TGSA 49

Chapter 49

Knocking on the Door of the Class (1)

My roommate in the trainee dormitory turned out to be none other than Heinrich.

“Of all people…”

I sighed the moment I saw Heinrich.

In the novel, Arcandel’s roommate was Rufus.

Since Rufus had come to respect Arcandel after being defeated in the duel, the two had built a fairly good relationship.

With a hot-blooded yet honest character like Rufus by his side, the story development had flowed more easily, making things more convenient.

“Ernas, why do you sigh the moment you see someone’s face?”

Heinrich glared at me, his eyes full of hostility.

It must be the grudge from losing to me in the sparring match.

Unlike Rufus, Heinrich was the type to harbor deep resentment toward anyone who defeated him.

But that wasn’t why I had sighed.

“Don’t just stand there—organize your belongings. I’ve already drawn a line on the floor to divide our areas, so make sure you don’t cross into mine.”

“……”

Heinrich’s luggage was already perfectly organized.

Everything was lined up with meticulous precision, and not a speck of dust could be found around it.

“When you unpack, make sure you don’t raise any dust. Understood?”

“I’ll handle it myself…”

Heinrich was an extreme neat freak.

It wasn’t simply a preference for cleanliness—it was part of his perfectionist personality.

I’d added that trait to his character to make him more human by giving an otherwise excellent person one or two flaws… but now, I regretted it.

“Looks like I’ll be listening to nagging.”

As I unpacked the luggage transferred from Black Class 6, various odds and ends tumbled out.

A pencil I had used in class rolled across the floor, and Heinrich’s eyes shot wide open.

“Ernas, your pencil is trying to invade my territory. Deal with it.”

“Yes, yes, understood.”

“What’s with that half-hearted answer?”

As I was unpacking, a face appeared at the open doorway.

It was Rufus Ignatius, the representative of Red Class 1.

“Hmm, Ernas, is it? Looks like the investigation is over.”

“Rufus…”

As expected, Rufus had passed the second exam on his first try, just like in the novel.

“Ernas and Heinrich as roommates… what a strange pairing.”

“Rufus, who’s your roommate?”

“I’m alone. After all, the only male students who passed the second exam are the three of us here.”

Rufus said this in his usual cold voice.

“Gort tried, but only injured his wrist. His opponent was skilled, but it seemed more like Gort couldn’t focus properly.”

“……”

It was probably because of the Carlisle issue.

Worried that his family’s ties to the Valtfelt house would be exposed, he likely couldn’t perform at his best.

“In the novel, Gort passed the second exam without trouble. So the story has changed.”

Was it because I talked too much in front of the professors?

He’d retake the exam on the next test day and advance anyway, but I worried about how this might affect the future.

“Ah, your Black Class 6 fellow—Schmitz—also attempted and failed. His sword aura was still immature.”

“Was he injured?”

“He didn’t seem to suffer any serious injuries.”

“I see… thanks for letting me know.”

It would have been convenient to have Schmitz around, but I believed he’d succeed on his next attempt.

“What about the girls?”

“As for the girls…” Rufus folded his arms.

“Ceryne and Berisrise, those two passed the exam.”

“Never thought I’d end up sharing a room with you.”

“I feel the same way, Berisrise.”

Third floor of the trainee dormitory, room 304.

There, Ceryne was speaking with Berisrise.

“Do we really have to share a room? We’re the only ones who advanced, so there must be plenty of empty rooms.”

“They said it’s the rules, so nothing we can do.”

“Tch… annoying.”

Berisrise swept her hair back, grumbling.

Truthfully, Ceryne also felt like grumbling.

She had never gotten along with Berisrise.

“It’s not like I did anything wrong to her…”

From Ceryne’s perspective, Berisrise’s constant hostility was burdensome.

When they were children, they’d gotten along fine whenever they met at noble gatherings. But at some point, Berisrise began showing animosity toward her.

If she remembered correctly… it had started around the time Ceryne got engaged to Ernas.

“In any case, Berisrise, since we’re roommates now, let’s get along. I’ll be in your care.”

“Forget it. Don’t say useless things.”

Ceryne extended her hand, but Berisrise frowned.

“We’re rivals fighting for the top spot of the academy. Why should we get along?”

“But Berisrise—”

“You said it yourself during the duel. That you wanted to stand at the top of the academy.”

Berisrise glared as she spoke.

“If that’s how you feel, then I’ll acknowledge you as a competitor. The moment I get a chance, I’ll drag you down. So be prepared.”

Hearing the hostile voice, Ceryne sighed.

“Understood. Since I’m so afraid of being dragged down by you, I’ll take the bottom bunk.”

“What?”

As Ceryne sat on the bottom bunk, Berisrise rushed over in a panic.

“Who said you could decide that?!”

“You said you’d drag me down the moment you had the chance. If I sleep on the top bunk, you might push me off, so I’ll take the bottom.”

“Wait, I’m also scared of falling! I want the bottom bunk too!”

“First come, first served, Berisrise.”

“Ceryne, why do you always—ugh!”

As Berisrise shoved at her, Ceryne averted her gaze toward the floor.

“I wonder if Ernas’s investigation is finished.”

From tomorrow, their lives as trainees would begin.

She wanted to work together with Ernas as she had in Black Class 6… but with people like Berisrise, Heinrich, and Rufus around, even speaking with him openly in the dorms would feel difficult.

“Well, at least Rufus and Heinrich aren’t the scheming types.”

Lying on the top bunk, I sank into thought.

“They both prefer fair fights, so I don’t have to worry about being stabbed in my sleep.”

If Gort were here, it would be different—he’d seize any chance to take my life.

But Rufus and Heinrich weren’t like that.

Rufus would want to defeat me in an official, honorable match. Heinrich, too.

Even if I showed an opening, they wouldn’t see it as an “opportunity.”

“In that case, I should be warier of the six great sword-clans themselves, rather than their heirs.”

The truth was, the real enemies weren’t the heirs of the six great sword-clans.

I had already defeated them once, and I was confident I could continue to do so.

They were no longer truly threatening.

The real danger lay in the clans themselves—houses desperate to make their heirs the next Grand Duke of Lichtenauer by any means.

“If one of the clan heads came at me right now with a sword… I’d just die.”

The clan heads were all masters at the pinnacle.

I, a mere graduate-lower level swordsman, stood no chance.

“Of course, their political positions won’t allow them to act so openly.”

As high nobles leading Imperial society, they couldn’t move without cause.

Instead, they would send subordinates to secretly harm me.

“Henry Lancaster and Theodora Valtfelt have already targeted my life. And it will keep happening.”

Though Calleon Ignatius, like his son Rufus, preferred open duels, he too could change tactics if necessary.

In the end, I had to grow strong enough to defend myself from such threats.

“One day… I must be able to face the clan heads directly and win.”

With that thought, I touched the Yusrecht ring on my finger.

Immediately, my current abilities appeared.

== Temporarily Acquired ==

• [Partisan Judgement Swordsmanship (S-Rank)]

• [Lancaster Shortsword (S-Rank)]

• [Valahail Greatsword (A-Rank)]

• [Calecius Thunder-Lance Swordsmanship (C-Rank)]

• [Lichtenauer Lightfoot (A-Rank)]

== Permanently Bound ==

• [Eastern Mana Refinement Method (A-Rank)]

The Partisan Judgement Sword, Valahail Greatsword, and Calecius Thunder-Lance Sword were all Graduate-exclusive sword styles.

The Lancaster Shortsword, though S-Rank, wasn’t Graduate-exclusive and thus weak at this stage.

Now that I’d be using real blades instead of wooden ones, I couldn’t snap or grip a sword short to mimic a shortsword.

“It’ll be hard to deepen my understanding enough to permanently bind it… Better to discard Lancaster Shortsword and obtain something else.”

But what?

It would have been great to obtain something from Professor Valentiano today, but the penalty from deleting Bastien’s Knight Sword when I acquired Valahail still hadn’t expired.

In just twelve days, that penalty would vanish. Then I could acquire another style.

“I need a Graduate-exclusive sword style, one effective even with lower-level mana, one useful in my current situation… preferably something I can master quickly to bind permanently.”

As I mulled this over, recalling parts of the novel—

Heinrich’s voice came from the bunk below.

“Ernas, are you asleep?”

“Not yet.”

I’d thought he was asleep from how quiet it was, but he was awake.

“Starting tomorrow, we’ll be visiting classes. You know that, right?”

“Of course.”

Trainees had to personally visit specific classes.

There, professors would give lectures, training, or assignments.

Once deemed sufficiently trained, one would receive a certificate.

Collect enough certificates, and you could challenge the third exam.

“Students are free to choose which class to visit first. You know that too, right?”

“I do.”

“I plan to visit Professor Yols’s class first.”

“……”

That was unexpected.

The Yols Class was brand new.

Though Yols himself was an excellent swordsman, his class was unprepared.

It wasn’t the most fitting choice for Heinrich. Why go there?

“So you go to another class.”

“What?”

“I don’t want to train in the same class as you.”

“……”

His voice was dripping with hostility. He truly didn’t want to be around me.

“Go to something like Valentiano’s class instead. Got it?”

“Well… I’ll think about it.”

“Hmph…”

Heinrich fell silent again.

In the quiet room, I sank back into thought.

“Right, I do need to decide where to go tomorrow.”

Maybe I should talk it over with Ceryne.

Since assignments were often given, it was more convenient to move with a partner than alone.

“Now that I think about it… I do need new power.”

And considering that… there was one class that fit perfectly.

The next morning.

In front of a building still under construction, Heinrich’s sharp voice rang out.

“What the hell are you thinking?!”

He glared at me, unable to understand.

“I warned you last night, didn’t I?”

“You did.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I only said I’d think about it. I never said I’d do what you told me.”

At my words, Heinrich’s eyes bulged.

“You crazy bastard…!”

“Watch your language. I’m going in first.”

“Hey—!”

Ignoring Heinrich’s rage, I stepped forward and pushed the door open.

The door to Yols Class, led by the “Dragon-Slayer Sword” Yols Calecius.