Chapter 21: Buttoning the First Button (4)
“Haa.”
I let out a sigh soaked in fatigue and leaned back in my chair.
When I glanced outside, sunlight pierced through the curtains, casting scattered patches of light into the room.
It seemed I had stayed up all night.
“Finally done.”
The method itself was simple enough that I could still recall it vividly even now…
But since I had to make everything from scratch, it ended up taking longer than I thought.
“Ugh.”
I stood up and stretched lightly.
At that moment, my gaze fell upon the dagger lying alone on the desk.
“……”
I reached out and picked it up.
It was light and sharp, but that was all.
“Hm…”
I hadn’t managed to figure out anything about this one.
With the mask fragment, I had discovered that some kind of sorcery was cast on it.
With the hair, as expected, I learned it had been both dyed and magically altered.
But this dagger—there was nothing particularly noteworthy about it.
“The blade isn’t deep, nor is the shape unusual.”
With this much, unless one struck a vital spot precisely, it would be difficult to inflict a fatal wound.
Especially if the opponent could use the Miracle of Healing.
I checked it multiple times, but found nothing.
It didn’t have any mechanism where a hidden blade would spread out to tear the wound after stabbing, nor was it coated with a deadly poison.
The only thing I learned was that it was just an ordinary dagger.
And yet, for some reason, the cold sensation of it went beyond simply being a blade—it somehow sent a chill down my spine.
“……”
Perhaps I was overthinking it.
But I couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was still something important about it I didn’t yet know.
‘If I had to point out one thing…’
It barely met the threshold of a blade that could be carried without violating the doctrines of the Holy Sun Church.
Yes, just like the dagger I carried around.
“Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue and tossed the dagger back onto the desk.
A low metallic clink rang out.
“I shouldn’t be certain until I’m absolutely sure.”
Hadn’t I already learned that lesson the hard way?
Even if something was certain ten parts out of ten, one should still wait until it was eleven before being confident.
I had experienced enough to know the consequences of hasty judgment and conviction.
Since the results would come in today anyway, it wasn’t too late to decide after confirming them.
As I came to that conclusion, I heard a soft fluttering sound somewhere.
— …?!
The mist bird, which had been dozing off until just now, cracked open its half-lidded eyes.
It seemed startled by the sound I had just made.
It stared at me for quite a while, then, as if it no longer cared, sank back into sleep.
Acting utterly at ease, as though this were its own home.
“Heh.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at its sheer carefreeness.
For something said to be an overly sensitive spirit, the fact that it reacted a beat late was laughable.
‘Sleeping so soundly, huh.’
Weren’t natural spirits supposed to avoid humans as much as possible?
And they were also said to disappear back into nature soon after showing themselves—but apparently that didn’t apply to this one.
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door just then.
“Excuse me, Lian Gwendil-nim. Did you perhaps cough?”
A woman’s voice.
She was one of the maids employed by the Academy.
I reached for the staff hanging on the wall and answered.
“What is it?”
“A letter has arrived for you, Lian Gwendil-nim, so I came to deliver it.”
The maid added in a gentle voice,
“I know it’s an untimely hour, but since it came as an urgent dispatch from the Imperial Knights, I thought it might be a matter requiring haste…”
At the mention of an urgent dispatch from the Imperial Knights, I opened the door.
A light-blonde maid, dressed neatly, was standing a few steps back, staring straight at me.
“Here it is, Lian Gwendil-nim.”
With those words, she politely held out the letter to me with both hands.
I also received it respectfully and bowed my head.
“Thank you. You’re working hard.”
At my words, she smiled faintly.
“Thank you sincerely for your words of praise.”
She slowly bowed her head to me.
“I apologize for disturbing you so early in the morning. I’ll take my leave now, so please rest well.”
With that short farewell, she moved noiselessly but briskly down the hallway.
In her arms, besides the one she had handed to me, she carried several other letters.
“Now, let’s see…”
On the envelope was my second brother’s signature and seal.
To think he would send a reply in just one day, and by urgent dispatch at that.
As I sat down on the bed and prepared to open it, I realized it was surprisingly heavy.
“Oh.”
When I carefully opened the letter, five or six gold coins spilled out.
Enough to live lavishly for several months.
[To Lian.]
The first line, written in a firm, bold hand, was my name.
The moment I saw it, I thought, how very like him.
[It would be a lie to say I wasn’t surprised.
I never imagined that right after your letter arrived, a bill would arrive as well.
To elaborate, I certainly didn’t expect you to send me a letter asking after my well-being.
It was an unexpected letter, and that made it all the more welcome.]
“…Was it really that unusual?”
I cleared my throat in mild embarrassment and read on.
[Anyway, I looked over the expenses, and there was nothing for me to criticize.
Rather, I’m just glad it seems you’re earnestly trying to live your life at the Academy.
I heard there was quite a commotion from the very day of the entrance ceremony, so I worried whether you were alright in body and mind, but it seems my worries were for nothing.
In any case, I don’t mind if you invoke my name from now on.
Judging from the way you are now, I believe you’ll think things through and act with care, so there’s no need for me to be concerned.
Also, unless it’s something truly important—in other words, for small matters like today—you don’t need to send me a letter to ask for permission.
If anything, it might be better to ask our eldest brother.
As you know, the purse of a merchant running a trading company is far fuller than that of a mere knight like me.
So long as you’re not being extravagant or wasting time, I’m certain our eldest brother will provide support without much complaint.
I hear your class schedule has been delayed…
That would mean it’s about time to form groups for the Dungeon Field Class.
While those groups aren’t permanent, your first teammates tend to become special in many ways.
I still keep in touch with the comrades I first worked with back then.
I’m sure you’ll choose well, but just as a precaution, I advise you to think carefully and decide wisely.
And work to become someone those companions can trust.
They, too, will support and trust you in return.
After your first field class, you’ll be able to choose the classes you want to take.
Think it over calmly, but if you’ve already decided, then go ahead and take the classes you’ve chosen.
Even if there’s a problem, you’ll have a withdrawal period, and above all, the freedom to take whatever classes you want only exists when you’re a freshman.
It may be meddlesome, but I’ve included a bit of money in this letter.
It’s not much, but use it to supplement your expenses.
And if anything happens, come to me anytime, or send me a letter like this.
Though my abilities are modest, I’ll always be there to help you.]
The letter went on to list professors and classes he thought were good, along with various advice and cautions, filling the page.
The handwriting and tone were as stiff as ever, yet before I knew it, I was smiling as I read.
But when I reached the end, I found myself falling silent.
[And if possible, I’d like you to send a letter to Mother, just as you did to me.]
I idly traced the edge of the letter with my finger, reading that part, which felt far more hesitant and deliberate than the earlier content.
[…She worries about you a great deal.
Lian, you may not realize it, but she even told me to look after you.
Even so, it seems she can’t bring herself to contact you first, for fear of burdening you.
She’s a far more tender-hearted person than you think.
Please, grant this brother’s request.
That’s all for now.
I’ll write again later.
Artiac Gwendil.]
I carefully folded the letter and placed it on the desk.
The firm and concise handwriting bore a faint tremor at the end, as if revealing the hesitation that had come in the final lines.
“……”
I rolled the gold coins in my hand for a long while before finally heading to the desk.
With a blank sheet of paper before me, I hesitated again for quite some time before I could finally pick up my pen.
I began with, To the Honorable Countess, but soon shook my head and picked up a fresh sheet.
“To my dear Lady Gwendil…”
And so, for quite a while, the scratching of pen on paper filled the room.
“Then, we’ll end class here for today.”
As always, Yul Runberg ended the lesson in a powerful voice, then cleared his throat softly as he glanced around.
Perhaps because he was in charge of the first class, whenever there was some important announcement, he would naturally be the first to pass it on to us.
“And as some of you already know, this week we’ll be forming groups for the Dungeon Field Class. I imagine that will begin today.”
The Dungeon Field Class was one of the most highly regarded lessons in the Academy.
It was conducted under the joint responsibility of all five dormitories, with significant budget and manpower allocated to it.
The reason the dungeons were created randomly each time, with various terrains and conditions, was not without purpose.
It was, supposedly, to give students real combat experience and develop their ability to adapt quickly to unexpected situations.
In the early days, there had been many objections, calling it a pointless waste of resources.
But by now, its practicality and effectiveness were so well-proven that such opinions were rare to hear.
For that reason, it could be called a symbolic class in many ways.
…And in my previous life, it was also the class that was effectively suspended indefinitely because of the catastrophe caused by Rahma.
“Later, group members might be assigned at random, but for this Dungeon Field Class, the students will form their own groups entirely by choice.”
In this case, groups were usually formed in three ways:
Friends who had grown close over the past few days would group together.
Some would calculate thoroughly for grades and results, cooperating accordingly.
And then there were those who fell into neither category, ending up thrown together from whoever was left.
In my previous life, I’d grouped up with the kids I used to hang out with…
This time, that seemed unlikely.
After all, in this life I’d been too busy running around to even become acquainted with them.
Even the few people I’d known before entering the Academy weren’t particularly close.
We’d crossed paths a few times, but exchanged little more than greetings before parting ways.
“The required group size this time is at least four people, at most five. And you must finalize your group members by the end of this week, so keep that in mind.”
The numbers four and five could, in a way, be linked to the dormitory roles.
At the front, leading and making decisions, was the Crowns.
The vanguard, facing threats first and protecting others, was the Hilts.
The main force, delivering powerful strikes to take down enemies, was the Wands.
In the middle, supporting the group and sometimes joining the front line or using miracles, was the Crooks.
And the Dots could fill any role, covering whatever gaps there were.
That last one was admittedly a bit of a stretch, but regardless, five people were more stable than four.
All things considered, it’d be better to form a group of five.
Once we entered the dungeon and something happened, I’d have to move alone, so for the others’ safety, having one more person was better.
For vanguard, there was Allen, and for support, there was me.
We still needed at least two more—ideally three.
The problem was, I didn’t know anyone suitable.
I guess I could just pick someone decent enough…
Fortunately, neither Allen nor I had poor grades, so we could probably choose competent people as teammates.
Yes.
That was what I thought.
That was what I had intended…
…Why?
How had things ended up like this?
“Hello, everyone. I’ll be in your care this time. Let’s get along well.”
The woman who had taken one of the five spots in our group, myself included, smiled gently as she spoke.
She naturally took the lead in conversation, yet no one expressed any displeasure.
No—rather, even if someone had complaints, they would never be able to voice them.
“Let’s all work hard together so we can get a high score in this Dungeon Field Class.”
At her words, the others clapped in agreement.
I clapped along with them.
“Shall we start with introductions?”
With a smiling gaze, she looked around.
“My name is Velita Levymne Bestrang.”
The Second Imperial Princess, Velita Levymne Bestrang.
She smiled and looked straight at me.
“I look forward to working with you.”