I Became the Academy’s Weakest Strategist

The clusters of stars thickly embroidering the night sky, the Milky Way.
As if competing to show off their elegance, the stars were pouring brilliant light down to the earth.
Chirr chirr chirr.
And the grasshoppers were singing songs of gratitude in return for the grace of the stars and moon, each in their own seats.
Like a small orchestra performance, the grasshoppers were creating their own harmonies, and the stars and moon adorned the entire Montegro Academy with light in response.

Plop.
And at the center of this orchestra performance lay a girl with distinctive crimson hair, stretched out on the dust-covered ground.
Had her father, the lord of the Edinburar Ducal Family, or her older sister and second brother seen her, they would surely have scolded her for disgracing the ducal name.
But tonight, only the small grasshoppers and the occasional light breeze caressing Rose’s face accompanied Edinburar Rose.

“…Knight.”
Gazing quietly at the night sky, Rose murmured the word ‘knight’ that she had aspired to and admired since childhood.
Raise your sword, vanquish evil.
Raise your sword, protect the weak.
Raise your sword, safeguard the royal family.
Indeed, knights were just, honorable, and courageous.

“…Older brother.”
Rose recalled her eldest brother, now gone from this world.
The night sky with only stars and the moon resembled a deep blue canvas.
So with her tiny fingers, Rose quietly embroidered the face of her eldest brother she remembered onto that night sky.
Curves, lines, countless geometric shapes drawn.
With her unremarkable drawing skills, Rose barely managed to depict her eldest brother’s face in the night sky.

“…I miss you.”
In her childhood, her eldest brother had been her idol.
Despite being a noble, he did not treat the common folk poorly, and showed propriety to all.
He raised his sword high to save people from monsters and lowered his shield to protect civilians from bandits.
Strict towards himself but infinitely gentle to others.
Although he had conflicts with their father, their father did not obstruct his eldest son’s path.
In fact, Rose also knew her father’s heart.
What father would wish harm upon their child?
From a parent’s perspective, her eldest brother was the very embodiment of recklessness.
The son destined to succeed as head of the family constantly rushed to the frontlines – what parent wouldn’t worry?

“Brother Edward…”
Pluck.
Rose brought a blooming red flower by the roadside to her nose.
The flower was a mountain peony, meaning ‘passion’ in the language of flowers.
Somehow, she seemed to sense the lingering presence of the departed Edward.

Rose felt the tranquility of the world for a moment, recalling the words her older brother Edward had spoken while patting her little head in childhood:
“Rose, my beloved sister. Do not be afraid no matter what trials approach. Knights are honorable people who rise above hardship and adversity.”
“Yes, brother!”
“Hahaha! Sir Edward shall be this lovely lady’s escort.”
“Mmm!”

As the happy memories surfaced, Rose smiled brilliantly.
An expression the usual Rose could never make.
Known as an intimidating junior to her seniors, an object of awe to her peers, and a figure of fear to her juniors, Rose was…
Smiling purely and innocently, like an ordinary girl, like the young ladies of the village.

“…Fool.”
A person who had left his mark on this world, then departed far too soon.
Someone who smiled radiantly while saving the weak.
A foolish man who sacrificed his life to protect his family.
As the floral fragrance wafted into her nose, Rose smiled even more radiantly than before.
Somehow, she felt her brother Edward by her side.

“…Just who was that person?”
With one hand tightly clutching the flower, Rose buried her face in her knees.
Somehow, that person had given her a feeling similar to her older brother.
Like her brother, he had given her courage, a catalyst,
And awakened her sense of honor.

“He was like my brother…”
Though different in appearance, stature, and demeanor,
Rose seemed to detect a lingering scent of nostalgia from Rommel, reminiscent of cherished memories.

“I want to meet him again.”
The man with the distinctive ponytail sticking out behind.
Despite his frail appearance and being provoked by someone else,
The man Rose was thinking of now somehow seemed larger than life.

“To reach the unreachable star.”
Rose stretched her hand towards the stars in the night sky.
A place she wanted to reach but could not.
The man had said that knights too must dream the impossible dream, and press onward despite any trials.
To anyone else, it might sound foolish, but Rose etched those words deep into her heart.

The spirit of knighthood that she could never hear or feel, even from her seniors, peers, juniors, or even professors.
That man had revealed it to her.

“Yes, I will forge ahead.”
Snapping out of her reverie, Rose took the red mountain peony tightly gripped in one hand and tucked it behind her ear.
Then, she gently picked up the wooden sword that had fallen to the dusty ground and tightly gripped the hilt.
Having rolled around on the dusty earth, the sword blade was covered in dirt.
Tap tap.
“I will overcome it.”
Tap tap tap.
“For it is cowardly to despair from suffering torment.”
Rose tapped the dirt off the sword blade with her hand.
Just as she brushed the dirt off the sword, Rose also shook off the ponderings that had filled her mind.

Somehow, Rose gazed at the wooden sword that mirrored her own situation.
The sword that accompanies a knight throughout their life always follows the knight.
Thus, a knight’s sword is inextricably linked to their life.
If the knight falls, so too does the sword.
If the sword breaks, the knight breaks as well.
That is why the knight and sword are one (一切).

Shrick.
After dusting off the wooden sword, Rose fastened it to her waist and slowly began walking towards her liege.
To meet Princess Bizant von Erje, her liege.
To show her liege her transformed self.
She began walking slowly towards District 13.

“…I won’t let him slip away next time.”
Murmuring softly as she recalled the man reminiscent of her brother, Rose somehow felt she would meet him again in this vast academy, despite not even knowing his name or affiliation in her hurried departure.
For if their beliefs and convictions were aligned, their paths would inevitably lead to the same destination.

“Never again…”
Rose had no intention of repeating the mistake that had cost her brother’s life.

“Haah…”
The student council president’s office, a place only one person could use.
Though darkness had already fallen outside, the light in the president’s office showed no sign of dimming anytime soon.

And inside that office, the imperial princess Bizant von Erje sat in a chair, letting out a long sigh.
The documents piled high on her desk urged her to swiftly stamp them with her seal of approval, but Erje’s attention was focused on a particular book.
That book was ‘What is War?’, the very one Rommel had left behind on Erje’s seat.

“The contents are too difficult…”
Though she had changed into comfortable clothes and tied her long, flowing golden hair into a ponytail to read the book easily,
The book was filled with unfamiliar terms and phrases that Erje found challenging to understand.

“It’s too much for self-study.”
Erje pinched her brow and gently closed the book.
It had already been 3 hours since she started reading, yet evening had fallen and Erje still could not fully comprehend the contents.
Of course, she had memorized everything, but memorization and true understanding were different matters.

“…Perhaps I should seek a tutor?”
Though the thought crossed her mind, Erje shook her head.
Would there really be someone who could help her understand this book’s contents?
None.
Even if there was someone who could explain the contents well,
“It would not be satisfactory.”

For Erje had already learned the innovative Hammer and Anvil tactic from Rommel.
Therefore, she would not be satisfied with anyone else’s teachings.
Apart from one person.

“…Rommel.”
Rommel’s face suddenly surfaced in her mind.
“Should I seek him out and request his help…?”
Somehow, she felt Rommel could satisfy her.
But would he make time for her?
She had no clear conviction yet.

Initially, she had just met Rommel today as a complete stranger, and he did not know her true identity.
“Ugh…”
As her thoughts grew complicated, Erje stretched out her body that had become stiff from sitting.

Knock knock knock.
Then a knocking sound came from outside.
“Who could be visiting the office at this hour?”
Erje tilted her head quizzically, waiting for the visitor knocking to identify themselves.

“It is Edinburar Rose. May I enter, Your Highness?”
“Ah, Rose. Please come in.”
Fortunately, the visitor seeking Erje was her friend and knight, Edinburar Rose.

“Pardon my intrusion.”
“What brings you here so late at night? No, rather, I told you to call me Erje. Why do you keep addressing me so formally…”
Puffing out her cheeks in displeasure, Erje resembled an angered pufferfish inflating its body.

“No, Your Highness. As your knight, I cannot show such discourtesy.”
“Really! Rose, you are too stiff.”
“My apologies.”
“If you’re apologizing, then call me Erje.”
“Such impudence…”
“So dull.”

The displeased Princess Erje and the flustered Rose before her.
Rose was Erje’s most cherished vassal, and Erje was Rose’s kind liege.
The two knew each other better than anyone and could understand one another.

“Putting that aside…what’s the matter? Shouldn’t Rose be practicing swordsmanship at the dorm training grounds around this time?”
“I came because I wished to see you, Your Highness.”
“Huh?”
“Was that inappropriate?”
“Oh, no, I was just surprised to hear you say that so suddenly.”
“My apologies.”

One win, one loss.
To calm her startled heart from Rose’s surprise attack, Erje smoothed her chest.
Erje briefly caught her breath, then rose to fetch something to drink, handing Rose a cup of tea.

“Well, this works out nicely. I was in need of some company myself.”
“It seems I arrived at an opportune time.”
Sip.
As Erje drank her tea, she noticed a red flower tucked behind Rose’s ear.

“Rose, what is that flower?”
“Ah, this…”
After a brief pause, Rose smiled and answered Erje’s question.
“A personal memento. For I have finally made up my mind today.”
“…Finally made up your mind?”

Erje had often provided Rose with counseling on her troubles.
So Erje was aware of the issues Rose had been grappling with.
Rose had been wavering.
Observing those around her, she had grown disillusioned, questioning if she was the strange one.

“Yes, I met a wise man.”
“A wise man?”
Wise man?
Erje’s ears perked up at the phrase Rose had used.
Just who had set Rose’s direction?
Erje felt like showering that person with gifts.

“…Someone who awakened my shortcomings and taught me the meaning of honor.”
“Oh?”
At that moment, Erje saw Rose beaming a brilliant smile.
The Rose who rarely smiled even at Erje was now smiling radiantly as she spoke of this ‘wise man.’

“By any chance, do you know that wise man’s name or affiliation?”
“No, I know nothing. It was just a fleeting encounter.”
With a slightly regretful expression, Rose answered the princess’s question.
In that moment, Erje realized the feeling Rose harbored.
‘Admiration.’
Rose admired this ‘wise man.’
And Rose’s unusual encounter felt familiar to Erje as well.
For she too had met her own ‘wise man’ today in Rommel.

“…It’s similar to me.”
“Pardon?”
“I also met a wise man today.”
“You too, Your Highness?”
“Yes, someone who filled my shortcomings and awakened me. I’d like to make them my tutor, if I could.”
“What sort of person were they?”
“Steadfast.”

Rose briefly set down her teacup and gazed up at the ceiling.
The countless embedded gemstones and the brilliant light enveloping her.
“And it seemed the whole world was contained within that person’s mind.”
“Just from your words, they sound like a sage…”
“Perhaps they truly are a sage.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s just my feeling.”
Erje smiled at Rose.
And Rose returned a small smile in kind.
For what knight would not be joyful to see their liege smiling happily?

“Somehow I feel I’ll meet them again, but I wish to see them sooner rather than later.”
“I too wish to meet the one who brought a smile to Your Highness’s face.”
“You mean the one who made Rose smile?”
“Eek…”

Rose hurriedly covered her mouth with both hands, but it was too late.
Erje had already fully savored Rose’s smile.
Letting out a quiet chuckle at Rose’s expression, Erje began sipping her reddened-faced companion’s tea as well.

Even tonight, the student council president’s office continued shining more brilliantly than anywhere else, its light never dimming.