Knight Faculty Shadows and Hidden Thrones
I left the central district and headed straight for the knight faculty. The magic and knight faculties are divided around the central district, and the distance between them is considerable, so students rarely cross paths. Even I wouldn't normally come here, except to recruit that guy for the subjugation team.
The atmospheres are worlds apart. In the knight faculty, students wear gym clothes more often than uniforms, always munching on something, and brim with bright, lively energy—unlike the studious quiet of the magic faculty. Magic remains an expensive pursuit here too, from countless textbooks to staves and robes, so the notion that it's for nobles only is just as prevalent. Commoners with little money but strong mana often start in the knight faculty, where basic gear like uniforms and wooden swords is free, then switch faculties mid-semester after aptitude tests.
Anyway. I strolled through the bustling crowds without a weapon or gym clothes, drawing plenty of stares.
"...That's Adrian from the magic faculty."
"What? The scoundrel Repelheit?"
"Stay away. He's disowned, but getting tangled with him never ends well."
I've heard it so often it barely registers anymore. Well, I was once part of the Repelheit family myself.
And right now, that very Repelheit name is the hottest topic in the knight faculty—like a sizzling scandal fresh from the oven. The Repelheit who flattened every freshman in sparring matches. Figuring even that dense guy would notice me wandering around like this, I ducked into a quiet back alley.
As expected, a familiar voice rang out.
"What are you doing here?"
...Finally.
There she was, arms crossed, leaning against the wall. She struck a pose like she was trying to look intimidating, but the angle of her back and legs screamed awkward amateur. Like a model student clumsily imitating a thug.
Seeing it, I couldn't help but...
"Pfft, hah."
"Wh-what...? Why are you laughing?"
"No, nothing. My bad."
"F-fine. Let's settle this here and now. First, I'll take your head, then..."
Her sword slid out smoothly. But I wasn't having it. I thrust out my hand, palm blocking her blade.
The fact that it stopped here proved she had no real intent to kill me.
"Are you an idiot?"
"How dare you insult—!"
She sputtered threats—drawing her sword, striking now, do you seek execution?—before sighing deeply.
"Why are you here? Spit it out. And don't waste my time with nonsense; I have none to spare for you."
"Same here. I just heard you went undefeated in the recent spars."
"Here to praise me? Hmph, no need. It's expected of the top student."
"Not praise. Do you really think I'd trek here just to stroke your ego?"
Honesty's the best policy, right?
Her face flushed beet red. Look at those cheeks—like a chipmunk stuffing its face with sunflower seeds, ready to burst if I poked it.
"I came to verify it myself. Hand on heart: did you really not take a single hit? Nothing unusual at all?"
"Are you doubting me?"
"No doubt. I acknowledge your skill."
"What? Huh? You... acknowledge... my skill?"
What the—? She bowed her head, clasped her hands behind her back, and scuffed the ground with her shoe.
Why's she acting like that?
"Don't do anything that annoys me."
"Ugh, you're right. You've never minced words."
"So? Anything unusual?"
"Hmph. Even if there was, why should I tell you?"
This girl...
"So there was."
"Gah?! H-how did you...?"
"You can't lie."
Ebnis's trait: no lies. She strives to be 'righteous,' so she avoids them herself. Though she slips up hiding embarrassment—probably unconsciously.
"I-I'm still not telling!"
"Fine, a deal then. Tell me, and I'll explain why I'm here."
"...Hmm."
"Not a bad trade."
She pondered, then nodded.
"Deal. Bottom line: it wasn't nothing."
"Not nothing?"
"Erhan or whatever—when he swung for second place, seven colors shimmered on his blade. It thrust forward, and I thought, this is bad."
Right. Hero Sword. Matches the original so far.
But then.
"Your face flashed in my mind."
What?
...What did you say?
My brain stalled at the unexpected answer.
"Wha...?"
"Don't get the wrong idea before I kill you. Your smug face popped up during that slash. So I swung back full force, like I meant to kill. It bounced right off. Then I smashed down with my wooden sword and pinned him."
Oh, damn. Primordial Descendant activated.
The Hero Sword channels transcendent power of seven elements, a 'guaranteed one-hit, unstoppable strike.' And she countered with her own guaranteed one-hit from Primordial Descendant.
Ebnis's strength rivals a god's—no way Erhan could withstand it.
'...Like this?'
"Your turn. Oh, right—the dorm monster mess. Hmph... you're fine, at least."
"Nah, I was drenched in blood once."
"Huh? You're really okay?"
She eyed my left arm in surprise, then cleared her throat and turned away.
...What a willful girl.
"Assuming you're fine... So? Answer quick!"
"I have a proposal."
"Hmph... Your proposals are always devious, sinister, the worst..."
"Enough."
I silenced her and summarized recent events.
"Got it?"
"...Can't ignore this. So?"
"Solving it boosts your record too. A leg up in our race."
She nodded.
"Not bad. I'm in. But... what's your gain?"
What? Gain?
"This tilts too far in my favor. I hate uneven deals. I want fair competition, not this biased crap."
I stared, mouth half-open.
"What? Spit it out if you've got complaints!"
"No, just... shocked for a sec."
My gain... well.
"I've already got mine."
"...What?"
"Need I spell it out? We're not close enough to share secrets."
...Millije Heilo. My biggest win.
Mission accomplished with Ebnis recruited. Time for a parting lecture.
"Talk to second-place Erhan sometime. He's decent, got convictions. Might suit you."
"Sorry, I focus on my own stuff. And the one I need to watch most isn't Erhan—it's you. Adrian."
She jabbed a finger at me.
Sure, whatever. I turned to leave.
"Hey, where are you going? I'm not done!"
"Find Reina von Wolfgang tomorrow morning. Done."
"Wait!"
I ignored her shouts, slipping out of the alley faster than anyone else could.
Ebnis secured. One final piece left.
A must-have for the boss fight. Even without that excuse, forging ties now pays off later.
...Though for some reason, her flags are utterly shattered. Erhan couldn't care less about her. They call her the Knight of Light.
Lumen Ribens.
Can I convince her with words? Honestly, no confidence.
The Knight of Light, Lumen Ribens. Top third-year knight faculty student and representative. A once-in-history genius for the knight department in storied Salenium Academy. Her swordplay is light itself, illuminating the world; they say she is the light.
Yet despite her talent, House Ribens is a poor baronet family from some imperial backwater—her sole shadow amid the brilliance.
Midnight. I left the dorms and climbed the hill behind Lubrium Dorm.
Wait here, and she'd appear. A fixed spawn point, you could say. I'd visited plenty during Erhan playthroughs to unlock her route.
Dragging my frail stamina to the summit, I found a woman kneeling reverently, sword planted in the ground.
"Who are you?"
Her voice was calm, steady.
"State your name. Prove your identity and your purpose in seeking me."
Chilling white hair. Crimson eyes. Scabbard at her waist, academy uniform—not gym clothes. Bloodstains on the white fabric suggested a recent field run. At her level, she could solo mid-tier desert or jungle mobs easily.
This dialogue, this scene, the woman opposite me. I smiled faintly.
Lumen Ribens. If I claimed ignorance... that'd be a lie.
But I don't know Lumen Ribens the person.
I placed a hand on my shoulder, kneeling on one knee.
"An honor to meet nobility here."
"..."
"Once of Repelheit, now merely a commoner: Adrian."
Lumen Ribens. Of course, 'Lumen Ribens' is a pseudonym, her baronet origins entirely fabricated.
Her true identity:
"Lijelilias Daderus de Salenias, esteemed of the imperial house, Sixth Princess—greetings."
A royal incognito...
Ching! The blade flew at my throat.
Drip, drip. Black blood from uncleaned foes trickled down the edge onto my shoulder.
I closed my eyes, awaiting her words.
I had answers ready for the obvious: How do you know?
Come on, Princess. Try me.
"...So it was you, Adrian."
? Wrong script?
"What brings you to me?"
...?
Hold on. Are we... acquainted?