79 – Becoming a 2nd grader – 4
But that wasn’t the end of the magic. When evening came, I was invited to dinner by Bertolph.
It seems that Bertolf decided to rent an entire restaurant in the island and hold a party. This is what Luna was talking about, ‘Imitating a Trickster’. Bertolph was sincere about making his connections through parties and active activities.
‘Of course, personal connections are helpful in their own way.’
The people here are all world-class talents who will occupy a place in the future. Making connections with people like that would be helpful someday. But right now, at a crossroads of whether the family would be destroyed or not, Bertolph’s actions felt like child’s play to Luna.
Charles decided to participate in dinner as Bertolph suggested. The reason Charles went to the Department of Military Management rather than the Department of Tactics was to make connections with fellow tacticians. Their connections will one day become an important information network.
Evening came like that. After finishing her first class, Glacia Ehrenberg came out to meet Charles without showing any signs of exhaustion.
“How was your first class?”
It was rare for Glacia to have a private conversation first, so Charles responded.
“I took the test. 69 Points. Worst.”
“What kind of test was it that Charles only got 69 points?”
“I had to process documents related to the internal affairs of the territory. “I had to be proficient in architecture, mathematics, and metrology, but I was weak in those areas, so it was a waste of time.”
Glacia quietly nodded her head.
“It seems like your professor is quite strict, since there is an exam on the first day of class.”
“My name is Professor Gernhard von Krusenstein. “He is famous for being strict.”
“Cruzen… Stein?”
She muttered with a surprised expression. Charles was sorry at that moment. I had forgotten, but the count who knighted Glacia, a commoner, was none other than Professor Gernhard von Krusenstein. He was someone who had a deep connection with Glacia in his own way.
“Do you know someone?”
Charles already knew the whole story between Glacia and Krusenstein, but Glacia shook her head and denied it. From Glacia’s point of view, this is probably something she wants to hide. One might think that it would lower Professor Krusenstein’s prestige if it were revealed that her benefactor, a commoner, was Professor Krusenstein.
“If Charles only received 69 points, the other cadets would have received even less points.”
“No. Luna von Ruitwert received perfect scores. Salome de Jirón scored 96 points. Bertolph scored 89 points. I’m the only one with 60 points? “This is the only way to get to the top.”
“There are things you can’t do other than swordsmanship.”
After saying that, Glacia smiled brightly, which was rare. Since Glacia always had an expressionless or glaring look in her eyes, it was strange to see her smile on rare occasions, so she stared at her for a while, and then Glacia returned with her glaring eyes again.
“Is there something on my face?”
“No. Let’s go.”
I gave it some thought and headed to the restaurant. And the moment I opened the door.
Rattle.
“Charles Jean Rochepol, the pride of the Department of Military Management, enters!”
Bertolf shouted that while joking.
At that moment, applause poured out.
-Clap clap clap
Charle was just surprised because it was a cheer he had never received before in first grade.
‘That’s strange. Most people here are nobles. ‘You must have a strong sense of privilege, so why are you cheering me on like this, a fallen nobleman?’
I was wondering, but soon Bertolph came over and told Charles.
“I wonder why people are cheering so much?”
“I’m curious. “Why?”
“When I was a freshman, I was very individualistic because there were no separate departments. A struggle against everyone? But things are different starting from the second year. Because it is divided into five departments and each of the five departments competes, individualistic tendencies become less and collectivist tendencies become stronger. To that extent, talent is given preference over origin, and performance is given preference over talent.”
Charles thought. I think it’s a similar story to having a high tier player on your side when playing a team game.
“In that respect, among the military management departments that only have desk space, what is Charles Jean Rochepol, who has achieved several victories in actual battles?”
“Irregular?”
“He is a hero~ This is it.”
With that said, Bertolph tapped his shoulder and handed him a drink.
‘I’m not good at drinking.’
I wasn’t good at drinking even in the original world. So while he was debating whether to drink it or not, someone came from far away and snatched Charles’ drink.
“It’s an ordinary drink. Would someone like you be allowed to drink something like this? “Owner.”
“Yes.”
“A bottle of Jinetes.”
What soon came out was wine in a very luxurious bottle. And in return for this drink, Salome gave jewelry that seemed extremely expensive.
‘As expected, he is rich… ‘
Salome de Jirón. She comes from a prestigious family in the southern Kingdom of Cylonia, and her father was a prominent figure in the kingdom. She became the first female cardinal after her father’s death, but perhaps she had little faith in God or she had other ambitions. She abandoned her priesthood and went to military school. Enters Arcadia Academy. So in one word…
‘It’s not as good as Lucrezia, but it’s the next best thing.’
He is so rich that he pays for expensive-looking jewelry for a bottle of alcohol. She is incomparable to Charles, a fallen nobleman.
Salomé poured her wine into her own goblet and then poured her wine into Charles’ goblet as well. She then slowly began to savor her taste.
“I love Ceylonian wine. Intense aroma and rich flavor. “It’s a pity for the cadets, who are mostly Arcadian, but the wine from Ceylon is much tastier than the wine from Arcadia.”
It’s not even detailed in the settings, but I think I saw it in a book I read at the library. They say that the wines from Ceylonia and Swadia are the best.
“The same goes for Ceylonians. At first, they may not be able to adapt to the strong scent and flavor, but as they get closer, Ceylonians are willing to sacrifice their lives for their friends. Charles, as a Ceylonian I would like to be your friend.”
If that’s the case, you shouldn’t have pointed a gun in the first place. Such thoughts rose to the bottom of his throat, but Charles calmly gathered himself and spoke.
From Noble mtl dot com
“I am not that great of a person, so why not find another friend?”
“It can’t be done without you.”
“Why?”
“Because I am your fan.”
Charle was just taken aback by the sudden fan declaration. When did you say you were a fan?
“I have been interested in gunpowder weapons since I was young. But most people, including my brother, looked down on muskets and cannons. They say it’s a weapon only used by commoners. But my opinion is different. Muskets and cannons are not weapons used only by commoners. It is an equal weapon that even commoners can use. “That kind of change in thinking will change the times.”
“That means… “
“Muskets will change future wars. It’s such an innovative weapon. But no one believed me. “My father and younger brother just treated me like a fool.”
She sighed and took a swig of her wine. I was taught that expensive wine like this should be drunk slowly, savoring its scent, but seeing her sip it like that makes me think that she is truly rich, surpassing even her ordinary wealth.
“You appeared in such a situation. He led the musketeers and wiped out the enemy. In a situation like this, is there any reason why I shouldn’t fall for you? “You proved my hypothesis.”
“The hypothesis that muskets will change war?”
“Yes.”
Charles thought after hearing that.
‘Indeed, I knew why she was obsessed with me. But why did she suddenly push for a gun?
Charles asked.
“If that’s the case, we can get to know each other slowly. What was your intention in trying to make a hole in my head?”
“That’s… “It’s a mistake.”
What mistake do you make that makes you point a pistol at someone’s head?
“At first, I just wanted to speak carefully. But suddenly I felt competitive… “I wanted to prove that although I was late in introducing the musket into combat, I knew about the existence of the pistol sooner.”
That’s why you point a pistol at a person’s head. What a leap of logic you are.
No matter what, he wasn’t someone I wanted to get close to. If you get involved with this kind of stormy person, only the people around you will get tired.
“Well, okay. I have no intention of making an issue of that either. “Let’s just pretend it never happened.”
“Now, wait!”
The moment she tried to get up, she grabbed her wrist.
“Meal, just the two of us.”
So you’re saying we should eat together?
‘Does this woman think I will accept that…? ‘
It was absurd, but Charles answered as calmly as possible.
“I refuse.”
And then he got up and left the restaurant.
And Bertolph was watching that scene carefully.