41 – Sunset Academy (2)
“It really is an academy, the servants’ quarters are incredible.”
Following the guide of the academy dormitory, I unpacked my belongings in the servants-only dormitory. It was called servants-only in name, but the quality was on par with a 5-star hotel.
A spacious and soft bed, a pleasant bathroom. Slippers and a robe in the wardrobe. There was nothing missing. They even offered room service if desired.
This is truly an academy. The facilities are top-notch.
“It’s a relief that Ariel didn’t insist…”
Just before, Ariel, who had mercilessly trampled over an approaching apprentice, led me somewhere. It was like a corridor of a top-tier hotel, with red carpets and doors in succession.
“Uh…Ariel-nim..? I don’t think I should be coming to this place…”
“It’s fine. Just follow me.”
Walking down the corridor, all I saw were female apprentices whispering about us, especially me, some even casting contemptuous glances.
There wasn’t a single male apprentice in sight. I felt my anxiety rising, but I had no choice but to surrender to Ariel’s forceful attitude.
“Here we are. This is my room.”
“….What?! Why am I sharing a room with Ariel…”
“You’re my servant. Isn’t it natural?”
I was speechless. In this world, is it common for a male servant to enter a noblewoman’s room, especially Erielle’s?
No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t seem right. If those young ladies saw the expression of shock on my face when I heard Ariel’s words, they would understand!
“I’m sorry, but it’s not natural. Erielle. The gentleman next to you cannot enter.”
Caught in an absurd situation, the one who saved me was a woman in a formal suit with a splendid badge on her chest.
“…Who are you?”
“Hello, Erielle. I am Caron, the dormitory supervisor of the academy.”
“Yeah. But why?”
“This dormitory is for young ladies. Therefore, the gentleman next to you cannot enter.”
The dormitory supervisor, who seemed to have responded to someone’s report and arrived, didn’t even blink an eye, despite having Erielle right in front of her.
The emotions that the novices had shown towards Erielle so far were fear and awe, but the emotions conveyed by this person, Caron, were just emotionless professionalism to handle the job.
“It’s okay. Venice won’t do anything to me.”
Erielle defended me as if saying, ‘Our puppy won’t bite.’ And trying such a thing… I couldn’t even attempt it in the first place.
The moment I decided to try, Erielle, who noticed my change, would turn me into Venice. Even if I didn’t feel any pain, it was not without fear.
“No matter how much you insist, it can’t be helped. This is the academy’s rule.”
“But-“
“If you continue to refuse the academy’s rules, it will reach the Headmaster and Erielle’s family as well.”
“……….”
With an irrefutable argument, Erielle couldn’t say anything. By the way… this dormitory supervisor. How can she be so calm? It’s like watching a robot performing a task.
Eriel had never been bested in an argument by anyone, her logic flawless. Yet, to silence such an Eriel…
“….Venice. Come to where I am when the bell rings. I’m in Class 3-A.”
“Yes. Understood…!”
Eriel, as if having no choice, finally ceased her insistence. Afterwards, she closed the dormitory door with such force it made a thud and went inside.
“Thank you…!”
“………”
I conveyed my sincere thanks to the dormitory supervisor for saving me, but she simply looked at me for a moment with her perpetually impersonal expression, then disappeared somewhere.
After that, I headed back to the academy lobby, asked for directions to the servants’ dormitory, and eventually found my way to this room.
“But really… this ‘Aca-phone’. It’s just like a regular phone, isn’t it?”
As soon as I entered the lobby, I had shown proof of my qualification as Eriel’s butler at the reception desk, and the lobby staff handed me a device that looked exactly like the smartphone I was given.
Not only did it look just like a smartphone, but its functions were the same too. The ability to make calls, use various applications, and even a suspicious gallery.
As soon as I received this Aca-phone, Eriel had left her number on my cell phone.
Wow… It’s amazing. Not only are the toilets modern, but now there are cell phones too. The self-driving carriages currently being tested, this world seems to have moved beyond the medieval era.
Feeling an inexplicable joy at seeing modern technology again, I was fiddling with my phone when suddenly a loud song played, audible throughout the academy.
It was similar to the school bell sound I used to hate so much but also longed to hear during my school days. No, it must actually be a bell sound.
Looking at the time displayed on the top of the cell phone, the digital clock showed it was 9 o’clock.
‘Hmm… Shall I take a little tour of the academy?’
I had heard that the first class ended at 10:30, so I had about an hour and a half of free time.
Better to explore the academy than do nothing. I want to see more of it.
“Alright. Shall we take a look around then?”
I stepped out of my dorm room, slightly exhilarated to explore more of the Academy, or to see a new place.
***
First, I headed outside the lobby towards the beautiful garden I had seen upon entering the Academy.
The sight of the fresh green leaves and profusely blooming flowers, meticulously and beautifully maintained, struck me.
“It feels… strangely calming.”
Despite it being winter, a wave of warmth enveloped me as if there was heating. The sweet scent of grass and the sporadic chirping of birds as I admired the garden made me feel as though I had reached paradise.
It was a peaceful, warm space where time could stand still forever.
As I noticed the female students peeking at me and whispering behind the grass blades, I smiled subtly and continued to caress the leaves, immersing myself in nature.
Hearing their small screams and watching them run off somewhere, it seemed as though a bee had appeared.
“….Hm? What’s that sound?”
Just then, I thought I heard a dull sound from afar. The sound of something being hit… or a thudding beat.
…Surely not. In this Academy…?
Though I hoped otherwise, I followed the sound, just in case.
Thump-Thump!
“Die, die! You worthless scum!!”
“How dare a lowly provincial noble stand up to us?!”
“Ugh…ughh..!”
Why is it that my ominous premonitions are never wrong? Following the sound led me to a scene where several male students were brutally beating another student.
From Noble mtl dot com
This was a secluded corner of the Academy’s garden, where passersby were unlikely to intervene.
‘Oh dear… Even in this Academy, there is bullying.’
It wasn’t me who was being targeted. Even during my school days, I witnessed those delinquent kids tormenting weak, small, or timid friends.
There were also foolish kids who would torment the weak to boost their own status, thinking that such behavior was impressive or cool.
“Huff… huff…!”
The beaten student, overwhelmed by the overwhelming difference in numbers, could only utter painful groans without even attempting to resist.
Or perhaps, the difference in status was so great that they couldn’t even rebel. If I were to consider this world, it would probably be the latter.
“Sigh… I usually wouldn’t step in a situation like this.”
If I were my usual self, I would have pretended not to notice and walked by. If I were to get involved in such a situation, I would also suffer the consequences.
Or, even if I offered some insignificant help, it would only bring greater harm later on.
Thump-thump!
However, at this moment, I couldn’t possibly endure this boiling anger. Seeing them being beaten so one-sidedly, I found myself involuntarily walking towards them, my fist clenched with strength.
Thud-thud.
As the sound of my footsteps echoed on the stone path, the delinquents who were engaged in group assault turned their heads towards the sound.
“…Who do you think you are? Get lost.”
“If you don’t leave right now, you’ll get beaten too.”
Seeing those delinquents growling as if they were tigers, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh. They were establishing their pride with such meager strength and untrained bodies?
Without responding to their words, I quietly walked towards them.
“Huh, this punk won’t do either.”
“Let’s beat him up a bit.”
They immediately shifted their target from the beaten student they were tormenting to me, as if I had become their new prey, and started approaching me with a threatening look.
“Huff… huff…”
The battered trainee, gasping for breath, looked up at me with a why-did-you-do-that expression.
“Just wait a little. It will all be over soon.”
“What the hell, you little-!”
“Drop dead!”
Staring down the beasts charging at me, I crouched like a hunter eyeing its prey and then dashed forward as if flying.
***
Naturally, the outcome was clear, as seen in the sight of those fools writhing on the ground after a few exchanges.
Compared to the ferocious attacks of the black magicians, ready to kill, attacks launched with mere petty pride, lacking any real intent to kill, are nothing to me.
“Y-you… you dare… a mere servant attacking a trainee…!”
“Your family… I will hold them accountable-! Name your family!!”
It’s curious how these types always end up the same. To these still disgraceful figures, I quietly approached and said a word.
“The Frost family.”
“…L-lies…! How could someone like you…!”
“True or false, you can find out yourself. And you can take responsibility too.”
I didn’t particularly want to mention the Frost family, but it’s necessary to teach a lesson to such people. Besides, it wasn’t a lie that I am a servant of the Frost family.
“Damn it…!”
“Next time, you won’t be so lucky-!”
The ruffians eventually tucked their tails and ran away. Even in their escape, they maintained their disgraceful manner, dropping their belongings in a panicked flight.
“Phew… Are you alright?”
“You… why are you helping me…? I’m just a nobody from a remote noble family…”
“Why would you ask why? Do we need a reason to help those in need?”
“…….Huh?”
“And don’t live too bent over. You seem… like you could soar high enough.”
When I saw this cadet through my Talent Perception, they indeed had exceptional talent. If the cadet could shed their inferiority complex and find their talent, they would certainly become remarkable.
“Oh dear. How time flies…”
Pulling out my Arcaphone from my pocket to check the time, the clock showed 10:15 PM. It was about time to go see Ariel.
‘Well, then. Let’s leave these things in the lobby and head out.’
Picking up a wallet dropped by one of the thugs with light steps, I turned to leave.
“….Huh?”
[Dark magic detected. Would you like to absorb it?]
That wallet, exuding the noxious aura I had seen far too often, confirmed its presence before the floating status window did.