Ch. 123

After the mission failure, Senior Knight Blade's morale soared.

He harbored no complaints since he brought the disaster upon himself.

Just avoiding demotion was enough reason to be grateful to the Chief Knight Commander.

Anyway, since that day, Blade had taken most of the tasks assigned to senior knights.

Fortunately, the senior knights were quite skilled, so Blade didn't have to do menial tasks like cleaning or laundry.

However, if the knights were reluctant to do anything, he took care of it.

Managing the novices at the military academy was one of those many taxing duties.

Despite the fact that they would soon become his juniors, the novices' military discipline was far from that of even the lowest-ranked knights.

Since Senior Knight Blade ended up instructing the novices at the Military Academy, the novices and instructors were uneasy.

Nevertheless, contrary to their concerns, Blade managed the novices diligently, and he didn't interfere much with the lower-ranking instructors.

During the past few days, he was quite busy with the novices.

However, Blade finally found some time to relax today.

'They are in their 20s, the prime of their life.'

'Should I say that they appear like cadets from a well-established Military Academy?'

The students seemed to have organized some sort of competition among themselves.

It wasn't something which would intersect with their training schedule, and there was no need for Blade to get involved, so he readily agreed.

'Why are these kids having a sports meet here?'

The agreed-upon location for the novice knights' sports meet was the Academy's first-year gymnasium.

It wasn't a huge gymnasium, but Blade was unsure if it was acceptable to use the Academy's facilities.

'Well, it doesn't matter.'

At the moment, he didn't want to nitpick over such details. He hoped the novices would figure it out on their own.

However, after the last incident which resulted in severe scolding, Blade couldn't shake his anxiety.

So, he reluctantly made his way to the first-year gymnasium where the novices were said to have organized a sports meet.

"No, this is the gymnasium reserved for first-year students."

"It doesn't matter. We've decided to use it."

However, there was something strange about the atmosphere.

As Blade expected, there was friction between knight cadets and the first-year students of Stella Academy.

Unlike the Class S or nobles, knight cadets wouldn't back down easily.

'Well... What can I do?'

It was not right to interfere with them in that regard. He wasn't an instructor but rather in a position to protect and manage the cadets.

So, Blade stood at a distance, and decided to simply observe them.

"Is that kid your friend?"

"Take him and go. Just think of it as having bad luck today."

Until he noticed a particularly conspicuous boy.

How could he forget that face?

It was the cute face of a seemingly innocent young mage named Baek Yu-Seol, who was a genius magician of the century.

And he was also famous for getting involved in all sorts of troublesome incidents and accidents.

He was the reason why he ended up like this.

The very boy was being bullied by the cadets under Blade's care.

"Wait a moment..."

Blade's complexion turned pale.

He had no ill feelings toward Baek Yu-Seol.

On the contrary, he felt immense gratitude.

Thanks to Baek Yu-Seol surviving on his own, Blade received less blame for his recent mission failure.

That alone would be enough motivation to help him, but there was something even more important…

Lately, for some reason, Chief Knight Commander Arien had started taking a deep interest in Baek Yu-Seol.

There weren't any rumors circulating yet, but Blade knew about it because he had met with Arien himself after the mission failure.

So, Baek Yu-Seol was a talent who was worthy of direct attention from Arien himself...

And with someone like Baek Yu-Seol, could it be possible that only cadets were bullying him?

Impossible.

Even if it didn't apply to him, the fate of the cadets currently in that position could be influenced by a single word from the future Baek Yu-Seol.

In his mind, a scene straight out of a novel played out.

A normal commoner boy, who suffered the cruelty of wicked cadets, one day caught the eye of the Knight Commander and rose as a Knight Commander candidate!

"What did you say to me back then?"

"I-I apologize, Knight Commander!"

"Ah, can you say it just like you did back then?"

Blade's mind imagined Baek Yu-Seol, who was supposed to be bullied, turning the tables and being cruel.

He even pictured the pitiful expressions of the cadets being scolded from below.

"Stop."

Well, this was all for their sake.

Blade thought so inwardly as he had no choice but to utter those bitter words.

"Sir, Senior Knight Blade!"

"At your service!"

The cadets at the military academy instinctively saluted without their staff.

Passing through the students at the academy, Blade scanned the gymnasium with a stern expression.

There was no need to do so, but he paused to create a sense of tension.

… What on earth was he doing now?

"Ah, that's right. As I told you before, uh, through sports activities, we aim to cultivate a healthy mind and body, and furthermore, train everyone's teamwork..."

The words were very flashy.

Well, it was the military.

As if there was nothing more to hear, a cadet quickly raised his hand to silence him.

"But, why hold such strenuous activities in the Academy's gymnasium?"

"That's... because, using the military academy's gym, we might attract the attention of the seniors, right?"

They shuddered slightly.

It seemed that was the correct answer, as the cadets involuntarily lowered their heads.

Just as the knight cadets at the Military Academy bullied the academy's students, they too suffered bullying from their seniors.

It was a vicious cycle of predation, truly a strange and absurd structure, but Blade had no intention to delve deeper into it.

"It's absurd. Do you even think you have what it takes to become knights of Stella?"

"No, sir!!"

"Your voices are weak. I can't see your determination."

"I apologize, sir!!!"

Another exclamation point was added, and their voices had become slightly louder.

But that wasn't enough.

"Expecting how knights who have such a mindset can protect Stella is truly intriguing. There is no holiday today. Assemble at the training ground immediately. Today is hellish training."

"Yes, sir!"

"Don't raise your voices."

"Yes!"

As the cadets from the Military Academy rushed out, the academy's students who remained behind appeared shocked.

Whether they liked it or not, Blade approached Baek Yu-Seol and tapped his shoulder.

"I'll give those rascals a good education, so don't worry too much. Spend some enjoyable time with your friends."

After all, he could potentially become the next Chief Knight Commander. He offered some kind words and quickly left.

"What's going on?"

Baek Yu-Seol, who had never seen Blade before, had an incredulous expression on his face.

Other students were also silent but curious about the connection between Baek Yu-Seol and the senior knight.

"... Anyway, you can play basketball, right?"

To lighten the mood, Edna bounced the basketball on the floor with force, laughing while she attempted to break the tension that had settled in.

"You're all dead."

A basketball match with stakes was about to begin.

'Ah, darn it...'

For Baek Yu-Seol, who had intended to take a nap, this was truly an unexpected and earth-shaking event.

"Sigh..."

Monday had arrived, and Eisel, who had barely managed to submit her thesis on time, left the office with slumped shoulders.

*'This is amazing! It's really amazing!' *

The professor's shout just moments ago... no, rather, the admiration still echoed in her ears.

Despite feeling like she could die from exhaustion, receiving praise still made her feel good.

'I was the last one...'

As a top-tier institution, Stella Academy had a significant number of students attending the Aslan Seminar.

Compared to them, Eisel was the last one to submit her thesis.

Even that might not have been completed on time if it weren't for Baek Yu-Seol's help….

It was likely that she could barely present an incomplete thesis with bits and pieces put together.

If that had happened... she probably would have faced severe criticism from other students.

The Aslan Seminar.

On the surface, it might seem like a symposium where geniuses gathered to present a thesis and discuss a single topic, but in reality, it was more like an arena for 'verbal wrestling.'

At least, that was how Eisel saw it.

A place where people engaged in all sorts of mischief in order to try to undermine and devour each other.

They had only one desire - To attend next year and the years after that.

Regular attendees maintained their positions while rising stars aimed to secure those spots to become regular attendees themselves.

If she goes there with a weak mindset, she might become a delicious prey.

She was truly thankful to Baek Yu-Seol.

It had been the same in the past, and it was the case again this time.

She no longer harbored the petty question.

'Why is he helping me?'

Eisel knew Baek Yu-Seol genuinely wanted to help her, and he had indeed been of great assistance.

Moreover, now that Edna and Baek Yu-Seol had announced their breakup, she felt somewhat relieved.

'But that doesn't matter at all!?'

Just for a moment, an irrelevant thought almost crossed her mind, but Eisel quickly shook her head to dismiss it.

Perhaps it was because she had some leisure time that those stray thoughts kept passing through his mind.

From some point on, Eisel had genuinely wanted to help Baek Yu-Seol.

Until now, she had never had the chance to do so.

Baek Yu-Seol offered the dungeon trip, but didn't she turn it down since she was busy, right?

No, even if she had helped with the dungeon, it wasn't the 'real help' Baek Yu-Seol needed.

She wanted to provide assistance beyond just giving a slight hand in tasks that couldn't be managed by Baek Yu-Seol alone, something that he genuinely couldn't do, and she could help with.

'Is there anything like that?'

How could someone like Eisel solve something, which might prove impossible for even Baek Yu-Seol.

He was someone who did everything with a strange ease.

Such negative thoughts were beginning to take hold, and she let out a sigh.

"... Do you not recognize me, Eisel Morph?"

"Yikes!"

As she was about to pass by the corner of the building, someone called out to her, and she almost stumbled backward due to shock.

Eisel took a step back with an alarmed expression, then examined the person who had spoken.

Fortunately, the person didn't pose a threat.

Nevertheless, Eisel's complexion grew even paler. He was one of the most prominent figures bearing Stella's name and one of the most powerful magic knights in existence.

'Commander Arien...? Why is that person at the academy?'

Before such questions could arise, Arien, who had been hiding in the shadows, spoke.

He took a step closer to her.

"I know about your concerns."

"Yes, um...?"

"You left quite a trail. If you've been reading books like this in the library, maybe it's a good idea to organize it a bit?"

Arien waved the book that Eisel had been reading.

The book was titled [Cursed Physique, the Fate of the one with Mana Accumulation Retardation].

"That, um..."

Including that, Eisel had searched through numerous documents about Mana Accumulation Retardation Syndrome outside of Stella.

However, there was simply no solution. It was a curse that appeared with an extremely low probability, about one in several hundred million, and proper research had never really been conducted.

But why would the Commander of the Stella Knights come here himself, let alone take an interest in Mana Accumulation Retardation Syndrome?

"Do you want to save your friend?"

Well, she wasn't sure.

She didn't know, but anyway, the other person was Commander Arien.

At the very least, he was likely to have more knowledge and information in all fields than she did.

Eisel silently nodded, and Arien seemed satisfied.

"There's a way."

"Th-that's really...!"

"But, I need your name. Not 'Eisel,' but the name 'Morph.'"

At those words, Eisel's expression instantly stiffened.

Since she had entered society, she had never officially used the name 'Morph.'

"Is that okay?"

For her, 'Morph' had become a sort of shackle.

Above all, it was a name that she should be proud of, and it had become a cursed name that she couldn't casually mention anywhere.

But if it meant she could save Baek Yu-Seol...

"As much as needed."

She was willing to wager not just her name but everything she had.