Chapter39: The Beginning of Change (2)

[Congratulations. You’ve finally succeeded in gaining recognition at the Academy as planned.]

I glanced at Luis, who was sweeping with a broom.

Luis had initially strongly opposed my work stance when I first appeared at the Academy, but now he seemed to acknowledge my methods to some extent.

A sense of pride swelled in my chest at this change.

[You saw the Royal Dream?]

[Yes. Honestly, you don’t even need to see it—anyone with ears would hear the talk. Especially on Royal Road.]

Well, it’s probably a hot topic among the nobles right now.

[But I’m still far from done. There’s more to achieve.]

[I thought it was nearly impossible.]

[Oh? And now it’s fine?]

[It’s undeniable now. But I still think it’s harder to work this way compared to the traditional methods.]

[Work is tough either way. The things you have to worry about are the same. More than that, the attitude of ensuring your identity isn’t exposed is what matters most.]

As long as my identity remained hidden, the difficulty or danger of the work was something to consider later.

Luis nodded from a distance.

“Ughh. The weather’s nice!”

I stretched and changed the subject.

[So, what about the Cult? Did you get the payment?]

[Yes. Exactly 35 gold.]

[Oh? They paid without complaint?]

[Yes.]

That was unexpected.

The rescue of Ged had ultimately failed, and the Cult had lost a valuable asset, a high cleric.

I’d expected some dispute over the success or failure of the request, but according to Luis’s report, that wasn’t the case at all.

[They seem to believe the failure was entirely their fault. You kept your promise to rescue Ged and even sacrificed yourself as bait. But in the end, didn’t they lose Ged due to a single “battle” defeat?]

[Well, yeah.]

[Since the escorts supporting the battle didn’t do their part, they considered the payment justified. In fact, they seemed more concerned about your safety than the request itself.]

[Hm? Worried about me?]

[Yes.]

I barely suppressed a burst of laughter.

[Looks like the Cult values me more than I thought.]

[Of course. To them, you’re the “one and only” person who can carry out their schemes at the Academy.]

[One and only, huh? Why the sudden flattery?]

[Because it’s true.]

Luis’s voice, resonating in my mind, was filled with pride in me.

I scratched the back of my head, feeling oddly embarrassed.

Anyway.

If the Cult thinks so highly of me, that’s a huge win.

The Cult sees me favorably, and my reputation at the Academy is gradually improving.

Isn’t this the ideal setup I’ve always envisioned?

If I can maintain this balance, I might even overcome the death flag at the end of the semester.

Oh, but I won’t get cocky.

I’d never thought that the death flag is the end.

I’m still far from where I need to be.

Thief and cadet.

The Cult and the Academy.

Until this precarious tightrope walk between these two forces ends, I need to build more trust and gain more recognition.

The saying “nothing beats being prepared” exists for a reason.

[Thanks to this, we’ve gathered enough funds to set up on Royal Road. Considering the location, surroundings, and our finances, the pub in the corner of Block 4 seems like the best option for us right now.]

Royal Road, huh.

So that’s the final choice.

Block 4 is a street frequented not only by nobles but also by well-off middle-class folks.

[What’s the name of the place?]

[I was thinking ‘Lunatic.’]

[Lunatic, huh. Not bad.]

It was temporary for now.

Given a thief’s need to blend into crowds, having a base in the city center was necessary.

[Then, I’ll see you at the next report.]

[Alright.]

There were no new requests.

The sound of Luis’s footsteps faded as he walked away.

I stayed seated for a bit longer before returning to the dormitory.

Two days had passed since the failed Ged rescue operation.

Perhaps due to the scale and unexpected nature of the incident, the cadets couldn’t stop talking about it whenever they gathered, and the professors were no different.

The main conference hall, as seen through Peter, was holding daily meetings on the topic.

So, I waited quietly.

For some kind of response from above.

And the response I’d been waiting for came after lunch.

[This is an announcement from the main building. Cadet Gerard of the 888th Class, Cadet Ivan of the 890th Class, and Cadet Yuria of the 890th Class. These three cadets are to report immediately to the Vice-Dean’s office on the fourth floor of the main building. Once again, Cadet Gerard of the 888th Class, Cadet Ivan of the 890th Class, and Cadet Yuria of the 890th Class, please report to the Vice-Dean’s office…]

The moment I heard the announcement, I knew.

This was a reward!

There was no other reason to call the Academy Trio together.

So, I bolted out of the cafeteria mid-meal and ran toward the main building.

Wondering what kind of reward they’d give.

Thud!

In front of the Vice-Dean’s office.

I was about to knock and enter when I ran into Ivan and Yuria coming up the stairs.

“Senior.”

“Hello, Senior.”

“Huh? What’s this? You two came together?”

“Our fourth period was [Beast Encyclopedia]. We were heading to class when we heard the announcement and came straight here.”

I nodded casually at Ivan’s response.

“Let’s go in.”

I knocked twice and opened the door.

Creak──

The smell of paper and rich coffee filled my nose.

The soft carpet cushioned my shoes, and then I felt four pairs of eyes on me.

The Vice-Dean sat on the central sofa.

On the right sofa were Pirion Lil, the Martial Arts Department Head, and Baron Tesda, the Student Affairs Officer.

Across from them, Professor Chaser Idna, the Martial Arts Department advisor, sat waiting for us.

“Hey, you’re here? Over here, sit here.”

Chaser stood up quickly and offered us his spot on the sofa.

I greeted them and sat down.

Naturally, I ended up facing Pirion, the department head.

His sharp gaze felt like it could pierce my forehead, so I turned my head.

Damn.

Wrong seat.

I awkwardly shifted my gaze to the table.

On it lay an open copy of Royal Dream, featuring an article about the villain intrusion incident.

I could roughly guess what they’d been discussing before we arrived.

Noticing my gaze, the Vice-Dean let out a hearty laugh.

“Ha ha. It was a rare article that was fun to read. It really lifted my spirits. You three did a great thing. For the Academy, no less.”

It wasn’t exactly for the Academy, but I nodded.

“Yes.”

The Vice-Dean gave a light smile at my response.

Then, out of nowhere, he asked,

“Youth is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?”

It wasn’t directed at us.

Baron, who had been watching me fondly since we entered, answered.

“Absolutely. It’s the youthful vigor and courage in their hearts that made this outcome possible.”

“Vigor and courage, yes. Come to think of it, wasn’t there already a movement among the cadets to catch the Vault thief?”

“Yes.”

“Splendid,” the Vice-Dean muttered, turning to Pirion.

“You were in the 871st Class, right?”

“Yes.”

“And the Student Affairs Officer?”

“I was in the 870th. Back then, the cadets were definitely less spirited than now.”

The Vice-Dean’s expression turned nostalgic for a moment.

“True. Things were peaceful back then.”

Then he took a sip of coffee.

We sat quietly, listening to their conversation.

Why were they reminiscing about things that had nothing to do with us?

I racked my brain but couldn’t figure it out.

“Don’t worry about your classes. I’ve already informed your professors. We won’t take much of your time.”

This was directed at us again.

“As you might have guessed, I called you here because I have something to tell you. First, I want to commend you again for handling this morning’s incident. You did exceptionally well, and I’m very proud. It’s because of spirited cadets like you that our Academy stands strong.”

“Thank you.”

“So.”

He paused for a beat before continuing.

“There will be an award ceremony. Have you ever heard of the Honorary Merit Medal?”

I stared at the Vice-Dean, thinking I’d misheard.

What?

The Honorary Merit Medal?

“Your reaction tells me you know it.”

Guess I heard right.

The Vice-Dean was smiling meaningfully.

I suppressed my racing heart and managed to speak.

“…I understand it’s a medal awarded by the Central Knights’ Headquarters to knights who have achieved great deeds.”

“Correct. But Academy cadets can receive it too. If they do exceptionally well.”

The Vice-Dean emphasized “exceptionally well.” We instinctively knew that “well” didn’t just mean personal effort.

It required the right circumstances, timing, and a lot of luck.

For a mere cadet to receive the Honorary Merit Medal, everything had to align perfectly.

The Honorary Merit Medal was originally an honor bestowed upon knights who achieved heroic feats by defeating villains or beasts that threatened the world.

Only then did I understand why they’d been talking about the “good old days.”

The last time an Academy cadet, not a knight, received the Honorary Merit Medal from the Central Knights’ Headquarters was in the 871st Class.

And that last recipient was none other than the department head before us, Pirion Lil.

Even he, renowned as a swordsmanship genius, had received the medal during his third year.

For a freshman cadet, not even two weeks into their training, to receive this award was unprecedented in Academy history.

“I got a call from the Central Knights’ Headquarters early this morning. During the interrogation, Ged confessed all his hidden secrets and past crimes, and they were monumental—enough to shake the very foundations of the Empire. If you hadn’t stopped him, the Empire would have suffered immense damage in the near future.”

The number of Secret Tomes Ged had leaked must have been substantial.

Those tomes contained methods to counter Visions, including ways to neutralize Royal Swordsmanship, the backbone of the Empire’s knights.

If that had been leaked, no one could predict the consequences.

In the end, three Academy cadets had prevented that disaster, so from the Central Knights’ Headquarters’ perspective, the Honorary Merit Medal was a natural reward.

“…Anyway, that’s what the Honorary Merit Medal is.”

By now, the Vice-Dean had finished explaining the medal and was discussing its benefits, the Merit Points awarded, and the prize money.

Baron supplemented his explanation as they wrapped up the conversation.

Then came a knock.

Knock knock.

Someone entered.

A burly man with a rough demeanor, looking like a bandit.

Allen Desico, the Psychology Department Head.

“You’re late, Department Head Allen.”

“My apologies. I had some business.”

Allen greeted only the Vice-Dean before scanning the room.

Perhaps because it was filled with the Martial Arts Department he disliked, his expression soured before he even sat down.

But when he saw my face, it got even worse.

His eyes were practically cursing me.

I hadn’t done anything wrong, so I gave a light nod, but—

“Disgusting kid.”

“?”

Muttering, he sat next to Professor Chaser.

I stared at him, dumbfounded, but Chaser shook his head, signaling me to let it go.

“So, you’re giving them the Honorary Merit Medal?”

“Correct.”

“What? That’s absurd! It’s not like they killed a named beast. They just took down two measly villains, and you’re giving them the Honorary Merit Medal? One of them was just a scheming thug in the background!”

Allen started complaining the moment he arrived.

The Vice-Dean listened to his whining with a smile.

“Absurd or not, the decision was made by the Central Knights’ Headquarters, not us. It’s good news for us.”

“No, it’s utterly foolish. If you hand out awards like that, what does that make of those who received it before? Or those who will in the future? Typical brainless behavior.”

Tsk tsk, Allen clicked his tongue and suddenly glared at Chaser.

“What are you looking at? What, you’re mad because I insulted your people?”

“Huh? What?”

“You were just glaring at me with those narrowed eyes.”

“Haha. My eyes are just shaped like this.”

As Chaser laughed it off, Allen was about to say more when—

“Enough, Allen. The Vice-Dean was in the middle of explaining the Honorary Merit Medal.”

Pirion, who had been silent, intervened.

“If you’re just going to chatter, step outside.”

Allen’s eyes widened as he stared at Pirion, as if he could bore a hole through his face with his gaze.

But he soon relaxed.

With a smirk, he bowed politely to the Vice-Dean.

“My apologies, Vice-Dean. I came in late and misread the room.”

“It’s not the first time. I’m used to it.”

“…That’s harsh.”

The Vice-Dean chuckled playfully and turned back to us.

“Sorry about that. The conversation got sidetracked. To continue, our Academy grants cadets who receive awards the privilege of choosing a Vision. So, I’d like to ask, if you were to choose a Vision, which Secret Tome would you pick?”

The question was for all three of us, but the Vice-Dean was looking straight at me.

His wrinkled eyes sparkled with interest and curiosity.

“No ulterior motive. Just an old man’s curiosity.”

He said that, but…

Really?

A thought just occurred to me—the Vice-Dean might have been tipped off by the Dean about me.

Just a hunch.

Maybe not.

I had nothing to hide, so I answered casually.

“I plan to take [Lion Sword].”

[Lion Sword] is a relatively simple swordsmanship Vision with only two forms.

But both are one-hit-kill strikes based on Aura, making it quite suitable for compensating for the shortcomings of Royal Swordsmanship, which lacks a decisive blow.

“[Lion Sword], huh. It’s certainly an excellent swordsmanship to cover the weaknesses of Royal Swordsmanship. I respect your choice.”

“Thank you.”

“And you, Ivan?”

“I’ll choose [Royal Swordsmanship: Latter Half].”

It was practically a predetermined answer, so the Vice-Dean just smiled lightly and turned to the side.

“And you…”

Yuria, who had been silent, raised her head.

Her eyes, staring at the Vice-Dean, sparkled like stars in the night sky.

“Come to think of it, you’re tied to Gerard here through the Mentor System, right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s interesting. A mentor and mentee receiving the medal together. So, Yuria, which Vision do you plan to choose?”

“Magic.”

“Magic, huh. That’s a good choice… Wait, what did you say?”

The Vice-Dean’s eyes widened in shock.

“Magic?”

He asked again, as if he’d misheard.

And it wasn’t just him.

The professors in the room—even the stoic Pirion—blinked at the bombshell she’d casually dropped.

I, sitting next to her, was naturally stunned.

What? Declaring that here, of all places?

Without even discussing it with me!

“But aren’t you a swordsmanship specialist?”

“Yes.”

“Then? Why?”

The Vice-Dean, at a loss for words, looked at me.

Baron did the same.

Their eyes demanded an explanation from me, the mentor, about this nonsense.

No need to glare like that.

My brain was already racing to figure out how to explain this.

“Perhaps it’s not to learn Magic but to prepare for it?”

I answered quickly.

“Yes, exactly, that’s the plan—”

“No, I’m going to learn Magic.”

I stared at Yuria in disbelief.

Then I silently covered my face with my hands.

…I give up.

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