Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: 011. Sophia - (Complete)
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The rumor that Sophia Aquilova—the Sword Saint from the original story and daughter of a traitor—had utterly demolished Isabella von Kreuz, a promising talent in the Knight Faculty, spread like wildfire across the entire academy in an instant.
It was so pervasive that even among the students who came to morning mass today, the topic came up.
"The Knight Faculty is seriously brutal. They say she broke limbs in a sparring match?"
"The culprit's the descendant of a rebel, and they're wondering what Her Highness the Princess was thinking letting a monster like that in on special admission."
"I heard from my dad that House Kreuz is officially protesting to the academy."
"Whoa, that girl's in deep trouble."
I had to sweat bullets maintaining my composure while silently conducting the mass.
'In deep trouble.'
There was no way an incident like this existed in the original story. Sophia wasn't even a character until the very end of Act 1.
In the end, even while sweeping with the broom after the students left, stray thoughts wouldn't leave me alone.
"Isabella... Probably the one who bullied her."
Just the other day in confession, Sophia had spoken in a tone suggesting she lunged at a student who ruined her family's heirloom and got miserably defeated.
And there I was, telling her to win next time and boosting her confidence.
- 'Next time, let's win. That's all it takes.'
And this was the result. The snowball I threw had turned into an avalanche.
"House Kreuz..."
A great noble house frequently mentioned in the original story. House Kreuz was depicted as immensely influential in the kingdom, so if a family like that formally protested to the academy, it wasn't something to brush off lightly.
In the worst case...
"The Princess shows up."
That absolutely could not happen.
Among the original story's characters, if there was one person I had to be most wary of, it was the First Princess.
The First Princess was special. She might even notice that I was an impure intruder in this world.
So I'd tried my utmost to follow the original plot without interfering as much as possible.
"Fuck, it's all gone to shit."
My head felt like it was going to explode.
I was no longer just a safe bystander.
As I sighed deeply while clearing the sand piled up in front of the chapel and headed to the loft for a late breakfast...
——Thud, thud.
Footsteps echoed.
Morning mass was already over, so there was only one possible reason for a visitor.
"Confession."
Couldn't even guarantee meal times, huh.
I should lock this damn chapel door.
With a sigh, I descended the stairs to the hall.
Sure enough, one door to the confessional was firmly shut. I entered the opposite partition and opened my mouth.
"Speak, sister. What sin brings you here?"
I spoke in as gentle a voice as possible.
This usually got a good reaction.
There was a brief silence from the other side. A faint smell of dirt wafted through the partition.
"Priest. I... I won."
The moment I heard the voice from the other side, I froze in place.
Sophia Aquilova.
She had come back to my confessional.
'No way, she's back already?'
I swallowed hard.
My panic lasted only a moment.
This was actually a golden opportunity.
I had to fix this situation somehow.
I needed to defuse that walking time bomb and install safety measures.
"You won...? What do you mean?"
"Last time, following your advice to win next time... I put it into practice. And I won. Victory feels this exhilarating."
The girl's—no, Sophia's—voice brimmed with excitement.
Victory, of course, referred to mercilessly thrashing the daughter of House Kreuz.
"The moment I knocked her down, it felt like lightning struck my body. I truly felt alive."
"...That's... yes. Congratulations."
"Your advice to find my own reason for living. This must be what it all meant."
That was absolutely not my intention.
"And I realized. Smashing every wall blocking my path with my own strength. That's the prayer called 'victory.'"
Prayer isn't something so brutal.
"Thank you for making me realize all this. It was truly... a sweet lesson, Master."
I'm not your master.
And calling it sweet after half-killing someone makes you a psycho.
"Ha, haha..."
I let out a dry laugh.
'She's completely blackened...'
This was no confession, by any means. It felt intensely off-putting, like she was proudly reporting her brutal victory.
In the original story, Sophia was never like this.
The Sword Saint. Righteous, extending a hand first to any weakling, unable to tolerate injustice. Never a dopamine addict thrilled by the ecstasy of victory.
It wasn't too late to fix this. I had to set Sophia back on track before she veered off completely.
I cleared my throat and mustered the most merciful and solemn priestly voice I could.
"Sister... May I presume to offer some advice?"
"Yes!"
"Do not get drunk on victory."
"..."
"True strength comes not from wielding the sword, but from the nobility of winning without needing to. I'm overjoyed that you've found your reason for living, sister. But..."
After a moment's hesitation, I recited a line from some movie.
"Great power comes with great responsibility. Please do not squander that power on petty fights."
What could I do? I had to say something that sounded good.
"..."
Only the sound of quiet breathing came from the other side of the partition.
A brief silence followed.
"I understand everything, Priest."
Sophia's soft voice flowed out.
"I won't take your teachings lightly."
Creeeak.
The wooden chair scraped as it was pushed back.
Just like her first visit, Sophia left without a farewell.
"...Did I get through to her?"
I clung to a last shred of hope.
*
Sophia walked the garden path leading from the chapel.
It was truly a beautiful day. The sky was clear. Birds chirped, flowers bloomed.
She realized for the first time today how vibrant and fragrant the academy's spring days could be.
Above all, her mind was crystal clear.
The priest had shown her a new path once again.
- 'Do not get drunk on victory.'
The moment she heard it, she felt ashamed of herself.
He was right. Isabella was weak. She couldn't be satisfied with crushing a mere weakling. She despised herself just moments ago for proudly reporting such a victory.
Sophia had to aim higher.
- 'Great power comes with great responsibility. Please do not squander that power on petty fights.'
"The pinnacle of the Knight Faculty."
If she could seize victory even over the graduating cadets, transcending years, it would no longer be a petty fight.
Then she could pursue true strength.
The overwhelming realm where opponents bowed without her even drawing her sword.
- 'True strength comes from the steadfastness of not wielding the sword.'
That must be the nobility the priest spoke of.
Sophia resolved to climb step by step, steadily from now on.
Of course, it would be a difficult path.
Everyone would condemn her, pointing fingers and calling the traitor's daughter a disruptor of the academy's order.
But that was fine. If she became a sinner again and lost her way, it would give her reason to return to confession. She would earn the qualification for the next teaching.
So, to confess again...
"I have to win."
She had to achieve victory.
Then the priest would offer advice once more. To that end, she had to charge forward relentlessly.
That was Sophia's understanding of the answer.
Sin did not mean punishment.
It was a trial, a qualification.
A clear smile bloomed on Sophia's lips.
"The world is beautiful, after all."
Sophia smiled brightly at a pure white bird perched on a branch and stepped forward.
However, the bird did not chirp. Instead, its golden eyes remained fixed on Sophia.
*
In conclusion, my advice failed to put the brakes on Sophia.
"I heard this time it was the top second-year in the faculty."
"What? Senior Elliot? How the hell did she win?"
"Apparently she just swung her sword a few times and he went down."
"Is she using black magic or something? That traitor's daughter... She was dead last in the faculty just last week."
Overhearing the parishioners gossiping about Sophia today as well, I let out a deep sigh.
Sophia had continued racking up victories since then. She was dojo-storming the Knight Faculty's second-years, climbing to the top.
I had no idea how Sophia had interpreted my advice.
But the result was turning the academy's Sword Saint into a duel addict.
Could things get any worse?
"Priest Leo, good news."
"What now?"
"Word is the Saintess Candidate strongly petitioned the cathedral. All academy priests will participate in this Full Moon Festival's main event. Oh, that includes you too, Priest Leo!"
And they did get worse.