Chapter 207: Laundry (1)
After Mira's "educational discipline"... I mean, sparring session, about three weeks had passed.
I was heading to school as usual.
*Smack!*
A crisp sound rang in my ear.
I didn't need to look to know who had hit me, so without turning my head, I called out his name.
"Skaya. You miserable bastard, hit me a little softer. It hurts like hell."
"What's with the sudden whining? You usually don't even flinch."
When she responded in a tone of disbelief, I thought showing would be faster than telling, so I lifted my shirt.
"Hey, hey, what are you doing? All of a sudden!"
Simultaneously, she covered her face with both hands, her cheeks flushed bright red.
Then, she peeked through her fingers, fixing her gaze on my body.
"Look at the state of my body. Tell me if I'm exaggerating."
"...Hmm? What the? What happened to your body? Who beat you up?"
Skaya's eyes widened in shock.
Her surprise was understandable.
My body was covered in dark blue bruises.
"These days, Lady Mira has been giving me educational discipline... I mean, training."
"...Looking at those injuries, it seems less like training and more like she's just beating you up."
"..."
I couldn't deny it.
Honestly, my body was in such a mess that I looked like a victim of school violence.
But still.
"I do feel like my skills are definitely improving though."
That's right.
At the time of getting beaten up, it felt like I was experiencing violence under the pretext of sparring, but when I saw the feedback and my increased strength, those thoughts disappeared.
Of course.
*I owe a lot to buying physical ability talent with Points.*
Well, even so, without sparring with her, I wouldn't have grown this quickly.
Nothing is as effective as actual combat experience.
"Hmm... I see. But why aren't you using the Holy Cross? Wouldn't that heal everything?"
At that moment, Skaya stared intently at my bruised side with sparkling eyes.
As if she desperately wanted to touch it.
I deliberately ignored her gaze and answered.
"I did use it, then we sparred again. Lady Mira scolded me for not using such a good item."
"...Well, you do tend to be unnecessarily frugal."
Skaya nodded in agreement.
I was just trying to prepare for unforeseen circumstances, you know?
As I was about to add that.
"By the way, Cain. Can I touch it once?"
Skaya asked with a face that clearly showed she wanted to touch my bruise... no, more precisely, my abs.
I rejected her request as if it were obvious.
"No. Of course not. Get a grip—we're not alone here."
"...Oh."
Had she finally come to her senses?
Skaya lowered her head deeply, her face turning bright red.
Looking at her, I spoke.
"Anyway, don't hit my back for a while."
"I didn't hear anything."
She said that while pretending not to have heard me.
It seems my back will continue to suffer for a while.
***
Eventually, we arrived at the classroom.
As Skaya and I opened the door and entered.
"Welcome, Big Bro."
Sien bowed his head like someone greeting a gang boss.
I waved my hand dismissively.
"Yeah, I'm here. Go back to your seat."
"Yes, understood."
He returned to his seat, grinding his teeth.
At the same time.
[The Goddess Who Sees Fate says that guy is suspicious.]
The Constellation sent a message expressing suspicion.
I agreed with her.
After all.
*He clearly looks like he's about to cause trouble.*
You shouldn't judge people by appearances, but honestly, he's making it too obvious with his expression.
It's impossible not to be suspicious.
*Well, how much trouble could that guy possibly cause anyway?*
As I was thinking this, someone opened the front door.
*Slide!*
And of course, the person entering through the front door was none other than William.
He stood at the podium with his hands in his pockets, looking completely disinterested.
Then, he spoke while yawning.
"Yaaawn. Since everyone seems to be here, I'll skip attendance and go straight to announcements."
At his words, all the students started murmuring.
William slammed the attendance book on the podium.
*Thud!*
"..."
"Now that it's quiet. I won't say this twice, so listen carefully. The performance evaluation will begin in three days."
The students who had been expecting this nodded and perked up their ears.
William continued with an expressionless face.
"Unlike previous evaluations, this time all grades will take it simultaneously."
"?!"
The students were startled by this.
William continued his explanation, ignoring their reactions.
"You'll be in groups of three and spend a week on an uninhabited island. Of course, there will be monsters to prepare you for real combat, and like last year, you'll earn points for defeating them. Any questions?"
"Me!"
Jenny raised her hand eagerly, as if she'd been waiting for this moment.
William looked at her, signaling her to speak.
"Yes. How will the groups be formed?"
That's right.
This is very important.
If we can form groups with whoever we want like last year, it wouldn't matter to other students, but...
*Not for me, damn it.*
It's obvious that Skaya, Lisana, and Illin would cause a commotion trying to be in my group.
That would be incredibly exhausting.
*I'd rather be grouped with people I don't know.*
As I was praying for random assignments, William shattered my hopes, as if he knew my inner thoughts.
"Like last year, you can choose your own groups."
"Woohoo!!!"
The students cheered.
And then.
"Cain. I believe you will choose me."
"You're not going to abandon me, right, Cain?"
The two people on either side of me were already putting pressure on me.
As I was avoiding their burdensome gazes.
"Everyone. Quiet."
William silenced them with a solemn voice.
The next moment, the students fell silent.
William spoke.
"Now I'll explain about the monsters in this evaluation. Unlike before, everyone knows that the Cult has become quite active recently."
"..."
At those words, everyone's attention focused on me.
After all, the war the Cult started was in the David Fiefdom.
"So we believe practical experience is important for students, and you should expect the monsters to be stronger than last year. And among them, there will be some boss monsters."
"Professor! Is there any extra credit for defeating boss monsters?"
At that moment, a student in the front row raised his hand and asked.
William nodded at his question.
"There is extra credit. But I recommend you wake up from that dream because you won't be defeating them."
"Ah, yes."
Judging by his response, these monsters seem to be beyond student capabilities.
*But with Illin and Skaya, wouldn't we be able to defeat them?*
As I was feeling confused about this.
"That's all for the explanation. Illin, Skaya, Cain—you three follow me."
William suddenly called for us.
At the same time.
[The Goddess Who Sees Fate asks what trouble you've caused this time.]
[The Goddess Who Brings Happiness asks when you caused trouble again.]
The two Constellations were already certain I was being called to be scolded.
And that's not all.
"Hey, what did you do to get called by the professor first thing in the morning?"
"It's okay, Cain. I'll get scolded with you."
"Cain. It's alright. Let's get scolded together."
All three people were convinced I had caused trouble.
Even Illin and Skaya were offering to get scolded with me.
*No. Why is me causing trouble the premise here?*
I've lived so carefully without causing trouble—this is truly unfair.
***
Following William, we eventually reached our destination.
The place we arrived at was none other than.
*The Director's office?*
It was the Director's office, a place not just anyone could enter at the Royal Academy.
We were momentarily stunned, not expecting to come here.
Then.
"Director. I've brought them."
"Come in."
A solemn voice echoed from inside the room.
William opened the door at those words.
The next moment.
*What? They were called too?*
An imposing middle-aged man, Kim Su-yong, Rain, and Burke came into view.
The three of them were also startled to see us.
Then.
"Su-yong, I think we're here to get scolded. Look, Cain was called here too."
"That's definitely it, Kim Su-yong."
"...I can't even argue with that."
The three of them had similar reactions to the others.
No. Why are they so certain?
As I was feeling wronged inside, the Director asked William.
"Is everyone here?"
"Yes, that's correct."
William nodded.
Then, the Director smiled at us.
"Please, everyone take a seat and make yourselves comfortable."
At his words, we exchanged glances and then sat on the sofa.
Judging by his demeanor, it didn't seem like we were going to be scolded.
"..."
"..."
A subtle atmosphere pervaded the Director's office for a moment.
I rolled my eyes to look at the Director.
*Come to think of it, this is the first time I'm seeing him since my transmigration.*
The Royal Academy Director.
While his authority might make him seem like a formidable powerhouse, that's not actually the case.
If he were that skilled, would the Cult have dared to launch a terrorist attack?
*He's probably just about my level.*
Of course, my current level would have made me nearly invincible as a student back then.
In that generation, there weren't monsters like Illin or Skaya.
And in reality.
*These kids are just abnormally strong.*
As I was thinking about the Director.
"Ahem. First, I want to ask if everyone here has heard about the performance evaluation?"
The Director cleared his throat and broke the silence.
At his question, Illin, Skaya, and I nodded, while the other three tilted their heads as if this was the first they'd heard of it.
It seems they were called here before hearing about the performance evaluation.
"I will explain."
William explained the upcoming performance evaluation to the other three.
Kim Su-yong nodded and asked.
"I see. But what does this have to do with us being called here?"
At his question, we all looked at the Director.
The Director sipped his tea and then slowly spoke.
"Well, I have a favor to ask."
"...A favor?"
Rain asked, tilting her head.
The next moment.
"I'd like you all to handle the boss monsters in this performance evaluation."
Unexpected words came out of the Director's mouth.