Chapter 84

Translator: Kell | Editor: Weasalopes

The Queen’s Letter of Introduction

By the time Hikaru returned to Scholarzard after his trip to Forestzard, Lavia was already done talking to her friend from Euroba . It worked out all right, and she agreed to meet League .

「All right . I guess it’s time for me to meet the student from Kirihal . 」

With the letter in hand, Hikaru made his way to the admin building . Even now the staff were still scared of Hikaru, hugging the walls as soon as they saw him . A trembling woman approached the counter – whether she was chosen by rock-paper-scissors or forced to, he didn’t know .

「G-G-G-Good day, Sir . 」

「I’m looking for a student . 」

「Eek!」

Shaking, she took out what looked to be a register .

「M-May I know the name of the student you’re looking for?」

「It’s Claude Zahard Kirihal . 」

「Eek!」

She flipped through the pages . Hikaru realized that her shrieks meant affirmation .

「H-He is indeed enrolled in the academy . 」

「Can you contact him?」

「W-We can only pin a poster at the bulletin board in front of the building…」

That would take too much time . No one really came to the admin building unless they had business here .

「Do you know which classes he is attending?」

「Eek!」

The woman ran her trembling fingers through entries as she read them .

「I-I don’t know about regular lectures, but for classes that involve the nine weapons, Professors keep a record of their students’ names…」

I bet Professor Mille doesn’t even have my name recorded .

「Is Claude’s name there?」

「Y-Yes . He’s attending short spear classes . 」

「………」

As soon as he heard short spear, Hikaru dug through his memories .

「Uh, who’s the instructor?」

「It’s Professor Kilnenko . 」

Kilnenko, the man Professor Mikhail said was a “piece of shit” . Hikaru met him twice in the principal’s office .

Kirihal and Ludancia are like cats and dogs, right? Since the queen is introducing me to him, this Claude guy must be from an influential family . Why would he study under a Professor from Ludancia?

Hikaru couldn’t quite wrap his head around it . He made his way to where the short spear classes were held – a small open ground surrounded by trees, making it hard to be seen from outside . Class was going on when he arrived . About twenty students surrounded Kilnenko .

「What I’m about to teach you is one of the moves of the Dragon Cloud Short Spear technique, the most famous in Ludancia—」

Activating his Stealth, Hikaru moved closer . He checked the Soul Board of each student from behind and found nothing noteworthy . At most they had one or two points allocated .

It must be this guy .

【Soul Board】Claude Zahard Kirihal

Age: 18 Rank: 7

12

【Vitality】

. . 【Stamina】1

【Magical Power】

. . 【Spirit Affinity】

… . 【Air】1

【Physical Strength】

. . 【Strength】1

. . 【Weapon Mastery】

… . 【Sword】2

【Willpower】

. . 【Mental Strength】1

. . 【Charisma】1

He had unlocked more fields compared to the other students .

Wait a minute… He has two points on Sword and he’s attending a short spear class? A Kirihal student studying under someone from Ludancia is already strange enough…

Claude was blessed by a body over 180 centimeters tall . Well-built, he had a calm and collected look to his face . His hair was blonde . His eyes, red just like the queen’s, were fixed on someone and it wasn’t Kilnenko .

Hikaru tried to talk to Claude as soon as class was over . But Claude didn’t bother changing and headed to a secluded place with his practice weapon in hand .

Hmm?

Hikaru was about to call out to the guy, but something felt off . Then a girl appeared from behind a tree .

「………」

「………」

The two were having a fun chat . They were extremely close, holding each other’s hands .

I knew it .

Hikaru held back the urge to tear his hair out . The girl was carrying a short spear as well . In other words, she was in the class too and the one Claude was staring at the whole time .

【Soul Board】Luka Lordgrad Ludancia

Age: 16 Rank:2

8

【Magical Power】

. . 【Mana】1

. . 【Spirit Affinity】

… . 【Water】1

【Dexterity】

. . 【Tool Mastery】

… . 【Pottery】1

【Intuition】

. . 【Insight】

… . 【Music】1

Her name had Ludancia on it . Either they were lovers or one step short of being one – despite hailing from enemy nations .

The girl had short, blue hair and wore glasses, something unusual in this world . She looked to be the quiet type, but she had fun when talking to Claude .

I thought something was strange . So basically he’s taking the class to be with this girl .

League himself hesitated attending lectures by someone from Kotobi . It would’ve been much more difficult for Claude since the Professor was basically an enemy . Still his relationship with Luka came first . He was either gutsy or brainless .

They were about to head deeper into the woods, when Hikaru made his move . He wouldn’t be able to talk to the guy if he let them go .

「Claude . 」Hikaru said, deactivating his Stealth .

Startled, Claude turned around . Luka quickly hid behind him . She was small enough that his whole body blocked her from view .

「Who are you?!」Claude shouted, grasping his short spear tightly .

As expected, they were on their guard . It made sense . He witnessed their tryst, after all .

「Ah, no need to be alarmed . Then again, I guess you would be . Someone referred me to you . Please read this letter . 」

Hikaru took out the letter from Marquedo and moved closer .

「………」

Cautiously, Claude snatched the letter and scanned it .

「Wait, what?」

He glanced back and forth from the letter and Hikaru . Hikaru had not read the contents of the letter as it was properly sealed .

「What’s wrong, Claude?」Luka asked, unable to just stand around .

「I-It’s a letter from the Queen!」

「What?!」

「Look!」

「Am I allowed to?!」

「The contents are nothing serious . 」

Luka studied the letter . Her gaze went back and forth from the letter and Hikaru .

「Now you know I’m not an enemy . 」Hikaru said, thinking the letter cleared things up .

「 “Do not trust him . ” “If there’s trouble, notify me immediately . ” “Even if there’s none, notify me anway . ” “Be wary of a masked man in a black robe . ” This letter says you’re not exactly an enemy, but very close to being one . 」

Claude eyed Hikaru suspiciously .

Damn that woman…

Hikaru scowled at the direction of Forestzard . It was an unreasonable request from him in the first place, anyway .