Relay Sparring - Interlude
"Deneb, Konet, Yozef. You three, come here for a moment."
Just as class ended and I was about to head back, Professor Perkin called out to me and a few other male students. Wondering if there was more to discuss, I followed as instructed, and he launched into an unexpected topic.
"How many credits are you each taking?"
Credits referred to the units for completing lecture hours—about 15 credits meant attending five classes. I was taking five subjects, including Basic Combat and Basic Magic, plus general education courses, for a total of 15 credits. That was probably the average for first-years at Denebergen Academy.
"15 credits."
"Same here, 15."
"15 credits, yes."
Yozef, ever confident no matter the time or place, was the last to reply, confirming all three of us were at 15.
Professor Perkin stroked his chin with a wing shedding feathers here and there, eyes closed thoughtfully, then nodded as if satisfied.
"How about taking an extra special class?"
"A special class?"
Konet and Yozef were as surprised as I was, but so were Yustina and Charlotte, who had been trailing a few steps behind, eavesdropping out of curiosity about what we were discussing.
"Yes, a special class. It'd bump you up to 18 credits, so busier for sure, but I guarantee it'll be worth it."
"Uh... is that allowed by regulations?"
"Of course. Every year, the professors for Basic Combat and Basic Magic each get to recommend three students for the special class."
Naturally, that raised the question of what this special class even was. Sensing our curiosity, Professor Perkin quickly explained.
"Think of the special class as... practical combat training."
"Practical training?"
"Exactly. This is an academy, but even among freshmen, skill gaps are huge—you saw that today. First-years aren't all equal in ability."
Konet, Yozef, and even Charlotte nodded, glancing my way. Fair enough; during the spars, I'd been bounding around like an inexhaustible wild boar, so it must've burned into their minds. Yozef and Konet, who were also tapped for the class alongside me, had lost to me before, making me stand out even more.
"So, basically, the school pushes the top talents harder. The ones who excel even without much teaching. That's the idea."
"Oh......"
"Damn, if it were that showboat Danei from Basic Magic, he'd have dressed it up fancier. I'm no good with words. Anyway, Danei will pick three from magic, making six total in the class."
Noticing our hesitation, he added a bit more.
"Other students might cry foul, but that's the world, isn't it? Schools push the strong from behind and pull the weak from the front."
There seemed to be a reason he kept just us behind to say this. Despite his age, Professor Perkin focused purely on teaching students, ignoring adult politics. Contrary to his massive build and gruff speech, he quietly cherished his pupils.
"So, no complaints from you three? This is my personal recommendation—don't even think of refusing."
"Of course not!"
"Hm, practical training. Sounds intriguing."
"But is the instructor for that class you too, Professor Perkin?"
While Konet and Yozef buzzed with excitement, I shot my hand up. From the sound of it, three from combat and three from magic—but with different specialties and talents, who could teach such a mismatched group of geniuses? At least, I doubted Professor Perkin could.
He's clueless about magic, no matter how you slice it.
He hadn't even noticed Yustina casting an aura blessing on me. Sure, she was no ordinary mage but a dragon, so she'd masked it cleverly. Even so, he didn't seem equipped to teach magic students under a "practical" banner.
"Ah, no, not me. Someone impressive is coming. I don't have the details, but it's an external invitee."
"External invitee?"
At those words, I caught Yustina's expression sour slightly. As chairwoman, she'd have known already—what was the issue? But I couldn't run over and ask, so I kept listening to Professor Perkin.
"Yeah, usually top professors from within handle it each year, but this time it's someone from outside. Didn't catch the name. Anyway, that's it."
With that, Professor Perkin left. Under the dimming sky, the five of us still at the training grounds slowly headed back to the dorms.
Yozef and Charlotte were friends, and Yustina too, but with barely acquainted Konet along, the mood was awkward. Charlotte, ignoring it, clung straight to me with teary eyes.
"Young master, are you leaving me behind...?"
"What're you talking about, Charlotte?"
A teasing remark like Someone might think we're dating rose to my throat, but Yustina's glare shoved it back down.
"Ahem, you'll end up in it anyway, Charlotte. They pick three from magic too."
"Do you think I'd make it in...?"
"Obviously. In my eyes, you're a lock, and Yuz too......"
"Hmph, this Yustina cares not for such special treatment. Five classes are bothersome enough."
"What five?"
No need to ask—it was obvious. As I'd guessed, Yustina was taking the exact same five classes as me. Charlotte too, while Konet and Yozef differed somewhat.
"Ch, what a coincidence!"
"Yeah."
"Surely you didn't copy this Yustina?"
"No way."
Peeling off Charlotte brought Yustina next—way tougher than her. Near the end of the spars, I'd accidentally slipped into Shadow Step, so I'd been watching her mood since class wrapped.
"......By the way, Deneb."
"Yeah?"
Just then, Yustina fixed me with a meaningful look, like she had something to say. I'd seen that gaze enough to read her intent from her eyes alone. Here it comes, I tensed—
But the voice that rang out was Yozef's, not hers.
"Oh! That reminds me!"
"What, suddenly?"
Konet, startled straight by Yozef's exclamation, shot him an irritated glare. But as always, Yozef ignored it and pressed on.
"The invitee professor. I heard something from my sister!"
"Sister? You mean the princess? But how would she know this year's special class instructor?"
"Because the invitee's a knight from the imperial court!"
"What?"
I tilted my head, glancing at Yustina. She was disguised as a student, but still worked as Denebergen Academy's chairwoman. She'd surely know any external professor's identity.
"......Come to think of it, Mother mentioned something too. Inviting a key imperial figure as a professor."
"W-Wow... someone from the court at the academy..."
"Exactly, Charlotte—that guy right there is a prince."
Charlotte's ever-exuberant reaction, Konet perking up his ears despite his stoic vibe. Everyone hung on Yustina and Yozef's words.
Yustina spoke first, a step ahead.
"This Yustina knew that much, but no more details. As you might guess, Denebergen gets plenty from the court."
"What do you mean?"
"The order's backward. It's not the academy inviting—it's the court planting one of theirs."
Now I got why Yustina looked sour. Denebergen was her school, as chairwoman. A dragon's gold might last 500 years, but it wasn't infinite—and as an imperial education venture on empire soil, she had to mind the court. Five centuries ago, one dragon could raze a nation, but today's empire wasn't so fragile.
The court's meddling in faculty appointments.
No wonder she was miffed. The chairwoman not knowing the special class instructor for such a key role? Principal Jerniel handled most, but this screamed interference.
"Ugh......"
Yustina glared daggers at Yozef, but he had his back turned, oblivious.
"Well, I don't know more than you, Yuz! Just that the new prof's an old friend of my sister's, an outstanding imperial knight."
"An old friend of the princess means quite old, then."
"Not sure. Wait, no—age aside, she has plenty of experience."
Yozef quickly corrected, showing respect for the newcomer. Before he could shut up, I jumped in.
"What's the name? If imperial knight, might be famous."
I pondered, then frowned.
"Hmm, can't recall the name. Probably not famous outside. But sister's high praise means highly rated within."
"So, nothing useful."
"Ah, but one unique thing."
Yozef grinned, poking the air with a finger.
"Not human—an elf."
"Elf?"
"......Really?"
We were all shocked, but Yustina reacted most fiercely. Elves were rarer now than in my past life, 500 years on. One teaching us?
The others' surprise was mild, but Yustina's blue eyes widened, lips bitten.
"Yes, told you—loads of experience. Haha! Foreshadowing, right? What do you think?"
As Yozef laughed heartily, the rest sighed over the scant info beyond "elf." But Yustina was different again.
"At this timing, why, of all things...... ugh!!"
"Yuz?"
"I'll head off first! See you next time—especially you, Deneb! We need to talk later!"
Even then, her farewell was meticulously polite. Watching her back, I shivered with unease over whatever storm was brewing next.