22 In the Punishment War (1)
“Ernas is going to be sent to punishment?”
The night after the first exam.
Serine heard Chloe’s story and doubted her ears.
“Ernas didn’t come back no matter how long I waited, so I thought it was strange… It’s a punishment ward!”
“The punishment… what?”
Schmidt, who was listening next to him, tilted his head, and Chloe explained in a calm voice.
“The Punishment Building is like the Academy’s prison. There is a deep cave on an island, and the student who commits a crime is imprisoned there.”
“Why are you locked up in a cave? Can’t we just build a prison?”
“Maybe it’s because there are times when you have to lock up someone who has reached the level of grade-eight.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
If it’s a Graduate, it’s possible to break through the wall and escape.
It would be more certain to lock him up in a deep cave and guard the entrance.
“No, but why is Ernas-sama being trapped in that cave?”
“Yeah, yes. Please explain that first, Chloe.”
“It is said that Ernas-sama possessed a true sword. He said he injured another student with it.”
Hearing Chloe’s explanation, Serine and Schmidt’s eyes widened.
“Hey, what does that mean?”
“Is Ernas-sama a true sword? I’ve never seen him carry something like that, isn’t there something wrong?”
“Yes, it is said that Ernas-sama did not bring it in secretly, but somehow got it from the testing center. I haven’t heard the details yet.”
Chloe spoke in a calm voice.
“I heard that Ernas-sama voluntarily appeared. They said they still need further investigation, but they think they will be released soon.”
“If it is released soon… It’s fortunate, though.”
Serine couldn’t hide her anxiety.
Next to him, Schmidt frowned and said.
“Ernas-sama is not someone who secretly hides his sword and attacks people. When the truth is revealed, he will be released soon.”
“Yes, I think so too.”
“Tsuk, we were going to celebrate the passing of the first test together, but I was in a good mood.”
Schmidt grunted, scratching his head.
Seeing that, Chloe smiled bitterly.
“It would have been difficult to celebrate in a big way. There are also losers.”
On the island where the Black Six was located, crying could be heard from all over the place.
It was the cry of those who failed the exam and those who mourned the loss of their classmates.
“Clearly 10 out of 50 were eliminated… It is difficult for those who passed the exam to be so happy.”
“Hey, what a useless friendship.”
Schmidt sighed coldly.
“It will soon be scattered anyway. There are only a few days left when we will be united in the Black Sixth Class.”
“So is it.”
After a while, you will take the second exam.
Those who pass the second test will leave this island and move to another place.
And the loser stays on this island and prepares for the retest.
“I have to prepare for the second exam, but Ernas-sama must be frustrated because I am trapped in a strange cave.”
“That’s it.”
After saying that, Chloe turned to Serine.
“Serine-sama, while Ernas-sama is away, I think Serine-sama should be the temporary representative.
“yes? me?”
“Last time, Ernas-sama asked me. If I am to be absent due to an unforeseen circumstance, please help Serine-sama to take on the role of representative.”
“Eh, Ernas said that… … .”
Serene thought for a moment.
I don’t feel like taking the place while Ernas is away, so I’m not sure, but someone has to take the role.
And if Ernas pointed out Serine and entrusted her with the next job, she would have to live up to that expectation.
“But why didn’t Ernas talk to me directly and only to Chloe?”
“I do not know? Maybe it’s because Serine-sama has a cold attitude every day? You have to treat them with a gentle attitude like me.”
“Rice, wasn’t it too cold?”
As Serine blushed, Schmitz frowned next to him.
“I’m usually polite to Ernas-sama, so why didn’t you say anything to me? shit… … .”
Seeing Schmidt in anguish as he kicked the floor, Chloe grinned.
“So, Serine-sama, will you take on the role of the representative?”
“there’s nothing we can do.”
Serine coughed and nodded her head.
“I will lead the Black 6th class. Until Ernas returns, I will keep the Black 6 class.”
I will lead the black 6th class perfectly so that there is no room for Ernas to complain.
Serene vowed to do so.
* * *
“This is it, Ernas.”
“Thanks for the guidance.”
Guided by the instructor in charge, I entered the cave entrance.
It was a punishment ward that imprisoned the Academy’s criminals.
“Leicester is now being investigated elsewhere. Now that I am no longer an academy student, I will not be imprisoned in punishment.”
“The expulsion process is already over.”
“If the allegations now turn out to be true, it will not end with expulsion. He ordered the instructor, secretly brought in a sword, and even framed other students… I’m going to make a formal protest to the Lancaster family.”
“… … .”
As I listened to the instructor, I smiled a little.
Because everything went according to my plan.
‘Lester moved as I expected.’
Leicester Lancaster is a small boat.
There was a high probability that he would try to get revenge on me somehow.
So I decided to give Lester a good ‘count’.
He stole the sword that Lester had secretly brought in.
‘I thought that if I took the sword, I would definitely report it to the academy.’
Somehow, I have to fuck Ernas.
Obsessed with such thoughts, Lester has no choice but to accuse Ernas of possessing a true sword.
It was Lester himself who brought the sword to the academy, but he was comfortable thinking that he could just ignore it somehow.
I knew I was going to act like that, so I voluntarily submitted the sword as soon as I left the exam room.
finally… Leicester was on the verge of ruin.
“You voluntarily submitted your sword and asked to punish yourself, so the punishment will be light.”
“It is true that after injuring a classmate with a true sword, he continued to carry it. They should be properly punished.”
“This guy is so… Yes, you will be locked up for a few days and it will be over. It would be a week at the longest.”
The instructor seemed to have a crush on me.
Perhaps, in the eyes of the instructor, I will be seen as a sincere person who thoroughly follows the principles.
“You have to live here. I’ll bring you a day’s worth of bread and water every morning.”
“thank you.”
“And do not move around in a designated place. Otherwise, you could fall into a strange place and lose your life.”
“Did you say there is a mark? You don’t have to worry.”
“Yeah, then I’ll just… Oops.”
The instructor took an object from the bag he was wearing on his back.
It was a small glass bottle of red liquid.
“I almost forgot. It is an elixir given to those who pass the first test.”
“Are you giving it to me now?”
“Other students are probably taking their medications by now. My professors are telling me to take them at the same time.”
“thank you.”
The instructor handed the elixir and went outside.
Now I am left alone in a dark cave.
“Whew… … .”
I stretched out.
It was also tiring to show an attitude of sincere reflection.
‘No one knows that I came here on purpose.’
Yes.
I didn’t go out of my way to simply fuck Lester.
It was necessary to enter this cave, so he said he would voluntarily be punished.
‘This punishment dong is the place where the main character is locked up in the middle of the novel.’
The main character, Akandel, causes some kind of trouble and is imprisoned in the punishment ward.
In the novel, it happens quite a bit after the story has progressed, but I moved it forward.
‘Even if I’m in the black class 6 now, nothing but arrogant incidents happen.’
After the first test is over, the novel becomes the content of a break for a while.
Interactions between the characters take place during class and practice.
But I know everything I learn in Black Class 6, and I know enough to know the character’s quick story.
It’s not a situation where I have enough time to review everything I know, and there’s no need to waste time.
So, at this point, I decided to go to the punishment dong.
‘Because I have to be stronger.’
I started moving.
It was dark inside the cave.
However, when I concentrated the magic with my eyes, I could see it properly.
‘Convenient.’
As soon as we left the designated place, a terrain that looked dangerous at first glance appeared.
There was a place where the ground suddenly went out, so you could fall and die.
‘Actually, it is the setting that there were several people who fell to death here.’
However, I already know how to use magic.
In addition, he has even mastered the Lichtenauer new magic.
If you fall here, you won’t die.
“… … .”
I took a deep breath.
And flew into the darkness.
The sensation of falling by gravity.
There was a part of the rock protruding along the way, so it almost collided, but he responded with Lichtenauer’s new magic.
‘You must not be vigilant… … !’
focused the mind.
While strengthening his eyesight with magical powers, he used Lichtenauer’s new magic to tease his body.
Eventually, I was able to land safely deep underground.
“Whew… … .”
The place I landed on was a cramped space created by the flow of groundwater.
After holding my breath for a while, I moved forward slowly.
After walking for about 10 minutes, we came to a dead end.
‘As described in the novel.’
I looked around.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed that there was a slightly different texture in the middle of the rock.
‘Is this?’
He put his hand there and let out a little magic.
It’s similar to when you unleash your sword.
“… … !”
On the wall of the cave where there was nothing, glowing characters were displayed.
And the surroundings began to shake.
‘Open!’
Cuckoo!
The wall blocking the front split left and right, and the door opened.
I entered it with light steps.
‘I can feel the light.’
It was a space with a soft light.
It was to the point where I didn’t have to focus my magic on my eyes.
Thanks to the white grass scattered around.
‘Glow candle (夜光草)… … .’
A meadow that glows softly in the dark.
I cautiously walked into it.
‘The reason that a luminous plant can grow like this in this space where there is no sunlight is because it is a plant that grows by absorbing the energy of the earth.’
A lot of nightshade plants are growing.
This means that it is a place where the energy of the earth gathers.
‘A long time ago, this place was discovered during the construction of the Lichtenauer Swordsmanship Academy.’
A field of glow-in-the-dark grass found deep in a cave.
It has been converted into a secret training place.
Who deserves special treatment at the academy… As a training center dedicated to the ‘imperial family’.
‘But in the end, the imperial family did not attend the academy, and they were just forgotten.’
Currently, this cave is only used as a punishment building.
No one remembers that there is a training center dedicated to the royal family hidden here.
So, I can only use this place.
‘And one more thing.’
When the magic power was injected into the stone monument rising in the middle of the grass, the surroundings shook once again.
And as the wall opened, a new space appeared.
‘great. It’s the same as a novel.’
Surrounded by anticipation, I walked towards it.
What was there… … .
“ah… … !”
Unbeknownst to me, an exclamation came out.
Dagger, short sword, long sword, great sword… Because many famous swords prepared for the royal family appeared before my eyes.