Damn Academy chapter 164

164 – Repayment (8)

“For an animal, its teeth are very similar to those of a human, disciple.”

“… “This is what my new friend did.”

Sylverin released her embrace and grabbed both of my arms, glaring at me with one of her sly eyes.

“Friend?”

“… Yes.”

“How friendly is it that I bite your shoulder?”

“A very playful friend… no see.”

“And don’t you feel anything strange?”

“I’m not sure, other than whether the traces last a long time.”

“Not that, but the power contained in this wound.”

“… Yes?”

She couldn’t easily take her eyes off the scar on my shoulder.

“Disciple, your wounds contain divine power. “I guess your friend is from the religious sect?”

“I don’t know much about that either.”

She said, glaring sharply as if she was trying to dissect my thoughts.

“What is that girl’s name?”

It’s scary. You haven’t mentioned gender yet, so how did you know?

“… “This is a girl named Trisha.”

Sylverine narrowed her eyes further and pinched her cheek with one of her hands. What? What else did I miss?

“I… “What else did I do wrong?”

“No. “I just wanted to pinch myself.”

“….”

“While we’re at it, tell me more. “How many friends have you made in Eternia?”

It’s a shame, but the number of people I can call my friends is so small that I can count them on one hand.

“We made three people.”

Sylverine blinked her eyes a few times and spoke as if to see if she had heard correctly.

“Is that all? Name is?”

“Trisha, Cecil, Luna… There are three of them. “We are doing well as we help each other from time to time.”

If I had to choose one more person, it would be Shion. I don’t know what she would think of me, but she was still in an ambiguous position to call me a friend.

“Are they all girls?”

“Yes.”

The hand that pinched my cheek gained some strength. Although he didn’t say anything, he seemed to be getting scolded by people asking how he could only choose girls to date.

If I were to make an excuse, I actually feel that girls are a bit easier to deal with. She knew how to adapt and get along with her group of men, but she seemed to have forgotten how to do it as she began to live alone and cut off outside interactions. The only people I was able to interact with were Sister Lizana, so I was more accustomed to dealing with the opposite s*x.

“How close are you?”

“We are close enough to eat together.”

“Later, when Eternier returns, will you introduce Trisha and Cecil to me separately?”

“It’s difficult for Cecile because she doesn’t know my identity… Trisha just happened to want to meet her teacher.”

“That’s interesting. “Do you want to see me?”

Her tone of voice is quite sharp.

“You don’t like it?”

“… “I will check and if there are any strange or other intentions, I will isolate you.”

“….”

She watched my expression closely and said.

“I’m kidding. Meeting friends is your choice, what can I do? “If he were to put you in danger, I would intervene.”

It certainly seemed sincere when I said I was quarantined….

“No matter how much I think about it, biting your shoulder seems a little strange. The teacher… “I hope you meet a friend who is a little brighter and healthier.”

If Trisha hears this, how will she react? Maybe she is shocked and has tears in her eyes.

I feel like I have one more homework to do. Someday, when the time comes for these two to meet, shouldn’t I do a good job in inducing them to feel good about each other? They are both important people to me. But I don’t know if I can handle those two unpredictable women.

“If you meet him, you’ll think he’s a pretty nice guy.”

Sylverine sighed, her true intentions unknown, and released her hand that was pinching my cheek.

“Okay. “For now, we don’t have much time left, so let’s get moving.”

“Where are we going?”

“There is an event taking place at a place called the Principality’s Memorial Hall. I decided to take responsibility and bring you back. “I don’t know why, but everyone was anxious that you would disappear without a word.”

I don’t know what the event is for… Looking at the flower arrangements, it was clear that it was a fairly large event.

Sylverine led the way across her corridors, and I followed. A carriage was waiting at the end of the corridor.

This time, instead of the Eternian carriage that Silverine always rode, a carriage with the Gainax family crest was waiting. As soon as the coachman and the guards behind him saw us, they bowed their heads and showed respect.

“The Grand Duke is waiting.”

It seemed like it would be a bigger event than I expected.

***

Memorial Hall was a huge building next to the principality’s central knight training center. I couldn’t see a single knight at the training center of the knight training center I saw on my way through. It seemed like everyone was absent due to an important event coming up.

Dazzlingly white marble that reflects sunlight. And thanks to the golden dome protruding from the center of the city, Memorial Hall was easily recognizable from afar.

There were golden badges hanging in the middle of the carriageway. Guards are strictly guarded and wearing golden armor, guarding the road with an undisturbed attitude.

As we got closer, the carriage was even covered with luxurious carpets.

When I saw this luxury for the first time in my life, I held my breath for a moment.

Silverine said something to me while looking at the scenery outside.

“It’s being held on a grander scale than I heard.”

“Is this your first time being a teacher?”

“It’s my first time too. “It is very rare for outsiders to be invited to this event.”

“… “Thanks to you, I gained valuable experience.”

Of course, I will be with Sylverin as his disciple.

Then Sylverin laughed and shook her head.

“No, I got into that position thanks to you.”

“… Yes?”

Her words felt like a big slap to the back of my head. I continued to suspect that he was just saying it to cheer me up.

After a while we arrived at Memorial Hall. When I got off the carriage, there were hundreds of drivers gathered there preparing to enter. And in another place, apprentice drivers helped prepare for the event with nervous expressions.

There were other nobles and ladies, but by far the largest number were knights.

When we got off the carriage, all the attention was focused on us to the point where it felt uncomfortable. The nobles looked at us, covered their mouths, and talked non-stop. At first, I thought it was because Silverine’s appearance stood out, but I could feel many eyes turning to me. It’s a strange feeling of discomfort that isn’t unpleasant.

As soon as we got out of the carriage, about fifteen attendants in charge of guidance joined us.

“I will guide you to the VIP waiting room.”

We entered the magnificent Memorial Hall, which seemed to cover the entire sky.

And while passing through a hallway, I saw a portrait of an unknown person hanging on the wall. As we go further, there is another person’s portrait hanging there.

He must have been a high-ranking person for his painting to be hung in a place like this, but he was depicted in a raw appearance with shabby clothes and unmaintained hair, which cannot be considered a high-ranking noble.

Another portrait is of a strangely neat knight. A man wearing a mask. An old woman. Middle-aged man. We were all so different in age and social status that we couldn’t find anything in common.

While I was on my way, I couldn’t help but ask questions.

“Who on earth hung that portrait?”

Then, an attendant who was following next to him answered.

“These are the knights of the platinum shield. It was created to commemorate those who have made great contributions to the Principality of Yulicia, regardless of status or origin, from simple farmers to swordsmen.”

“… “Did you say sword spirit?”

“That’s right. “The continent’s greatest sword master, Zeldan Hart, is also listed among the ‘Knights of the Platinum Shield.'”

The servant’s tone of voice was filled with a hint of pride.

So, among the portraits I passed by was one of Zeldan Hart?

I turned to Silverine and said.

“Did the teacher know?”

“Yes.”

“… !”

Then he gave me a hint.

“I know that Ron Zeldan Hart didn’t like to show his face when he was young.”

Among the fifteen portraits I saw as I passed through the hallway, there was one of a man with his face covered. I looked back for a moment, but I had gone too far. Does that mean the man wearing that mask is Zeldan Hart? Even though I didn’t see his real face, my heart raced just because I saw a part of the Sword God.

We moved to a private room with a luxurious golden window. The servants left a message asking them to ring the bell if they needed anything and then disappeared.

In fact, I couldn’t get used to anything. I could adapt to a dirty and unpleasant environment, but an overly formal situation like now was impossible.

We didn’t stay in the private room very long. This is because the seating ceremony took place shortly after we arrived.

Nobles and hundreds of knights were sitting undisturbed in the central dome of the Memorial Hall. From a distance, Bibi could be seen at the head table at the event. We couldn’t say hello because we were too far away.

I sat in the assigned seat with Silverine.

Hundreds of people were sitting there, but the atmosphere was so solemn that not a single cough was heard.

And it didn’t take long to figure out what this event was for.

The knights all check their appearance as a habit and look around with nervous expressions. Someone was opening a scroll from time to time and memorizing something like a declaration.

This seemed to be the place where the knight investiture ceremony was held.

It seemed like people who could be the main characters of the event were notified separately and gathered together in one place. Considering that Sylverin and I were placed in the VIP section in the back, it seemed like our mere participation was meaningful.

After a while, the loud sound of drums and trumpets signaled the start, and the emcee called someone’s name. Soon after, a representative of the apprentice knights came out and a solemn oath ceremony was held.

Next, Archduke Gainax stood on the podium. As he climbed up, his followers could not even breathe. He was a person whose restrained gestures and eyes exuded a dignity that no noble could imitate.

Soon after, Grand Duke Gainax personally called out the names of those who would be awarded knighthood.

The fifteen knights who had been called thus crossed the center of the hall with majestic steps and walked toward the altar.

The trumpet march sounded and servants scattered flower petals and blessed the places where their feet touched.

Up until then, I thought I had come to fill the number of attendees at the event.

Because my name wasn’t even called.