Could they really just look that alike? Or were they sisters?
The unease hit me so hard the question surfaced before I could stop it. Still, I wasn't that bad at recognizing people. That's definitely Seren.
When I looked more closely, she couldn't even make eye contact and seemed hesitant. Honestly, it was strangely refreshing to see Seren like this.
I asked, "What's with you? Since when do you speak so politely?"
" Oh, uh... right! Ha, ha. "
Ha, ha?
"Today's weather's really nice, isn't it?"
How the hell was I supposed to interpret this?
Assuming I wasn't hallucinating and the person in front of me really was Seren, there were only two possibilities. Either her personality had changed drastically in the last four weeks, or she was putting on an act.
Unfortunately, I had no idea whether this timid version was the mask or if the more abrasive side I'd seen before was the act.
"Hey, you—" I began.
"Ah...! I-I have something urgent to do. So I'll be going now! I'm going! Then goodbye!"
With that, Seren bolted.
I could've followed her easily, but it felt impolite to chase her when she was so blatantly trying to avoid me.
If someone were to ask when I started being so polite, I wouldn't have an answer.
"I give up."
Maybe it was the hunger, but my mind felt foggy.
Seren's presence meant the graduation ceremony hadn't started yet. Before it did, I needed to swing by home and grab something to eat.
***
The training camp, infamously known as the Six Weeks of Despair, and its hellish schedule had finally come to an end.
"Can't believe this day actually came..."
"Are you crying?"
"Yes, I'm crying. Shit... I'm so happy that I'm crying."
"I will be really nice to my parents from now on."
"I didn't think I'd even last a month."
After six weeks that felt like six years, the hero disciples shed tears of relief and joy as they were discharged. Now, they were being treated with the utmost hospitality in the Badniker family's garden.
"I missed greasy meat like this so much!"
"What is this? Fish eggs?"
" Wow!
"This is called butterfly liquor. Is it made of butterflies?"
" Eek . I'm never going to drink that."
"They say it's great for boosting mana."
Someone gasped.
The food laid out was lavish enough to do justice to the Badniker name. Even the pickiest noble gourmets were wide-eyed at the spread. Of course, one reason for this was the terrible food they'd been forced to eat during the training camp.
Though this banquet was smaller than the one after the blessing ceremony, it was far more lively. Most of the guests were descendants of the Great Families, the offspring of nobles.
Perhaps because of the grueling training, many of the hero disciples had temporarily abandoned their manners. Without anyone to scold them, the young hero disciples llaughed and chatted, fully embracing the festive mood.
"A toast to Rex."
"He was a good person. Dammit."
Naturally, some hero disciples mourned the loss of group members or friends. They didn't get swept up in the banquet's atmosphere. Instead, they quietly paid tribute to their fallen comrades in a quiet corner.
"It is really over," Evan muttered.
He was still a bit dazed, struggling to believe that he had actually completed it.
Frankly, he wouldn't be surprised if this banquet was just another setup, with the instructors planning one last real trial. He wouldn't put it past them.
The night air had softened a bit, a breeze brushing against his cheeks.
The light of the street lamps, the scent of food, and the lively chatter of the hero disciples blended into a pleasant harmony. He hadn't touched a drink, yet somehow, the atmosphere alone made him feel as if he were becoming intoxicated.
"Evan, what will you do now?" Charles' voice cut through the silence.
Her cheeks were flushed, possibly from the wine.
Evan frowned. "What do you mean?"
"After the training camp's end. You have many options," she replied.
"Ah... I thought we'd just go back home," he said.
"Right. You're a nobleman from the frontier," she noted.
Her tone wasn't mocking. He could tell that much now.
He nodded quietly as she continued, "Hero disciples have three main options after completing the Badnikers' training camp. The first is to join the Hero Society immediately. Of course, aside from the top three, you'll start as an apprentice, not an official hero."
An apprentice hero was like a squire in the knighthood. They learned by assisting an official hero, earning recognition from both the hero and the organization before becoming official themselves.
Evan nodded. "That's not a bad idea."
Joining the Hero Society had been Evan's goal even before he entered the training camp. He believed that becoming an official hero was essential if he ever wanted to achieve his dream.
"What are the other two?" he asked.
"One is to return home," she answered.
"I see."
He wasn't surprised. Given everything they had endured, it made sense that many would choose to return to their roots. Even Evan, who had prepared himself for this life, occasionally found himself thinking of his hometown and his father's face.
"The last option is to pursue further education at the Imperial Academy."
"Why bother?" Evan asked sullenly.
He wasn't disparaging the Imperial Academy, but it seemed almost shameful to go through the rigorous training camp only to attend an academy afterward.
As far as Evan knew, the Imperial Academy's curriculum lasted at least three years. A few prodigies were said to finish in one or two, but they were rare exceptions.
"It won't take years," Charles said. "I heard there's a special track that only takes about three months. And there are advantages you can only get at the academy."
"Like what?"
"The Badnikers' training camp is unmatched when it comes to real combat, but what about theory? The Badnikers' Great Masters are brilliant, but aside from their expertise, the number of theoretical lessons was almost nonexistent," she answered.
"True," Evan agreed. In the first place, their curriculum had been all fieldwork—brutally practical.
Charles continued, "On the other hand, the academy specializes in theory. Plus, there's the network you'll build. These are connections you can only make there."
"Charles, are you thinking of going to the academy?" Evan asked.
"That's right." Charles nodded. "Honestly, I hope that you go there too, Evan."
"Me?"
"You're seriously lacking in noble etiquette," she stated.
Evan was at a loss for words.
"I'm joking. You want to fix your father's bad reputation, don't you?" she asked.
"That's right."
"The capital is the heart of the empire, and it's also where rumors spread the fastest. If you make a name for yourself at the academy, Evan, your reputation will reach every corner of the empire in no time," she explained.
Her argument was compelling.
Thanks to the training camp, Evan had regained his footing, and his confidence had grown. Now, he was certain he wouldn't lose to his peers, except for a very few.
"Thanks for thinking of me," Evan said. "I'll seriously consider it."
"You do that. But more importantly, where did that kid—"
At that moment, a loud voice rang out nearby. "He really was there!"
Charles squinted and turned toward the source. As expected, she saw Mir, surrounded by hero disciples.
"So what you saw was a hallucination," one of them said.
"Exactly. The barrier in the forest must've distorted your vision," another added.
"Yeah, I freaked out too when I saw my older sister appear out of nowhere," someone else said.
Pam was among them. She looked around, then shrugged. "Look around. Every surviving hero disciple is here at the banquet, but Luan isn't."
Mir stuttered, "T-that is true, but..."
"Unless you really did see a ghost." Pam's voice dipped into a spooky tone, and Mir flinched. "Though, if we're talking about ghosts from this training camp, that would be Charon and Hector."
Charis shuddered and hugged himself.
"Was it the fourth day? After that, those two suddenly formed an alliance and started taking the orbs," Skull muttered, looking defeated.
"I... ended up completely naked..." another hero disciple murmured.
"That's because you were dumb enough to hide an orb in your underwear. You should've known you couldn't hide anything from Charon," someone else commented.
" Aish , this food doesn't taste good anymore," the hero disciple grumbled.
Evan listened attentively to the conversation, his expression subtle.
Charles turned to him. "Evan, what do you think? Was what we saw a hallucination?"
"I don't think so."
Luan Badniker had suddenly appeared in the forest, handed them three blue orbs, and disappeared. They had even spoken with him along the way.
Evan didn't know much about magic, but he felt certain he hadn't imagined it. At least, that's how it had been when they met and talked.
Later, he learned that their group had been the only one among the hero disciples to witness Luan in the forest.
This isn't a ghost story, Evan thought, shaking his head. "Still, the results speak for themselves. If it wasn't a hallucination, then there's no other explanation."
"True," Charles agreed. "We never even confirmed whether those orbs he gave us were real."
Charon and Hector, two of the strongest hero disciples at the training camp, had teamed up during the final stretch. Together, they had swept through the Butterfly Forest, collecting all the orbs from the other disciples.
I get Charon, but why would Hector go along with it?
Charles was puzzled. Taking all the orbs made sense for Charon, who was in first place, but it didn't for Hector, who seemed more likely to aim for a comeback in the final trial. Yet, the two had roamed the forest without a single disagreement. There had been no tension between them, just a strange, almost uncanny synchronicity.
According to the other disciples who had witnessed them, the pair had appeared surprisingly close, despite their usual bickering.
Just then, a handsome, brown-haired young man stepped forward and cleared his throat. It was the Swordmaster, Carzakh.
He took his place on the prepared platform in the center of the banquet hall and called out, "All hero disciples, attention! I hereby announce the final rankings of the 61st Badniker Training Camp!"
The noise died down, and all eyes turned to him.
Only the instructors knew how the scores for the special trial had been calculated. In other words, none of the disciples had a clear sense of where they stood.
Charon and Hector took all the orbs but...
Who knows? Maybe someone managed to hold on till the end.
If I got lucky, maybe I even made it into the top ranks...
The hero disciples faced the platform with nervous anticipation as Carzakh spoke again. "As you all know, the top three will receive a Hero Badge from the Hero Society and a small reward in coin. I'll begin with first place: Charon Woodjack!"
No surprises there.
Charles inwardly rooted for Hector, so she felt a bit disappointed. Nevertheless, she applauded, keeping her composure as a noble.
"Second place! Hector Badniker!"
Charles blinked in surprise. After all, Hector had been ranked third before the trial.
So he did push for the top after all, she thought. It's a shame that he didn't claim first place, but second is still impressive.
Charles applauded with genuine emotion this time.
Evan noticed that the applause for second place seemed much louder than it had been for first.
"If that's the case, third place might have changed too," he remarked.
"Right," Charles agreed.
Charles mentally reviewed the other likely candidates for third place. Zeros or Shinba.
Aside from Charon's two main followers, could it be Seren?
Seren sat alone at her table, maintaining her usual aloof, graceful composure.
Look at that—there's elegance even in the simple act of drinking wine. Charles couldn't help but admire her. Six weeks of grueling training had left no mark on her elegance. Even among nobles, her poise was exceptional.
"Third place! Luan Badniker!"
"Yes!" At that moment, Luan emerged from behind the platform, walking with cheerful steps.
" Pffft! " Seren immediately spat out her wine.