Blink blink.
I rubbed my bleary eyes and looked around.
The ceiling was adorned with gold engravings.
Luxurious wallpaper. Soft, gentle lighting.
A cozy blanket wrapped around my body, supported by a fluffy bed.
“Ugh…”
I turned my sluggish body and lay on my side.
Then.
“…You crazy beast bastard. Dog, no, lion bastard.”
As memories of yesterday rushed back, I unleashed a torrent of curses against Leona.
Leona. That beastman is definitely insane.
Of course, I may have been a bit abrasive, but stabbing me with a Blood Path until I fainted?
And the Vice Headmaster allowing it to happen?
Grinding teeth.
Of course, the way she manipulated her strength was incredible because the spot where the Blood Path pierced is completely fine now.
My legs are moving perfectly fine too.
Even the body that used to ache from that beating doesn’t hurt at all.
And then, there’s my mana.
I don’t know if it’s because I took a potion or if I gained some insight yesterday that affected my mastery, but managing mana has become much easier.
It feels like my mana circulation has widened and become a bit more elastic?
Mana has become much more refined than before.
At this rate, I’m sure it won’t take even three months to reach the next level.
“Heh, heh…”
Damn dog. Beast bastard. Lion bastard. Worthless even compared to a beast. Smelly beastman. I let out all sorts of curses and race-related comments, but feeling my body’s condition made all my anger towards Leona evaporate.
I’ve been struggling to find someone worthy of enlightenment, and it turned out to be quite well.
After feeling ashamed once and achieving this much.
No, no. I still don’t want to feel shame.
I am Ronan Luzarack and Eliaernes Eustetia. Even if my body is soft like this, I’m a very rough man on the inside.
So if something like that happens again, I will crawl back no matter what.
I mustn’t experience such humiliation again.
“Hmm…”
Still, it’s amazing how my mood can change so quickly.
I wonder if I’ve always been this simple-minded.
Of course, um? I’m not a narrow-minded person.
Even so, I wouldn’t say I had an especially generous character, but these days… maybe it’s because of my soft state or growing up in a peaceful home, my personality has softened quite a bit.
By the way.
So, did I end up being taken care of by Yurasia?
Feeling a bit stuffy yet refreshed, I wriggled in the blanket.
So fluffy and soft.
Not sticky, just smooth.
…?
Why is my body so soft?
I lay back down, adjusting my posture and roaming my hands again.
Armpits, neck, back, stomach, groin.
Even where I sweat a lot feels soft and smooth.
“…What’s this?”
I’m also dressed in different clothes.
Pajamas with a large pink bunny design.
I insisted I wouldn’t pack them, but Sara somehow shoved those pajamas in.
What about my underwear? Upper part is off, but the lower part is completely on.
“Yurasia?”
Did Yurasia wash me and change my clothes?
“…N-no way.”
No way would Yurasia do that.
Then, how do I explain my current state?
My dulled mind became crystal clear in an instant.
The desire to lie down a little longer also vanished.
I immediately got up and looked around.
The messy room I hastily cleaned up yesterday was now tidy.
And next to my pillow was a note.
[Good morning, young lady! Are you feeling alright? You’re not in pain or anything, right? The Vice Headmaster said you’d be fine by morning, but I’m still worried… Oh! I changed your clothes! I did it with my eyes closed, so don’t worry! And I thought it might be a bit awkward to give you a bath myself, so I used a Cleanse Scroll! I put sandwiches and milk in the fridge for breakfast, so please chew well!]
“Heh.”
Reading the note with its cute handwriting and densely packed content made me smile unconsciously.
Right. There’s no way Yurasia would give me a bath.
No matter how much I might be okay, that’s a bit too much, right?
“Heheh.”
I read Yurasia’s note several times, carefully placed it on the desk, and opened the fridge.
Just as Yurasia said, a pork cutlet sandwich and milk were there.
And there was also a note attached.
[It’ll be cold, so please heat it up! After how hard you pushed yourself yesterday, you shouldn’t eat it cold! Definitely! Heat it up!]
“Too considerate.”
A grin spread across my face, and I wondered if I should get her a gift.
Hmm, rather than a gift, it would be better to reward her for her training accomplishments. I haven’t done any proper training for a while now.
There’s bound to be some stagnation.
Since I gained a lot thanks to Leona, maybe I’ll focus on paying attention to Yurasia for a while.
“Heheh.”
Removing the note stuck to the sandwich, I placed it neatly on the desk and immediately opened the plastic.
Even if I think it’s nice, I won’t heed her words.
“Wow.”
Nom nom.
*
After finishing the sandwich, soaking my body in warm water, and changing into comfortable training clothes instead of that ridiculous bunny onesie,
I filled up my sandbags properly.
Then, I stepped outside.
However, I’m alone again today.
I knocked on Yurasia’s door, but there was no answer, whether she was sleeping or just wasn’t inside, so I had no choice but to go out alone.
I could try calling using a Device, but I’m not familiar and don’t need to bother, so I just left it.
Maybe she’s already at the training grounds.
That’s probably it.
Yurasia isn’t the type to sleep in.
“Hmm.”
Stretching under the refreshing breeze, I tied my hair up.
Since it’s 9, I can sweat out my body until 11, eat something light, and then head to the training grounds.
Yurasia should be there.
Then today, I’ll spend the whole day sparring, overseeing Yurasia’s swordsmanship, and reviewing the insights I gained yesterday, and it should be just about dinner time.
It’s always the same pattern, but it’s an excellent plan.
To make sure nothing slips out, I zipped up tight and started jogging.
The route starts from the dormitory building, passes Signia Hall, goes through Frunt Hall, the fountain, the lake, and finally the library.
It’s not a route I chose.
It’s just that it clearly looks like “this is the route you should jog,” so I’m just following it.
Running a lap takes about 30 minutes.
I could run much faster if I operated mana, but with this pitiful body of mine, pulling such tricks would be meaningless.
My muscular strength is weak, and I’m short.
On top of that, my stamina is low.
The only things I made sure I had were elasticity and flexibility.
And a decent mana sensitivity.
So right now, I could say that exercising my body without using mana is extremely important.
You never know when your mana will run out in a fight, so building basic stamina is essential.
Especially for a body like mine.
Hmm, then I should definitely bring Stella next time for a run.
These days, mages seem to be cooped up in their rooms, sitting at desks, which is quite pathetic.
In my day, mages had excellent basic stamina too.
If they run out of mana and can’t cast spells, shouldn’t they at least be able to escape?
If a mage can’t use magic, they’re no different from a useless kid.
Yeah. I’ll definitely bring Stella along for some exercise starting tomorrow.
And while I’m at it, I’ll also call Pina to join in.
“Heh.”
Just thinking of rolling, no, making those two run has already got a smile creeping onto my face.
In the early days, Yurasia would vomit a few times every morning.
Those two would surely struggle way more than her.
I’ll need to prepare a stack of potions.
Snickering – I couldn’t hold back my laughter and stopped at my usual resting spot.
It was the same place where I met Pina yesterday.
As usual, I threw myself onto the bench and tied my loose hair again.
“Hmm…”
It’s nearing 11 o’clock.
I’ve completed four laps.
With about ten minutes left, I was going to check out the changed mana when a girl was approaching me from afar.
Sharp eyes. Platinum-colored pupils close to white.
Tightly closed lips. Flowing platinum hair.
“Eliaernes.”
Not the kind of tone Stella uses; it was an outright impolite tone.
Silina de Herman approached.
“What are you doing here?”
“Why the heck is it any of your business? Is it wrong for me to be here?”
“Is that so…?”
Silina’s eyes twitched.
She seemed to think it over for a moment.
“Well, since you’re Eustetia, I suppose it could be.”
And she plopped down right beside me.
I shifted uncomfortably, scooting a couple of butt-lengths apart.
“Well then, I guess you’re free?”
“No, I’m busy.”
“You look free to me.”
“I’m going to eat and then head to the training grounds for a spar.”
The mention of a spar raised Silina’s eyebrows.
“A spar? With whom?”
“Yurasia.”
“Yurasia, your knight?”
“Yeah. You remember?”
“Of course I remember. We were in an illusion together.”
I didn’t think she’d remember.
She could have retorted, “Why should I care about some swordsman’s name?”
“Anyway, so you’re going to spar, huh?”
“Yep.”
“Then spar with me too.”
“With you?”
“Why? Scared?”
“Why would I be scared of you?”
“I’m not scared. So why are you assuming that?”
“Because, um…”
Because you’re so weak that you’re no help at all.
I was about to blurt out the truth without thinking.
“For now, I need to watch Yurasia’s sword.”
“Sword?”
Snicker – Silina scoffed.
“Eliaernes, you’re a martial artist, right? So what sword are you going to look after?”
“I can use swords well too.”
“Are you going to say you learned that from a book?”
“Yeah. Learning from books and also from the Knight Order.”
Silina narrowed her eyes.
“You were bragging about using an axe last time, swinging your knees and fists, right?”
“Still on about that, huh? You’re a pretty persistent friend, aren’t you?”
“Why would I be your friend?”
“That’s just a figure of speech. Stop trying so hard to avoid talking, you little brat.”
“What did you just call me…? Little brat?”
“Of course. So, are you a servant now?”
“Hah.”
Silina was genuinely glaring at me as if she couldn’t believe it, let out a sigh, and leaned back against the bench.
“Watch your mouth.”
“Yes, Princess.”
“I’m not joking.”
She slightly turned her head to glance at me.
“I might let it slide, but if it were Ferando or Fabiana, they wouldn’t have let it go so easily.”
Her gaze darkened.
It was already gloomy, but now it contained hatred and disgust.
Ferando de Herman.
Fabiana de Herman.
They’re the 2nd Prince and 1st Princess, students of Karela Academy who are in their third year.
“You two don’t seem to get along that well, huh.”
“It’s none of your concern.”
“That’s true.”
I shrugged and stood up.
“Let’s go eat.”
Silina frowned.
“You want me to go with you? Why?”
“You’re the one who suggested a spar.”
“Forget it. Just message me when you’re ready.”
“I didn’t bring my Device.”
“…You didn’t bring it?”
“Yep. And I don’t even know your number.”
“Hah…”
Silina, who was deep in thought again, let out a small sigh and stood up.
“I won’t eat if we go together.”
“Then just watch me eat.”
“Eliaernes. You’re going to die young because of that mouth of yours.”
“I hear that a lot.”
Silina’s fist clenched, but I pretended not to see and walked toward the restaurant.
*
I finished my meal with all the students gathered at the restaurant, under Silina’s sharp gaze.
As I had planned before, I ate noodles, but they strangely tasted different.
The noodles served in the Professor-only Restaurant by Leona were a bit more delicious and chewy.
Is it because they serve better food to the professors?
Or did I just feel that way because I was hungry?
Anyway, after finishing my meal, Silina headed straight for the training grounds.
However, today, the students strangely weren’t around.
Specifically, the 1st year students weren’t around.
Shouldn’t they usually gather around to eat during lunchtime?
But there wasn’t a single 1st year student in sight.
They were all 2nd and 3rd years.
Are they sleeping in because it’s the weekend?
I guess the 1st years are utterly useless.
Tsk tsk.
“Eliaernes.”
Clicking my tongue, I headed toward the training grounds when Silina spoke in a sharp voice.
“When we spar, do it bare-handed.”
“Why?”
“I’m curious about your skills.”
“Weren’t you trying to learn something from me?”
“How can you say something so obnoxious so casually? Did you learn that from a book too?”
“Geniuses tend to be obnoxious.”
“Hah.”
Silina laughed derisively.
With that final exchange, we arrived at the training grounds in silence.
I opened the door.
Clunk.
“Hmm?”
Clunk clunk!
The door wasn’t locked, but it wouldn’t open.
It felt like someone was holding the door shut.
“Hmm…”
Is something going on inside?
Something that would require barring the door to prevent entering…
Are they in a fight?
Is that why they’re blocking the door so that other students or professors can’t come in?
Hmm… That’s a bit curious.
“What’s going on?”
“Just wait.”
I lightly shook my wrist and surrounded myself with mana.
And then.
BAM!
I forced the door open.
What stood before me was a massive male student.
He stood about two meters tall and had a physique that could cover the whole door.
That guy’s face was soaked in surprise.
He probably didn’t expect the door he was holding back would open.
“What, what the hell.”
For a moment, his eyes widened as he looked between his hand and me.
“Eustetia…? And, Your Highness?”
Whatever he was thinking, I tried to step into the training grounds immediately.
However.
“…Y-you can’t go in now.”
The male student blocked my way.
“Come back in three hours.”
“Why?”
“Why? Ahem. I’m a 2nd year.”
“Oh, okay. Why can’t I?”
“…You don’t need to know.”
“Hmm…”
Scratching my cheek, I absorbed the scene unfolding behind the male student in the training grounds.
About a dozen 1st year students were awkwardly standing.
And in front of them were six 2nd years.
Are they getting hazed?
I glanced back at Silina.
“Hey, looks like they’re getting hazed.”
“Seems like it.”
“Don’t you think that’s weird that we weren’t called? Isn’t it strange?”
“So, do you want to go together?”
“Yep.”
“You must be crazy.”
“Isn’t that something we’re supposed to do as 1st years? You don’t actually think you can skip out just because you’re a princess, do you?”
Silina’s eyebrows twitched violently.
“…You really aren’t in your right mind. Even at the Academy, how could you—”
“Hey, whatever. Let’s go already. If we don’t go in now, I’ll never spar with you again for the rest of your life.”
“What? What kind of childish remark is that?”
“Anyway, that’s how it’ll be.”
Heh! Smirking, I moved forward. At the same time, the 2nd year tried to block me, but I drove my mana-covered arm aside.
“What, what?!”
This guy is way too weak to stop me.
Tsk tsk. I clicked my tongue and walked on.
“Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve seen hazing.”
Entering the training grounds, I was greeted by the sight of 1st years sprawled out, sweating buckets, and I couldn’t help but smile.
Indeed, when you’ve got a bunch of guys who think they’re geniuses, imposing discipline like this is crucial.
Especially at the academy, where nobles, commoners, and even royalty from neighboring countries are mixed together, it’s best to drain their spirits before they start showing off.
In my past life, I had also been in charge of hazing those who were assigned to the frontline.
-Ronan, what are you doing?
-Teaching etiquette.
-Can you really call this a form of education?
-If I don’t do this, these kids will die early.
-That sounds like it would be a very upsetting situation. I guess I’ll help you.
-You said you didn’t want to.
-Still, I can’t leave all this heavy lifting to you alone. We’re comrades, right?
-Shut up. You just want to enjoy beating them, don’t you?
-Oh my god. Ronan, you really know how to open your mouth. I’m a saint, you know. There’s no way a saint would enjoy such cruel deeds.
-Yurpia’s lost her mind.
-Don’t speak such blasphemous words and clear the way.
-I can take care of it alone. Just get lost.
-No. Let’s do this together. We’ll repent together afterwards.
-You can’t just mess up someone’s mind like last time, right? That kid still drools over food if you feed him. Divine power isn’t everything, you know?
-That person was already a bit off. He was the kind to draw his sword on just anyone.
-You do the same to me.
“Haha…”
I can’t believe that culture still exists today.
At least they’re not forcing them to stick their heads in can lids like before.
I stifled a giggle and arrived at the center of the training grounds.
Once I got there, however, I couldn’t laugh anymore.
Kneeling and subdued by a hulking, orc-like, pig-turned ugly brute was Stella.
And next to her was—
“Oh my. Is that Eliaernes?”
The side branch girl I met in the library was stepping on the back of Yurasia as she lay sprawled out.
