Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: A Student's Duty
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◆
Cradle's exams are divided into two parts.
A written test on combat theory, and a practical one to assess actual performance skills.
And he's not just anyone—he's someone who can wield the Hero's power. The practical will be fine somehow. Somehow it will.
“Hero.”
[Yeah.]
“You can't bring weapons into the exam hall, right?”
[⋯⋯Just give up and study obediently.]
As expected from the continent's top educational institution, boasting a long history. They've got every possible measure against cheating locked down tight.
Before entering the exam hall, you go through a thorough body search, and even the writing utensils and paper have to be the ones provided by the academy.
It's a ruthless rule that cuts off cheating at the source⋯⋯
[Ruthless⋯⋯? Isn't it just doing their job well?]
“It's ruthless to me right now.”
Carlyle groaned in response, staring at the mountain of textbooks and academic papers piled up before him.
Who could have guessed it was the continent's most prestigious school? The sheer volume of information to process is insane.
From basic liberal arts like imperial history, language, and culture,
To military strategy, tactics, logistics theory, hand-to-hand combat, topography lectures⋯⋯
Every subject under the sun.
[⋯⋯Is there really that much?]
“⋯⋯.”
[I could memorize that much the day before—]
“I get it, you're amazing, so shut up.”
The Hero doesn't understand human hearts.
Every time she opens her mouth, she just wants to show off⋯⋯
[You say that, but you don't seem stuck at all.]
“⋯⋯Shut up.”
Truth be told, it was somewhat manageable.
His memory wasn't exceptional, but after countless regressions, the amount of information already stored in Carlyle's head was far from negligible, even as a modest estimate.
Even if they demanded he memorize this much at once, most of it was 'stuff he already knew,' so he could handle it to some degree.
The problem was not knowing the difficulty level of the exam.
[Hmm⋯⋯ I could probably give you some predicted questions. I'm an alumna, after all.]
“Why didn't you say so sooner?!”
[⋯⋯Take the hint with a thank you.]
Fortunately, with the situation as it was and help from the holy sword, it was clear he wouldn't be completely sunk.
“Well, at this rate, I can overcome it somehow⋯⋯”
But in that moment,
A highly dangerous realization flashed through Carlyle's mind.
“⋯⋯Um, Hero.”
[Yeah?]
“Putting me aside, what about Vespa?”
[⋯⋯.]
He recalled that Vespa had officially enrolled as a student not long ago and was attending classes.
It was probably thanks to the professors who had noticed her talent in magic and actively recommended her.
Vespa seemed to see it as just getting permission to do openly what she'd been doing on the sly until now, but becoming a student meant she had to be evaluated too.
And.
Gray was an exceedingly fair person.
No matter the process, if a student embarrassed her, she'd dropkick Vespa in the face without hesitation.
[Go check on her quick.]
“Got it.”
When he went to Vespa out of that worry and spoke to her, her response was utterly absurd.
“⋯⋯What's a regular evaluation?”
“⋯⋯.”
“Uh, what do they evaluate?”
This was bad.
She's doomed too. The threat of expulsion loomed right before her eyes.
She seemed even more at risk than Carlyle⋯⋯
“Uh⋯⋯ Should we study?”
And the danger multiplied several times over because she didn't even realize how precarious her situation was.
“⋯⋯Vespa, let's study together.”
“If Carlyle says so, I'll do it!”
It was the first time the obedience stat tied to her felt this grateful.
Whatever Carlyle said, she agreed with a sparkling smile.
Just like that, Carlyle's workload doubled in an instant.
He now had to look after Vespa's studies on top of his own.
Still, up to that point, it was manageable.
Pull an all-nighter, grind it out a bit. It was right at the limit of what he could cover.
Cramming during exam week—everyone's done it at least once, right?
⋯⋯If only no one had knocked on his dorm room door that evening.
“⋯⋯Princess?”
When Carlyle opened the door, a small girl with purple hair reaching only to his waist stood there.
Her big, round eyes brimmed with teary moisture.
“⋯⋯Um, I'm sorry⋯⋯”
Princess Ilia, clutching a huge armful of books, hesitated before speaking.
“I, I can't understand any of it at all⋯⋯”
“⋯⋯.”
“C-Could you teach me a little⋯⋯?”
⋯⋯It was only natural. She was just a child.
Wasn't Cradle too harsh, shoving this on a kid and telling her to study?
[⋯⋯Got the spare time?]
‘No, spare time or not⋯⋯’
She must have agonized over who to ask, and Carlyle was her last resort.
How could he be heartless to a child in such a harsh environment?
“Yes, I'll teach you whatever I can.”
Carlyle Bellfast.
Hardship tripled. Confirmed.
⋯⋯No proper sleep for the foreseeable future.
◆
[I'm glad you're doing well, Gray.]
Hearing Lionel's voice from the communication device, Gray nodded indifferently.
“No reason I wouldn't be. It's me, after all.”
[⋯⋯Yeah. You look it.]
It was a sentence that inspired trust—if she seemed like she might not be doing well, she'd eliminate the cause to make sure she was.
Satisfied with the status update, Grand Duke Chasefield suddenly asked about something on his mind.
[By the way, how's young Carlyle? No issues on his end?]
“⋯⋯.”
Gray fell silent at the question.
[⋯⋯Gray? Something wrong?]
“He's been a big help. Might've been inconvenient without him.”
[⋯⋯.]
Lionel drew in a sharp breath from the other end.
[D-Did that young man cause some incident?]
“⋯⋯What?”
[How can you say that about someone else? Is he that special? Don't tell me you two broke the speed limit or—]
“Dad. Cut the nonsense.”
⋯⋯For someone weathered by noble society, his imagination was viciously vivid.
Anyone would think he was a pubescent girl blushing over a romance novel.
[You startled me. It's the first time you've said something like that about a guy.]
Actually, it was the first time for any gender.
[Then, conversely, what about that young man?]
“Huh?”
[Doesn't seem interested in you?]
“⋯⋯.”
⋯⋯Get a grip, seriously.
Gray stared at the communicator with a fed-up look.
She wasn't some gossiping auntie making a fuss—was this really one of the empire's top warriors?
“Not interested in that stuff. Stop overreacting.”
Gray replied, rubbing her throbbing temple.
[Still, it's good to have such a fine young man by your side.]
But a father was a father, after all.
[You've brightened up a lot.]
“⋯⋯Huh?”
[Before and right after getting the holy sword, you always seemed crushed. No leeway, I guess.]
“⋯⋯.”
[I'm glad you're relying on him and getting some breathing room.]
⋯⋯He had an uncanny knack for reading her heart like that.
As Gray clutched the communicator silently, Lionel chuckled again.
[Ah, if he's such a good young man, it'd be nice if something good happened between you two.]
“⋯⋯.”
[Seeing how well he treats you, he must be interested. Right?]
“⋯⋯I'm hanging up.”
Gray slammed the communicator back into place like she was smashing it.
She sighed and flopped onto the bed.
Lionel's words from moments ago replayed in her mind.
‘Interested.’
⋯⋯To Gray, it was an emotion she couldn't quite grasp.
Interest between people, probably.
Something she'd never experienced, and had no desire to.
“⋯⋯.”
Ah, whatever.
Gray scowled and bolted up from the bed, heading out of the room.
Pondering what it even was had stirred up stray thoughts, complicating her head.
In times like these, swinging a sword to clear her mind was best.
Which was probably why.
She ran into Carlyle, arms loaded with books from the library.
“Yeah, Vespa, grab all those over there, and Princess, just a moment, be careful—!”
“Keeeeek—!”
With a sound no child should make, Ilia—shaking violently while carrying books—collapsed into the hallway.
One book rolled over to Gray's feet⋯⋯
“⋯⋯.”
Gray's gaze darted between Carlyle and the others' faces.
“⋯⋯What are you idiots doing?”
What were they up to in the middle of the night?
When she tilted her head and asked, Carlyle smiled and replied.
“Vespa and the Princess both seemed to be struggling with their grades, so I'm helping them out.”
“⋯⋯Hmmm⋯⋯”
Gray nodded slowly.
What to say.
He was taking good care of them.
Busy enough attending to her, yet using his spare time to worry about this too.
“⋯⋯.”
“Lady?”
Carlyle blankly echoed back, meeting Gray's unwavering stare.
But instead of answering, Gray kept her eyes fixed on him.
-Seeing how well that kid treats you, he must be interested in you for sure.
Pointlessly.
It was the exact moment Lionel's earlier words echoed in her head.
Sure, she thought it was nonsense. She didn't really get what it meant for one person to like another anyway.
But.
“⋯⋯.”
It pissed her off.
Why this guy.
Why was he being so nice to other people besides her?
Gray's brow furrowed sharply.
She didn't like it.
In that case.
“I suck at studying too.”
Carlyle's face froze solid.
Not just him—everyone there experienced the same.
⋯⋯No.
Make some sense.
Carlyle already knew full well how intelligent she was. Suck at studying? Bullshit.
“Lady, what did you just say?”
“I said I suck at studying.”
“⋯⋯.”
But the Lady showed not even a fingernail's worth of backing down.
It was crystal clear from her next words.
“Teach me too.”
“⋯⋯.”
“Where do we meet?”
Guardian of humanity.
Joined the study group.
‘⋯⋯We're fucked.’
The cozy study group's atmosphere turned terrifying in an instant.