Chapter 4
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 4
Obtaining a Master (1)
After that day, there wasn't any particular contact with Aniel.
"Allen! Can't you run faster!"
"Student Allen. It’s troubling if you can't even block this much."
"Student Allen. How about you do some separate training? So that you don't inconvenience other students."
In the first place, I wasn't in a position where contact would occur.
It's a body where even the basics aren't established. Following their training with this body? Not easy.
To put it bluntly, if they had notified me to go to the Academy a year, no, even a month ago, I would have at least trained before coming.
But the time I had was barely a week.
I tried to train as much as possible during that week, but as you can see, this is the result.
"At this rate, my grades seem like they'll be in danger."
Even if I manage studying somehow, the problem is practical skills. If I get even a few Fs in practical skills, the possibility of expulsion rises, let alone graduation.
Since the Demon invasion, the grade reflection ratio at the Academy changed to 8 for practical skills and 2 for studies, so no matter how well one studies, it was all useless.
Usually, one would ask masters for advice on something like this, but sadly, I had no master.
Because those rumored to teach well on the continent all took one look at my trash stats and fell away, shaking their heads saying "You have no talent."
Thanks to that, I was completely alone right now.
While doing so, someone's figure suddenly caught my eye.
"She's not shedding a drop of sweat."
"Training like this must be nothing to her."
Aniel Windelof, unlike me, was breezing through even the toughest training.
Although I experienced a spar before, I didn't harbor any other feelings about that incident.
Because that part was something I also agreed to.
Rather, I had the thought that she was amazing.
Even other people find it burdensome to follow her pace. No, let alone follow, most get exhausted in the middle and drop out.
If it's her, maybe she can change me whom even those masters couldn't change.
I knew myself that this was a silly thought.
Windelof is an Imperial Palace Faction family, whereas Wiesent is a Noble Faction family.
Even if I ask, let alone listen, only bad situations will likely unfold.
However, there was another problem.
"How do I approach her."
It's slightly burdensome to approach openly in front of everyone.
Aniel already felt like a flower on a cliff.
In contrast, I am treated as a half-wit. If someone like me approaches closely, I will receive stinging glares.
Unless I aim for a time when she is alone like before, it won't be easy.
It's not easy. But I also don't want to fail like this.
If I fail, I can't graduate, and in the worst case, it's expulsion.
Then it's expulsion from the family.
To avoid such a plight, I had to do anything and everything. So I intend to try asking Aniel once when she becomes alone, but....
"So what do you want to say."
The opportunity came too easily.
How many cases would there be of trying to leave a flower on a cliff alone?
At least in Aniel's case, it was different. She wasn't particularly sociable, nor did she feel the need for friends.
Since she was the type who didn't feel loneliness itself in the first place.
If she revealed signs of being blatantly displeased, others naturally withdrew.
Because they wouldn't want to act tactlessly in front of her for no reason and get on her bad side.
Aniel received the gazes of dozens, hundreds of people in a single day, but she felt one gaze flying towards her exceptionally persistently.
Turning her head to check, that gaze was Allen Wiesent this time too.
"I forgot an item needed for training, so I will go get it."
"If it's that, just say the word. I will send someone to fetch it."
"It's fine. I have a policy of disliking others touching my things."
"If that's the case, do so."
Thinking he might have something to say to her, she quietly withdrew from the spot.
And sent a gaze to Allen. Meaning if there is something you want to say, follow and say it.
She wondered what to do if he didn't understand, but fortunately, Allen tried not to miss the opportunity that came.
"So what do you want to say."
Seeing Allen appear in front of her, Aniel asked.
What it is he wants to say to her.
"Please become my master."
".... What?"
And completely unexpected words came out.
"I don't accept things like disciples."
As expected is as expected.
As anticipated, Aniel firmly rejected the proposal.
"And there doesn't seem to be any benefit for me."
It was certainly so. The one who loses out by being rejected is me, not Aniel.
Even if I wanted to bribe her with money, the opponent is also a formidable person of wealth.
Political interests are hostile. It must be nonsensical for me to even make such a proposal.
But for me, it was a desperate situation. To the extent that I had to grasp even a rotten rope.
In the first place, it's like a lottery. Buying one with the mindset of 'let's just try scratching it at least'.
It's regrettable, but I'm not brazen enough to throw an unreasonable demand asking her to take me on by force when the opponent says no.
I declined doing something useless and having more fierce gazes stuck on me.
"Why are you trying to become strong."
But it was strange. Although she was clearly the person who refused, she didn't leave the spot and kept standing there.
Aniel asked me with cold eyes whose emotions were still difficult to fathom.
What the reason for trying to become strong is.
"Because I want to keep attending this Academy."
What benefit would there be in explaining my situation? It's not like I'm asking for sympathy.
I explained that it was simply to not get expelled.
Then Aniel frowned for a moment.
Although she doesn't show it, isn't Aniel also displeased with someone like me?
Me, who took someone else's spot on family connections.
"Do you think you can become strong just because you ask for teaching?"
But Aniel asked subsequently.
Whether I could become strong.
The reason I thought of Aniel first and not anyone else is because of memories from my past life.
I, whose grades were crawling on the floor, closely observed the top student in the school.
There was a clear reason why the top student was number one. I, who was wandering not knowing how to study, was able to raise my grades to the upper-middle ranks thanks to copying that person.
Because of such an experience, I chose Aniel.
"I won't know unless I try."
It's not about making it happen if it doesn't work.
It means it's not too late even after trying once and checking if it doesn't work.
I intended to withdraw from the spot now. Since taking more of Aniel's time didn't seem polite either.
"Fine."
"Yes?"
Just as I was about to withdraw, it reached my ears.
"I said I will accept you as a disciple."
Speaking in a voice completely devoid of emotion, she approached me closely.
The smell of strong incense, not tobacco, was felt in my nose.
More than that, what did she just say?
She accepts me as a disciple?
"A-Am I dreaming right now?"
"Why? Do you wish it was a dream?"
"No way."
It's not a dream. It's reality. While swallowing saliva, my adam's apple moved.
But she continued speaking as if she didn't care.
"Instead, there is a condition."
"A condition, you say."
As expected, a condition is attached.
I wonder what the condition is.
As mentioned before, she doesn't seem likely to demand money, so would it be something related to my family?
Whatever condition she presents, I have no choice but to accept unconditionally, but I hoped it wouldn't be a condition like 'leave the Academy'.
Around the time I was quietly waiting for her next words.
"Keep sparring with me."
"Is it sparring?"
"If you don't like it, forget it."
Saying that, Aniel took out a herbal cigarette and lit it.
It was a somewhat unexpected answer, but I spoke promptly.
"Fine. If it's sparring, I'll do as much as you want."
At this time, I was happy.
Since I obtained an excellent master, wouldn't this trash character also step up a little?
But there was something I hadn't thought of at all at this time.
That starting from the relationship with Aniel using this matter as an excuse, my life began to flow towards a complete mess.
"Class starts from tomorrow dawn."
Saying that, Aniel left.
Holding a cigarette full of teeth marks.
As a result, Aniel became my master.
Of course, we decided to keep it a secret because I didn't want to attract attention by letting other people know.
Unexpectedly, regarding that part, Aniel said to do as I pleased as if she didn't particularly care.
"Your movements are sluggish."
"Ugh!"
"You're too defenseless."
"Aack!"
The lessons started like that, but it was far from kindness.
"Surrender, I surrender."
Just how many sparring matches has it been already?
Aniel said let's spar first as she needed to know my skills clearly.
I readily followed. With a complacent mind thinking we would do about one or two times.
However, Aniel continued to aim her wooden sword and spoke to me.
"Get up. Not yet."
Saying that it's not yet time.
[?ability has increased by 1]
[?ability has increased by 1]
[?ability has increased by 1]
[?ability has increased by 1]
The number above Aniel's head became 9 from 3.