CH 34

Special Course Starts

In the morning, Sheila woke up naturally.

The chirping of birds echoed in the blue sky with white clouds. She squinted her eyes at the soft white light shining brilliantly through the window. Even though she’d just woken up, she was feeling very refreshed.

Today, the special courses finally began.

Filled with the appropriate amount of tension and enthusiasm, Sheila immediately started getting dressed.

It was a little early, but she went down to the cafeteria. Even though it was earlier than usual, the cafeteria was crowded. Many students might’ve woken up before the wake-up call, just like Sheila.

Among them, she found Cody and Zechs.

“Good morning, Cody and Zechs.”

“Good morning, Sheila.”

“Oh, you woke up early too. I guess even a guy like you gets nervous as much as anyone else.”

Zechs, who was usually sleepy in the morning, hadn’t yawned. It was more surprising to Sheila that someone like him would be nervous.

“Zechs is nervous too. I think it had nothing to do with common people like me.”

“If you’re a common man, the world will end. I can only see a future where the country collapses.”

“What’s that, that’s rude.”

It was rude, but she thought that he had a point. If she was entrusted with the center of the country, Sheila couldn’t do anything anyway.

Today’s breakfast included a potato potage soup and also juicy wieners with crispy skin. Somehow, she felt like she was off to a good start.

“I wonder what kind of classes are going to start today.”

She muttered as she nibbled on a piece of fluffy white bread. Cody, who had been elegantly sipping his soup, looked up.

“So far, we’ve been practicing individual techniques, but now we’re going to have practice matches. We’re going to form a team with everyone in the class and work out our roles and responsibilities in battle. In the special course, we’ll learn how to combine magic and swordsmanship. There are also opportunities to go to the actual site and learn about real-life work.”

It was a shame she couldn’t learn about the fusion techniques, but she had heard about the training from Seiryuu and thought it sounded like fun.

“I see. Now that I’ve been accepted into the special course, I can go to the training, too.”

It would be a long way off, but she was looking forward to it.

By going to the special course, she got separated from her fellow scholarship students like Zechs and Bert, but she should be able to manage somehow because Cody was with her.

‘Come to think of it, I still haven’t met His Highness the Second Prince. He will probably attend the special course class, so I might be able to see him today. His Highness might not like the idea of taking a class with a commoner, though.’

She was aware that there were those who weren’t happy with her, but it was foolish to worry about a conflict that hadn’t happened. It would be a loss not to enjoy this situation that had brought her one step closer to her goal of becoming a knight.

Next to Sheila, who gulped down her milk, Zechs sighed.

“I’m jealous. I wish I could go to the training too. You could be assigned to the Imperial Knights, right?”

Since she was attending an academy that trained knights, her goal was to become a knight, not a soldier. It was only natural that she would be attracted to the Order of the Imperial Knights, the most prestigious of the knightly orders.

“If I remember right, Leidyrune-senpai said that fourth-year students won’t be sent to dangerous sites. Also, he said that senior aristocrats are often sent to places other than the Imperial Knights.”

“I’ve also heard that they rarely accept trainees for dignitary protection.”

Combining it together with Cody’s story, it was clear that training for the Order of the Imperial Knights was virtually non-existent, whether you were a noble or a commoner.

Zechs, too, had come to that conclusion, and he looked bored and turned his head on his cheek.

“What? I thought if I attended the training, I could go to the royal castle.”

“A castle, huh? For us commoners, it’s certainly uncharted territory.”

Even the mansion where Felix lived was too good for Sheila. She couldn’t even imagine how gorgeous and luxurious the castle where the royal family lived must be.

Zechs clenched his fists as if to regain his composure.

“Anyway, I’m going to have to work hard and get top grades in the general course if I want to move up to the special course.”

“Yes, I’m sure Zechs can do it.”

Cody smiled and nodded to his friend, who was inspired by Sheila. He would be pleased if Zechs could also join the special course.

As the three of them discussed their goal once again, a disturbing presence drifted up from behind them.

“――You guys, I heard your story.”

The large figure was revealed to be Axe, the dormitory leader, who had been in high spirits since this morning.

“D-dormitory leader….”

“I never knew there was such a passionate side to your normally aloof personality! I’m extremely impressed, Zechs! Let’s express this emotion with our muscles!”

Axe caught Zechs, who frowned annoyingly, and clung to his shoulders.

“Please stop, it’s early in the morning! You’re too loud! It’s giving me heartburn!”

“Your heart burns, you say? Good Zechs, your searing passion, it’s admirable!”

“Just for today, I don’t you to get in my way! Don’t wear me out before class!”

Zechs jittered and flailed, but he was helpless before the muscular cage. Little by little, he ran out of strength and became limp and motionless like a corpse.

While munching on her breakfast, Sheila turned to Cody.

“Zechs is very polite to the nobles, but only to Cody and the dorm leader is he very straightforward. I guess it’s because he trusts you guys.”

Cody, who was watching Zechs turning pale, let out a dry laugh with eyes that had lost their light.

“Did I mention that it’s ridiculous to be serious when you’re dealing with the dorm leader….? Or perhaps I should say you’re amazing for being able to come up with nothing but peaceful impressions in this chaotic situation….”

Axe’s high-pitched laughter roared through the spacious dining hall. Cody looked at the idyllic and boisterous morning scene with a dazed look.

“Just like Zechs said, I can see the end of the world, yeah.”

◇　◆　◇

Gathered in the training hall were a total of 60 students from the fourth through sixth grades who had advanced to the special course.

It seemed that the general course was supposed to use separate training halls in the morning and afternoon.

They were lined up in order of grade from right to left, with the high-ranking nobles at the head of the line. In terms of rank, the commoner Sheila was of course the last. Cody’s back could be seen slightly in front of her, but Leidyrune’s figure wasn’t visible. The same was true for Wilfrecht, who was royalty.

Claushezade appeared before everyone’s eyes.

“I’m Claushezade Norstein. As you know, I will be teaching the special course. This year, a commoner has been chosen, which may confuse some of you. But I believe that strength has nothing to do with nobility. I will not give them special treatment just because they are commoners, nor will I try to demean them. I hope that each of you will face your own strength with sincerity.”

Looking around at everyone, Claushezade gave a light greeting. It seemed that he didn’t intend to devote time to things other than class.

“First of all, we will form a pair and start doing warm-up exercises. A knight’s body is his treasure. In order to avoid injury from mere training, you need to loosen up your body carefully.”

When Claushezade clapped his hands, each of them started to move. Cody approached her with a good-natured smile on his face.

“Sheila, let’s team up with me.”

“Thanks, Cody. But working with me will cause you trouble…..”

“It’s okay. I told you at the beginning. I don’t fit in with either the nobility or the commoners. Thanks to you, I’m doing pretty well this year. That’s why I want to help you too.”

Perhaps because of the trust she had won so far, there was little resistance from students in the same grade. However, as soon as it was time for the warm-up exercises, she began to be observed by curious, aggressive, and nosy gazes that were as serious as they were impolite. She was just sorry when she thought about how this gaze would stick even to Cody by being together.

“Sheila, are you okay?”

“Yeah. I was much more scared when I was surrounded by a pack of wolves.”

“Hahaha, that’s just like Sheila. You’re amazing.”

They lifted each other’s bodies with their backs to each other and their arms behind their backs. First, Sheila stretched her back on him as he bent over.

“…. Cody is the one who’s amazing.”

If he was a noble like Hyderion, maybe they could still get along reasonably well. However, she still thought that Cody was the only one who would stand up for her.

He said Sheila was amazing, but did he know how amazing he was? Both Zechs and Sheila were able to go on without fear because he watched over them while laughing like he was in trouble.

Looking up at the sky as she climbed onto Cody’s back, Sheila smiled.

“I’m glad I became friends with Cody. I love Cody.”

“…… Thank you. But I think you should refrain from saying such things in a public place. I know a few people who might try to kill me.”

“Eh?”

Was it just her imagination that his voice sounded stiff?

Even as they talked, the exercises continued. When it was Cody’s turn to bend forward, Sheila assisted him by lightly pushing on his back. Because of his flexible body, he was able to reach his toes with ease.

Sheila’s eyes were suddenly drawn to one of the students.

There was a boy there, his hair shone like gold in the sunlight. Suddenly, he turned around and their eyes met.

His skin was as clear as porcelain. His small face was perfectly aligned with a well-shaped nose and thin lips. What was most striking, however, were his eyes. The bright blue eyes, like jewels, were so clear that they made her feel as if she could see everything through them.

It wasn’t just because his partner was Leidyrune, the son of a duke.

At first glance, she knew it was His Highness the Second Prince, Wilfrecht von Steitz.

His simple and rugged breastplate, gloves, and battered training clothes. Although he was wearing the same clothes, the air he exuded, and his very presence were so overwhelming that he couldn’t have been anything but the best.

He was rumored to be perfect and flawless in every way, the leader of the nobility. What would such a person think of Sheila joining the special course?

Their eyes met for a brief moment, but her body tensed up. Perhaps she would be watched by him too. That’s what she thought.

However, Wilfrecht only smiled at her with a lovely atmosphere like a blooming flower.

Sheila, who was taken aback, remained wide-eyed and rigid until Cody called out to her.