[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Side Story Chapter 18: Academy (2)

That night, I could not fall asleep easily.

It was not my first time sleeping in an unfamiliar place away from home.

But the Academy was not just an unfamiliar space, but a place where I would be living for the next few years, wasn't it?

I was nervous, and also excited.

I was so looking forward to what my life at the Academy would be like that sleep did not come easily.

On top of that, tomorrow was the first day of the Academy. Just how amazing would the classes at the renowned Academy be?

I tossed and turned for a long time before I barely managed to fall asleep.

However, the next day, upon arriving in the classroom, I had a premonition that my Academy life would not go as I had expected.

"They say he's Damien Haksen's nephew."

"He's smaller than I thought, isn't he? Is he really Damien Haksen's nephew?"

"Don't be fooled by his small size. For all he looks, he's a fearsome playboy."

"A playboy?"

"I heard he hit on the Princess even though he has a fiancée."

"How is he still alive after committing such a crazy act?"

"He's Damien Haksen's nephew. Who would dare lay a hand on him."

The students were whispering about yesterday's events.

"I heard his fiancée even caught him in the act."

"What? Is that for real?"

"And what's more, his fiancée even picked a fight with the Princess."

"My god! Good heavens!"

"But after Damien Haksen's nephew said a few words, the situation didn't escalate and they both decided to let it go quietly."

"N-No way! What woman would just let something like that go!"

"That's why he's so fearsome. He looks innocent on the outside, but he's no ordinary devious bastard."

Among the students, I had been branded as a playboy who toyed with two women, backed by my uncle's authority.

Perhaps because of that, no one came near me.

Looking at the empty seats all around me, I suddenly felt a sense of crisis.

I have to be at the Academy for several years, and I can't spend all that long time alone, can I?

"Um, excuse me..."

"H-Hiiiiek! I, I didn't say anything! I don't know anything!"

"Hello?"

"U-Uwaaah! S-Sorry! I don't know what for, but I'm sorry!"

I mustered up the courage to talk to them, but they all just avoided me and ran away.

I felt incredibly wronged.

I was being misunderstood and even ostracized for something I did not even do.

Haaah, it would have been nice if Hazel was here at a time like this.

As it happened, Hazel had been assigned to a different class.

No, wait, when you think about it, this all happened because of Hazel, didn't it?

I was just starting to resent Hazel.

The classroom door opened and three people came inside.

It was Geisel and his two cronies from yesterday.

"It's Geisel, isn't it? He was in the same class as us?"

"Geisel? Geisel Huko?"

The students' attitude toward Geisel was completely different from their attitude toward me.

A desire to get close to him was radiating from their very expressions.

"Lord Geisel, it has been a while. I am Aldente of the Pista County!"

"I am Roson of the Gurkha County! I pray you will remember me!"

The students scrambled over each other to introduce themselves to Geisel.

The prestige of a ducal house truly is something else.

Seeing them flock to him like that.

Honestly, I am envious. I wish I were that popular, too.

Just then, my eyes met Geisel's.

Geisel smirked, as if my being alone was pathetic.

Wow, that really pisses me off.

To the point where I want to use every single technique my uncle taught me right now.

"Theodore Haksen, did you sleep well yesterday?"

Geisel asked as he approached me. I answered bluntly.

"So-so."

"That's a relief. The dormitory is far too luxurious for a country bumpkin from the Apple Kingdom, so I was worried you might not be able to sleep."

At Geisel's words, his two cronies laughed out loud.

The other students looked our way with bewildered faces.

"Geisel just picked a fight with Damien Haksen's nephew, didn't he?"

"Is there a reason for them to be on bad terms?"

But no one stepped in to stop it.

It seemed they were worried about getting caught in the crossfire.

"If you think you cannot adapt to the dormitory, let me know. I'll get you a room in the servants' quarters. Of course, even that room would be too good for you."

This little bastard.

I was in the middle of getting up in a huff.

"Everyone, sit down."

An adult's voice echoed throughout the classroom.

All the students, including myself, looked toward the door. There, we could see a man with curly, disheveled hair.

"Did you not hear me? I said, sit down."

Geisel and his two cronies immediately sat in the seats behind me.

Because of that, I missed my timing to lunge at Geisel.

The curly-haired man stood before the lectern and spoke to us.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Oliver Fortina. For the next year, I will be your homeroom teacher."

So this man was my homeroom teacher.

My uncle had explained it to me.

At the Academy, there's a position called homeroom teacher who is responsible for a class.

I have had private tutors before, but this was my first time having a homeroom teacher.

I looked at Teacher Oliver with a sense of anticipation.

"For classes, an instructor for each subject will come in and teach you. For your reference, I am in charge of the Basic Swordsmanship course. Class is scheduled for the 4th period today, so we will meet again then."

I thought he looked physically sturdy for some reason, and it turns out he's in charge of Basic Swordsmanship.

I heard from my uncle that becoming a teacher at the Academy is incredibly difficult.

It's only possible if you have skill, fame, and character all combined.

In other words, Teacher Oliver is an exceptionally skilled swordsman.

"And, is Theodore Haksen here?"

At Teacher Oliver's words, I quickly raised my head.

Teacher Oliver looked at my face and spoke.

"So you're Theodore Haksen. It's a real pleasure to meet you."

"It's an honor to meet you too, Teacher."

"Hahat, you have a knack for saying pleasant things."

Teacher Oliver laughed as if he was very pleased.

"A long time ago, your uncle served as a temporary instructor at the Academy."

"Yes, I heard from my uncle!"

"At that time, I was your uncle's student."

"What? Really?"

It seemed I was not the only one who was surprised. The eyes of all the other students went wide as well.

"I only learned for a very short period, but it was incredibly helpful. Based on that experience, I was able to become a teacher at the Academy like this."

Teacher Oliver flexed his forearm, and brawny muscles revealed themselves.

Just by seeing this, I could tell. Just how strong a person Teacher Oliver was.

"To have learned from my uncle, you must be amazing!"

"I am amazing. Of course, I am. Your uncle's teachings were truly like gold."

It was about my uncle, but I felt my own shoulders square up with pride.

But suddenly, the expression vanished from Teacher Oliver's face.

He stared into the void with dead eyes and muttered.

"But it was truly... a truly agonizing time... Your uncle hit us a lot... a whole lot..."

Saying that, Teacher Oliver's body trembled.

"Yes... with that fucking club... he mercilessly hit my head... no matter how much I was hit, It never left any marks... that was the most terrifying part..."

Umm... what on earth did my uncle do at the Academy?

Teacher Oliver quickly regained his expression.

He smiled brightly and spoke to me.

"Anyway, I'm glad that you've become my student.

If you have any difficulties, feel free to tell me anything."

Teacher Oliver patted my shoulder and then left the classroom.

"Theodore Haksen, your Academy life is blooming right from the start. I'm so jealous you have such a good uncle."

Geisel mocked me from behind.

When I turned around, Geisel shrugged his shoulders.

"Don't look at me so scarily. I'm saying it because I'm genuinely jealous."

Who does this guy think I am, a fool?

He's mocking me, asking if it feels good to borrow my uncle's authority.

I decided to swallow my anger for now.

The 1st period was about to start.

* * *

1st period was math.

"Nice to meet you. I am Charlotte Everin, in charge of the mathematics curriculum."

The math teacher, Charlotte Everin, was a woman with a very kind impression.

But I could not help but be nervous.

To be honest, when I was tutored at Spring Castle, math was the subject I struggled with the most.

"From my experience teaching students at the Academy, I've found that many students are afraid of numbers. But there's no need to worry. If you just follow my lessons well, you'll be able to solve any difficult problem with ease."

Fortunately, listening to Teacher Charlotte's words gave me some courage.

Indeed, what ordinary teacher gets to work at the Academy?

They are not just highly skilled, but veterans who have been through all sorts of things.

A class taught by such a veteran must be different in some way, right?

"Alright everyone, shall we open our books to page 8?"

But my expectations were shattered as soon as the class began.

"Here, we must use Jacob's Triangle Formula. That is the only way to accurately calculate the angle."

I could not understand a single thing she was saying.

It was not that Teacher Charlotte seemed to be a bad teacher, though.

All the other students were nodding their heads and moving their pens.

"Good work, everyone. I'll see you all again tomorrow."

By the time the class ended, I was feeling a deep sense of despair.

I had heard the standards at the Academy were high, but I never thought it would be to this extent.

This is completely different from what I learned from my private tutor at Spring Castle!

But I cannot just stay dejected like this.

Math was a subject I was originally bad at, right? So the other classes will be different!

However, as the classes progressed, my confidence gradually broke through the floor and went underground.

2nd period, history class, had too much to memorize.

3rd period, ancient language class, I could not understand a single word.

In the end, by the time the 3rd period was over, I was completely exhausted.

I was slumped over in my chair, leaning against the back, right before the 4th period.

"The classes must have been very difficult for you, huh?"

Geisel whispered to me from behind.

When I looked back, I could see him snickering with his two cronies.

"To think that Lord Damien's nephew can't even keep up with such easy classes."

"Lord Geisel, don't tease him too much. Lord Damien Haksen is the amazing one, not his nephew."

"Still, it is funny. That the nephew of the great Lord Damien Haksen is such a... ahem."

It's a sudden thought, but those three are perfectly in sync.

They know exactly how to get under a person's skin.

"I thought someone on the level of Lord Damien's nephew would be a match for me. It seems I was mistaken."

"Who in the world could possibly be a match for Lord Geisel?"

"Perhaps a direct descendant of another ducal house, or a member of the royal family, but otherwise..."

Was it because I was so angry?

I did not even get worked up anymore.

Instead, I felt a coldness slowly creeping up in my chest.

I was glaring at the three of them with a chilly gaze.

"Did you all listen well in class?"

Teacher Oliver entered the classroom.

"The 4th period Basic Swordsmanship class will not be held in the classroom, but at the outdoor training grounds. Everyone, follow me."

Teacher Oliver went out first, and the students followed him in a crowd.

The outdoor training grounds were very spacious and equipped with various training apparatuses.

But Teacher Oliver did not head for the training apparatus, but for the dueling ring placed in the center.

"Some of you may have noticed, but all the members of our Class 3 are from knight families. This is because it is more efficient to group students with similar inclinations for classes."

Oh, I see.

I actually did not know that. Since I have not been able to talk with the other students.

"It wouldn't be fun to start training right away on the first day. In that spirit, today I plan to check your skills."

Everyone's eyes gleamed.

To have your skills checked. In other words, to determine who is superior and who is inferior, right?

For the students, it was a statement they could not just brush aside.

If, as Teacher Oliver said, they were all from knight families, they would have great pride in their family's swordsmanship.

Me? I'm actually not that interested. I don't really like fighting people in the first place.

"One by one, come up and designate an opponent."

The moment Teacher Oliver finished speaking, someone stepped up onto the dueling ring.

"Isn't that Geisel Huko?"

"To be the first one to step up. As expected of the Huko Ducal House."

"Why is everyone so relaxed? I don't have the confidence to not be utterly humiliated if I fight Geisel!"

I could feel everyone's fear of being chosen by Geisel Huko.

But it was a needless worry.

"Theodore Haksen, come on up."

The opponent Geisel Huko had designated was me.

Geisel Huko added with a blatant sneer.

"Surely Lord Damien's nephew won't run away, will he? If you can't wield a pen, you should at least be able to wield a sword."

I felt the coldness that had been rising in my chest grow even stronger.

Instead of immediately stepping up onto the dueling ring, I looked around. I could feel the countless gazes focused on the two of us.

A place where I could be acknowledged by everyone.

Conversely, a place where I could be ridiculed by everyone.

It's just perfect.

It is a more than perfect stage to put my uncle's advice into practice.

I jumped up onto the dueling ring without a moment's hesitation.

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]