I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

56

The aristocrats’ social circle.

It may seem like a place where everyone laughs and exchanges pleasantries, but if you peel back the layers, this place is truly a ruthlessly cruel one.

If you don’t uphold the etiquette, you’ll receive disapproving looks.

Without a backing, you won’t even be given the right to speak.

If your status is low, you won’t even receive an invitation.

Truly strict regulations.

“I’d rather the imperial law be more lenient. Seriously.”

In the end, the laughter and words exchanged here are nothing but insincere pretenses. Just ‘acting’. All of it.

Perhaps that’s why.

I entered this hellish space, and because of that, the atmosphere was colder than ever.

A tense silence lingered.

As I casually glanced around, I recognized a few familiar faces.

Almost all of them were 2nd and 3rd-year students from the Department of Magic.

Occasionally, there were even 1st-year students with mixed tie colors.

They’re not worth remembering.

If I were to rate them, they’d be somewhere between the second and third tiers.

Furthermore.

I understood the essential reason for this social circle, from the fact that there were no noble students from the Department of Knighthood, to the clear condition of the side quest, and the fact that Evniss had asked for help that didn’t seem like help to me.

Whatever.

There’s no way he’d just ask me for help without any reason. How strong is his pride?

Then, who is the ‘owner’ of this social circle?

I was thinking about that when it happened.

“Oh my, an uninvited guest has arrived.”

The girl who had spoken to Evniss earlier smiled and spoke.

I looked at the girl.

Pink hair.

And of course, pink eyes.

She’s the most ‘eye-catching’ girl here and the only one close to being first-rate.

“Is she the Viscountess Esmeralda’s protege, Ponsia?”

**Note: The translation has been faithfully rendered to preserve the original atmosphere and tone of the excerpt.**

“Wow. You know me?”

Ponsea Esmeralda.

A third-year student majoring in magic, she’s the kind of person who doesn’t seem to want to get involved, as her hair color seems to prove.

Anyway.

Is she trying to attack this side by openly saying she wasn’t invited?

Just lightly here.

“It’s nonsense to say that I wasn’t invited. Evnis. Isn’t that right?”

“…Yes. Since Lady Esmeralda said you could bring a companion, I, um, politely brought him.”

“Lady Evnis Sofhujak. A companion should be a suitable person in status…”

“Status, you say.”

Salerium Saga is a society based on the caste system.

There are many who emphasize ‘origin’ and ‘lineage’. Take Lutellus, for example; just because he was well-born, he’s not living in accordance with his status.

I may be an outcast from my family, but the reason why others can’t treat me lightly is because of that ‘origin’.

I may not enjoy the privileges of Repelheight anymore, but at least starting from the origin, the central nobles and the others can easily swallow that.

“I don’t particularly think I’m inferior to anyone here.”

[Dignity of lineage is squirming!]

[Dignity of lineage holds ‘superiority’ over all lineages present here!]

[Except one, you are a noble being more than anyone here!]

Those present here will feel the pressure from my eyes.

Actually, I saw a slight tremble at the corner of Esmeralda’s mouth.

Even if she tells me to leave, I don’t particularly plan to leave.

In fact, if she messes up, she can just be hit with the Holy Sword.

“Don’t have strange thoughts.”

Hmm.

Did she catch on?

I looked at the host, Lady Esmeralda, who was sitting in her place, and she tried to maintain a smile even as the corners of her mouth trembled.

“Th-then, let’s start with the refreshments I’ve prepared….”

Servants came out with tea and refreshments. Other ladies praised them with a word or two after tasting them.

Staring over here.

There shouldn’t be any flaws in the etiquette of the two of us anyway, so it would be a subtle move to scratch somewhere else…

I took a light sip of the tea and put it down with nearly perfect etiquette.

“The temperature and flavor of the tea are both perfect.”

“Yes, it’s a good tea. Lady Esmeralda.”

Now.

I’ll take a step back here. I gestured to Evnis, and after a nod from Evnis, she opened her mouth.

“I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone who invited me here today, and to Lady Esmeralda.”

A moment of silence.

“Oh, of course, I must thank Lord Evnis Sofhujak for participating… I didn’t know there would be a companion.”

Awkward laughter echoed through the hall.

Ponsea Esmeralda closed her eyes for a moment, waiting for the surroundings to quiet down before she spoke.

The reason I called you all here today is to share a story about magic with the Viscount Ebneus Sofu. Magic is the study of nobles. It is perfect, intellectual, and even beautiful.

“Indeed.”

“You are correct.”

And to think he’s flaunting it like this.

Look at Ebneus, claiming magic is the true study of nobles just because he’s a knight.

I feel disgusted just watching. Phonsia, you need to put him in his place.

“Viscount Ebneus Sofu, if it’s not too much trouble, may I share my thoughts on the ‘Sermon Lightning’ magic I gifted you last time?”

“I apologize, Phonsia Yea. I’ve been focusing on my training recently and haven’t had the chance to read it. Just sitting in the senior seat of the Knights’ Department doesn’t guarantee protection.”

“….”

And this is how he responds.

The counterattacked Esmeralda Yea hesitated before speaking up again.

“It seems you’ve been training a lot recently.”

“Yes, in addition to training, I have many other responsibilities. When you become the Sofu of the Repelheight family, you have to show your face often.”

Ebneus.

Wasn’t I unnecessary in the first place?

Having me by his side, Ebneus suddenly exploded.

“Ahahahaha, I see. Training is important. So….”

His gaze turned towards me.

“How should I address you?”

“Just Adrian is fine.”

“I see, Adrian, Adrian, you are not currently affiliated with the Repelheight family, correct?”

Laughter erupted here and there.

I casually sipped my tea with perfect etiquette and continued speaking.

“That’s right. However, I achieved first place in all Elemental Magic Fusion, Herbology, and General Imperial History sections in this mid-term exam.”

This time, no one laughed.

“….”

“Even though magic is the ‘study of nobles,’ how can it be so easy for a mere ‘commoner’?”

He smoothly redirected the conversation.

Without hesitation, I looked into Esmeralda’s pink eyes.

“Phonsia Esmeralda.”

“…Yes.”

“Let me ask you one thing here. Have you ever been sincere even once in your life?”

“I live each day sincerely.”

“It seems you have misunderstood me. I’m asking if you have ever wielded a sword until blood burst from your hands, ran until you collapsed and couldn’t get up, whipped yourself every time you felt unwilling, and got up again.”

“….”

“You probably haven’t. No, there’s no way ‘you’ have.”

Each word carried an imposing tone.

Phonsia Esmeralda, as a character, gives off a vibe close to a ‘noble entangled in a sense of superiority.’

Quite literally, a character who seems to have implemented the sentence ‘Hungry but no bread? Then why not eat cake?’ as is.

“Ah, Adrian?! What on earth are you doing here?”

“Ebonyss Rothschild de Repelheight is different. She’s not like the potted plants in your greenhouse. She knows how to move on her own, hence she’s striving towards her goal. But what about you guys?”

“Well… “

Ignoring the guy who was twisting his body beside me.

“Believing that mimicking adults in a glass world and chattering is all there is in this world isn’t true, right?”

“…”

“Ebonyss.”

I turned my head and saw the guy who was cooling his cheeks with both hands.

“Last time when I asked if you had no friends, you replied that you didn’t. It was a wise answer. It’s better to be alone than be friends with such people. Let’s get up.”

I stood up.

Ebonyss, noticing my gaze, quietly stood up from his seat.

“I also hope those of you here will think. It’s not that this place is wrong. However, there are more valuable things in the world than this place. And Ponsia Esmeralda.”

I said with a smile.

My eyes were emitting an ‘overwhelming’ presence.

“How foolish. Your insight is truly shallow.”

“Ha, ha… Ha…”

Ponsia Esmeralda, with a deeply red face, was laughing while placing her hand on her chest.

“T-this is… my defeat… a complete defeat… to be so brutally defeated by someone who is not even of nobility… Ah… I am a disgrace to my family…”

Hmm.

As expected, it turned out like this.

That’s why I said I didn’t want to get involved.

“Uh, Adrian, would you perhaps have a little time…?”

Without a word, I turned and left the banquet hall.

[Side Quest ‘Social Gathering Participation’ completed!]

[You can claim your reward!]

Hmm.

It’s all over.

[Perfect Victory!]

[You have greatly enlivened one of the social gatherings!]

[Those who were forced to participate in the social gathering without the power to refuse are truly grateful to you!]

Great.

Successfully cleared the quest.

Moreover, my reputation has increased, so it’s advantageous in many ways.

[Completing ‘This is the first time for me.’ quest!]

[Ponsia Esmeralda has a very strong liking and interest in you.]

This… let’s just ignore it.

—

On the way back.

He was oddly quiet, so I spoke up, not in my usual manner.

“If you have something to say, just say it without beating around the bush.”

“Adrian. Really, were you thinking like that?”

“What are you talking about?”

“That, that thing. What you said at the social gathering.”

Ah.

That thing.

“I admit it.”

“Admit… what? You, who used to mock me for every little thing I did as a useless act when I was young?”

“I just admit it. Evnis Rothschild de Repelheight possesses not only innate talent but also a gre… at deal of s… trength.”

“Stop talking. Even if I were to receive praise from you, it would only make me feel bad, and I wouldn’t get used to it either.”

“Of course, I thought you would feel that way.”

We looked at each other with furrowed brows.

“Just wait here for a moment. I’ll bring the magic book.”

Evnis rushed to the Rubrium Hall and returned five minutes later with a book and something else.

“Adrian.”

“What is it?”

“My determination to defeat you hasn’t changed. No, now I truly understand. When I first heard it, I thought it was just nonsense, but now I believe that with you, I could really become a true successor.”

Is that so.

“So, I’ll say it boldly. Now, you are truly my enemy. This will be the last time I ask for help, even if it means abandoning my pride! Here, as promised, the magic book!”

Saying that, Evnis handed over the spell book and walked back to the dormitory with determined steps.

I won.

I have no intention of showing mercy. Come at me with all your might.

Thinking that way, I examined the spell book labeled ‘Sermon Lightning’ and found something.

“This is… Surely not.”

A small pouch.

When I opened it, there were cookies inside.

“… “

Cookies burnt so black that you couldn’t recognize their shape.

Why did they give me this? Does it mean to eat and die gracefully? Could it be poisoned?

Among the cookies, a small piece of paper came out.

The ink was smeared as if hesitating to write several times.

[Thank you.]

Oh dear.

“He’s really an unreliable fellow.”