9. Academy?
9. Academy?
Just before breakfast with Eli.
Having heard that Eli had emerged from her room after a whole five days of refusing all food and drink (not really) and overcoming her guilt (not really), Turius greeted the morning with a brighter face than usual.
But he still had one very small worry.
"That spar the other day. I should praise her for it, but I worry she might get the wrong idea again..."
In only five years. With no help and no instruction, Eli had trained alone for five years and had lightly defeated Eurasia, who was called the greatest talent in the knight order.
That was an achievement more than enough to praise her and give her a reward.
And the punch that had ended the spar—it was a blow that revealed a hidden talent in Eli.
Of course, Turius and Kerion had thought Eli had tremendous talent.
But that was talent for handling weapons. A talent for martial arts was something they had never even dreamed of.
And that wasn't all.
Eli's talent for martial arts was even greater than her talent with weapons.
Though his own martial strength wasn't all that impressive, Turius prided himself on an eye for talent sharper than anyone's, and seeing Eli like that brought someone to mind.
The one called the Empire's final line of defense.
The Captain of the Nameless.
And Kerion had been thinking the same thing.
Thus, the two brothers, being of one mind, eagerly showered Eli with praise in a warm atmosphere.
The only concern was—
Eli, who had always liked handling weapons, had shown talent in martial arts, which was the exact opposite, and which society often even looked down upon.
Still, if it was Eli—Eliarnes Eustetia, who was always confident and sometimes even tougher than Turius—they thought she would manage.
Besides.
They didn't know about the past, but in the world today, there clearly existed a powerful figure famous for martial arts.
What was more, that person was a Eustetia.
Thinking, "Who would dare look down on House Eustetia?" the brothers happily praised Eli once more.
Turius said,
"Hahaha! With skills like Eli's, she's more than qualified to join the Eustetia Knight Order—the First Knight Order, no less! And since Eurasia is there too, Eli might be very happy. Hahaha!"
Kerion answered.
"Certainly, that would be better than joining the Imperial Knight Order. But I also think the Nameless, which she's shown interest in for a while, would suit her. It may be a bit rough, but Eli could surely handle it. Besides, our captain is a Martial Artist as well. I think there would be a great deal she could learn."
After their laughing, chattering praise, Turius and Kerion glanced carefully at Julie, who had been quiet until now.
"Whatever it is, I think we should simply try to give Eli what she wants."
Julie looked at their slightly clueless expressions and replied with a fresh smile.
Thus began breakfast with Eli.
Turius had been watching Eli's expression, and once he realized she seemed to be in a good mood, he moved to praise her.
At the same moment, Eli spoke.
"Oh, right. Once I'm an adult, I'm going to the Demon World."
Turius's hair loss accelerated.
*****
"...Eli. Did Daddy do something wrong to you?"
"No? Why would you have done anything wrong, Father? Nothing like that."
"Then... why all of a sudden? Did you hear something from Kerion?"
"Why me all of a sudden? I swear on my Mana and my sword, I said nothing to Eli."
"That's right. Uncle Kerion didn't say anything."
And—
It wasn't sudden, either. Ever since I was reincarnated as Eliarnes Eustetia—no, ever since I regained my Past Life memories—it had been my goal all along.
Of course, I could have said something sooner.
But because I hadn't produced any results of my own, I had hidden it, worried it would sound like a childhood delusion.
My hatred of Demons.
My loathing of Black Wizards—I hid all of it.
But now I think it's fine.
Because I found my talent... and because I felt an absurd possibility in that loathsome talent.
I've ended up becoming a Martial Artist of all things.
But as long as I kill the Demon King, wouldn't I at least earn the right to call myself human?
And.
I thought I might be able to find out what became of my comrades in the Demon World. No, I had been thinking that for a long time.
There's no solid proof.
I just had a vague guess that those bastards, who loved showing off, would have left a trace somewhere.
Dead or alive, I want to know what happened to them.
Even if they died, I don't think it was from old age.
All those Elixirs and dragon hearts—things said to be good for the body and to extend your lifespan—they guzzled them down and even achieved Body Reformation. There's no way those bastards died of old age.
And Kaloso, who betrayed us and put a hole in my gut.
I need to find that piece of shit too.
He probably isn't dead, either.
There's no way that bastard who betrayed us and sided with the Demon King died that easily.
"But why did you suddenly bring that up?"
"Because I want to walk the path that our ancestor Arisa Eustetia walked."
An answer I had prepared in advance.
Hearing that answer, Father hardened his expression and said nothing.
Kerion also stopped eating with the same expression as Father.
But—
Mother, as if she had known I would say this, nodded.
Though.
"But isn't that too dangerous for Eli as she is now?"
My mother spoke gently, but her eyes were terrifying.
The red pupils visible between her narrowed eyelids were especially frightening today.
"Yes. It's too dangerous for me right now. So, once I'm an adult—"
"Hmm. Mommy thinks our Eli will still be in danger even after she becomes an adult."
A chilly silence fell over the dining room.
To outsiders, it would have sounded like a perfectly normal worry of a parent for their child, but—
everyone in this room understood exactly what Mother's words meant.
What she meant was that even once I came of age, I would still be in danger.
In reality—
what she was actually saying was, 'Our Eli will still be a weakling even after she grows up.'
What the hell?
What?
Had Mother ever said something like this before?
Of course, I knew Mother was no ordinary person, but I never imagined she would say something like that.
Thanks to that, I was dumbfounded.
Other knight orders go there too, so I never expected to hear that.
No, I did expect it, but—
I thought Father or Uncle Kerion would say it. I never expected it from Mother.
"What do you think, Eli?"
...It's true that I'm currently lacking in strength.
And if I really were just an Eliarnes with nothing but exceptional talent, it would certainly be dangerous.
But I am the Reincarnation of Ronan Luzarak, of the Hero Party, with my Past-Life memories intact.
I may lack strength, but it won't be as dangerous as she thinks. I have killed more Demons than anyone.
However, right now?
On the outside, I'm just a pink-haired, twintailed, squishy-bodied little runt who isn't even 150 centimeters tall.
A sheltered ducal daughter who knows nothing of the world, shut up in the training hall without ever having gone outside.
Eliarnes Eustetia.
Of course, I had anticipated such questions and prepared several answers, but—
I doubt any of them will satisfy Mother.
Still, it wasn't as though Mother was opposed, either.
Her words seemed designed to draw something out of me.
...For now, I should give Mother the answer she wants.
"How can I prove it?"
Mother smiled.
"How about we talk about that after breakfast? You came back from training this morning, so you must be hungry."
"...Okay."
*****
"What's this?"
After breakfast, Mother, smiling more refreshingly than the aroma of black tea, handed me a piece of paper, and my mind went blank.
"A way for our Eli to go to the Demon World and return without getting hurt."
"This is that?"
"Yep."
At Mother's answer, full of certainty that it would absolutely help, I looked down at the paper once more.
At the very top of the paper, large letters were written.
Karelai Academy.
"...Right now, you're telling me to go to an academy...?"
"That's right."
"You want me to attend an academy with a bunch of squirts—no, students... Is that what you're saying?"
"It is."
"Why?"
"First, there's no Martial Artist in House Eustetia who can help you, is there? But I heard that Karelai Academy, unlike our family, has a professor who can help you. If you go there, you'll be able to get a great deal of help."
That's... true.
As I am now, I do need to learn martial arts.
Of course, Arisa's image remains vivid in my head. But even so, I can't know exactly how she used those techniques or what principles her movements followed.
So I do need to learn the basics, but—
Looking at Mother's face, that doesn't seem to be all there is to it.
"...What's the real reason?"
"Because Eli is weak."
"Huh?"
At Mother's blunt words, spoken as though there was no longer anyone around to hear, my mouth fell open.
"I'm strong."
"Not in Mommy's eyes, you aren't."
"I beat Eurasia."
"Does Eurasia seem strong to you, Eli?"
"Well... no."
"Right?"
My mouth fell open once again, and Mother popped a piece of candy inside.
"Of course, Mommy knows you have incredible talent and that you're stronger than other children your age. But Mommy also knows that's not enough for the Demon World."
Mother giggled.
"Even if Eli doesn't think so, Mommy does. Are you hurt?"
"A little."
"Oh, my... Still, can't you take it as something I said out of concern for our Eli? My worry for you really is the bigger part."
"Okay."
"Thank you for understanding."
Hah. I let out a long sigh, sucked on the candy, and looked over the contents of the paper once more.
Karelai Academy.
Knights, adventurers, Demon World expeditionary forces. An educational institution of the Empire that produces countless other talents as well.
I ignored all the blah blah blah decorating the academy's reputation and looked at the graduates listed below who had come to represent the Empire.
I could see a few families that had made quite a name for themselves even 400 years ago.
I could even see the family of a guy whose line I thought had died out.
Below that, the faculty.
Starting with the Magic Tower Master, the Imperial Knight Commander, imperial Wizards, some so-and-so from some house, some Jane Doe from another, and so on.
There were many people listed with surnames familiar to me as well.
The minimum age for admission to the academy is 17 or older.
The entrance exam has both practical and written parts.
The practical exam changes every year and so cannot be described, while the written exam starts with imperial history and covers all sorts of subjects, including Demon ecology.
The time required to graduate is listed as three years, but it also says that if your grades are low or you have no achievements, you will be held back, so the time is not guaranteed.
If I go to the academy, that's two years. No, a little over a year remains.
The exam itself doesn't worry me, but—
I rolled the candy around in my mouth and looked at Mother.
Honestly, I could just leave home.
I could let them know I'm alive by letter.
Well, to Mother and Father I'd be an ungrateful little shit, but what can I do? They won't send me.
Even so, the reason I'm trying to get their permission is—
Well, it's just...
It's, what is it. First of all, because they're my parents.
No matter how much I'm Ronan's Reincarnation, to the current me, to Eliarnes, they are clearly my parents.
They love me without any ulterior motive, solely because I'm their child... Ugh, that's cringey as fuck.
Anyway, that's how it is.
I didn't have parents in my Past Life, so now that I do, I don't want to be an ungrateful little shit to them.
"If I graduate from the academy, will you allow me to go to the Demon World?"
"To be honest, I was going to make graduating at the top of your class a condition, but if I did that, I'm afraid our daughter might get twisted and run away from home."
As if she had seen right through my thoughts, Mother giggled and nodded readily.
"If Eli graduates from the academy, Mommy and Daddy will fully support whatever our daughter does. No bad things, of course."
"So, like, even if I lead the knight order to the Demon World?"
"Of course."
"Even if I ask you to send the Nameless?"
"That might actually be better than the knight order. If the Eustetia Knight Order heads to the Demon World, there will be no one left to protect our house."
"Even the Captain of the Nameless?"
"Yep."
For a split second—
It was truly a split second that even I might not have caught, but Mother's breathing seemed to hitch.
So even the captain is a tough ask, as expected.
I heard even the Emperor doesn't know that person's identity.
Well, anyway.
"I understand. I'll go to the academy."
Let's go.
I'll graduate at 20 anyway.
The age I had planned to leave for the Demon World was also 20.
So there's no problem in terms of time.
It's a pain in the ass to have to spend three years mingling with a bunch of kids, but I'm sure I'll gain something.
In exchange—
"Can Eurasia come with me? I won't ask you to pay her tuition. Just leave a word with the knight order. I'll ask Eurasia what she wants, too."
Eurasia will go too.
"I wouldn't mind paying her tuition, but why that girl?"
"I don't show my face in society, and I've never been to a banquet. So I'm worried I won't have any friends. That's all."
That was a lie.
The reason I want to go with Eurasia is—
because I'm afraid her fighting style will get set in stone while I'm away.
Before she becomes completely accustomed to Eustetia swordsmanship, I want to teach her everything I used in my Past Life.
I'm going to put down the sword now, but—
Eurasia doesn't have to.
So, if we end up going to the Demon World together later—
I want to set her in my position.
And at least one person... what is it.
I want to leave a trace of myself behind.
Not as that shitty Martial Artist Ronan.
But as a trace of Ronan Luzarak.
Of course, all of this will only happen if Eurasia agrees.
"Mm... Hehe, fine. I understand. Can I tell Daddy what we talked about today?"
"Yes. Of course you should tell him. Then I'll go see Eurasia."
"Okay. Don't go too hard on her. And always be careful."
"Yes."
While I'm at it, I should spar with her to digest.
"And you're not to bully Eurasia too much, got it?"
"Huh? Why would I bully Eurasia?"
I dote on her like crazy.
*****
"Hic... Am I... am I getting fired? I... I'm being kicked out of the knight order? Am I really going to become your personal attendant, my lady? I'm sorry, I'll really do well—hic—I'll do well, so can't you please give me just one more chance? Please? Hic..."
"No, it's true you'll be leaving the knight order, but that's still a year away—"
"A year... You said there's only a year leeefaft!! Waaaah!"
"No, fuck! Hey! Listen when someone is talking to you!"
"Hic. My lady swore at me... Waaaah!!"