Record (1)
Chapter 69
Hamus emptied his mind and watched as Ray wildly charged around.
Ray was throwing stones at the ones who had mentioned Alesya’s name, shouting for them to draw their swords—a challenge that was essentially a duel request.
The first one insulted, Ruble, couldn’t hold back his smirk and pointed towards the clearing.
“Follow me.”
The clearing was originally prepared for testing Artefact performance.
It wasn’t a place anyone could use freely, but the onlookers nearby all moved aside with excited faces.
After all, a duel between squires is usually more popular than one involving a fully-fledged Expert Knight.
Because of their inexperience, unpredictable situations often arose, leading to many entertaining moments.
Hamus and Viktor squeezed through the crowd with expressions akin to having bitten into a bug.
Among the murmuring spectators, voices mocking Ray’s arrogance could be heard.
Ruble also clicked his tongue while taunting Ray.
“Does holding an overpowered weapon make you think you’re something special?”
Lowering his voice, Ruble whispered.
“Stop fooling around and go grovel to your master.”
Ray silently beckoned Hamus with his finger.
Having entrusted the silver sword he planned to give Johanna to Hamus, Ray drew the cheap sword he normally used.
Seeing this, Ruble shook his head.
“What a laughable kid with too much pride.”
The atmosphere grew even tenser with continued provocation.
Holding the silver sword close to his chest, Hamus recalled past events.
The moment when his sword, infused with mana, was cleanly bisected by Ray.
‘Perhaps even in the Dungeon…’
Although Jenkins had said that two Osiris knights were defeated simultaneously in the dungeon, Hamus thought it was likely exaggerated.
Boom!
With his sword lowered, Ray leapt forward.
Ruble swung his sword toward the rapidly approaching Ray.
That was the end.
Clang!!
An unexpected recoil disrupted Ruble’s grip.
Only after a moment did Ruble realize he’d lost his sword.
“Huh?”
Before Ruble could process his confusion, Ray discarded his own sword.
Ray clearly had no intention of ending the fight cleanly by merely placing a blade against his opponent’s neck.
Instead, Ray’s fist connected with Ruble’s jaw.
Crack!!
“Guh?!”
“What do you think you’re doing talking trash like that?”
Crack!!
Once again, Ruble’s jaw was struck, causing him to stagger forward with both hands outstretched.
“Now, wait a minute…”
“Not happening.”
Snap!!
Ray kicked Ruble’s shin.
Spinning half a turn, Ruble fell headfirst onto the ground.
“Ugh!!”
“This! How dare you mock! Our Young Miss!”
Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!
Ray’s kicks continued.
Ruble rolled across the ground, unable to avoid Ray’s assault.
So much dust rose from Ray’s relentless kicking that it became noticeable.
Brushing his hair back while panting, Ray pointed at another individual who had carelessly mentioned Alesya’s name.
Next. You, come here.”
The squire indicated by Ray, Kudan, burst into laughter.
“Hah!”
Though Kudan believed Ruble had lost due to carelessness,
Kudan himself was undoubtedly a stronger figure, nearing the Expert level, far above Ruble.
Confidently puffing out his chest, Kudan approached Ray with steady steps.
And after receiving exactly three strikes from Ray’s sword, Kudan began to be beaten like a dog.
Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!
“Get down! Even if begging isn’t your style! Who gave you the nerve to stand tall before someone else?!”
“Kiieeeek!!”
Kudan screamed like a beast as he rolled across the ground.
Watching this, Hamus confirmed his suspicion.
‘That guy is at the Expert Level.’
Though it was unclear precisely what level of mastery Ray had attained,
it was certain that he possessed strength comparable to an Expert Knight.
Ultimately, three more squires after Kudan were soundly beaten by Ray.
Even though there were Masters among the spectators, none intervened directly or pressured Ray.
It would damage their pride and raise issues of justification.
In the end, leaving behind five unconscious squires, Ray left the clearing.
Frowning, Hamus returned the silver sword.
“What are you trying to do?”
Though it might seem fine now, it could become a source of conflict later.
This behavior posed a risk not to Ray personally, but to the House of Count Philip.
Ray shrugged.
“My aunt is coming.”
“Who’s your aunt?”
“Saria.”
“…The Imperial Hero Saria?”
“Yeah.”
“Please, say something that makes sense…”
Hamus stopped mid-reproach and closed his mouth.
Saria, who had eradicated the Locusts at a young age and gained immense renown,
and Ray, who at thirteen possessed skills surpassing most squires.
Were they really aunt and nephew?
Could that…
“Be true?”
Hamus and Viktor simultaneously widened their eyes.
If this mysterious individual was Saria’s blood relative, and furthermore, directly trained by her, then such skill made sense.
Hastily grabbing Ray’s arm, Hamus and Viktor bombarded him with questions about Saria.
*
Upon returning to the dormitory, Ray showed the silver sword to Jenkins while packing his belongings.
Jenkins, unsurprisingly, admired the sword carefully.
“Jepelin’s reputation is well-deserved…”
“Do you want it?”
“Heh heh… I may desire it, but it’s not something I need.”
Around the Graduate level, the quality of a sword becomes crucial.
When weaving dozens of strands of Sword Aura to create Sword Energy, the sword’s quality can limit performance.
While there’s little difference once a certain standard is met, a martial artist’s attachment to weapons is akin to instinct.
“You’ll be able to fully utilize the value of this sword soon enough.”
“I don’t plan to use it.”
“…?”
“It’s for Johanna.”
“Ah…”
Looking at Ray, Jenkins silently sheathed the sword.
Johanna was truly gifted, so investing in something like this wasn’t wasteful at all.
Still, Jenkins wondered about the origin and reasons behind Ray’s occasional detached nature.
Ray pushed the silver sword aside and drew the sword with two straight lines engraved on its scabbard.
This gray sword, purchased for 12,000 gold, was quite an excellent piece.
Swinging it a few times in the air, Ray changed the subject.
“Was Alesya cooped up in the dorm again today?”
“Not only that, but the Chief Professor visited her dormitory, looking for her under the pretense of an investigation, but she refused to respond.”
“Ke ke ke…”
Chuckling darkly, Ray rubbed his temples.
“She’s caused trouble again.”
“That’s right.”
“What?! Why does she keep causing trouble even after coming all the way to the Royal Magic Tower?!”
“…Exactly.”
Jenkins also nodded, looking troubled.
“What kind of trouble has she caused?”
“It seems like you should ask her directly. She refuses to explain.”
*
“She didn’t respond to the summons.”
Diorica, the Chief Professor of the Royal Magic Tower, spoke cautiously, glancing around.
In front of Diorica sat various nobles, each with disgruntled expressions.
After slightly over ten days of investigation, it was revealed that ‘decadent culture’ had spread among noble young ladies studying abroad.
Following inquiries with noble young ladies involved in circulating obscene novels, they identified the main culprit behind the situation.
Alesya.
Using obscene novels, Alesya had gathered other young ladies, building her influence and indulging in decadence.
“Shouldn’t you expel that woman immediately? That cursed woman ruined my sister… My sister…!”
Angelo pounded his chest, revealing his anger.
It was a rather embarrassing matter, so everyone exchanged glances, but most agreed with Angelo’s opinion.
The issue was that this matter needed to be resolved quietly.
If word spread that unmarried noble young ladies were circulating obscene novels and problems arose, it would be disastrous.
Initially, Diorica summoned Alesya, intending to resolve the issue quietly with an appropriate excuse about obscene novel sharing, planning to dismiss her from the tower discreetly.
However, furious individuals like Angelo and other protectors of the noble young ladies wanted Alesya thoroughly humiliated.
“The consequences of bringing such subversive books into the Royal Magic Tower must be properly addressed!”
In fact, upon learning of the incident, the noble families initially thought Angelo was overreacting.
But after reading those ‘subversive books’ themselves,
they enthusiastically supported Angelo’s claims.
Clearing his throat, Diorica asked,
“If this incident becomes public, won’t it harm the reputations of the other young ladies as well?”
“How so?”
“?
“These subversive books were solely brought in and enjoyed by Alesya alone until discovered by the others, correct?”
Everyone nodded.
Glancing around, Diorica clicked her tongue.
Though questionable whether this matter warranted such severity,
because of the numerous parties involved, someone had to take responsibility.
And Alesya belonged to a relatively humble family.
Finishing her disgrace and expulsion from the tower would make any protest difficult.
*
Even after the conference, Alesya continued to finish only the minimum curriculum and quickly fled back to her dormitory.
Ray waited until Alesya and Florya’s shared class ended, and as soon as the professor exited, he rushed inside.
Alesya, who was packing her bag to escape, froze upon seeing Ray.
Ray shattered the door handle leading outside the lecture hall.
“Alesya-sama, please sit.”
“…”
As Alesya fidgeted nervously, Ray’s expression darkened.
“Hey, sit down.”
“My knight seems particularly forceful today…”
Reluctantly, Alesya took her seat.
Ray motioned with his finger to Florya as well.
“Florya-sama, please sit.”
“Uh…”
Though utterly unbecoming of a noble, Florya reluctantly found a seat.
Taking a deep breath, Ray faced Alesya.
“Hey, what kind of trouble have you caused?”
“M-my lord, I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
Alesya’s eyes darted around restlessly.
Ray hoped it was some trivial matter and turned to Florya.
If Alesya had caused trouble, Florya, who spent most of her time with her, probably knew something.
Just as Ray opened his mouth, loud knocks echoed through the classroom.
“Ray, you should step outside.”
It was Jenkins’ voice.
Wondering what the matter was, Ray grabbed the broken door handle and pulled it open.
Outside, several mages, multiple knights, and several people who looked like nobles stood waiting.
Chief Professor Diorica spoke first.
“Um… There’s suspicion that Alesya brought indecent novels into the Royal Magic Tower, so we’ve come to investigate.”
“…?”
What is this nonsense?
As Ray blinked in shock, Diorica added further explanation.
“Those indecent novels… were being enjoyed without regard for time or place, noticed by other students, and reported.”
Ray grabbed the back of his neck as his blood pressure rose.
“Damn… I’m losing it.”
Curses bubbled up to his throat.
