The Secret Room and the Training Ground Encounter
That was really true?
The next day, in the secret room of the grand library, I told Riel about the story I had heard from the letter received yesterday.
At the moment, only Kyou and Riel were present in this secret room.
"Yeah. Honestly, I thought the knight commander of the Ludwig Knight Order was using Allen to turn the ducal mansion into a complete mess..."
"Um... you mean that knight commander...?"
Riel looked down as if lost in thought.
Albert Ludwig.
An important figure mentioned even in the original novel, the father of the protagonist and someone of considerable significance.
A middle-aged man who cherished Allen deeply, devoted himself to his family, had mastered Kingdom military swordsmanship, earned the title of knight at a young age, and achieved great success.
Then he met the woman who would become Allen's mother, obtained Allen, settled in the ducal territory, and began serving the ducal mansion.
However, he did not appear directly in the original novel.
Because later he was discovered dead, becoming the catalyst that plunged Allen into grief and a thirst for revenge.
Moreover, in the original novel, it was Eve Ignis, Riel's older sister, who was considered to have killed him.
That incident caused Allen to become completely hostile toward Eve... that was the flow of the original story.
But in this situation, it was the exact opposite: Albert Ludwig, who was dying, was found and rescued by Eve, who had become his savior.
"Honestly, the knight commander has almost no memory, so I have nothing to say."
"We met so rarely?"
"Yeah, the commander went out with my father a lot, so I thought he was going out with my father this time too..."
But that knight commander was dying in the barracks of the Ignis Duchy...
"...But does that guy know about this?"
"No, I decided to keep it secret for a while and try treatment because I don't know what would happen if Allen finds out."
Regarding Albert Ludwig's situation, I had decided not to tell Allen.
Not only because I didn't know what would happen, but because, given Allen's behavior patterns, I couldn't predict what that guy might do.
He might, just like in the original novel, suddenly blame Eve for harming his father and cause a scene.
"Then leave the rest to Eve. She said to contact her if there's any progress."
"...Yeah, if it's my sister, everything will be fine."
What could we do now?
We could only solve the immediate problem and wait for contact.
"But wasn't Emilia with you?"
"Ah, Emilia went to the village for an errand."
"Really?"
When living at the academy, there are many places to spend money.
For example, meals are provided free of charge as part of the tuition, but textbooks aside, school supplies like notebooks, pens, and ink must be purchased with one's own money.
Notebooks, pens, ink... surprisingly, many things cost money.
Especially the cheap quill pens that commoners use often, which break if you apply too much force, are almost consumables.
And since they are still growing kids, they probably want to buy snacks besides meals.
Except for nobles like me and Riel who already have some money, most commoner students cover their expenses with part-time jobs.
Emilia's tuition was supported by her father, but the remaining necessary money she earns herself.
"By the way, is Kyou's Martial God Festival preparation going well?"
"Well, I actually competed in a real match not long ago, so I'm prepared."
As I said before, honestly, I have the confidence to win.
I've been sparring in the north, so almost any academy student could face me.
But carelessness is forbidden.
Even if Allen doesn't know, probably the Iris-senpai who will participate in the competition is a strong rival.
Of course, if magic is allowed, I can beat Iris-senpai, but since it's the swordsmanship section of the tournament, magic is prohibited, so I don't know the result.
Ah, I'm starting to feel worried.
"...I'll definitely train more today."
"Hoo... can I come with you?"
"Eh? Riel?"
The scene of Allen bringing women to the training ground yesterday suddenly came to mind.
Every time Allen swung his sword, they made a squealing sound, and the surrounding people looked at the scene pitifully...
...Hmm, I was hesitant to invite her.
"...So no?"
"......"
...Hmm.
"No, this is the academy facility. There's no reason Riel can't come."
"Th-that's right? Hehehe..."
"Even so, it's a place where people are seriously training, so don't make too much noise!"
"I-it's okay! I'm not a kid!"
...If I say that, what would those who caused chaos following Allen yesterday become.
The training ground was as crowded as yesterday.
No, finding an empty seat was unexpectedly difficult, perhaps even more so than yesterday.
"Kyaaaa!"
"Allen, that's so cool!"
...Hearing the noisy voices of the girls from inside, Allen was probably here too.
Whoa, look at the scowling expressions. Especially the men.
They're swinging their swords with the determination to crush that guy in the Martial God Festival.
Riel also heard the voice and said with a furrowed brow.
"...I think I understand what Kyou said yesterday."
"Ahaha..."
"What are you doing in a public place."
So I advanced, found an empty seat, and settled there.
The women cheering for Allen were a bit noisy, but it was the farthest seat as possible.
Upon closer look, unlike yesterday, Phyllis's figure was not visible.
There was something odd about her yesterday, and something felt off, but I decided not to worry.
Among the training weapons hanging there, I took out the practice sword and assumed a stance.
Riel was sitting on a bench a little away, watching me.
Just like yesterday, I slowly unfolded my sword from the beginning as if reviewing what I had learned.
Riel sat on the bench, watching Kyou swing the sword with great concentration.
"Allen! Come drink some water here!"
"There's a towel here!"
Even from afar, noisy voices were heard, but Riel simply clicked her tongue once inside and completely ignored them.
The training ground was bustling with people.
A few months ago, a place she wouldn't have approached, Riel had entered.
Even in this place where her breath was blocked and tension was high, Riel's body felt completely fine.
Of course, it wasn't as refreshing as when she went to the north, and there was a slight stuffiness that pricked her body, but for Riel, it was a much more comfortable environment.
Since when had she been able to spend academy life with such a comfortable heart?
...She herself knew the answer well.
'Thank you.'
To the boy swinging the sword diligently in front of her.
Riel expressed her gratitude inside.
"Excuse me for a moment, is it okay?"
At the suddenly heard voice, Riel turned her head.
A beautiful woman with black hair tied up in a high ponytail.
From the color of her training uniform, she was a senior. She had also been training until just now, so she was wiping sweat with a towel.
"Yes, it's fine."
"Then, excuse me."
The woman sitting next to Riel took a water bottle from her bag and drank.
Riel's gaze naturally turned toward her.
She finished drinking, set down the bottle, and directed her eyes toward Kyou.
Why to him...?
Thinking so, as Riel was gazing at her, she noticed Riel's gaze and smiled faintly.
"Ah, I'm Iris Reiknear. I'm in second year."
"I'm Riel Ignis. I'm in first year."
"Oh, the Ignis ducal family...? Meeting a big shot again today?"
Since she extended her hand, Riel hesitantly took it and shook hands with her.
"Um... are you a friend of Kyou's?"
"No, I only met him yesterday... is he your boyfriend...?"
"A-ah, no! Friends! Just friends!"
Riel shook her head with a bright red face, and Iris laughed loudly.
"Ahaha! You don't have to deny it that much."
"Th-that's..."
"Haha, it's fine. I can guess without even being told."
Iris, still smiling, turned her gaze to Kyou and said.
"His swordsmanship is something you study just by looking."
"Really?"
"Well, I only learned Kingdom military swordsmanship seriously because my father is a soldier..."
Iris Reiknear had blossomed her talent under her father's guidance since childhood, and even as a child prodigy, she had shown extraordinary talent.
Even after entering the academy, she had grown her talent to the point of being called the strongest in her grade.
Well, magic was completely her worst subject though.
"The academy teaches only Kingdom military swordsmanship, and most students use the same swordsmanship, so looking at other styles helps study."
"I see."
The two people were quietly conversing.
At that moment, noisy chatter came from beside them again.
"Allen! Are you having trouble? Should I massage you?"
"This is the drink I made, it says it relieves fatigue..."
Still, the overly yellow conversation that poisoned the expressions of the surrounding men echoed loudly across the training ground.
It wasn't just the men around, but it made Iris's expression scowl too.
"Yesterday it was like that, and today too."
"...It seems it was the same yesterday."
"Can't be helped. If we leave it like this, the same thing will happen tomorrow."
Iris, who had stood up from her seat and strode toward Allen's group, followed Riel, who hesitated for a moment and hurriedly trailed behind her.
"Hey, you guys, be a little quieter in the training ground. This place isn't just yours?"
"What? Interrupting...?"
The girl who had been complaining suddenly had her voice interrupted by Iris's voice and, upon seeing Iris's gym uniform, quickly changed her tone.
"What interrupting? Don't you think what you're doing now is something worth interrupting?"
"......"
"It's good to cheer for your boyfriend, but you should think of others and cheer quietly."
"I-I have a boyfriend..."
The girls with their faces bright red and heads bowed deeply.
Iris looked a bit dazed for a moment, but quickly corrected her expression and said.
"Anyway, please be a little quieter in the training ground."
"Ye-yes..."
"Sorry."
The girls apologized honestly.
Iris also left the place with a satisfied face.
Riel, who had been worried about some bad situation, relaxed and followed Iris to leave the spot, but...
"What? What's going on?"
"Ah, Allen."
After swinging his sword once, Allen returned to the spot to drink water.
Iris's gaze naturally turned toward him.
Allen also looked her way.
"You are..."
"Huh, the one who made the training ground noisy... so that guy from earlier?"
Iris remembered the impressive boy she had met recently.
Of course, it had been impressive in a bad way.
"What on earth do these kids... Eh? Riel?"
"Haa..."
Riel shook her head to loosen her throat and forced out a breath, sighing.
As expected, this guy's timing was the worst.
"Riel, what happened with you and my friends and this senior?"
"......"
"Riel? Can you explain?"
"Don't call me by my name so casually."
"...Eh?"
"Don't talk to me, unlucky guy."