The process of selecting a practical assignment was prolonged.
Each assignment had varying levels of difficulty and corresponding grade bonuses. Most Academy Students were bound to care about their grades, making the choice of assignments a major topic of discussion among the third-year students ahead of their final exams.
If one simply wanted to avoid failing, choosing a safe assignment was not a bad option. Although the practical assignment scores were significant, they were not insurmountable compared to theoretical subjects.
There were always a few students every year who took on excessive assignments only to fail to achieve the set goals. Choosing a difficult assignment that was beyond one’s capability would only lead to disaster.
There were no scores given for assignment failures.
Since practical assignments held a large weight in students’ grades, failing one essentially meant a very high probability of becoming a dropout that year.
Thus, students who went on practical assignments struggled in every way to avoid failing them. Some even ended up dying in the process.
At this point, it seemed the Academy should take measures to reduce casualties, but the Academy had never abolished the tradition of practical assignments.
This was because the Academy was both an educational and training institution.
While it focused on education and protection for lower grades, it gradually emphasized practical experience and training from higher grades. The practical assignment could be seen as the beginning of that.
There was no such thing as real practice that didn’t put one’s life on the line. The Academy wanted its students to realize, even if just a little, this cruel reality.
Due to these circumstances, the assignment board was always bustling with crowds leading up to the practical assignment period. Today was no different.
New assignments were added to the board every day, and there were more new assignments created than there were old ones disappearing. This indicated that many places on the continent needed talented individuals.
However, among those, assignments that were relatively valuable and safe quickly disappeared. As a result, a few third-year students even took self-imposed breaks to camp out in front of the board all day.
There were many students desperate for practical assignments. Of course, I was an exception.
Originally, I wasn’t very concerned about grades. I was just satisfied that I had progressed from the lower to middle tier and now was being classified as upper-middle.
It was a remarkable achievement considering the short time of less than a month, but objectively speaking, that was my limit.
Defeating the top students in each grade was merely a result of coincidence and luck.
If perhaps the “me” from the future were here, I might not have seen it that way. Given that I had managed to overpower Senior Delphine, it certainly seemed I possessed greater skill. With such abilities, even being the top student in my grade didn’t seem like a dream.
However, it was trivial to discuss a future that could be years away. The letter indicated it came from seven years in the future, but I had no way of knowing how many years ahead that future “me” was from.
There was also a situation where it could have come from decades in the future. By that time, I would have likely entered a mature level as a swordsman and could probably toy with students who lacked experience.
It would be nice if I could perfectly replicate that skill, but it was impossible for me right now. For the time being, it was best to refrain from being greedy and be satisfied with my recent achievements.
Thus, what I was interested in now was not skill improvement or high grades. I had a responsibility that was much more important than that.
Saving the world, though it didn’t feel real at all, was the mission that had been given to me.
And for that mission, I needed to go on a practical assignment to an orphanage. Although it had been hundreds of years since the war ended, orphans still overflowed the continent as long as monsters existed.
In other words, there were countless orphanages as well. Therefore, the first order of business was to establish the conditions under which I would choose one of them.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to start from scratch. I had a note from the Lady Virgin Saint.
An orphanage located in the eastern part of the continent, struggling with management issues while being supported by the Holy Kingdom.
At first glance, it seemed like a tricky condition, but even with such narrowing down, the list of orphanages that met the criteria reached dozens. I was currently comparing each of those clients with the list.
Fortunately, among the remaining assignments on the assignment board, there was only one client that matched that list.
Gilford Orphanage.
The assignment was for monster reconnaissance and extermination.
It was just a request issued by an orphanage, and reconnaissance and extermination of monsters fell under very common assignments. The expected difficulty was not that high, and the rewards were meager.
In other words, it meant that it had all the traits of an unpopular request. In fact, I could tell how long it had been neglected by the tattered state of the assignment document.
I gently peeled off the assignment. The content was also written in the second letter I had received.
“It won’t help your grades.”
It was precisely the kind of assignment that met that condition. It would be a choice that Senior Delphine and Senior Elsi would detest; however, it didn’t matter since those two would have scores they had accumulated over time.
My hesitation didn’t last long. Even though new assignments might come in, my intuition was telling me. This choice was the right one.
I felt a heaviness in my heart, mixed with a sense of desolation. I couldn’t begin to imagine what might happen at this orphanage.
There were only two words stuck in my mind.
“Raid” and “Nest.”
Ultimately, the meanings of these would have to be investigated on-site. For now, the only things I knew were that a raid would occur and that a nest was behind it.
With these thoughts, I turned on my heels and headed to the External General Affairs Department to notify them of my squad composition and the acceptance of the assignment.
At that moment, I spotted a familiar figure from a distance. A gaunt man with a haggard face.
It was Senior Permian. He was the monk who used to hang out with Senior Delphine, and I owed him in many ways.
First, he had given me emergency treatment, and I had repaid that kindness by biting his nose.
It was unavoidable back then. After all, the one who had launched the first attack was Senior Delphine, so I felt it was a sort of self-defense. Even so, human feelings were never that simple.
I still felt a sense of guilt towards him. So, when I hesitated about how to start a conversation, my eyes met Senior Permian’s.
His eyes widened in surprise. He looked taken aback. I put on an awkward smile and raised my hand.
“Hello, Senior Permian.”
“Junior, it’s been a while… I hope you’ve been well, Emmanuel.”
Hearing the unique greeting of the Holy Kingdom made Senior Permian seem more like a monk. I had never noticed, as he was always carrying a sword, but from what I experienced last time, he was a skilled martial artist.
His swordsmanship was clearly not at the level of a mere hobby. Though he wasn’t particularly famous among the fourth years, he was very strong in actual combat.
He was truly a person who fit the label of a “hidden strongman.” With his thin body and pallid complexion, one would never imagine him to be such a skilled fighter, and yet, he was also the type to worry about his opponent during battle.
In terms of character and skill, he was not someone I could dismiss.
So, I bowed my head deeply, filled with respect and remorse towards him.
“I apologize for what happened last time. Is your nose feeling better?”
Senior Permian burst into a hearty laugh at my cautious question. He shook his head with a genial smile.
“There’s no need to apologize, Junior. If we were to assign blame, it would be more my fault as I came at you cowardly with a sneak attack. You simply chose the best option available in that situation.”
Him speaking with such a humble tone made me feel even more guilty. If he had raised his voice and berated me, I could have brushed it off with laughter, but instead, I cleared my throat awkwardly.
There was no need to drag that problem further while Senior Permian was being so courteous. I decided to consider my previously accumulated debt resolved.
At that moment, the habitual pleasantries slipped out of my mouth.
“By the way, I didn’t realize you were a monk, Senior Permian.”
“Did you think otherwise?”
He responded with a bitter smile which prompted me to quickly shake my head to show I meant no offense.
“No, no. I just didn’t realize it until now because you wield your sword so well. But hearing you say ‘Emmanuel’ makes me think…”
“It’s a nice greeting,” he said with a beaming smile. When the topic of faith was brought up, he seemed to perk up.
This was a characteristic exclusive to clergy. If I just exchanged a few more pleasantries, Senior Permian would likely launch into several hours of theological discourse.
As expected, it wasn’t long before a cascade of explanations poured out from Senior Permian.
“As you know, ‘Emmanuel’ means ‘May the Lord be with you.’ But because its meaning is so simple, it is often used in various contexts. It’s a term to convey blessings upon another, a call to fulfill one’s duties, and it can also carry the meaning of obeying the Lord as He is with you.”
He seemed quiet in personality, but it appeared that Senior Permian was indeed a clergyman through and through. He was declaiming content without me even asking.
Normally, I would have just nodded along in silence to match the mood, but today, one word caught my ear.
“Obey?” I asked.
“Yes, ‘obey’… It’s one of the core doctrines of the Heavenly Deity Sect. In the beginning, Arus created human reason and spirit, and the Evil God Omelos formed the body. Because of that, sinfulness dwells in humans. This means that our bodies have an innate instinct to sin.”
The effortless continuation of his explanation consisted of material I was already familiar with. However, I was at a loss over how this concept of “obedience” connected to it, my eyes subtly focusing on Senior Permian.
His previously haggard face had regained vitality. Clerics seemed to have a unique hold on words after all.
“So, we cannot live without committing sin only by our own power. Only by emptying ourselves and obeying the will of the Lord can we live a perfect life.”
“Is that… even possible?”
“It’s not easy.”
Senior Permian declared that with a strained smile. He then immediately delved into a detailed explanation.
“Everyone fears abandoning ‘self.’ If someone like me, who has devoted my life to the Lord, feels that way, how will others feel? To renounce oneself means one must be prepared to sacrifice their life.”
“But is there really a need to go that far?”
“I can’t say.”
Saying this, Senior Permian drew the sign of the cross upon me. A mysterious smile lingered at the corners of his mouth—he seemed to wish that I would find the answer for myself.
“I’m a clergyman, so it fits me, but there’s no need for you to obey. However, you may one day have to face… a situation where you have to renounce yourself.”
Senior Permian left behind those prophetic words and departed. He didn’t forget to bow his head and say “Emmanuel” as he left. I stood still for a while, lost in thought.
Obeying oneself, huh?
At this moment, it felt like nothing more than an ambiguous religious slogan. Nevertheless, since it was a word the future me entrusted to paper, it must not be without meaning.
With those two characters nestled in my heart, I began to move my feet again.
It was nearly time to depart for the assignment.
The Warp Gate was the center of transport connecting the main points of the continent.
It required tremendous magical power, so the toll was expensive. However, once you passed through, you could travel distances that would typically take days within seconds—an achievement of civilization. It could be called the essence of modern magic theory.
Although it boasted a cost too high for even low-ranking nobility to use casually, Academy students could use the Warp Gate for free when it came to assignment work.
Even so, my destination, “Gilford Orphanage,” was located quite far from the major cities, meaning I would have to ride for at least half a day more. While I was somewhat disappointed about that, it was unavoidable.
Without the Warp Gate, I could only be thankful I wouldn’t have to sleep outdoors. I thought along those lines as I checked the items I had brought.
Along with clothing and daily necessities, a few potions given to me by Emma were mixed in with my belongings.
One potion to reduce heartbeats and mask my presence, one to boost natural healing, and an antidote.
I wasn’t sure if I would have to use them, but they were all useful potions. Since I had no idea what could happen, it was best to be thoroughly prepared.
In the end, we were set to depart not with four but with three people.
Normally, the rule was to divide into groups of four, but since students had varying relationships, many groups set out in pairs or trios depending on the circumstances. I decided to follow that precedent.
After all, the two I would be with were not just any students, but Senior Delphine and Senior Elsi, who ranked among the top of the fourth-years. Anything could happen, so quality was more important than quantity.
Bringing along a bunch of misfits would merely result in losing valuable lives. I organized the practical assignment group with that calculation in mind.
The only downside was that both Senior Elsi and Senior Delphine were leading their respective factions, so they had a lot to sort out.
In other words, it was impossible for them to depart at the same time as me. However, they promised to join within a day or two, so I just had to bear with it for a few more days.
As I contemplated these thoughts and stepped into the Warp Gate.
“Ugh.”
A disgusted voice came from across from me. Silver hair, pink eyes, and a man trailing behind like a shadow with green hair.
It was the Lady Virgin Saint and her escort, Yulen.
Yulen smiled and waved his hand gently when he saw me, but the Lady Saint frowned as if displeased and slightly bent her upper body.
There was an unmistakable look of distaste. It seemed that after learning I was the one who had attacked Senior Delphine, her disgust towards me had intensified.
I could understand that feeling. However, that didn’t mean my own feelings were pleasant.
I felt an impulsive urge to pull out my hand axe, but I restrained myself.
Using force recklessly was not suitable for a noble’s mental state. I wanted to make a graceful submission to the Lady Saint.
“There was no need to dislike me that much, was there?”
However, unlike the imaginative me who would eloquently subdue the Lady Saint, the reality was that I merely let out an irritable voice. In moments like this, I found myself resenting my lack of eloquence.
If it were Reto, he could have scolded the Lady Saint in a more refined manner, but speaking of him, Reto didn’t even come out to meet me today.
What could be going on? As I pondered that, it was the Lady Saint who interrupted my train of thought once again.
“Hmph, excuse me. It seems my true feelings have slipped out without my knowledge.”
“You’re still showing it now.”
“Ah, please understand… I have a character that lacks any pretense.”
With that, the Lady Saint formally bowed, asking for my forgiveness. Due to the voluptuous curve of her bosom, nothing else caught my eye.
However, as a man, I couldn’t be captivated by her chest, so I cleared my throat and spoke up.
“Lack of pretense, you say? What nonsense… But by the way, where are you two going? Isn’t a four-person team standard for practical assignments?”
The Lady Saint scoffed and shrugged her shoulders, as if to say, “What’s it to you?” But surprisingly enough, she answered willingly.
“Does it look like a place the Lady Saint can just wander around? I’m going on a ‘volunteer assignment’ instead of a practical assignment. I’ll be going to a designated place set by the Holy City, staying for a few days to manage my image. Well, it would also be nice if I could preach along the way?”
Such an overly forthright statement felt like a stark contrast to the “Lady Virgin Saint” I used to know.
Or rather, it partly did. From what Yulen said, there were few people in the continent who could see her “sharp face.”
I felt truly proud to be one of them. Of course, that was sarcasm.
Continuing to engage the Lady Saint would likely only give me a headache. With a sigh, I shook my head and offered a dispassionate farewell.
“Very well. Please manage your image with that skilled pretense, Emmanuel.”
“And you too, may you suffer as much as your sins warrant. Emmanuel.”
She really was a woman who never conceded a word. I inwardly clicked my tongue and hurried my pace.
The Warp Gate was a huge building. Once inside, depending on the destination, there were dozens of short passages to pass through.
In other words, it meant that the Lady Saint and I should have separated by now.
But it felt strange. Even though we were supposed to split ways long ago, the Lady Saint and I were still walking side by side.
Our eyes would occasionally meet in the air. It implied some concern, even though we pretended not to notice.
Ultimately, it was the Lady Saint who first reached her limit of patience.
“…Excuse me, why are you following me?”
“Aren’t you following me? I’m on my way to where I need to go.”
As we both began to bicker, Yulen, who had been observing us, chuckled and stroked his chin. Both the Lady Saint and I turned our gazes toward Yulen.
He wore a grin as if he had discovered something amusing, as if he sensed a certain development.
“Ian, where did you say your destination was?”
“…Gilford Orphanage.”
Upon hearing that, the Lady Saint’s eyes widened in disbelief. Seeing her expression made me deduce one more fact.
Yulen’s grin grew even wider.
“Bingo! It looks like we’ll be eating from the same pot for a while.”
The pink eyes of the Lady Saint and my golden eyes met in bewilderment.
“Gilford Orphanage,” meant that for the next two weeks, I would have to stay with the Lady Saint.
