Choices Without Options
After the partner candidates for the practical evaluation were announced, I was immediately summoned to the professor's office. More accurately, "dragged" would be the better word. On my right was Rhea Silverrian. She insisted that the imperial family's position must be reflected in the selection of a partner for someone under imperial protection. On my left was Aria Elowen. She argued that due to the aftereffects of my curse and the wound on my side, the presence of a healer in charge was necessary. A little behind us stood Siella Bayern. She stated that since the partner practical included combat assessments, the practical judgment of the Combat and Knight Departments was required. Noel Ignis had tagged along without any particular justification.
"Why are you following us, Senior?" I asked. Noel smiled nonchalantly.
"Because it's fun."
"That's not a justification."
"If I'm here, it becomes one."
It made no sense, yet strangely, no one refuted her. Finally, Edan Gray also requested to attend. His reason was that he was one of the official partner candidates and the very person who had proposed partnering with me the day before. In this way, Professor Graham's office instantly transformed into a war council chamber.
Professor Graham sat at his desk, looking at each of us in turn. His expression resembled that of a weary old professor dealing with troublesome students rather than a knight facing an enemy on the battlefield.
"Lord Diaren."
"Yes."
"Why is it that wherever you go, meetings seem to form?"
"I'd like to know that myself." I meant it sincerely. These past few days, my life hadn't felt like something I was leading—it felt more like events were dragging me along. The Rose Garden, the combat training grounds, the infirmary, the Black Library, the Central Sealed Area. And now, the partner practical. At this point, it no longer seemed like the academy simply wouldn't leave me alone; it felt as though the world itself was deliberately placing me at the center.
Professor Graham spread the partner practical roster across his desk.
"This practical is, in principle, conducted in pairs. However, due to recent incidents, your personal risk level has been deemed high. Therefore, the faculty has decided to implement a designated partner system."
Rhea spoke up. "I will take on that designated partner role."
Aria immediately followed. "Considering Lord Kyle's physical condition, I believe I am the most suitable."
Siella stated curtly, "It's a combat practical. I'm the right choice."
Edan spoke quietly. "I wish to directly observe Lord Kyle Diaren's judgment and actions. It also relates to my investigation."
Noel raised her hand. "I'm here for research purposes."
Professor Graham pressed his temples. "Ignis, why exactly did you get added to the candidates?"
"Because I applied."
"Did the faculty approve it?"
"I came here to get it approved just now."
"Get out."
"I don't want to."
Noel remained perfectly calm. The professor let out a deep sigh. I could understand how he felt. I wouldn't want to deal with this situation either.
Professor Graham looked back down at the roster. "Originally, the most balanced pairing would be Lord Diaren and Edan Gray."
The temperature in the room dropped instantly. It was because of Rhea's chill. A thin layer of ice formed on the surface of the ink bottle sitting on the desk.
The professor glanced at Rhea. "Your Highness, please withdraw your mana. The documents are freezing."
Rhea dispelled her mana as if it were nothing. "My apologies." She didn't look sorry in the slightest.
Siella wore an openly displeased expression. "Why Edan Gray?"
Professor Graham explained calmly. "Lord Diaren excels in situational judgment and command, but lacks physical ability and sustained combat endurance. Edan Gray possesses well-balanced combat capabilities and responds quickly to unexpected situations. Pairing the two would be suitable for the practical evaluation."
It was an objective assessment. That only made it more troublesome. Was this the original novel's correction at work, or truly the professor's cold evaluation? Probably both.
Aria spoke quietly. "But Lord Kyle is still suffering from the aftereffects of his curse. If he enters a mana zone, his condition could worsen beyond normal."
"We can assign an auxiliary medical team for that."
"It would be more accurate if I monitored him directly." Aria's voice was gentle, yet she showed no sign of backing down.
Professor Graham regarded her for a moment. The faculty was well aware of a Saintess candidate's healing capabilities. The problem was that this meeting wasn't about selecting a healer—it was about selecting a partner.
Rhea added, "The Black Moon is targeting Kyle. As someone under imperial protection, it would be safest for me to be his partner."
Siella crossed her arms. "If combat breaks out, Your Highness's magic is powerful, but it has limitations in close-quarters response."
Rhea turned to Siella. "You think I can't handle close combat?"
"Not that you can't—I'm simply faster."
"Interesting."
"I could prove it, if you'd like."
The atmosphere grew dangerous once more. I raised my hand.
"Professor."
"Speak."
"Can't I be the one to choose?"
In that instant, everyone looked at me. Professor Graham raised an eyebrow. "We can take your wishes into account."
Aria's eyes held both expectation and anxiety. Rhea's face didn't show the certainty that I would choose her, but she looked prepared to demand a reason if I didn't. Siella stared at me in silence—already a significant improvement, considering she wasn't threatening me with a sword. Edan waited quietly. Noel smiled.
"Well then, Kyle. Who will you pick?"
This was the worst. No matter whom I chose, problems would arise. If I picked Rhea, I'd be completely entangled with the imperial faction. From then on, every noble student in the academy would see me as the princess's person. If I chose Aria, rumors with the Holy Church would explode. The mere fact that a Saintess candidate was personally treating and accompanying a fallen noble was already dangerous enough—making it official would provoke strong backlash within the Church. Choosing Siella would draw attention from the Knight Department and the Bayern ducal house. Moreover, under the pretext of training me, she would likely work me to the bone. Picking Edan would mean getting directly involved with the original protagonist—the very variable I most wanted to avoid. And Noel? I'd become a research subject. That was the most terrifying option of all.
None of them would lead to a quiet outcome. Which meant there was only one choice left: not deciding alone.
"Professor."
"Go on."
"You said pairs are the principle, correct?"
"I did."
"Are there no exceptions?"
Professor Graham's eyes narrowed. "What are you thinking?"
"Considering the special circumstances of recent incidents, designating a single partner centered on me might actually be more dangerous. The Black Moon tried to sever relationships and operated by isolating specific individuals." I looked at the map on the desk. "So instead of a standard pair, what if we form it as a temporary surveillance unit?"
Noel reacted first. "A harem party proposal, huh."
"Don't phrase it like that."
"But that's what it is."
"It absolutely is not."
Rhea spoke coldly. "If it's a temporary surveillance unit, whom do you intend to include?"
I took a breath. "Under practical regulations, we'll designate one main partner, but attach an auxiliary surveillance unit under the pretext of risk response."
"And the main partner?" Rhea asked.
I fell silent for a moment. Then I looked at Edan.
"Edan Gray."
Aria's hand twitched. Rhea's gaze turned icy. Siella's brow furrowed. Noel curled her lips upward. Edan stared at me in surprise.
"You're choosing me?"
"You said you wanted to confirm things, didn't you?"
"I did."
"I want to confirm something too." I met Edan's eyes directly. "Whether you're truly the same person I know."
At those words, Edan's expression shifted. He seemed to understand that I intended to test him—and that he now stood in the same position as someone being tested himself. This wasn't a simple partner selection. It was the first joint operation between the original protagonist and the original villain.
Noel tapped the desk with her fingers, looking intrigued. "Nice. An excellent choice. A combination where you'll watch each other, verify each other, save each other if needed, and suspect each other when necessary."
"Why do you sound so pleased, Senior?"
"Because it's fun."
As expected, she was no help at all.
Professor Graham asked, "Then what about the auxiliary surveillance unit?"
I answered, "Her Highness Rhea, Lady Siella, and Lady Aria."
"What about me?" Noel raised her hand.
"You can come along as supervisor and analyst, Senior."
"Sounds good. I'll get to observe officially."
Professor Graham glared at Noel but didn't throw her out this time. After the Central Sealed Area incident, Noel's analytical abilities were indeed necessary.
Rhea looked at me. "I'll hear your reasons for choosing Edan Gray in detail later."
"Understood."
"And if he shows even the slightest suspicious behavior, report it immediately."
Edan spoke quietly. "I won't engage in any suspicious behavior in front of Your Highness."
Rhea's eyes turned to Edan. "It would be better if you didn't do so even when I'm not present."
Her words were sharp. Aria lowered her head slightly. "If that's what Lord Kyle has decided… then being in a support role is fine with me." Despite her words, her hand gripped my sleeve more tightly.
I looked at her and spoke softly. "I need you, Lady Aria."
Aria's eyes widened slightly. "As the healer in charge?"
"That too, but more than that."
Aria couldn't respond for a moment. Siella spoke briefly. "Edan Gray."
"Yes."
"If you put Kyle in danger, I'll cut you down."
Edan nodded seriously. "I will ensure that doesn't happen."
"Your words are fine." Siella's gaze remained sharp, yet she seemed to be evaluating Edan a little. His attitude—neither fleeing nor making excuses, but facing her directly—wasn't the type she disliked.
After watching us for a long while, Professor Graham finally picked up his pen over the documents. "Very well. I'll submit a request for approval as a special temporary unit. However, Lord Diaren and Edan Gray will be the official pair. The rest will be limited to auxiliary observation and emergency response personnel."
It was decided. I had become partners with the original protagonist—the man who, in the original story, was supposed to bring about my downfall. And the heroines surrounding me would now monitor him from the periphery. What kind of outcome this would bring, I still couldn't tell. But one thing was certain: this partner practical would not end ordinarily.