"... Ray? What's the matter with these places?"

　About ten days after the incident with Stigma ended, Ray was walking around the academy grounds alone, a rarity.
　It's still unclear who used heaven's tears against Ray, but it's possible to walk around comfortably because most of the other cases have been solved.
　Fortunately, the mock warfare class ended in the morning for both 3 and 4 years, and I was walking to kill time in the afternoon because I was completely free, but I was suddenly approached there.
　Ray turned to his voice, but there was no warning there.
　The voice was familiar to me.
　And right before Ray's eyes was Erland, the son of a nobleman.

"What's wrong with you? Aren't you still in class?"
"Well, I had something urgent to do, so I had to study for myself."

　They don't seem to be hiding anything, so they don't think they're skipping class.
　However, I didn't have much doubt from the beginning because I don't think someone like Eland would do anything like skipping class.

"... Come to think of it,"

　Eland suddenly opens his mouth as they silence each other.

"Huh?"
"No, Ray used to get me into trouble. I'll report it to you just in case."

　Ray told me that, but he looked at Elland in a way that he didn't understand what he was saying... and a few seconds later, he remembered that it was when he finally met Elland again.

"Oh, back then..."
"Did you forget something that happened when you were attacked by so many people?"
"Well, just as there were many things over there, there were many things over here."

　Ray shrugged his shoulders against Eland, but it was no longer such a big deal for Ray to be attacked by a group of assassins but not so skilled.

(I'm pleased with the trouble, though.) They say that the attack by an assassin is a memory of everyday events. -- well, if I may excuse myself, the impression of the three stigma that appeared immediately after it was too strong.)

　For some reason, Ray, who breathes a sigh at his misfortune, gets caught up in a disturbance wherever he goes, opens his mouth to Eland again.

"And what has happened to you since then? You haven't been targeted by an assassin."
"Well, I understand very well. It's true that no assassin will attack me from that day on. That's why I keep myself out of the premises."
"...I see,"

　Ray replied that way, but since Erinde, the principal of the academy, told me that the assassins had killed the guard of the academy, I couldn't nod to him.

"I can only thank the Duke of Quent enough,"
"Huh? Why? No, I'm sure you're very grateful that they're sheltered here."
"Of course it is. But what saved me more was that the Duke of Quent's power had brought my life down. and all the peerage."
"Ah... I see,"

　Ray could understand what the word meant.
　That's probably what Ray was thinking just now, sending the assassins to the military academy.
　It was like sending an assassin to a military academy to train the next generation of talent. It is only natural to judge Ronald to have been hostile to Eland, if he is just trying to kill him.
　The knight who was in charge of this case was half threatened by a stigma, but the situation was the case. Knowing that doesn't mean Ronald will cut corners.
　As a result, the organization that was seeking Eland's life had fallen into ruin.
　From there he reached Eland's uncle in an imoddle fashion... and the result must have been the result of Eland's remark.

(I wish I had completely extinguished the doctrine of the Holy Light, if possible.)

　Ray's mouth lets out a sigh at the thought of the Protestantism.
　There was a case of stigma, which at first had the expectation that the kingdom of Milliana might reject the Holy Light... but that expectation soon turned into disappointment.
　It was a disturbance following last year's labyrinthine city of Egjir, but somehow there was no such thing as subjugation of the Holy Light.
　while making such a fuss at the headquarters of the most powerful royalists in the kingdom of Milliana.
　Of course it's not something Ray can overlook.
　But according to a letter sent by Ronald through Coan, the religion has grown to a very deep point in the kingdom of Milliana.
　Well, if you even mention that the death of a saint called Stigma in this city is a problem, it is understandable in Ray's eyes that there is nothing he can do about it.

(If the kingdom of Mileana continues to be swallowed up by the Church of the Holy Light...is it necessary to leave Guillum and relocate its headquarters elsewhere?)

　The Gilm, where Ray is based, is located in the frontier and has a very distinctive title as Dasker's Count of the Frontier.
　Still, it remains a territory belonging to the Kingdom of Mileana and a city.
　That being the case, if the kingdom of Mileana were to be eroded by the Holy Light, it would inevitably be affected.

(I think there was something about religion taking over a country in the Middle Ages or something like that in the world over there. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ?"

　If that happens, I, who is recognized as a great enemy by the existence of the Protestant Church, will surely have the worst consequences.
　If you're going to run away, you'll run away to the Vestian Empire, or to the magical city of Ozos, which you've never been to before. Alternatively, we have the option of a different countries.
　Ray was thinking about a bright future in such a gloomy way, but suddenly he realized that Erland next to him was looking at him.

"I'm talking to people, but I don't know what to think... I'm your partner, but if you do that to an ordinary aristocrat, you'll lose your impression. If you don't do that, you'll be rude... No, I'm sure someone will do that to Ray."

　Passing through Eland's mind was the sight of a nobleman who pulled out his weapon in an attempt to kill him rudely, but was beaten away by Ray's hand.
　No, I guess it's all I can do if I just knock it off. If you are not good at it, you may be fatal.

"... Be careful. Be careful, really?"

　The words came out of concern for Ray... not out of concern for the nobles who might fall into Ray's hands.
　It is not pleasant for Erland to see that the number of royal nobles dwindled because of his careless interference with Ray.
　In particular, there are many people who have lost their status as nobles due to discipline, such as their uncle, who had been aiming for his life for a while.
　It was no surprise to Erland that the number of nobles would decrease further, while the number of nobles in the royal faction was decreasing.

"Huh? Well, I'm supposed to be associated with the nobility in itself... yes, I am."

　Erland looks seriously worried at Ray, who muddles his words.
　Ray gently diverts his gaze from his gaze.
　He doesn't really like to be involved with nobles, and he doesn't want to be involved with them, but for some reason, he throws away the fact that he is often involved with them with all his might.

"Anyway, I'm done with my affairs. I've caused you trouble, so I'll let you know."
"...I don't think you have to worry about it, for I've been paid well."

　Days after Erland was attacked, Erland is asking Ray and handing him a reward.
　Having been paid so well, Ray couldn't see why Erland was so concerned.
　It's not a bad feeling to be bothered like that.

(Because there are some of the nobles like this, I can't say that all the nobles should be destroyed.)

　The faces of some aristocrats are too much to describe Ray's mind as close to each other.
　It was Elena, it was Dusker, it was not the nobility of the kingdom of Mileana, it was Vihela, though she had already renounced her royal family.
　The faces of some other aristocrats come to mind and disappear.

"It's no use saying that, because this is my personality. ... and, you know, You know...

　Ray opens his mouth, wondering at Erland, who seems to find it difficult to say.

"What's the matter?""Well... I know it's a brazen request, and I'll pay you some if necessary." So... will you play a mock game with me?"
"Don't bring me up to such a sudden point-blankind.
"...no?"

　It's not as if he were begging... but he still hesitates with the look he asks.
　However, as long as I am now an instructor at a military academy, I think I should answer as much as possible, even if it is requested by someone in a class other than the person in charge.

"All right. Fortunately, no class should have used the gym now. Here we go."
"Ah... oh!"

　Erland knew he was pushing too hard.
　Many people want to play mock games with Ray, no matter how much they pay.
　It was only natural to feel a little guilty about it because they would force us to fight a mock battle even if we had a few connections.
　If you look at Ray's movements when he fights the assassin, you can see how strong he is.
　... well, I understand that he is much stronger than I am, but I didn't understand how much the difference was.
　I want to gain that strength myself. As I was going to live as a nobleman, strength was absolutely necessary.
　Especially if it is certain that he will stand on the battlefield as a nobleman from the military academy.
　Clenched in his fist, Errand follows Ray to the gymnasium.





"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh..."

　The sound of heavy breathing echoes through the empty gymnasium except Ray and Eland.
　Naturally, the noise was made by Eland sitting on the floor, and Ray, with his usual mock warfare spear in his hand, simply watched it silently.
　A few minutes later, Ray opens his mouth as Erland finally gets his breath together.

"Come on, go on," I wanted a mock battle myself. Wouldn't that be the end of it?"
"Of course!"

　Although his breath was barely in order, Elland, with his feet shaking slightly, stood up with a mock dagger in his hand.
　Of course, my legs are trembling not because I'm afraid of Ray, but because I'm tired.
　Although it had not been long since he started the mock battle, Eland was still exhausted.
　Normally, I don't get this tired after fighting enough.
　But when Ray was the other party, the story was different.
　A casual attack has tremendous power.
　The first time Erland defended Ray's spear with a long sword, he was literally blown away and could not understand what had happened.
　There is an overwhelming difference in physical ability before technology.
　I knew up close how powerful Ray was when I saw him fight the assassins. I've heard from my seniors who have been in the same S class for three or four years.
　But look and listen... but it's very different from what you actually experience.
　He doesn't take Ray's spear straight at him, he concentrates on avoiding it rather than playing it. Nevertheless, I can't avoid the inevitable blow.
　As he manages to withstand Ray's attack, he delivers a long-sworded blow as if to pierce the occasional attack... but the blow is also mercilessly repelled by Ray's spear.

"There is a big difference between having a gap and intentionally creating a gap. It's a convenient way to get the enemy to attack where they want it, but don't fall for it easily. Fight with careful observation. If you carelessly get into the other person's hands..."

　Ray must have had a bad feeling when he stopped talking. Errand returned his desperately played dagger to his hand... and in the next moment his body was hovering in the sky, not knowing what had happened.
　I feel some pain from the shock, but I don't know what happened.
　Still, he doesn't want to be knocked to the floor quietly, and manages to avoid being knocked back to the floor, albeit ungainly, in an effort to recover his position in the air.
　Few would believe the sight of him rolling over and over again on the floor, even if he were called a nobleman.
　Still unconscious, Elland staggers to his feet.
　Then he pointed his long sword at Ray... and jumped at him again.





　As Ray spends these days, time goes by... and the day comes when his teacher's contract ends.