[Esdinas Academy, Old School Building, Classroom A.]
It had been two days since Yunia and I registered our mana patterns with the Academy through the magic handgun.
Now, with only two days left until the start of the academy term, the Academy had completed its preparations while we were staying in the old school building.
But then…
“We’re the only ones entering the old school building?”
“That’s right.”
Before the term even began, we were hit with this unexpected news like a bolt from the blue.
“But why? Did the special admission students decide not to come?”
“That’s not the case. Except for one special circumstance, all 15 of the special admission students, including you two, have decided to enter the Academy.”
“Then why are we the only ones… Oh.”
Yunia glanced around the lecture room.
“…I see, I understand.”
The old school building has a certain antique charm to it.
Given its 500-year history and tradition, the interior and furniture aren’t exactly modern.
“The academy’s new system is in the ‘main building,’ so the staff probably informed the recommenders about the poor environment here.”
“That’s pretty much it.”
A difference in facilities.
There’s no reason to sleep and stay in such a run-down place when there are perfectly good facilities available, just because we’re special admission students.
‘After all, most people come to the Academy to meet others.’
This place is a meeting ground.
It’s true that the special admission students took the places of those who had committed fraudulent admissions, but that doesn’t mean they should give up the most obvious rights they deserve at the Academy.
Besides, they’re not ‘nominal commoners’ like us.
“Moreover, those entering as special admission students are all ‘special’ in various ways.”
Instructor Esta reached out towards the blackboard.
“For example, the third special admission student is none other than Ederson Lionheart’s granddaughter.”
The Mercenary King’s granddaughter.
– More than the content of that word, the fact that it was written in white chalk on the green blackboard hinted at why people might avoid the old school building.
“His granddaughter? The Mercenary King’s granddaughter is a special admission student?”
“That’s right.”
“…Isn’t she famous?”
Yunia blinked in surprise.
“The only Mercenary King’s granddaughter I know is still active. And she’s… still in service.”
The fact that the Mercenary King’s granddaughter is a special admission student is surprising, but she’s also someone who has already gained considerable recognition for her skills and achievements.
“An A-rank spear user and adventurer, [Cutting Wind] is entering as a special admission student…?”
“It doesn’t seem like someone who would enter the academy, does it? At 18, she’s already outperforming students who have graduated.”
An A-rank adventurer.
Considering that Esta is an S-rank, the special admission student Cutting Wind —the Mercenary King’s granddaughter—must be on par with or even exceed the skills of third-year graduates.
‘It’s certainly a bit presumptuous.’
It is indeed presumptuous.
“Instructor Esta.”
“Instructor Esta.”
“Hmm, what is it, Phoenix?”
“When you say [Cutting Wind], do you mean the one who defeated a Giant Twinhead Ogre single-handedly?”
“Yes.”
Because she’s already so active in the Great Demon Front that even the graduating students don’t dare to raise their heads.
“She worked with the Adventurers’ Guild on a joint subjugation operation, and she’s also someone who defeated a Vinyudan executive in a one-on-one battle, isn’t she?”
“You know well. That’s right. Such ‘people’ are about to enter the academy as special admission students.”
People. Emphasizing this clearly means that others in the group are equally extraordinary in their background or abilities.
“She’s not just a student; she’s someone who could be teaching someone right now. Such a person is about to enter the academy as a new student. Do you understand what this means?”
“Uh, um…”
Yunia glanced at me before raising her hand.
“Does this mean that the Academy might be facing some kind of danger?”
“Oh. Go on.”
Esta smiled broadly at Yunia’s insightful question.
“Although she’s an adventurer, she’s also a ‘mercenary’. This could very well be part of a mission.”
Exactly.
“And she’s not 23 or 27 years old; she’s 18, the same age as the academy students. She can easily blend in with the other students.”
As Yunia pointed out, the Mercenary King’s granddaughter has entered the academy as a new student on a mission.
“She’s probably here to see if there’s anything suspicious among the students or to keep a close eye on those who might be reaching out to the students with ill intentions.”
“You hit the nail on the head.”
Esta clapped her hands and tapped the name Lionheart on the blackboard.
“Currently, the Academy is concerned about various threats, not just from Vinyudan, but also from other dangers. Politically, the situation is also quite complex right now.”
“Uh, um…”
“Of course, you don’t need to worry about the political aspects for now. They won’t think anything strange of you, and they’ll likely view you favorably.”
Esta turned her gaze towards me.
Yunia had already provided enough answers, so it was my turn to speak.
“So, for the time being, it seems you’ll have to stay together here in the old school building.”
“Instructor.”
After briefly nodding to Yunia, I raised my hand and asked Esta.
“Do we really have to stay together?”
“What are you trying to say? Are you referring to me?”
Esta looked at me with a subtle smile.
“Are you perhaps hoping to stay with me? Hmm?”
“Judging by how you’re dodging the question, I think I have my answer.”
“…What did you say?” “I’ll ask you directly. Please give me a straight answer. Does that ‘stay together’ instruction include Cutting Wind as well?”
“…”
Esta fell silent.
She was about to respond but then tightly shut her lips.
“You’ve divided the dormitory area into four sections, without separating male and female students, haven’t you?”
“…”
I brought up the dormitory arrangement in the old school building, hinting at what I was getting at.
“For instance, take my room. On the first day, the rooms were separated by gender, but now Miss Yunia has moved next to my room, hasn’t she?”
“That was because Yunia requested it.”
“But if the academy had refused, Miss Yunia wouldn’t have been able to move. And also…”
I held up two fingers.
“Miss Yunia is in room 201. I’m in room 202. And rooms 203 and 205 are right across from us.”
“…”
If you ask why there’s no room 204, it’s because there’s a superstition about the number 4.
“It’s as if they’ve clustered an entire ‘team’ onto one floor.”
“Ahem.”
The truth is, I already knew the answer.
In the original, various reasons were given to have ‘four people’ move as a team.
“So you’re not just pairing Miss Yunia and me as a team, but also including Cutting Wind? And you’re the instructor in charge of this team, aren’t you?”
“I’m not sure about that yet.”
Esta wrote the names Yunia and Phoenix beneath the name Lionheart on the board.
“If it were just the two of you, and others in similar circumstances, no one would have wanted to step up as an instructor. But as the names of the special admission students started coming together, the situation changed drastically.”
Esta began writing other names on the board with a serious expression.
“There’s also a princess from the Empire, the successor of the Rainbow Magic Tower, and even one of the potential successors from the Silverstar Trading Company.”
That last name made me raise an eyebrow.
“Even the disciple of the director of the Magic Engineering Research Institute is among the special admissions.”
“Uh… wait a minute. Isn’t this list of people a bit…?”
“There’s also the daughter of an S-rank adventurer and the first daughter of the Northern Snowfield. Essentially, if you’re just the daughter of a mere Count, you wouldn’t even be able to make a name for yourself.”
“… W-What kind of people are all getting special admission?”
Yunia’s face paled.
For a moment, I could read Esta’s expression.
—You’re not any less than they are.
Yunia’s background was as impressive as the others mentioned, if not more so.
After all, the ‘grandmother’ who raised Yunia is—
“I digress. Phoenix, as you said, the Mercenary King’s granddaughter will be moving into room 203. And…”
“And?”
“You can treat her however you like, but make sure you never approach her with prejudice.”
Esta let out a deep sigh.
“I’m not sure if she’ll reveal it while at the academy, but…”
“…W-What do you mean by ‘reveal’?”
Yunia’s face turned red.
“Are you saying she might reveal something embarrassing?”
“…It’s not embarrassing, but it’s certainly not ordinary.”
“Oh…”
Yunia glanced at me, as if trying to seek clarification since Esta and I tend to speak in roundabout ways.
She often looks to me when she’s puzzled by something.
“You’re talking about her ears.”
“Exactly.”
Esta raised her hands above her head.
“The Mercenary King’s granddaughter, ‘Ludmila Lionheart,’ isn’t an ordinary human.”
“…Yes?”
“As an adventurer, she has been hiding her true identity. And the old school building… this space is perfect for revealing her identity to only a select few.”
She mimicked the gesture of opening and closing her hands like rabbit ears.
“She’s a Rabbitfolk.”
The Mercenary King’s granddaughter, Cutting Wind.
“…So if you see someone walking around the old school building in a strange bunny outfit, that’s the A-rank adventurer who’ll be teaming up with you— Cutting Wind.”
“…A Rabbitfolk in a bunny outfit?”
“Those bunny ears are her own.”
“…”
“The outfit is her personal taste.”
She’s a Rabbitfolk and a bunny girl.
“I have a question, Instructor.”
“What is it?”
“Is Miss Ludmila the fluffy type or the soft type?”
“…”
Esta looked at me thoughtfully for a moment before quietly answering.
“She’s the soft type.”
She was talking about her skin.
(TLN: Added illustrations for Yunia + Illustrations that are as of yet unreleased in chapters (normal and R18) on our discord)
