Chapter 41: Elective Class (4)

“I welcome all of you who have set foot on this path that will be nothing short of arduous.”

Clip-clop.

Every time Professor Deiare, the blue-haired Centauros, took a step, the distinct sound of hooves rang out clearly.

“Along with the origin of weapons, I will teach you the ways of handling various arms, and though I am lacking, I will be your guide for a short while. I am called Deiare. It is a pleasure to meet you like this.”

When Professor Deiare slightly bowed her head, a loud round of applause followed.

Behind her, countless weapons were neatly displayed on racks.

Even I, who had lived for several years as a mercenary and wanderer in my previous life, had never seen more than half of them.

“Everyone, what exactly is a weapon?”

When she opened her mouth, the students began listening in silence.

Most of them were students from Hilts, and the rest were mostly from Crowns or Dots.

‘Cecilia is…….’

I had glanced around just a moment ago, but as expected, she was nowhere to be seen.

It seemed she hadn’t chosen this class.

“Battle and war, hunting, struggle, duel, ritual, protection…… though the purpose may differ, they are tools, means, and objects created and used for countless matters. Those, we call weapons.”

Professor Deiare continued her explanation in her characteristically calm voice.

“Beyond mere stones or clubs, who, when, and where first created and used the structured and systemized—what we might call purposeful—weapon is still unclear. Even now, many scholars continue to debate this matter. However, no one denies the fact that humans, elves, orcs, dwarves, Centauros, merfolk, lizardmen, and countless other races have been making and using weapons suited to their own traits since ancient times. Thus, weapons are in themselves the history, the flow, and the living witnesses of their races.”

When she finished speaking, Professor Deiare clapped her hands lightly, shifting the atmosphere as she spoke again.

“Now then, is there anyone who can tell us why we must make such considerations here?”

At her words, several students raised their hands and voiced their opinions.

“Because we may be able to devise more powerful and destructive weapons.”

“I think it is because by contemplating the origins of weapons, we can learn the strengths and weaknesses of each one.”

“Because even by merely understanding the characteristics of a weapon, we can prepare ourselves for unforeseen circumstances.”

Deiare began looking around at the students with a satisfied smile.

In that moment, I caught sight of her flinch.

It was an elf.

When Professor Deiare’s eyes met the elf’s, she froze for an instant but quickly and smoothly turned her gaze away.

If one had not been paying close attention, it was natural enough to miss.

Because I had been consciously keeping an eye on the elf, I did not miss that instant.

‘Do the two of them know each other?’

Since Bojador Arpentia had died roughly 150 years ago, his disciple, Professor Deiare, had to be at least older than 150 herself.

And as the fact that elves were a long-lived race was so well-known, it would not be strange at all if the two of them had encountered each other in all that long span of time.

‘But for just acquaintances, her reaction seemed a bit excessive….’

Well, there must be some circumstance.

I dismissed it lightly and turned my gaze back to Professor Deiare.

She was slowly nodding her head as she looked around.

“You have all spoken very well. Those were very satisfactory answers.”

She slowly walked toward the weapon racks.

“As you have said, I will teach you many things about weapons. What conditions make a weapon more powerful, how it is used and in what situations it is especially threatening, which weapon suits each of you best, and also the knowledge and countermeasures to prepare for unforeseen situations in the future. Furthermore, even various information and common sense related to weapons.”

After finishing her words, Professor Deiare swept her gaze over the students once more.

“There are exactly 63 of you in total. Please form groups of seven.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she added more words.

“Also, I must tell you in advance that the groups you form now are merely for the convenience of the class, and will not in any way be reflected in your grades.”

At her words, a small uproar immediately broke out.

Naturally, the center of the uproar was Third Prince Behad.

With a troubled smile, he was calming down the students crowding around him.

Though only half-siblings, he carried an air that charmed those around him, the same bloodline as Velita.

“……”

Dragon Emperor Behad.

The man who would one day become one of the Seven Heroes.

There were two reasons he came to be called the Dragon Emperor.

The first was because he would become a Dragon Knight who rode a true dragon—not a wyvern or lindwurm—someday.

The second was because he fought and defeated an evil dragon, and in the process survived after swallowing the dragon’s blood and heart.

‘So that handsome face once tore out and devoured a dragon’s heart?’

No, not just tore—it was said he chewed and swallowed it while it was still alive.

A chill ran through me again, and I shivered slightly.

At that moment, as I glanced at Allen standing beside me, I let out an involuntary dry laugh.

“Hm?”

Allen looked at me with a puzzled expression, as if asking what was wrong.

I waved my hand dismissively as if it was nothing.

‘Well, yeah.’

If I thought about it, there was probably no one more dangerous than Allen here.

He was the very man who carried grim titles like sadistic killer, bloodthirsty murderer, and butcher.

‘But…….’

Ever since I had met him, one question had constantly lingered in my mind, refusing to disappear.

That question was, ‘Just what in the world happened to him?’

More precisely, it was, ‘What did he go through after he was expelled from the Academy?’

In my previous life, Allen and I had almost no connection—close enough to say we didn’t know each other at all.

All I knew about him were the rumors that circulated.

That he had killed his half-brother.

That because of this, he was sentenced to death but barely had his life spared by the desperate petition of Count Amiel.

But even then, it was said that only his life was spared, as he was sent to a prison island notorious for being worse than death.

That was the extent of what I knew.

‘Yes, it had certainly been so, but…….’

…I didn’t know.

At this point, ignoring it altogether felt wrong, but meddling in past events again also seemed something I should refrain from.

Either way, the past had already twisted beyond repair.

My return alone had already changed countless situations.

On top of that, I had interfered in Cecilia’s affairs, and in the process, saved the lives of hundreds who should have already died.

To claim now that things would change from the future I knew and withdraw would be nothing but nonsense.

But even so, if I acted recklessly, one crucial problem remained.

Would he be able to grow as much as I remembered him to?

That was an important question for me.

More than anyone else, I knew that a time would come when he would be needed the most, and that was why I felt it even stronger.

And above all……

“Why is that, Lian?”

“Oh.”

Seeing me silently lost in thought, he asked in a concerned voice.

At that, I turned my head to look at him.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Yes, let’s admit it.

More than I had thought, it seemed I quite liked this guy.

And I didn’t want to leave a friend to commit such terrible crimes and suffer such experiences.

‘Cecilia was right.’

It seemed I really was the type of person who brought trouble upon myself.

A truth I wasn’t particularly eager to know.

“I was just thinking who might be good to team up with.”

I made that excuse while glancing around.

Allen then nodded slightly as if agreeing.

It was then.

I felt a presence—so blatant it could not be ignored.

When I turned my head, I saw the elf from earlier standing quietly, staring this way.

It was a gaze as though he were slowly scanning me.

‘What’s this?’

When our eyes met, without the slightest hesitation, he walked straight toward me.

He paid absolutely no mind to the gazes around him.

Before long, the elf stopped directly in front of me and spoke.

“I wish to form a group with you.”

In both this life and my previous one, I had met many people with fine voices, but I could say for certain I had never heard one so beautiful.

“Are you speaking to me?”

“Yes.”

He nodded and answered in a solemn tone.

His voice was gentle, yet it carried a weight and force that could not be resisted.

“My name is Jeil Envarso of the Blue Forest Temple. If it is no trouble, I would like to know your name.”

“Uh……”

I looked at the elf who had introduced himself as Jeil Envarso and nodded.

“I am Lian Gwendil.”

“Lian Gwendil.”

Envarso nodded and extended his hand to me.

Unlike his beautiful face and voice, his hand was covered in scars and calluses.

“I look forward to working with you.”

For I feel we will be seeing much of each other for a while.

As he said this, Envarso continued to look at me with a strange gaze whose intention I could not fathom.

It was as if he was stripping away the layers of my mind piece by piece.

“Yes, I also look forward to working with you.”

I gave my answer while subtly avoiding his gaze.

Because I felt an inexplicable sense of unease from him.

“Well, since there are three of us, we only need four more now.”

As I muttered awkwardly just to fill the silence, it happened.

“Ah, that works out perfectly.”

Please.

At the voice I heard, I couldn’t help but mutter that under my breath.

But reality was always cruel.

“Because we happen to have four here.”

Dragon Emperor Behad.

No, for now, he was still just the Third Prince, but he was staring straight at me.

Beside him, who had approached unnoticed, stood a towering orc, a lizardman whose presence was in no way inferior, and a woman with dark brown hair.

“Since it’s like this, why don’t we form a group together?”

At his suggestion, I could once again feel the attention of those around us.

Unconsciously, I shut my eyes tight.

‘Ah.’

Just like Velita during the dungeon field class, and now Behad before my eyes.

The humans of the Bestrang bloodline apparently had no intention of leaving me alone.

My stomach churned.

One thing was certain—this was no mere illusion.

This is troubling.

In front of a bookshelf with numerous empty spaces, Lancia Jintia stood for a long while, thinking that.

“To think they’re still all checked out…….”

― How to leave a good impression on someone you want to be close with.

― Simple and fun psychology tests to do with friends.

― Basic strategies to naturally build good relationships with people around you.

― You too can do it! How to be popular and trusted!

And so on……

Seeing that most of the many books she had wanted to borrow had still not been returned after nearly a week, Lancia looked disheartened.

To think someone else had the same idea as her.

Unknowingly, she let out a small sigh.

“Hmmm.”

She knew well that she was not particularly charming as a person.

Perhaps because of that, while she could maintain a smooth relationship with everyone, it was far too difficult to grow close to a specific individual.

That was only natural, since she had devoted herself solely to training and discipline since childhood.

She had grown up without normal communication and exchange with peers, unlike others.

No one knew better than she did that she lacked social skills and the ability to interact.

In fact, that was the reason she was usually assigned missions such as subjugation, extermination, and capture.

This time, circumstances overlapped in many ways, so she was the one assigned, but normally the task would have gone to someone else.

The one who understood that best was none other than Lancia herself.

And so, in desperation, she had thought it best to at least gain some knowledge, which was why she had rushed here……

“But now there really isn’t any time left.”

For things to go wrong right from the start.

Unconsciously, she tried to sigh again but immediately thought it careless, and shut her mouth, holding her breath.

As a result, her cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish, but she didn’t care in the slightest.

Poooh, as she slowly let out the breath she had held, she muttered quietly.

“Let’s think…….”

In truth, Lancia thought she and Lian had established a fairly friendly relationship.

And her thought was not wrong, whether seen objectively or subjectively.

After all, they had volunteered together and gone through several incidents side by side.

‘But that alone isn’t enough.’

She also knew well that, to him, she was merely a good senior, not a trustworthy one.

“Umm……”

When she faced reality, a groan slipped out on its own.

‘I should have shown a bit more reliability back then.’

Recalling what had happened a few days ago in the market, she bowed her head in self-reproach.

She thought that, had she known this would happen, she should have acted a little more promptly.

“……”

Her current mission was to stay close to Lian Gwendil and observe him.

Behind that, though omitted, was the command: “Maintain a good relationship with him and, if possible, win him over.”

This was because Cardinal Bruyant, who was no less ambitious than Cardinal Bernard who cursed that Lian seemed like a bottomless maw, was a man of greed.

In truth, beyond that was the reason of gaining advantage in the political struggle taking place behind the scenes, but Lancia was not versed enough in politics to discern that.

She merely thought vaguely that Lian Gwendil must surely possess great talent.

And indeed, that was true.

‘Well, anyone would covet such a figure.’

Immense holy power unmatched for his young age.

A gentle temperament and compassionate character.

And judging from the recent incident, it was evident he possessed remarkable ability and resourcefulness as well.

‘And above all…….’

That statement he had made that day—that he could see the future.

That was something that could never be taken lightly.

“……”

To this day, she had told no one about that conversation, keeping it buried within herself.

The reason was simple.

Because he had invoked the name of Ilionel and sworn her to silence.

Thus she remained silent.

For merciful Ilionel respected everyone’s silence, and she believed hers too would be respected.

Above all, to break a promise made in Ilionel’s name.

That was an unforgivable great sin.

A sin that could not be forgiven even if one’s body and very soul were burned away.

‘And…….’

At that moment, Lancia even felt as though some fate or revelation lay in the fact that she was the one who had met him and discovered his secret.

Yes, this was a trial and test laid upon her by her god.

It was also a revelation, and destiny.

Thus, she resolved to keep the promise made in Ilionel’s name, no matter what.

‘……For now.’

Determined to faithfully carry out the mission given to her, she organized her thoughts once more.

To become close to him.

That was the first step to everything.

Smack!

Lancia Jintia slapped both her cheeks to put strength into herself.

Then she once again focused on examining the shelves.

“Ouch……”

A moment later, she rubbed her stinging cheeks, perhaps from having slapped too hard.

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