Chapter 147: Last Class Standing (3)
The inter-class competition, despite its grand name, was actually one of the softer and more lenient events held at the academy.
While the fair was a fierce showdown where nobles put their pride on the line, and practical exams were life-altering trials for commoner students, the inter-class competition had neither pride nor profit. Ultimately, the winning class would just naturally emerge from playing around a bit, so why waste one’s passion and energy?
However, this year, and for the past three years, the winner was no longer decided automatically but rather needed to be chosen manually.
“Though we call it a competition, it’s really a space for learning from each other and walking together. Someday, all of you gathered here will lead the empire and, more broadly, the continent. Therefore, as a senior, I hope this competition becomes a platform for unity, not rivalry.”
Thanks to this, the principal’s opening speech felt painfully long and moving enough to bring tears to the eyes of the listeners. Normally, there would be no need for such lengthy speeches, but it’s necessary to prevent the competition’s atmosphere from heating up too much.
“What’s with the hardships in your old age?”
I looked at the principal’s pitiful figure giving his sentimental speech. I’m sure the vice principal beside me had the same expression.
Being the principal of the academy is the pinnacle of one’s career. They’d be the mayor of the city built around the academy and the head of the empire’s finest educational institution. It’s such a glorious and noble position! In the field of education, only the Minister of Education can even slightly rival this status.
But, of course, it means nothing compared to the royal family. Who cares if you’re a principal? The royals can order civil servants around with just a flick of their finger. Plus, with their well-being at stake, it’s understandable why the principal is acting like this.
“A proper dose of competition and a spirit of victory serve as fertilizer for progress. But remember, today isn’t your only chance.”
The principal reiterated not to get overly excited.
A speech that repeated the same thing over and over was tiresome, but it can’t be helped. The atmosphere among the first-year students grew tense, especially with Rutis and Lather confirmed to participate in the four-person event. Specifically, it was just their classes involved.
With those two royals stepping into the arena, the odds of winning narrowed down to those two classes, and now their classmates had effectively become pawns in a game to fight for the royals’ honor.
Acting casually in such a prestigious and solemn event? That would practically be an indirect announcement of withdrawing from social circles. They’d likely participate in the competition with clenched teeth and eyes wide open.
“It’s going to be a bloody mess!”
The principal probably thought the same, but honestly, I didn’t expect it to have any effect. I just hope no one loses a limb or something. Maybe I should send up a prayer.
“May it be a pleasant memory.”
And thus, in the mix of anxiety and prayers, the inter-class competition began.
Right as it started, it wasn’t as if we saw “a time of slaughter and frenzy permitted by the principal!” There wasn’t any bloodbath happening here.
Fortunately, the royals were only participating in the last event, so there really wasn’t much to worry about. Given the academy’s predominantly noble student body, the other events weren’t too rough either.
Or should we say that they were considered rough?
“They’ve thought of everything!”
I heard the thundering thud of horse hooves from a distance.
Eighteen horses raced across the grand sports field of the academy. The inter-class competition kicked off with a horse race!
“They really run well.”
As I watched absentmindedly, a deep-seated trauma stirred in the back of my mind.
The sight before me, with less than twenty horses, looked almost cute in comparison. Back from the north, I’d seen thousands charge together. Now that was a real horror show. Not to mention, I was looking at it head-on instead of from the side.
In the end, somehow, we managed to win. But seriously, how did we even catch those things? The Invincible Duke is quite the impressive title…
While I was lost deep in thought, a rider crossed the finish line. A blonde noblewoman riding a black horse.
“The first to cross is— Irina Yorun from Class 1-3!”
“Wow.”
I couldn’t help but let out a sound of admiration. “Irina, you’re quite the rider!”
Irina smiled and waved at everyone, looking even more dignified perched on the large black horse.
“That’s impressive. Many young ladies can ride, but it’s rare to find one who can race like that.”
Turning to the side, I noticed Marghetta looking at Irina with intrigue.
Indeed, riding normally and racing as a jockey are totally different!
“How about you, Mar?”
“I’m not just any lady; I’m a duke’s daughter!”
I asked teasingly, and Marghetta grinned proudly, implying it was only natural for her to have such a talent as a member of a ducal family.
I wasn’t quite sure what being a duke’s daughter had to do with being a good rider, but she seemed pleased enough, so I let it slide.
“Of course, I’m nowhere near as good as Carl.”
“That’s quite modest of you.”
I replied with a somewhat awkward smile.
Unfortunately, contrary to Marghetta’s belief, I wasn’t good at riding horses. Really, when would I ever have the chance?
I certainly didn’t before my possession, nor afterward. My family made sure to keep me far away from horses. It would lead to disaster if I fell off again, after all.
It seemed that every time I tried to ride in the North, the horses acted like they had a death wish. Now that I think about it, those Kheshig bastards might have targeted me!
“Why was it that I could only ride properly after the war ended?”
It was only after all the war commotion was over and I was the least associated with horses that I got to ride properly. After the war, I often accompanied the crown prince on his hunting trips.
Thanks to that, I could now ride just well enough. As in, just enough not to fall off!
“Fufu, I’d like to race with Carl someday!”
“Me too!”
Seeing Marghetta’s eager expression, I didn’t have the heart to let her down.
I subtly turned my gaze back to the sports field, where Irina was performing her victory lap.
Hmm…
“Maybe I should learn from Irina,” I thought.
With a top racer nearby, it’s the best opportunity to pick up some tips.
Despite being in a relaxed mode, it seemed Louise was in high spirits since her class won the first event.
However, that was the last win for Louise’s class. After expending all their strength in the horse race, her class astonishingly suffered a series of losses in the subsequent events.
In fact, regarding the horse race, not only the rider, but the horses’ abilities matter too, so it’s hard to stage a rigged match there. But the later events? Well, that’s a different story.
Here we had students from two classes desperately racing to secure victories, contrasting sharply with those casually participating. This bizarre combination led to a predictable outcome.
“It’s fierce, isn’t it?”
“Yes, the enthusiasm from the students seems quite robust.”
After seeing Marghetta off, busy with Student Council matters, I decided to stick by the principal. It might be wiser to stay close to him while the competition raged on.
Following the horse race, things heated up with fierce clashes between Rutis and Lather’s classes. If Rutis’ class won one match, Lather’s class would win the next, and then it would flip again.
“You would have to be some kind of wizard to pull off something this perfectly.”
“Seriously, if they weren’t royals, there’d be serious whispers of match-fixing!”
The silver lining is that while the competition was intense, it thankfully hadn’t exploded into any serious conflicts or bloodshed. Just a bit too much excitement in the race for victory.
“Looks like it’ll wrap up nicely today.”
Perhaps feeling a hint of relief, the principal’s expression softened a tad.
Although the inter-class competition isn’t a one-day affair, at least this first day was passing without incident. That’s a solid reason to celebrate! Let’s hope the little joys of these overworked civil servants won’t be snatched away.
That said, the last morning event had just concluded.
“Since the afternoon events are still a while away, would you like to grab some lunch?”
“Thank you for the offer, but I still have other duties.”
“I understand.”
I nodded at the principal’s words. After all, just because the inter-class competition is happening doesn’t mean all the academy’s tasks just vanish.
Unfortunately, Marghetta was in the same boat. It felt a bit odd to join the members for lunch; it felt like an adult crashing a child’s mealtime.
So, I opted to go solo. If I wasn’t with Marghetta or the members, I had no one to share lunch with anyway. It’d probably be best to eat quickly and return without running into anyone else.
“Unnie, aren’t you eating?”
“I already had lunch earlier.”
“Then, can I finish it all?”
“Yep! You have a match later, so eat up!”
I really didn’t expect to run into anyone before I could even pick up my fork.
This was a surprise! It seemed everyone was in the spirit of the sports day, eating outside; I thought I was going to see no one.
“What’s even happening here?”
I saw two students huddled outside the cafeteria, looking pitifully small and whispering about something.
I really couldn’t just ignore them and head inside, not after hearing their conversation. I already had lunch; it sounded like something a genuinely starving person would say!
After a moment’s thought, I walked over to them. An academy student struggling to get a proper meal is more than just an academy issue; it’s a problem for the whole empire. Being at the academy typically meant the student was either a noble or a gifted commoner.
Neither should be in a position to starve!
As I approached, the older student, who had referred to the younger one as “unnie,” turned around in a hurry.
It would be rude to compare her to a startled meerkat, but honestly, that was the vibe I got from her!
“What’s wrong, unnie?”
The younger one who had been eagerly munching suddenly turned her attention to her older sister. Yet, the sister, pale with fright, couldn’t muster up a word in response.
“I kind of expected this.”
I almost let out a sigh at the expected reaction. I hadn’t avoided contact with other students for nothing! The combination of being the Executive Manager of the Prosecutor’s Office and an academy Prosecutor made even the faculty wary of me, let alone the students!
As I took another cautious step, I noticed the sister visibly flinch.
“Anyone passing by could easily think I’m bullying a child!”
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