Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: I'll Go. To the Academy
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Tail, who had been honing his swordsmanship as usual, slashed fiercely through the empty air with his wooden sword.
Shiiiiiik!
The air tore apart with a sharp sound.
"Huff. Huff."
Tail wiped the sweat streaming up to his chin with his hand.
Now eighteen, Tail had the full appearance of an adult.
With his manly, sharp jawline and well-proportioned features, he was quite handsome.
Tail had grown accustomed to life at the monastery, day by day.
He had completely immersed himself in the daily routine that turned like a wheel.
Whether he liked it or not.
He just lived that way.
Yet, thanks to his sporadic physical training and sword practice amid it all, his bare upper body was packed with solid muscle.
"Hoo..."
With his breath coming up to his chin, Tail set down the wooden sword to rest for a moment.
"Tail."
Then, a familiar, clear voice came from beside him.
Deep brown short hair, large green eyes, and smooth, tanned skin.
It was Yujin.
Yujin, now showing signs of adulthood, had grown into someone who could truly be called beautiful and feminine.
Of course, Yujin, being a guy, hated hearing that.
Yujin handed him a dry towel and grumbled.
"Seriously, I told you to wear clothes when you train. You'll catch a cold."
Yujin's face was strangely flushed as he said it, almost like he was shy.
Tail chuckled at Yujin's words.
"It's fine. It's uncomfortable with clothes on."
Tail's voice, deepened by puberty, was low and thick.
His voice tickled Yujin's ears, making his cheeks flush even more.
In the end, Yujin was the one who backed down.
He let out a short sigh and said.
"Fine. What can I do to win against you?"
Then, as if something suddenly came to mind, Yujin startled and continued.
"Oh, right. Tail. The abbot's looking for you."
"The abbot?"
Tail's eyes narrowed.
This early in the morning?
'This doesn't feel good.'
A foreboding sensation washed over his entire body.
His bad premonitions always came true.
'Maybe I should just not go.'
Yujin noticed Tail's hesitation and quickly said.
"Go on. He's waiting. I'll clean up here."
Tail nodded at Yujin's words.
"Alright. Thanks."
Tail left the training hall right away to find the abbot.
Left alone, Yujin hung up the wooden sword Tail had left behind, which was on the verge of breaking.
"Jeez. This guy's gotta hear it for stripping again."
Yujin muttered as he picked up Tail's upper garment, casually tossed on the floor.
"Still..."
Yujin continued in a voice mixed with a sigh.
"It's a relief that he seems to have forgotten about it now."
Yujin's eyes clouded with an indescribable emotion.
Knock knock knock.
As Tail knocked on the door, a frail voice immediately answered from inside.
"Come in."
Opening the door revealed the simple room as always.
And at the desk sat an elderly man welcoming Tail.
Noha, now quite advanced in age.
Noha narrowed his wrinkled eyes and said.
"Tail. Sit."
Tail leaned back on the sofa at Noha's words.
"Why'd you call me?"
"Why do you think?"
Noha grumbled as he poured tea into a white cup.
"I could just call you for no reason. Asking right away is rude."
But Tail didn't fall for it.
"Hmm... Serving tea like this, it must be something important?"
"Ahem."
Caught off guard, Noha cleared his throat, and Tail let out a chuckle.
"Got it. Yeah. So, what is it?"
Noha let out a short sigh and answered.
"Listen well, Tail."
Noha's expression turned serious.
Tail tensed up at the same time.
"You..."
Noha's mouth opened with difficulty.
"...want to go to the academy?"
Tail's eyes widened.
Pharaoh Academy.
A modern academy newly established by the emperor of the victorious Bellenuus Empire after the war.
It was an educational institution created with the intent to nurture the finest talents.
In the first year, students experienced swordsmanship, magic, spirits, administration, divine power, and more, then advanced to the department best suited to them.
It was akin to a university.
With the goal of producing top talents, it treated status, age, and all else equally for admission.
'Whether that's true, who knows.'
Tail fiddled with his teacup as he continued thinking.
The academy's greatest feature—and privilege—was that anyone who graduated at the top could ask the emperor for one wish.
It could be money, or a precious artifact only the emperor possessed.
'Or even a title.'
Tail fell into thought for a moment.
Such a golden opportunity, yet the sole reason he hesitated was one.
This Pharaoh Academy.
Was the very academy that served as the main story's backdrop in the novel Love for the Kind Imperial Princess.
Chloe.
Cecilia.
They were probably there.
Tail chuckled.
Five years.
Five years was a long time.
He had forgotten them at times, recalled them endlessly at others, and felt his heart crumble.
Just as all emotions began to dull, five years had passed.
To steel his heart through it all, he swung his sword.
Continuously.
Every day.
'If I go, will I see those two?'
What would they think if they saw me?
Would they even remember me?
Forgotten emotions surged back wildly.
Around then, Noha spoke again.
"I'm not sending you alone."
"...Then?"
Noha carefully set down his teacup and continued.
"I'm planning to send Yujin with you."
"Yujin?"
"His divine power has recently awakened. It's still weak, but enough for the academy."
Noha smiled kindly.
"It'll be good to have each other for support."
"Let me... think about it."
"Sure. No need to decide right now."
Worry filled Noha's eyes.
"The letter requesting students for the academy arrived today, so think on it until tomorrow."
Tail nodded at his words.
After finishing his talk with Noha, Tail visited King Super Bar for the first time in a while and was chatting with Khan.
"So, you going?"
That was the first thing Khan said upon hearing the academy news.
"Well... not sure."
Seeing Tail's less certain response than expected, Khan asked in surprise.
"Why hesitate? Didn't you want a title?"
The best way to earn a title.
Graduate top of the academy and petition the emperor.
Yet Tail couldn't decide easily.
"Even with a title, it's not guaranteed... and top graduate isn't some dog's name."
Tail continued slowly.
"Just pondering it."
Honestly, the biggest reason was probably.
'Chloe and Cecilia.'
He'd definitely run into them if he went. Could he face them smiling?
Should he just see them as commoner and noble?
He couldn't get a read on it.
Khan, gauging Tail's mood, chuckled as if he understood.
"I see. Got it."
Tail then spoke to Khan.
"If I go, it might be hard to see you from now on."
Over five years, they'd met once a month steadily.
So even without knowing Khan's real face or voice, Tail felt deeply close and comfortable with him.
"If I do go, I'll stop by once more before leaving."
But Khan replied firmly.
"No need. Use that time to train your sword more."
Tail burst into laughter, comforted by Khan's words.
"Got it. Next time, let's meet in your true form."
Nearly a farewell, and Khan could tell.
Tail had decided to go to the academy.
Khan chuckled.
"Obviously. Now go already."
With Khan's final words, Tail took one last look around the room and left.
Click.
As the door closed, the latch slid open, and Khan—or rather, Enis—emerged.
"The academy, huh..."
Her black eyes sparkled.
She seemed truly intrigued.
Even if it was amid swarming, insignificant humans, if it was where Tail was going, it would be fine.
Having decided, she immediately called someone.
"Zephyran."
A man appeared from thin air.
"Prepare an identity."
Enis's lips curved up slightly.
She looked delighted, like a child with a new toy.
"We're going to Pharaoh Academy."
And shortly after.
Tail, arriving back at the monastery, headed straight to Noha.
He opened the door.
"Huh? Tail?"
There were Yujin and Noha, discussing the academy matter.
Noha smiled warmly upon seeing Tail enter.
He knew.
Tail's feelings and decision.
As both Yujin and Noha fixed their gazes on Tail, he spoke.
"I'll go."
Yujin's eyes widened slightly.
At the same time, Tail's eyes shone with resolve.
"To the academy."