Free Web NovelThe next day, Wednesday, the morning lecture was "Understanding and Application of Ether." As you can tell from the past tense, the first session of that lecture is now over. The fact that I'm skipping a detailed description means nothing special happened. Fortunately, there were no major characters from the original story taking that lecture. Since it was a subject that "Karvaldr" taking wouldn't seem strange, I didn't receive any special attention from the professor like I did in the Basic Physical Training lecture. There were some extras who tried to talk to me, but when I remained silent, they awkwardly backed off.
'I wish I could shake off Tryggdrik and Ríolíkin this easily.'
Valhalla Academy didn't schedule any lectures between 12 and 1. This means that almost all students eat lunch at the same time. So today, I had to share a table with those two characters, Tryggdrik and Ríolíkin, for lunch once again. One had already arrived at the Campus Cafeteria and was waiting for me, while the other joined in the middle of the meal.
And as an aside, last night they even came to my personal training ground and knocked on the door, saying that while training is good, you still have to eat. Since I'm using an Academy facility called the "Training Tower," it's natural that they'd know the location. But I never told them what floor my training ground was on, so I don't know how they found it.
'Food is just an excuse.'
They acted as if they were taking care of me, but that probably wasn't their real purpose for coming. They must have noticed me trying to distance myself and were desperately trying to maintain our relationship. They'll probably come again tonight. They're truly annoying bastards.
'Even if I tell them I don't want to hang out, it probably won't do any good...?'
If they were the type to back off easily, they wouldn't have come all the way to my personal training ground. Still, I debated whether to try talking to them. But I'm holding off for now because they'd probably ask why and become even more annoying.
"Hello, everyone~! If you're attending an Academy like this, you probably don't need to learn 'Dagger Techniques,' but ten students insisted on signing up~! Not happy to see you at all, kids~!"
I haven't mentioned it yet, but I arrived at the afternoon lecture location about 15 minutes ago. And it's now about 5 minutes past the lecture time. The person who just entered and delivered that strange greeting is the professor for this subject. A professor who's not only late on the first day but also complaining that ten students are too many. No matter how you look at it, this isn't the attitude of a normal educator. On top of that, it felt intentionally set up to distinguish who's speaking when multiple characters talk at once. She even uses a peculiar way of speaking, dragging out the ends of her sentences.
'At this point, it's as good as passionately insisting that this is one of the important characters who appeared in the original story.'
In 《NaSE》, an important character means a character whose death is scheduled. So the right answer would be to avoid getting involved with that character if at all possible. But still, I had to sign up for this lecture because...
"I think most of the students here already know me~. But for those who don't, I'll tell you. The thing is, I'm actually a criminal right now! Hahahahat!"
Skati Spillof—this character was once the heir to the head of a notorious assassination guild. According to the original story, Skati began to feel a loathing for murder at some point. To escape the assassination guild she belonged to, she is said to have cut off the leader's head and offered it to the emperor.
"The reason I'm teaching here now is~. It's a kind of prison sentence? Hard labor? Something like that~. In short, I'm being forced to work by the state, so I have no desire to teach diligently~?"
Currently, Reisir and Skati don't know each other yet. In the original story, the place where the two first became aware of each other's existence was not Valhalla Academy, but inside a certain Demon Realm. At that time, Reisir was no longer a student, and Skati was no longer a professor.
At the end of the coming December, Skati was "awakened" by the aftermath of the Demon Realm that was created at the Academy, and from then on, she carried out missions to conquer Demon Realms as an Einherjar belonging to the Imperial Family of the Empire. It was during that time that she encountered the protagonist. They had a conversation and discovered they had both attended and quit Valhalla Academy at the same time. Then Skati said, "If the Demon Realm hadn't appeared, we would have met as master and disciple," and passed all her knowledge and skills to Reisir.
'So the part about not wanting to teach diligently is probably a lie.'
In the original story, Skati taught Reisir a great many things. Starting with dagger handling, dealing with surprise attacks, moving undetected by enemies, and disarming traps—and even parkour skills to move efficiently in a city swallowed by a Demon Realm. Skati was very happy while teaching Reisir. In her final moments, she reminisced about her time at the Academy, saying that teaching students was the most rewarding and brilliant moment of her life.
"Don't forget that the course registration adjustment period is until next wee~k!"
I don't know why she's saying things she doesn't mean right now. But in the original, she was an excellent educator. I'm sure everyone can guess how much the knowledge and skills Skati taught Reisir helped him, without me having to describe it.
'Even if I take her lecture, I won't be able to be taught everything the original protagonist learned.'
This lecture is, after all, meant to teach dagger techniques. But I'm not disappointed. The dagger techniques Skati teaches are worth learning in themselves. In the original story, Reisir also made good use of the dagger techniques he learned from Skati.
"Now~! I've said all I have to say~, so shall we take attendance~?"
There's also an advantage to becoming one of the ten students, rather than forming a special master-disciple relationship with Skati like Reisir. That is, even if I take this lecture, I won't get deeply involved with Skati. Therefore, when she dies in the future, I may feel sorry for her, but I won't be overwhelmed with grief.
Because of that reasoning, I was able to sign up for a lecture taught by an important supporting character from the original story... but...
"Karvaldr... Austri?"
"Yes."
"What~? I was wondering why someone who looks like a high noble's son from any angle would be taking my class~! So you're from the Austri Ducal Family~?!"
When my name was called, I lightly raised my hand and answered, and Skati's eyes lit up as she showed fervent interest. Was this character the type to suck up to the powerful like Tryggdrik? I remembered she wasn't, so what is this?
As I stood there blankly, unable to figure out the reason, Skati made a fuss and cleared up my confusion.
"The Austri Family's Ether Ability is 'Poison,' right~?! I used to be so jealous of that ability~! It makes sense—the combination of poison and dagger techniques is just awesome, right~? So I've always wondered. With a Poison Attribute Ether, why does that family use something like a whip as a weapon~? Judging by your decision to take my Dagger Techniques lecture, you must have realized it too, student~?"
"I am a direct descendant of the Austri Family, but I did not inherit any poison-related abilities."
I declined the interest of an original story supporting character over a poison ability I don't even have. So I told her the truth to ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) prevent any unnecessary expectations, and the professor's expression turned to embarrassment. At the same time, the kids started whispering.
"I expected him to have a defect in his Ether Ability from his eye color..."
"How did he even get recognized as a member of the family?"
"He probably just wasn't kicked out."
"If he can't use the Poison Ability, does that mean he doesn't have immunity to poison either? Then he'll die if he ingests poison?" fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Excluding me, there are only nine students. This means I could identify who said what if I wanted to. Even in such an environment, they're all chattering away quite freely.
'Anyway, they're talking about Karvaldr. Let's ignore it. If I react and get angry at every little thing, I'll just be seen as having a fit because of my inferiority complex.'
The atmosphere of people whispering negatively about me is familiar, even though it's been ten years since then. I didn't try to find out who had just spoken by turning my head. I just stared straight ahead and tried my best to act nonchalant. Because in times like these, I have to be confident.
"U-um... I'm sorry~? I didn't mean to bring up your weakness..."
"It wasn't something I was particularly hiding. It would be strange to bring it up first when no one asked, so I just haven't had a chance to say anything until now. My father doesn't seem to care much about it either."
Original Karvaldr's opinion might be different, but from my perspective, this is not a lie. Among the lectures I signed up for this semester, there is one called "Ether Attribute Enhancement." As I take that lecture, the fact that I cannot use Poison Attribute Ether will naturally become known. How long has it been since I was possessed into this body? When would I have had the chance to talk about my Ether Ability?
'And Hárðr, this body's father, is simply not interested in his youngest son.'
Therefore, I have spoken only the truth. Even if I hadn't signed up for the "Ether Attribute Enhancement" lecture, it would have been discovered eventually. The longer I hid this fact while attending the Academy, the more the other students would laugh at me, because it would mean I was so conscious of the defect in my ability that I was careful not to let it be known.
"Isn't poison something anyone can get if they have money? My family's core ability is the buff that enhances even others' physical abilities, not the ability to grant toxicity to Ether."
I am rather glad to have an environment where I can say this. It is also good that the person in front of me looks worried and fidgety, instead of everyone pointing fingers at me. Thanks to that, I avoided being swallowed up by the nightmare of my childhood.
"Of course, the fact that I don't have complete immunity to poison can be considered a weakness, but it's not something to worry about. Surely no one would try to poison the youngest son of the Austri Ducal Family within the Academy, where only a limited number of people can enter. And isn't everyone the same in that no one is immune to poison?"
I sneered back at the whispering students, and only then did I turn my head and glance around. No one met my gaze. Some rolled their eyes and averted their gaze, while others turned away completely. It seemed the message—"If anyone tries to use poison on me, they will experience the Austri Family's Poison Ether as retaliation"—had been properly conveyed.
"Therefore, Professor, you don't need to feel sorry for me."
"You a~re... such a confident, cool, and kind kid~!!" ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
"I'm not kind at all."
"That's right~! To live in this tough world, you can't just be ki~nd! Let's slit the throats of the guys who speak careles~sly!"
"Murder within the Academy is a bit..."
"I know many ways to shut someone's mouth without killing them, shall I teach you a fe~w?"
"No, thank you. I know many myself."
"Hahaha~!!"
When I quickly declined her offer to teach me something rough, Skati laughed cheerfully as if she had heard something funny. It seemed this dagger techniques professor (scheduled to die) had taken a great liking to me. This is troubling.
