Right after Allen Rodol left…
“Haah… What a waste of time.”
…Patriot Bolnard sighed loudly and plopped down onto the sofa.
“You did your best, my lord,” the butler behind him said.
Patriot harrumphed in response and vigorously scratched his head. Having completely dropped the friendly act he’d adopted for Allen, his true feelings surfaced.
“What a useless boy. He’s just as dim-witted and naive as the reports said. I should never have expected to be able to speak to him like an adult.”
“Quite right, my lord.”
“One may think there’s nothing wrong with him being selfless and unsophisticated, but that also means he has no firm sense of self. He’s a sheltered brat who’s ignorant of the harsh realities of the world.”
“I could not agree more.”
Patriot gave a satisfied grunt at hearing the butler’s wholehearted agreement and opened an old cigar case. He picked out one of his favorites from a large collection and cut the head off with practiced hands. He patiently heated the foot with a match and, once it was ready, sucked in a full breath of smoke.
“Huff… People have long said you can find a use for any fool, but that couldn’t be less true. A fool will always remain a fool, no matter what you try to teach them,” Patriot said.
“You mean…?”
“We proceed with the original plan. We’ll swiftly dispose of that idiot. Use Shin.”
The butler hesitated. “…Are you sure he can defeat Allen?” he asked timidly.
“Huh?”
“It is true that Shin defies reason. I am well aware of his strength. However, the same can be said of Allen. I heard that he simultaneously fought Von Mustang, the traitorous Holy Blade, and Diehl Reinstad, a former Imperial Knight, and managed to gain the upper hand. So I’m simply wondering if Shin can actually defeat Allen.”
“Haah… Not you, too.”
Many in the noble faction were questioning whether Shin could defeat Allen Rodol, and Patriot had grown sick of hearing it.
“There’s no cause for concern,” Patriot said. “Strength doesn’t matter against Shin. It’s unthinkable that he could lose a one-on-one fight.”
“I understand. Please forgive me for speaking out of turn, my lord.”
Having corrected the butler’s preconceptions, Patriot grunted with satisfaction.
“Now, let us eagerly await the next festival.”
“Very good, my lord. I shall commence operation of the plan.” The butler bowed deeply and left the Phoenix Room.
“Ha-ha-ha! The long political struggle against the imperial faction is finally about to come to an end. Then I shall become a true noble!”
Patriot roared with wicked laughter, his eyes shining with bottomless greed and grand ambition.
✦ ✦ ✦
It was April 1, and my turbulent spring break had finally come to an end, giving way to the start of a new semester.
“Okay… Have you forgotten anything?” I asked.
“Nope, I’m all good,” responded Lia.
Having finished our morning preparations and changed into our uniforms, Lia and I left the dorm together as we always did.
“That’s a nice breeze,” I said.
“Yeah, it feels great,” Lia agreed.
We walked to the Thousand Blade campus together while enjoying the warm sun and pleasant spring breeze. It had only been a month since our last day of school, but it felt much longer than that.
“Oh, the classes have been posted.”
We’d just entered the main school building to see pieces of paper with the new classes on the bulletin board by the entrance.
“Let’s see… I’m in Class A this year again.”
“Me too,” said Lia. “Oh good, so are Rose and Claude.”
Students at Thousand Blade were split into classes A through F in descending order based on their grades, but the curriculum for each class was mostly the same.
“Going to school for the first time after a break always makes me nervous,” I admitted.
“Really? I’m just excited to see everyone,” said Lia.
We continued down the long hallway, opened the door to Class 2-A…
“Yo, Allen. How’s it going?”
“Lia, it’s been ages!”
“Good morning, you two!”
…and were enthusiastically greeted by our classmates.
“Good morning,” I responded.
“Morning, everyone,” said Lia.
We waved to everyone as we walked to our seats. Just as we got there, Tessa plunked down at his desk, which was right in front of mine.
“What’s up, Allen? I mastered the Slice Iron School of Swordcraft over break! I can finally give you an even match now!” he said, grinning wildly.
Tessa had gotten visibly more muscular, and his hands were callused. I could tell he’d had a productive spring break.
“That’s exciting. How about a practice match after cla—,” I started to propose, but I was interrupted by two classmates sitting beside us.
“I’m gonna stop you guys right there. You’re not even in Allen’s league, Tessa.”
“Don’t even bother, Tessa. You’ll just get hurt.”
“Oh yeah?! Ya wanna try sayin’ that again?!” Tessa yelled.
He began chasing the two students through the classroom just as the door slid open.
Rose walked in, looking half-asleep.
“Good morning,” I said.
“Morning, Rose. You’re still very much not a morning person, I see,” Lia teased.
“…Nrgh… Mornin’,” she mumbled as she rubbed her eyes and staggered to her desk.
The next person through the door was none other than Claude.
“Good morning, Princess Lia!”
“Oh, Claude! You’re back!” Lia said.
“I am! It is a privilege to see you again!”
Claude had returned to Vesteria Kingdom at the beginning of January, so we hadn’t seen her in nearly three months. If I remembered right, she’d gone home to attend an important meeting as captain of the Royal Guard.
“Why didn’t you contact me as soon as you got back, Claude? I’m hurt,” Lia said.
“My apologies, Princess. I only arrived in Liengard on the last flight yesterday night.”
“Oh. I guess I can’t blame you, then,” Lia said understandingly. She joyfully clapped her hands together. “But if you’re here, that must mean the meetings are all over! We’ll be together like old times!”
“I am very sorry to disappoint you once again… However, given the current state of the world, I believe I will be regularly returning to the kingdom for the foreseeable future,” Claude said.
“Aww, man… You really have it tough, Claude. Thanks for all your hard work.”
“I am not worthy of such praise… Your concern touches my heart…!” Claude said, tears of joy streaking her face. Her devotion to Lia was truly remarkable.
I spent the rest of the time before homeroom chatting with my classmates. We discussed a wide variety of topics including where we’d gone over spring break, whether we were seeing someone, new training methods we’d devised, and more. It felt wonderful to experience such a normal aspect of school life after everything I’d been through.
We could have kept talking forever, but eventually, the bell chimed, and the classroom door flew open.
“Morning, boys and girls! Hmm. Well, well… No one’s late or absent! Fantastic! What a perfect start to the new semester!” Chairwoman Reia exclaimed, looking around the room.
With a satisfied nod, she began homeroom.
“Okay, I’ll start with the announcements. I have two for you this time. Unusual, I know.”
Chairwoman Reia opened a black binder she was carrying and cleared her throat.
“First, it seems this school year will have a highly atypical schedule. I believe you’ll be given the details later at a school assembly, but keep that in the back of your minds for now.”
An “atypical schedule”…? Were they going to change around our classes?
“My second announcement concerns your friend and classmate Claude Stroganof. I’m sure most of you know this, but Claude is a citizen of Vesteria who holds the important position of captain of its Royal Guard. She has informed me that she will be making frequent trips back to her homeland due to this unprecedented period of international instability we currently find ourselves in, meaning she’ll be absent a lot. It’s not like she’s sick, though, so you don’t have to worry about her.”
Claude was a student of Thousand Blade Academy, but she also had responsibilities as a swordswoman of Vesteria. Something like this was unavoidable.
“All right, that’s it for the announcements! It’s time to start your first class of the new school year! You all had better prepare yourselves; I’m gonna work you so hard this year, you’ll wish you’d never been born!” Chairwoman Reia declared.
“““Yes, ma’am!”””