Chapter 25: Change

Tok, tok.

I tap my fingers on the desk, lost in thought.

The trigger was probably… the previous request, the one to collect the Beast Pouch.

But I’ve got something to say about that too.

Honestly, it all happened before I could even do anything.

Forget working on it—I was too busy just preparing.

But saying this to the Cult would be pointless.

To them, it’d just sound like an excuse.

The covert operations I’m currently conducting at the Academy are the prelude to the Beltus Cult’s plan, “Destroy the Academy.”

And this “Destroy the Academy” is a tributary flowing toward the Cult’s ambition: the “Fall of the Frey Empire.”

Perfection is a given.

“But I failed.”

To be precise, since the Beast Pouch didn’t end up in the Academy’s hands, it wasn’t a complete failure.

It was half a failure, and that alone was enough to say that the Cult’s trust in me had crumbled by half.

In simple terms, I’m anxious.

“Can we keep entrusting requests to a guy like this?”

“Is the guild, Shadow, really up to the level of shaping the future alongside our Cult?”

These kinds of anxieties led the Cult to impose these two tests on me.

“Hmm. I get it. It makes sense. Up until now, I’d handled every request perfectly, so their expectations must’ve been sky-high.”

But the greater the expectations, the bigger the disappointment.

According to Luis, the reason the Beltus Cult signed a long-term contract with Shadow wasn’t just because of Shadow’s reputation.

It wasn’t the fallen prestige, but Gerard’s ability.

Purely the results he achieved through that ability.

“Didn’t they say he found Bishop Cristiano’s relic, which no one else could locate, in just three days after taking the request?”

Afterward, Gerard met Bishop Cristiano in person and, instead of gold, demanded the long-term contract as payment.

Looking at it, Gerard wasn’t just skilled as a thief—he was top-notch in business dealings too.

And he had some serious guts.

But a promise with the Bishop is just that—a promise with the Bishop.

Other cult bishops or the cleric under them might be dissatisfied with such a decision.

“So, when I slipped up like this, they jumped at the chance, didn’t they?”

Since I roughly know the atmosphere within the Cult, I can piece together the context in my head.

Either way, the answer is clear.

Proof.

If I handle these two requests flawlessly, any trace of dissatisfaction the Cult has toward me will vanish as if it never existed.

“Something like this was bound to happen eventually. Might as well say it’s for the best.”

If this had happened later when I was busier, it would’ve been a real headache.

Just like a bone grows stronger after breaking, it’s the same here.

If there are high clerics who distrust me, I’ll just shatter their doubts.

And there must be clerics, like the Bishop, who think well of me.

If I handle this request cleanly, their trust in me will only solidify.

In fact, I should be grateful they’ve laid out an opportunity to recover from my mistake and expand my influence.

Investigate the personal details of ten cadets.

That was the content of the first note, Request A.

The details to investigate ranged from personality and hobbies to likes and dislikes, frequent hangouts, main routes, dorm room locations, and even their primary skills.

A fairly ordinary request and one I could handle instantly without needing to dig further.

It’s all already in my head.

All I had to do was write it down, and it’d be done.

But why did I consider this request a test from the Cult?

Because among the nine cadets, there was a name that shouldn’t have been there.

Class of 890: Gwyn Gaiard and Karina Zain.

Class of 889: Ban Leonhardt and Bain Winter.

Class of 888: Asuka Raymond and Yoon Icardnus.

The top students from each department, from first to third year.

Plus Ivan, who shone during the recent Swamp Orc incident.

And me, Gerard.

Honestly, when I saw my own name, I let out a wry chuckle.

Telling me to investigate myself?

It was oddly amusing.

But the last one.

Rachel.

The moment I saw her name, I immediately sensed the Cult’s ulterior motive.

Rachel isn’t like the other eight on this list—she doesn’t have stellar grades or exceptional skills.

She hasn’t had any notable achievements recently either.

The only reason she’s included is one thing.

“They want to see if I can figure out that Rachel is their planted mole.”

The Beltus Cult is divided into five major sects based on its doctrine.

Death, Darkness, Curse, Destruction, and Demon.

Among them, the Darkness Council is an assassination organization trained systematically from childhood for specific missions, and Rachel is a member of that group.

So, I hesitated.

Should I write down everything I know, or just part of it?

“Hmm. For now, revealing half and hiding half seems like the best move.”

If I write down everything I know, it might backfire by making the Cult wary of me.

Having a skilled intelligence group on your side is reassuring.

But if that group’s eyes turn toward you, it’s only natural to feel uneasy and guarded.

Right now, my goal is to instill confidence in them.

So, I’ll write just enough to achieve that.

I wrote down Rachel’s personal details and added a “Special Notes” section below.

Special Notes – Confirmed to have some connection with Ged, the librarian at the Vault. Often goes out after classes, and when discreetly followed, always heads to “Ladrier Hotel.”

Interestingly, Ged also frequents this “Ladrier Hotel,” and the hotel’s owner is an executive of the adventurers’ guild “Bandarok”…

Then, a sudden thought struck me, and I added one more sentence near the end.

…Infiltrated Rachel’s room and discovered a hidden directive, confirming the existence of an unspecified organization behind her.

Good. This should be enough.

With a satisfied smile, I wrapped up Request A.

Next was the second note, Request B.

Its main stage wasn’t the Academy.

It’s something the Cult’s own resources could easily handle, but the reason it was assigned to me was, of course, to test my abilities.

“Retrieving an artifact buried in the cemetery…”

It didn’t seem particularly difficult.

But it is.

Because the cemetery’s caretaker, Sir Roitz, is a retired knight with a level exceeding 60.

Not only that, but undead roam the area too.

The inner part of the cemetery, the “Cemetery Core,” is a sort of field dungeon, complete with a field boss.

“Good thing the artifact’s burial spot isn’t in the Cemetery Core.”

That means the only real obstacle for this request is the caretaker, Roitz.

“Hmm.”

I pause to think.

If I end up in a situation where I have to fight Sir Roitz, what are my odds of winning?

I ran a mental simulation of battling him.

And the conclusion?

“…Seventy percent.”

But with the artifact and [Dagger Shift].

And if I use all the Visions I obtained from the recent Vault operation?

“One hundred percent.”

I concluded that even if I had to face him, it wouldn’t be a problem.

* * *

The first day of the second week.

Naturally, I had classes starting from the first period, so I finished preparing and left the dorm.

First period was a second-year course, [The Psychology of Villains].

A boring class.

The professor at the podium droned on mechanically about the material.

Most students were diligently taking notes, but some were fighting off waves of sleep, while others, unable to bear the boredom, were goofing off.

All my second-year classes this semester are like this.

Theory-heavy lectures where I sit in a classroom listening, rather than practical classes involving physical activity.

Because of this, I had no real connection with the Class of 889 students.

There were no chances to work on assignments together or even talk, so the 889 kids treated me like a ghost or some mythical creature.

Well, whatever.

It’s only the second week.

There’s still plenty of time until the death flag of the 16th-week final exams, so I’ll change things step by step.

When the lecture ended, lunchtime arrived.

I grabbed a quick meal at the cafeteria and, with some time left, headed to the lodge café.

It was bustling with cadets.

There were seats available, but I felt awkward taking up a spot alone, so I just grabbed a coffee and stepped outside.

“Would’ve been nice if Yuria were here.”

Yuria was swamped with classes.

If the first week was for adjusting to the Academy, the second week marked the real start of Academy life.

She’s probably frazzled with her suddenly packed schedule.

“I’ll head to the lecture hall early.”

I was climbing the hill toward the main building when someone called out to me.

“Gerard.”

“Huh? Professor.”

It was Baron Tesda.

“Student Affairs Officer.”

“Oh, right. Of course. Our Student Affairs Officer. What’s up?”

“Do I need a reason to call you?”

“Not really.”

“I just saw you on my way and called out. No big deal.”

I glanced at Baron, who had sidled up next to me.

The slight upturn of his lips.

He looked like he had something to say.

“Pretty busy, huh?”

There it is.

“Be honest.”

“About what?”

“You said it was no big deal, but you actually called me over to tease me, didn’t you?”

“Hm? No way.”

“Don’t play dumb. You know my situation, Officer.”

Cadet schedules are generally set by the Student Affairs Office.

Naturally, Baron would know all about my hellish timetable.

“Should’ve done better then.”

The smile on Baron’s face deepened.

Now that I think about it, this guy’s probably here to get revenge for something I did to him in the past.

Didn’t peg him as the type, but he’s got a bit of a grudge.

The frustrating part?

I don’t have any way to counter him.

“Cut me some slack. I’m dying here. Morning classes with second-years, full afternoons, and you know tomorrow’s the same—first period to full classes.”

“Haha. I know. Just messing with you. You’re working hard.”

“Then give me some leeway next semester. Throw in some free periods.”

“That depends on how you handle this semester. If you’re busy now, next semester could be more relaxed. Or even busier.”

“How am I doing so far?”

Baron shook his head.

“Not great. Keep this up, and next semester will be just as bad. Or worse.”

I already knew that, but hearing it confirmed stung.

“But earning Merit Points could improve things, right?”

“Merit Points?”

“Yeah. To make up for lacking credits, that’s pretty much your only option. You already knew that, didn’t you? That’s why you took Yuria as your mentee.”

I didn’t bother denying it.

“You’re right. If Yuria’s grades improve, the mentor gets Merit Points.”

“Exactly. Solid plan. But the Mentor System alone isn’t enough. You know the new cadets this year are called the golden class—they’re on another level. There’s no guarantee Yuria’s grades will improve, and you have to consider the possibility they might drop.”

“Of course, I’ve thought about that too.”

“Oh? And?”

I just smiled without saying anything, and this time, Baron couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

“You punk. You’re completely ruling out the chance of Yuria’s grades dropping.”

“Well, you’ll see.”

At my words, Baron didn’t hide his anticipation.

“Now I’m looking forward to the end of the semester. I’m curious to see how much you two will have changed. Anyway, there are other ways to earn Merit Points besides the Mentor System, so plan carefully.”

“Got it.”

“We’re here.”

Before I knew it, we’d reached the main building.

“Keep it up, Gerard. You’re doing well enough.”

With a light pat on my shoulder, Baron quickly disappeared toward the central staircase.

I watched him for a moment before heading to the lecture hall.

At the time, I thought Baron’s “You’re doing well enough” was just casual encouragement, a polite gesture.

But maybe it wasn’t.

“Huh?”

As I opened the door to enter the lecture hall, a classmate who’d been walking ahead paused when he saw me.

What happened next was enough to throw me into a brief panic.

He waited for me.

Holding the door open.

I gave him a quick nod of thanks and stepped inside.

Could it be… my reputation’s starting to shift?

The chatter of my classmates filled the air around me.

The topic of their conversations?

Me, the guy who just walked in.

Thanks to my Sharp Perception, their words pierced my ears.

“They say he was insane taking down those orcs. Like he was flying around. Saved a ton of underclassmen too.”

“Oh! That’s why the freshmen were staring at us like that. I noticed them looking at us with all this respect.”

“Isn’t that just because we’re their seniors?”

“Maybe? But give credit where it’s due. Gerard did something big representing our class, didn’t he?”

“Come to think of it, at the entrance ceremony, he was the first to step up…”

A smile almost broke across my face, but I held it back.

It’s like overhearing the cool kids’ conversation in school and secretly grinning under the desk like a loser.

But when I think about all the effort I’ve put in for moments like this, I don’t care if I look like a loser.

A warm, fuzzy feeling spread through my chest.

I hadn’t been wasting my time after all. It felt like I was being rewarded.

Of course, the road ahead is still long, and there are plenty of mountains to climb.

“What are you talking about? Gerard just did what any Academy cadet would’ve done.”

“Yeah. If I’d been there, I would’ve done the same. Plus, we didn’t even see it ourselves.”

“…You guys are way too nice. Me? I’m still pissed off every time I hear our class called the worst in Academy history because of that jerk Gerard.”

There were still plenty who disliked me.

But that’s okay.

Seeing even a small result like this makes it worth it.

It feels like I’m slowly moving away from that death flag.

My reputation will keep changing like this—quietly, steadily, without anyone noticing.

“Keep it up, Gerard. You’re doing well enough.”

Recalling Baron’s words before we parted, I renewed my resolve.

Soon, the professor entered, and the lecture began.

For some reason, as I listened to the class, Yuria popped into my mind.

Maybe it was because I was thinking about who in this world had ever looked at me without prejudice, and she came to mind.

I didn’t have any training plans with Yuria today.

My schedule was packed with classes, and Yuria was unavailable in the evening.

Tonight, all first-years had a late-night mock battle.

The first-year curriculum occasionally includes these mock battles, where cadets are split into two teams for simulated combat training.

Sometimes they fight each other, sometimes they face beasts.

The competition formats vary.

So, I’ve got plenty of time today.

As the saying goes, strike while the iron’s hot—I’ll handle Request B tonight.

“Feeling pretty good.”

By the way, what’s Yuria up to right now?

Ninety-nine percent chance she’s training.

She’ll probably ace the mock battle, right? That’d be good for my reputation too.

Since mock battles depend a lot on team composition, if she’s with Ivan, Gwyn, or Karina, her team’s pretty much guaranteed to win.

“But if she’s on the opposing team…”

Well, that’d make for an interesting picture too.

Especially if it’s Karina versus Yuria.

* * *

Late at night.

Under an eerie moon, two female cadets glared at each other with murderous intent.

The black-haired cadet was breathtakingly beautiful, her eyes practically sparkling.

Her tightly sealed red lips carried the chill of the night, and her skin, kissed briefly by the moonlight, shimmered like a star embedded in the night sky.

But the red-haired cadet opposite her was no less stunning.

Her moderately full lips and large eyes gleamed like blue jewels, and her long, sleek legs and tall frame, visible beneath her coat, commanded the scene.

Both shared a certain coldness.

But while one was like a serene winter night, the other was like a blizzard poised to sweep through the Arctic—slightly different.

Yuria and Karina.

The late-night mock battle had long ended, but their fight was far from over.

They remained at the site, locked in a fierce staring contest.

A true calm before the storm.

Then, Yuria spoke first.

“Fine, let’s do it. A bet.”

“Heh. That’s the spirit.”

“The terms?”

Karina gave a sly smile.

“You. Ever heard the story about the ghost knight in the cemetery?”

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