Chapter 53
“To suffer such humiliation…!”
Dwena brushed off the dust clinging to her body, fuming.
“But you got released without any trouble since I vouched for you, right?”
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been caught in the first place!”
“Oh my, I don’t see how that’s my fault.”
“Grrrrr!”
She stifled her anger, then let out a deep sigh, seemingly realizing that getting mad at me would only be a loss for her.
“So! Where should we go next?”
I asked with a deliberately cheerful smile.
Inviting Dwena to tour the festival with me had been half a joke at first.
Since she always reacted in amusing ways when we ran into each other, I figured it’d be entertaining.
But then—
“This structure here is a statue of the first emperor, Aldeina. He’s the one who officially made Polaris an educational institution.”
“And this…! This is a replica of Polaris’s first lecture hall! You do know that Polaris existed before the founding of the empire, right?”
“The experiential booth here is quite popular, so you have to put your name on the reservation list. What? You think you can skip it? You fool! If you don’t try it, you’re missing out on the festival!”
Wow, she’s surprisingly knowledgeable about this festival.
“That’s unexpected.”
“What is?”
“Well, your appearance and background. You don’t look like someone who’d know or care about this kind of thing.”
“…Judging people by their appearance is a bad habit.”
Still,
It’s hard to imagine someone with her rugged appearance being interested in things like this.
“I’ve always admired Polaris. Isn’t it natural to know at least this much?”
Dwena glanced around at the sights of the festival with her small, darting eyes.
“The Festival of Stars commemorates the founding of Polaris and symbolizes its legacy. It’s the event that most captures the essence of Polaris!”
The history of Polaris runs deep.
Long before the empire was established, during the days of [Hell], people gathered to train together to resist monsters—that was the origin of Polaris.
Back then, it was more like a mercenary guild or a knightly order than a school.
The one who transformed Polaris into a formal educational institution was—
Aldeina Marteus Lenzel.
The distant ancestor of Angela and Fernia, and the founding emperor of the empire.
She was the first and last swordsman of the Transcendence State, the one who brought humanity’s era to this harsh continent.
She’s a revered figure across Valdeon Continent.
“One day, I want to become a woman like Emperor Aldeina!”
“To do that, wouldn’t you have to stop being a bandit first?”
The Red Forest, which Dwena belongs to, is the continent’s largest bandit alliance.
Becoming an emperor is quite a stretch.
“Hmph, you clearly know nothing about bandits.”
“…A bandit is a bandit.”
“The Red Forest is different from regular bandits! We collect protection fees and guard other villages, and we punish wrongdoers!”
“You’re still taking tribute and looting, though. That’s banditry.”
“…….”
Dwena fell silent.
‘Well, even so…’
It’s true that the Red Forest is not like ordinary bandits.
If they were just a gang of outlaws, the empire would have eradicated them long ago.
The Red Forest’s public stance is “Guardians of the Mountains.”
They claim to punish those who harm the mountains and protect nature—a rather noble mission.
The reason they haven’t been marked for extermination is that they capture wanted criminals and fugitives hiding in the mountains and turn them over to the royal family.
The authorities turn a blind eye to the minor profits they make in the process.
‘They must have judged it more beneficial to keep them around.’
Though, in the latter part of the story, the Red Forest does become corrupted and starts robbing innocent people, becoming a den of villains.
But, for now, it isn’t like that.
“The Red Forest will change! That’s why I came here!”
“For someone with such aspirations, your behaviour in the exam waiting room looked like that of a third-rate bandit.”
“That was…! The boss said if I did that, everyone would bow down! I’m not interested in men at all!”
That’s a bit surprising.
Aside from someone like Karen, I thought all the women in this world were obsessed with men and desires.
“Really?”
“Yes! I don’t understand what’s supposed to be fun about playing around with men!”
“Hoho…”
You’re the first to display such an attitude.
I’m actually starting to like her more for it.
“Sis, let’s be friends.”
“No! Whenever I’m around you, I end up in annoying situations! And why are you calling me ‘sis’? We’re the same age!”
“It just feels natural to call you that.”
“Argh! Enough! I’ve shown you around the festival, so I’m leaving!”
Dwena shuddered and hurried away through the crowd.
Just as I was feeling a slight pang of disappointment,
Thud! Roll…
Something round fell and rolled across the ground where she had just been standing.
“Hmm?”
I bent down and picked up what looked like a bead.
“What’s this?”
Judging by the situation, it seemed to have fallen from Dwena’s pocket.
“Black Lotus, do you know what this is?”
“Sssik?”
Black Lotus flicked its tongue, inspecting the bead.
If it were some valuable elixir, Black Lotus would probably react to it.
“Sssss…”
It shook its head as if it didn’t know.
“I’m not sure what it is, but…”
I’ll just return it to her when I see her next time.
***
After thoroughly enjoying the festival, I headed toward the direction of the training grounds.
I had seen everything worth seeing and done everything I wanted to do, so there was no reason to stay any longer.
“Now, I can finally breathe easy.”
“Sssik~!”
As the bustling atmosphere settled down, a peaceful calm returned.
As expected, no one else was here.
It goes without saying.
No one trains during the festival period.
“Phew…”
I thought.
“Professor.”
“…Cadet Lan?”
Reina, who was focused on her sword practice, turned to look at me with wide eyes.
“You’re training as well, Professor.”
“If you’re in a teaching position, you have to work several times harder than those who are learning.”
Reina wiped the sweat from her chin.
‘By the way.’
This attire is something new.
Judging that no one would be around, she had her hair loosely tied up and was dressed in light training clothes.
Quite different from the casual clothes she wore when we met over the weekend.
“Oh…”
This look…
Seems like there’d be demand…
“Don’t… don’t stare at me so much…”
“Oh, sorry.”
Reina hesitated and cleared her throat.
“…Shh!”
Black Lotus tapped the back of my neck lightly as a bonus.
“By the way… why are you here? The festival should be in full swing right now.”
“I’ve enjoyed everything already. Thought I’d spend the spare time training.”
“You’re diligent.”
Reina gave a slight smile.
“But still, it’s good to enjoy the festival. It’s a privilege you only get to enjoy as a cadet.”
“I didn’t expect you to say that, Professor.”
“That’s exactly why I’m saying it.”
Protecting the youth of young people is also part of an adult’s duty.
She said this as she picked up her sword.
“Are you training your sword technique?”
“Yes.”
Ice and snow were scattered across the training grounds.
Evidence that Reina had been practicing her sword technique here.
“…Are you interested?”
“It would be a lie to say I’m not.”
The secret sword technique of the Winter family, ‘Ice Pattern Style’.
A sword technique that blooms snowflakes and ice spikes, freezing and shattering enemies.
“What swordsman wouldn’t be interested in Ice Pattern Style?”
“Hm, is that so?”
“Not only is it beautiful, but its completeness as a technique is also impressive. The way it embodies the environmental characteristics of the North makes it highly versatile too.”
“That… seems to be what people say. Though I don’t quite understand…”
“Its inherent qualities are so clear that you can adapt it to suit the situation in battle, which is an undeniable advantage for a top-tier technique. Ah, I’ve always wanted to learn it too~.”
“Heh… Hmm…”
I can see it.
The corner of her lips, twitching as if wanting to smile.
“If you’re that interested, I suppose there’s no harm in showing it.”
“Really?”
She chose to pick up her sword instead of responding.
Reina stood in the training grounds, aimed her sword forward, and composed her breath.
“Phew…”
The moment she exhaled,
The temperature around her dropped slightly.
A sky-blue aura lightly hovered around her body.
Whoosh!
Soon, a frosty aura gathered on her sword like an icy surface.
Swish!
The blade sliced through the air.
‘Ice Pattern Style’
The sword technique of the North, wielded by Reina.
A cold aura instantly froze the surroundings.
Crackle!
Flying shards of ice.
Snow imbued with cold flew like flower petals, spreading an expansive attack.
“Wow…”
The first thought that came to mind upon seeing it was,
‘Beautiful.’
A sword technique of snow and ice.
Even though it contained a bitterly cold aura capable of causing necrosis upon contact,
‘Ice Pattern Style’ revealed an unshakable and noble beauty.
“How is it?”
“It’s… beautiful. Really beautiful.”
“Hah… This is the pride of the Winter family…”
“Professor, could you show me one more time?”
“Hmm?”
“No, actually… maybe about three more times…!”
Unable to hold back my excitement, I stepped closer to Reina.
“Why are you coming so close…! C-calm down!”
“If you promise to show it four more times.”
“Don’t increase it so subtly!”
Tap!
Reina grabbed my shoulder and pushed me away.
“Don’t come so close. I might smell unpleasant since I was just sweating…”
But all I could smell was a refreshing mint scent.
“If you show it five times, I’ll back off.”
“You cheeky brat…”
Reina bit her lower lip, then gave a small nod.
“Fine. But don’t tell Lord Karen.”
“Of course.”
And just like that,
I had another secret with Reina.
—
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