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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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“……”
Walking while being the center of attention was quite burdensome, especially when those gazes weren’t filled with admiration or envy.
“Did you hear…?”
“The one who caused that huge incident just now…”
“What? What happened…?”
The whispers pricked him like needles. He felt like a criminal surrounded by reporters. He wanted to hide in a hole, overwhelmed with embarrassment.
“Hmm….”
He should have controlled his power better… While he hadn’t broken any rules, the feeling of being under everyone’s scrutiny was incredibly uncomfortable.
“….”
All he could do was maintain a composed facade as he walked through the crowd.
“Master~”
Just then… a faint but distinct voice called out to him.
“Eilly?”
As the voice grew closer, he turned his head and saw Eilly, smiling and waving, running towards him.
“Master! How did the magic evaluation go?”
Had there ever been a moment when he was so glad to see Eilly? It felt like a chance encounter with an old friend amidst a sea of strangers.
Surrounded by wary gazes, her innocent demeanor was a welcome sight.
“It went well. It might sound boastful, but it went a little too well, to the point where it might be a problem.”
“Ooh…! As expected of Master! I, Eilly, never doubted you!”
As he scratched his cheek, slightly embarrassed, and told her about the evaluation, Eilly’s eyes sparkled like she had discovered a precious gem.
“Oh, really? Thank you. By the way, how did yours go, Eilly?”
“Huh…?!”
However, her bright expression faltered when he asked her the same question.
“Ah… Well….”
Her joyful mood flipped like a coin.
“He… Hehe… I-It wasn’t bad… I guess…?”
She averted her gaze, sweating nervously, and fidgeted with the hilt of the sword at her waist, her demeanor filled with unease.
“Is that so?”
Judging by her evasive body language and hesitant tone, could he expect a good result?
“But…! It seems like I’ll be able to enter the academy.”
Still, for Eilly, who usually lacked confidence, to say that much meant he probably didn’t need to worry too much.
“That’s good to hear. You really did well.”
He patted Eilly’s head, trying to soothe her anxiety.
“Ugh…? Yes…! Thank you, Master!”
Her cheeks flushed slightly, seemingly embarrassed, but she still seemed pleased.
“Now, I have to take the swordsmanship evaluation… It would be better to be lightly dressed.”
With only one test remaining, he made a request to Eilly to maintain his optimal condition.
“I’m sorry, but could you hold onto my suit jacket? You can go back to the carriage first if it’s inconvenient.”
“Y-Your jacket…? O-Of course!”
Eilly accepted his jacket with a cheerful expression.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it! It’s my duty to serve you, Master! I’m just doing what I should.”
He handed his jacket to Eilly, who accepted it respectfully with both hands, and headed back in the direction she had come from, now only in his shirt.
“Master! Do your best until the very end!”
As he turned and walked away, he heard Eilly’s encouraging voice from behind.
“Yeah. See you later.”
With her encouragement, he proceeded towards his final test.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Ugh…”
Eilly was left alone after Arnold departed.
“Master’s clothes….”
She hugged the suit-jacket Arnold had entrusted to her.
“…….”
Her cheeks were even redder than before he left.
“These clothes….”
The maid stared intently at the clothes her master had given her.
Flush –
“…?!”
Suddenly, as if lost in thought, her face turned completely crimson.
“There might be people watching, but….”
She seemed to be contemplating something… but only for a moment. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she made a shy but bold decision.
And then –
“Ugh…”
She buried her face in Arnold’s jacket.
“Sniff….”
Eilly took a slow, deep breath, savoring his scent.
‘Master’s scent….’
She closed her eyes, picturing the face of the man she served.
‘I shouldn’t be doing this behind Master’s back… But -’
Her mind told her to stop, but her body, as if rejecting reason and surrendering to instinct, acted on its own accord.
‘I can’t stop… Master’s scent….’
Unable to resist, Eilly lost herself in a fantasy.
‘It feels like… Master is holding me tightly…’
Lost in her imagination, Eilly’s shoulders trembled.
‘Ugh… I only meant to do it once, but it’s become a habit…’
Her body trembled, and she began to sway, overcome with a dizzying sensation.
“Ugh…!”
How much time had passed?
“Haa, haa….”
Just as she was about to lose herself completely in the intoxicating moment, her eyes glazed over… she managed to regain a sliver of reason.
“Ugh, Master….”
After her private, embarrassing moment had passed, Eilly still held his jacket close.
“I’m sorry…. I’m truly a terrible maid….”
She berated herself and fled the scene.
◇ ◇ ◇
Next was the swordsmanship evaluation. Unlike the magic evaluation, this year’s test involved sparring with another person, requiring a certain level of resolve.
Most candidates would spar with instructors far superior in skill, making victory practically impossible, even with a do-or-die attitude.
Well… that applied to everyone else.
“The next candidate is Mr. Arnold Stenman.”
It might sound arrogant, but he was confident he could win against any instructor. He was more concerned about accidentally injuring his opponent if he went all out.
“Yes.”
“Greetings, candidate. I am Instructor Lilton, and I will be your opponent for this evaluation.”
As he entered the spacious indoor arena for his turn, a well-built man stood facing him.
His first impression was… a rather smug smile, an arrogant stance, and a condescending gaze.
“Wow, he’s up against Instructor Lilton….”
“He’s got bad luck.”
“Dozens have fought him today, but only one person has won…”
The spectators outside the arena began to murmur as Lilton appeared. It seemed Instructor Lilton had quite the reputation.
“Allow me to make a proposition, candidate.”
The instructor spoke in a confident voice that matched the atmosphere.
“If you manage to land even a single blow on me during this evaluation, I will concede defeat and grant you admission with the highest possible score.”
A single blow was all it took to pass. He found the offer quite tempting and smirked.
“That’s practically impossible….”
“Many people have been fooled by those words today and paid the price.”
“Yeah, that woman earlier was an exception.”
However, the spectators’ reactions to Lilton’s words were filled with fear.
“I heard Instructor Lilton is the strongest in the academy.”
“That’s right….”
“His movements were too fast to even follow with your eyes…”
The strongest instructor in the academy. That explained his confident demeanor.
“You’re serious about that offer?”
“If you can manage it.”
He nodded in affirmation and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. He could sense an unspoken strength in the way he held the sword.
“I’ll explain the rules. You must not cross the boundary lines of the arena, and all magical interference is prohibited.”
As he prepared for battle, the referee explained the rules of the duel.
“The conditions for victory are as follows: If your opponent crosses the boundary lines, is deemed incapacitated by the referee, or surrenders, you win. Dropping your weapon is also considered incapacitation.”
As the explanation ended, he placed his hand on his scabbard, preparing for the fight.
“Then, let the evaluation begin!”
With the referee’s announcement, the test began, and silence fell over the arena.
“….”
“You may attack first.”
Instructor Lilton, as if offering a courtesy or perhaps taunting him, offered him the first move.
“I excel at defense and counterattacks. So, I would prefer if you attacked first.”
He declined Lilton’s offer and signaled him to attack first with a seemingly plausible excuse.
“Is that so? Then, I won’t hold back -”
As he also yielded the first move, Lilton smirked and bent his knees.
Dash –
He kicked off the ground with a swift leap. Only a cloud of dust remained where he had been standing.
“Oh, it’s over!”
“Instructor Lilton isn’t holding back?!”
“How can anyone block that speed…!!”
The prospective students watching clicked their tongues in disappointment, looking at him with pity, as if the match was already decided.
Clack –
“Huh?”
He honestly didn’t understand their reaction.
“Huh?”
Lilton’s attack was so slow and weak.
“What the…!”
Lilton’s expression changed drastically as his attack was blocked. His previous confident smile vanished, replaced by bewilderment.
“Ugh!”
After his failed attack, he quickly jumped back, creating distance.
“Quite skilled, aren’t you? Then, I’ll get a little more serious!”
Dash –
He kicked off the ground again and charged at Arnold with even greater speed than before.
“Haha!”
He swung his sword as if certain of victory, but
Clack –
“…?!”
The result was the same.
“Hmm.”
Arnold blocked his attack again, his expression calm and effortless.
“Ugh!”
Instructor Lilton looked at him with an even more bewildered and uneasy expression.
“Huh? He’s evenly matched against Lilton…?”
“No, no… He’s blocking his attacks with ease…”
“Is that even possible…? Handling that speed and power so effortlessly?”
The prospective students watching were confused and couldn’t comprehend the situation.
“In that case!”
Clack –
Clack –
“No?!”
Was it really that surprising?
Honestly, Lilton’s speed wasn’t even comparable to Rael’s, whom he had fought five years ago.
“That was a full-powered attack?!”
And his strength was also inferior to Martin’s, his daily sparring partner. If Martin was a well-built adult, Lilton was like a child in comparison.
“I’ve seen enough.”
Was this the strongest instructor? His movements were too slow and predictable.
“Ugh! One more time…!”
This wasn’t even a good warm-up.
If he hadn’t taken the situation into consideration and used even a fraction of his true strength, it would have resulted in a major incident….
Clang –!
Now that he had assessed Lilton’s abilities, should he end this?
“Oh?!”
He parried Lilton’s powerful attack.
“An opening -”
He had used [Parry]. A single parry was all it took to completely break Lilton’s stance.
“Haa….”
Thud -!!
He decided to finish it and thrust the tip of his wooden sword into Lilton’s abdomen.
“Guuuh!!!”
With a single attack, Lilton’s face contorted as if he was about to vomit, his cheeks puffed up, and his eyes bloodshot.
“Kugh -”
He put a little force into his wrist. With a fencing-like thrust, the instructor was sent flying faster than his own attacks.
Thud —
A single impact.
“Ah… Kugh….”
Lilton crashed into the wall of the indoor arena, beyond the boundaries of the ring, and remained motionless.
“….”
Did he overdo it again…?
“What in the world….”
The referee, dumbfounded by the short and decisive fight, remained speechless for a while.
“…?”
“I-Is he… human…?”
“Instructor Lilton lost? And so miserably?!”
The spectators gasped in astonishment, and he felt the weight of their gazes upon him once more.
“…….”
It seemed… he had failed to control his strength, just like during the magic evaluation.
“E-Evaluation concluded…!”
The referee, finally comprehending the situation, announced the end of the match, concluding the swordsmanship evaluation.
With this, all the entrance evaluations were complete.
“I… I can leave now, right?”
“Huh…?! Oh…! Yes! Of course!!”
Personally, he felt that enduring everyone’s stares throughout the day was more challenging than the actual tests…
“S-Scary….”
“To think such a person exists….”
“Hey, hey, he’s looking this way…! Bow!”
Countless prospective students trembled in fear, their pupils dilated with terror, their expressions mirroring the despair seen in war movies.
“….”
He had seen those expressions countless times… This was how people looked at Arnold in the original story.
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“Hmm….”
Inside the carriage on their way home.
“Haa~”
He sighed, looking out the window with a mix of worry. It hadn’t been a good day.
While the evaluation results exceeded his expectations, he was concerned about the lasting impression he had made, in more ways than one.
The people at the exam site were, in other words, his future classmates for the next few years.
And yet, he had made many of them fear him with his excessive display of power. Some even seemed to recognize him, which worried him.
“Master? Is something wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
He answered Eilly as if nothing was wrong, but he was actually quite concerned.
He had made many of his future classmates fear him by showing off too much.
“I just have… something on my mind.”
He wondered if this would further solidify his image as the villainous Arnold.
Of course, the entrance evaluations weren’t held only on this day; candidates were assessed throughout the week, so only a small number of people had witnessed his abilities today.
But news like this would spread like wildfire. Or rather, as the saying goes, “Three men make a tiger,” rumors would only be amplified as they spread.
“….”
But what could he do? What was done was done.
“Haa -”
All he could do was hope for the best and wait for the day of enrollment….
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Hi Lord Fourth here!
I’m new to translating so if you find some mistakes or inconsistencies let me know about it on the dedicated channel on discord.
Bro, you hear the masses. You’re not parrying those voices away, so try not to rationalize your overwhelmingly superior firepower as just people being scared of you ffs.