Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Another Name for War is Course Registration #1
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Old religions were mostly full of "thou shalt nots."
They prohibited a lot of things.
Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not get drunk. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods. Thou shalt not take the name of the gods in vain. Thou shalt not worship idols, and so on.
Every religion tended to impose these doctrines that restricted people's behavior.
Arc, the educational facility run by the Church of Radiant Flame, was also a kind of religious institution. That's why there were tons of things you weren't allowed to do.
Like, men and women couldn't stay in the same room after 10 p.m.
Or you had to go to sleep after lights out at 10 p.m.
Break the rules, and you'd get demerit points. Rack up too many, and you'd get expelled.
Expelled.
What a horrifying word.
For me, expulsion was the same as execution.
And right now, I was breaking both of those rules up there.
This was the luxurious Platinum dormitory.
The room of Aira, the queen ranked second in Arc.
It was 11 p.m. on a late night, and I was alone with Aira.
Aira sat on the bed in a silver negligee, swinging her bare legs back and forth.
"Theo, hurry up and make that schedule. It's already past bedtime, isn't it?"
She let out a yawn—haam.
"Ah, just a moment, please."
I was diligently working on my timetable, cross-referencing the thick course catalog with the provisional schedule I'd made.
If there were computers, this would be quick. Doing it all manually like this was pretty tough.
"Queen Aira, how about the 'Tea Time for Cultivating the Mind' lecture on Wednesday at 10 a.m.? I could take it with you."
"Tea time? I haven't indulged in something so lukewarm since becoming queen from princess."
Aira's expression wasn't great. Yeah, tea time didn't suit Aira. But there was no helping it.
"Still, there are really only a few courses a Bronze like me can take alongside a Platinum like you, Lady Aira."
That was the problem.
I wanted our schedules to overlap as much as possible so I could stay by her side and coordinate things.
Out of about a thousand students, Aira—ranked second—was Platinum.
I was Bronze, basically at the bottom, past a thousand.
So there weren't many classes we could take together.
In Arc, this performance-based "rank" mattered more than year or family background.
A Bronze like me had limited options, so here I was, late into the night, hunting through the timetable.
Haaa—she kept yawning.
"Theo, hurry up and climb to the same rank as me. That's an order."
"Yes, I will."
"And Theo, your stamina's improved from before, but it's still abysmal."
Her words made my chest tighten.
"Did you happen to see my measurement?"
"I heard the commoners talking about you. Your greatness isn't in physical strength, of course. But you should listen to this."
Flip, flip.
The course list flipped on its own, and the quill beside it dragged across, marking something.
There was 'Introduction to Combat Studies'—a sweat-drenched course—and its syllabus spread out.
1. What is combat?
2. Magic? Martial arts? What weapon and combat style suits me?
3. Handling weapons and artifacts like cake.
4. ....
5....
Instructor - Mikhail Hydenr.
"Mikhail Hydenr. A mercenary who made a name in the Ankar Duchy. Even I've heard of him, so he's no blusterer."
A physical course, huh.
I didn't think taking it would help me much.
But to humor Aira, I nodded. I could afford to waste one course slot.
"Alright, that fills my 15 credits. I'll register like this."
So, for this semester, I was taking five 3-credit courses.
Two overlapped with Aira.
'Tea Time for Cultivating the Mind.'
'Lecture on Training Companion Hunting Beasts for Tamers.'
The rest: the one Aira just picked, 'Introduction to Combat Studies'; 'Understanding Ancient Dead Language'; and 'Fairy Exploration.'
I chose Understanding Ancient Dead Language to learn more about my 'Ten-Mile Eye' ability.
Fairy Exploration seemed to cover nymphs and elves, so I slotted it in.
I hoped registration would go smoothly....
Registration was first-come, first-served at the counter opening early morning. People even pitched tents to snag popular classes.
"Anyway, if that's all, I'm going to sleep."
"You're only taking 6 credits, Your Highness?"
"That's plenty for me. A perfect queen like me has nothing to learn here to begin with."
Then why come here?
I suddenly got curious.
Why had Aira decided to attend Arc?
"So, why did you come here, Queen Aira?"
"Because your eagerness to learn is commendable, Theo. It's nice seeing you strive to become better stock."
"You enrolled to educate me?"
"Yes."
I had it backwards.
Looks like we were thinking the same thing from different beds.
Aira and Theo really were a duo.
Funny place to feel that bond.
* * *
Stepping outside, the spring night brought a chill wind.
Looking up, I saw the vast, transparent dome ceiling. The clouds and moonlight beyond still felt unreal.
Me, studying abroad at a foreign school after leaving Angmar.
Sure, it was to civilize Aira. But as a former college student, it felt like my youth was back—heart pounding.
Like reclaiming a slice of normal life.
"Hey."
Someone called me then.
Turning, I saw a woman in white tracksuit and red dolphin pants pacing the academy walkway.
Elga, with her slightly curly blonde hair tied back lushly.
"Lady Elga, what brings you out this late?"
"Just taking a stroll. Ran into you by chance."
By chance?
Maybe, but her flushed cheeks from the cold suggested she'd been out a while.
Waiting for me to leave Aira's room? Nah, even Elga wouldn't. We're not that close yet.
Elga glanced around, then met my eyes.
"So, you were with Aira till now? Making schedules?"
"Yeah. Registration's tomorrow, so I gotta line up early."
"What a hassle. Top ranks like me have it easy. No waiting."
Her tracksuit had a Platinum brooch with a 'V' on the left chest—probably Roman numeral 5 for fifth.
Elga was ranked fifth. It was her rank insignia.
"Ptooey."
She spat on the ground, then smeared it with her slippers, asking slyly.
"So, what're you taking? Show me the schedule."
"Mine's like this."
I showed her my provisional timetable. Elga hummed, long and drawn out.
"Tea time? Fairy exploration? Ancient dead languages? All boring crap. First time at Arc, and you're picking the dull stuff. Go for combat and practicals."
She trashed my schedule.
"And mostly 9 a.m. classes? Gaps all awkward. What is this? You ever been to school?"
"......"
It stung—she was dissing the five hours I'd balanced perfectly—but I played it cool.
"What are you taking, Lady Elga? Anything overlap?"
"Not telling."
Jeez, grumpy. Shouldn't have shown mine.
Still, it felt like ages since I'd seen Elga.
Her soft thighs gleaming in the moonlight stirred weird feelings, so I looked away.
Lately, I'd been too ruled by lust.
"......"
"......"
We walked the path in silence.
It felt so awkward just strolling like this that I blurted something.
"Is that Arc uniform? Suits you."
"Yeah, tracksuit. Comfy for moving. Some 'Tracksuit Baron' invented it, they say."
Tracksuit Baron?
"Pants by Dolphin Viscount maybe?"
"Dunno."
I'd noticed her tracksuit and dolphin pants.
21st-century convenience store run wear.
Elga pulled it off perfectly.
But in this medieval-fantasy blend, how? Original novel's setting—rifts from Demon King Solomon Angmar let stuff from other worlds leak in.
Modern mismatches like tracksuits, latest shampoos, fancy toilets everywhere.
Arc students were heroes or hero hopefuls.
Heroes dealt closest with rifts beyond the barrier, hauling back loot, so modern gear fit.
Lost in those thoughts, Elga spoke.
"Where's your dorm? I'll walk you."
"Oh, would you?"
We headed to Bronze-tier 'Hall of Truth.' Ivy-covered brick, shabby but historic.
What would Elga say?
'How do you live here?'
But unexpectedly:
"Hall of Truth. Where my dad stayed."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Our family's attended Arc for generations. Hated coming, but here I am."
News to me.
No mention in the original novel.
Reinhardt lived here too?
He could've had a luxe solo room with top-ten skills.
Why?
"Anyway, go in. I'll lap a few more."
She dashed off like a jogging boxer.
Wanted to chat more, but she was gone—left a pang.
Pang?
Regret at parting from Elga?
New semester jitters, probably.
I entered the dorm. Creaky wooden halls and stairs to third floor, far left corner—triple room 7.
My room, Bronze student Theo's.
Click, creak.
Inside, snoring already.
My roommates, sort of. Never talked, no clue what they did.
Benjamin? Other was Walter?
Plain names, fuzzy memory.
Hope they're decent.
I hit my bed.
Registration tomorrow.
Classes next day.
Rustle, rustle.
Blankets lifted on both sides. Footsteps approaching my bed.
━Asleep?
━Dunno. Probably not this soon. Just got back.
Whispers felt ominous.
Gonna jump me?
Assassins trailing me here?
Whatever, better not touch me.