Chapter 46: Who the Hell Are You?


    The student cafeteria was, strangely enough, quite different from the formal meals Le and I had eaten at home. Most of the time, all the food was put into one te.


    I didn’t have any particr feeling of rejection. Rather, this was efficient. It didn’t take up much space because it was divided into several containers, and it was easy to handle.


    When I was in the military in my previous life, a stew, where everything was boiled together, was my staple food.


    At a nce, it seemed to be because mealtimes were short, and that if all the people at the Imperial Academy were to eat the way they used to at home, there wouldn’t be enough tables in the entire academy.


    “Oh, this is alright.”


    It wasn’t as good as what I used to eat at home, but I wasn’t that picky. I lived longer in my previous life than I did in my current life. Rather, I was of the opinion that any food was fine as long as it filled my stomach, even if it didn’t taste good.


    Except for tarts.


    So, as soon as I received the food, I ate it without much hesitation, but Le strangely remained still.


    “Why aren’t you eating?”


    “…”


    Le didn’t even bother to pick up the dishes and just stared at her te. I was about to ask more because I thought it was strange, but Le barely managed to answer.


    “… I’m still thinking about how to eat, so wait.”


    I burst outughing. It didn’t matter to me, since in my previous life I ate and slept in an environment worse than this, but that wasn’t the case for Le.


    So, I found it quite admirable that she tried to adapt without showing any signs of difort.


    “It tastes good.”


    Luckily, Le adapted quickly. The food itself was delicious, even though it was all put together.


    “Though it’s not quite so formal, this is actually quitefortable.”


    “You’re adapting quickly. That’s good.”


    It seemed that Le was not a nobledy who acted strict and arrogant.


    “By the way, there are a lot of people. Does everyone gather here every lunchtime?”


    “I heard that you can buy a snack or eat something like a sandwich at the za over there.”


    There were so many people. Was this what it felt like to be crowded?


    In the midst of all this, students who looked a bit older tended to finish their meals within five minutes of sitting down and left in a hurry. They said that studying got harder as you advanced in grade, and I think that saying was true.


    “Are we going to end up like that, too?”


    “Well, I don’t think you would, Dane.”


    “Huh?”


    “You’re good at everything.”


    I chuckled at those words and said, “Even doing something well requires effort.”


    Of course, I had talent, but that didn’t mean I just relied on that talent and went wild.


    “Did you hear? Kentner, who did the roulette against freshmen, got ripped off this time.”


    “Really? Hasn’t he done that since he was in his second year? He said it was some kind of assignment?”


    Just then, I heard an interesting story. Le stopped eating and looked at me, then tilted her ear in that direction.


    “That could be true. Or it could be a money-making scheme. Anyway, doesn’t that mean he got ripped off by a freshman?”


    “Ripped off? By a freshman?”


    “That’s what I’m saying. They say that every time he threw, it hit something.”


    I guess they were talking about me.


    “Dane, aren’t they talking about you?”


    “I think so.”


    They continued talking while getting food.


    “Well, apparently it was Dane Sogres. He’s the new top student. He’s enrolled in an autonomous major!”


    “The top student is really different.”


    “I’m jealous, so jealous.”


    I shrugged.


    “I think the rumor has spread?”


    “Yes. You’re already famous.”


    It felt like a natural thing since I went around with the name Sogres. Of course, I had no idea I would be famous for throwing daggers.


    Anyway, we finished our meal and left the cafeteria. Instead of warm sunlight, we were greeted by a slightly cloudy sky.


    “Dane, what’s your next ss? I’m taking Introduction to Swordsmanship!”


    “I have a liberal arts ss.”


    “Alright. Then when you’re done, let’s look at the treasure map together! Come straight to the garden! The first one to finish wille and wait!”


    The Misty Garden.


    Thinking about it, I felt a bit guilty, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the truth. Instead, I parted ways with Le and headed to Demert Hall.


    It was the ce where liberal arts sses were mainly held. Looking at the sign in front of the building, it said that it was one of the first buildings built when the academy was established.


    The liberal arts ss I was taking was ‘Empire’s History’, one of the required liberal arts courses. I had already been educated by the head butler beforeing here. I knew most of the basics, so I wasn’t too worried.


    I entered the ssroom and sat down in the empty seat by the window when I heard a voice next to me.


    “Dane, can I sit next to you?”


    It was Ernest Dn.


    “You’re in this ss, too.”


    “Yeah. It’s a required ss for freshmen. I was looking to see if you were here and…”


    Unlike his excited chattering self in the Misty Garden earlier, he asked in a very timid manner.


    “Can I sit next to you…?”


    “Do you need permission for things like that?”


    “N-no. That’s not it…”


    What a fascinating person.


    Anyway, Ernest sat down next to me with a broad smile.


    “Oh, Dane. How are you feeling?”


    “Hmm. I don’t think there’s anything particrly strange. Just a little different?”


    “What’s changed?”


    “It’s a bitplicated, but I’ll exin it in detailter. Oh, right. There’s something I wanted to tell you.”


    I was just about to tell him about the Academy treasure map I had won first ce in the dagger-throwing contest…


    “Huh, are you Ernest?”


    …When a sound came from behind us.


    As I was about to turn my head, my eyes met with Ernest’s for a moment.


    He was afraid. His pupils were quivering, lips tightly shut, fists clenched, and body trembling.


    What was that about?


    He was like a soldier suffering from trauma.


    “Hey, that’s right! Ernest! To think we’d meet here of all ces?”


    In the midst of this, five people approached us. Thergest one put a hand on Ernest’s shoulder, and Ernest turned around in surprise.


    “B-Bronn. H-hello.”


    “What, you got in? You should have said something! I got in this year too!”


    Was this a friendship? It didn’t look normal.


    “Hey, how did you get in? I thought you wouldn’t be able to enter the academy. Haha. Just kidding, kidding. I still remember how you shrank in fear whenever I just said something.”


    Ernest’s expression grew darker and darker. Were they just frenemies? Or…


    “If I’d known this would happen, I would have gone to the entrance ceremony. I thought it’d be boring, so I didn’t go.”


    As expected.


    “But good timing. The cafeteria seemed far away, so I was annoyed. Let’s talkter, and since we’re here, go to the cafeteria and buy some sandwiches.”


    “…”


    “What, why aren’t you saying anything?”


    “I-I’m with a friend right now… It might be a little difficult right now…”


    “A friend? You have a frieeend?”


    Watching him drag out his words, I think I might have cut his tongue out in the past. The one named Bronn looked at me and tilted his head.


    “Are you Ernest’s friend? A freshman?”


    I just stared at him without answering.


    Then Bronn snickered and said, “Look at this kid. Aren’t you going to answer? Is it because you’re from another department? What department are you from? I’m from the Swordsmanship Department. You know the Swordsmanship Department? Are you from the same department as Ernest?”


    I didn’t know what family he came from, but his rough demeanor reminded me of the countless city thugs I’d seen on the battlefield.


    By the way, I was a specialist in correcting that type of person. There were many people who got screwed over aftering to the battlefield thinking they were something because they used their fists in a back alley somewhere.


    As I was quietly thinking一


    “Alright, let’s get ready for ss. Everyone, get back to your seats.”


    The door opened and the professor came in. Bronn, who was about to approach me, licked his lips as if he were disappointed and turned his head towards Ernest.


    “See you after ss, Ernest? It’s nice to see you. We have a lot to talk about.”


    When he hit Ernest lightly on the back, Ernest’s upper body tilted forward.


    “Ack!”


    “Punk, don’t be such a pussy.”


    And as they left, Ernest was clearly shaking with fear.


    “Are you okay?”


    “D-Dane… I-I’m sorry… because of me…”


    “Who are they? It seems like you already knew each other.”


    Ernest answered with a timid voice, “Back at home… they were from other Houses and bullied me…”


    I think I knew what it felt like. A friend from back home, huh? Of course, they didn’t seem like friends.


    “I thought we wouldn’t run into each other because the academy is so big and there are so many departments… I guess my expectations were too high. I’m sorry, Dane. Just because I said I’d sit next to you…”


    “No, it doesn’t matter,” I stated ndly. “I’ll go with youter.”


    “Go… go together? Where?”


    “They said to meet upter, didn’t they?”


    “No! I-I can go by myself!”


    “Then what will happen?”


    “…”


    Since there was no answer, I figured my assumption was correct.


    “If they keep looking down on you, you’ll continue to suffer.”


    “That’s true, but…”


    “Then do as you wish. Well, I’m fine. I can just go to the dorm and rest.” I turned my head away from Ernest and looked at the professor.


    “ss is starting.”


    * * *


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    * * *


    The Academy was both and of adventure and an escape for Ernest. An escape from trauma.


    Maybe it was a refuge.


    Local noble families had frequent exchanges with other noble families from a young age.


    The exchanges between the heads of the houses soon turned into ones between their children. In the process, the ranking of the children was determined by the status and reputation of their respective heads.


    In Ernest’s case, the Dn family had no particr fame outside of exploration, so he had to naturally ept a lower rank. Ernest endured severe harassment from other noble children and eventually chose to enter the academy.


    But who would have thought that the other noble kids who had been bullying him would have entered school with him at the minimum age for admission?


    Among them, Bronn was the worst.


    “Hey, who’s that person with Ernest? Does he have any ‘friends’ other than us?”


    “I don’t know. He entered the academy. He might have just been lucky enough to meet someone.”


    Bronn Sauer chewed his gum and red at the back of Ernest’s head. The silver-haired boy next to him was quite annoying, but he didn’t care.


    “Later, teach that kid where the store is so he can buy things right away when I ask him to.”


    Bronn smiled darkly. It was a great thing to have a subordinate at your beck and call at any time.


    Count Sauer.


    As the sessor to House Sauer, which had built up quite a powerful force in the West, he could trample on the likes of Baron Dn at any time.


    “But that Thermion girl didn’te here, right?”


    “I think so. I guess she’s taking another ss.”


    Bronn smacked his lips in disappointment.


    Le Thermion.


    They said she was very beautiful and cool. She had already be a hot topic among not only seniors but also freshmen.


    ‘I’ll get her.’


    Bronn had great ambition. He couldn’t stay stuck in a remote corner of the western countryside forever. Now that he was at the academy, he was going to build up hiswork in the capital.


    Bronn intended to im Le Thermion as a trophy and the pinnacle of thatwork.


    The story of a provincial nobleman’s rise to fame.


    Wasn’t it usible?


    “Today is orientation, so I’ll wrap it up here. It’s the first day of school, so I hope you all have a good time.”


    Since it was an orientation lesson, the ss didn’tst long. Bronn got up from his seat right away. He didn’t have another ss. He was thinking of taking that guy for a slow walk.


    Yeah, the Misty Garden would be nice, right? It was always foggy there when the weather was cloudy, and on foggy days, no one went there.


    Just as he thought so…


    “Uh, Bronn?”


    One of his subordinates called out to Bronn and pointed to the ssroom door. Ernest was leaving. He and the silver-haired guy.


    “What, are they running away?” Bronn chuckled.


    Yes, they were ying within the palm of his hand.


    It didn’t matter if they escaped. Since they were all at the academy anyway, they would encounter each other again. There was no way to escape.


    “Let’s go. Let’s see how far they can go.”


    Was this what it felt like to chase down prey caught in a trap? Bronn left the ssroom with his group and followed Ernest.


    The silver-haired boy next to him was strangely annoying, but he didn’t matter, anyway. Since those two were friends, they were probably of simr standing. Wouldn’t it be more convenient to have one more subordinate?


    “But where are they going?”


    How long did they have to chase after them like this?


    The crowd of people around them gradually decreased, and before they knew it, they had headed toward the garden.


    Bronn burst outughing.


    They came in so naturally.


    He was nning on going there anyway.


    “Hey, why don’t you stop now? You have nowhere to go anyway.”


    The two stopped at Bronn’s shout and turned their heads to face Bronn.


    Bronn snickered. Ernest was still shaking. The boy next to him looked calm, but he would soon be the same.


    “Hey, what are you going to do? I just want to talk.”


    “Well, he doesn’t seem to think so.” Dane pointed to Ernest and asked Bronn. “Are you a friend?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    “Haha. Of course, we’re friends. Very close friends. I’ve known him longer than you. Right, Ernest?”


    Ernest didn’t answer Bronn’s question, and Bronn wiggled his eyebrows.


    “Ernest, answer.”


    “…”


    “Are you crazy?”


    Dane chuckled. “Look, you’re not a friend.”


    Bronn changed his target.


    “Who the hell are you? Why are you meddling? Hey, do you want to get beat up?”


    Dane looked at Bronn quietly and asked, “I have a question to ask.”


    “What?”


    Dane’s cold voice rang out, “Who the hell are you to interfere with my ns?”