Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Delbadova's Lessons
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Delbadova's teaching style was different from Dunan's.
It was the difference of being directly under the royal family.
Unlike Dunan, who had been active only in the military since childhood as an elite officer, Delbadova had received in-depth training in a wide variety of subjects because he needed the refinement to serve the royal family.
Among the cadets, there were even jokes that it had heated his head so much he'd gone bald.
Delbadova wanted the cadets to have that same experience.
"You've all gained the most valuable experience through the recent war. I won't deny that. There's no point in sitting at desks for military studies now. What you need isn't knowledge of how to command armies or military tactics, but the thinking ability to apply them efficiently according to the situation."
He then cited examples from history.
"What an officer needs isn't just the ability to wage war. Lancia Galeron, a founding merit of Pensilon and a legendary general, was skilled in music. Todoram, called the guardian deity of the Erevenia Kingdom, was so good at dance that he was known as the Emperor of the Night. Such skills can sometimes broaden one's view of war. Lancia once induced surrender from cornered enemies by playing them mournful music. Todoram won diplomatic favor and secured an alliance by showcasing brilliant dance at an enemy nation's banquet."
He emphasized.
"You are not weapons. You need to know what kind of person you are. And what kind of people those you will kill are. Without that humanity, the wars you wage will be nothing but slaughter. So look broadly. Experience more."
After his introduction, he explained the cultural classes they would attend in the afternoon.
The cultural classes were narrowed down to five: literature, music, dance, art, and chess.
"Choose the field you want. Oh, and one more thing. These cultural classes will be held jointly with the regular students."
At the mention of joint classes with regular students, the cadets tilted their heads. They'd had almost no interaction with them until now.
'Not bad.'
I could guess his intentions.
It was partly to give the cadets diverse experiences, as he said, but more importantly, to protect students not affiliated with any faction.
By forcing interactions with regular students like this, even those outside the factions could catch a breath.
As the faction kids flocked to the ever-popular dance and chess classes, the non-faction kids avoided them and headed to the others.
I did the same.
'Which one to pick.'
Excluding chess and dance left art, literature, or music.
"Hey, Als. What're you going for?"
Banningss asked.
"Dunno. What about you?"
"I'm heading to dance. Gotta mingle with the faction kids even a little."
"You've got it rough. I'm thinking literature."
I could probably just sit quietly and read a book to pass the time.
But how naive that thought was became clear soon enough.
There were about twenty students in the literature class.
The moment I saw the gender ratio, I sensed something was off.
"Haha...."
Dorothy, who was taking the literature class with me, gave a wry smile.
"Looks like you're the only other guy besides me, Als."
"Yeah."
I could feel the stares pouring onto me and Dorothy. In a way, they were ravenous.
I thought maybe it'd be fine if I just sat and read, but this wasn't that kind of place.
The curriculum for this literature class had a fixed structure.
First, they held a reading discussion: read the book, share opinions, then hear the teacher's commentary.
From the next class onward, they'd write something similar based on that.
Today was the reading discussion day. Usually, the teacher selected the book, but today there was a special guest.
"Excuse me."
It was Erina, arms full of books.
"Erina?"
"Why are you here...? Weren't you taking the art class?"
At the young ladies' questions, Erina smiled brightly.
"With the teacher's permission, I'm joining you all specially today."
The teacher shrugged with an expression that said, 'How could I refuse the duke's daughter?'
"And to repay that kindness, I brought the books today. Is that alright?"
"Of course!"
"We'd love to read anything Erina recommends!"
Bad premonition.
And it was spot on.
Erina pulled out the stack of my books she'd bought in bulk back then.
So this was what she meant by personally promoting them.
"Their Circumstances...? Erina? What kind of novel is this?"
Since Erina had recommended it, everyone showed strong curiosity. Erina puffed out her chest like she'd written it herself and said,
"It's a work that just came out recently. It seemed so interesting, I brought it to share opinions with you all."
"I see. Shall we read it right away then?"
"Of course. Oh, before that, there's one thing to note. I'd love to hear your impressions of the character Irina Paleon who appears in the story."
"Erina's already read it, then."
"Ah, no.... Not exactly. But someone who read it first told me about her. They said she's a very delicate and beautiful character."
A delicate and beautiful character.
'No way she hasn't read it yet?'
The character Irina Paleon had already been half-transformed into a villainess by Estelle's edits. Erina, unaware of that, seemed to think the version we co-wrote had been published.
"Alright, everyone. Quietly now."
After that, reading began in suffocating silence. As most were noble daughters, their etiquette was impeccable.
Dorothy was reading my novel with a serious expression.
Having so many people read my work felt embarrassing. Erina, who'd helped me, seemed the same—she barely read, too busy observing the others.
About an hour later.
"What is this! This villainess!"
"She's vile!"
"How can such a woman exist?"
Outcries erupted all at once. Since they'd started reading around the same time, they were all at the same part.
It was the court banquet scene, where Irina traps Ertel, turns him into a lost child, and dances with the protagonist in his place.
"Wh-what is this...."
Erina looked utterly flustered.
Once reading ended, the discussion on Irina began.
"If Irina hadn't interfered, the protagonist surely would've ended up with Ertel. Irina, you wicked woman!"
"I get the protagonist's feelings too. Going back to the battlefield for Ertel's happiness...."
"So in the end, does he connect with the knight girl?"
"We don't know yet. It's one of those open endings, right?"
"Oh dear, that's what I hate most!"
"Me too. Maybe there's a sequel."
There was some criticism, but mostly praise.
'Good reaction. Relieved.'
It had unintentionally become a romance novel for women, but that seemed to be working in its favor.
Once this one gained traction, I could add sex scenes and release a bootleg edition.
Honestly, with Olaf recruited successfully, whether the bootlegs sold didn't matter much. I'd always thought the circus and dancers would be more effective anyway.
I no longer needed to write novels myself.
Feeling liberated, I satisfyingly closed the book, but Erina glared and shouted.
"Als! What is this! Why is Irina like this...!"
She soon realized everything and let out a hollow laugh.
"...I see. So that's why you stopped me from reading it back then.... Heh... Heheheh! You got me good. Not bad, Estelle...!"
The others panicked at Erina's seething.
"Er-Erina? Why are you suddenly mad at him...?"
"Ah...!"
Erina finally realized her slip, but she had to explain to cover it up.
She glanced at me for silent approval and said,
"Ahem! Well, the one who wrote Their Circumstances is this gentleman here."
"Really!? So Platina is...!"
"Yes, Als Ilrain."
The way people looked at me changed subtly.
Erina pressed on regardless.
"Ilrain. Pick up the pen right now."
"Why a pen all of a sudden...?"
"You have to write the sequel!"
"Out of nowhere!?"
"This class is about reading a book and then writing something similar. Nothing strange about it."
With eyes blazing, I couldn't refuse.
And so, I had to start writing an unexpected sequel.
*
*
*
Erina, nagging Als into writing the sequel.
Kasper, who had finished chess class and was searching for Erina, saw it and ground his teeth.
"That bastard...!!"
Even after the warning, daring to approach his Erina.
Deep down, he knew it wasn't Als approaching her—Erina was the one approaching. Just look at how she'd skipped her specialty, art, for literature class this time.
But he dismissed it as mere puppy love from childhood, nothing serious. Given their families, there was no chance of Erina and Als ever connecting.
In the end, she had to marry into a great noble house like his.
'Something needs to be done.'
He soon summoned Denian Geglish, one of the faction leaders.
Denian was the guy who'd threatened Als at the victory banquet, the second son of Marquis Geglish and a core member of the Salleon faction.
Kasper explained the situation and demanded Als be chased out, but Denian looked troubled.
"Sorry, can't do that."
"Why not?"
"Gilbert said that Ilrain guy's fine."
"What!? What the hell does that mean!"
"I don't know the details either."
"Urgh!"
Kasper momentarily snapped, his vision going white.
He stormed off to confront Gilbert.
Gilbert frowned and replied.
"Why fuss over something like that? Does that mean Erina can't befriend any man?"
"Of course! I'm her intended fiancé!"
"Don't talk nonsense. Erina's fiancé hasn't been decided yet."
"Didn't you say you'd choose me!"
Gilbert clicked his tongue at the arrogant attitude.
'Idiot.'
No thought of winning Erina's heart himself, just clinging to others.
'This is why pampered geniuses never rise high.'
He'd only walked paths laid out by others, so his very approach to everything was wrong.
'Or maybe he was never a genius to begin with.'
Hiding his thoughts, Gilbert said,
"Kasper. To seize what you want, you need to prove yourself. Not as fake Wade, but as you. Or were you planning to bind Erina as fake Wade, risking exposure?"
"You said you'd handle that...."
"I'm doing what I can, but limits could come anytime."
In truth, Gilbert wasn't doing anything to hide Kasper's identity. He actually hoped it would be exposed.
But Duke Helian's counter-maneuvers to protect Als showed no signs of failing. If anything, the Wade theory was gaining more traction in the kingdom.
"So you need achievements too."
"Achievements...."
"In that sense, perfect timing. You'll both be involved in this matter."
"This matter...?"
"You'll find out soon."
Gilbert smiled meaningfully. Kasper trembled with inexplicable unease.