with similar scores, which explained the drop.
Waaaaaaah-!
At that moment, a loud cheer came from outside.
Peeking outside through a window on the first floor, I saw Kaljak.
“Hello. I’m Kaljak, the Sword Master Teacher. I had to join the training camp a little late due to some circumstances, but I look forward to working with you all.”
The cadets' reaction to Kaljak's introduction was explosive.
“Th-The Sword Master Teacher...!”
“Isn’t he… much younger than I expected?”
“I don’t know about that, but he’s really handsome…”
Even Hector, who rarely gets flustered, looked a little excited, his face flushed.
“This is the elective period, right? Come to me, and I’ll teach you how to wield a sword. It’ll be practical, so you won’t be bored.”
*So it’s time to choose electives.*
It was a good chance for the newly arrived Kaljak to introduce himself naturally.
As expected, cadets flocked to Kaljak like a cloud.
*As expected of the Sword Master Teacher.*
His popularity was befitting the most famous of the Grand Master Teachers. His newly youthful face probably helped.
“Whoa, hang on. There are way more of you than I expected…”
Kaljak said, looking troubled.
A quick count showed over twenty people had gathered. That was more than the students for all the other instructors combined.
*Before my regression, Juan was the one who got the most cadets…*
*Ah.*
At that moment, I saw a man exuding gloom all by himself.
“……”
The martial arts teacher who had smiled right up until his death.
Juan was looking at Kaljak with an expressionless face.
* * *
After the class selection was over, Kaljak and Juan were standing in the backyard of the building, looking in different directions.
“You’re looking good. I almost didn’t recognize you. Looks like you’ve put on some weight.”
“……”
“You got a smoke? Let me have one.”
“I quit.”
Juan used informal speech for the first time in a while.
For some reason, the words felt rough in his mouth.
“...You did?”
“Yeah. More importantly, why are you here?”
“I have to perform my duties as a Grand Master Teacher.”
No matter how generous the Bednickers were, they weren’t foolish enough to pay someone who didn’t do their job.
But Juan snorted and said.
“Rich, coming from the guy who abandoned his post for years to settle a personal grudge. I still don’t get why the Family Head saved your position for you all this time.”
“...Well, I’m sorry about that. I’ll work hard from now on, so cut me some slack. Anyway, it’s been a while since I’ve been to one of these training camps, so my memory’s a little hazy. Has anything changed from back when I was active?”
Juan didn't reply to that.
And he wiped the cynical smile from his face and spoke.
“Cut the jokes, Kaljak. We’ve known each other for longer than a day or two, haven’t we?”
“What—”
“You heard something about me, didn't you?”
Kaljak's breathing hitched slightly.
Juan realized this and smiled bitterly.
“Relax. It wasn’t obvious.”
“I have no idea what you're talking abou—”
“...I don’t know who you heard it from or what they said, but at least hear me out. Judge me after you’ve listened. I can explain everything.”
Kaljak sighed and said.
“I have no idea what kind of nonsense you're spouting.”
“It’s… difficult to talk about it all here. And we don’t have time. So let’s meet at midnight. Walk a little ways west of the camp, and you’ll find a clearing. I’ll be waiting there. Come alone.”
“...Are you taking me for a fool because I’ve been quiet? I’m asking you what you mean.”
Juan was unfazed even while looking at Kaljak's contorted face.
He just said in a calm voice.
“It’s about Barbara. She’s dead.”
“...What?”
*Daaaang-!*
At that moment, a loud bell rang.
The break was over.
Juan looked at the speechless Kaljak's face and said.
“Remember what I said. You must come alone.”