I Possessed a Character in an Academy Without a Protagonist – Chapter 152

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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To be honest, I had become a bit arrogant lately. I hadn’t faced the full force of two thousand soldiers, but I had still fought and repelled them.

I had started to think that maybe I was stronger than I realized. And after Trie had said that I would soon surpass her, my confidence had soared.

I had thought that even if I didn’t win every match, I would be able to win a few out of ten.

The result was…

“Agh… Ugh… My ribs… I think my ribs are broken…”

…a brutal defeat in all ten matches.

I had tried fighting with dual swords, and then I had switched to a single sword, but I couldn’t break through Trie’s defense.

Back in the South, I had at least had a chance at a draw.

Now, even that possibility had vanished. But the most embarrassing thing was…

“A-Are you okay, Mr. Hainkel?”

“Ugh… No, I’m not…”

…Emilia had been watching the entire time.

She had asked if she could observe our training, and I had foolishly agreed. I hadn’t expected to be defeated so thoroughly.

Perhaps Trie had been fighting with unusual intensity.

“Let me treat you. Is it here? Rib number six?”

“I don’t know if it’s number six… Ugh! That’s it…”

Emilia placed her hand on my ribcage and began to cast a spell.

A healing spell.

Treating an internal fracture like that was a complicated task. I wouldn’t ask how Emilia, a common maid, had acquired the medical knowledge of a university student.

“Phew. It’s done. But you should avoid overexerting yourself today.”

“Ms. Maid, you can speak casually with me.”

“Huh?”

“You don’t have to be so formal. You can talk to me and Schlus as if it’s just the two of you. I won’t tell anyone.”

“Ah…”

Trie smiled at Emilia, whose face flushed with embarrassment. I expected her to run away.

“Is it always like this?”

“Huh?”

“Is it always like this during your spars?”

“Well, it’s usually like this. Why?”

“Because sparring is meant to improve your skills, not inflict injuries! And it seems like you’re intentionally targeting my oppa’s vital points, inflicting grievous wounds!”

“Emilia.”

Emilia was starting to yell at Trie.

“In a real battle, no one will hold back, Emilia. Sparring is preparation for a real battle. This is normal.”

“I… I see… My apologies.”

“It’s fine. It’s nice to see how worried you are about Schlus.”

Trie smiled, but her voice was strangely sharp.

“Then let’s stop here for today.”

“Where are you going? You still need feedback.”

“Feedback?”

That was something we had stopped doing.

Trie had attempted to analyze my strengths and weaknesses, but she always ended up rambling and giving up.

We hadn’t done it in ages. Why now? Had she suddenly become clear-headed?

“Yes. I’ve been thinking about this since the battle, but I didn’t want to say anything that might hurt morale. But now…”

“What is it? Tell me.”

“I’ll be honest. You’re hopeless. You’ll never surpass me, and you’ll never become the Empire’s greatest swordsman.”

I was shocked by her harsh words, but a part of me was amused. I had never aspired to become the Empire’s greatest swordsman. Trie had overestimated my abilities.

“You overestimated my abilities, it seems. I never wanted to be the Empire’s greatest swordsman.”

“Then what is your goal?”

“To protect myself and those around me…”

“With that kind of mindset, I refuse to teach you. The goal should always be the pinnacle. I can’t train someone who settles for mediocrity. Do you understand?”

“Yes…”

Her words were harsh, but she had a point. If I was training, then I should be aiming for the top.

Settling for mediocrity was an insult to those who dedicated their lives to swordsmanship.

“And secondly, your sword lacks emotion. It’s partly my fault for not focusing on that, but normally, your emotions should seep into your sword when you’re wielding it. But yours is devoid of emotion. From beginning to end. I didn’t sense any anger or fighting spirit during our ten matches.”

This critique felt unfair.

How was I supposed to feel angry against such a monster? Who would feel anger after being overwhelmed by a natural disaster? I had only felt a sense of hopelessness.

“Isn’t the absence of emotion a good thing? Emotions can cloud judgment and paralyze reason. I thought it was a strength.”

“Excessive emotion can cloud judgment, but you need to understand your emotions to control your power. You must have felt hatred when you killed your enemies. Try to channel that feeling during sparring.”

“Hmm?”

“Schlus, you’re telling me… you don’t feel anything when you kill someone?”

“…”

Trie’s expression was strange.

I could see how that might seem weird. Killing without emotion… It wasn’t because I was a psychopath or a skilled assassin.

It was because I didn’t see the people of this world as actual people.

“That’s a serious problem, Schlus. You might be okay now, and it might even be an advantage against weaker opponents. But against stronger foes, when you’re in a tight spot, surrounded by death, will you be able to remain rational?”

“Probably not…”

“That’s why you need to learn to channel your emotions. You need to learn to control them. Otherwise, when your emotions explode, you’ll be completely destroyed.”

It was a perfect assessment, and there was no way to refute it. I had only faced weak opponents.

I had only engaged in battles where victory was certain. But in the future, I might be forced to fight from a position of disadvantage. If I was defeated by a powerful enemy, my weak mental state would shatter.

Trie was warning me to learn how to control my emotions.

“I understand.”

“Good. Then starting tomorrow, we’ll be focusing on channeling your emotions. Be prepared.”

“Understood. But Trie.”

Trie sheathed her sword and turned to leave. I stopped her, grabbing her wrist.

I was worried that I had somehow offended her.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Huh? You did something wrong? What?”

“I’m asking you.”

“No. Nothing. Why?”

“Then never mind.”

I released her wrist.

Why was she acting so strangely today?

Perhaps I had been too harsh with her during our magical tug-of-war on the way back.

No, she wasn’t the type to hold a grudge. Perhaps it was a hormonal issue, something I couldn’t understand.

“Are you leaving?”

“Ah, yes, Ms. Maid. I’ll be going now.”

“You must be tired. You can use the bathroom to wash off the sweat.”

“No. I’m fine. I’ll just be going.”

Her tone was stiff as she turned away.

Was she in a bad mood? As I was wondering about this, I suddenly heard footsteps and then Emilia grabbed my hand. The hand that had held Trie’s wrist.

“Are you leaving already, Ms. Trie?”

“Ah, yes. Ms. Maid. I’ll be going now.”

“You must have sweated a lot. You can use the bathroom.”

“No. I’m fine. I’ll just be going.”

Trie responded stiffly and turned away.

Was she in a bad mood today?

Perhaps I had overdone it when I was having her play magical tug-of-war on the way back. But she wasn’t the type to hold a grudge.

It was strange. Maybe it was a hormonal issue, something that I wouldn’t understand.

“She’s gone.”

“Yes. She seemed unusually prickly today…”

“Never mind that, brother. Ugh…”

The moment the door closed, Emilia hugged me from behind, burying her face in my back.

“Let go. I’m covered in sweat.”

“No, I want to stay like this.”

“I’m going to take a shower.”

“Do it.”

“What? You want me to wash you?”

“Wh-what? Are you crazy?”

I had just been joking.

Emilia flinched and quickly backed away. That had worked well. I started to undo my belt and remove my heavy sword.

My shirt was soaked with sweat. I had the option to change into more comfortable clothes for the sparring, but I was wearing this attire to prepare myself for a real battle.

If I was ambushed, I would be forced to fight in these clothes.

“How was it? The South?”

As I was throwing my clothes on the floor near the bathroom, Emilia turned and asked, her gaze averted.

“How was it? What do you mean?”

“Just… everything. The food, the weather, and so on.”

“The food? I don’t know. I ate military rations. The weather was nice. The plains were vast. The Great Forest was like a long wall on one side. It was my first time seeing it. It was amazing.”

“Hmm… I see. What were the beastmen like?”

“Beastmen? Hmm… They were strong. They had more stamina and strength than humans. It was difficult to fight them.”

“Haa…”

Emilia sighed loudly.

What was that about? Was she unhappy with my answer?

“I’ll take your clothes and wash them for you. You’ll need them again tomorrow, right?”

“Ah, wait. I haven’t taken off my pants yet.”

“Just hurry up and take them off…”

“I’m trying…”

“Huh? Wait a minute.”

Emilia’s eyes widened, and she suddenly grabbed my left arm, examining it closely.

“This scar. Why is it here? It wasn’t there before.”

“Ah…”

It was the scar I had gotten when I was pierced with a wooden stake while saving Iris. It was a small scar.

How had she noticed it? And I was certain that she had been facing away from me when she said that.

Had she been sneaking glances at me?

“It’s nothing. It didn’t hit any bones or nerves. There won’t be any long-term effects.”

“That’s not the problem! If that remains on your body, it will be ugly!”

“It’s fine. Pelaine has larger scars on her back. This is nothing.”

“Still… still… Ah. Just a moment.”

Emilia’s expression changed.

The temperature in the room suddenly dropped. Her gaze was sharp and intense, and it made me flinch.

“If you’re referring to the Commander-in-Chief of the Holy Knights, isn’t that a woman?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“And you know about the scars on her back? How did you see her back?”

“…”

Emilia raised her head, and her gaze sent a chill down my spine.

She was smiling faintly, but her eyes were filled with killing intent. I didn’t know why, but I knew…

I was screwed.

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