Knight Department.
Considering the total number of students and its massive size, this is literally the peak of population density in Zefflin.
Seven parts people, three parts land.
This Knight Department, boasting hellish population density, is always full of vitality.
Just surviving past the first year and settling into the second year is proof of having survived in Zefflin, and once they pass the second-year midterms, they become full-fledged members of Zefflin.
However, even among them, there are clear class distinctions.
The Knight Department has a strong image of being the rejects who couldn’t make it into the Magic Department, and precisely because of that, they want to divide themselves into ranks even more—saying “I’m great” and “You’re nothing” as they grade each other.
Yet even in such circumstances, there are certainly ranks that are simply unreachable.
Another Class.
Commonly known as the “Exceptional Students.”
These individuals proudly claim to be on par with or above the mediocre celebrities of the Magic Department, and their actual social standing reflects that.
At the very bottom of the Exceptional Students are those who have built connections with regional royalty.
Representative examples are Knight Department students who have caught the eye of the High Melody royal family or the Hassan Shadow family—these students have a fast track to national positions, gaining opportunities to distinguish themselves by joining the regular armies led by those families after graduation.
Next is the central tier.
That is, Knight Department students who have connections with the nobles of the Lohengrin Empire. These are the ones who will later lead private armies and work as the core of their houses.
In Wolfram von Lohengrin—that is, Lee Young-jin’s terms—it’s roughly a position of ‘top tier is a Grade 7 civil servant, bottom tier is guaranteed employment at a major corporation.’
However, there is an exceptional among exceptions that surpasses all of that.
Knight Department students who can attach the noble word “Royal” to their future profession.
Namely, those who have formed ties with the Imperial family.
In other words, they are Royal Guard candidates.
“Next lesson. Miss Neferian. Are you ready?”
“Yes! 【Guardian Formation: Wolf’s Eye】”
“Begin.”
Knight Department Training Ground No. 9.
Zefflin’s Knight Department creates training grounds assuming various battlefields.
The theme of Training Ground No. 9 is ‘Forest.’
Monster models are placed in the forest, and magic stones recording monster magic patterns are arranged to emit faint magic power.
This makes them feel indistinguishable from real monsters through detection skills.
Immediately after using the skill.
Nefty’s eyes ‘began to see’ the monsters’ magic power.
This technique requires not only magic power but also dexterity and ‘innate instinct’—
“Left 15 degrees. Distance 300. Two goblins. Right 20 degrees. Distance 500. One orc.”
“……”
“……”
Admiration and disappointment flickered across the instructor’s eyes, and Nefty’s next words completely erased one of those two emotions.
“Straight ahead, distance 1200. Height 300. Harpy.”
“Excellent! Miss Neferian!”
“Thank you.”
“I didn’t think you’d be able to detect the last harpy. Orcs and goblins can be sensed visually, but that one… is entirely in the realm of instinct.”
The instructor repeatedly praised Nefty, continuously mentioning the importance of instinct.
“As you know, Miss Neferian, the Imperial family frequently goes ‘hunting’ as a form of entertainment. At such times, the Royal Guard, as a trusted retainer—”
“Must throw themselves into danger to prevent any potential harm. …Yes. I keep that in mind.”
“Truly excellent. You’ve followed along so well without a single complaint up to this point.”
“Thank you.”
Not only in detection, but also in actual sparring with instructors, the training was truly harsh—but Nefty followed along without ever once saying it was difficult.
There was no doubt it was grueling training.
Magic Department students can at least fall back into research positions.
But Knight Department students, no matter how low they fall, become core personnel of major mercenary groups, and the pinnacle is guarding the Imperial family.
In other words, everyone—without exception—enters a profession where they ‘must charge onto the battlefield.’
That’s why the Knight Department, even if it doesn’t have the same ‘life-threatening danger’ as in the original Wolfram von Lohengrin remembers, still has similarly harsh lessons awaiting them.
Training intense enough to strain even Nefty.
Thick beads of sweat ran down from her bangs and along her cheeks. Hearing the drops fall to the floor with a *plop*, she mulled over the instructor’s words.
“Hunting for entertainment…”
“Yes. Monsters that have been captured are released into the Imperial forest, and the knight order pursues and eliminates them. The Royal Guard must be at the Imperial family’s side, protecting them. You must learn the proper etiquette and martial prowess for that.”
…
I understood, but I couldn’t agree.
I understood learning etiquette and honing martial skills.
But the senior I must protect is not the kind of person who would go hunting for mere entertainment and squander the Empire’s treasures. On that point, I could not agree.
The reason I hone my martial skills and etiquette is so that when I someday participate in that great undertaking, I will be a capable person worthy of standing at that person’s side.
The great project of conquering all of Zefflin, advancing to the Imperial Court, and connecting the entire continent by railway.
We will encounter monsters, and we will go to war.
“Next training. Please.”
“No. Today’s training ends here.”
“……Huh? But I can do more.”
“Hehe. This is all for your sake, Miss Neferian.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve heard that His Highness holds affectionate feelings toward you, Neferian. Is that true?”
“Uhm, we do get along well.”
“Yes. So a salon has been prepared for you after this. Please go change into a dress and come back.”
“……Huh? A dress?”
“Don’t you have one?”
“……”
Of course.
There’s no way I would.
—
It was a day when the sounds of summer approaching grew noticeably louder.
But it’s not the hellish summer of Korea—and especially not of Seoul.
Building 8 of the Magic Department has plenty of breezeways, and once you step into the shade, you can feel an overall coolness.
On top of that, eating a slightly frozen milk sorbet—this is a summer resort. What more could you want for a getaway?
Recently, Spica has been away from the convenience store often.
She seems to be going to the library, carrying books like ‘How to Capture an Older Person’s Heart.’
Well, she’s at the age to be interested in such romance stories. Thanks to that, I’ve gained my freedom.
At such a pleasant early summer—
“…Uuuaaah. Uuuueeeeeng.”
“……Don’t suddenly ruin the mood.”
If it weren’t for Nefty, muttering sounds that couldn’t even form proper words, it would have been truly perfect.
Sitting at the parasol table set up in front of the convenience store for summer customers, watching Nefty bury her face and whine—I’m already dreading what kind of incident she’s brought this time.
But then—
“…Hueuaeeuaeuaeuaeuaaang.”
When it comes to ‘please pay attention to me,’ this is artistry.
“What happened?”
“Listen to this, Senior. I was taking Royal Guard lessons, and…”
To summarize what Nefty said afterward, apparently she ‘doesn’t have a dress.’
“Senior. Does a Royal Guard really have to wear a dress?”
“…I can’t say it never happens.”
Even in the original, Kelter would wear formal attire and attend social gatherings as Eve’s dance partner. But that’s only because it’s Eve’s route—normally, Royal Guards attend in light armor.
In other words, is that instructor anticipating that I’ll designate Nefty as my dance partner when attending social functions?
Hmm… A dress, she says.
“Dresses are expensive. With the money to buy three dresses adorned with jewels, flowers from the south preserved with taxidermy magic—you could build one warship.”
“……Th-that much?”
I nodded. In the later stages, there’s a dress worth 1.5 billion Lin that appears, and when you acquire it, that’s exactly what the description said.
“Making one also takes tremendous effort.”
“Uuu…”
I considered making one myself, but quickly concluded it wasn’t possible.
Even if I acquired the 【Clothing Crafting】 skill, reaching the level of making a dress requires considerable mastery. So it’s difficult to obtain one immediately. Ordering from Yggdrasil would mean it wouldn’t be something that could be made in a day or two.
“Nefty. Do you yourself dislike wearing a dress?”
“…I’ve never worn one. I never had the opportunity. At village festivals, the most I wore was a one-piece dress. …But I don’t think I’d dislike it.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. …It would also be a new experience. And… even if I wear a dress and learn to dance, the only person I’d dance with is… Ehehe.”
Nefty mumbled something, but since I was lost in thought at the point that she didn’t dislike it, regrettably I didn’t catch it well.
She’s the one who said she’d become a Royal Guard because of me.
If so, I should support her as much as I can.
“It’s not impossible.”
“Huh, huh? You mean the dress? Do you already know a place to buy one? …How much should I chip in?”
“No. We’re going to obtain one.”
“……Huh?”
In other words, hmm.
Let’s go extort one.
—
I rode the Black Royal and headed to that familiar place.
Honestly, even if Patrasche didn’t drive, if I created an auto-drive function, this would be the first place I’d register.
Going a bit further in from the Common Department, there’s a massive building in the center of Zefflin.
The student council building.
When I entered, there was Silphia Evergreen Grove.
It’s been a while.
“Wolfram Imperial Prince?”
“Long time no see. Were you away?”
“Yes. I was away for a brief expedition.”
Ah.
Is it already that season already.
After that expedition, she’ll operate separately from Eve to track the Black Flag.
In Eve’s route, the most essential physical dealer suddenly disappears, which caused quite a bit of trouble.
“You’ve worked hard. Is Eve inside?”
“She’s inside. …However.”
“Hm?”
“Your appearance has changed quite a bit.”
Silphia smiled faintly.
Hmm.
She’s able to say things like this now.
Is it because of the earlier instruction to give Eve the magic potion?
“Is that so? I wouldn’t know.”
“Yes. Now I can feel that you share the same bloodline as our master.”
Ah.
So the Secret Lovely Potion is working properly on her too.
If it’s working on Silphia Evergreen Grove, that says it all.
“Then I’ll go see Eve. Can you step aside?”
“She’s inside. She’s currently working, but the person behind you is—as far as I know, a second-year—”
“The class president. Neferian.”
“No. Even if Wolfram Prince is an exception, an unappointed person cannot—”
Hmm.
That’s true.
Then how should I explain this… Ah.
“She’s someone I’ll keep by my side.”
“……Huh?”
“……Neheh?”
At my words, Silphia and Nefty were simultaneously stunned.
Wait, Nefty, why are you reacting with such a mysterious look of shock?
“So she’s not unrelated to Eve either.”
“……Is, that so.”
“Mm.”
When I affirmed it, Silphia bowed her head and began muttering something.
“I heard you brought a blue-haired woman in while I was away, but you already have a fiancée—yet you swap them out for amusement every time, what a piece of trash…”
“Hm. What did you say?”
“……Tch. This is all for Lady Eve to judge. Go in.”
“……?”
Suddenly dropping the formal speech, are you?
Hmph. Well, whatever.
“That kind of casual speech suits you better than half-hearted formality, Silphia Evergreen Grove.”
“Ugh. If you go in and get killed by a Light Spear and come out dead, I’ll take care of your corpse, Wolfram.”
Hey, your words are twisted. Pick either formal or casual.
But well.
That’s how you should be.
—
Entering the student council room like that, Eve was once again buried in work today.
My, my, that must be tiring.
The dark circles under her eyes are no joke, and her face is gaunt.
“Are you that busy?”
“…Because of you… going to see big sis… and big sister teases me about everything…”
“Ah.”
“I want to refuse… but she’s our great ancestor’s daughter… how could I possibly… and on top of that, I have student council work…”
“……”
Say no more.
I know it all too.
A little sister offered as a sacrifice to a dragon—I can’t help but shed tears.
Hang in there.
“Eve.”
“…What… do you want.”
“I want you to open the storage room.”
“I’ll stake everything I have to… end this bond with you right here… 【Light Spear: Last Magic: Guaranteed Hit: All-Out Strike】”
Eve charges a Light Spear behind her back. She must really be tired lately.
It’s a bad habit to try to kill someone just because they speak to you. Tsk.
“Eve…”
“【Guardian Formation: Target Designated: Self-Sacrifice】”
Before I could say anything, my body was pulled back, and Nefty stepped forward.
“…Nefty, move aside. Otherwise, I can’t kill that man.”
“I’m sorry. President. The only person I must protect is one—so if I feel even a hint of threat, even in jest, I must stake my life to protect them.”
“……”
Eve was flustered, Nefty was composed, and I let out a sigh.
“Tch. Eve wouldn’t actually fire with serious intent anyway. Nefty. Don’t make the mood awkward—step back.”
“Yes.”
Even as she said that, Nefty didn’t step back.
“Come to think of it, I heard Nefty is taking Royal Guard lessons.”
“Yes. Though I am lacking, I aim to become Wolfram-sama’s guard.”
“Phew. Is that so? Then this is certainly a blow you must block at all costs.”
Eve made a light gesture and the magic scattered.
Only then did Nefty relax her guard and smile brightly.
“Thank you for your consideration, President. I trusted that you wouldn’t fire.”
“…Fine. You’ll make a good Royal Guard. I can vouch for that. The only problem is that your master is Wolfram.”
“Thank you for the compliment, President Eve.”
“If you ever get tired of Wolfram, come to me. Even if Royal Guard is too much, I can make a position for you up to Imperial Guard.”
“If Senior ever casts me out, I’ll ask you for a re-employment then.”
The two lightly laughed together with their jokes.
They smiled just as I remembered, and I’m glad their friendship doesn’t seem to have cracked.
“So, Wolfram. Why did you ask to open the storage room? Embezzlement again?”
“No. I’ve come to claim my legitimate rights.”
“……Huh?”
“There’s one authority I didn’t use during my term.”
“What was it? Was there such a thing? Why didn’t I revoke it?”
Can’t you just leave it alone?
Every time I ask for anything, you want to revoke it.
“The appointment letter is fine—I want to take out the Royal Guard cloak and specially ordered uniform.”
“Ah… that is a legitimate authority. That existed. That thing.”
Even in Kelter’s route, there were such clothes.
Literally, special uniforms worn instead of basic attire when a Royal Guard awakens.
According to the setting, there are separate male and female versions, and in the setting book, the female version is described as ‘a dress armor modified from the Zefflin uniform.’ A dress armor is still a dress. Right?
“Huh? Wait a moment. What are you going to do with that?”
“I’m giving it to Nefty.”
“…Do you realize that having her wear that means you’re advertising to the entire Academy that Nefty is your Royal Guard?”
“I know.”
“Excuse me. Do you know that once it’s worn, it becomes bound to the user and can’t be retrieved? This isn’t an official appointment, you know.”
“I know. It’s a protective measure to prevent Royal Guard impersonation.”
“Then do you also know that if Nefty gives up being your Royal Guard, you’ll become the first Imperial in history to be dumped by a Royal Guard, with the uniform remaining bound to Nefty?”
“Mm.”
Well, that is indeed terrifying.
An Imperial can dismiss a Royal Guard, but a Royal Guard dismissing an Imperial—that would be an unprecedented event.
That Imperial would forever be treated as an idiot and enshrined on the list of likable Imperials.
“Th-then if it’s such an amazing item, I, I…”
Before Nefty could finish, I snorted and declared firmly in response to Eve’s words.
“I don’t care.”
“…Wolfram?”
“…Senior?”
So what if that happens—just hurry up and give it to me.
“Nefty will never betray me. I never had that worry from the start.”
“Wolfram, you really…”
“……Ugh. Wolfram Senior.”
20,000 hours of play.
Within that, Nefty never once betrayed me.
If I can’t trust the knight of trust whose favor never drops below friendly, who can I trust?
At my declaration, Eve sighed, and Nefty blushed slightly, looking a little shy at the sudden praise.
“Ugh, fine. Wait here for a moment.”
“I’d appreciate it if you’re quick. And it would be nice if you brought something to drink when you come back.”
“Ugh, fine! Gah!”
Eve, before leaving the student council room, looked at me with narrowed eyes.
“Wolfram. Wolfram von Lohengrin.”
“What?”
“Among the Imperial grandsons, there’s one. Do you know that there was someone whose relationships with women were so promiscuous that he was torn apart by their hands?”
“……Was there such a person?”
“There wasn’t, actually—but there might be in the future.”
…Surely she doesn’t mean me?
No.
Where in this Zefflin is there anyone with a cleaner record than me—not a single scandal, let alone promiscuous relationships?
