Teamwork? (1)
The Edelbein Academy Exchange Event.
It was a grand occasion where the empire's most distinguished families gathered en masse. Whether in the Sword School or the Arcane School, sending the scions of noble bloodlines to study at the academy was the prevailing trend. Naturally, formal invitations to the annual Exchange Event were dispatched to every great house across the realm.
"My Lord, the invitation to the Exchange Event has arrived at last."
"Mm. Hand it here."
The Exchange Event was the crowning jewel of the academy's calendar. Depending on who triumphed and who fell, entire noble houses wept or rejoiced.
"How shall we proceed this year?"
Because of its weight, deciding who would represent the family was a delicate matter.
"Hmm."
Family heads were far busier than most people realized. Managing the endless crises springing up across their autonomous territories was enough to consume entire days. For a great house commanding numerous vassal territories, the burden was multiplied ten times over. There was no telling what catastrophe might unfold while the master was away.
And so, the head of House Kundel found himself deep in thought.
"What do you think we should do?"
"Regrettable as it may be, I believe sending a proxy would be best once again, My Lord."
Amos Kundel pressed two fingers against his temple, massaging it gently. Then, an idle thought struck him.
"What about Rihardt?"
"We have heard nothing specific from them yet."
"Is that so?"
House Rihardt—his eternal rival. The South and the West! The Kundels of the South and the Rihardts of the West were universally acknowledged across the empire as bitter competitors, even if each house privately considered itself superior to the other.
"What if we make the first move this time?"
The head butler wore a troubled expression at the question. "However, My Lord, the sheer volume of matters requiring your attention at present is staggering. The mining enterprise alone—"
"Do we not possess a perfectly valid justification, Head Butler?" The corners of Amos Kundel's mouth curled upward. "Our youngest suffered a grave ordeal. Would that not be reason enough?"
No group in the empire was more sensitive to propriety and pretext than the nobility. If a family head personally intervened without a proper excuse, whispers of criticism would follow behind his back. But this time was different.
Heh, Amos chuckled inwardly. Just imagining the look on that fool Darren Rihardt's face when news broke that the head of House Kundel was attending in person brought an involuntary grin to his lips.
Here he goes again. They're like squabbling children... The head butler suppressed a sigh.
It was an ancient, bitter feud. Since early childhood, long before either of them had been declared heir, the two patriarchs had snarled at each other like rabid dogs. Who could have guessed they would still be acting this way after all these years?
"Head Butler."
"Yes, My Lord."
"Reply that the family head will attend in person. And ensure word of this discreetly leaks to House Rihardt."
"Understood."
Amos smirked, looking for all the world like a mischievous brat plotting a prank. The butler could only marvel at the contrast. A man so profoundly dignified on ordinary days... One who was even offered the supreme mantle of Imperial Knight... yet the moment House Rihardt enters the conversation, he turns into this.
"Ah, and one more thing," Amos added. "I would like to see this elective instructor my youngest spoke of. What was his name—Xiel?"
"Ah, Instructor Xiel Steelheart, you mean?"
"Yes. I find myself curious. My youngest is hardly the type to sing another man's praises so readily."
"If he proves an exceptional mentor, bringing him into our house's service might prove a worthwhile endeavor."
"A fine idea. In any case, send the reply at once."
"Right away, My Lord."
The decision Amos made that day sent shockwaves rippling through high society.
"What in the world did you just say? Seriously? The head of House Kundel is attending in person?"
"Are they out of their minds! Why on earth would he go?!"
"Ha... well, if his pretext holds up..."
When the patriarch of a paramount family like Kundel stepped forward personally, other noble houses could hardly afford to stay away. Whether out of sheer pride or the desire to make an impression, attending was vastly preferable to being left behind.
Only one house reacted entirely differently.
"That bastard Amos... So that's how you want to play it, is it?!"
Darren Rihardt, father of Celia Rihardt and Great Lord of the West, stood with his mountainous muscles twitching in volcanic fury.
"M-My Lord! Please calm yourself for a moment..."
"Silence, Butler! Send word to the academy immediately—the head of House Rihardt will attend in person!"
"M-My Loooord!"
"What?!"
"Must you swallow his bait every single time?!"
"When a man issues a direct challenge, what kind of man sits idly by?!"
"Does being manly put food on the table?!"
In the end, Darren Rihardt's personal attendance was confirmed as well.
The reverberations spread across the empire until the Edelbein Academy Sword School was thrown into sheer pandemonium.
"This guest list is..."
"It is as you see, Department Head."
"Good grief..."
The invited houses. The heads of every single family attending in person. An Exchange Event of unprecedented scale was about to unfold.
Amidst the uproar consuming the Sword School, Xiel's expression was a fraction brighter than usual.
It's payday.
A day he had eagerly awaited. It was the very first time in his life that his chest fluttered in anticipation of something so simple. Wasteful spending is strictly prohibited. A salary was a sacred thing. Xiel tightened his grip on the coin pouch tucked inside his pocket.
On a payday like this, he had no intention of repeating his past mistake at an obscenely overpriced restaurant. What he truly craved was chicken skewers.
"Oh, Instructor Xiel! It's been a while! What can I get for you?"
"Give me thirty chicken skewers, please."
"Aigoo, thirty! Wonderful! I'll toss in five extra on the house!"
The skewers of Edelbein Academy Plaza were a legendary delicacy. To Xiel, this was pure bliss. Had he discovered this flavor just a little earlier in life, he might have abandoned the assassination syndicate far sooner.
"Here you are—thirty-five skewers, wrapped to go!"
Just as he took the package, however, an unexpected obstacle appeared.
"Oh? Instructor Xiel?"
It was Celia.
"Student Celia Rihardt."
"Do you like these too, Instructor?"
"They are delicious."
"Really? I love the spicy flavor. What about you?"
"I like it as well."
"Oh, my!"
"It is my third favorite."
"Well, you still like it, don't you?"
"I do."
Celia clenched her fist in silent triumph. Found a point in common. Building relationships always began with shared interests. Is now the time? The proposal to become her escort knight! Perhaps this was the golden moment. But she had to remain calm.
"Eat."
Xiel offered her a skewer. A spicy one, no less!
Is it really time? Could he possibly feel the same way?
"Pay one cel here."
"..."
The skewer vendor smoothly extended his palm toward her. "That'll be one cel, student!"
He hadn't bought it for her. He had simply acted as a courier. Celia munched on the skewer in sullen silence. Still, it tasted undeniably good.
"Instructor... do you plan on eating all of those by yourself?"
"I do."
"You really eat an awful lot."
"Is this considered a lot?"
"Yes! Normally... people can barely finish five. These are huge, you know."
"I see. I could eat a hundred of them."
Was this his unique way of asserting strength? His bravado is almost cute.
"I am merely exercising restraint so as not to exhaust my monthly salary," Xiel clarified flatly.
"Ah, your salary..." There was no way a grand ducal lady like Celia could fathom the preciousness of an ordinary paycheck. "Then, Instructor, would you like to go get some ice cream with me?"
"Ice cream?"
"It's amazingly delicious. Have you ever tried it?"
"This is the first time I have heard of it."
"They only sell it in the capital, actually. Come on, let's go!"
Today was truly her chance. To think he's never tried it before! He would surely be moved to tears.
"Here it is!"
"Mm. It is quite large."
"It's famous across the entire capital, wildly popular these days. I was so thrilled when they opened a branch here at the academy."
"What kind of food is it?"
"You eat it ice-cold. Apparently, an extremely famous mage succeeded in developing a magical refrigeration tool and started the business. What was his name again...?"
Moments later, however—
"It tastes awful."
Xiel delivered a devastating verdict.
"It is cold and sweet, but this flavor is... unacceptable."
"Th-That's my absolute favorite flavor, though?!"
"It is terrible."
Xiel took another small, experimental bite, only for his expression to harden further. "An unspeakable, horrifying taste."
"Why would you say that about... mint chocolate?!"
The magnificent harmony of crisp mint and rich chocolate! How could anyone call something so sweet and refreshing terrible?
"I shall never eat this again."
Hating to waste food, Xiel forced down the remainder, letting out a heavy sigh with his face contorted in rare distaste. To Celia, who had only ever known his impassive stone face, the sight was novelty incarnate, though that hardly consoled her.
"How could someone hate mint chocolate...?"
"I will try a different flavor. This one looks acceptable."
Xiel ordered a scoop studded with crisp apple chunks and gave a satisfied nod. "This is far better."
Celia felt a twinge of despair. A true escort knight ought to share the exact tastes of his master. "Instructor... I'm disappointed."
"Whatever you say, dislike is dislike."
It seemed proposing the escort knight contract today was a lost cause. I'll wait for the next opening. Edelbein Academy was vast, and the food was plentiful. There would be other chances. More importantly, the Exchange Event was fast approaching, and her father was coming in person.
If I speak to Father and he extends the offer himself... An invitation from an academy student carried entirely different weight from a proposal backed by the Western Great Lord himself.
"By the way, Instructor, you'll be attending the Exchange Event, won't you?"
"I am scheduled to attend as the supervisor for the first-year class."
"Not Professor Elcanto?"
"I was told Professor Elcanto was temporarily reassigned to manage the second-years, as their supervisory post became vacant."
The decision had come down just that morning by direct order of Department Head Berhal.
Heavens... how is that possible? Celia could hardly conceal her shock. Even as a student, she possessed a keen understanding of the Sword School's inner workings, and she knew the lowly status of a general elective lecturer all too well. Are the rumors about him having a colossal backer true after all?
Whispers had recently begun circulating through the halls that an unimaginably influential patron watched over Instructor Xiel from the shadows. It really was true. Nothing else made sense. Even if a full professor had been stripped of his post, placing a mere elective instructor in charge of an entire academic year during an event of this scale was unprecedented.
"I also heard that the heads of every great family will attend this Exchange Event," Xiel remarked.
If that was the case, the stakes were impossibly high, which only lent greater significance to his appointment.
"You're truly incredible, Instructor."
"Am I?"
"Of course! You're in charge of an entire year!"
"I see." Xiel gave a modest nod, then dropped a pleasant surprise. "That being the case, I will soon be overseeing your training directly."
"Pardon?"
"Training the delegates falls under my assigned duties. I intend to announce it during today's class."
An opportunity. Another chance to capture his attention. She had failed to leave an overwhelming impression during the preliminary selection matches, but if she dedicated herself completely during training... I will make him my escort knight, no matter what.
Xiel's renown was steadily rising. To secure a man like him by her side... His hatred of mint chocolate is a tragic flaw, but still... People had different tastes. Such was life.
"Then let's hurry, Instructor! There's only thirty minutes left!"
"I intend to purchase one more. You may head ahead."
"I'll wait for you!"
"Very well."
Only after polishing off a serving of vanilla to chase the apple did Xiel finally rise from his seat. Celia's heart thrummed with excitement. At last, a golden stage to prove her worth.
Shortly thereafter, at the conclusion of their grueling distance-running session, Xiel made his announcement to the assembled class.
"The ten students selected for the Exchange Event will remain behind."
Envious murmurs instantly swept through the ranks.
"I'm so jealous. I wanted to go so badly."
"Do you think things might actually be different this year? Instructor Xiel said we could even beat the second-years."
"Come on, all of them? No way. Maybe Delev and Celia, but the rest of us..."
The unselected students filed out, casting lingering glances over their shoulders. Once the training ground emptied, Xiel turned his gaze upon the ten representatives.
"The Exchange Event is a competition between academic years."
The flagship spectacles of the event were two distinct contests: Match One, the Breakthrough; and Match Two, the Inter-Year Melee.
The Breakthrough tested a squad's ability to navigate terrain laden with traps, obstacles, and lurking threats, racing to reach the objective in the shortest time. The Inter-Year Melee was precisely what the name implied: an all-out clash simulating a live battlefield between entire year cohorts.
"We will begin training."
Naturally, flawless teamwork was paramount for both—
"I will conduct individualized, customized instruction."
Not teamwork?
"We have ten days remaining."
Xiel added in his characteristic deadpan voice, "We are short on time. All of you, attack me at once."