Chapter 8 (1/2)

Chapter 8: Joint Lessons are Meaningless, You Say?

TL: Cnine

TLC: Cryarc & Krrizis

Editors: Puissansa

First published on Ainus.h.i.+

In the centre of the throng, the red team kept dominating. No matter how one were to look at it, their abilities were unmatched. Overwhelming their opponents in battle one by one, it looked like it was only a matter of time before they broke through the centre.

Although both teams came to that conclusion, the left flank of the white team thrust itself into the middle of the fight. The left flank of the white team stormed through, striking at the red team's flank.

Due to this intervention, the white team's centre, that was pressured, revived. Somehow, with the strength of their numbers, they forced their opponents back.

「NOW! THRUST INTO THE RIGHT FLANK!」

Having a.s.sessed the situation, the rear guard of the red team issued a directive. Obeying instructions while the left flank of the white team made their way to the centre, the right flank of the red team abandoned the front altogether and ran past, deliberately storming the white team's stronghold.

「REAR GUARDS, CHARGE! DESTROY THEIR CENTRE IN ONE GO! LEFT FLANK, COORDINATE WITH THEM!」

「YES!」

The entire red team burst forward continuously. They intended to end the battle once and for all.

As the right flank of the red team that went ahead to reach the white team's stronghold, three people from the white team's rear guard came rus.h.i.+ng out. Their leader was Theresa.

In the face of an unfavorable situation due to  their numbers, they had to hold back the advance of the red team's right flank. As one might expect from the exalted sole retainer of the Imperial Princess Claudia, Theresa appeared to be fairly capable.

「RIGHT FLANK! ENDURE! CENTRE, WAIT FOR THE LEFT FLANK TO RUSH IN!」

The rear guard from the red team issued another command again. While his units were moving, he didn't forget to observe everything. You can say that this was as expected of the son of the Empire's knight captain.

The supreme commander of the red team is Oskar from Cla.s.s C, while the white team was led by Claudia.

Seeing the individual ability of the students and the leaders.h.i.+p of the supreme commander, the victory of the red team was imminent from the very beginning. That the white team was able to withstood it hitherto – one could say that they were putting up a good fight.

「LEFT FLANK, BREAK IN!」

「OKAY! ATTACK THEIR STRONGHOLD! CENTRE, TAKE THEM DOWN AT ONCE!」

Despite that both flanks broke through, Oskar didn't loosen his grip anyway. Taking the lead personally, he leaped towards the enemy students in the centre.

Having lost a number of their superiors, the white team's centre had nothing left. After easily taking the centre, the entire red team's units moved towards the stronghold where Claudia was.

「THAT'S ENOUGH!」

The teacher's voice signalled the end of the battle. When they heard it, the students from the red team, who were on the verge of reaching the stronghold, excitedly stopped.

「THE WINNER! WHITE TEAM!」

「WHAT!?」

However, what followed were the words informing them of the white team's victory. The students on the red team thought that the teacher must have made a mistake, but when they turned around, the red flag –  that should have been raised above the stronghold – was not in sight.

Instead of the two students who were defending the stronghold, there was a student wearing a white string on his waist. Grasped in that person's hand was the handle of the red flag.

「WHEN DID HE!? 」

「Alright! Everyone, gather in the middle!」

Following the teacher's command, the students from both sides stood in formation in the middle of the field. In contrast to the delighted expressions from the students of the white team, the students of the red team were still trying to wrap their heads around what had happened.

「Bow!」

「「「Thank you!」」」

After they had bowed, Oskar immediately approached Claudia, who stood before him.

「That was commendable, Claudia-sama」

「Eh?」

「Why, you attacked at the right opportunity. The one who took down our flag is from the left flank, wasn't he?」

「Yes. It seems so」

「Were they the ones who lured us to gather in the centre?」

「Uhhhm …」

「Because of that, our right flank was lured and was held back at the stronghold. Once we saw that, our entire team rushed to the front, which resulted in a short of hands and allowed your  surprise attack to occur. It was our negligence. Nevertheless, that was an excellent tactic」

Oscar was under the impression that, just like him, Claudia was commanding the other students as the supreme commander of the white team. What Oskar didn't know was although Claudia had certainly attempted to command, the truth was that she was unable to detect the differences in the abilities of her teammates, so she could only watch, unable to give any directions.

「I see」

「But, what I don't understand is, how was the left flank able to get behind us? Was it when we pushed into the centre with our full numbers?」

「I'm not sure…」

「Oh … that's it. We'll still have more of these exercises. You don't want to reveal your plans, only to have it imitated, eh?」

「No, that wasn't what I…」

Even though Claudia was honestly confessing to him, Oskar arbritarily misunderstood. He appears to be the type that clings fervently to the slightest a.s.sumptions.

「However, please excuse my indiscretion. For Claudia-sama, who is the Imperial Princess, to have the apt.i.tude of a commander… it was unexpected. I look forward to our next bout」

「No, that–」

「Well then, please excuse me」

In the end, Oskar left Claudia's side while still misunderstanding her.

「What should I do? He completely misunderstood」

「Isn’t that good? Oskar-dono looked like he really admires you. With someone amongst the chivalric order paying Claudia-sama the highest respects, this may be a good thing in the future」

「But I didn’t do anything」

「The victory of the battle is the achievement of the supreme commander. Since Claudia-sama is the supreme commander of the white team, this victory is your victory」

Though they were words spoken casually, there was nothing wrong with what Theresa had said. The honor of a victory is bestowed upon the supreme commander.

「But actually, the white team's victory belongs to…」

「Well, how about this?  As the supreme commander, how about praising those who worked hard? It is the duty of a supreme commander to confer honours to his officers. If you do something like that, there'll be nothing strange about it」

「Eh? But–」

「Kamui Kreutz!」

Claudia was hesitating, but Theresa called out Kamui's name without minding her. Though Kamui was talking to his group of friends, he turned around as soon as he heard his name being called.

「Come here! Claudia-sama has something to say! 」

When he heard that, Kamui slowly walked up to Claudia and Theresa. As soon as he was before Claudia, he placed his right hand on his chest, kneeled down on one knee and bowed. It was flawless etiquette, in accordance with a retainer's position.

「Did you summon me?」

「Yes. As you performed admirably in the exercise earlier, Claudia-sama would like to bestow her admiration」

Although Kamui had saluted completely out of spite, Theresa didn't realize it. On the contrary, she was delighted to see that Kamui was perfectly behaving himself.

「If it's about that matter, then it's unnecessary. What I had done just worked out by chance」

「Was that so?」

「Yes. It seemed like they were going to break through our centre, so I moved closer to it. Their centre made a mistake the moment they moved to the front, leaving only two people in the enemy's stronghold. That being the case, it was sink or swim when I broke into their stronghold. That was all I did」

「I see. Even so, it is undeniable that your actions resulted in our victory. That is, nonetheless, praiseworthy. Claudia-sama」

In a good mood, Theresa praised him – even though it was Kamui.

「… Um, please rise」

Claudia was not as simple minded as Theresa. She felt uneasy at Kamui's behavior.

「Wouldn't that be rude?」

「No, not at all. We are at the Academy」

「… Then」

Though Kamui obediently stood up, he did not look directly at Claudia.

He was looking at her feet. This was also another form of courtesy towards royalty.

「Erm, thank you」

「I’m unworthy of such words」

「… Won't you speak to me like how you used to?」

「The fact that Claudia-sama is royalty has been made public. Therefore the people around us will view it differently. Being impolite to the imperial family will not just be my problem alone but it will cause trouble for my family, allowing others to talk about us behind our backs」

「But I don't mind it」

「Even if you don't, others do. Claudia-sama, it'd be best if you were a little bit more aware of how it affects your situation if word gets around of my discourtesy towards you. There is an appropriate demeanor towards royalty. If we were to dispense of those, it is not Claudia-sama, but us as your retainers who will be in trouble」

Literally, it meant  “Even if we are only heeding your whims, if our rude behavior is called into question, we are the only ones who will be punished“.

「… I see. I'll make sure to pay more attention after this」

「May I be excused?」

「Yes.  My apologies for summoning you」

Immediately, Kamui withdrew two steps backwards, turning completely to the right before taking his leave.

「…That guy knows proper etiquette, huh?」

As ever, Theresa was only admiring his conduct.

「That is because Kamui-san was originally raised in a marquis household. So wouldn't that be instilled in him?」

「The Hohenfrieds?」

「Yes, that's right」

「But it seems like the entire Hohenfried family had committed suicide」

「Suicide?」

Claudia's eyes opened wide in surprise when she was suddenly informed of that unsettling news.

「Yes. It was decided that their peerage will be revoked. You can say that it was because they felt ashamed by it. They seem like people who only take value in their pride」

「…I see. Then, Kamui-san…」

「When he was with them, he led a painful life. I feel a bit sympathetic towards him」

「I see」

Though Claudia and Theresa were abritarily sympathizing with him, Kamui was unaware of it as he returned to his friends, letting out a huge sigh.

「Haa~ I'm worn out」

「What was that all about just now?」

It was a first for Alto to see Kamui display those gestures. Naturally, for Alto who was an orphan, even if he was a n.o.ble's student, he only comprehended a fraction of it.

「That’s the etiquette for when you're being received by the imperial family」

「You're well-versed in it」

「More or less. I was also born a n.o.ble. Further, it even a household that cared nothing but such courtesies」

Kamui was aware of such courtesies because he was brought up by the Hohenfrieds, a marquis household. Although just being n.o.ble did not mean that they had met all the requirements to be able to have an audience with royalty.

「So that's what it was. I had completely forgotten that you were from a n.o.ble family, Kamui」

「Am I not from one now, too?」

「Well, that's true, but you don't mind the Kreutz household. To be honest, he don't really feel like a n.o.ble」

「Well, he is a feudal lord」

Kamui's foster father, Viscount Kreutz was halfhearted about etiquette.There was also the consideration that it was Nordend, so it was not something to be fussed over.

「And? Why did you especially go out of your way to do it?」

「Out of kindness. I thought I should show that I understood where I stand」

「HAH?」

「Her status is already in the open. If that's the case, shouldn't I act appropriately?」

「How is that appropriate?」

「Like using her imperial status to subdue her surroundings. She isn't resolved. She wishes to make friends with others, despite having the status of Imperial Princess. Aren't her demands troublesome?」

「Well, no one's going to say, ”Let's be friends with the Imperial Princess”」

「Yeah.  For a small n.o.ble, it would be a huge burden on them. If she's seeking a friend, she'll have to at least get the person she's chosen to accept it. Well, as far as I know, there's no one here that I can consider would be a suitable companion though」

When it came to having an audience with the imperial family, their rank must be no less than an Earl. The exception would be the Captain of the Knights and leaders from various organizations. In school, the people in her grade whose families were of such statuses were – with the exception of Diefried and the others of the Golden Generation – only one or two people.

「Ah, well! Nevertheless, even getting close to a suitable companion would be a problem」

「Yeah. If handled poorly, they will probably be envied by the other princes and princesses. If so, what was her purpose of coming to the Academy?」

「Isn't it because she had made up her mind? Well, certainly there is that」

To gain something, sometimes you have to throw something away. Nothing can be accomplished if one is worried about their reputation or what other people think.

「Aren't you being somewhat harsh? Don't you know how to be nice?」

Selene b.u.t.ted into Kamui and Alto's conversation.

「If I have to say it, perhaps I'm harsh. If I wasn't, then trouble will come knocking on my door」

「Why would it?」

「The Imperial Princess-sama is using something like friends.h.i.+p as an excuse. She's only after a free attendant. That isn't my duty, is it? That's what she's after, so what would you do, Sele?」

「Even if you ask me what would I do…」

To begin with, Selene didn't have any feelings of friends.h.i.+p towards her. She didn't care to do anything for her.

「There's nothing I would do. Whatever she wants, I would cowardly feign ignorance」

「Because if she wants something from people, it would be an order?」

「Exactly. As expected, you catch on fast」

「I’m not happy even if you praise me. Frankly, it doesn't matter to me. Putting that aside, there's something that's bothering me about the exercise earlier」

「Regarding?」

「Why did we win?」

Selene was aware that Kamui was concealing his abilities. She thought that it was strange for them to behave conspicuously like this.

「That? I just wanted to confirm something. It's just a coincidence that we won」

「What did you want to confirm?」

「I was wondering whether this exercise holds any meaning. Since the difference in war potential was known from the very beginning. Won't the result be a fixed matter?」

「Even so, didn’t Kamui's group reverse it?」

「That's also strange. Being able to reverse the situation in that condition. It's proof that this exercise is meaningless」