The girl with the sharp impression and neatly cut black hair was wearing a military academy uniform that looked very similar to the government forces army uniform.
In reality, army uniforms for the army, air force, and navy have slightly different designs and colors, but the cadets classify themselves according to the emblem of each branch attached above the left chest pocket. For reference, the army emblem features a shield with a one-handed sword crossing over it.
The uniforms for both genders were deep navy blue. Male students wore pants while female students wore skirts. However, unlike the pleated skirts typically associated with academies, her skirt was more like a sleek straight-cut dress.
The shirt was done up to the very top without a single button undone, complete with a dark red tie, and not a drop of sweat was seen on her face despite the slowly warming weather of May. It was hard not to admire her.
Standing firmly in a posture that seemed unshakeable, she shot a sharp gaze slightly upwards through her thick glasses, and when I saw her-
Hmm, I couldn’t help but think of the new recruits who had just finished their training.
I used to be just like her.
Just standing there, one might think, “Wow, she’s got discipline!” But imagining how much practice it took to achieve such a precise posture brought tears to my eyes.
By the way, such disciplined military bearing couldn’t be found among academy students.
The dress code at that school was, in fact, lax. Lina was walking around in a shrunken version of the uniform and hadn’t been called out by anyone simply because no one cared as long as she wore the uniform.
Just looking at the students in this auditorium, some weren’t even wearing ties, some had a couple of buttons undone, and others came without a jacket, just wearing their shirts.
Although everyone was trying to stand at attention as instructed, many were slouching or outright standing with their legs crossed.
This was a clear demonstration of how different the educational guidelines of the two schools were.
St. Ariel Academy respected personal freedom and individuality, aiming to teach students how to maximize their own abilities.
The officer school focused on maximizing collective benefits through personal cooperation.
It was obvious that students from the two schools would not mix well if they met each other.
Yet, this cooperative class was meant to show that even those in opposition could collaborate and understand each other, helping them realize their shortcomings and strive for improvement.
-That was the premise.
In reality, the true purpose was the appearance of the glasses-wearing student council president right in front of me.
Her name was Lynn Mayer. Although her name sounded very Western, she had the looks of an East Asian beauty. She seemed like a character that was perfectly crafted to embody the student council president archetype, the sub-heroine from the novel scribbled in my notebook.
With her gaze slightly lifted, as if to never look directly at me, Mayer’s eyes didn’t come down at all, despite my rather different attire.
The real attention, however, was coming from those students nearby. Some cadets at a distance where they could easily glance over seemed to be eyeing me.
…And those cadets were mostly male students.
…Alright, I forgive them.
I could understand why.
*
‘Those fools.’
Lynn muttered internally, feeling the gaze of her surrounding students fixated on the ‘Saint’ right in front of her.
It wasn’t just a simple discipline issue. No matter how strict the guidelines were, there was a limit. After struggling with the head of the student council for nearly two months to control it, she understood that deeply.
No matter how strictly the students were monitored according to school rules, there would always be students somewhere violating those rules as if it were expected. Therefore, from Lynn’s perspective, even the officer school cadets, who hadn’t gone through training as harsh as a “real soldier,” showing this level of discipline was commendable.
Thus, the problem wasn’t that the looks were ‘fidgety’ but that they held ‘ill will.’
“I want to tell you three things before you go out for training.”
There was a statement made by the head instructor a week before joint training.
“First, absolutely do not fight. Second, if you happen to fight, never lose.”
And most importantly, the emphasized third point.
“-No matter what happens, you must never touch the ‘Saint.’ Understand? It’s not just because she’s affiliated with the church. There is a valid reason she is called a Saint. I trust no one here has never prayed to the goddess?”
Of course, no students answered.
“Good. Remember what I said. If you ever have a dispute with the Saint, just apologize and walk away. Do not treat her like other academy students. If I hear otherwise-”
The instructor was silent, surveying the classroom engulfed in tense silence. As the silence continued, someone swallowed hard. It seemed as if they were waiting for this moment; the head instructor added:
“-I will take ‘the utmost’ measures myself. If there’s anyone who disagrees, raise your hand.”
Naturally, no one raised their hand.
“Good.”
The instructor nodded in satisfaction.
A valid reason.
A valid reason, indeed.
Lynn had never held much interest in the church or religion; however, she had heard about the Saint, presented as a miracle, appearing for the first time in 50 years, through news outlets. Before that, it was said that one would only appear every few years.
After the last Saint 50 years ago, there had been a long gap, and it was only recently that a Saint had finally emerged.
She reportedly saved 127 soldiers from a catastrophe and practically destroyed a magic point all on her own.
Whether that was mere propaganda or if there was a grain of truth in it, if she had genuinely accomplished such feats, she was undoubtedly a heroine rather than just being called a Saint.
Someone her age performing such feats was certainly worthy of respect. Honestly, the prospect of meeting and conversing with her was a bit exciting. Even though there was no student council president from the officer school, if one was to be chosen, they would naturally pick the school’s most illustrious student. The possibility of crossing paths with Lynn, one of the representatives of the officer school, was very high.
However,
“Did you know? That Saint Anderson has never even taken the academy entrance exam. Apparently, she was just placed there by the church.”
“A parachute entry? Is it even possible with the church’s backing?”
“The academy’s name is ‘St. Ariel Academy.’ It seems like a blatant act of church influence from the get-go, doesn’t it?”
…Rumors like these began circulating throughout the officer school.
They claimed that the designation of the Saint was merely a forced placement to fill the 50-year vacancy; that she grew up as an orphan without parents; that she didn’t even have the capacity to enroll in the academy.
Such malicious rumors began to spread, knowingly or unknowingly.
The source was unclear. The kids spreading those rumors would abruptly switch the topic and act innocent when approached by someone from the disciplinary council or student council. Moreover, they took care to ensure it never reached the instructor’s ears.
With no concrete evidence, one couldn’t report another student to the instructor. And there was no way to record all students’ comments.
Before any action could be taken-
The perception of the Academy’s Saint, explicitly stated by the instructor to “never touch,” reached an all-time low among the officer school cadets.
‘…Should I issue a warning or something?’
Knowing this situation, Lynn felt a great sense of unease.
Though she couldn’t look straight at her, Clara Anderson, who was standing right in front of her, was wearing a Saint’s robe that elegantly showcased her admirable figure.
That incredible beauty, subtly smiling and lightly clapping at her, seemed far too fragile to withstand the cruel onslaught of such malice.
That’s right.
Until that moment, Lynn had no idea that the seemingly benign Saint standing before her would be someone who willingly invited attacks, only to retaliate with a fiercely made morning star followed by a heartfelt apology.
*
This whole thing was ridiculously absurd.
That was my thought on the cadets watching me.
Ah, right. I could understand the gazes from the hero academy students. They feared for their job security, or that I’d steal the spotlight and praise; in any case, they were worried about losing their share in the limelight.
They worked hard, obeying the rules, studying diligently, and exercising rigorously. It was only natural for them to feel resentment when they saw the academy students, who lived somewhat freely with their unique personalities, thinking, “But I’m working so hard!”
But isn’t it a little strange to regard me that way?
We hadn’t even interacted much, and the fact that we were in the officer school instead of the academy was well within their understanding, so they hadn’t openly provoked me.
Yet the students’ gazes toward me were anything but friendly. No, even beyond that, they could be categorized as ‘hostile’ levels.
Why?
These bastards had rolled with the seniors while I treated and healed the wounded, destroyed magic points, captured high-ranking demons, and dealt with witches!
Of course, keeping my victories against the high-ranking demons and witches a secret was essential, and I did play some seriously cheeky tricks when it came to destroying the magic points. But still, what I achieved in treating 127 soldiers was solidly established as ‘what I did.’
Yet, those jerks were looking at me with a scornful glare!
Is it because of my outfit being provocative?
I’m following the church guidelines, for crying out loud!?
Soon enough, after about a week, the cadets started to openly decay their once masked hostility toward me.
Of course, they were clever enough not to verbally lash out at me.
For example,
“Is it because you don’t have parents?”
They would throw teasing remarks like that, casually inserted as if discussing among themselves.
But there was no way such jabs could coincidentally land on my ears. When they said that while looking directly at me or when I was passing by, it was clearly meant for me to hear.
Honestly, it was laughable.
How should I say it? It was evident that they were too well-mannered to unleash a harsh insult.
In other words, they simply didn’t have the guts to say something like, “Your deadbeat parents can screw off.”
Maybe if any of their kind dared, the others would gasp in shock and ask in disbelief, “What are you talking about?” They definitely seemed like that type. They always presented themselves as pristine, neatly dressed, and perfectly groomed.
However, aside from being absurd, it still felt unpleasant.
There was no way I could hurl a curse back while being a Saint. I was a student of the academy, after all. If I used such words in the academy, how tarnished would my image be? I couldn’t drop-kick a student in a goodwill mission.
There was no reason for me to become the same type of human as those jerks.
Not to mention, my parents were alive and well. They just weren’t in this world anymore.
…Ah, is this self-teasing?
Anyway, I held back the fuming expressions of Linea and Aurora by raising my hand. But with how easily they were restrained, it created a rather villainess-like aesthetic. Well, whatever.
“Excuse me, were you just speaking about me?”
Feigning pure laughter, I asked as I approached without flinching. The cadets looked at me with a hint of surprise.
Did they not expect me to respond?
Why?
As I pondered momentarily if I had misunderstood their conversation, I dismissed that thought. I couldn’t just bypass this if it got this far. I would see it through to the end.
“Uh, you heard? My apologies. I wasn’t directing it at you, just curious if it offended you in any way?”
Both cadets were male students, about a head taller than me. Oh, for real? Despite their nerdy looks, their speech was quite rough.
But I wasn’t intimidated. After all, they were still kids who, at most, were only middle schoolers just a few months ago. What’s there to fear while facing off against oversized children?
Besides, I was a child now too. The minor defense laws apply to both parties.
In short, if push comes to shove, I could hit back.
Teacher Seo-A had once said, “If you must fight, then win.” I felt confident.
“Oh dear, you must be talking about yourselves. My apologies, I didn’t realize. Please, continue your discussion.”
Of course, if I struck first, it would be problematic. ‘If I had to fight,’ the opponent should strike me first. But I had no intention of taking hits either.
Feigning mild concern, I replied, “By the way, it seems both of you have grown up well despite not having parents. You’ve worked hard to get into the officer school. Your parents in the heavens must be radiantly proud by the goddess’s side. Ah, may the goddess lead you in your future.”
I closed my eyes and clasped my hands as if I were blessing them, yet no response came.
…?
Opening my eyes slightly, I noticed the two glaring at me, their faces red, struggling to find a retort.
…What’s this?
After thinking for a moment, I realized I spotted Aurora trying hard to suppress laughter from a distance and Linea, who was flinching as she turned her shoulder away.
…Ah!
Could it be that they were unable to respond to my earnest prayer-like posture since it made them feel cornered?
For sure, the likelihood of them not having parents was low. Students entering officer school commonly came from wealthier backgrounds compared to those going to the academy. After all, kids who show potential were usually raised in officer families or well-to-do households.
The notion that their refined appearances indicated they weren’t just forced to robotically act perfect but had lived that way from the start was fact in my mind.
Anyway, their excessively cultivated decorum left them sputtering and unable to respond appropriately to a warm comment.
Hmm, what should I do about this?
As I considered how to properly navigate this situation,
“Hey, you shouldn’t view it solely from your own perspective. Not everyone is without parents.”
One fool extended his hand for a rescue.
“Exactly! We didn’t climb to where we are just by sheer luck like you!”
Another fool joined in, needlessly laying the groundwork for a comeback.
“Aha, so you are implying that I’m an orphan without parents, huh?”
“Well, we never said such things, did we?”
“Right? We were just having a little chat among ourselves.”
It was no use trying to backtrack after saying that publicly. Just a moment ago, they targeted me directly, didn’t they?
In fact, by this point, I could report it to the church, and the officer school would likely panic and whisk them away, resulting in all sorts of complications. They wouldn’t end up in prison, but their reputation would surely take a hit.
No, more so, how could they not know that? Why did they feel the urge to pick a fight with me, assuming their social standing was above mine?
Of course, I had no intention of tearing them down. Sending off kids who accidentally misspoke when they still had their whole futures ahead of them didn’t sit right with me.
“Despite your late attempt to clarify, I still find it quite unpleasant. Regardless of whether my parents are present or not, saying such things to another person is quite rude.”
As I smiled brightly while saying that, the two exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
“Is that so? What can you even do to us, hmm? You can’t do much with your church connections!”
It’s true that I could demonstrate my divine mark right away as a counterargument, but where’s the fun in that?
“If I have to prove myself by what I can do, what about this? We’re self-studying for duels after school. Would you care to join me for a duel, dolts?”
I said with a cheerful grin.
“I’m confident I can win even if both of you attack me together.”
*
Of course, they jumped at my challenge right away. They might have been even dumber than I thought.
Anyone daring to initiate a fight usually feels they can win, right? Ah, or maybe they thought I was only confident in my abilities while lacking fighting knowledge.
Well, whatever their thought process, they would soon recognize their ‘misunderstanding’ and realize how wrong they were.
“What are those guys?”
Lina, who looked like a model student, had a more relaxed attitude but was still rough around the edges.
“They’re guests I invited.”
“Guests?”
Lina shot an obviously condescending glare down at the two idiots. Having come merely to watch my downfall, there were notably more officer school cadets gathered below.
The cadets felt insulted by Lina’s comment but didn’t leap into a confrontation since Selena, Satsuki, and Jian stood by me. Though, that should deter them from starting a riot.
“Yes, they want to duel with me after Lina and I finish our match.”
“A duel…?”
Lina wore a strange expression. She quickly glanced at the cadets, then leaned slightly towards me and whispered, “Are you looking to seriously injure them…?”
While suppressing a laugh at Lina’s serious demeanor, I replied, “Oh no, I wouldn’t do anything fatal.”
Only half of them.
Seeing my grin, Lina took a slight step back, clearly feeling uneasy.
“Honestly, your intentions seem sinister.”
In some regard, Lina was the only one among my friends who somewhat grasped my essence, and she shivered as if she sensed something sinister.
“Well, it’s not my concern.”
Saying that, she took up her sword again.
I reached down to grab a round shield and a morning star from the case.
The cadets, who had been murmuring below the podium, suddenly fell silent as if a mouse had died.
Yeah, who would expect the Saint to wield a morning star, right?
We’ll see how it goes soon.
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