Chapter 73. The Assassin's Identity
Radel arrived in front of the Grade Representative Office.
Drrrk.
"Well, look who it is!"
"The winner of the Imperial Hunting Competition!"
As soon as he entered, the seniors' enthusiastic congratulations began.
The 3rd-year representative, Pasion Tetry, sprinkled sparkling confetti, and the 2nd-year representative, Anesha Holton, was applauding in celebration.
Radel, receiving the confetti and applause, looked embarrassed.
"How did you know?"
He was also amazed by the always-informed seniors.
The hunting competition had just ended, yet they knew that he had won first place.
"How could we not know? We're the grade representatives."
"All the interesting news comes to our ears."
The two of them cackled like villains.
It was a moment that made him wonder what the grade representatives were up to.
"By the way, it was really amazing. I heard you caught a red-headed fire centipede."
"Isn't a monster of that size something that only 3rd-years can catch?"
The 2nd-year Anesha asked the 3rd-year Pasion.
Despite his appearance, Pasion was the top student of the 3rd year.
"That's right, and we can only meet them during group practicals. Professor Lilian will be in an uproar when she finds out."
"She probably already knows. She might even kidnap you to major in Combat Magic."
"...It's not that big of a deal."
Radel, surprised by the seniors' fuss, quickly added.
He really wanted to avoid majoring in Combat Magic.
"And it was individual participation in principle. The real winner is Senior Shartea."
The 3rd Princess, Shartea, who had been listening to Radel's extremely humble words, covered her mouth with her teacup.
It was because a pleased smile had unknowingly formed on her lips, and she couldn't let them see her lose her dignity as a 4th-year representative.
'It was certainly a clean swordsmanship style.'
Shartea recalled the carcass of the red-headed fire centipede she had seen at the hunting ground.
Although its outer shell was dented and broken by magic, the final blow that had cut its windpipe showed a flawless swordsmanship path.
That was Radel's skill.
Her prediction that Radel had been steadily training his swordsmanship was correct.
No matter how much individual participation was the principle, she had no complaints about conceding the winner's position for something like a fire centipede.
She was even happy to have met an opponent she could converse with through the sword.
'On the other hand, my brother was not in a good mood.'
He had followed her during the hunting competition and nagged her to be careful of the 8th Prince.
After the hunting competition, he had even strongly protested the result, saying how could he be the winner when three people had caught the prey together.
That was not what Shartea wanted.
It wasn't that she didn't understand her brother's desire to make her the emperor, but his interference was becoming annoying as time went on.
"Um, I have something to ask. I noticed that there wasn't a single scratch on the hide of the saber-toothed tiger you hunted, Senior Shartea. I'm curious how you did it."
Radel even asked Shartea for advice with a polite attitude.
The faces of Inette, who would glare and turn her head whenever she saw Shartea, Leon, who would answer perfunctorily, and Venus, who only talked about strange things, came to mind in succession.
Compared to his other ill-mannered half-siblings, Radel's behavior was commendable itself.
Of course, Radel only wanted to learn the technique of not leaving scratches on a monster's hide.
However, to Shartea, it sounded like an invitation to have a serious conversation about swordsmanship.
"Is that so? Then shall we have a little talk?"
Anesha and Pasion, who had noticed it, looked at each other.
'D-dangerous!'
'Senior Shartea's eyes!'
It was the moment Shartea's eyes shone fiercely at Radel.
At the same time, a clear alert sound was heard in Radel's ears.
Tiring.
[The target's affinity has surpassed 5.]
[The target's affinity has become 10.]
* * *
One hour.
That was the time it took for Shartea to teach Radel.
If Shartea hadn't left, saying she had a class to attend, the conversation would probably have gone on for several more hours.
"You just experienced it, right? You have to be careful, junior."
"That's right, that's right. Senior Shartea really loves swordsmanship. You shouldn't bring it up carelessly."
Anesha advised Radel and told him an anecdote from when she was a freshman.
A single word she had carelessly thrown after seeing the sword at Shartea's waist.
Do you like swordsmanship?
Because of this one word, she said she was caught by Shartea and could only return to the dormitory after the sun had set.
It was the same for Pasion.
He also confessed that he had made a slip of the tongue when he was a freshman exploring majors.
"I mentioned the swordsmanship class in the liberal arts subjects, and then... u-until the next day. Sob."
"Don't cry, senior! You didn't know back then."
The two of them wiped their tears with a grim expression and nodded.
"You should be careful from now on too, junior. You were lucky today."
"That's right, junior. Be thankful it only took an hour."
"...I understand."
Shartea's flashing eyes a moment ago were a little scary.
But Radel thought that his affinity had probably increased thanks to listening to her story well.
"Oh, junior. Did you hear about the alchemy night class this time?"
"Huh? Is it already time for the night class?"
An alchemy night class?
He smelled new information.
"What's that?"
"Aha. I guess Professor Cailin hasn't told you yet."
The 2nd-year representative, Anesha Holton, was an alchemy major.
Since the professor in charge of the 2nd-year dormitory was also Professor Cailin Gamenter of alchemy, it seemed she heard information faster than others.
According to Anesha, there would be a special night class at the beginning of the semester to collect herbs that could only be gathered at night.
And the ones leading the class were not the professors but the major seniors.
"He asked me if I was ready last time, so I hurriedly prepared. Thanks to that, all the alchemy majors couldn't go home during the Founding Festival and stayed at the academy."
"You must have had a hard time because of us."
"Haha, hard time? Those guys probably had a blast preparing."
Pasion, who was leaning back on the sofa, laughed as if he had heard something interesting.
He also knew what kind of event it was because he had taken the night class when he was a freshman.
"We call it a night class, but it's actually like courage training."
The goal was to go around a designated course alone or in a team of two at a late hour of the night and collect herbs.
"The 'preparation' those guys were talking about must be realistic ghost costumes."
"Senior, you can't say that."
Although she chided Pasion, Anesha didn't seem to mind much.
"I'm telling you in advance because I don't think you'd be very surprised given your personality, junior."
Anesha added an explanation.
As befitting courage training, seniors in ghost costumes would be hiding at intermediate points and surprising the juniors.
"If I were an alchemy major, I would have participated, but it's a shame."
"Senior, if you had done alchemy too, you wouldn't be here by now. Three majors is too much."
"Is that so? Anyway, look forward to the night class this time, junior."
At the seniors' words, Radel was really looking forward to it.
It was already Radel's daily routine to periodically climb the mountain at night to collect ingredients.
He had no intention of missing this opportunity, which the professors and seniors were setting up for him.
* * *
Black Falcon Dormitory Lounge.
"That brazen..."
Inette was leaning against a wall, stealing glances at Tunia.
She had been in this state ever since she had heard the identity of the assassin from Radel in the carriage on their way back to the academy.
That's the assassin? But he's just leaving her like that?
The incident where Radel's fork was poisoned was still vivid.
Radel said he had a plan, but to Inette, it was a ridiculous statement.
Returning what you received was Inette's creed. If Inette had been Radel, she would never have let it go.
How dare they aim for the life of a royal?
The way she was attending school with her head held high was the height of insolence.
'What on earth is she doing?'
At that time, Tunia was pretending not to notice Inette's surveillance.
Inette's clumsy actions, who had not even received assassin training, were easily discovered by Tunia.
A blatant gaze that seemed to have no intention of hiding.
Unable to control her fluctuating emotions, her breathing was also unstable whenever she looked at Tunia.
Inette was shouting with her whole body that she knew her identity and was watching her.
'It seems the 7th Princess has figured out my identity...'
Tunia realized anew how perfectly Radel had hidden his emotions.
Radel's calm behavior, even knowing that the assassin targeting him was attending classes next to him, was something that even Tunia, a first-class assassin, could learn from.
'For now, I have no choice but to trust the 8th Prince.'
After the hunting competition, a final warning was issued to her for failing to assassinate Radel.
It said that if she failed to get rid of the 8th Prince by next week, another assassin would be sent to replace her.
That also meant that the guild would eliminate Tunia.
It was a failed assassination and a lost life anyway.
Tunia made a decision.
Even if she had to go, she would try everything she could.
'But she's getting on my nerves.'
Seeing Inette glaring at Tunia, pretending to read a book, she felt like sighing.
Tunia stealthily erased her presence and slipped out of Inette's sight.
"Where did she go?"
She was definitely sitting there just a moment ago.
Inette looked around in a fluster.
Her goal was to observe the brazen assassin and, if she found an opening, to take care of her without Radel's knowledge.
But as expected of an assassin, she would disappear if she took her eyes off her for a moment. At first, it was hard to even find her because her presence was so faint.
Inette looked around and then urged Gusto, who was next to her.
"You look for her too!"
Gusto was studying with a book open.
As much as he had missed classes during the Founding Festival, his assignments had piled up, and it would be troublesome if he didn't do them whenever he had time.
Gusto, who had been doing his assignment, stopped writing and let out a small sigh.
"It's a meaningless effort anyway."
Seeing her glaring in the lounge, saying she would watch the assassin, it seemed she wasn't even thinking about her assignment.
"Aren't you even angry? She tried to kill Radel!"
"It's a matter His Highness has already decided. He must have his reasons."
For Gusto, this was not a problem worth discussing. There was a good reason for Radel's decision.
Gusto fully trusted Radel's choice.
"I don't trust her. What if she suddenly turns on him?"
Inette's eyes lit up with full alert.
Of course, in Gusto's eyes, it was all a meaningless effort.
"You should do your assignment. You have to submit it by tomorrow."
"Eek! I was going to do it even if you didn't tell me!"
Just then, Radel entered the lounge with a book.
Inette, who felt guilty for some reason upon seeing Radel, whispered to Gusto.
"Don't tell Radel that I'm watching the assassin. Got it?"
"Do you think I am you, Your Highness?"
"Do you know how annoying you are?"
"I do not."
Radel, who had entered the lounge, stopped the two who were fighting again for some reason.
"What's wrong? What's going on?"
Then, Gusto answered nonchalantly.
"It seems I have displeased Her Highness. I apologize."
At Gusto's meek apology, Inette could only keep her mouth shut.
'He's so annoying!'