NOVEL NEXT Ch. 29
Chapter 29: Selection Ceremony (3)
Jack was always with me.
From the moment I returned to the Academy, we were always together, even taking down a monster like an Alraune.
So, not only the other cadets but also the instructors thought I’d choose Jack.
Despite his ample potential, I deliberately didn’t pick him.
But I was the one who rejected Jack first.
“You’re not choosing Jack?”
When the Dean asked, I nodded and answered with a confident voice.
“Yes. I’ve made my selections.”
“Hmm… Understood. Then Cadet Jack Reed will join our side.”
Thus, those selected for the Executor process were divided in half.
“Alright. A week from now, we’ll hold the spar with the consecutive win rule as you wanted. Any objections?”
“None.”
While the Dean and I locked eyes and smiled, Anton sighed.
“I need to send a letter to the Governor. The Princess will stay another week. Sigh, I hope nothing happens to her.”
Unaware of Anton’s worries, Anna just grinned and looked at me.
***
Immediately after the tumultuous selection ceremony, the cadets chosen for the Executor process split into two groups, heading to the training hall and the outdoor training ground.
Since the Princess was on my side, we were given the courtesy of using the indoor training hall.
Thus, time was given in the training hall for our first meeting and to receive my training policy.
“You all know me, so skip the introductions. Briefly introduce yourselves to each other. Mention your main weapon too. Oh, the Princess doesn’t have to.”
Though I was a cadet like them, I now held the status of an instructor.
So, for better or worse, they had to follow my orders for now.
“What are you waiting for?”
Thus, Elliott began introducing himself.
“I’m Elliott Harpman, the third son of the Harpman family. My main weapon is a sword.”
With Elliott breaking the ice, the others spoke up.
“I’m Leman Notel. Not a noble, so nothing to boast about. I use a mace.”
“Hi, juniors! I’m Meris Julian, the eldest daughter of the Julian family. I use a bow…”
“Jerto Marpen, second son of the Marpen family. Like Elliott, I use a sword.”
Each one brimming with personality, I nodded at their brief introductions.
“I’m Anna Kaien—”
“The Princess doesn’t have to.”
“Okay…”
Leaving a disappointed Anna behind, I stepped forward.
“I’ve heard your introductions. Before we start training, I’ll call you by numbers for efficiency. Starting with Elliott as Number 1…”
At the mention of numbers instead of names, the cadets protested in unison.
“We have names, so why?”
“I’m a senior by a class…”
“There’s only five of us, not hundreds.”
To their reactions, I responded coldly.
“What, you got a problem? If you do, prove it with skill.”
I drew my sword as I spoke.
“…”
“Then I’ll take that as agreement. One, Two, Three, Four… and our Princess.”
I didn’t assign Anna a number.
“Princess, you can rest easy. I’ll make sure it ends before your turn.”
“That’s not really what I wanted. I want to fight too.”
“Rest for now. I’ll train these dimwits and guide you in my spare time.”
At my blatantly dismissive remark, the cadets’ tempers flared.
“Us…”
“Dimwits?”
This was my intention.
“If you can’t even handle me as a group, aren’t you dimwits? If you’re confident, prove it.”
Even though they were specially selected for the Executor process, to my eyes, they were mere fledglings.
“Come on, idiots. Grab your weapons and pour all your feelings into me right now. This is a skill test before training.”
I beckoned with my sword-holding hand.
The cadets rushed to the racks, grabbing their weapons.
“You’re dead!”
Starting with Elliott, they all charged at me.
“Sigh, how did they expect me to train with these guys?”
I slipped into the path of Elliott’s straight thrust, hands in my pockets.
Tilting my body to dodge his sword, I struck his crown with the hilt’s end.
Smack!
“Argh!”
Simultaneously, I tripped him with my foot.
“Out.”
Next, Leman’s mace and Jerto’s sword came from front and back.
Whoosh!
I leaped upward, dodging both strikes, and they hit each other’s weapons.
Clang!
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
While they reeled from the impact, I split my legs, kicking them both.
Thud!
Then, I swung my sword, splitting an arrow flying at my back and slashing Meris’ shoulder.
“Eek!”
In just five seconds, they were all down.
But unlike others, they didn’t give up and picked up their weapons again.
“Good tenacity. That’s how it should be to train under me for a week.”
I adjusted my grip on my sword.
“What’s the holdup? Not coming? Should I take a nap?”
I shook my head as if disappointed.
The fallen cadets rallied and charged again.
“Haaah!!!”
Watching this, Anna wanted to join the fray.
She headed to the rack to grab a weapon…
“No, Princess, you can’t.”
Even amidst the melee, I looked at her sharply.
Pouting, Anna returned to her spot.
“I want to fight too… I’m confident I can do well.”
Unaware of her thoughts, I kept thrashing the cadets.
***
Meanwhile, Jaina and the other four cadets on the opposing side arrived at the training ground at Everhart’s summons.
“All here.”
Everhart and four instructors were already there.
They stepped onto the training ground, standing before the cadets.
“You’ll train under the instructor in front of you for a week. Jaina, that means you’ll train under me.”
“Yes, Head Instructor.”
Jaina’s serious expression pleased Everhart, though he didn’t show it.
“Your goal is simple: defeat those trained by Evan. Of course, the Princess’ presence may be a burden.”
The Princess’ participation.
It made everyone, including Jaina, conscious of her status.
Since this was a clear issue for the spar, Everhart aimed to address it before the week was up.
“But we’ll discuss that later. For now, focus on training. Understood?”
“Yes!!!”
The cadets’ shouts echoed through the training ground, and Everhart finally smiled.
“I don’t think you’ll lose. But for the remaining time, give it your all. Don’t just win—show your caliber. Got it?”
“Yes!!!”
With Everhart’s brief speech, they steeled their resolve.
“Training starts now. Today, we’ll assess your capabilities.”
Shing.
Drawing his sword, Everhart spoke.
“Pick up your weapons.”
Like me, they wanted to gauge the cadets’ skills.
“Yes!!!”
The cadets drew their weapons, spacing themselves from the instructors.
“Now… come at us.”
At Everhart’s words, the cadets charged.
Thus, in different spaces, both sides spent the same time.
As time passed,
when both my side and the instructors’ side finished training and went to rest, one person remained.
“Sigh…”
Jack, alone at the training ground.
Since the auditorium, when I didn’t choose him, Jack’s heart had been uneasy.
“If he’d said he had a scheme, I’d have understood.”
When I didn’t pick him, Jack thought he might be a spy,
or that I deliberately wanted him to lose for an easy win.
Of course, he didn’t think I’d stoop to such cowardice,
but otherwise, there was no reason not to choose him.
Yet, during dinner, I encouraged Jack, now on the opposing side.
Do your best there. Don’t hold back thinking of me. If you do, I’ll cut your funds first.
My words to give his all against me were sincere.
This made Jack even more confused.
Should he really win? Or lose on purpose?
“Sigh…”
He trained earnestly, but his fighting spirit didn’t ignite.
More precisely, he didn’t want to fight.
“I’ll head back for today…”
Burdened with worries, he was about to leave when he heard footsteps.
Thump, thump.
Ostentatious movements.
As if announcing their presence, the sound made Jack wary.
“Who’s there at this hour?”
A figure emerged from the shadows, starting with their feet.
“Huh? Huh?!”
When the face appeared, Jack was so startled he trembled.
A boisterous laugh echoed through the training ground.
“Hahaha!!!”
It was Dean Duke.
“Training this late?”
“Dean!”
Flustered by the Dean’s sudden appearance, Jack fidgeted.
Duke approached, patting his shoulder to calm him.
“Impressive. That determination to give your all.”
Though just a pat, it felt like a club to Jack.
“Ouch… I wasn’t training, just thinking.”
“Hm? About what?”
“Young Master Evan told me to do my best to beat him. But I don’t know what that ‘best’ means…”
“I know your relationship. It’s tough, isn’t it? Winning feels disloyal, but losing lets down your team.”
“Exactly.”
To Jack’s dismay, the Dean replied.
“That’s an arrogant thought.”
“What?”
“You know Evan well, yet you worry like this? Even if you resolve to win, do you think you can beat them? They’re selected for being as good as or better than you.”
The Dean’s words were spot-on.
Instead, Jack had misjudged reality with hasty assumptions.
“Oh…”
“Don’t worry about that. As Evan said, just focus on doing your best. You didn’t think you’d beat everyone, did you?”
At the Dean’s question, Jack waved his hands.
“No way!”
“Then do your best! It’s simple, so why overthink it?”
“I understand. I showed my shame. Thank you, Dean.”
Finding his answer, Jack felt he could sleep lightly.
“By the way.”
“Yes?”
“Since you’re giving your all, why not push your limits?”
“What do you mean?”
Duke stood squarely before the confused Jack.
“I’ll personally train you.”
Dean Duke Valendo volunteered to be Jack’s instructor.
“What?! You, Dean??”
“Yes.”
“Why me?”
“Because I feel you’re like me.”
Despite his advanced age, Duke had bulging muscles.
In contrast, Jack was short and lean compared to other cadets.
Yet, Duke was certain Jack would follow his path.
It was a conviction even Jack himself couldn’t fathom.
“Like what?”