The Sword Department's New Professor
After the subtle clash of wills concluded, I naturally found a spot and sat down.
Avoiding the stares of the others, I settled into the back row and blankly stared at the lectern.
I couldn't be sure, but it seemed there was still a bit of time left until Elcia arrived.
'From today on, it'll get really tough.'
I'd have to attend the Academy's regular classes as well, and after those ended, I'd receive private tutoring from Elcia.
The reason I attended classes on weekdays was that I had separate things to do on the weekends.
There were personal matters to handle and hidden pieces to acquire outside the Academy.
Since I'd told Elcia it was for personal reasons, our lessons were naturally scheduled after all weekday classes ended.
'It'll be a bit tiring...'
Life as a regressor was tiring in the first place.
If I didn't move more fiercely, I couldn't keep up with the forces of the original timeline's cult.
At least, until the first event started, I needed to collect as many hidden pieces as possible.
And I also needed to form relationships with the protagonists...
'That can wait a bit.'
It wasn't that I feared meeting people or was being arrogant.
More accurately, I was simply being clear about my priorities.
......Well, it meant I didn't plan to screw up that badly like in the previous loop and repeat the same mistakes.
'Three in three days.'
Since the Academy entrance ceremony, I've built bonds with a total of three protagonists.
Aspilia didn't count, but my connection with Selene and Elcia was already so deep it was hard to sever.
Now was the time to move from making new connections to reinforcing the ones I had built.
"......Hello."
"Hello, Aspilia."
While organizing my plans, I turned my gaze to the voice coming from beside me.
There stood Aspilia.
She naturally sat down next to me and greeted me.
Thinking about it now, I realized I had forgotten that Aspilia was in this class.
'I should have greeted her first.'
Even now, building a relationship with Aspilia, who would rise to greater importance in the future, was quite significant.
Because she'd become an unprecedented close-damage dealer.
Of course, that didn't mean I'd be clinging to her or anything.
'Well, if I don't, the world will end. What could you even do about it?'
I'd just have to follow along.
"How have you been?"
"Ah? Just training and stuff. The Academy training grounds are pretty well-equipped."
It was quite unusual for quiet, silent Aspilia to be the one to start a conversation.
Aspilia normally only answered questions, and almost never started talking first.
So I never imagined she'd be the one to initiate this kind of everyday chat.
Startled for a moment, I answered calmly without showing it, staring at Aspilia.
"And you?"
"......I went to the forge connected to my family outside the Academy."
"Why? Is there something wrong?"
"My favorite weapon took a bit of a beating."
Favorite weapon?
No way, she's talking about that?
Thinking about it, the sword I brought back from the dungeon had quite a worn blade.
No matter how sturdy Aspilia's favorite weapon was, it needed constant maintenance to keep using it.
'I hope it just broke already.'
At the very least, to avoid showing off with an axe that didn't suit me, I hoped that weapon had shattered.
Of course, even if that happened, I'd just get a new one immediately.
'......I'll hold out until the second event.'
By then, my thoughts about romance would naturally change.
"Ah...... I pushed myself a little back then."
"Yeah. Are you okay?"
"I got a new weapon that day. This one seems better than the previous one, so I'm using this."
Tap tap, I tapped the sword scabbard at my waist while answering.
Aspilia let out a small "Ah..." and nodded.
"Uh-huh...... I see."
Aspilia had an oddly melancholic expression, as if something was weighing on her.
Since her expression didn't change much, I couldn't tell for sure, but I got that impression.
"Yeah. I'll probably keep using this sword for a while."
The sword that came as a reward in the boss room wasn't bad at all.
In fact, at this point, there wasn't a better one.
It was hard to find an over-spec sword that surpassed my stats, and even if I did, many would have heavy restrictions on use.
Therefore, this sword suited my current specs perfectly and had no restrictions.
It would serve as my good favorite weapon for a while.
"I see. Got it."
Aspilia clicked her tongue lightly and nodded.
"Allen, you should try using an axe too......"
I ignored Aspilia's small voice and turned my gaze away, when I suddenly felt Aspilia's sharp glare from right beside me.
'......I hate you, you bastard!'
Changing equipment after entering the Academy, even though I'd been using the same gear since before admission, was an extremely risky move.
It was because it ignored my skills and talent.
If switching to a better weapon worked, it was only possible for someone like Aspilia, who had both a perfect match and genius talent.
The door that opened without hesitation, saving me from Aspilia's dismissive gaze toward those who thought they were like her, had opened just in time.
Creak.
Just as the door opened, the gazes of the students all turned to me, just like when I entered.
Excluding the one who arrived last, there was now only one person who could enter this A-class.
Elcia, with her light green hair tied neatly back, walked toward the lectern without even glancing at the students.
Finally reaching the lectern, Aspilia raised her gaze to the students with a emotionless gesture and slowly opened her mouth.
"It's nice to meet you, new students of A-class."
"Ooh......"
A beautiful yet crisp voice filled the air, and someone let out a small exclamation.
It was a voice that matched the cold sensation of ice perfectly, so no one could blame him.
But Elcia herself, the one involved, didn't care about any of that and continued in silence, as if nothing had happened.
"My name is Elcia. Since last semester, I've been the homeroom professor of A-class and the chief professor of the sword department."
Elcia spoke only her name, without mentioning her family name.
It was because she had discarded her family name.
Since Elcia's situation was well-known, the students had no doubts.
On the contrary, most students looked at her with eyes of respect for discarding her family name to protect it.
"As you all know, this A-class is a place where only students with talents exceeding twice those of others gather."
"......But why is there a 289th place?"
Following Elcia's words, someone shot at me with a mocking voice.
His words were very quiet, but because of that, the entire class could clearly hear it.
But I didn't react to it at all.
After all, my entry into A-class was already decided today, and that fact wouldn't change.
And if the other students had doubts, I'd prove it with results.
And in the end, no one would be able to raise doubts about me again.
Therefore, I had no need to fall for these childish provocations from the young ones.
"Hey, student."
But our teacher...... Elcia's thoughts were different.
At Elcia's remark, the male student with blue hair flinched and turned his gaze to her.
He probably had been glaring at me until now.
'......That guy.'
Clearly, I knew that face.
While slowly blinking and continuing to think about the student, I was startled by the following words from Elcia and could only turn my gaze to her.
"I don't know this student's name, but do you think that Allen student is better than you?"
......I got screwed.
Implicitly, she shouldn't have given anyone any reason to be sure about our relationship.
But with just the small fact that I remembered her name, the others would easily notice that there was some kind of relationship between me and her.
"......Yes. I'm 17th place, while that guy is 289th."
Entry score 17th place.
'Ah, I remember.'
The lightning sword.
The eldest son of the Marquis of Zilhen, famous for his brain sword.
He had a bit of a high nose for his talent and family, but he was one of the supporting characters who became frustrated after entering the Academy and actually encountering real talent.
'......Did that guy have such an aggressive personality?'
I remembered it wasn't the case, but since I couldn't prove anything and came to A-class, he seemed very displeased.
"Well. The main professor doesn't think that way."
"......Huh?"
"This first semester, the mid-term evaluation, I said."
At that moment, Elcia turned her gaze precisely at me.
Looking straight at me like that, I could only think that she had deliberately created this situation.
"I am certain that Allen student will take first place in A-class."
'......No matter how you look at it.'
Beating me to first place isn't difficult, teacher.