The Academy’s Doomed Young Lord Dies Ten Thousand Times

Chapter 18 - The Failure Knight and the Disgraced Young Lord (1)

And so, the introduction to Knight Theory concluded with Acaite's story.

“Alright! Now, let's set aside the gloomy talk~.”

Perhaps thinking it was too heavy for an orientation, Acaite raised his tone a notch higher than before and moved on to the next topic.

“This time, we're going to form ‘Pairs’. Two people will help each other for a semester to promote growth……. Ah, it's a pain, but anyway, that's it. You just help each other.”

Archenia Academy had a system called ‘Pair’. Students under the same supervising professor would form a duo to engage in academic exchanges or external activities…… that kind of system.

For a modern Korean high school student, it would be like a mentor-mentee relationship.

Anyway, all the academy's systems were based on this Pair system, and the number of students per supervising professor was always an even number to accommodate the Pairs.

In terms of game mechanics, it was one of the devices to increase the number of combat companions.

“Don't worry, just because you've formed a Pair doesn't mean you have to do something together right away~. Just think of it as artificially creating a link.”

I was lost in thought. About whether I should form a Pair with Yuna or Khan.

You might ask if I shouldn't be worried about them being taken, but…… those two were in a position to be avoided just as much as I was.

In Khan's case, his tribe's unique decorations and wild appearance were set to be evaluated as ‘barbaric’, and in Yuna's case, at this point, she was a commoner with no background, so she was in a position to be despised.

Of course, in Khan's case, there would be quite a few people approaching him because of his excellent skills.

Should I be grateful for the rigid elitism of this world…… I felt a strange emotion.

And, as expected, as soon as Acaite's instruction to form Pairs on their own was given, the students began to busily find their partners.

“We met once at the last social gathering. If you don't mind……”

“Hey, it's been a while. If you don't have a Pair yet, want to team up?”

And in Yuna's case, it was as expected.

“Hey, by any chance-.”

“Ah, sorry~ I already have someone in mind.”

“But he just told us to form them now……?”

True to her easygoing personality, she approached a few people first to talk, but after being rejected several times, it seemed even she had become discouraged.

At this point, she didn't know much about the elitism rampant in Archenia……. so it was unfortunate, but it couldn't be helped. Besides, she hadn't shown any outstanding performance in the entrance examination.

On the other hand, in Khan's case.

“You're Khan-ssi, right? I'm from the House of Larson……”

“I saw your spar yesterday. If you don't mind……”

Surprisingly, there were quite a few students who came to propose a Pair. He might seem barbaric, but maybe they were trying to win him over after seeing his skills.

And, in my case.

“…….”

As was to be expected, not a single person came. Not one.

It was the expected result. Although I had proven my skills yesterday, my own standing hadn't changed at all.

Rather than accurately grasping my skills and calculating the pros and cons, they were probably still experiencing confusion.

‘So, who should I go to…….’

Yuna, or Khan. As I was thinking that.

“Rain-ssi.”

The one who approached me first was Khan.

“Ah, Khan-ssi?”

I greeted him lightly and tilted my head to the side to look at where Khan was originally.

“It seemed there were others who proposed a Pair to you first.”

“Ah……. I asked for their understanding for a moment. I said there was someone I had to talk to first.”

“……Is that me?”

At my question, Khan nodded nonchalantly. It was a very pure nod, contrasting with the large scar on his eye.

“We greeted each other yesterday. It is only natural to ask the opinion of a friend you have made first. I was taught so in my tribe.”

“Aha……”

That was a grateful sentiment, but it seemed I had already become a friend in his mind.

“If we become a…… Pair, wouldn't there be more opportunities to face each other? That's what friends are for.”

The problem was that the meaning of 'friend' was accompanied by a belligerent sense.

I let out a small sigh and looked in the direction where Yuna was sitting. The way she was looking around anxiously…… was strangely pitiful.

‘What should I do.’

Khan would be more helpful for my growth, but if I just left her like that and she paired up with some random guy, it would definitely have a negative impact on Yuna's growth.

Yuna is an extreme growth-type character, so she needs to take a fast growth route to be active in the early episodes, and to accelerate that growth speed, I had to intervene somehow.

Of course, it wouldn't matter if I became stronger than Yuna's growth rate……. but I concluded that the rate of Yuna's growth if she paired with me would be greater than the rate of my growth if I paired with Khan.

Yes, going with Yuna here was the right choice.

“I'm sorry you came all this way, but I have someone I was thinking of pairing with first.”

“Ah……”

Khan made a disappointed face and looked in the direction my gaze had just been. The direction where Yuna was sitting.

Then…….

“……!”

His eyes widened as if he had realized something.

……Why?

“I see, I understand everything.”

“No, what……”

And, Khan nodded and continued to speak rapidly.

“The Pair is fine. Even if we're not together, there will be many opportunities to fight.”

“Uh, yes?”

“I am quite perceptive. I sincerely wish you well with that lady. I was taught in my tribe to support the hearts of others.”

“No, wait a minute……!”

It was a situation where a misunderstanding had clearly occurred, and I tried to stop Khan, but…….

“I will be cheering for you.”

That look of him turning back to me with a solemn expression and giving a thumbs-up. Yes, it was the same personality I had seen in the game. Especially that personality of not listening once he's set on something…….

“Haa……”

I sighed and turned my gaze back to Yuna.

Whatever the misunderstanding, the situation had worked out well, so that was that. Or so I thought…….

***

‘Ah, this school sucks, for real…….’

Yuna thought to herself as she twirled her hair with her finger. Her classmates at Archenia Academy had shown her a harsh reality.

Yuna had expected to some extent that the nobles would act snootily and pretentiously.

Noble customers used to visit the village where Yuna lived, especially the blacksmith shop of her grandfather.

And those nobles generally had unsavory personalities. They would either ignore her grandfather's skills because he was a commoner, or treat him like a servant.

But there was one thing that went against her expectations.

‘Damn it. It's one thing for the noble bastards to look down on me, but why are the commoners doing it too?’

Her thought was to let the nobles say whatever they wanted and get along well with the commoners, but the problem was that the commoner students at Archenia were also quite unsavory.

Especially the way they seemed to subtly rank each other even among the commoners.

‘Is this really a knight school? I don't see a shred of honor, what kind of knights are these……! I really miss my friends…….’

Yuna sighed deeply and reminisced about her days in the village. The village where she had friends with whom she could be comfortable, without any ill feelings.

“Uno, Sanna, Simang……. I think I'm screwed……”

The future is bleak. How could this happen from the very first orientation? All Yuna could do was wait for someone who would be leftover like scraps and inevitably have to form a group with her.

Or so she thought…….

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Even in this unexpected situation, Yuna tried her best not to show her surprise and looked at the male student who had approached her with a polite attitude.

A somewhat dark impression and atmosphere, yet a tall stature and a rather handsome, princely face…….

‘Rain…… what-light?’

She definitely remembered. The guy who fought well in the sparring test yesterday. She didn't know why everyone's reaction was so dazed even after he won so overwhelmingly…….

‘……Anyway, why is he talking to me?’

Seeing that he had a family name, he was definitely a noble, and with that level of skill, why would he come to me.

‘Honestly, his face is my type……. no, that's not it.’

Yuna thought. Having grown up among commoners, Yuna did not know the custom of the noble families to despise illegitimate children. She would have never heard of the infamy of the ducal family's failure.

“Uh, yeah. Yeah! Why?”

She tried to respond as calmly as possible, but Yuna was not good at hiding her emotions.

“If it's alright with you, would you like to form a Pair with me?”

“……Huh?”

Yuna had tried not to show her surprise, but she couldn't help but be surprised by that polite suggestion. From Yuna's perspective, it was a completely incomprehensible situation.

It couldn't be that he had no one to pair with, since another student had gone to see Rain earlier. It was a student wearing an animal hide cloak, and he even fought quite well in the test yesterday.

‘Why would a guy like this come to me of all people……?’

But what could she do? Yuna briefly turned her head and looked at the other students.

There were students who had formed Pairs, each exuding a friendly atmosphere.

Yuna already knew. There was no place for her to squeeze in there.

“S-sure! I was just looking for someone to pair with too!”

It was a choice between two options. Form a Pair with the guy who at least came to her (and was skilled), or form a Pair with someone who didn't like her at all.

And, which one to choose was obvious.

“I look forward to working with you.”

It was Rain, who nodded calmly despite Yuna's fuss.

Anyway, after all the Pairs were formed, Acaite took the list and began to conclude the class.

“Alright, so we've formed Pairs like this, but……. there's no penalty for not doing Pair activities in the first semester. Of course, there won't be any significant benefits either. Just get to know each other, and if you don't click, go your separate ways~. You can change in the second semester anyway.”

As Acaite said, the real Pair activities started in the second semester. The Pair assignments in the first semester assumed that all students were meeting for the first time.

The school was also aware of the possibility that two incompatible people would inevitably become a Pair.

Of course, there were those who had known each other since middle school……. no, rather, the majority were those who had built connections since their middle school days, but the school couldn't officially acknowledge that.

Hearing Acaite's words, Yuna thought of one possibility.

‘Did he just look for someone who wouldn't bother him?’

Thinking about it, that made the most sense.

‘He seemed like the type who likes peace and quiet, so he paired up with the kid stuck in the corner so he could be alone, and came to me……?’

When her thoughts reached that point, Yuna let out a small sigh.

‘Yeah, what would he be lacking to ask me to be his Pair.’

Although she had made a name for herself in her neighborhood without any formal education, after coming to Archenia Academy, Yuna had tasted bitterness.

She had passed the entrance exam with a recommendation letter, but especially in the entrance examination.

She had only reached stage 3 in the monster suppression test, which was not made public, and she had shown a shameful performance in the sparring test.

She realized that it made no sense for a boy like that to ask her to be his Pair without any ulterior motives. A prince from a fairy tale would be more realistic.

‘It hurts my pride a little……. but it's because I'm weak. I'll get stronger and put him in his place……!’

Just as she was trying to turn her frustration into motivation with her characteristic bold personality.

“Hey, Yuna-ssi.”

A not-so-familiar, but just-heard mid-low voice was heard.

“……Since we're a Pair, would you like to have lunch together.”

“Huh?”

When she raised her head at that voice, her Pair, Rain Enlight, was standing there, suggesting lunch with a somewhat hesitant look.

‘Whaaaaaat??’