Chapter 7

Chapter 7

It takes well over a month to travel from Altair to Isilia.

The journey involves crossing mountains and sailing across the sea.

Unable to let that time go to waste, Khal focused all his energy on training and expanding his knowledge.

Before building his physical strength, he first had to establish a basic bodily foundation.

To that end, he forced himself to consume meat and other foods that didn’t sit well with him, gradually increasing both his weight and muscle mass.

While traveling, he also read a vast number of books.

He delved deeply into the history, economy, and political systems of the Lachman Continent, where they were currently located…

However, he did not neglect the cultivation of his literary sensibilities.

Though he didn’t particularly care for it, he did so because of the earnest pleas of his mother, Sarah Stark.

Thus, he was currently reading the story of a certain knight.

*Flip.*

With every turn of the page, there were illustrations of the knight brandishing his sword and delivering famous quotes in the name of justice.

*Thump, thump.*

Beside him, Rain was watching Khal with a look of anticipation.

“…If you have something to say, say it.”

At Khal’s command, Rain shook her head quickly to snap out of it.

“O-oh, no. I-I’m sorry.”

“Forget it. It must be boring. There are plenty of books, so feel free to pick one out and read it.”

Rain looked as if she still hadn’t adjusted to Khal’s indifferent reaction.

It was still hard to believe that Khal, who had always suffered from various obsessions, had become so calm after waking up from his suicide attempt.

“Actually, I found that book very interesting. I was just wondering if you were enjoying it too, Young Master.”

“Not really.”

“…I see.”

Khal denied it with a disinterested expression, and Rain bowed her head in disappointment.

“Living like this seems like it would be incredibly exhausting.”

‘If they’re annoying, it’s easier to just kill them all.’

“Because that isn’t a wise way to handle things.”

“A wise way?”

“To take up the sword, one must have justice and a cause, and the public must accept it. It’s the same in aristocratic society. I believe a knight is someone who puts those ultimate principles into practice.”

“Oh? Are you trying to lecture me?”

“N-no! I-I’m sorry!”

At Khal’s mocking tone, Rain tensed up and straightened her back.

“Whatever.”

As if he had quickly grown bored of the conversation, Khal muttered while looking out the carriage window with a detached expression.

“I suppose if one were a man, it’s something they might admire.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing.”

*Rustle.*

As a breeze blew into the carriage, the pages of the book fluttered.

On the final page, there was a drawing of the knight, the book’s protagonist, brandishing his sword against a dragon.

* * *

Isilia is an island nation famous for its intermediary trade.

The queen who rules this place is Ekaterina II, and she has been accumulating immense wealth by making full use of her outstanding diplomatic skills.

What such a queen looked for with great affection was talent.

And the institution established to foster that talent was Partes Academy.

It is an educational institution that teaches advanced academics centered around eight schools related to magic and swordsmanship.

True to its reputation, the rules of ‘fairness and equality’ are strictly applied here…

As one example, discrimination based on nationality, race, or any other reason is absolutely forbidden.

Everyone must build their skills from an equal position…

And they must never reveal their origins or family names.

Of course, a student culture of forming groups among themselves still thrived.

It was simply that trainees would flock together based on the actual skills possessed by the student at the center of the group.

If anyone was reported for mentioning origins or family status, they would be immediately expelled, no matter how good their grades were.

The only time one was allowed to reveal their origin and status was at the completion ceremony.

Those who finished the curriculum chose between returning to their home countries or staying in Isilia…

People from prestigious families returned home, while those who weren’t chose to stay and become instructors at the academy or officials in Isilia.

The reason was simple.

It was because they could enjoy freedom here.

*Whoosh.*

A cool sea breeze blew in through the window.

The black hair of a girl who had remained in the academic hall to focus on her studies fluttered wildly.

*Slide.*

When her disheveled hair began to block her vision, the girl reluctantly bit a hair tie in her mouth, gathered her hair, and tied it tight.

Her features, which had been hidden, were now clearly revealed.

The first things that caught the eye were her ivory-toned skin and her elegant, small face.

But what left a deeper impression…

Were her blue eyes, which resembled the sparkling blue sea of Isilia.

“….”

Students who happened to see her were instantly entranced.

“W-who is that? That girl?”

At the question from an interested male student, the boy next to him shrugged and replied.

“The semester is half over, and you still don’t know? That’s the Second Princess, Liliana.”

“Second Princess?”

“It means she’s a perpetual second-placer. She studies her heart out, but she can never seem to take first place.”

The whispering voices drifted into Lily’s ears…

*Twitch!*

She openly showed her displeasure.

“If you have something to say, why don’t you come over here and say it?”

*Flinch!*

At her voice, which seemed to seep with a chilling aura, the male students lost their nerve and hurried toward the door, placing their hands on the knob.

And at that exact moment.

*Slam!*

“Gwaaargh!”

The door swung open abruptly, and the off-balance male students tumbled to the floor.

The person who had opened the door from the outside, a female student with semi-long hair named Eri, tilted her head and asked them.

“…Why are you guys collapsed here?”

“It’s because of you!”

The male students were about to snap back in anger…

*Rumble,*

But they lost their nerve under Lily’s dark, glaring eyes and scrambled out the door.

Watching this, Eri gave a bitter smile and spoke to the girl.

“Lily. Why are you exuding an aura like you’re about to strike someone again?”

“Because they were being annoying.”

As if she had lost her mood for studying, Liliana closed her book, rested her chin on her hand, and asked Eri.

“What news did you bring today? Coo, coo.”

“Ugh! Are you going to keep treating me like a pigeon?”

Eri puffed out her cheeks in a pout and glared at Liliana.

“It’s a joke.”

Liliana chuckled, soothing Eri’s feelings.

Though she said it jokingly, Eri’s ability to gather information by poking around here and there was second to none.

She could even find out about the secret private lives of the professors.

It was a joke, but if asked who the most dangerous person in Partes was, most students would think of Eri.

However, because she was energetic and never leaked other people’s secrets, it was hard to find anyone who actually disliked her.

To Liliana, who had almost no friends because she was so focused on her studies, Eri was her only friend.

Eri began to speak about the news with sparkling eyes.

“I heard a transfer student is coming tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow, of all days…?”

“Yeah, tomorrow.”

Liliana scratched her cheek, seemingly unable to understand.

This was because tomorrow was the day of the biannual exams.

Law, politics, prose, and more.

The subjects for the exam were so vast that it was impossible to prepare for them in a short time.

According to Partes policy, a student who transferred during this period had to take the exam instead of an entrance test.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just take a separate entrance exam?”

“Normally, yes. It would be miserable to fail the entrance because of terrible grades the moment you arrive.”

“What kind of person could it be?”

“I’m not interested. Right now, my goal is to beat Deses.”

As if her academic passion had flared up again, Liliana flipped open the book she had closed.

“There’s no stopping you.”

Eri, wearing a bitter smile, muttered as she watched her friend immerse herself in the book.

“It would be nice if you took an interest in other people too…”

* * *

A clothing store located near Partes Academy.

Rain, who was waiting inside, anxiously watched the curtain covering the fitting room.

‘There’s not much time left.’

It wouldn’t be long before Khal’s entrance and grade-level exam at Partes began.

*Swish.*

Khal, the one who should have been anxious, pulled back the curtain and revealed himself calmly.

Perhaps thanks to steadily gaining weight over the past month, he now possessed a fairly sturdy physique.

As a result, the fit of his clothes had also become exceptionally handsome.

Dressed in the Partes uniform, Khal exuded an air of refined elegance.

“It suits you, Young Master!”

Startled, Rain covered her mouth with both hands.

“Let’s move.”

Khal glanced at himself in the mirror for a moment before walking out as if it were no big deal.

“W-wait for me!”

A short while later.

With about 20 minutes left before the start of the exam, Khal successfully arrived at Partes.

“*Huff, huff,* we’re saved.”

Rain, who had been repeatedly checking her pocket watch, took a ragged breath and sighed in relief.

“Wait in the lounge.”

Khal tidied his uniform without any sign of being flustered and prepared to head inside.

Just then.

“Y-Young Master!”

At Rain’s urgent call, Khal snapped his head around.

“Did I forget something?”

“N-no, it’s not that.”

Would saying this make her seem presumptuous?

The thought crossed her mind, but Rain felt she had to say this to Khal no matter what.

“Please stay calm and do your best. It would be problematic if we had to go back to Altair again.”

“How dull.”

Khal gave a disinterested look and turned away again.

Had she said something unnecessary? Just as she was about to drop her head in dejection…

*Slide.*

Without even looking back, Khal raised his right hand and clenched it into a firm fist.

*Smirk.*

Watching that, Rain wore a proud smile and muttered to herself.

“He’s become quite cute.”

If these words reached Khal’s ears, he would surely fly into a rage.

But even so, she couldn’t deny the feeling.

* * *

While all the students were nervous ahead of the exam.

*Step, step.*

A student who arrived just in the nick of time sat down in an empty seat.

Liliana, who had been meticulously reviewing her organized materials, found herself staring at him, struck by his crimson hair and eyes.

‘Is that the person who’s transferring this time?’

Because the seating was shuffled to prevent cheating, she couldn’t be sure if he was the transfer student or not, but she had a hunch.

This man, who exuded an aura so intense it felt like one would be overwhelmed just by looking at him, had a face she had never seen here before.

‘I’m sure he has a nasty temper and his family forced him to come here.’

It wasn’t right to judge someone based on first impressions alone.

However, Liliana didn’t think her first impression would be wrong.

‘No need to pay him any mind.’

Having received her exam paper, she quickly lost interest in the man and focused on solving the problems.

But how could she have known?

That her assessment was wrong…

And what kind of aftermath this meeting would bring her later on…

Before long, the only thing she would be certain of was that this man was a lunatic who defied all imagination.