To the Academy! (4)
The entrance ceremony had ended, and Carmen was quietly making her way back to her room.
Unlike the other students, she had already been assigned a room, so she didn't need to fetch her luggage or wander around searching for it.
Just as she was calmly heading back—
"Ugh... this is exhausting..."
A familiar voice came from beside her.
Drawn by the groaning complaint, she turned her head and saw Ludia there.
Ludia was trudging along, letting out strained noises. Carmen stared blankly for a moment before cautiously asking,
"What is all that?"
"This? Just my stuff. Gotta move into the dorm."
Carmen silently turned to look.
Ludia was carrying two massive bundles, each big enough for two or three people. Forget whether they'd even fit in the room—the sight alone was violently overwhelming.
"Don't you have any luggage?"
"Yes. I do not."
Carmen nodded without a hint of hesitation.
Of course she didn't. She hadn't owned anything to begin with.
The only thing she had was the pouch of gold coins Ian had handed her at the end, which she'd already safely stowed in her assigned room.
Thanks to that—or whatever the reason—she could stroll around with complete leisure, even as Ludia struggled under her load.
"Want me to carry some?"
"Nah. This much... I can handle alone! Easy!"
Her small frame burdened by such enormous packages was a pitiful sight.
Watching her quietly, Carmen extended a hand toward the bundle on Ludia's back.
"Are you sure?"
"Y-Yeah!"
Ludia pulled the bundle toward her with a swipe—but unable to overcome its weight, she staggered backward instead, nearly toppling over.
Seeing she could barely walk straight, Carmen reached out again.
"...Just give me a little. I'll carry it."
"Th-Thanks..."
Carmen accepted her gratitude and took one of the bundles.
It was certainly heavy, but once she drew up a bit of mana, it was hardly unmanageable.
She slung it over her shoulder effortlessly and followed silently behind Ludia.
"Hey, you sign up for the Nameless Professor's lecture?"
"The Nameless Professor?"
"Yeah. There's a new Swordmaster prof in our department. He only opened one class?"
"Ah. I think I saw it."
"You should sign up quick. Lots of spots, but they'll fill up fast."
She vaguely remembered seeing it. A simple-sounding lecture called Understanding Swordsmanship. The name suited him perfectly—his epithet, his lecture, and that utterly ordinary vibe that clashed with his fame.
"Did you sign up, Ludia?"
"Yup. Obviously. Honestly, it's the one I'm most excited for."
Ludia gushed about his lecture with obvious thrill. She was so worked up that the heavy bundle on her back jiggled with her excitement. But unlike before, she didn't seem strained at all—she carried on with her heated chatter without a care.
"Though I'm a little worried. Last time I saw him, he seemed kinda cold and scary..."
Ludia spilled her impressions in a rush—how the black mask and single sword made him look intimidating.
But Carmen saw it differently.
"Cold...? I wouldn't say so."
He could seem pretty scary at times, sure. But he was never cold.
Unless facing an enemy, he was more gentle and warm.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
It had slipped out thoughtlessly, but Ludia immediately shot back. Carmen started to fumble for words, then withdrew.
"...Nothing. Forget it."
Ludia tilted her head but let it slide casually. Carmen inwardly sighed in relief. He had sent her to the academy and parted ways, only to appear here in a new guise—there had to be a reason. Better not to act like she knew.
"Is it that popular? I was actually looking forward more to something like 'How to Fight Mages.'"
"That sounds interesting too, but it's a Swordmaster's lecture."
She said it with bubbly excitement—not because it was uniquely special, but simply because he was a Swordmaster. That made Carmen curious enough to ask,
"Is being a Swordmaster... that impressive?"
"Huh? What're you talking about?"
She knew because she'd met him, seen how others treated him.
That Swordmasters were incredibly strong.
And since the man who saved her was called one, she personally admired them a bit too.
"I lived pretty remotely... I know they're amazing, but not the details."
She didn't know exactly how strong.
More precisely, she'd had nowhere to ask.
So she'd always wondered—and with the topic out, she posed her long-held question to Ludia.
"Hmm... how do I explain this?"
Ludia pondered with a tricky expression, agonizing for a while before carefully answering.
"Simply put, they're the strongest knights."
"There are only seven in the entire vast empire."
"How strong exactly?"
"Only another Swordmaster can stop a Swordmaster."
Only a Swordmaster could block one. Meaning nothing else could.
"Even if mage tower elders, church holy knights, imperial guards swarmed him, they couldn't touch him. That's the level."
Carmen didn't know where the mage tower or church were, or how strong the imperial guards might be. Still, she got the sense—these powerhouses couldn't even faze a Swordmaster.
"...That strong, huh."
"Even that's underselling it."
The pinnacle of the empire, only seven in existence. The man who seemed so ordinary before her—she hadn't realized he was that extraordinary.
"Anyway, definitely sign up. Got it?"
"If possible."
As she mulled over him and followed Ludia—
"Ah. Finally here."
Ludia opened the door and set down her luggage; Carmen placed hers beside it.
Visibly drained from hauling it all, Ludia flopped onto the bed, peeking her head up to say goodbye.
"Thanks for the help. I'll buy you food sometime."
She wriggled upright, slowly scanning the room with a gasp of admiration, her face beaming with satisfaction.
"Man, the academy dorms are top-tier, huh? Room's so spacious."
"Indeed... quite roomy."
The dorm was spacious. Hugely so—the fresh luggage barely filled it, with plenty of space left.
"Curfew sucks, though... Oh well. Can't avoid it."
She smacked her lips in regret, then slyly eyed Carmen before whispering playfully, conspiratorially,
"Not that I plan to follow it."
Carmen blinked in surprise.
"You can just ignore it?"
"Hehe. You're so innocent, Carmen. If you don't get caught, it's fine?"
"Is that possible?"
"Tough. That's what makes it fun."
Her innocent grin held zero deception.
"Been dying to try it since coming to the dorms. Sneaking out at night and staying up all night!"
"..."
Carmen was dumbfounded but listened silently. Seeing Ludia's pure excitement, she couldn't bring herself to argue.
"Wanna join sometime?"
"I'll pass."
"Aw. Well, tell me if you change your mind. We'll go together."
Ludia pouted disappointingly, tossing and turning on the bed. Then, as if remembering something,
"Ah, just hit me."
She turned her head to Carmen and asked,
"You hear the rumor?"
"...Rumor?"
Seeing Carmen's interest, Ludia teasingly dragged it out. Then she leaned close to her ear, whispering secretively in a hushed tone.
"There's a ghost in our dorm!"