Episode 64: Graduation

　Three days after the dorm battle finals. The graduation ceremony at the officers’ academy was held.

　It applied to all current students.

　Out of the Grantzile Dorm members, the 100 who participated in the finals hadn’t recovered from their injuries yet, so they were absent.

　On top of that, the academy head, Ludendorf, was announced to be suffering from ‘poor health,’ and he didn’t attend the graduation either.

　The ceremony had been prepared out of nowhere and carried out in a rush—but in any case, it wrapped up without a hitch.

　And then—.

“Man, I never thought we’d be leaving the dorm like this…”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

　Leon and Dominik looked around their room, lined with bunk beds.

　Back when they first enrolled, they never imagined graduating under these circumstances.

　Heck, until just a little while ago, a future like this hadn’t even crossed their minds.

　—Everything changed when Siegfried transferred in.

“What are you doing? Still fumbling around with your preparations? Princess and her attendant.”

　That voice came from behind them.

　Needless to say, it was Siegfried.

　He’d been enrolled at this academy for about three months himself. It wouldn’t be strange if he had some fond memories.

　But there wasn’t a trace of sentiment in his demeanor. He was probably the type who saw no point in looking back.

　From here on out, Leon and Dominik were set to serve under Siegfried, taking on roles as commanders leading troops.

“That’s why I’m telling you, I’m not a princess.”

“Wait, am I Leon’s attendant or something?”

　Exchanging words like that, the two followed Siegfried out of the dorm.

　And as they reached the path leading to the main gate—a crowd of people appeared before them.

　Waiting there were the students from Slade Dorm. Every single one of them had shown up.

“…What’s going on with you guys?”

　In response to Leon’s question, someone who seemed like their representative stepped forward from the group.

“Leon, Dominik. And… Siegfried. We really wanted to apologize, so… we waited here.”

“Apologize?”

“—In the dorm battle finals… we ran away from the fight. We’re… really sorry…!”

　With those words, the representative student dropped to one knee on the ground.

　It was the form of apology and respect used by knights and soldiers at this academy.

　Following suit, the surrounding students knelt one after another.

“What, that’s all?”

　Leon stepped forward with a wry smile.

“You don’t need to apologize or anything.”

“Yeah, exactly. They even pressured your lords with threats. No way you could do anything about that.”

　Dominik continued in a casual tone.

　Then Leon glanced back at Siegfried.

“Right, Siegfried? You think so too, don’t you?”

“—No.”

　Siegfried shook his head firmly.

“No matter the reason, the fact that you fled from battle doesn’t change. And I have absolutely no intention of brushing it off with a simple ‘it couldn’t be helped.’”

　Siegfried stepped forward.

“Hey, hey, Siegfried…!”

　Leon hurriedly tried to stop him.

　But what held him back were the voices of the Slade Dorm students.

“I-It’s okay, Leon…! We… came here ready to face punishment.”

“We… betrayed Siegfried’s expectations.”

“And more than anything, Leon—we… betrayed you.”

　Siegfried had beaten down the noble students and shattered the academy’s twisted order.

　And Leon had always put himself on the line to protect them.

　Even though those two were joining the fight… they had run away.

“S-So, we… deserve to be punished.”

　The Slade Dorm students knew.

　That the punishment Siegfried handed out wasn’t just a scolding or some formal penalty.

　In fact—the Grantzile Dorm students who’d taken Siegfried’s fists in the dorm battle finals were still suffering pain so severe that even the church’s priests couldn’t heal it.

　But… that’s exactly why they wanted to accept that punishment. To make amends for their escape and betrayal.

“You guys…!”

　Seeing the students’ gazes filled with determination shook Leon to his core, his voice trembling faintly.

　In contrast, Siegfried looked at them with disinterested eyes and tossed out his words in a bored tone.

“What are you all getting worked up about on your own? I have no intention of punishing you.”

“Huh…?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourselves. Why would I bother lifting a finger for you lot, who aren’t even villains?”

　With that, Siegfried started walking.

　He had no intention of accepting desertion in the face of the enemy as ‘unavoidable.’ But he also saw no value in going out of his way to punish them.

　—Ignoring them. That was Siegfried’s choice.

　Leon chased after his back.

“H-Hey, wait up! I mean, I’m not saying punish them or anything, but couldn’t you have said it a bit nicer…”

“—Ah, right.”

　Ignoring Leon’s words, Siegfried turned around.

“If you’re that insistent on punishment, then come to House Kreving. I’ll take you on as commander candidates. And then—I’ll order my knight captain to put you through training. The kind that makes you puke blood, hellish training. That’ll be your punishment.”

“Th-That means…!”

　Surprise rippled through the Slade Dorm students.

　The academy’s graduates had their futures up in the air due to the sudden graduation.

　The only ones with set paths were those of knightly status. They were to return home and take up duties as knights under their local lords.

　The Slade Dorm students were planning to go back to their hometowns once, resuming work as farmers or craftsmen.

　And later, they’d be assigned somewhere as low-level commanders.

　But—having been painfully reminded of ‘society’s hierarchical structure’ at this academy, that future was far from what they wanted.

　They’d probably face oppression and injustice from noble superiors at their assignments too.

　However, if they served House Kreving, they wouldn’t have to worry about that.

　Siegfried wasn’t a man bound by status.

　After all, he’d made one of the five great nobles, Ludendorf, kneel before him, while welcoming the commoner-born Leon as an executive and Dominik as his assistant.

　If they were taken in by House Kreving and built up their efforts to prove their abilities—Siegfried would surely recognize their worth.

“Y-You’re really going to… take us in…?”

“That’s what I’ve been saying.”

　With that dismissal, Siegfried resumed walking, as if he had no intention of wasting more time on chit-chat.

“…Good for you guys.”

“We’ll be waiting for you at House Kreving.”

　Leon and Dominik smiled at the Slade Dorm students and followed after Siegfried.

“You’ve got a good side to you after all.”

　Leon said that with a light chuckle, and Siegfried glanced back.

　His eyes held a sarcastic glint, as if to say, “Oh, please.”

“…Do you seriously think that?”

“Well, yeah. I mean, you basically forgave them, right?”

“This isn’t about forgiving or not. —You included, the troops under me are headed for the battlefield.”

“Battlefield… you serious about that?”

　Sure, the Kingdom of Kirchien was engaged in ongoing skirmishes with neighboring countries.

　But there wasn’t a large-scale war going on right now.

“Soon enough, I’ll be heading to the battlefield myself. I don’t plan to take those greenhorns right away, but… eventually, the day will come when they have to fight.”

　The battlefield—a place where death is always close at hand.

　A merciless reality where you never know when your life might end.

“Don’t get the wrong idea and think I’m some good guy. I’m evil.”

“…Got it.”

“Good if you understand, Princess.”

“So what the hell is up with this ‘princess’ thing…”

“It’s proof.”

“Huh?”

“Proof that only I, your master, have the right to toy with you and mock you.”

“…What a damn annoying proof.”

　—And so, Siegfried von Kreving ended his short time at the officers’ academy.

　After temporarily returning to his territory—he would head to the battlefield, just as he predicted.