Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Spoils of Victory
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Though I’d made a comment subtly attributing our success to the princes, in the end, the Black Spirit Seal was ours.
No druids of the third circle or higher appeared in the Kallendron Territory.
Once the operation time ended, the students immediately returned to Venderford.
Thanks to the support of the Dinitas Knight Order, there were no fatalities.
Although, there were certainly a few students with broken bones.
"Why are they holding an awards ceremony for this? Wasn't it just a mission?"
"Maybe they're making it a grand affair since it's the first one."
"Well, whatever they do, it's good for us."
Frixon and Curtis stared at the auditorium stage with faces full of anticipation.
And why wouldn't they? Barring any injustice, Team 15's first-place victory was all but guaranteed.
"Oh! It's starting. It's starting."
"Time for the announcement. Stop sleeping and get up."
At the pair's excited fuss, the rest of our team turned their gazes to the stage.
Kamil, of course, sank into his chair as if he couldn't care less.
*He has a real talent for sleeping anywhere. Doesn't his neck hurt?*
Contrary to my thoughts, Kamil Felton always woke up looking refreshed.
Even after being slumped over like that for hours.
He was an enigma, no matter how you looked at it.
"We will now announce the rankings for the external mission. As previously stated, special benefits will be provided to the teams with the best results. So, do not be disheartened if you did not rank high, and aim for the next opportunity. Understood?"
"Yes!"
Today's host was Jerome Klebitz, the Dean of the Knight Faculty.
It seemed he was chosen to lead the ceremony for his softer image compared to Vice President Hall Shivas.
The students looked at Professor Klebitz with eyes full of expectation.
The rankings were important, but they seemed more curious about what the "special benefits" would be.
"Special benefits will be provided from fifth place. Now, for the announcement. Fifth place is Team 8, and fourth place is Team 11. Will the members of each team please come forward."
*Clap, clap, clap, clap!*
A round of half-hearted applause erupted as ten students ascended the stage.
Jerome Klebitz pinned a bronze badge onto each of their chests.
They were quite intricately crafted, reminiscent of the empire's military merit medals.
"Fourth and fifth place will be awarded four and two bonus points, respectively, to their overall evaluations. And this badge signifies a one-time exemption from a school rule violation, so please use it wisely."
"Oh..."
I nodded, a satisfied expression on my face at the explanation that followed.
The bonus points were one thing, but the exemption from a school rule violation was quite tempting.
It was like getting a free pass, a pardon that would let you get away with anything without punishment.
*What should I do with it?*
All sorts of wild ideas raced through my mind, but they were shattered by Professor Klebitz's next words.
"However, this does not permit actions that violate the laws of the empire. This is strictly an exemption for school rule violations."
My thoughts, which had been drifting toward things like on-campus black marketeering or eloping (?), had to be reined in with a smack of my lips.
*Tch. It's not that great after all.*
Still, since accumulating demerit points for rule violations led to disadvantages, it was a decent benefit.
As the fourth and fifth-place teams descended, the students' attention shifted to the princes and us.
Only the three teams that had shown outstanding performance remained.
They seemed particularly curious about what rank our Team 15 would achieve.
"I wonder..."
Just as Mac Ties's voice, full of anticipation, could be heard, Jerome Klebitz opened his mouth.
"Third place is Team 2."
*Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap!*
The applause started hesitantly and slowly, then rapidly grew louder.
The third prince's team had taken third place.
The students glanced between the second prince and our team, whispering amongst themselves.
"Then Team 15 is guaranteed second place, right?"
"I never thought Prince Ellington would lose to those good-for-nothings."
"Watch your mouth. Team 15 has two direct descendants from the Four Great Families. And you're disparaging a royal? Do you want to get yourself killed?"
"Gasp...!"
Though he must have heard the murmurs, Ellington paid them no mind and walked toward the stage.
The members of Team 2, including Adele and Sophia, followed behind the third prince.
"Third place is awarded six bonus points, a bronze medal, and two school rule violation exemptions."
After Ellington's team received their silver medals and left the stage, Professor Klebitz glanced down from the podium.
His gaze flickered between Frantz and me.
*Why is he suddenly so hesitant?*
Jerome Klebitz's reaction made a seed of anxiety sprout within me.
Second place was a good enough result, but hadn't our team made the greatest contribution?
If we didn't get first place even after taking down a third-circle druid, I honestly felt there would be a huge backlash.
Not that I would voice my complaints to Venderford or the second prince, of course.
A moment later, amidst the tense atmosphere, Professor Klebitz's announcement continued.
"It would be best to announce first place last. First place is..."
Seriously, he's pausing for dramatic effect now?
*Hey, Professor? Aren't you getting a little too into your role as host?*
Jerome Klebitz, who had paused for a moment, gave an awkward smile at the students' deflated reactions.
Then, he looked straight at me and said.
"First place is Team 15. And second place is Team 1. Will the team members please come to the stage."
"..."
The moment Professor Klebitz finished his announcement, a silence fell over the hall.
From the students' perspective, it must have been difficult to determine who was superior between Frantz and me.
The second prince had also shown remarkable performance while leading the top-tier members of his team.
But it seemed the professors valued the single third-circle druid more.
Besides, that wasn't all our team had accomplished.
The number of enemies we took down while searching the Kallendron Territory was nearly half of Team 1's total achievements.
So they had no choice but to give us first place.
"Yeeeaaah!"
"Hehe! This feels damn good, doesn't it?"
Frixon and Curtis bounded onto the stage in a single leap.
Seeing their ecstatic reaction, they must have been incredibly excited.
After all, who would have thought that Team 15, which no one had expected anything from, would take first place?
I had anticipated it to some extent, but I wasn't displeased either.
Although, the strange silence that filled the auditorium was quite uncomfortable.
Regardless of the students' mood, I walked confidently onto the stage.
"Second place is awarded eight bonus points, a silver medal, and two school rule violation exemptions. And first place receives a gold medal, ten points, and the special privilege of a ten-day vacation."
"A v-vacation?"
Jerome Klebitz's words shattered the students' silence.
Venderford was, in a way, isolated from the outside world.
While weekend outings were possible if one wished, few students ever left.
This was due to the pervasive pressure not to fall behind.
Of course, the packed class schedule also played a part.
But a ten-day vacation?
This was a strange benefit that could be either good or bad.
*It'll be great for Mac and Kamil, but Frixon and Curtis probably won't like it.*
Naturally, it wasn't a reward that particularly resonated with me either.
*My grades are top-tier, so I guess I can just go out and have fun.*
Soon after, Jerome Klebitz concluded the awards ceremony.
All of Team 15 descended from the stage with gold badges pinned to their chests.
Under the envious gazes of everyone present.
***
About a week after the first mission's award ceremony.
As usual, I was lying on the grass next to the Second Training Ground, enjoying a lazy afternoon.
If I lay here, I could get a good view of the beautiful goddesses of the basic course.
"Yo, son of a god."
But a voice interrupted my sweet relaxation.
It was Frixon and Curtis, back from lunch.
"You should call him 'future Knight Commander.' Keep teasing him like that, and you might end up under his command."
"Wow! Just imagining it is hell. I'm definitely avoiding the Dinitas."
The two of them bantered back and forth like a comedy duo, blocking the warm sunlight.
No, to be precise, they were subtly blocking my view of the Second Training Ground.
Seriously, these guys?
"Get some rest. You'll be exhausted this afternoon otherwise."
"That's the plan. Ahh! The view here is great. By the way, where are Mac and Kamil?"
"Professor Sorvino called them over earlier. Judging by the sour look on Kamil's face, it seemed like a really annoying task."
"Heh heh!"
I covered my face with my hat and closed my eyes.
Since things had come to this, I decided to give up on watching personal training and just get some sleep.
But then, students passing by started to speak to me one by one.
"Oh, as expected, you're full of confidence. Befitting of the first mission's winner."
"Of course. You think he's like us?"
"Sorry to disturb your rest. See you in class."
"Let's grab a meal sometime. I'm not just saying that."
When we took down the third-circle druid, there were many who tried to belittle our achievement, but there were also those who did the opposite.
The basic course students, in particular, revered me like some kind of hero.
They said I had humbled the arrogant advanced course students.
"Wow, you're popular."
Frixon glanced back and forth between the departing students and me with a slightly envious expression.
Hey, this is all because of you guys.
I was hiding so well.
But my discomfort melted away like snow at Frixon's next words.
"What if you start getting set up on dates?"
"Huh?"
Most of the female students were in the basic course.
And I was practically a hero to the basic course.
Come to think of it, getting friendly with those riffraff who just spoke to me might not be a bad idea.
Unlike the useless guys in Team 15, they might have connections to beautiful women, right?
As I smiled to myself under my hat at the tempting thought, a familiar voice reached my ears.
"Pant, pant! You were all here."
There was only one guy in Venderford who spoke formally with such a young voice, right?
I moved my hat to see a panting Mac Ties and a stoic-faced Kamil Felton.
"What's wrong? Why the rush?"
"I just heard this while helping Professor Sorvino with something. Phew!"
"Oh! What is it?"
As Mac took a moment to catch his breath, Kamil spoke up in a listless voice.
"They're electing the student council president starting next week."