Chapter 38 : Finding Traces (2)

The reception hall of the Faculty of Swordsmanship was located near the administrative office of Building 1, and it was quite spacious.

This was likely because the Faculty of Swordsmanship was the largest department in Tristan Military Academy, often attracting high-profile visitors.

Regular visitors included prominent knight orders within the kingdom, noble families of renown, military academies and important figures from other nations, and even, on occasion, members of the royal family.

To confirm this, the administrative director, Densk, was already waiting in front of the building before I even entered the reception hall.

“Greetings, Director.”

As I greeted him, Densk opened his mouth wide in delight and grabbed my hand.

“You’ve arrived, Instructor Edgar. Haha, I expected you to come. Of course, you would. After all, the royal family has sent someone, and even your father, Brandon Mulick., is here…”

“…My father is here?”

“Director! Why would you say that?”

Akina, who was guiding me, frowned as she spoke.

It seemed she wanted to surprise me a little, but Densk’s blunder had ruined her plans.

Realizing his mistake, Densk smacked his forehead.

“Oh, oh no. I’m sorry. It’s just that it’s been such a long time since I’ve seen Brandon Mulick.
…”

“Ugh. You’ve ruined everything, Director. We’ll be going in now.”

“Ah, ah, yes. Please, go ahead.”

Akina usually maintained a cold demeanor in front of cadets and some instructors.

She was the type to teach lessons seriously and handle tasks with a cool head.

However, just as she had shown when dealing with her father, Duke Crowflin, she revealed a bold and lively side when among familiar people.

Flustered by Akina’s confidence, Densk belatedly called out.

“Instructor Edgar! You’ll give that special lecture as promised, right?! You must do it! The honor of the Faculty of Swordsmanship is at stake with this academy-wide special lecture!”

— So, that’s why he was waiting for me.

I had already heard about the special lecture from Ray.

While I was thinking positively about it as long as it didn’t conflict with my schedule, I hadn’t confirmed my participation yet, leaving it undecided.

Akina sighed at the director’s excessive enthusiasm and spoke.

“Don’t feel pressured, Instructor Edgar. You don’t have to do it.”

“Do I really not have to?”

“It’s an annual lecture held at the beginning of the year for cadets, rotated between departments. But this year, the scale is a bit larger. Selected cadets from military academies of various nations will also attend, and key figures from the kingdom, supported by the royal family, are expected to be present. I heard Princess Bellaria will also be attending…”

“…Princess Bellaria?”

“Yes. She recently awakened as a hero. I heard His Majesty the King plans to enroll her in the academy soon.”

Princess Bellaria Kleffe.

I had heard during my studies with Ray that she would soon come of age, but I hadn’t known she would awaken and enroll as a hero cadet.

Hearing this, I tilted my head in curiosity.

“But at that level, shouldn’t a special lecture be mandatory? It sounds like there’s no room for choice.”

“Not necessarily. For events like this, special lectures are usually led by someone of the dean or senior instructor rank. However, the royal family requested Instructor Edgar specifically, and that’s why the proposal was made. If Instructor Edgar declines, it will revert to the dean as originally planned.”

“Oh…”

“The royal family and the academy are strictly independent institutions. You don’t need to feel obligated by the royal request. An instructor’s duty is, above all else, to teach cadets properly.”

An academy instructor shines brightest in their role as an instructor.

True to her strong sense of professionalism, Akina adhered firmly to her principles.

When the Crowflin Duke tried to take me away before, she had fiercely opposed him. Seeing her reaction now made her perspective all the more understandable.

‘Still… there’s really no reason not to do it.’

Though I appreciated Akina’s advice, I didn’t have any particular reservations about giving a special lecture.

If anything, I leaned more towards being in favor.

The common knowledge and techniques for dealing with monsters and magical beasts.

Or the mindset one should have when engaging in such battles.

These topics for a special lecture were areas I could handle comfortably, and I was curious about teaching other heroes who weren’t from the swordsmanship department.

So, as long as the schedule aligned, I intended to honor Administrative Director Densk’s request.

“We’re here.”

Thus, while exchanging such conversations, we arrived at the reception room for the swordsmanship department.

“Comrade! It’s been a while!”

“I greet the noble hero of the kingdom, Brandon Mulick.
.”

“Haha! You were like a little rascal to your father, yet you’re still so stiff with me.”

Inside was my father, exchanging warm greetings with Akina.

He was none other than Brandon Mulick, the Marquis and the kingdom’s Central Magic Director.

Soon, his bright, boisterous gaze turned to me.

“It’s been a while, Edgar.”

“Yes, Father.”

However, my eyes widened slightly as I looked toward him.

More accurately, at the figures behind him.

‘Those two…’

There they were.

Two individuals who felt both familiar and remarkably unfamiliar at the same time.

We didn’t stay long in the reception room.

Instructor Akina gave a brief farewell and left, and we exited the academy and headed to a nearby restaurant.

It was slightly early for lunch, but it was my father’s suggestion to talk over a meal.

As my lecture had just concluded, I joined them along with Ray.

When we stepped outside, a few knight-heroes were guarding us from a distance.

They were likely heroes hired as escorts by the Mulick family.

It had been so long since I’d been under such protection that it felt slightly awkward, but my father and siblings moved naturally, as if it was second nature to them.