Chapter 103: Who Might You Be? (3)
Chapter 103: Who Might You Be? (3)
“I heard the news.”
“I heard it too. You mean Petrick Schneider, right?”
“They say he completely and utterly suppressed Alex from the 5th year.”
“It’s not even surprising anymore.”
“I mean, he already beat the professors. Why would a 5th-year be any different?”
“Then who should actually represent us at the Arcana?”
“If things stay like this, it’ll look pretty bad if Alex is the one who goes, won’t it?”
As the students were discussing this, a female student chimed in.
“Ho ho ho. Why even ask? Obviously, my man should be the one to go.”
The one who interjected was a girl wearing the uniform of the Administration Department. The other students greeted her as she appeared.
“Hello, Senior Marianne.”
“It’s been a while.”
“Are you… alright?”
Blonde hair and blue eyes. With a slender figure and a reputation for both beauty and intelligence, she was known as the Flower of the East. That was Marianne Parmas. However…
“I’m fine. I haven’t slept for about forty hours, and I’ve had nothing but black tea for the last thirty-three, but I’m perfectly fine.”
‘You don’t look fine at all…’
‘She definitely doesn’t look fine…’
The Flower of the East had currently transformed into the Zombie of the East. Her hair was disheveled, and her skin was parched. Her eyes were bloodshot and hollow, with dark circles reaching down to her chin.
Lately, she had been incredibly busy preparing for the evaluation exams administered by the Administration Department. In truth, with her grades, she could have easily promoted to the next year, but her goals had recently shifted higher.
As Petrick began to distinguish himself more and more within the Academy, a certain sense of anxiety had taken root in her. Wasn't it a universal truth that when a man shows talent and starts to succeed, money, power, and women naturally follow?
She believed that in order to claim her man (since when?) in advance, she needed to secure a position worthy of him.
‘Honestly, having a man who’s too talented is such a struggle. But what can I do?’
Thanks to this, she had been holed up in the library like an earthbound spirit, immersed in her studies to claim the top spot in her year. Yet, even in her seclusion, news of Petrick reached her ears.
“He fought Senior Alex from the 5th year and won one-sidedly, didn't he? So how could they send the loser as the representative of Arcana instead of the winner?”
“But history and tradition…”
“Oh my? If the professors insist on their precious history and tradition and we end up losing every match at this Arcana too, how will they take responsibility?”
“……”
“Well, I’m sure they’ll figure it out. But if there’s someone clearly stronger and they send someone weaker as the representative, the backlash will be insane, don’t you think?”
What Marianne said was exactly what everyone else was thinking. Now, even outside the Knight Department, opinions were shifting toward the idea that Petrick Schneider should be the one to represent them at the Arcana.
*
A short while later.
Petrick was in his quarters, sipping expensive liquor he’d swiped from Red while snacking on peanuts. April spoke to him.
“Young Master, you have a visitor.”
“Who is it?”
“It is Lord Alex from the 5th year.”
“Huh? What’s that guy doing here?”
“Shall I chase him away?”
“No, well, tell him to come in for now.”
With Petrick’s permission, April brought Alex inside. Seeing him for the first time in a few days, Alex’s face looked somewhat haggard.
“It’s been a while, Senior.”
“Yes. May I sit?”
“Go ahead.”
Alex sat across from Petrick. On the table were leftover snacks and a canteen filled with liquor disguised as water. After being caught once by Isabella, Petrick had started hiding his alcohol in canteens. Of course, the strong scent of booze made it obvious anyway.
Confronted with his junior’s indulgence, Alex felt he should say something as a senior. However…
‘I can’t exactly act like his senior.’
That day, he had felt a gap in skill so absolute it was undeniable. How could he possibly try to act superior now? Furthermore, considering the favor he was about to ask, playing the senior role was even more out of the question.
He straightened his posture and spoke to Petrick.
“I have a request.”
“No.”
“…I haven’t even said it yet.”
“You’re going to ask me to teach you the sword, aren’t you?”
At Petrick’s words, Alex looked like he’d been hit right where it hurt. He cleared his throat and spoke.
“Ahem. Yes. That’s right.”
“I don’t want to. It’s a pain. Not doing it.”
Seeing Petrick refuse so bluntly, a vein popped on Alex’s forehead, but he exercised patience.
“I’m asking you.”
“Ugh, I said no.”
“Is there no way you’ll reconsider, no matter how I ask?”
“Nope. Not happening. Go home.”
Alex was flustered by Petrick’s firm rejection. To be honest, he had agonized over this before coming here. For the top student of the 5th year to ask a freshman for instruction was no easy feat.
However, the memory of Petrick’s single strike was too vivid to ignore for the sake of pride. That blow, which felt like a massive mountain crushing down on him—the desire to learn such a sword made him set aside his ego and seek Petrick out personally.
Actually, getting here was the hard part; he had assumed that if he came and asked, Petrick would naturally agree.
“I know the Princess and your friend are receiving training from you. Why can’t I?”
“They can, but you can’t, Senior.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I don’t feel like it.”
“……”
He wanted to hit him. If he could just land one punch on that indifferent mouth, he felt like a decade’s worth of frustration would vanish instantly.
“Why? You want to go another round if you’re salty?”
“No, that’s not it…”
Embarking on an impossible challenge isn't courage. It’s just recklessness. Alex Lobsky was a rational man who didn't challenge the impossible.
“Ahem. As you know, I will be representing the country at the Arcana.”
“I know.”
“I’m asking you. For the sake of the kingdom, and for the sake of my family, I must produce results at the Arcana. Please, teach me.”
“It’s fine even if you don’t do well, because I’ll win anyway.”
“You’re a freshman, aren’t you? And you’re saying you’ll go as the representative?”
“Why? You think I can’t?”
“……”
“I thrashed the 5th-year top student. Do you really think those ancient professors can stop me, no matter how much they babble about tradition and dignity?”
“Hmm…”
Even Alex found it hard to argue. Petrick would likely go. It made no sense for Petrick not to represent them at the Arcana.
“If you go, you’ll certainly achieve excellent results. But wouldn't it be better for two people to perform well rather than you carrying it alone?”
Alex’s excuse was somewhat pathetic. It was a testament to how desperate he was for Petrick’s teaching. But Petrick just smirked.
“Senior, how much time is left until the Arcana?”
“Two months.”
“Right. Two months… Let’s say I teach you for those two months.”
“……”
“Do you really think anything will change in that time?”
“That’s…”
Alex bit his lower lip hard. To be honest, two months was far too short to show significant results.
Of course, Petrick was thinking to himself: ‘There are ways to get stronger immediately if I use a few shortcuts… but why should I?’
He looked at the flustered Alex and spoke.
“Ace, show the guest out.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Ace immediately grabbed Alex’s arm to lead him out.
“Wait, just a second… Huh?”
“This is quite improper of you.”
Alex tried to resist and stay put, but when Ace gripped a specific point on his wrist, the strength drained from his body, making resistance impossible.
“You…?”
“Please return for today.”
Alex could tell. This incredibly handsome butler… no, wait, he really was good-looking. Beautiful, even. How could a man look like this?
Ahem, anyway, this butler was stronger than him. And by quite a lot. Realizing that resistance was futile, he had no choice but to walk out quietly.
After the door closed, he stood there with a look of despair before speaking with renewed determination.
“I can’t give up like this.”
Alex. He was a man with an unnecessarily stubborn streak.
*
A few days later.
“Tsk, tsk. Look at you, huffing and puffing already. You’ve only done five hundred.”
“Urgh!”
“Haaah!”
Today, Petrick was once again tormenting… training Matthew and Isabella. Currently, the two were repeating basic swings with heavy weights attached to the ends of their wooden swords.
“Slow, too slow. At that snail’s pace, do you think you’ll finish a thousand by evening?”
“Then maybe you could…”
“Oh, your form is slipping again. Not focusing, are we? Add two hundred more.”
“Aaaaaagh!”
“You demon!”
Matthew screamed and Isabella glared as if she wanted to kill him, but Petrick didn't even blink. He chuckled and said to them:
“If you don’t finish within the allotted time, I’m increasing tomorrow’s workload. You’ve heard the saying, right? Never put off today’s training until tomorrow… or you might just die.”
“Who even says that?!”
“I do.”
“Are you even human?!”
Seeing Matthew talking back with newfound grit and Isabella glaring with venomous eyes made Petrick feel nostalgic for home.
‘I wonder how Sanson and the other soldiers are doing? They’re doing well, right? They’d better be, if they don’t want to die.’
Since he had laid down the foundation, they should be able to train autonomously even in his absence. However, he felt a deep sense of regret that he couldn't be there to personally nag them and strip away their physical strength, mental fortitude, and the very endurance of their souls until they were completely empty.
‘Sorry, guys. I’ll look after you even more intensely next time I see you.’
*
At that same moment, far away in the Schneider Territory to the east…
“Ugh, man, I just got the chills.”
“You too? Me too.”
“What was that? That creepy feeling just now?”
It was said that a large number of soldiers felt a mysterious, sudden chill.