Midterm Evaluation (9)
“Welcome, esteemed guests. I am Lotto Istania, the principal of Ramielli Academy.”
The principal bowed his head towards the audience from the prepared podium.
The noisy crowd fell silent as if respecting the principal.
The principal spoke about the intermediate evaluation, the subsequent banquet schedule, and so on, and then took the time to introduce the nobles by name.
It was a tedious opening address, but it was unavoidable as every single formality like this determined whether one had class or not.
‘Indeed, nothing is impossible when you throw money at it.’
Zeke, who was waiting with Dios behind the principal, nodded his head.
It was even more extravagant than the Eustia banquet last time.
With two magic stones, each costing five times more than the previous ones, the grandeur was truly overwhelming.
It seemed like they had hired every artisan in the capital.
‘Are they going to spar over there?’
There was an empty space dug down in front of the podium.
It was quite spacious for two people to enter, but it seemed like everyone would be able to see if they sparred there.
Then, Zeke spotted Duke Yohaiden, Selena’s father, among the nobles.
Next to him was a beautiful woman who made him wonder if Selena would grow up to be like her.
‘I guess that’s Selena’s mother.’
And there was a young man with a slightly cold impression, not the guy he had seen last time.
He was probably the eldest son of the Yohaiden Dukedom, who couldn’t make it last time.
Since the second son had caused trouble, it seemed like he had been confined to the mansion because of that incident.
Zeke bowed his head slightly and exchanged glances with him.
The Duke nodded with a firm gaze.
‘Hmm, but I wonder if Selena will be able to make it on time?’
After her defeat in the duel with Yuri, Selena had been undergoing rigorous training alone at the mansion.
He had promised her that she could participate in the intermediate evaluation if she succeeded in the task he had given her, but he hadn't heard anything yet.
‘Tsk, but if she can’t participate, Duke Yohaiden won’t just stay still, will he…?’
Of course, he wouldn't hold a grudge or anything because of this, but that daughter-obsessed man would definitely hold it against him.
The hysteria of a middle-aged man with hormonal imbalances was originally three times more troublesome than that of a woman.
The thought of the daughter-obsessed Duke nagging him about Selena’s absence in the future made him shudder.
‘It would be better if she came.’
The task he had given Selena was so difficult that she could only barely hope to succeed if she focused all her time and effort without a moment's rest.
‘But she needs to accomplish that much to realize how difficult the path she wants to take is.’
Unfortunately, the timing was like this, but the time Selena needed just happened to coincide with the schedule.
Compared to its importance, the intermediate evaluation was just an ‘intermediate evaluation’.
Zeke was determined to endure the hysteria of a middle-aged man for Selena’s sake.
‘If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just use the Selena shield again.’
If he hid behind Selena, what could that daughter-obsessed Duke do?
She was the strongest shield, especially against Yohaiden.
“Zeke Clayman.”
While he was lost in thought, a greasy voice reached his ears from beside him.
He turned his head to see Dios with a smug expression and a disgusting smile.
“What is it?”
“Calling out the nobles, you’ve dug your own grave.”
“…Yeah, I guess so.”
Zeke simply nodded, not really intending to respond to his words.
It was rather pathetic to see the guy who was currently digging his own grave in real-time spout such nonsense.
Anyway, this event was just a fight between him and the First Prince, who was sitting there with a nonchalant expression.
There was no need to pay attention to such insignificant extras.
‘Hmm? Is that person next to the First Prince the captain of the Royal Knights?’
His hair had turned white, but he seemed to have not neglected his training, as he exuded a sense of firmness.
‘He probably called him to observe me. The First Prince doesn't have a good eye for martial arts. Hmm, then the sacrificial lamb to witness my skills will be….’
Zeke glanced at Dios beside him.
“Zeke Clayman, wouldn’t it be a shame to end it with just the students’ sparring?”
Dios spoke those words at the perfect timing.
“We’ll see about that.”
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid to face me. Haha, well, you’ll lose all the students’ sparring matches anyway, and if you lose to me as well, it’ll be quite a sight.”
“I’m not interested in you, small fry.”
“What!? You little…!”
He was acting like a typical noob, getting angry and shouting after provoking someone first.
“Look at the First Prince.”
Dios turned his head to look at the First Prince at Zeke's gesture and his face stiffened.
‘Oh my, you idiot, why don’t you just tell everyone that the First Prince is backing you?’
Zeke made a disappointed expression.
It was supposed to be a secret that the First Prince was his backer, but Dios was making it so obvious.
It was only natural for people to question the First Prince’s judgment.
‘Hey, is this really okay?’
The First Prince’s lips twitched slightly, as if the current situation was not what he had anticipated.
“Then, we will now begin the swordsmanship sparring.”
And at that moment, the principal’s long opening address came to an end.
* * *
The first to step up from Zeke Clayman’s class was the Second Prince, Rosnante Leonine.
He recalled Zeke’s words in the waiting room.
─ This time, I will properly crush that smug face of the First Prince. Rosnante, are you interested?
Interested? Of course, he was. More than enough, overwhelmingly so.
After his defeat in the duel with Zeke, Rosnante had lost everything.
With that single defeat, everything he had built up crumbled.
Connections, fame, honor, money, and even his pride in his swordsmanship.
The students he encountered at the academy didn't express it openly because of his status, but their eyes held unconcealed mockery and contempt.
Those who had followed him began to sever ties one by one.
Not a single person had followed him sincerely.
For the first time in his life, Rosnante felt a terrible loneliness.
However, after hitting rock bottom like that, Rosnante gained the opportunity to reflect on himself.
And he began to build relationships based on personal connections rather than status.
He even welcomed greetings from commoners who spoke to him informally.
He gained the ability to see people for who they were, regardless of their status, whether they were a princess or the daughter of a count.
While he was training himself to death every day, the great second bloodline of the Empire gradually grew.
So, it was okay.
Even if the gazes of the nobles looking at him were filled with malice, he had realized that what ultimately mattered was himself.
‘If it were like before, I would have thrown a tantrum.’
He could hear the whispers of the nobles evaluating him.
‘But you are the ones who know nothing.’
The Second Prince wondered if he might be the only one with two eyes in a world of one-eyed people.
‘Do you even know how absurdly powerful those frail princesses, commoners, and the count’s daughter are now…?’
Only he could know that.
The daughters who attended the same class as him had never had anything to do with strength or swords before, so even if they had become stronger, they couldn't even comprehend how strong they were or how unusual their strength was.
However, in the eyes of Rosnante, who had been training with the sword since childhood and sparring with knights as if it were a daily meal, it was utterly absurd.
The moment his friends stepped forward, their faces would all turn to shock.
‘I guess I’ll be the most ordinary among them.’
Words he would never have even thought of before.
However, Zeke Clayman had said that even he would become stronger.
He had nothing to lose by believing his words, and of course, 40 magic stones were a bit much…
Anyway, since he had said so, he would do his best, even if he was the weakest.
Rosnante stood there, not by his noble lineage, but by his own will.
He walked into the sparring arena with confident strides.
A familiar face he hadn’t seen in a while appeared from the opposite side.
One of the count’s sons who used to follow him.
He was someone he had sparred with often, and even then, he always lost to Rosnante.
‘I sparred with this guy before I first met Zeke Clayman.’
He chuckled.
What if he hadn’t sparred that day and hadn’t been late?
He met the guy’s eyes while thinking such meaningless thoughts.
The count’s son bowed his head with a slight nod.
“Your Highness Rosnante. It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has been a while. This is Ramielli Academy, so there’s no need for formalities.”
“You haven’t changed in that regard, even though everything else has.”
“You seem to have changed into a completely different person.”
The guy smiled confidently.
“By the way, I hope your skills haven’t deteriorated.”
“Hmm?”
“You’re not the same Your Highness who used to only focus on the sword. I’m worried that your skills might have declined since you’ve been wasting your time with princesses and commoners.”
The guy who couldn’t even utter a peep in front of him before had grown quite a bit.
“Are you insulting my friends right now?”
“…Friends!? Ha, you’ve become truly ridiculous. You even wet your pants, have you really become a girl?”
His voice was loud enough to reach the audience.
Then, giggles and mocking laughter came from all directions.
Rosnante scoffed.
“Well, I don’t usually say things like this, but you’re truly pathetic.”
“!”
The guy’s face turned pale.
“Pathetic? What do you mean I’m pathetic?”
“I feel sorry for you because you struggled to flatter me when I was arrogant before, and now you’re acting like a puppet under the First Prince.”
“His Highness Illios and Your Highness Rosnante are fundamentally different! My kind master saved me when I was abandoned like a used scabbard! I will not tolerate such insults towards His Highness Illios!”
“Hmm, I did distance myself for a while, but I sent you a letter afterward… Well, forget it. It’s pointless to say any more. Let’s talk with our swords.”
Rosnante raised his wooden sword.
The moment of revival.
The starting point where he would surpass that cunning Illios and soar to the top.
Contrary to his expectations of being nervous when he stepped onto this stage, he felt nothing.
‘Hmm, is it because of the bread Soi Spoon gave me before I came here?’
Elise had revealed her real name to her classmates after the last incident.
She said she had used the alias Elise because she was ashamed of her ‘dirt spoon’ name.
She said she made the bread with sincerity because she felt sorry for deceiving them for so long.
‘Really, over something so trivial… But the bread was delicious. Truly. I’ll praise you, commoner. No, Soi Spoon.’
Rosnante’s mind calmed down.
As he raised his wooden sword with a serious gaze, the count’s son also closed his mouth and raised his wooden sword.
“You are my first stepping stone.”
And the bell signaling the start of the match rang.
Clang━
And.
The match was over.
“Huh…?”
Silence fell over the crowd.
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