A Personality That Bites If Touched (1)
“Who’s that guy?”
After the run ended, during the short break, I asked Richard and Dillon.
“Tch.” Richard clicked his tongue, staring off at the boy who’d shoved past me earlier.
“Judah, it’s good that you use honorifics with all your seniors,” Dillon said in a serious tone.
“But that bastard? You can curse him out in front of us all you want.”
“Who the hell is he…?”
“Kael from Room 2, that son of a bitch,” Richard spat, literally.
“Plus, he’s from the third intake. Longest-serving candidate left among us now.”
“No seniors above him at all?”
“If you don’t produce results within two years, you’re out. Plenty drop out midway.”
News to me.
“He passed the third exam recently, so he’s been even more of an arrogant prick lately.”
“How many exams are there total?”
“Uh… how many was it?” While Richard counted on his fingers, Dillon answered.
“Nine.”
“Ah.”
“But even passing all nine means nothing if you don’t win the lady’s favor. Of course, no one’s made it that far yet.”
In other words, Elijah still had no dedicated guard knights.
“Commoners try to tough it out for two and a half years, but nobles bail midway sometimes.”
“Anyway, that guy’s a famous asshole. Best steer clear. And he’s from some count’s family, I hear…”
Listening quietly, something felt off. So, he’s the longest-serving here but only passed the third exam? Like a holdover student in school terms?
But why’s everyone so scared of him?
“By the way, Richard, sir—how far have you gotten?”
“Don’t go asking that shit around. I’ll answer once as thanks for the cookies. Up to the fifth.”
So Richard was stronger? Were they cowed just by intake rank, unrelated to skill?
Well… kids gonna kid. Even adults obsess over meaningless numbers.
Fair enough. Untouchables have nothing to do with actual strength.
I stared blankly at Kael before looking away. My eyes met Elijah’s again. No smile this time—just bored blankness.
Don’t wanna play her game…
But I’d spilled the milk, so matching her tempo wasn’t impossible. Beyond that, this Kael prick was seriously grating. What to do?
Kael grabbed a few buddies and headed off somewhere.
“Judah, where you going?”
“Gonna wash up.”
“Go ahead.”
I walked toward the sinks. Same direction as Kael.
I activated one feature of the Status Window.
Silent Footsteps
“You bring what I told you to?” An irritated, probing voice.
“Y-Yes…”
Submissive, but with a hint of defiance lingering.
“Then hurry up and hand it over. Don’t waste time.”
“Here…”
“Let’s see. One, two… That all?”
“I-I swear, that’s everything. All the pay from the last mission.”
“Bullshit. You used some of this, didn’t you?”
“……”
“Did I say not to spend it and hand it all over? You wanna get kicked out of here?”
“N-No, sir. Sorry.”
“I just passed the third exam, final selection’s right around the corner. You didn’t know I’m tight with the knight in charge of Section 1?”
“No, sir…”
“Fucking pricks, always holding out. This is your last warning. Got it?”
“Yes, sir…”
Kael. And two other candidates’ conversation.
Deeper into the training ground sinks led to a dim back alley of the dorms. I hid by the wall and overheard it all.
“Hm?”
Kael paused emerging from the alley, fiddling with his bulging pouch as he eyed the sinks. Candidates wiped sweat or gulped water.
The top third-intake vet, over two years here. A new face caught his eye.
Name was… whatever.
Only qualifier from the thirteenth intake, he’d heard.
Street rat, huh.
Messy hair. Sloppy attire. Fierce, dissatisfied glare. Experience told him as much.
Perfect.
Street-turned-candidates were desperate. Clung to their status at any cost. But some slacked despite it—content to coast.
Kael preyed on the lazy ones.
Let’s poke him.
Easy meal if he bit. No harm if not.
“Hey, you.”
“Yes. Judah, thirteenth intake.”
“You the little shit the lady picked?”
“……”
“Oh ho. Ignoring your senior, eh?”
“Sorry.”
“This won’t do. Come on. Looks like you need some personal training.”
Judah followed wordlessly into the alley. Onlookers inwardly tsked.
Here we go again.
But no one interfered. Not their problem, as long as it wasn’t them.
Who cared if Kael bullied someone?
Instructors knew and turned a blind eye anyway. Easier letting candidates sort hierarchy themselves.
No reason for fellow candidates to step in.
Except one.
“You’re new yesterday, so you might not know, but you can’t act like that here. Got it?”
“Yes. Sorry.”
“Anyone can say sorry. I’m telling you ‘cause I’m way senior to you punks. Third intake. Third.”
Emphasizing like it was some grand pride.
“Yes. Understood.”
“These new shits coming in lately got fucked-up heads.”
Maybe five years older than me. Still just a kid.
Young bosses exist for a reason.
I took his barbs impassively. Not really insulting. Just aimless venting to prop up his ego.
Just confirming one thing.
Training’s been going long enough.
No one came looking for us.
Kael bragged about a knight buddy earlier. Not total bluff, apparently.
Confirmed. Done.
“I’m tight with our section knight, Garum. Get on my good side, and it’ll—”
I cut him off, staring behind him. Eyes wide in mock shock, I yelled.
“Lady Elijah?!”
“W-What?!”
Kael whipped around in panic.
Perfect opening. I stepped back, then slammed a full-power kick upward.
Target: between the legs.
Crack. Something shattered? Imagination.
“No one th—guh—?!”
He curled up mid-sentence. My shin nailed his groin dead-on. His body lifted slightly on impact.
“Guh… ah… ugh…”
Weaker and smaller than him. Couldn’t win straight-up. So, vital spot it was.
“Ugh… ha… hng…”
Kael couldn’t even groan properly. Just drooled tears, gazing up pitifully.
I grabbed his hair and dragged him out of the alley.
The open field. Candidates from Sections 1 and 3 trained under knight orders.
I strode toward them purposefully. Eyes turned one by one.
Bored Elijah noticed too.
Drip, drip. I gripped harder.
Candidates halted training to stare.
Suddenly, my heart pounded huge and fast. Legs shook. Fear crept in.
This…
Young body’s reaction.
No backing down. Refused to yield to this frail form.
Forced steel into my eyes, stepped firmer.
The stunned instructor finally barked late.
“Candidate! What’s that?!”
“Thirteenth intake candidate, Judah.”
I dumped Kael at their feet. Suppressed shaky breaths, declared boldly.
“I’ve caught a rules violator.”
That instant, Elijah’s lips curved up.
“Third-intake candidate Kael. He’s extorted others’ gold and goods unjustly for profit.”
Guard candidates only got official mission pay. Occasional card games were overlooked as fun.
But robbing peers by force? Beyond tolerance.
“Clear violation of candidate oath and conduct rules. Likely ongoing for ages. And a leader knew and ignored it.”
“Candidate Judah! How dare you spout nonsense here!”
Instructor glared murderously. Familiar scene.
People who don’t act unless it’s them. Bystanders ignoring injustice if not their loss.
No urge to blame them. Humans gonna human.
Just hated it. Bullshit.
Why need reason to hate unfairness?
I knew. Uprooting entrenched bullshit took sacrifice. Reformers rarely credited.
Knew from experience. Past life too. Gave up dreams for it.
Never regretted once.
Same now. Even if beaten bloody and expelled. Even if it cost my life. Even alone.
Hated watching this crap wide-eyed.
If no one speaks, I will.
Not justice crusade. Hated everyone knowing it’s wrong yet silent.
Purely emotional. Stepped up ‘cause it pissed me off.
“You take responsibility for that?!”
“I will. My life enough?”
“What…?”
“Heard Kael myself. Training’s long started—why no search? Points to Section 1’s knight, Garum.”
“How dare you…!”
“Quiet.”
Elijah cut in. She whispered smiling faintly, voice small but shaking the field.
“Judah. Keep going.”
Stunned, I delayed.
“…Thank you.”
…But nothing left to say.
Squeezed some out.
“Not mere candidate friction. In a facility raising Elijah lady’s guards—third-rate thugs pulling this? If Kael lied and I misjudged Garum, I apologize sincerely.”
Garum snorted. Thought me cowed, probably.
Staring, remembered: the knight who’d knelt and slammed me at first Elijah meet. Him.
“But even if mistaken, problem stands. Ignored section incidents? Incompetence. Knew and let slide? Neglect of duty.”
“……”
Finished, eyed Elijah. Pre-intervention: pure rage. After: calmer, forced words.
Fair trade. She helped; I’d play her tune.
Satisfied?
She nodded, pleased smile—like she got it.
“Lia.”
Red-haired maid beside bowed deeply. Elijah’s constant shadow. Top maid, inner circle.
“Fetch Gawain and Miguel.”
“Yes.”
Until Lia returned, field silent. Tense breaths only.
Elijah leisurely smiled at me amid it. Doll-like.
Soon, maid brought two. Knight Captain Gawain. And Miguel.
Crisp tux, slicked white hair, antique glasses. Butler vibe.
“Lady? What’s wrong?”
Elijah nodded at me.
“Hear from him.”
“……”
Flustered, I repeated earlier spiel. Gawain and Miguel’s faces soured more with each word.
Kael and Garum paled progressively.
“…Something’s off.”
“Heard that?” Elijah grinned.
“Remove them. Recent poison mine deep opening?”
“Yes.”
“Labor there.”
“L-Lady—!”
Garum thudded to knees. Kael crawled, forehead-planting.
“S-Sorry! Lady…! Never again!”
“La-Lady…! Mercy once…!”
Elijah just smiled.
Butler Miguel ground teeth, explaining.
“Their acts strike Bebel forces ultimately. Could parse as espionage.”
“……”
“Garum Diamond. Kael Hebes.”
“Y-Yes…”
“Diamond barony and Hebes viscounty sent to damage Bebel duchy militarily? Fits.”
“……”
Garum and Kael gawked wordless. Garum finally yelled.
“Mercy! Grievous sin! Please, not poison mine labor…! C-Consider my devotion to this house, Lady—!”
Elijah tilted head slowly. Vacant curiosity, like a cat.
Innocent face, pure query.
“Why should I?”
Utter arrogance. No rebuttals.
“Drag them out.”
Gawain ordered. Waiting knights bound them.
Watched dazed as they hauled off.
“Uh, uhh…”
Commotion rose. Turned—Elijah approached.
Unthinkingly, eyes dropped. She gripped my chin, forced eye contact.
Hers curved smiling.
“Looking forward to more.”
She left with maid.
Remaining training: Gawain handled all. Couldn’t focus.
Back at dorms post-training. Unexpected gift from Elijah arrived.