Chapter 127: Unexplained Anxiety
Recalling, Sensei was truly just bestowing a favor. There were no other emotions involved.
Since I was conscripted, it was to live longer. To survive longer and fight better. Since I fight well, to do something that helps my family and myself.
And that's why you taught me. You compiled all your know-how to impart to the first person I met.
Thanks to that, I became a solid rear support for allies and a terror sharp shooter for the enemies. And with promotion to sergeant and receiving the Medal of Honor, my family even started receiving pensions.
I know. It was only up to that. You only did it with a kind heart and to exert good influence.
But... what can I do? Sensei. After bestowing such a grace and becoming a great hero.
Respect and admiration soon become affection, and it grows without me knowing. It's really unavoidable.
Even now. Even though you give me a massage without hesitation, my whole body is trembling.
The scream I'm making now is partly because my muscles are tense, but part of it is because I'm ashamed.
But even so, if you're not bothered by it like this, since I'm a woman, I have no choice.
“Let's see. Now it's a bit better?”
“Ah... if you just do a little more, it might loosen up...”
“Still? It seems really tense. Let me check.”
A kind person. A benevolent person. But you yourself say you didn't intend that, yet sometimes the result has a bigger impact than the intention.
And because of that result, someone who obtains even greater results will inevitably have everything taken away from them by the other party.
“...Sensei.”
“Yes.”
“...I wanted to ask when you plan to marry Miss Selena.”
“Hmm? Well, once I graduate and Selena finishes her graduate studies. That would be the time, wouldn't it?”
“...I see.”
That would be appropriate. There's a one-year difference between me and Sensei. If I graduate first and then after a year, there's enough time for a wedding and having children.
By then, Selena probably won't have any reason to be wary of me. If I have her as the first wife and my first child, there won't be any reason for that.
'At least one target is eliminated. That's fortunate. It was the hardest one to hit.'
No, not just hard, it's impossible. According to what I heard, Selena has known Sensei for a long time.
There were some circumstances, but in any case, in terms of time and Sensei's heart, since Selena has the advantage, it's right to refrain from unnecessary actions.
Actually, in the battlefield, I learned to avoid sniping on targets unless it's an urgent situation.
The judgment that you can't waste important resources on unnecessary missions. That judgment was now being made by me.
“I heard the news. It says you're getting along well with Eloise and Lepia as well.”
“Ah... yes. That's right.”
“You're getting along well. I'm glad. And thank you.”
“Sensei. No, senpai?”
“It's the same with my father, and the King of Lasquer who visited recently. He asked me to take good care of Lepia. Since I received such a request, and my surroundings are already taking good care of her, I'm glad.”
At that moment, my conscience was slightly pricked.
Same first-year, Lepia. I'm getting along with her, but there's one thing that bothers me. If the reason isn't really to get along well, but to add a bit of surveillance.
Honestly, this is unavoidable. Lepia was the one who first hugged Sensei. I haven't done it yet, but the person who entered Sensei's eyes last is snatching it first.
This is something Sensei and Lepia would understand. No! They must understand! I have to forcibly hold back from asking too much!
“Take good care of her in the future. Since the three of us are the same year, and all three have different situations? But if we get along well, we can exert an enormous good influence.”
“If it's Sensei's wish—”
“I'm asking, not ordering.”
“Ah, yes. Understood. I'll try my best!”
Good influence. Sensei seems to be trying to send some message through the three of us—me, Eloise, and Lepia—getting along well.
So, I have to try. For Sensei's sake, and for myself as well.
Think about it. If we show that we're getting along well, Sensei would be happy, right? And affection would increase. Maybe he would feel something new about my appearance of getting along well with elves and Lasquer royalty.
Although this is the academy, not the battlefield, in the end, everything is the same as the battlefield.
If you don't try, you'll fall behind. And if you fall behind, you'll eventually be alone.
On the contrary, if you try, you can stand in front, and those who stand in front receive rewards for it.
In the current situation, the reward I want is only one thing. And I'm not a fool to the point where I don't know what efforts I need to make to receive it.
...No. Honestly, I might be a fool. Recently, I've been thinking... The academy is really too tough. Maybe I should say there's an enormous hardship different from the battlefield?
'Lectures, assignments, exams. There's no hell other than this...!'
“Senpai Karl.”
“Hmm. Lab. Why?”
“There's one thing I wanted to ask.”
“What?”
I've already heard the news. Senpai Karl's grades are in the top tier. You received scores so high that they're incomparable to mine!
“How am I supposed to follow the lectures well, do the assignments well, and pass the exams well...?”
“Ugh.”
“I never imagined this place would be so tough. I'm terrified that I might not even get average grades in the final exams!!”
The pride of being the Empire's best sharp shooter? I've already set it aside. This place, the academy, is exactly where such things don't work...!
Lab's worries were understandable from my perspective as well.
Actually, that's how it is. In the military, since the principle is absolute obedience, my daily life was to say 'Yes! Understood!' when orders came, rather than thinking and giving opinions.
I'm not belittling soldiers. After all, I was drafted twice.
It's just a job characteristic. Especially for soldiers, not officers or non-commissioned officers, this is an unavoidable kind of aftereffect.
Anyway. For that reason, I expected Lab to be suffering.
'Originally, I didn't want to give it because of fairness issues...'
Lepia was smart like a princess of a country. Eloise didn't seem like it, but she had good study skills. That means the two don't need the roster I gave to the Four Idiots.
So, I secretly called Lab to my room and shared the necessary roster.
...Wait, but why is Lab's eyes sparkling when I said to come to my room?
“Really, really? You're giving this to me? Are you really giving this to me?!”
“Yeah, yeah. But don't spread it too much—”
“Never! There's no way! Sensei!”
“So, in the academy, fix the title to senpai...”
“To anyone! To anyone! Even if I get scolded, I won't hand it over! This is something prepared only for me by Sensei! I'll cherish it for the rest of my life!!”
No... If it comes to a crisis where I have to be tortured, I can just give it... And actually, I received this too...
I wonder if it's just my imagination that I feel happier at this moment than when I got a perfect score on the test. It doesn't seem like it, though.
After giving Lab one of the rosters, I decided to focus on my own tasks. Now that the final exams are approaching, I need to start studying for the exams to maintain my grades.
Originally, I could have done it in advance, but all exam prep is said to be cram-style. It seems that's the most effective.
“Hey! Karl! Going to the library?!”
“Get lost. You fifth-years.”
The damn Four Idiots. They became crazy because they got one more semester. Even exams, if you just take them decently, you don't have to worry like me.
Originally, those guys are a pretty weird case where some can graduate and some can't.
“Good luck with the final exams!”
“Aren't you taking the exams?”
“We are, but if we get the basic score, we're good.”
“We suffered exams for four years, so for a year, just do it decently.”
Wow. I never thought the Four Idiots would be envious. Is this the freedom of fifth-years!
“If you're that free, shall we eat dinner with Selena?”
“No way. If I really went and they said I followed without noticing, it would be bad.”
“Oh. Now you're not lying.”
It was a shame. Last time, if I said 'Really go?!' they would scold me with 'Is it okay?!' but.
While laughing, the Four Idiots start whispering. But what's funny is, their voices are so loud that it seems like they're talking to each other, but everyone can hear.
“That guy, lately he's doing unbelievable pranks. It's definitely exam period.”
“As expected, exams are harsh. Even the Medal of Honor recipient is going crazy.”
“Oh ho, pity. A pitiful human who surrendered to the demon called exams!”
Everyone hears it. These guys. But I can't think of anything to counter. Actually, exam period is really harsh. My nonsense is confirmed.
Deciding to go first, I turn back to the library, but suddenly Schlippen grabs me with the question 'What happened to that?'
“Huh?”
“I heard there's a new Medal named after you. Is that true?”
“I opposed it.”
“Why?!”
Why? If something like that happens. Damn, I won't be able to raise my head because I'm ashamed!
Many other heroes, why my name specifically. It's not like I'm today or tomorrow, a guy in his early 20s getting the Empire's highest medal?! Absolutely no way!
“There is such a thing. Anyway, it's over. Tang tang. End.”
Replying like that, Schlippen let out a rather ominous sound.
“Hmm? In my opinion, even things that didn't exist become inevitable because of you, Karl.”
“...”
“Why do I keep seeing a future where a medal with my name is created?”