I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

54

Reyna von Volfgang, Kalen Snowhite, Milijay Halo.

Unless there’s a big change, these three seem to be fixed in my party.

The ‘Party’ in the Salenium Saga consists of 6 combat personnel and 2 rear and substitute positions, totaling 8 slots.

I’m not sure who will fill the remaining ‘Fellow of Fate’ spot, but at least there are candidates up to the third spot.

Moreover, Reyna von Volfgang, who is almost confirmed for the second spot, has risen to the position of my ‘partner.’

Although she was expelled from the family, she said she would become a viscountess again without sneering at the goal, and she also said she would accompany me.

Her family, Volfgang, being a vassal family of Repelheight, helping me means she betrays the family she was born and raised in.

Reyna confidently said, “So what? I’ll do as I please.”

Is that… really okay?

I’ve heard stories that the dorm is overflowing with divorce letters lately, and I’ve also heard stories that he drinks tea after gathering them all and burning them every time…

He’s a grateful guy in many ways.

I could have made it out on my own even if I rotted in this world, but…

Doing something alone and having at least one trusted ally are different.

“Well, I see. Adrian doesn’t really have a good image at the Academy. Oh, there’s a recent rumor that the young elites from the west are having a party centered around the recent Ebnis Viscount.”

Probably.

That’s likely to be true, not just a rumor.

Because there was a quest related to a party in Ebnis among the side quests.

“I can’t come up with a proper excuse either at the moment. Still, Adrian has laid the foundation with other matters, hasn’t he?”

That’s true.

He took charge of Princess Rezellias’s royal race participation and enlisted one of the bosses of the ‘Darkness’ as his subordinate.

As a senior in the Department of Magic and a current graduate student under my command, he may not have a wide network, but he has ties with important people.

“It’s even more impressive that Adrian has achieved such feats before the end of the first semester. In reality, public opinion among students is as fragile as a reed; shake it roughly, and it all falls. But now it’s quite solid, so we need to watch and wait a bit longer.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. If Ebneus Sofujak focuses on students’ opinions, Adrian can focus on the other side of public opinion. Since Ebneus Sofujak’s current support base is students, it will gradually become a source of anxiety in the future.”

Reyna, who had lifted her glasses to wipe, smiled, then gently folded them and put them back in her pocket.

“The situation isn’t as bad as I thought. If there’s a problem at all…”

“It seems that Ebneus Sofujak is paying too much attention to the students.”

“Well, yes. Some extreme fans already call him the next student council president.”

Top of the year.

And the overwhelming victory in the mid-term duel.

Outstanding lineage.

An appearance that one can’t help but acknowledge, despite not wanting to.

Apart from that, Ebneus was incredibly popular within the academy for several other reasons.

“Fine. Now, someone somewhere must be watching over me.”

Thank goodness.

“Ahahahaha…”

Reyna, who awkwardly laughed, shook hands first.

“Adrian, you have Basic Swordsmanship Theory next, so I’ll head to the self-study room first. Be careful and don’t get hurt.”

“Got it. Reyna. Take care as well.”

And so we parted ways, heading towards the small training ground where the Basic Swordsmanship Theory class was held.

Upon opening the door and entering, a familiar face who was warming up greeted me first.

“Oh, Adrian. You’re here quite early.”

Bright green hair.

Long ears.

“Relvrian, are you and I the only ones here today as well?”

“Well… seems like it.”

As mentioned before.

The wizards in this world are not fond of moving their bodies.

The ‘Basic Swordsmanship Theory’ class, which teaches swordsmanship as a topic in the Department of Magic, was exactly the opposite of their nature.

They just rolled and rolled like crazy.

If you missed a lecture once, Professor Bedel made you roll twice as much as you missed.

And thus.

“…everyone dropped out except us. I was worried you might not even show up this time.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not trash to abandon a friend and throw the lecture.”

At Relvrian’s words, he looked a bit surprised, then covered his mouth.

“hahahaha… a friend. Yes, that’s right. A friend.”

Covering his mouth, he smiled and said.

Every time we meet during class, and even when we’re together, it doesn’t feel awkward at all. Seeing us casually chatting, could it be that we’re already best friends?

“Adrian, do you have time after the lecture? I want to show something to a friend.”

Oh.

This.

[Side Quest ‘Gift for a Friend’ has been activated!]

[Experience ‘Relvrian’ together and share your impressions!]

[Reward: Increase ‘Relvrian’s’ favorability level by 1, and increase the rank of ‘Swordsmanship Skill’ by 1.]

“A side quest, huh.”

“What? A side chest?”

Professor Bedel, who suddenly appeared, stretched his body and nodded.

His bald head glistened in the sun.

“Ah, only two students left. There was a proposal to cancel the class, but I rejected it. Who dares to cancel my class? Now, let’s begin the hell.”

* * *

Rolling as if to die.

Rolling again as if to die.

That’s why it hurts so much.

[It affects your stamina!]

[A positive result is expected soon!]

“Oh no! It has no effect on your strength!”

It hurts too much.

“But still, it’s better than last time, isn’t it?”

“I’ll take that as a joke.”

“Ahahahaha.”

As I leaned against the wall and half-fainted, Relvrian once again handed me a water bottle.

“Relvrian.”

“Yes.”

“It would be better to wash up before leaving.”

“Uh, um…?”

At my sudden words, Relvrian blushed and sniffed around, including her sleeves and other places.

“Uh, um, Adrian, um, maybe.”

“…I sweated a lot, so I thought you might feel uncomfortable if I’m around. But why are you acting like that?”

“Uh, um. It’s nothing.”

Why is she acting like that?

Anyway.

‘Relvrian’s’ side quest. The second gift for a friend.

In the game, she shows a refreshing forest and asks how it feels.

There are two choices that come to mind here, and the rewards vary depending on the choice.

Whether to greatly increase favorability, or to slightly lower favorability while raising the skill ‘rank’.

There were diverse opinions in the community, and there was no definitive answer.

And so, at that moment, as I was about to get up.

“Is everything okay?”

“Hm?”

“I said I don’t mind. It’s not uncomfortable at all. My first friend is Reyna von Wolffgang, and my second friend is Adrian.”

“Oh, really…?”

“I did say I have something to show you. You’ll probably like it.”

“What is it?”

It’s very exciting.

“Hurry up, but don’t come too close.”

“Got it.”

* * *

The place we were heading to was the Rubrium Hall.

“…Why did you bring me here?”

“Shh, quietly follow me.”

Saying that, she skillfully led me, receiving the gazes of the Rubrium Hall students who glanced in our direction, and I followed Relvrian into the garden.

“Hide here.”

“Do I have to hide and watch?”

Sitting next to Relvrian, she chuckled softly.

“It’s not doing anything bad, but it feels like secretly doing something naughty from my childhood.”

After a while, Relvrian pointed with her finger.

“That’s… the terrace.”

The person enjoying a light teatime there was none other than Reyna.

“Hmm, take a good look.”

She lightly moved her magic to amplify the sound into my ear.

[Sigh… again, huh? My goodness, what’s with Wolffgang…? My father really can’t read the situation.]

Saying that, she suddenly looked at my arm, then brought a bundle of hundreds of letters from somewhere.

“What…?”

“This is the highlight right now.”

At that moment.

Whoosh!

Flames shot up from the bundle of letters.

The burning letters scattered in all directions on the wind and soon turned to ash.

[hahahahaha…]

And the sound of laughter.

Completely… a laugh reminiscent of a third-rate villainess.

“…Did you see it?”

“I saw it.”

“As I heard, it seems like the Rayna family is still silently opposing your engagement. They send hundreds of letters every week.”

Relbrian had a serious expression on his face, then smiled.

“But Rayna enjoys tea time every week and burns the letters. What do you think, Adrian? What’s your impression?”

Um…

Well…

Even if you suddenly ask…

“I’m very happy. Um, happy indeed.”

“Ahahahaha, I thought so. Adrian, who has such an engagement, must have undoubtedly received the blessings of the World Tree. As a friend of both of you, I hope you won’t forget that I support the two of you.”

Certainly.

It was definitely a quest that showed a refreshing forest in the game and asked for impressions like, “This is the kind of place I like. How about you?”

Although the content seemed to have changed, I didn’t feel particularly bad.

“Thank you, Relbrian.”

“For what? Aren’t we friends?”

[Side Quest, ‘A Gift for a Friend’ has been cleared!]

[As a reward, Relbrian’s Affinity Level has increased by 1, and the Rank of ‘Dagger Skill’ has gone up by one level!]

[The Rank of ‘Dagger Skill’ has increased to 2 stars (★★)! Movement becomes faster and more agile. The chance of critical, bleeding, and beneficial effects occurring in all attacks with a dagger increases slightly!]

[Relbrian’s Affinity Level is now ‘4’!]

[A new effect will be bestowed!]

[The ‘Elf’ shares their emotions and thoughts with their allies! Since the Half-Elf, Relbrian, is ‘friendly’ toward you, if you meet the ‘Deep Forest Elf Tribe’ connected to her blood in the future, they will listen to your story while maintaining ‘neutrality’!]

Wait a minute.

What is it?

“…Deep Forest Elves?”

“Why do you ask, Adrian?”

“No, it’s nothing. Forget it.”

So, if I understood correctly, does that mean the ‘Deep Forest Elf Tribe’ takes a ‘neutral’ attitude towards me?

Really?

It’s a tremendous advantage that these beings who hate humans to the extreme and have even left this world won’t immediately kill me and just listen to my ‘story’.

And above all, I trust in my words. I have confidence that I can win even if I fight against the final boss of this world.

Moreover, the fact that this message appeared means that there are definitely Elf races living in this ‘world’.

It will be as difficult as picking stars from the sky to find them, but I can at least know that they exist.

That means I can build a friendly relationship with other Elves through Relbrian as a mediator.

It’s uncertain how it will play out in the future, but the fact that it’s not impossible is important.

“By the way, Adrian, this might not be appropriate to discuss here, and it might be a bit too soft-spoken.”

“Go ahead and say it.”

“I thought you would give up. When I heard that you were expelled from the family and became a commoner, I thought you had hit rock bottom.”

Is that so?

“But it was different.”

She looked at me with a hint of emotion in her eyes and spoke.

As per the guidelines, here is the translated text of the novel excerpt:

“As the class progressed and people began to disappear one by one, I thought you would give up quickly as well.”

“But?”

“However, you continued to hold your ground the next day and the day after. You never arrived late or missed a class, always keeping time and diligently swinging your wooden sword next to me. Watching you, I thought to myself.”

*Huff*, while laughing.

The half-elf dark mage said,

“You are someone I can trust,” he said. “Ahahahaha, saying that makes me embarrassed.”

What’s this?

Was that what he was thinking?

“It’s an honor. I, too, might have given up long ago if you hadn’t been there to help me. So, have confidence.”

“Umm…”

Relvrian seemed hesitant about something.

“If, if it turns out like this… I won’t have any face left to show…”

Why?

What’s the matter?

“If you’re in trouble, I can at least offer some advice.”

“Oh, no. It’s okay. I’ll go in now. See you later, Adrian.”

With that, Relvrian said and hurriedly ran off.

What in the world…?