(Continued)
‘But what is this? I don’t know anyone who’d send me a letter.’
Listening to the sweet love story, a smile tugged at my lips as I carefully examined the letter Kainel handed me.
In the top right corner,
-Your one and only master
was written on a rough piece of paper.
Ugh, it’s that old man again. Did he know I was going to leak his technique and send this? I felt a chill run down my spine. Was he using telepathy? I turned my head and glanced around several times.
I checked to see if there was any strange surveillance before reading the letter.
[To my dear disciple Licht]
I’m disgusted.
[I saw today’s training results.]
Why couldn’t he just say this in person instead of in a letter? It wasn’t like him to do this.
[To avoid being accused by Dennis of favoritism, I’m leaving this letter.]
Well, that made sense.
[You’ve grown a lot. I, Drake, am moved.]
[Your dragon shadow technique is quite well-developed. Now, for your master’s ultimate move…]
I immediately flipped to the next page. I can’t learn that. Do you expect me to give up my humanity?
[Anyway, there’s one thing you need to be careful about.]
Meeting you in the academy was already dangerous.
[Licht, do your best to avoid getting involved with the Glass Knight. This is something only the faculty knows.]
Master? What are you talking about all of a sudden…?
[He’s the child of someone I know.]
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
If it was someone Drake called “a brother,” there was only one person.
‘Emperor Roque Gransia.’
If it’s that man’s child, then he must be an only son.
No way.
“…”
Shit. Was he the Crown Prince?
I’m screwed.
“Arghhh!!”
“What kind of letter is that?!”
“This is a dream! This can’t be real!!”
As I screamed inside the dormitory, Kainel looked at me with a bewildered expression. He even seemed ready to cast a spell, as if a bug had jumped out.
There’s a good reason for that.
If I get involved with him, the whole route will be messed up.
Holy Lady, I’m doomed.
***
Meanwhile,
As the Dark Knight screamed,
In the imperial training ground in the Empire, someone was swinging a sword. In that desolate place, where only the sound of wind being sliced could be heard, there were two figures.
“Lady Phine. Did you enjoy the academy?”
“…Maybe.”
“That’s good to hear. It’s clear from how you’re immediately swinging your sword.”
The Glass Knight, clad in armor reflecting the moonlight. And an elderly butler watching over them. It was Phine and Dijur.
After letting Licht avoid the rain, she was trying to mimic what he had shown in class. She scratched the ground and swung her sword forward.
“Dijur.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m ready to throw.”
The butler quickly threw a copper coin. The Glass Knight tried to replicate the shadow slash but failed as the coin lodged into the wall.
“It’s difficult.”
“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”
“I have my reasons.”
She repeatedly clenched and unclenched her hands, still struggling without mana control.
A brief silence.
The butler found his master’s sudden change fascinating. What had happened at the academy, he wondered.
‘You’ve changed, Lady Phine.’
It must have been that young man who did something. The butler mused to himself.
Clank.
The door to the training ground opened with a bang. Someone entered the space where only the butler and she were present. Footsteps echoed as they ran in.
“Sis! How was the academy? I heard you just got back!”
“Yes. Lupus.”
“I still have three years before I can go, right?”
“Probably.”
A young boy with black hair and golden eyes, and wolf ears, ran up to his sister, speaking eagerly. His ears and tail were wagging furiously, perhaps because it had been a while since they last saw each other.
“I really want to go to the Grand Hearts Academy soon…”
“Just wait.”
“But I don’t want to be separated from you, Sis..!”
Phine was pushing the boy away. She was so focused on swinging her sword that she didn’t even glance at him.
“Oh, but you’re still wearing that armor? Isn’t it uncomfortable?”
“It’s bearable, Lupus.”
Watching the scene, Lupus felt curious. His sister, who was trying to cut a coin, looked incredibly stifled, covered in armor and a helmet.
“You should take it off, Lady Phine.”
“Still, that Dark Knight…”
“Yes! You looked really tired, Sis!”
After the two of them insisted, she finally removed her helmet.
Her long white hair cascaded down to her waist, and her golden eyes glowed. A pair of ears that looked like a wolf’s lay flat.
“I feel weaker like this.”
“Did you meet that man, Lady Phine?”
“Yes.”
“W-what? You’ve got a guy, Sis?”
“No.”
She shook her head.
But Lupus’s face turned pale with shock. He looked like his soul had left his body, while the butler gazed at the ground as if it were a usual occurrence.
“He’s unique. Licht.”
“He’s my friend’s disciple, so that’s understandable. Though this old man is no match for Drake.”
“Why does he have such a playboy name?!”
The boy was confused.
Dijur didn’t seem to care as he threw out another question.
“What was your first impression?”
“…”
Phine paused, lost in thought, then spoke after a moment. Her small fangs were visible.
“A wet puppy.”
Her eyes momentarily brightened.