“Why can’t it be done?”
After school, I headed to the faculty building to resolve Yuli’s situation.
It wasn’t a pleasant action, akin to tattling, but it was one of the most orthodox solutions. Of course, depending on the case, it could worsen the situation.
However, it seems I had the wrong assumption from the start. I expected Yuli’s professor to at least pretend to care, but there was no sign that he intended to resolve Yuli’s situation.
“The Academy is an educational institution, not a daycare center. Why should we listen to you coming here whining? You know the Academy isn’t mandatory, right? If you don’t like it, just leave. Weak? Don’t underestimate the Academy. It’s a place to cultivate the best talents on the continent. If someone is weak, that’s their own fault. At least in my class.”
“But…!”
“Enough. I don’t recommend overstepping further. Considering I’m not directly involved, I’ve already explained enough to you. If you want to say more, go find your professor.”
It probably won’t change anything…
Saying that, he turned his chair and started examining the documents on his desk.
A wall of rejection.
It seemed no matter what I said, he wouldn’t even pretend to listen. So, I turned to Professor Ferent, our class’s supervisor.
“Then, at least please help transfer Yuli to our class. The bullying will naturally disappear, and if it doesn’t, I can take care of her.”
Listening silently to my words, Professor Ferent paused briefly before responding.
“Unfortunately, that’s impossible. Alicia, I understand your feelings, but Professor Selen’s words are reasonable. It’s within the authority of Class 2’s professor. Neither I nor even the principal can interfere with the authority of the responsible teacher.”
As the Academy is one of the best educational institutions, only renowned specialists in each field are hired as professors. Naturally, they have great pride in their own values. With high egos, it’s expected they would react strongly if someone trespasses on their authority.
“Would you, Professor, also agree with Professor Selen that being weak is a sin? Do you think it’s right to belittle the weak?”
“Am I being tested on knighthood by the royal knight captain? That provocation wasn’t too bad.”
Ferent stroked his short goatee and smirked.
“It’s not about my opinion. It’s simply impossible. If you want to help that child, bring a valid reason to convince Professor Selen.”
“A valid reason? Alright. I’ll definitely bring you the reason you desire.”
I bowed slightly, opened the door to leave, and heard his voice from behind.
“I’ll be looking forward to it.”
March 31st. It has already been a month since entering the Academy.
Before heading to school, I stood in front of the full-length mirror placed in a corner of my room and slowly examined myself.
Still not yet accustomed to drying and combing it, but my silver hair deserves the time spent. It catches your eye first.
Next, I check my face. As the late TS mage Sem Mogura said, my face is convenient since it doesn’t require makeup.
For the top, I wore the physical education uniform for today’s sparring over a lightly draped blazer. Normally, I’d get scolded for this outfit, but not today.
For the bottom, obviously sportswear pants. I don’t want to wear a skirt today.
I pull out white socks from the drawer, perfectly matching my gloves.
Despite all efforts, I’m clearly a woman.
On regular days, I might not care, but today is different since I’ve made up my mind.
‘Elysia Frentz.’
An identity borrowed for an assassination contract, just for a while. If I hadn’t taken it over, it would have been just another name I passed by. But not anymore.
The name of a young girl who died prematurely. The name I must live by.
Honestly, I don’t really care what she was like, but since I inherited her identity, I can’t help being curious about her.
There aren’t many people left who remember her, a mere young lady, not a head of house. But perhaps I can remember her.
Even though I don’t know what her true face looked like — the real ‘Elysia Frentz.’
Though I haven’t asked for it, I will take your name.
And I’ll pay for it properly.
So don’t feel too wronged. Isn’t this a fair deal for you?
“El~ we’ll leave without you if you’re late?”
As I took a moment to prepare myself, Anne’s voice came from outside the door, completely oblivious to my feelings. Of course, knowing her, she wouldn’t leave me behind.
“Three, two, one! We’re going~”
She counted down and started walking away. What? Are you really going to leave this behind?
Clang!
I hurriedly put on the glove I almost tripped over and opened the door just to find Anne standing right in front of it, not far away.
Selian, standing beside Anne, waved lightly at me.
“You came out fast. Let’s go then!”
Seeing Anne march ahead without noticing my stumble, I couldn’t help but laugh.
Though, she retaliated by punching me back after I poked her side.
Griffin Academy, being a large institution, hosts various events.
One of them is the Class Competition held monthly by the Swordsmanship Department, an exclusive event that neither the Administration nor Theology Departments, nor the busy all-term research-focused Department of Magic has.
Top students from each class are selected to compete in sparring matches. This simple event, which barely affects grades, is a drought-breaking rain for students who daily repeat studying and training.
The competition’s rules are simple. Each class sends five members. Winners advance in a champion-style format, competing until the last contender. However, the top student from each class must always be the captain and always goes last to prevent them from sweeping the competition too early.
Our class’s participants are me, Selian, Anne, Ian, and the class president, with whom I’ve occasionally exchanged a few words. Naturally, Selian is the captain.
The opposing Class 2’s five-member lineup includes four male and one female students. Among them, the group leader who bullied Yuli is the captain, a fact I was already aware of.
“Is it alright if I go first, if you all agree?”
I proposed my idea to the other participants. The order of appearance is also a kind of strategy, so I can’t just decide it myself. But today is the first step for ‘Elysia Frentz.’ To draw the picture I desire, it’s best for me to go first.
“Why do you have to go first? Wouldn’t it be better for the weakest, me, to go as reconnaissance?”
The class president adjusted his glasses and said. His point isn’t wrong, so it’s a consideration worth accepting, but…
“What’s the problem if she wants to go?”
I had already coordinated with Anne, Ian, and Selian ahead of time.
Though I feel slightly apologetic towards the class president, it can’t be helped.
“In that case…”
On the other hand, the order after me was mostly decided according to the class president’s opinion.
“Now, the first competitors from each class, please step forward.”
And thus the match began.
I stood up from my seat and ascended to the sparring arena following Professor Ferent’s announcement. The opponent ascending from the second class was the only female among the five members.
She’s the girl who ordered Yuli to buy a chocolate bread last time. Honestly, I hadn’t expected to face her here, but it’s nice to see her.
Facing each other, we exchanged brief greetings before the match began.
But I had no intention of wasting time. I ran forward as soon as the match started.
Even though she’s one of the top students in her class, the female student skillfully moved her steps backward, trying to block my sword as it lunged forward.
However, all she needs to see from me is overwhelming strength.
Using magical energy to enhance your body in a practice duel is against the rules, but enhancing your physical abilities is not. Though my physical strength may have weakened upon becoming a woman, my magical energy hasn’t lessened.
Unless I fight someone unusual like Ann or Selian, I have no reason to be outmatched by another woman.
Clang!
With just a single clash, the wooden sword in her hand flew far away.
Gripping a sword is one of the most basic skills for a swordsman. If you move backward with the sword, you might fall, but rarely would you let go of your weapon.
Unless there’s an overwhelming difference in strength.
Therefore, she too, startled, glanced at her hand with astonishment.
Since the match wasn’t over yet, had she dropped her sword, she should have immediately taken some action.
Tumbling on the ground, using a simple fighting technique, or escaping my attack somehow, and retrieving her weapon — she should have done something.
Her inability to do so showed that she was still an inexperienced student and indicated the gap between her and me.
That’s enough for now. I stopped my wooden sword just on her shoulder.
Mr. Ferent, the referee, ended the match without any special intervention, seemingly aware that I would stop.
I lightly grazed her neck with the wooden sword resting on her shoulder and retrieved it.
Then I smiled and said to Mr. Ferent,
“Shall we proceed to the next one?”
In short, the following three matches also ended in my favor, and I sent the subsequent students from Class 2 down the steps.
Initially, I wouldn’t lose to opponents like these. Having someone like Selian in my class makes it seem trivial, but I once aimed to be the youngest Sword Master.
The final student, the captain of Class 2, is about to come up. Showing no concern about me taking down four in a row, he approached with a smirk. Go ahead, keep smiling.
“Last time, I wondered what made you act so smug. Looks like you had some tricks up your sleeve after all.”
“Such nonsense.”
“Nah, it’s just a commoner swinging a sword. That’s all.”
“Dear me, if you really swing a sword well, that’s impressive. But judging by how you forget the simple rule in the Academy stating there’s no difference between nobles and commoners, I’d say your written scores aren’t good, though you became the captain.”
A light provocation.
“Hah. Still holding onto that useless rule? Girls like you will inevitably end up spreading your legs eventually.”
His response was rather harsh. Mr. Ferent tried to intervene, seeing that it was an inappropriate comment, but I moved first.
For today, I bought an expensive pair of gloves that I didn’t even use. I took them off and threw them at his face.
Flap!
With the emotion behind my sudden throw, they slapped against his face and dropped to the floor.
Click, click. I slowly walked out of the arena and retrieved my sword that Anne had kept for me.
Swish
The sharp blade emerged from its scabbard, unlike a wooden sword, with a cold edge. And the edge pointed towards my opponent.
He reacted better to my provocation than I expected. Need proof? Well, then I’ll make it for you, by force if necessary.
“‘Elysia Frentz.’ As a representative of the Prentz House, I challenge you to a duel for disgracing me.”
His face turned red with anger from being slapped. Of course, it’s natural for him to be mad after getting slapped out of nowhere. So…
“Come on, you piece of trash, if you’re upset.”
The last sentence in the original Korean text seems to be related to a different context or potentially an unrelated HTML code snippet for a slider/banner. Since there’s no coherent text to translate, it wouldn’t be included in the English translation.*
