CH 160

[New Knights of the Academy]

The academy festival was over, and my peaceful daily life returned.

But if anyone were to ask me if it was ‘the same as before’, I wouldn’t be able to say ‘yes’, as too many things had changed.

The biggest one was…

“Morning.”

“Oh, morning, Jarvis.”

“Good morning.”

“Hey there.”

…Jarvis walked into the classroom and said hello to the other students.

She wore a girls’ uniform instead of the boys’ one she used to wear.

At first, many had been acting awkwardly around her, but after a week, they became used to it and was now able to normally interact with her.

Also, this was also the case with Madeline—just as I had expected, both of their families were stripped of their peerage.

Both of them were no longer nobles, but they were allowed to continue their study here in consideration of their virtuousness as well as the fact that their abilities were among the best in the academy. Principal Abigail seemed to have helped out behind the scenes, too… I couldn’t thank her enough, really.

Nevertheless, it was true that their situation would become more difficult in the future.

Due to their families’ crimes, some regarded Jarvis and Madeline as dangerous, but to me, they were just victims. Besides, the officials appeared to have passed a final judgment such a worry was unfounded seeing their day-to-day conduct.

Madeline’s younger brother Joel was expelled from the academy.

He had forced his maid Eleanor to help him in his attempt to replace his brilliant older sister, Madeline.

Only, even if he had been able to put up a good fight in the tournament, I doubted he could keep up the lie for a long time. Apparently, he had dared to pull the stunt because he naively thought that the academy would have no choice but accept him even if it didn’t want to if he appealed his excellence.

However, it seemed that Madeline had been trying to defend her younger brother.

Nonetheless, the academy couldn’t possibly acquit Joel because he was involved with a much bigger case in which just one mistake and the situation would have been irreversible.

Madeline had another big thing going for her.

A few days ago, Principal Abigail informed me that she had selected Madeline as a new member of the Knights of the Academy.

Honestly, the first thing that came to my mind was: “Wouldn’t it be painful for her to see her former crush Raul and his girlfriend Eureka together?” but to my surprise, it turned out Madeline had volunteered herself.

Principal Abigail was aware of their love affairs, hence she had initially intended to cross her from the selection, but since Madeline wished to join, she decided to oblige.

–Besides Madeline, there was another new addition to the Knights of the Academy.

But this person’s joining made me surprised in a different sense from Madeline.

The person’s name was Andrei Delacruz.

Yes.

He was the boy who had served as Jarvis’s supporter in the tournament.

Although, he didn’t appear in the【Rise of the Weakest Holy Swordsman】, I had experienced his strength firsthand. Even I couldn’t completely block the all-out blow from his blessed physique. His pure extraordinary strength was exactly what the Knights of the Academy lacked.

Thus, the total number of members of the Knights of the Academy increased to seven.

◇◇◇

It had been three days since the new members joined.

I was on a regular patrol around the academy after classes with the new member Andrei.

This was his first job as a member of the Knights of the Academy, but…

“…………”

…for some reason, his expression was dark.

He was the mood maker of the class, but he was really quiet today.

Just then…

“S-say, Barrett.”

“Yes?”

“Could you spare me a minute?”

With a mysterious expression, Andrei began speaking.