Students (2)
“Everyone, you’ve all worked hard at the entrance ceremony. Since it’s the first day, there are no classes today.”
The kindly Professor Foster said as much, adding that they could return to the dorms if they wished—but not a single person took him up on it.
Why, you ask?
“Lady Jessica! Allow me to greet you once more! I am Finn of the Viscount Pin family!”
Because I hadn’t left my seat yet.
Right, this is how it’s supposed to be.
Not lording over lowly commoners, but over fellow nobles.
That was the true nature of Jessica von Grind, heir to the hero’s bloodline.
I’d let myself slip into crude behavior because of that infuriating man, but this was my proper place.
From now on, I’ll just ignore that guy… though I probably can’t.
It hadn’t even been a full week since he’d ruined the exchange event I’d hosted. I couldn’t let it slide without any repercussions.
Somehow, someway, I wanted to see him on his knees before me, groveling until his hands were raw in ridiculous apology.
When that day came, maybe I’d make him lick my boots after stomping on his head first?
As I imagined that insolent man kneeling before me—
“By the way, Lady Jessica, didn’t you say that guy was assigned to Class G?”
“Hm? Yes, I was right there with you, so I’m certain.”
A man nearby brought up that man as if he’d read my mind.
“Then we should give him a proper thrashing sometime! After that insolence at the exchange event, he needs to learn his place!”
As he shouted, the other sycophants around me chimed in agreement.
How dare a mere baronet act like that.
Not just him—we should hold his parents accountable too.
I’ll go make him kneel right now.
They spoke with the fervor of men who’d fetch their parents’ heads at my slightest word.
Vulgar, but violence is worth considering…
He was a noble, however minor. Using overt force against him could cause problems.
But if it happened during a spar or training “accident,” we could brush it off and make it go away.
If Father learned what he’d done to me at the exchange event, he’d back me up. In a pinch, I could wriggle out unscathed.
The question is, who to send…
I was obviously out of the running.
It wasn’t about elegance or anything so petty. If I stepped up and lost, the stakes were too high.
My defeat wouldn’t be just mine.
It would mean the daughter of the illustrious von Grind house had fallen.
I could afford a personal loss, but not one that tarnished the family name. I couldn’t act rashly.
But I can’t send these guys either…
Judging by the raw strength I’d felt in the hall and the calluses on his hands, his skill was at least above average.
I was confident in my own abilities, but I had no desire to dive into a fight I couldn’t lose without knowing his level.
Maybe there’s someone suitable…
As that thought crossed my mind, the perfect candidate flashed in my head.
Right… If underclassmen are unreliable, just use an upperclassman!
Among the heirs from various families I’d known since before enrolling—some already students here—
“Pardon the intrusion.”
As if summoned by my thoughts, the ideal figure pushed open the classroom door.
“I heard Lady Jessica was here, so I came to pay my respects. Where is the lady of the house?”
*****
…Luck’s on my side today.
I’d regretted not enrolling a year earlier—upperclassmen didn’t join freshman exchange events out of courtesy.
But today, dropping by to greet the newly enrolled Lady Jessica had brought this golden opportunity.
It wasn’t a big deal, but as I figured I’d handle it flawlessly, Jun spoke up anxiously from my side.
“But young master, are you sure this is okay?”
“…I told you not to call me that at the academy. What’s the problem?”
“That Ian guy. If he fights back after picking on freshmen, and then does the same to you…”
“That’s why we’re dragging him to the training grounds first.”
A beatdown there could be passed off as a sparring mishap.
He might protest it wasn’t a fair fight, but academy staff were nobles too.
Between a mere baronet and me—with a count’s house nearly on the frontier behind him—who do you think they’d side with?
“Besides, considering what he did, he deserves it.”
Honestly, when I first heard what Ian pulled, I couldn’t believe my ears.
Mouthing off to a lady he’d just met was bad enough, but preparing a massive cake and smashing it on her in front of everyone?
Even against a peer noble, that’d earn him scorn as a boor.
But to the daughter of House von Grind? He had this coming.
If anything, teaching him his place now was mercy—sparing him worse down the line.
“And Lady Jessica said to keep it to just knocking him down a peg.”
“Well, you did say that.”
“But… I’m worried about something else.”
“What now?”
This time, it was Leri on my right, her face grim.
“About that Ian. Why not have the first-years handle the punishment? Lady Jessica could’ve done it herself.”
“Probably didn’t trust the freshmen. And stepping in personally would look crude.”
“…Maybe, but what if…”
“What if what? I’ve always said you two worry too much.”
Jun and Leri were sons of knightly houses, my squires since childhood.
I appreciated their support even here at the academy, but their overprotectiveness grated sometimes.
“And don’t you know my skill? You think I’d lose to some fresh-faced newbie?”
Immodest as it sounded from me, my Class B was top-tier at the academy.
Jun and Leri were upper C-class, nearly B-level. What was there to fear from a mere freshman?
“So quit with the doom and gloom and let’s get this over with.”
“Yes…”
“Starting off with bad vibes isn’t ideal anyway.”
Finally aligned in thought, I headed straight for temporary Class G without hesitation.
At the end of the familiar corridor, I flung open the G-class door. First-year eyes turned to us.
“Is there an Ian here?”
They hadn’t expected a senior’s ire on day one, faces casual as they replied.
“Ian? The black-haired kid with the katana at his hip?”
“Yeah. Know where he is?”
“He didn’t say. Probably headed to the dorms? He left not long ago.”
“Got it.”
I didn’t know where he’d gone, but if he’d just left class, he couldn’t be far. We’d search nearby.
No friends in sight, so dorms first—and sure enough, we quickly spotted the black hair and katana at his waist.
“Hey, you!!”
Hearing the shout behind him, he stopped and turned.
Surprisingly delicate features.
Not the face you’d expect for the mad stunts Lady Jessica described.
“Hey, lend us your face for a sec.”
“……”
To my abrupt words, he didn’t flinch—instead, he grinned.
“Ah, I get it. So, where to? I didn’t prep a spot.”
This guy… Did he know this was coming?
No—given his antics, it could’ve happened sooner. Preparation made sense.
“Now you look the part of a lunatic. First off, why’d you pull that crap?”
“Crap…? Well, offering free lessons in the world’s strongest sword art, Battōjutsu, is pretty crazy, I guess…”
“What? What nonsense is this?”
Playing dumb?
His genuine head-tilt of confusion drew a hollow laugh from me.
“Quit pretending. The stunt at Lady Jessica’s exchange event.”
“……So that’s why you’re here? Not for the Battōjutsu lessons?”
Battōjutsu lessons?
What the hell was this idiot babbling about?
“Haa…”
As I stood baffled, he sighed deeply—loud enough for us to hear—and eyed us.
“Ahh… Cute, but Jessica’s got a bad head on her shoulders. Sending trash like you guys, of all people…”
“The fuck did you say?”
Fury rising, I stepped forward to clock him before dragging him off—
“Eek!!”
In the blink of an eye, a razor-sharp blade was drawn, halting inches from my throat.
Wh-what…?
No one—not even me—fully grasped what had just happened.
It was like the process had been skipped, leaving only the impossible result.
…Something’s off here.
As I backed away to abort, he advanced a step in sync.
“Run, and I’ll kill you right here.”