“Who is that over there?”
After the running session, I asked Richard and Dillon during a brief break.
“Tsk.”
Richard clicked his tongue, glancing at the boy who had knocked me over earlier.
“That’s Judas. It’s good to show respect to upperclassmen.”
Dillon said in a serious voice.
“But you can cuss at that jerk in front of us.”
“Who on earth is he…?”
“He’s that punk Kale from Room 2.”
Richard spat as he explained.
“Plus, he’s a third-year student. He’s been here longer than any of the remaining candidates.”
“Don’t we have any upperclassmen above him?”
“If you don’t show results in two years, you get kicked out. A lot of people have already left mid-way.”
That’s a new one for me.
“He passed the third exam last time, and he’s been even more full of himself these days.”
“How many rounds of exams are there?”
“Um… how many was it again?”
While Richard counted on his fingers, Dillon answered.
“Nine rounds.”
“Oh.”
“But even if you pass the ninth, it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t catch the lady’s eye. Though, no one’s made it past the ninth yet.”
That means there hasn’t been a personal guard for Eliya yet.
“Those without backgrounds try to hold on for two and a half years, but others drop out mid-way.”
“Anyway, that dude is notorious. It’s better not to get involved. And I heard he comes from some count’s family…”
As I quietly listened, it felt strange.
So, he’s been here the longest but he’s just a third-year mope?
Isn’t that like being held back in school?
‘But why is everyone so scared of him?’
“By the way, how many rounds of exams did you pass, Richard?”
“Don’t go asking stuff like that. You’ll be in trouble. I’ll answer you since you gave me a cookie. I cleared five rounds.”
So that means Richard is stronger?
Could it be that I’m feeling intimidated just because of some ranking that doesn’t even relate to actual skill?
Well… I guess I can understand; it’s just kids after all.
In truth, even if they aren’t kids, there are plenty of folks who love to obsess over meaningless numbers.
‘Then again, it seems to be unrelated to actual skill.’
I stared at Kale before turning my gaze away.
I made eye contact with Eliya again.
Unlike earlier when she was smiling, her expression now was bored and indifferent.
‘I don’t want to just play along with Eliya’s mood…’
But since I’ve already said something, I can’t just ignore her completely.
Putting everything aside, that Kale guy seems quite a problem.
What should I do?
Kale walked off with a few of his peers somewhere.
“Judas, where are you going?”
“I’m just going to wash my face a bit.”
“Okay.”
I walked toward the sink.
It was in a similar direction as where Kale had gone.
I activated one specific trait of my status window.
[Stealthy Steps.]
*
“Did you bring what I asked you to?”
An irritated voice questioned.
“Yes…”
I meekly complied, my voice still holding a hint of defiance.
“Then hurry up and get it out. Don’t dawdle.”
“Here…”
“Let me see. One, two… is this all?”
“I, I swear. It’s everything I received from the last mission.”
“Stop lying. You used this, didn’t you?”
“……”
“Didn’t I tell you not to use it and to give it all to me? Do you want to get kicked out of here?”
“N-no, I’m sorry.”
“I’ve just passed the third exam recently, and I’m close to making it to the final rank. Do you think I’m just saying this without knowing the squad’s overseeing knight?”
“I-I didn’t mean to….”
“Seriously, you losers. This is your last chance. Do you understand?”
“Yes…”
It was Kale.
And the other two candidates were having that conversation.
In the dark alley behind the dormitory that led to the training area’s sink, I listened to all their talk while hiding behind a wall.
*
“Hmm?”
Kale, who came out from the alley, paused.
He fidgeted with his bulging pockets while looking at the sink.
Several candidates were wiping their sweat or drinking water.
The top third-year student who had spent over two years here.
There was a face he hadn’t seen before.
‘What was his name again?’
He only heard that this was the only student who passed the current 13th batch.
‘Is he from the streets?’
With messy hair.
Not particularly neat attire.
A face that looked full of complaints.
That was his judgement based on experience.
‘Good.’
Candidates from the streets are desperate.
They’ll try to maintain their status of being a candidate by any means necessary.
But among them, some are desperate but don’t work hard.
Having become candidates, they want to remain comfortably in that state.
Kale took advantage of such lazy candidates.
‘Should I poke at him?’
He was an easy target.
Or maybe not.
“Hey, you over there.”
“Yes. I am Judas from the 13th batch.”
“Are you that brat who caught the lady’s attention?”
“……”
“Oh, impressive. You’re even talking back to upperclassmen?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Not gonna cut it. Follow me. You need a personal lesson.”
Judas silently followed him into the alley.
Other candidates clicked their tongues in their minds.
‘Here we go again.’
But they didn’t interfere.
As long as it wasn’t them, they didn’t care.
Whoever got picked on by Kale was none of their business.
It wouldn’t matter either way.
After all, the instructors were aware of this situation but still chose to stand by since it was easier to let them sort things out on their own.
So, there was even less reason for fellow candidates to step in.
Only one person thought differently.
*
“Maybe you don’t know since you just entered yesterday, but you can’t behave like that here. Got it?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
“Everyone says sorry. I’m saying this because I’m senior, way above you. I’m a third-year student.”
He spoke with a level of pride as if he had some great prestige that came with being a third-year.
“Yes. Understood.”
“Seriously. These new kids coming in lately are so weird.”
He looked to be about five years older than me.
But that only means he’s still a kid himself.
‘Well, young old-timers do exist for a reason.’
I casually listened to his harsh words.
They weren’t particularly insulting.
It was just some aimless criticism to inflate his self-esteem.
I just wanted to confirm one thing.
‘It had been a while since training was supposed to start.’
But no one was coming to look for Kale and me.
Earlier, Kale had boasted about how close he was to some knight.
What I thought was just bragging didn’t seem to be wholly untrue.
Now that I had verified that, it was time to move on.
“I’m close to Garem, the knight in charge of our area. If you behave well, it won’t be all bad for you…”
I suddenly turned to look behind Kale.
I shouted with wide eyes as if shocked.
“Lady?”
“…What?!”
Kale jumped in surprise and turned around.
It was a perfect opening.
I pulled my leg back and kicked him with all my might.
Targeting his legs.
I think I heard something break.
Must be my imagination.
“Nobody’s… Ah-?!”
Kale’s words cut off as he crumpled.
My shins had hit his privates perfectly.
The moment I hit him, his body slightly levitated.
“Ugh… Oww…”
He was younger and thinner than me.
I couldn’t win straight up.
So, I just capitalized on his glaring weakness.
“Ugh… Ha… Ugh…”
Kale couldn’t even groan.
He just drooled and teared up, looking at me with pitiful eyes.
I grabbed a handful of his hair and strolled out of the alley.
In the wide training area, candidates from sections 1 and 3 were seen training under the knights’ orders.
I boldly walked toward them.
One by one, they noticed me.
Eliya, who had been observing with a stern expression, also spotted me.
I tightened my grip on Kale.
The candidates even halted their training and stared at me.
Suddenly, my heart started pounding rapidly.
For some reason, my legs felt shaky, and I felt a wave of fear.
‘This is…’
It was a response from my younger body.
I couldn’t step back.
I didn’t want to give in to this weakened body.
I forced my eyes open and planted my feet with more strength.
The flabbergasted instructor finally shouted.
“Candidate! What is going on?!”
“I’m Judas, candidate from batch 13.”
I dropped Kale right in front of them.
Suppressing shaky breaths, I spoke confidently.
“I have captured a rule violator.”
At that moment, Eliya’s lips curled into a smile.
*
“Kale, a third-year candidate. He has unfairly extorted the belongings of others for his benefit.”
The escort knight candidates only recognize the rewards earned through legitimate quests.
They occasionally gambled with card games, but that sort of thing was generally overlooked as entertainment.
But extorting money from fellow candidates through violence?
That crossed the line.
“This is clearly a violation of the candidate’s oath and living regulations. This matter seems to have been ongoing for some time. Additionally, there must be a leader who was aware of this and turned a blind eye.”
“Candidate Judas! You dare…!”
The instructor glared at me with burning eyes.
This was a familiar situation.
People who wouldn’t step up as long as it wasn’t them.
Bystanders who ignore the injustice as long as they’re not the ones suffering.
I had no intention of blaming them.
That’s just how people are.
But I hated this.
It’s so frustrating.
Why should I need a reason to dislike unfairness?
I know well.
To justly uproot the absurdity that has been upheld without a meaning requires many sacrifices.
Usually, the person who leads such changes isn’t recognized.
I know it all. I’ve experienced it.
It was the same in my past life.
Because of that, I even gave up on my dreams.
But I never regretted doing that.
And it’s the same now.
Even if I get badly beaten and expelled.
Even if it costs me my life.
Even if I have to take full responsibility, alone with no one backing me up.
I refuse to simply stand by and let such a scene play out right in front of me.
If no one is going to say anything, then I should step up.
It’s not about claiming justice.
It’s about loathing this reality where everyone knows it’s wrong, yet no one dares to step forward.
So this is a very emotional issue for me.
I’m acting out, not for any cause or order, but simply because it disgusts me.
“Can you back up what you just said?!”
“I’ll take responsibility. If it means my life, then so be it.”
“What…”
“I directly heard what Kale said. And, it’s now long past the time when training was supposed to start, don’t you think you’ve understood yet? The knight in charge of section 1, Knight Garem.”
“How dare—!”
“Hold on.”
Eliya interrupted.
She gently smiled and whispered.
In her small voice, she shook the entire training ground.
“Keep going, Judas.”
I was so taken aback that I took a moment to respond.
“Thank you.”
…But I don’t have anything more to say.
I squeezed out whatever I could manage.
“This isn’t simply a matter of friction between candidates. It happened in a facility responsible for nurturing Lady Eliya’s escort knights; it’s a problem when third-rate thugs commit such actions. If Kale is indeed lying and I have misunderstood Knight Garem, I sincerely apologize.”
Garem snorted dismissively.
It seemed he thought I was just intimidated.
As I looked at his face, I recalled.
He was the one who had me kneel and press my face to the ground when I first met Eliya.
“But even if it’s a misunderstanding, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a problem. If you didn’t know about the happenings among the candidate you were in charge of, that’s incompetence. If you did and overlooked it, then it’s neglect of duty.”
“……”
After finishing my speech, I turned to Eliya.
Before she intervened, I had genuinely let my emotions spill out.
After that, I forced out my words in a calmer state.
It was a sort of repayment.
Since she helped me, I would go along with her flow.
‘Are you satisfied?’
Did she understand my gaze?
Eliya nodded with a pleased smile.
“Ria.”
When Eliya spoke, a red-haired maid next to her bowed respectfully.
She was the maid that always stayed by Eliya’s side.
Probably the closest among her maids.
“Bring Gawain and Miguel.”
“Yes.”
The training ground was quiet while Ria went to fetch them.
An uncomfortable tension filled the air.
Amidst it all, Eliya watched me leisurely with a smile.
An almost doll-like smile.
Soon, the maid returned with two people.
Knight Commander Gawain.
And Miguel.
Dressed in a sharp tuxedo and sporting sleek white hair along with vintage glasses.
He seemed like a butler.
“Lady, what brings you here?”
Eliya pointed at me.
“Ask him.”
“……”
Taken aback, I hurriedly recounted what I had just said earlier.
With each word, Gawain and Miguel’s expressions soured.
Kale and Garem’s faces went pale.
“…That’s it.”
“Did you hear?”
Eliya said with a smile.
“Get rid of them. Has a position opened up in the toxic mine lately?”
“Yes, it has.”
“Send them there for hard labor.”
“A, Lady—!”
Garem fell to his knees with a thud.
Kale crawled over and buried his head to the floor.
“Forgive me! I’ll never let such a thing happen again, Lady…!”
“Please, just this once…!”
Eliya continued to smile.
Miguel, standing beside her, gritted his teeth as he explained.
“The actions of these two are essentially an attack on the Bevel family’s military power. To interpret it, they could also be charged with espionage.”
“……”
“It wouldn’t be out of the question to interpret it as a military assault against the Bevel Grand Duke from the Diamond and Harbes families.”
“……”
Both Garem and Kale seemed to have no words left, merely flapping their mouths.
Eventually, Garem shouted.
“I’m truly sorry! I committed an unforgivable sin! Please, just spare me from hard labor in the toxic mine…! Please, consider my past dedication to this house, Lady—!”
Eliya tilted her head slowly.
Her blank expression looked like a curious cat.
With that innocent face, she asked innocently.
“Why would I?”
Why should I acknowledge your efforts?
That was an endlessly arrogant statement.
No one could refute her words.
“Take them away.”
Gawain commanded.
Several knights who had been waiting beside them restrained Garem and Kale.
I watched them disappear, dazed.
“Uhh…!”
Around me erupted into chaos.
When I finally turned my head, Eliya was approaching me.
I unconsciously averted my eyes.
Eliya grabbed my chin and made me meet her gaze.
Her smiling eyes lingered on me.
“I’ll be expecting more.”
She left those words before departing with her maid.
Gawain took over all training that remained.
I was utterly unable to concentrate on the training.
And when training ended and we returned to the dormitory, I received an unexpected gift from Eliya.
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