Gray Winter (5)
"This place looks like a seriously imperial-style building, huh?"
"Since it's a separate building for the exchange students from the Tersian Empire, a lot of care went into it."
"Went into it...?"
"By the academy's founders, that is."
The janitor in gray work clothes guided the white-haired woman in disguise—who had removed her baker's cap—through the dormitory interior.
"The first floor has the kitchen, dining hall, lounge, laundry room, and so on. Bathrooms are separate for men and women, one each right here."
"So we have to come down from upstairs to use them?"
"Other dorms have one per floor, but this one's a bit different. This way."
Click.
The gray janitor approached the wall and pressed a mana stone button. The button lit up with a flicker, and folding doors slid open to the left and right.
"Whoa!"
"In the Empire, they call this an elevator."
"Do the other dorms have these too?"
"Only here."
"Special treatment, eh?"
"A perk for the special ones."
The janitor gestured inside, and the white-haired woman pushed her sunglasses down slightly before stepping in.
"Thanks, hehe."
"No problem."
Whether he'd seen her wink or not, the gray janitor entered the elevator and operated the inner buttons.
"Ooh. This thing runs on magic, right...?"
The elevator began to rise.
"It has pulleys as a safety measure, but the base is a levitation spell installed in the floor."
"Levitation spell...?"
"They made the floor out of Wind Stone produced in the Empire."
"Hee... "
The white-haired woman tapped the floor lightly with her foot, eyes sparkling.
"What happens if you jump around in here?"
"The safety ropes would catch you a few times, but if it falls, you'd be smashed flat."
"Gotta be careful not to bounce around, then."
"Don't they do that in the Empire too?"
"Oh my. Did I say I was from the Empire?"
"They say all the Empire's female exchange students this time are white-haired."
"Hee... "
Ding.
The elevator stopped.
"Fourth floor."
"Whoa. This is..."
"The special suite."
The fourth floor of the exchange student dorm had only one door. If there was another, it was the fire door by the stairs—that was it.
"What's this, a room for the owner or something? Like for the top student?"
"It's for the most beautiful, elegant, and noble among the exchange students."
"Hee... "
The white-haired woman tapped the nameplate engraved on the door.
"Astasia von Tersian?"
"Yes. That's right."
"You think so?"
"I haven't had the honor of meeting the imperial granddaughter in person, but surely."
"Hmmm... "
The white-haired woman fiddled with the front of her mask but soon dropped her hand and leaned back against the wall.
"Well then... "
"This way, please. I'll show you the rooftop."
"What about inside the room...?"
"Her Imperial Highness Astasia von Tersian must be the first to open it, so I can't just show you around."
"Boo."
Even with the mask on, her puffed cheeks were obvious, but the gray janitor ignored it and opened the door to the rooftop stairs, ascending.
Creeeak.
The double door to the rooftop stairs—even with a lock—swung open.
"Whoa!"
"The rooftop has its own garden. With a separate ceiling, it feels more like a fifth floor."
The rooftop was wide open around the edges. The dorm building already sat on higher ground than the surroundings, offering a clear view, and from the roof, it felt like overlooking everything.
"They didn't have to go this far... "
"Can't have people running around up here or birds messing it up. We have countermeasures, but better to prevent it altogether."
"Hmph... "
Whoooosh.
The wind blew.
"It's gorgeous. Must've taken a ton of effort to set this up, right?"
Her white hair fluttered in the breeze as the woman strolled leisurely through the rooftop garden with hands behind her back, giggling.
"Is this the symbol of harmony between the kingdom and empire, Gibraltar and Tersian?"
"Gibraltar and Tersian?"
"Oops. Slip of the tongue. Hehe."
She pressed a finger to her mask.
"You'll let it slide, right?"
"I'm just a lowly janitor, so I wouldn't know."
Thwack.
The gray janitor flicked his hand swiftly, swatting a flying insect mid-air.
"At least, anything that dirties this building gets cleaned up immediately."
"Right—"
Waaaaah——!
A noisy roar rose from below.
"Tch... "
The white-haired woman clicked her tongue.
"The exam must be hitting its peak."
The gray janitor gazed down calmly.
"Care to watch? A matchup between the kingdom and the canyon folk—it's not something you see every day."
Nostrum was a land of swords.
Anything but the sword was dismissed as heresy—a nation that lived and died by the blade.
That was probably because the Gibraltar family had always produced the strongest, and for 500 years, a Sword Master had never lost the title of 'kingdom's mightiest'.
So everyone learned the sword.
Aside from the spear arts used by the kingdom's wyvern riders—another Nostrum tradition—whenever feet were planted on solid ground, it was the sword they trained in.
In Nostrum, the sword came first.
Then spears.
Everything else? Pretty much the same, give or take.
And perhaps that flow was about to shatter right here in this exam ground.
"Go for it, Gibraltar!!"
"What're you doing! Don't go easy just 'cause she's a princess!!"
The crowd in the outfield raised their voices without realizing it, forgetting even that the boy swinging his sword fiercely was a Gibraltar—
"Show us Gibraltar's power!!"
No. Because he was Gibraltar, they demanded victory all the more.
Gibraltar was invincible.
They could not lose to anyone.
Not even to the kingdom's princess wielding a spear!
"Raaah!"
The boy—Noir—swung his sword.
Black mana flowed from the steel blade like sparks, deflecting the endless spear thrusts and creating distance.
"Rooooaaar——!!"
Forgetting it was just an exam ground, everyone plunged into a frenzy of ecstasy.
"As expected of Gibraltar!"
"To manifest mana like that at his age...!"
"It's true he started learning the sword from the Gibraltar margrave at seven!"
Noir Gibraltar was the eye of the storm in this exam.
At just fourteen, they planned to enroll him as a first-year at the academy.
Crimson Gibraltar's faith and trust in him were embodied in Noir's participation.
That was why he endured—and endured again—against even Nostrum's princess.
"Hoo... "
Princess Naria retracted her spear, steadying her breath.
Sweat dripped down her face, but she gripped and released the spear repeatedly, betraying her discomfort.
"What's wrong, Princess Naria? Uncomfortable with the training spear?"
"......"
Noir thrust his sword in provocation, but Naria merely fiddled with the wooden shaft before resuming her stance.
Bwoooong!
A massive strike aimed at his head.
The motion was so wide it looked less like swinging a spear and more like hurling a pole.
"Ooh!"
"Golden mana!"
But the 'mana' at its tip was razor-sharp.
"Guh?!"
Whoosh.
The mana coating the spear tip sharpened into something like an aura blade for a split second.
Noir jerked his head back, barely dodging.
"!!"
In that instant, Noir glimpsed a familiar trajectory.
A gray shadow.
The one who'd pressured him with pole swings years ago.
An old memory, but a man's afterimage flickered over Princess Naria's form.
Follow-up strikes came.
She swung the pole, twisted her wrist to lift it high, then smashed down at his crown.
—If it's a combo with big motions, block before it connects.
A voice tickled his ear, overlapping.
—To do that.
His hand moved on its own.
—Interrupt the combo with a faster strike.
"!!"
The moment he sensed a shadow over his hand, Noir instinctively swung his sword down with full force.
Crack!
The pole splintered.
Wood shards scattered, and Noir thrust his sword forward forcibly.
Bwoooong!
Sword wind from Noir's blade scattered the remnants of the broken pole.
The sword tip pointed above Princess Naria's head.
Just two handspans lower, and it might have aimed at her forehead.
"Hah, hah... "
Noir caught his ragged breath, while Naria stared blankly at the shattered shaft and spread her hands.
Thud.
The broken pole hit the ground.
"I yield."
Princess Naria surrendered, hands open.
Waaaaah——!!
Cheers filled the exam ground once more.
"Incredible, Noir Gibraltar! Nostrum's pride indeed!"
"Damn right! The sword house of the canyon has to have that much skill at his age!"
"Gibraltar's future is so bright!"
Clap clap clap clap.
Like the two in the center—who were there for their own exams—the spectators showered praise on the pair who'd far outshone them.
"Gibraltar! Gibraltar! Gibraltar!"
Correction. Less praise for Princess Naria, and more...
"Our sword, our guardian! Nostrum's guardian who'll give everything for the canyon!"
Directed at Noir Gibraltar.
"The kingdom's protector god who'll surely crush any foe!"
Or celebration for the birth of a martyr who'd unconditionally shield them.
"......"
Noir sheathed his sword with a slightly bitter expression.
"So Noir Gibraltar's the true heir to Gibraltar, huh?"
"Gotta be. He's that strong now—what'll he be like as an adult?"
"Hoho. Crimson Gibraltar reborn... "
Noir's shoulders puffed up at the words of the elderly proctors or visitors.
"Hmph, hng...! Winning's a given...! I'm Noir Gibraltar, after all!"
Noir thrust his sword straight to the sky.
Waaaaah——!!
Not even a tournament, but applause poured for the victor.
"Congratulations, Noir Gibraltar."
And at its center, Princess Naria clapped with an expressionless face.
"As expected of Gibraltar's Dark Flash."
"Y-Yeah...?"
"Good match. Looking forward to more."
Princess Naria extended her right hand for a shake.
"For Nostrum's future."
"......"
Noir clasped it without thinking.
Waaaaah——!!
An even greater roar filled the ground, but Noir felt a strange weight settle on his shoulders from the cheers' undertone.
Nostrum! Gibraltar! Nostrum!! Gibraltar!!
Nowhere in it.
Was the name 'Noir'.
"Top and runner-up have been decided."
"Just like that?"
"When the rest are perfect scores across the board, swordsmanship duel decides it by a single point."
"Swordsmanship?"
"In Nostrum, 'swordsmanship duel' encompasses all weapons. Even if it's not a sword, it's still swordsmanship."
"Weird."
"That's Nostrum for you."
"......"
The white-haired woman twirled her hair around a finger before turning.
"You work here, right?"
"I do."
"Then, do you know anything about a Grey Gibraltar?"
"Why him, all of a sudden...?"
"Oh, nothing."
She placed hands on her hips.
"Some people do all these interviews they don't even want and pose for photos to show off their pretty side."
She furrowed her brows above her dark glasses.
"But others? Who knows where they've hidden—no sign of them anywhere!"
"...I don't know everything, but Grey Gibraltar will show up soon enough."
"How?"
"Officially... well, yeah."
The gray janitor fiddled with his wristwatch.
"Imperial calendar—Unified Year 97, March 1st."
"Shouldn't it be kingdom calendar for kingdom folk?"
"Isn't it cleaner than some messy, baseless system?"
"Whoa. Doesn't sound like something from a kingdom guy."
"The year fragrant winds of the Fragrant Moon swirl, when the third breeze first crosses the valley... "
"Yeah, yeah. Unified Year 97, March 1st. That's the entrance ceremony."
"It's also Orosol Academy's founding anniversary. If someone's looking for Grey Gibraltar, I can tell them this."
The gray janitor cleared his throat.
"See you at the entrance ceremony."
Winter ended.
Unified Calendar, March 1st.
The main gate of Orosol Academy opened.