Chapter 46: Doubt (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 46: Doubt (3)
A small stir arose in the Star Class. The cause was Saki Ryozo’s reassignment.
Since it was the top-tier class, there were certainly cases where a few students who couldn't adapt chose to drop down to the Dragon Class. Usually, those students fell into two categories.
Either their background didn't quite fit, or their skills didn't match the class's level.
However, the person at the center of this commotion was the student who had ranked first in the academy’s written exams.
Though she fell asleep at the drop of a hat, she consistently scored perfect marks on the weekly pop quizzes, and her skills were outstanding. Furthermore, her background was impeccable—she was the only daughter of the Japanese Prime Minister and the Archery Saint, Saki Kojima.
Even if one were to concede that she didn't fit in the Star Class and requested a reassignment, the class she chose was absurd.
"Lady Abel, did you hear? That Saki girl got reassigned to the Wolf Class. What kind of whim possessed a girl who does nothing but lounge around and sleep all day?"
"…Yes, I heard."
Rachel asked Abel while stretching her stiff joints. A series of loud cracks echoed from her bones. However, Abel merely rested her chin on her hand and stared blankly at the chalkboard, her expression unchanged.
Undeterred, Rachel shrugged and glanced at Abel’s profile.
Despite her vacant gaze, which could have easily looked dim-witted, Abel’s irises shimmered with a beautiful, pure gold light. A mischievous glint flickered in Rachel’s heart-shaped pupils, and she suddenly let out a giggle.
"Are you that disappointed?"
"Huh? Disappointed about what?"
"Well, you can't get a class reassignment unless there’s an opening, right? They say the Wolf Class happened to be one person short this year. Where did Saki get that kind of information to make her move first? And her, of all people, who does nothing but sleep at the archery range."
Abel, who had been quietly listening to Rachel, tilted her head and asked back.
"But what does Saki being reassigned to the Wolf Class have to do with me being disappointed?"
"I heard from Speed Weapon that she formed a party with the Sword Demon last week and cleared a Buffalo Dungeon."
"—!"
As she spoke, Rachel peeked at Abel out of the corner of her eye. A faint but clear look of flustered surprise crossed Abel’s face.
Seeing that reaction, the mischief at the corners of Rachel’s mouth deepened. She shook her head, feigning great regret.
"Oh, that Saki. No matter how much she likes him, there’s an order to these things, isn't there? Our Lady Abel already staked her claim on the Sword Demon."
"Ra-Rachel! Seriously, what have you been talking about since earlier?!"
Abel stood up, slamming her palms onto her desk. Rachel giggled, twirling a lock of hair around her finger as if enjoying the show. Abel’s lips twisted into a pout.
"I’ve noticed this for a while now, but you only react like this when the Sword Demon’s name comes up! Is there really something going on?"
Abel let out a deep sigh and shook her head.
"Let me make this clear. I’ve only spoken to Kang Geomma a few times, and there is absolutely nothing between us. So, I’d appreciate it if you didn't make weird assumptions from now on."
"Heeeey—"
Rachel stared intently into Abel’s eyes. Then, she simply smirked and spoke.
"You mean there’s nothing between you so far. Who knows what’ll happen in the future?"
Her voice turned somewhat cold and her eyes sank, as if she were weighing Abel’s true intentions.
"Abel, it’s fine to lie to others, but lying to yourself doesn't seem like a good idea."
"……."
A mix of embarrassment, shock, and confusion washed over Abel’s face. Rachel’s words, which felt like they were piercing her very core rather than her usual playful banter, made her chest ache.
Abel’s demeanor was always mature. No, it had to be mature. She intentionally suppressed her emotions and maintained a calm front.
She had only one goal: to be recognized by her grandfather, the Sword Emperor Siegfried. Although he showered her with love as a grandfather, he rarely gave her recognition when it came to swordsmanship.
As the strongest human and the one called the next 'Sword Saint,' his standards were naturally high. Abel thought as much and focused her training on gaining the Sword Emperor’s approval. She cut away all unnecessary emotions.
To be reborn as a proper swordsman, to be recognized by the grandfather she most respected and loved, and to prove that she was truly alive.
She gripped the hilt tightly and swung. As if shaking off any elements that might hinder her growth.
She accepted the calluses on her hands and the pain of muscles tearing and reattaching. She felt no resentment for living such a life. To become the best, she could endure this much.
But the Heart Demon arrived unexpectedly.
She had asked her grandfather for advice regarding the Majin attack during the midterm exams.
Since the Sword Emperor loathed public exposure, she hadn't expected much, but contrary to her expectations, he had stepped onto the front lines himself.
The news was that he would take an interim instructor position at Joaquin Academy. And not for the Star Class, which his granddaughter belonged to, but for the Wolf Class.
Presumably, it was because of Kang Geomma. Her grandfather, who always seemed bored, felt interest specifically in matters related to Kang Geomma.
He was as excited as someone looking at a raw gemstone with infinite potential. Even if she didn't know the details, it seemed he was quite covetous of Kang Geomma’s talent.
Knowing her grandfather’s personality, that was surely the case. At that thought, a powerful surge of emotion rose within Abel’s chest.
'Kang Geomma.'
The possessor of an absurd talent. His talent was so exceptionally ridiculous that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a once-in-a-century genius. Furthermore, he was a special admission student.
Because of the Sword Emperor’s efforts, Abel had received an education free of elitism, allowing her to think without being bound by the status of one's birth.
Nevertheless, certain thoughts floated in her mind. The legitimacy that allowed nobles to inherit their vested interests was power. In other words, Blessings.
To solidify their power, they measured each other, associated with suitable partners, and continued their lineage.
Thus, while the descendants of nobles grew stronger by the day, the gap between them and commoners only widened.
But Kang Geomma was different.
Ignoring the justification of his birth, he broke through situations with his own talent and martial prowess. Perhaps due to painstaking effort, his physique had also noticeably improved.
When she first saw him, he was a boy who slacked off with a body that was nothing but fragile, but he had since become a handsome young man with a sharp impression and a body brimming with masculinity.
Moreover, he continued to perform heroic deeds even more distinctly than Leon von Reinhardt, the so-called Hero Candidate, yet he never showed it outwardly.
Without boasting of his achievements to anyone, he silently walked a path of thorns.
It was likely to protect those associated with him. If rumors spread that Kang Geomma had cut down a Majin, the Majin would relentlessly target him and those around him.
If he were arrogant, she could at least dislike him, but he simply ignored the students who criticized him without offering a single retort. To Abel, that behavior felt even more irritating.
She felt like she would die of shame for being jealous of such a man. Yet, the more she felt that way, the more his face haunted her mind.
'…….'
A blush rose to Abel’s cheeks as she remained lost in thought for a long time. Seeing this, Rachel let out a chuckle and watched her. Startled, Abel shook her head. She let out a dry cough and spoke with feigned composure.
"No matter what you think, I have no intention or the luxury to harbor those kinds of 'feelings' you're thinking of for Kang Geomma."
"Oh—if you say so, then I’m relieved, Lady Abel."
The usual mischievousness quickly returned to Rachel’s eyes. Abel found those unreadable eyes truly troublesome. Rachel winked.
"That means I don't have to compete with you for Geomma. What a relief, what a relief! I could handle that red-haired brat or even Saki, but I could never hope to measure up to Abel. Nyahaha!"
"…Uh."
Abel realized she had been caught.
* * *
"…Now, this part will be on next week’s written exam, so make sure to remember it. A student’s duty is fundamentally academic. Although practical exams carry a high weight due to the academy’s nature, a student with an empty head cannot grow into a hero respected by the world……."
The professor was lecturing on the importance of academics. His hair, peppered with gray, stood out.
It was a lecture on 'Basic Blessing Analysis,' a subject that could be quite tedious. However, this professor was popular among the students for his witty banter.
Even I, who was still unfamiliar with the smell of ink, was enjoying this class.
Moreover, it allowed me to closely examine settings that were only mentioned in a word or two during gameplay. I moved my pencil diligently.
"Now, now. The rank of a Blessing is categorized according to the entity it resides in. If a guardian spirit resides within, it is called a Guardian Spirit-class Blessing; if an essence spirit resides within, it is called an Essence Spirit-class Blessing, and so on."
"Professor, then if an ancestral spirit resides within, is it an Ancestral Spirit-class Blessing? I ask because my late grandfather has been appearing in my dreams every time I sleep lately."
"Ancestors might help you lift the weight of the bar when you're doing ironwork, but they don't reside in Blessings, Student Zotto Mate."
The professor replied good-naturedly to the male student’s playful question. A few students who shared his sense of humor giggled. The professor quieted the atmosphere, which was about to get rowdy, and continued the lesson.
Amidst this harmonious class time, there was one girl who was fast asleep, completely detached from her surroundings.
It was Saki Ryozo, sitting right next to me.
The professor looked at her and then looked away, as if he were used to it. One might expect him to express dissatisfaction or reprimand her, but he continued his lecture without a word.
Part of it might be the influence of her public status as the daughter of the Archery Saint, Saki Kojima, but in truth, Ryozo scored perfect marks on every pop quiz even while sleeping like this.
From an educator’s perspective, she must be a very burdensome student.
I turned my head to look at Ryozo’s profile as she slept soundly. The graceful line of her shoulder connected to her neck. It was pure white amidst her sky-blue hair.
'She sure sleeps well.'
It had been two days since Saki Ryozo was reassigned to the Wolf Class. I wanted to sound out her intentions for coming here, but I hadn't had the chance.
Why? Because she spent the entire day sleeping, so I couldn't talk to her. Even if I shook her shoulder to wake her up, she would just blink her heavy eyelids a few times and fall right back to sleep.
The students who approached her to build a rapport also let out sighs as they watched her sleep through every class.
Well, up to this point, I could just pass her off as a beautiful girl with Snorlax-like traits.
But why does she insist on sitting next to me every day? Though she looks as lazy as a sloth, she always secures the seat next to mine.
It’s a good thing Chloe, the original owner of the seat, is still hospitalized; if she knew, there would be another sword fight.
'…Still, thanks to her, cleaning up the aftermath has been much easier in many ways.'
When I cut the checkpoint employee’s throat, Saki didn't bother with lectures; she immediately moved to clean up the mess. Even though a human head had fallen right in front of her, her attitude didn't change much.
Speed Weapon, a fellow intellectual, uses his brain to quickly analyze the process. Ryozo, on the other hand, saves unnecessary words and identifies the vital links. She truly was a heroine who prevented frustration.
I scratched my chin and shifted my gaze back to the professor. His fingers, holding the chalk, were covered in white dust.
"Blessing ranks are categorized from the top as Heroic Spirit, Essence Spirit, Guardian Spirit, and Personal Spirit-class. Most of the students here likely possess a Personal Spirit-class Blessing. Is that correct?"
When the professor asked that, a subtle mix of emotions flickered across the students' faces. The professor continued his explanation as if to comfort them.
"Students, do not be discouraged. Even with a Personal Spirit-class Blessing, if you can master its use, you can achieve efficiency greater than a Guardian Spirit-class Blessing. Besides, Essence Spirit-class Blessings are rare in this world anyway, aren't they?"
I had snatched up one of those rare Blessings just a few days ago. Meanwhile, a female student raised her hand and asked.
"Professor, what about Heroic Spirit-class Blessings?"
"Heroic Spirit-class Blessings. In the world, they are often called Hero-class Blessings. It’s a bit awkward for me, a professor of Blessing studies, to say this, but it’s a rank that is practically considered a legend. Since humanity first manifested Blessings, only one person, the Hero of the Origin, Balor Joaquin, has ever manifested one. Well, of course—"
The professor suddenly cut himself off. He was likely about to mention Leon, the second awakener of a Heroic Spirit-class Blessing. But he soon shook his head.
Indeed, Leon had yet to fully awaken the 'Miracle Blessing,' the second Heroic Spirit-class and title Blessing in human history. From a scholar’s perspective, it was something he couldn't judge prematurely.
"Now, let’s end today’s class here."
Saying so, the professor stood his textbook up and tapped it against the lectern. As soon as the class ended, students poured out of the room. They couldn't miss lunch, after all.
Just as I was about to get up, a question suddenly flashed through my mind.
"Professor, I have a question."
When I called out, the professor, who was tidying up, widened his eyes. Since I usually just listened quietly to the lectures, it was an unexpected reaction. Soon, the professor showed a gentle smile.
"By all means, Student Kang Geomma."
"Do you happen to know anything about the phrase, 'May the Blessing of God be with you'?"
Saki Ryozo, who had been sleeping soundly, also rubbed her eyes at my voice and slowly lifted her head. The professor stroked his beard and replied with a puzzled look.
"I don't know the intent behind your question, but there is a logical error in your words, Student Kang Geomma."
"What error do you mean?"
The professor blinked at my words.
"Because there are no gods left in this world. Well, regardless, I am impressed by your academic passion. Feel free to visit my office anytime you have questions. Farewell."
The professor left the classroom. I stared blankly at his retreating back.
Seeing that scene, Saki let out a smirk. I slowly turned my head to look at her.
"Are you done sleeping?"
"Hmm, I don't think so."
Ryozo buried her forehead back into the desk.
"Wow."
I let out a short exclamation of awe.