By Zephyria 
Suddenly, I thought to ask Shayden about the other instructors in the Swordsmanship Department.
Shayden asked back if I hadn’t known about the professors until now, leaving me dumbfounded.
Shayden told me the names and strengths of each professor before shrugging his shoulders.
“Generally, first-years take their homeroom professor’s class, and since intermediate swordsmanship classes mix students from different years anyway, people tend to find and take the classes they want. I know Professor Maelo Sanson teaches both beginner and intermediate swordsmanship classes every year.”
“So, like now.”
“Right, just like now. You can take intermediate swordsmanship on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and advanced swordsmanship on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The only difference would be… Ah. The intermediate swordsmanship class capacity is probably double that of the beginner class.”
“Hmm.”
Shayden Rose then grumbled, asking if I knew he was trying hard to take the same classes as me. Having grown accustomed to his complaints, I found it endearing and commendable.
As the years passed, much was gained, and nothing was lost.
This week, the Imperial Genealogy class was a self-study session.
It wasn’t that Professor Calypse Agrigent hadn’t come to class. He did attend, but his voice was barely audible.
The professor gritted his teeth, handed out handouts to the students, and returned to his office.
Of course, in previous classes, he had allocated about thirty minutes for explanations and lectures out of the two-hour session, with the rest of the time for memorization. But this was the first time he had done absolutely nothing.
I deeply respected and cherished all the professors at Sierren. Among them, Professor Agrigent was the one I cared about the most.
While other professors were robust and had bright complexions, Agrigent always seemed so frail, as if he would break if I poked him.
In both my past and present lives, I had always been more confident in physical tasks than mental ones. I didn’t know much about the struggles of those who relied on their intellect.
Recalling how Jegal Amugae often drank medicinal decoctions like water, muttering that he couldn’t associate with the ignorant, I turned to Shayden again and asked,
“Is there really no way to help Agrigent?”
“…Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“It’s not sudden. When a person is so pale and walks so unsteadily, looking like they could collapse at any moment, and everyone else seems unconcerned, that’s what I’m talking about. Today, his throat is particularly hoarse, making it impossible for him to speak.”
“That’s… No, I’m telling you, it’s better to just pretend you don’t know…”
“It is not the way of a gentleman to do nothing when someone is suffering right before their eyes.”
Annoyed by Shayden’s constant evasion, I was about to raise my voice when the boy pressed down on my shoulder and lowered his tone.
“…Uh, I’m telling you this because you seem to be the only one who doesn’t know.”
“Go on.”
“I think the professor is… in a love… fight… or something.”
“What?”
Shayden seemed to search for words for a long time, his beautiful lips pursing. Then, he swallowed his words and quietly lowered his gaze, smiling.
I stared blankly, unable to comprehend him, for a long time, trying to decipher the meaning behind Shayden’s subtle smile.
I was utterly bewildered, wondering what on earth he meant.
I knew to some extent that the people of Sierren showed particularly affectionate behavior towards their significant others and strived to protect their affections.
I knew my mother and father had languished due to love and then bloomed like flowers because of it, and I knew Matt Nico’s parents eloped for love, which was then spun into a nationwide romance.
But the reason for the strict and seemingly stubborn Calypse Agrigent’s suffering was also… love.
Disbelieving, I could only blink, unable to respond. Shayden Rose patted my shoulder with a smiling face and soothed me.
“Mmm. It’ll probably be nothing. The professor himself is just accepting it.”
Shayden’s voice was calm and steady, indicating his words were true, which made them seem even more unbelievable.
“He’s suffering because of love?”
“More precisely, there might be physical issues stemming from that… or not. Anyway, it’s similar. You just need to know it’s like that. So, it’s not something others can interfere with, right? If there’s a real problem, Professor Agrigent has to solve it himself…”
“The heart is wounded, affecting the body…”
“He probably hurt his body…”
“…Did he get hit by his significant other?”
“No, that’s not it. Wait, Mika. Don’t get strange ideas. Professor Calypse isn’t the type to get hit, is he? Anyway, we’re young, and we shouldn’t meddle in adult… matters like that.”
Shayden knew me very well. As I was about to add something, he cut me off with a firm voice.
“It’s not a student’s duty to interfere with a professor’s love life.”
If it was something against the way, how could I add more?
I conceded and closed my mouth. Shayden said I had thought well and stroked my hair.
Unable to calm my confused heart, that afternoon, I found horse riding uninteresting during the lecture praising fine steeds.
Then, suddenly, I recalled the mark on Professor Calypse Agrigent’s neck, which he had claimed was from an insect bite.
I knew that if someone pinched or bit you, such marks could remain. I felt pity, wondering what kind of sharp-tongued and venomous woman treated her significant other so harshly.
Then, just as quickly, I felt troubled, wondering what venomous words Agrigent had spoken to make his significant other treat him that way.
Shayden was right. It wasn’t my place to argue. I shook my head and tried to forget it.
Unlike me, who idly passed the time, Benjamin Claudian handled the horses with great skill.
I had never thought a First-Rate Martial Artist would be unable to stay on a horse. Benjamin, possessing the strength and muscle to remain mounted even when the horse ran wildly, rode almost as if flying.
After elegantly galloping across the wide hill cleared for riding, Benjamin and Victor, the horse carrying him, returned, panting.
Biban Otif clapped loudly, cheering them on. Benjamin quickly fetched water for Victor.
Victor, as if praising Benjamin for his good care, leaned his head against Benjamin’s shoulder and cheek, receiving two more carrots.
Now that Benjamin’s greatest worry was resolved, they adjusted his schedule from visiting the stables four times a week to twice a week, only on Mondays and Wednesdays when he had classes, to care for the horses.
❖ ❖ ❖
On Friday, I was busy all afternoon opening birthday presents from various people.
My study was filled with letters and gifts from relatives, including my parents, paternal grandparents, and maternal grandparents.
Before entering the academy, I used to receive many toys and books, but this year’s gifts were mostly jewelry and artifacts.
Wearing an abundance of bracelets and rings wasn’t suitable for a swordsman who used their hands roughly. This was even more so because most of the gifts were inscribed with magic formulas for functions like warming or protection from the cold, which were of little use to me.
Worried that the elders of my bloodline might be offended if I gave away the gifts, I decided to pass them on to my younger siblings.
Michael had sent me a decoration for my sword as a gift. He had written meticulously in his letter about how many errands he had run for a month to obtain it, which made me laugh. I was very proud of his efforts, running errands between our mother and father.
Asdel also sent a painting he had personally drawn to celebrate my birthday. Since turning three and being allowed to draw with firm pastels, Asdel had consistently drawn my portrait for my birthday. At first, many parts were unrecognizable, but now, his skill was truly excellent.
The letters from my younger siblings were so endearing that I carried them around, showing them to my friends and boasting.
“Wow, what is this? A cute pink lion!”
“It’s so cute that his face is painted blue. Does Michael’s brother like blue too?”
“Is this on his hand a tail?”
“…It’s me. This is a sword.”
The children paused for a moment, then burst into laughter and clapped.
“Ah, you know it’s a joke, right? It looks so much like you. I thought only your face was blue, but your eyes are blue too.”
“It was a joke, a joke. I was just so envious. Did Asdel draw Michael? That’s cute.”
I let the children praise the drawing for a while.
Seeing Benjamin sigh with envy, wishing he had younger siblings instead of older brothers, Marianne chattered that she wanted an older brother who doted on her.
It was truly fortunate that Michael and Asdel were born as my younger siblings.
And so, October arrived without any major incidents.
Even with the same timetable, months with exams are incredibly busy and chaotic, but months without exams are leisurely and relaxed.
Maelo Sanson remained a steadfast figure, embodying the admirable image of a martial artist. Jurgen Kaiser began his lectures on the types of practical artifacts.
Douglas and Boulder had still not succeeded in forging their Dantians, but they were engrossed in recording and testing the structure and principles of pressure point techniques, as well as the uses of each acupoint.
Professor Calypse Agrigent had also regained his health. Seeing him conduct his class with his usual quiet and irritable demeanor, unlike the pained expression he showed last week, I felt a little relieved, knowing Shayden’s words were correct.
Professor Biban Otif began lecturing on how to care for horses’ health.
Wilton Roberts lectured on throwing flying daggers from various positions. I watched him throw flying daggers multiple times and realized he was skilled at throwing them while lying prone on trees or rafters, or while hidden. The thought that he seemed more suited to be an assassin than an academy professor lingered.
The camping site for October was set in the mountains. It was easily accessible because a branch of the Yuil Mountains, which divided the Duke Widro Family and the Duke Grimsbein Family, extended to the outskirts of the capital.
Professor Cedric repeatedly warned us to be cautious, stating that getting lost or falling in the mountains could lead to serious injury and danger. Unlike me, who was tense recalling the stories of monsters in the Yuil Mountains I had heard countless times, the children’s reactions were remarkably nonchalant.
“The Imperial Knight Order patrols regularly, so there are no monsters near the capital. At most, it’ll be wild animals…”
“If a wild boar shows up, Michael will catch it again, right? We should pack plenty of firewood.”
Seeing the children so at ease, I also relaxed my shoulders. I helped the children count the sweet potatoes and chestnuts, as the apples I bought at the night market last month were already gone and needed replacing, moving heavy sacks from one place to another.