Veliyard Academy is located on the northern outskirts of the capital Kashant.
Since it’s in the exact opposite direction from the Magic Tower in the southern part of the capital, by the time I arrived at the academy, the sun was already beginning to set.
As I approached the entrance, a guard with a sword at his side walked up to me.
“What brings you here?”
“I’m Vio, assigned as the ranger class instructor starting next semester. I was told to report in by today….”
“Yes. First, could you please present your identification badge for verification?”
When I handed over my ID, he checked it against a list. Between the procedures, the height of the surrounding walls, and what seemed to be magic placed on them, the security was tighter than I expected.
Then again, most of the students are nobles, and even a few members of the imperial family attend, so it makes sense they’d take security seriously.
“You’re confirmed. The faculty residence is behind the main building you see straight ahead. Taking the path to the right will be faster.”
“Thank you. Have a good day.”
I got my ID back and entered.
The first thing I saw was a field covered in green grass.
Straight ahead stood a large seven-story building, which seemed to be the main building.
There were also smaller four- to five-story buildings on both sides. Since it’s one of only two academies in the capital, the scale is quite impressive.
Maybe because the semester hasn’t started yet, the campus felt completely empty.
I followed the path on the right, as the guard had instructed.
After passing the main building and walking a bit farther, I saw two six-story buildings facing each other on a hill.
Is one of them the student dormitory?
Fortunately, there was a sign, so I made it to the dorm without getting lost.
Veliyard Academy operates a full dormitory system.
All students, whether nobles or even members of the imperial family, are required to live in the campus dorms during the semester. The exception is instructors, who are allowed to commute.
Most choose to commute, but since I don’t have a house in the capital anyway, I decided to stay in the dorm.
Since I have money from selling the artifacts, it wouldn’t be that hard to get a place, but since I’ll be heading out soon anyway, there’s no need to waste it.
I went to the small guard post next to the dorm building, and just like at the entrance, they checked my ID before handing me a key.
Room 505… so that’s the fifth floor?
It might be a bit inconvenient going up and down, but at least being on the top floor means no noise from above.
I took the stairs up and arrived at the quarters.
When I opened the door and stepped inside, I was a bit surprised.
Maybe because most of the instructors are nobles, the facilities are quite nice.
There’s a decently sized living room and a separate bedroom, along with a bathroom and even a small study furnished with a desk and chair.
There’s no place to cook, but since meals are provided by the academy cafeteria, there’s no real need for one.
I opened my subspace, unpacked my things, and took a closer look around. I noticed some dust gathered in the corners of the window frame.
They said it had been cleaned in advance when I got the key, but I guess they did a half-hearted job.
After finishing the cleaning, my stomach started to rumble.
Come to think of it, I haven’t eaten anything since this morning.
Guess I should head out for dinner.
The food is probably better than most restaurants, right?
Most of the students are nobles, and there are even members of the imperial family.
With high expectations, I headed to the cafeteria, but… huh?
It’s closed.
What’s going on? I’m pretty sure they said earlier that dinner hours were from six to eight.
Do they not serve meals during break?
They did say the cafeteria stays open since there are quite a few students who remain at the academy during vacation.
“What are you doing there?”
I turned at the sound of a voice and saw two female students in uniform.
I had just been thinking I should ask someone, so this worked out well.
“Is dinner already over?”
“Huh? The first cafeteria isn’t open during break.”
“I see. Then which cafeteria should I go to?”
“Should I go to?”
“What’s wrong?”
‘Should I go to’…that’s informal speech.”
“Informal speech?”
I thought I heard that within the academy, people are treated based on their roles as instructors and students rather than their status outside. Was that not the case?
“What a weird kid. You don’t look like you’re in our year. What department are you in? Even if it’s break, you’re not even wearing a uniform… Oh! Wait, ranger class?”
Year? No, wait… don’t tell me they think I’m a student?
“I am in the ranger class, but I’m not a student—”
“Even if you’re a freshman and it’s not the semester, you’re still supposed to wear your uniform when you’re on campus.”
Yeah, they’ve definitely got the wrong idea.
“Reining, doesn’t he look a bit too old to be a student?”
What’s wrong with my face?
It’s true I don’t usually go around barefaced, but everyone who’s seen me including the old man always said I look young and were even jealous.
“Maybe he took something weird when he was a kid.”
“Oh! Right, the ranger class accepts people up to age twenty, right? Still, he does look kind of old for his age.”
…They’re openly calling me old-looking, but I’m actually twenty-nine, so I don’t know whether to take that as a compliment or be annoyed.
“Reining, he’s frowning.”
“Relax your face. It’s not like we’re saying you’re ugly.”
“Yeah, even if you look a bit older, it’s not like you’re bad-looking… There are advantages to looking mature.”
“Exactly. People who look older when they’re young tend to age well later on.”
What is this? Teasing me to no end and then trying to soften it?
“Hey, why do you keep speaking informally…?”
“Got a problem with that? Even if you’re twenty, you’re still a freshman, right? At the academy, year comes first.”
“No, that’s not—”
“I said year comes first. Or what, are you from a marquis or duke family?”
They cut me off before I could even finish.
“We’re on our way to eat anyway. Want to come with us?”
“Misha? You’re going to eat with him? I heard there are commoners in the ranger class.”
“Well, he used informal speech earlier, so he’s probably not a commoner. Are you a commoner?”
“I’m not a commoner, but…”
When I retired as a Black Agent, I was granted the title of baronet in recognition of my service.
In truth, a baronet is a noble in name only. It was not much different from a commoner.
It’s not hereditary and comes with no land. It was basically the weakest rank among nobles.
Some people don’t even consider it true nobility, but still, it’s not the same as being a commoner.
“Then that’s fine. Follow us.”
At first, I thought they were the typical arrogant nobles, but they showed me the way and don’t seem as bad as I expected.
It is a bit annoying how they don’t listen to others and just say whatever they want, but since things turned out this way, maybe I should play along a little.
It’s not like I intentionally deceived them.
When they find out later, they’ll probably be shocked. It might actually be pretty amusing.
“Come to think of it, I didn’t ask your name. What is it?”
“Vio.”
“Your family name?”
“Rain.”
“Rain? I’ve never heard of it. Where is your territory?”
“No territory?”
“A baronet, huh….”
“So you’re from a baronet family. So what? Say it with confidence. You’re still a noble.”
“Yeah. If you rack up enough achievements after graduating, you could become a baron. Just work hard.”
They’re really having fun with this.
If I hadn’t retired, I would’ve been the top candidate for the next head of the Intelligence Bureau.
Of course, titles aren’t always granted based on position, but given my accomplishments, I could’ve easily been awarded a count’s title.
Even the old man holds the rank of count.
“Haha… yes, I’ll do my best.”
“Aren’t you curious about us?”
“Oh, I thought it might be rude….”
“Rude? If you answer a question, it’s only polite to ask one in return.”
Isn’t it more proper to introduce yourself before asking about someone else’s status?
“I’m Misha Levans. This is Reining Epert. We’re both third-years in the Knight Department.”
Levans and Epert. Those names rang a bell immediately.
Marquis Epert is the commander of the capital’s defense forces and one of the top three figures in the Ministry of War.
Count Levans, despite his rank, is a highly capable general known as the “Iron Wall of Levans” and a close aide to Duke Martis, the commander of the Eastern Army.
“So you’re both from distinguished families.”
“Oh? You seem to know a thing or two.”
As I carried on the conversation, going along with them to a reasonable extent, we soon arrived at the dining hall.
“During the break, only Dining Hall 3 is open, so come here for meals from now on.”
“Thank you for showing me. I’ll be on my way, then.”
I gave my thanks and was about to head inside when the two of them blocked my path.
“You’re leaving already?”
…Don’t tell me they’re expecting some kind of fee for guiding me?
No, they didn’t seem like that kind of people.
I guess it’s time to reveal who I am.
Even if it’s for a bit of fun, I’m still an instructor. It wouldn’t be right to get shaken down.
“Actually, I’m—”
“That’s a bit disappointing. Your seniors went out of their way to guide you.”
“We’ve been useful enough, so now you don’t need us anymore. Is that it?”
They really know how to make it sound misleading.
“Come on. You came all this way just to eat alone? Let’s eat together.”
Huh? So they weren’t asking for money, just inviting me to eat with them?
I had assumed they were only showing me the way to the dining hall.
“My mistake. I thought you were just guiding me.”
“Hey, do we really seem that cold?”
“That’s harsh.”
“My apologies.”
In the end, we went inside the dining hall together.
It was quite spacious, with one entire wall made of glass, offering a great view.
As expected of Veliyard Academy.
It was a self-serve setup, with dishes laid out across the center.
“Today’s menu isn’t great.”
“Mhmm. Vio, don’t take more than you can eat. Grab what you need and come to the far-right window seat.”
This isn’t great?
There’s fresh salad, three kinds of bread, and four kinds of cheese.
Various jams, grilled meats, fish, and even fried dishes.
At first, I thought it must be some kind of special occasion, but I guess nobles just have picky tastes.
“Ah, okay.”
I piled my plate high with food and headed toward the window seats.
“You’re going to eat all that?”
“You said you don’t have an estate, right? Is your family struggling?”
That pitying look was honestly ridiculous.
“I only took what I could eat.”
“Guess that’s how boys are.”
“I’ve always had a big appetite.”
I answered with an awkward smile, but going along with them isn’t easy.
I should reveal who I am as soon as the meal is over.
“Right. You need to eat a lot to grow.”
“I think I’m tall enough already.”
Thud—
Just as I was thinking I might as well speak up first, a loud commotion broke out behind us.
When I turned toward the noise, I saw a group of boys gathered together.
“There they go again. Vio, don’t look…just eat.”
“Huh?”
“You’ll just end up getting dragged into it too, so eat.”
Dragged into it? Both of them frowned as they warned me, but my curiosity got the better of me, and I kept watching.
“Wh-Why are you doing this…?”
“Are you seriously asking because you don’t know? Since when did stray nobodies get to sit wherever they want in my assigned seat?”
“We’re new students, so we didn’t know there were assigned seats. We’re sorry.”
“We’ll move right away.”
Was the academy dining hall assigned seating?
I didn’t recall hearing anything like that during the orientation.
Even if there were assigned seats, it shouldn’t matter that much.
Why make such a big deal out of it. Wait… what?
“Argh!”
One of the boys in the group, who had been shouting aggressively, suddenly picked up the seated student’s bowl of soup and dumped it over his head.
“If you did something wrong, you should be punished.”
“Damian, just look at them. They don’t seem like nobles.”
“What are you talking about? How would commoners even get into the academy?”
“They said that starting this year, with the new Ranger Department, commoners could enroll. Hey, you…are you commoners?”
“Ugh…”
“Hey, are your ears clogged? Damian’s asking you something.”
They even went as far as kicking the boy after he fell, yet no one around stepped in to stop them.
Not even the ones who looked like instructors in the distance, nor Misha and Reining sitting right in front of me.
I understood the situation immediately.
If even these two children of fairly prestigious noble families were turning a blind eye, it meant the one causing the disturbance held even greater power.
A duke’s child, perhaps?
But judging by his appearance, no particular noble house came to mind.
Of course, it’s not uncommon for nobles to pick on commoners over trivial matters.
Even so, there are limits.
This had gone far beyond them.
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