Grand Duchess! Give Me the Grand Duchess!
Grand Duchess! Give the Grand Duchess to me!
The day after the practical evaluation ended. I had a bit of muscle soreness, but I got up with a light heart and headed to the academy as usual. Thinking I'd at least say hi to my classmates who must've suffered just like me yesterday, I casually pushed open the door...
"Uwaaaah! You said it was doable! Doable...!"
"Right? How the hell is this doable...!"
"I bombed the practical... Sniff sniff."
...Only to find total pandemonium unfolding inside.
What the hell? Déjà vu? Is there some evil spirit haunting Knight Class C's classroom or what? The gloomy vibe every damn day has basically become the default now.
I decided not to get involved and quietly slipped to my seat. That's when—
Drag—!
"Good morning."
As always, Professor Azela strode in with her trademark grin. But for some reason, that usually intimidating woman's steps felt a tad lighter than normal. And it kinda seemed like she was looking right at me.
"As you all know, I've brought the results of yesterday's practical evaluation. I'm sure you're all dying to hear them?"
"Not at all!"
"Zero expectations here!"
"Can't you just... not tell us...!"
It was clear everyone had tanked the practical hard—cries of despair erupted from all corners. But Professor Azela, true to her my-way-or-the-highway style, basically hit them with a mental 'Yeah, and?' as she plopped a thick stack of papers on the podium.
"Normally I'd call names alphabetically, but today there's one student I especially want to start with."
"Uwaaaah!"
"Please don't let it be me. Please...!"
"It's not gonna be embarrassing, right?! Professor!"
At Professor Azela's classic line, the whole class screamed in unison. Simple reason: even after written exams, this woman has a nasty habit of calling the lowest scorers first. Whoever got picked today was guaranteed a brutal roast right out the gate.
Prayers for your soul in advance...
"Aren, come on up."
"...Pardon?"
...Wait, that's me?
I blinked in shock at the unexpected call, and Professor Azela nodded at me with a pleased smile.
"What? Aren bombed the practical?"
"Did he? No idea."
"Thanks, Aren...! You're saving our class's peace!"
The others started buzzing like it was none of their business. I really wanted to smash a few pots over their heads, but I held back and walked to the front.
Professor Azela's gaze—sweeter than I'd ever seen—stayed locked on me the whole time. It was straight-up unnerving.
"Truth is, Aren was the only one in Knight Class to get an A+ on this practical. Everyone, give him a round of applause!"
"......Huh?"
Another twist on top of the twist? More words I never saw coming.
With that, she handed me a sheet of paper boldly stamped with 'Practical Evaluation: A+'.
What? For real? Me, an A+?
Clap clap clap clap—!
"Ooooh!"
"Whoa, not bad, Aren!"
"I knew you had it in you!"
"Dude, how'd you clear the final gate?!"
"Told ya—he's too good for C-Class!"
This wasn't some academy version of the Leaf Village or whatever. Amid Professor Azela's encouragement and my classmates' cheers and applause, I just stood there, dumbfounded.
What is this, some super fun hidden camera prank?
A guy who scraped a C on the written exam topping the practical with an A+? It sounded like a generic light novel title. I muttered it internally, too stunned for any real reaction.
"By the way, no other group got an A+. Thanks to you, I look good as the prof in charge. Keep pushing forward, Aren."
"Y-Yes... Thank you."
Well, whatever. Good grades are always a win. Time to brag to the miss later.
＊
Classes were basically canceled today, so I had a moment to meet the miss. Heading to our spot by the central fountain in the main building, there she was, waiting.
"Whoa, Aren really got an A+!"
She gawked at the results sheet I'd brought, eyes wide with surprise. Seeing that made me swell with pride.
It was all because of her half-request that I'd gone all-in on this exam, after all.
"Heh. When I get serious, this is what happens."
"It's not... forged, right?"
"...Miss? What do you take me for?"
"Eek, kidding! Kidding!"
Felt pretty non-kidding. That suspicious glint in her eye was dead serious.
"Anyway, you must've had it rough. Heard you came back pretty banged up yesterday?"
"Eh, my groupmates had it worse."
"Your groupmates? Oh right—you said the saintess was in your group? She's so brilliant, she must've been a huge help."
"Brill...iant?"
All I remembered was her nosebleeding and collapsing with her clone.
"Nah, the brilliant one was someone else."
"Huh? Really? Who?"
Her eyes lit up with curiosity. Hmm, I'd love to introduce them in person if possible. We got seriously close this time—describing it wouldn't do it justice...
Oh?
"Hey, Lena!"
"...?"
Speak of the devil. Spotting a familiar face passing by the fountain, I waved enthusiastically and jogged over.
She glanced around, then pointed at herself like 'Me?'
As if there's anyone else around I'd be dying to see.
Cheeky.
"Miss, this is the one I was talking about. Basically carried our group through the exam."
"Ah, got it! Nice to meet you. I'm Tiabel Roze Tail, Spirit Class A."
"...Lena Besty, Magic Class B."
She nodded, shaking hands with the miss's natural cheer. I sidled up beside her, threw an arm around her shoulders, and—
"If the miss saw this girl's performance, she'd be blown away. Smart as hell—killed it in the early gates, and in the final one, when we thought we were goners, she squeezed out every last drop of strength to block the enemy's attack...! Epic!"
I ranted on like it was some hero's saga, spit flying.
"R-Really? Uh, Aren... you're a bit close..."
"Psh, this is nothing. We went through hell together—bound to get tight. Right, Lena?"
"Yeah... sure."
Battle buddies who'd shared life and death—this was normal, right? Overflowing with camaraderie, I tightened my arm unconsciously, pulling her right up against me.
"W-Was there something... special between you two or...?"
The miss fidgeted, hands unable to stay still as she probed.
Something special? Oh, yeah. But unfortunately, not something I could tell her. It was a secret just for me, this girl, and Yubelia.
"Yep. But it's our little secret."
"A secret...?!"
"Yeah, a secret. Right, Lena?"
I pulled her closer and asked. She glanced between me and the miss, then smirked faintly, avoiding my eyes.
Sheesh, no need to get shy about it.
＊
We nailed down the casual promise I'd mentioned in passing yesterday, then I headed alone to the training grounds. The miss threw a fit about going back together, but I had something to check.
After shooing her off despite her 'Should I wait?', I grabbed a sword, claimed a sparring room, and quietly raised it.
Shiiiing...
"...Hoo, not quite."
Gathering mana and focusing it at the tip, the usual blue sword aura formed. But a dissatisfied mutter slipped out anyway.
Yesterday, slicing that golem in the final trial—my sword had definitely blazed with sword beam. The hallmark of entering Sword Master territory, the goal every swordsman chased.
But last night back at the dorm, swinging alone? No trace of that sensation.
It wasn't just the beam failing to manifest—the sharpness from back then was gone too. Like yesterday's memory was a dream.
"Damn, just showboating?"
I adjusted my stance, swung hard, even sat cross-legged with the sword across my knees for meditation. Nothing. Another grumpy sigh escaped.
Bitter. If it was an illusion, fine—but that inner vision and fingertip feel were still vivid.
Just couldn't control it yet? So how do I make it mine again?
"Ugh, so frustrating..."
I swung till I was drenched in sweat, but no dice. Plopping down in defeat, I whined like a kid.
If I hadn't tasted it, I wouldn't feel so robbed. It was right there, in my grasp—then slipped away like sand.
Guess intense training's my only shot? Vacation's coming—maybe hole up at the academy swinging nonstop.
Thump thump—
"...Hm?"
Mid-brainstorming, a knock on the glass. Turning, I saw a familiar face outside the sparring room window. Joy surged—I bolted up and rushed to the entrance.
"Silvena, what's up?"
"Sorry. Interrupting your training? Saw you on my way by and thought I'd say hi."
"No no! Perfect timing—I was just thinking of you. Come in."
"M-Me? You were thinking of... What..."
Grabbing her hand as she backed away like I'd called her a hawker or something, I dragged her inside.
Pumpkin on the vine, rolling right in. No way I'd let her slip.
"Silvena. Your mom's a Sword Master, right?"
"Mm, yeah. Top of the top—even among masters, called the Heavenly Sword. One of the continent's best three swordsmen."
"Ooh...!"
Damn, northern duke's lineage hits different.
"So you've gotten tips from her plenty?"
"Tips?"
"Like, how to reach Master... or fully wield that power once you're there."
"Well... some."
Jackpot! My face lit up.
Time to swallow my pride and beg. She helped with the written exam, but right now? No room for shame.
"Then Silvena, one favor?"
"What?"
"Could you give me Silvena?"
".........Huh?"
Ah crap—meant 'Could you spare a bit of your time?' Rushed it and flubbed the words.
Eh, whatever. Smart grand duchess like her'll figure it out.