◆◆◆
Not much time had passed since Hein Sera Aster, despite suffering a deep wound to his chest during the swordsmanship tournament, had calmly secured victory.
The tournament itself had been won by Azel, and that alone had sparked no small amount of conversation. However, the match between the heirs of two of the Twelve Noble Houses, both of whom had run each other through with their swords, was nothing short of sensational.
Swordsmanship tournaments were serious by nature, of course, but they weren’t meant to be actual fights to the death.
In terms of magical combat, there were two main categories: magic arts and celestial arts. The swordsmanship tournament existed to showcase one’s refinement of the latter.
Every individual had their own aptitude.
Since the Houses of Aster and Sarion were renowned for their magical prowess, their focus naturally lay in the Magic Tournament, and it was there that they were expected to demonstrate results.
Therefore, losing in the first round of the swordsmanship tournament was hardly something anyone would criticize.
And yet, Hein had the audacity to run Esmeralda through the gut, and Esmeralda in turn had pierced Hein’s chest.
Those who witnessed this could not help but fear that the relationship between the two houses had turned sour.
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His first day back at the academy after recovering from his injury.
As Hein opened the door, the students who had just moments ago been chatting and laughing all fell silent and drew a collective breath.
Their gazes scattered in all directions, unease settling over the room.
Maintaining his usual blank expression, Hein walked toward his seat as though nothing had happened.
Everyone in the classroom straightened their backs like disciplined knights or soldiers, carefully observing his every move.
It was as if small prey animals were holding their breath before a man-eating tiger.
「……」
Hein himself found their reactions neither irritating nor amusing.
He had no reason to be interested.
Would a dragon soaring through the skies spare a thought for insects crawling beneath the shade of grass on the ground?
Hein viewed everyone outside his immediate family with the utmost disdain.
Despite this arrogance, his conduct at the academy had been that of a model student.
He approached his studies with diligence and caused no notable disruptions.
Well, when idle chatter during lectures crossed a certain threshold, he ‘did’ have a tendency to silence it in a somewhat… aggressive manner. But from the perspective of the faculty, that was actually a welcome behavior.
After all, the students attending the academy were the sons and daughters of nobility.
The instructors were nobles as well, but power dynamics inevitably came into play between peers of the same class.
Though the academy prohibited the use of noble rank to influence others within its walls, such rules were, in the end, little more than lip service.
Even teachers found it difficult to reprimand the sons and daughters of high-ranking nobles.
That was why having someone like Hein, who could speak bluntly when needed and still conduct himself as a model student, was a godsend to the faculty.
Settling into his seat, Hein flipped open his textbook and went perfectly still, like a statue.
This was his usual morning routine.
He would spend the time before homeroom silently reading.
With his back straight and posture flawless, the image of him quietly absorbed in his studies, combined with his handsome appearance, drew the admiring gazes of many noble daughters.
Though in truth, Hein’s mind was far from such “inferior females.”
His thoughts were occupied with his mother Helga’s recent demeanor, the growing political unrest in the imperial capital, and his upcoming raid on the Darkheim Fortress on the Maristel continent.
Should he utterly raze the Maristel continent? Or should he restrict his assault to just the fortress at Darkheim?
Which would be more spectacular? Which would yield greater acclaim?
Regardless, he had no intention of showing any of this on the surface.
Whether his classmates feared or avoided him made no difference to Hein.
◆
It was Azel Sera Alphide’s voice that slightly broke through the tense atmosphere.
「Hey, Hein! Morning!」
With a spring in his step, Azel approached Hein’s desk, flashing a dazzling smile filled with teeth.
Behind him stood Serena, and together, the two seemed oddly out of place.
After all, most of their classmates hesitated to even speak to Hein, let alone approach him.
Azel didn’t seem to care in the slightest.
He casually dropped into the seat diagonally in front of Hein and spoke up.
「How’s your chest? You alright?」
「I’m fine. No issues.」
Hein didn’t so much as glance at him, answering while keeping his eyes fixed on the lines of his textbook.
Azel looked at Hein’s profile and murmured, 「I see…」 letting out a breath of relief.
「Still, did you have something against Emmy… Esmeralda? I mean, from the way you struck, I doubt it, but…」
Azel had once inherited the full breadth of technique from the Sword Saint himself.
From the way someone used a blade, he could read their intent.
「I bear no grudge. She’ll recover soon. I struck her in such a way that she would.」
Hein spoke curtly, but his voice lacked irritation. It was calm and composed.
Serena jogged up beside Hein and did her best to sound cheerful.
「Um… I’m glad to hear that. It sounds like Esmeralda-sama will be able to return to class soon too… And I’m really happy that you’re feeling better, Hein-sama!」
Serena’s words were met with a look from Hein as if she were some bizarre insect.
──Who is this? Ah, the Fafnir slut.
While Azel and Esmeralda were acknowledged by Hein as actual people, Serena Ira Fafnir remained, to him, nothing more than a “Fafnir slut”.
「U-um, Hein-sama? Could you not look at me like I’m some kind of stranger…?」
「…………」
Hein didn’t reply.
Though he fancied himself a patient man, taking after his mother, he had no interest in chatting amiably with something that crawled on the ground like a caterpillar.
Watching the exchange, Azel noticed something odd: the eerie silence that had settled around the classroom.
All their classmates remained stiff and silent, too scared to speak.
Turning back to Hein, Azel asked,
「Hey, Hein, did you say something to everyone? Like… ‘don’t talk’ or something?」
「I did not.」
Still not looking up from his textbook, Hein gave his answer.
Azel furrowed his brow and crossed his arms.
「Everyone seems kinda scared, though.」
「Not my concern.」
With a small sigh, Hein pointed to the edge of his book.
「Class hasn’t started. If they want to talk, they can talk. That’s what the school rules say.」
Serena immediately followed up on that. 「Y-yes, exactly!」
But as soon as her voice rang out, a few nearby students widened their eyes in shock and started whispering nervously amongst themselves.
Azel let out a strained laugh and pressed the issue once more.
「So… it’s really okay to just talk normally, right?」
Hein didn’t close his textbook, but gave a slight shrug.
「Do as you please. Are we done here? Then leave. I’m busy.」
Azel muttered, 「Man, harsh…」 but sensing Hein’s rising irritation, he wisely said nothing more and walked off with Serena.
Just as the two were about to return to their seats, a girl suddenly stood up with a sharp movement.
「…Ano, Hein-sama…」
The classroom tensed.
The girl approached Hein, her expression strained with determination.
She was pale and delicate, the type of reserved noble daughter seen often among the aristocracy, but there was something about her that seemed… fragile.
Perhaps it was her slightly pointed ears and the pale hue around her eyes that gave off such an impression.
Hein didn’t respond.
He had no intention of speaking with insects.
However,
「H-Hein-sama… M-my name is Kaela Ira Farbloom…」
Just saying her name seemed to take all the strength she had, as Kaela clenched her hands tightly and trembled.
Azel was about to speak to support her, but Hein beat him to it, muttering bluntly.
「Speak.」
Kaela flinched, her shoulders trembling as she looked down in fear.
Azel started to murmur, 「Hey, maybe go easy on her…」, but before he could finish, Kaela gathered a sliver of courage and lifted her face.
「U-um… I was just wondering about Hein-sama’s mother, Her Ladyship Helga-sama, and her family, the Eldenbloom House. About the changes to the imperial law… I was wondering if… if everything will be alright…」
Her gaze wandered, her voice trembled, and she looked like she might collapse at any moment.
The tension in the classroom tightened even more.
Still not looking up from his textbook, Hein gave a curt prompt, as if to say, “So what?”
「I-I just meant… my family, the House of Viscount Farbloom, also has a bit of Elfen blood… and… well… if House Aster ever finds itself in trouble, we’d be honored to offer our support, anytime…」
There was an audible ‘gulp’ as Kaela swallowed her anxiety.
As Hein remained silent, the students all around them looked like convicts awaiting their final sentence, no one dared to breathe.
Finally, after several seconds, Hein lifted his gaze toward her and spoke in a low voice.
「…You’re talking about the revised imperial law, specifically the Racial Hierarchy Act. I’m concerned about it as well. My mother’s family, House Eldenbloom, has already suffered losses.」
At his words, Kaela, and several others, gasped.
In one corner of the classroom, other students of mixed heritage looked toward Hein with hope flickering in their eyes.
「Before long, House Aster will make a formal statement. That said, I can’t predict how far those pushing for racial purging, the chancellor’s faction, will go…」
Hein paused, letting out a breath.
Kaela still looked frightened, and the rest of the class hung onto every word.
「In any case, I understand the anxiety you all feel. I’ve also taken note of the Farbloom family’s offer. I’ll make sure to inform my mother soon.」
「Y-yes… Thank you very much…」
Kaela pressed a hand to her chest, bowing deeply as she let out a breath that was equal parts relief and tension.
「Then… if you’ll excuse me.」
「Good. Go.」
At Hein’s curt dismissal, Kaela bowed once more and quickly retreated to her seat.
◆◆◆
House Aster, one of the Twelve Great Noble Houses, was among the oldest lineages in the empire.
However, the current acting head, Helga, was known to carry Elfen blood, something widely known.
What’s more, the Aster family openly accepted demi-humans into their household.
That alone made them a target of suspicion and disdain, especially from old-guard noble families, and most of all, from radical figures like Chancellor Zigitaris.
Even with all her power, not even the chancellor could move against House Aster so easily.
For that reason, the Aster house had become something of a beacon of hope for noble families with demi-human roots.
…Not that Hein cared about any of that in the slightest.
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