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Chapter 30: Final Grade Announcement (2)
Chapter 30: Final Grade Announcement (2)
Chapter 30: Final Grade Announcement (2)
“Ah, no, no~ I didn’t think like that…”
Clearly flustered, Sinia’s expression was evident.
Herion was astonished by Sinia’s expression.
“My goodness, Instructor Sinia, how could you have gotten such a dangerous idea-”
“Oh, I get it! I get it! I’ll admit it! Well, I did have thoughts like that.”
Sinia’s face showed considerable embarrassment, not responding as expected.
“Indeed, after seeing Number 348, I did have thoughts like that!”
Ceylon.
A man born with the talent of an assassin that Harashin would envy.
Having him by her side, would Harashin approach them?
Could she get a clue to track them down?
“But, it wasn’t confirmed yet! No matter how you look at it, it just looked like something you impulsively wanted to do!”
“Yes! That’s right! Sometimes, I did impulsively do such things! But, I swear to the heavens, this time it wasn’t like that!”
“Oh! Alright! I’ll swear on my sword instead of the heavens! Is that okay!? Anyway, for now, I wanted to keep Number 348 hidden, to think about it slowly, in case we had to take action impulsively! We needed to prepare a plan in case we had to act suddenly. To ensure Number 348 doesn’t get into any danger!”
Sinia pointed to Ceylon, who was squirming on the screen with an exasperated look on his face.
He seemed to be mocking Sinia, who appeared perplexed by her grumbling face for some reason
“Why would Number 348 suddenly declare to reveal himself!? I was extremely surprised too!”
“Then, shouldn’t we just cover up the 3rd test like we did during the 2nd test? After all, the only ones who have seen this are the responsible supervisors.”
“Already once, I snatched the top spot from him. And now you want me to snatch the top spot again? I can do anything if necessary, but can Number 348, who’s full of vitality unlike before, just sit still? Suddenly, he will opened his narrow eyes and turned into a terrifying person who would overturn everything, isn’t that right!?”
Ha.
Herion giggled.
What a difference it would make to his atmosphere if he opened his eyes?
Hmm?
Then suddenly, Herion’s pupils shifted to the upper right corner.
There was something he couldn’t resist saying.
“You want to snatch the top spot again?”
“Yes?”
“Why are you talking as if Ceylon’s top spot is already confirmed?”
“Huh? Do you have any objections?”
Herion extended his data containing the evaluation of Agion, but suddenly, he turned his head and looked at Ceylon on the screen.
His team members.
Adryn Teln and Mizu Bauer.
Clearly, they were promising talents in their own right.
However, at the current stage, their abilities were significantly behind when compared to Adella and Melhen.
But Agion, who was in the same group as Adella, was eliminated after struggling in the 9th gate.
Adryn and Mizu, who were in the same group as Ceylon, were showing their skills in the 10th gate.
Herion looked at Agion and wondered if he could surpass the achievements of Drin and Kasha.
So, what about Ceylon now?
“…”
He trailed off.
Her fists clenched involuntarily.
His fist clenched without him realizing it.
Soon, Herion put the data with Agion’s scoring back in.
He steeled himself and said,
“At least-”
“Hmm?”
“For now!”
Herion spoke up, emphasizing the word.
“For now, we need to keep the fact that he has the talent of an assassin hidden. To think the secret behind the top score in the Academy entrance exam for participants is the talent of an assassin. It will cause a commotion.”
“I agree with that too. Once that’s known, it will be complete chaos.”
“For now! Participant Ceylon may have the talent of an assassin, but he’s currently unaware of it. Later on, either I or Sinia Instructor will discover that talent.”
“Oh, that’s good. Well, Herion Instructor. It’s starting to make sense now, isn’t it?”
“Is that what you’ve been trying to say all along? Anyway, if that happens, there will be another problem.”
Herion manipulated the screen.
He displayed Ceylon, who was active in the 10th gate, even surpassing Drin, Kasha, and the rising stars.
“How on earth are we going to convince those few instructors who can recognize Ceylon’s talent as an assassin? You know, without mentioning the words ‘talent in assassination.'”
“Ah, you don’t have to worry about that. We already found that excuse, didn’t we?”
“Huh?”
Sinia pointed at Ceylon on the screen.
On the screen, he was displaying the talents of an assassin.
With Bauer’s sword, that is.
“We’ve been focusing too much on the assassin side of things, and number 348 is definitely perform Bauer’s Sword right now.”
“…Wouldn’t someone recognize it?”
Bauer’s sword and the assassin’s talents seemed to go hand in hand, but they didn’t.
In Herion’s eyes, this disparity was as clear as the lint on clothing.
“At best, a few instructors, right? They might notice something unusual and say, ‘Hey, something’s not right?’ That’s probably the extent of it.”
However, this was only visible to Sinia and Herion, individuals with renowned insight in the Academy. It appeared as a disparity to them.
“The vast majority of the Academy will probably say, ‘Ah, Bawler’s swordplay is just as mediocre as we heard.’ Oh, Mizu Bawler, you were there, right? Sorry! I didn’t mean it in a bad way.”
Sinia bowed her head to the on-screen Mizu Baurer.
Herion felt his head heat up at the thought of Sinia inserting herself into such a big deal, and at the sight of her being anything but her usual self.
Take a deep breath. Another deep breath.
Calm down.
Herion thought that he’d only be hurting himself if he got carried away with this woman.
When Herion had managed to calm himself, he spoke.
“So, are you suggesting that we align ourselves with those few instructors who can recognize that Participant Ceylon has the talent of an assassin?”
“Yes-!”
“How?”
Herion said before Sinia could finish her sentence.
“How do you intend to convince them-how on earth do you intend to convince them?”
These instructors, acknowledged by Sinia for their insight, were all remarkable individuals. They were either equally or even more skilled than Sinia herself, possessed unwavering convictions, and, above all else, had an incredibly strong will.
Just as strong-willed as Sinia, if not more so.
And, above all else, they harbored a deep aversion to assassins.
To ask for their cooperation in matters related to Ceylon, who possessed the talent of an assassin?
Unthinkable.
Such words came out involuntarily.
Rather than taking responsibility for such an event, it would have been better to participate in the Dragon Slayers.
Given that there must be a reason behind it, such an unreasonable mission must have been assigned.
Herion, without even considering the possibility that Sinia might not have a plan, said, “Do you have a clever idea to dissuade them?”
‘Give me a plan.’
“That’s for Instructor Herion to think about from now on, isn’t it?”
In reality there is no such thing like a plan
Sinia’s response was unexpected.
“What?”
Herion’s thought process came to a halt due to the unimaginable answer.
“Just because, as of this moment, the guardian of number 348 has become Instructor Herion?”
“Huh?”
“So, Instructor Herion. Please take care of him, alright?”
“Yes?”
“So, Instructor Herion. Please make sure to give us a moderately satisfactory grade and ensure that we don’t get into trouble for taking it.”
“Yes?”
“Then, I’ll rely on you, Herion~ Please do your best~ I have to go~”
“Huh?”
“Then, I’ll rely on you, Herion~ Please do your best~ I have to go~”
***
Leaving the waiting room where the Swordsmanship Department officers were gathered, Sinia immediately reached into her bosom and pulled out something.
It was a note.
“Target found…”
Sinia grinned with excitement.
The unleashed hounds had caught the scent of their target’s blood.
An assassin from the underworld of Ariene.
A member of Harashin.
After years of pursuit, he had finally been located, and Sinia succeeded in tracking down her target.
According to the information Sinia had gathered, he wasn’t just a lucky amateur who stumbled upon Harasin and learned assassination skills indirectly. He was a direct heir of Harasin, properly trained by his master, and a skilled assassin.
‘Harashin…’
If she could capture him alive and interrogate him, there was a high chance of gaining crucial information about them.
It was a joyful day.
And an important one.
Sinia steeled herself.
She knew that her target was not someone to be taken lightly.
Would she be able to capture him alive?
‘I must.’
There was no other choice.
Sinia steeled herself.
She made sure she was well-prepared.
The target is Rendal of Sesson.
***
Rumbling.
The atmosphere in the waiting room for the third round of examinations had reached a fever pitch.
At first, the atmosphere was created by the participants who had just finished the test and returned to the waiting room from the conclusion.
However, as time went on, the source of the excitement shifted.
“Did you hear that?”
“Oh, yes, I heard that Kasha-ssi has reached the same level of the 7th gate as Drin-ssi.”
Kasha Hanahan had outperformed Drin Lebringer in the Second Test.
She even managed to catch up to him in the third test.
The shocking story quickly spread throughout the waiting room, and everyone was talking about it.
And then.
An even more shocking story topped it.
“No, that’s not the only story.”
“What? What else?”
“Apparently, the final grades of Team 13, consisting of Agion, Adella, and Melhen, were-”
Adella.
The woman responsible for spreading the shocking news puffed out her chest as much as she could and paced the waiting room.
With every step she took, she was followed by voices, glances, and attention. She enjoying it all while searching for someone.
“Have you seen Adryn, by any chance?”
“Oh, if it’s Adryn, then she’s over there—”
Soon, Adella discovered Adryn, who was with her team members, and approached her.
Adella remembered.
The moment she first met Adryn a long time ago.
It was a kind of social gathering for the successors of many martial arts families to build camaraderie.
The host of the gathering was the Espien family.
In other words, Adella’s family.
Adella led the social gathering as the beloved child of the hosting family.
She was the center of attention, and she shone the brightest.
And that was the moment when she should shine the most.
A friendly duel.
It was an event that couldn’t be avoided, given the gathering of martial arts families.
Adella chose her opponent to showcase herself.
Not too weak, not too strong.
Not too insignificant, not too extraordinary.
A family similar in status to Espien.
And a swordsman of similar skill to herself.
It was Adryn.
Adella chose Adryn as her friendly duel opponent.
And she lost by a significant margin.
“Ah, what should I do…! Are you okay?”
At the time, Adryn, despite her unassuming appearance, possessed incredible skill.
Adella, humiliated beyond measure.
She remembered Adryn extending her hand with sincere sympathy in her eyes.
Then, she saw the aristocrats in the room, looking down on her with cold, disdainful glares.
Adella could never forget that moment.
Since then, that moment became the worst for Adella.
The most humiliating moment.
But that was all in the past.
At this very moment, she was determined to extinguish that ember thoroughly so it would never reignite.
Adryn, that bitch was no longer above her.
“Adryn-ssi?”
Adella said the name with a smirk of superiority.
“I suppose you’ve heard the story?
Adella hoped.
What would Adryn’s reaction be to hearing that she had beaten the team of Drin Lebringer and Kasha Hanahan, thus securing her place at the top of the Third Test.
Would Adryn feel inferior and humiliated?
Or would Adryn pretend to be fine while struggling with her sense of inferiority and humiliation?
“Ah, Adella-ssi. You’re here?”
Adryn turned to Adella with a nonchalant expression.
“…?”
Adella stared at Adryn, dumbfounded.
‘Wait.’
At that moment, a sound echoed throughout the waiting room, capturing the attention of the participants.
Someone was standing on the platform in the corner of the waiting room.
“Oh, it’s him!”
“Sir Herion! Sir Herion Dederer!”
The eighth generation of the Dederer family.
A rare genius recorded in the history of the Academy’s swordsmanship department.
Above all, one of the best instructors the Academy has ever had.
Herion Dederer, whose teachings all the participants in this room would be eagerly awaiting.
“I will now announce the final results of the Third Test.”
Everyone’s attention was focused on him.
What the hell had just happened?
Herion spoke with a look of extreme fatigue on his face.
“I will announce the group that reached the highest gate first, and achieved the best time.”
At those words, all eyes turned from Herion to Adella.
“Team 17, consisting of the following three participants: Adryn Teln, Mizu Bauer, and Ceylon. Congratulations.”
Then, the focus shifted to Adryn, who was standing next to Adella.
“…?”
Adella was stunned as she looked at Adryn.
“Oh, by lucky chance, I won the 3rd test?”
Adryn had lost to Adella in the 2nd test.
And now, Adryn was wearing an expression that should have been Adella’s instead in the 3rd test.
“Next, we will announce the participant with the highest bonus points in the individual assessment criteria, who achieved the top ranking.”
The room buzzed with anticipation.