Survival 103

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“You look unwell. Was yesterday’s sparring that harsh?”

I waved off Luciana’s concerned look.

“Ahaha. How could that be? I just had trouble sleeping due to personal reasons.”

“…You had trouble sleeping. You, who always had regular sleep habits at the mansion? That’s unexpected.”

Suddenly, a chill,

Luciana’s icy gaze fell upon my shadow.

“So, you’re saying my servant had trouble sleeping, yet I smell blood here.”

“…Ahem.”

I hadn’t expected Luciana’s senses to be this sharp. 

I had indeed been practicing magic just before.

‘I thought I washed thoroughly enough not to be noticed.’

Luciana’s sharp murmuring continued.

“Maybe I should contact the main house. There’s absolutely no reason to employ an incompetent maid who troubles my servants.”

“Ha, hahaha….”

I awkwardly laughed and scratched the back of my head.

From the shadow, a desperate voice urged me.

-Well, try to make up some excuse! The descendant of a warrior is suspecting me!

-Well, it’s a sharp deduction, isn’t it? It’s true that I stayed up all night because of Lady Bathory.

Thinking back, it was indeed a thrilling (?) night.

I practiced magic while undergoing the painful process of bloodletting and improving my veins.

As a result, I suffered from anemia.

Since it started so abruptly,

I smirked slyly at her.

-Well, since you started it, perhaps you should apologize?

-Brazen! You have a stake in this too! Even when I said to stop, it was clearly you who suggested we continue just a bit more!

This conversation with Bathory was also a result of that blood-soaked effort.

Luciana wouldn’t hear this dialogue.

Originally, telepathy was a technique only available to certain powerful individuals.

Although I’m just a novice in aura and magic, with tricks, nothing is impossible.

For now, I can only communicate with Bathory, but if I keep honing this sense,

‘I might be able to have heart-pounding chats during lessons with my beloved…!’

-After all, isn’t this telepathy using only my mana? You live off emotions, don’t you even know what embarrassment is?

-Ah, even so, didn’t I suffer enough improving the veins and all that?

Yet, to think that even a mere Muggle could use telepathy.

The power of a grand mage, especially a vampire, is truly great, I think,

“…Hans?”

That was when,

In the midst of conversing with Bathory, she took her gaze off my shadow.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

‘Ah, such a mistake.’

Caught up in using telepathy, I quickly came up with a plausible excuse.

“Intervening while you were scolding Lady Bathory would have been awkward, wouldn’t it?”

“No, if it were you, you would have definitely added your two cents. Your silence is suspicious.”

Today, under Luciana’s sharp interrogation, sweat began to dampen my temples.

As close as I had gotten to Luciana, she too had spent quite some time close to me and knew me too well.

“Tell me honestly. Is there something fishy going on?”

“That, that is….”

Approaching closely, the perfect expressionlessness that I saw for the first time in a while felt difficult.

‘How do I lie in this situation?’

Especially since I was already under suspicion related to the color of my aura and frost mane.

If I was caught lying, the seeds of doubt might grow rapidly and become irreversible.

“I was talking with Lady Bathory. That’s why…”

“Goodness! If you say it outright like that, won’t I also be in trouble!”

I immediately confessed outright.

The vampire in maid’s clothes jumping out of the shadow was an added shock.

Luciana’s face grew even colder.

“Talking? You’ve been silent the whole time.”

“Ahaha, well, it just so happens that I was learning telepathy from Lady Bathory.”

“…Hans. Have you already become capable of using telepathy?”

Luciana’s furrowed brow showed her usual reaction.

But there was something different about the atmosphere just then.

“That’s impressive. I haven’t reached that stage yet myself.”

Luciana looked at me silently, her jaw clenched.

As I was about to respond,

“…Fine. I cannot just watch a servant and a maid conspiring behind their lord’s back. We’ll have to start intensive training for a while.”

With that, Luciana had returned to her usual expressionless face.

And, without a chance to speak further, she headed to the training grounds with her sword.

Naturally, there was no opportunity to discern her thoughts through contact.

-I trusted you! How could you betray…

‘Darn…’

I didn’t hear the chattering complaints of Bathory.

But chasing after Luciana to soothe her heart wasn’t an option right now with so much else to do.

‘Perhaps I should just let her be for now.’

Deciding to give her some space and to gently probe later, I too moved on to the tasks I had for today.

For my plans, I needed time to get accustomed to my enhanced body and daggers.

Squeak

***

The sword that had been slicing through the air suddenly stopped.

Amidst a scatter of blue light, radiant silver eyelashes fluttered.

Telepathy.

A privilege of grand mages who have accumulated several layers of rings in their hearts, or aura experts who have practiced extensively.

‘…And Hans can use it now.’

Luciana bit her lip hard.

Of course, Hans was always constructing his strength through unexpected means.

He must have reached this stage using methods beyond her common understanding, probably part of why he stayed up all night.

However… understanding and accepting were two different issues.

-Buzz.

The slight arrogance that had subtly arisen from securing the top rank.

The jealousy over her favored servant secretly conversing with a demonic maid.

The suspicion stemming from Hans’s black aura.

Shaking off all these distractions, Luciana swung her sword solely for her own training.

‘I must admit, I am currently behind Hans.’

The realm of telepathy.

What efforts had he made to reach it?

Although there seemed no significant difference in aura felt, the sharp, lingering scent of blood, surely cleansed and clothed anew, felt intensely bitter.

However, Hans, unaware of all this, must have become numb to the intense scent of blood from all the training until it became familiar.

“I couldn’t fall behind. Hans and I must always stand at the same level. No, I must be a step ahead of him.”

A lord couldn’t afford to be weaker than their servant without losing face.

With this thought, Luciana gathered her aura.

“Miss Luciana, it’s time for your sparring lesson.”

At that moment, the voice of the man who complicated her feelings reached her ears.

Hans, familiar with his dagger at his waist, appeared in his impeccably clean servant’s attire.

“…Alright, stand back. I’ll handle it myself.”

“What? Miss Luciana, I was just preparing to…”

“I said I’ll handle it myself.”

Typically, a servant’s duty is to care for their master, but she didn’t want to face Hans right now. It could even be seen as ugly jealousy.

However, she didn’t think her feelings were wrong.

‘As befits the Speda family, I must always reign supreme over others.’

Even if it involved a cherished servant, he was not an exception to this fundamental principle.

Suddenly, a good idea struck her.

“There’s no need for you to attend the morning lesson. Aren’t there no other lessons? I want to dedicate myself to solo training right now.”

“Ah! That’s right. Indeed, you’ve been promised top grades by the professor. It seems I inadvertently disturbed you. I will leave now.”

‘It seems he accepted that.’

His figure, drooping as he left, drew her gaze endlessly.

Luciana found herself unknowingly muttering,

“See you in the evening.”

“What?”

“Since I have imparted the arts to you, shouldn’t I take responsibility for it? Although it’s training time, I will make time, so come to the A-class exclusive sparring hall.”

It was strange.

Was it attachment?

While pushing him away, another part of her heart couldn’t let go of their connection.

Perhaps it was because she knew he was an irreplaceable bond to her.

“…It’s instruction from the best teacher! I’m looking forward to this.”

“The beginning of the Speda family’s arts is humble. I’ve walked that path myself. It will surely be much better than that demon who relies only on his innate talent.”

After encouraging a noticeably brightened Hans,

she threw a mocking laugh towards Bathory, who might be hiding in his shadow, and then turned her back.

She had just half a day.

For a proper confrontation with Hans, she too had to reach the level of telepathy he had achieved.

“Phew.”

She slowly exhaled, gathering her aura.

The pure white sword also responded faithfully to her desires.

Thus,

Luciana continued her training, attributing the irritation inside her to a competitive spirit towards Hans.

***

“What’s with that arrogant face?! Even if you’ve beaten me before, isn’t this too much?!”

“Ha-ha, it’s fortunate, isn’t it? No reprimands and no being chased away.”

Luciana’s clear scoff,

From the training grounds to here, I soothed Bathory’s indignation through telepathy and focused on my class.

Dance and etiquette, and the study of history. Unlike mere liberal arts courses, this is a compulsory major for all departments: <Practical Combat and Dueling>. Although I am a baron, I am a legitimate noble. If I were to displease those who despise blue blood even slightly, I would be met with revolutionary grades.

“Well, there is a set curriculum, so I explained it at length. Theory? That’s nothing compared to the experience on the battlefield.”

Suddenly, his radical statement contrasted sharply with his gentlemanly suit, and the quiet atmosphere briefly stirred.

Until a moment ago, the class had been demonstrating various techniques, but his rejection of his own lecture content was all the more startling. However, as Professor Marks, who values practicality as indicated by the name of the subject, I found it understandable, having already experienced it in the freshman level test. Several other students nodded in agreement.

In a previous life, too, those who proved themselves in the fierce valley of actual combat were the real deal!

“Therefore, for the time being, the students will duel each other, and I will provide feedback afterward.”

“Excuse me, how are we supposed to choose our duel partners?”

At the student’s question, his bushy eyebrows twitched.

“There is no distinction of status at the academy, but there is a firm hierarchy of grades. I will designate opponents based on grades.”

He sighed as he glanced around and noticed the empty seat next to me, the seat left vacant by Luciana who was legally skipping due to a reckless bet by the professor.

“It seems the student with the top grades isn’t here, so let’s start with the second highest.”

Then, the saint who was chosen smiled sweetly.

“Professor, is it possible to forgo my nomination?”

Decision deferred.

Professor Marks looked puzzled at the saint’s choice.

He didn’t understand. In fact, it was a tremendous privilege. She was giving up the opportunity to choose an easier opponent, which could have been advantageous for her grades.

“…the right to choose will move to the next in line, but is that okay?”

“Yes.”

But the professor didn’t know.

There were circumstances for the students.

-Saint? Well, she seems to know how to follow the current.

-Well, those holy priests also argue over doctrinal interpretations, don’t they? They’re not nobles, but they’re certainly seasoned in the political arena.

As Báthory had said, the saint was quite familiar with politics.

If she were to use this moment to target a weaker noble for points?

She knew the consequences.

Probably.

-A saint, but her liver’s sticking out.

-How dare a commoner challenge a noble?

-Ignoring us nobles of the Central region?

Facing the hatred of the Central nobles, including the Caspera sisters, was the inevitable next step.

Despite joining our alliance due to my persuasion (or rather, coercion), she was not ready to lead the charge.

Thus, she chose to defer.

She had stepped into the battlefield, but she intended to keep her involvement to a level that supported power formation, which was exactly the structure she desired.

She’ll also take care of the positive image of a saint who doesn’t torment the weak as a bonus.

-If you put it nicely, it’s clever; if you put it harshly, it’s cunning.

-Hmm. So? It seems like the choice has shifted to you.

Everyone, including Professor Marks, turned their eyes to me.

Well, the next one to go was me, who had the highest scores on the entrance exam.

“3rd seat, Hans Byron. Please choose your sparring partner.”

-Well, that’s rather fortunate. You don’t really need to care about what others think. Will you choose someone weak and just get it over with?

-Doing so would indeed be advantageous for the scores…

‘I really didn’t like this scene even when playing the game.’

Of course, the relentless Luciana chose the 2nd seat and mercilessly defeated him. But after the 3rd seat, it was different.

Decision-makers one by one called out the weak from the hostile forces, looking out for their own interests.

And the conflict among them continued to deepen.

The fight became as dirty and chaotic as a mud pit.

‘Hehe…’

Look at Riu La Caspera secretly laughing and glaring at the mercenaries.

It seems the situation is flowing similarly to the original story.

-Will you delay the choice like the saint? If so, to the 4th seat, the prince…

-Haha, no. I was just pondering a bit and have just made up my mind.

That’s just avoidance.

More importantly, it deviates quite a bit from the original plan of breaking the fight early on and consolidating power at the academy.

“I will choose the 9th seat, Lady Riu La Caspera.”

“…!”

So, come up on stage.

Let’s sort this out directly between the creators of this situation.

“Oh, I see. Both are high-performing students, so it should be a decent duel. Riu La Caspera, please come up to the dueling stage.”

“…Yes.”

Curiosity, worry, and petty jealousy. Amidst many gazes, Riu La grasped the amethyst staff, identical to my eyes, and slowly ascended the stairs of the dueling arena.

-You’ve shunned the easy path and opted for a difficult choice.

-Haha, that’s what I’m supposed to do as a servant of the Speda ducal family.

-Funny, you thought I wouldn’t know you wanted to test the new weapon you just got. You, sometimes you’re just like a child.

-Did you catch me?

I wasn’t really planning on hiding it.

With a smile full of anticipation, I took out the Raven claws from my pocket.

This dignified, pitch-black beauty!

It’s just perfect for overwhelming an enemy.

Riu La Caspera would be a very suitable first victim.

Instantly, the atmosphere in the dueling arena tensed up.

Everyone here is a noble.

They instinctively realized.

This duel was a prelude to a political battle.

“Doesn’t the professor also say? Come, teach me a move!”

“The servant of the Speda ducal family speaks so frivolously. I wonder if you’ll still be the same after losing.”

With a relaxed tone and sharp words directed at each other.

-Ding.

The bell signaling the start of the duel rang.

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