029 I Hate You

“I’m disappointed in you, Weiss.”

“I was only stating the common sense of this world,” I countered.

It all started during a history lecture.

The topic was the treatment of slaves and demi-humans in this country. Within the House Fanscent, we’d had slaves as well, though we had since liberated them and kept them on as paid servants. Personally, I didn't think slavery was inherently an absolute, inexplicable evil—at least not in the context of this world’s harsh reality.

Sure, I’d freed our slaves because the original Weiss’s treatment of them had been beyond atrocious, but the reality was that most slaves were the children of the impoverished. They were born to parents who couldn't afford them, denied an education, and then tossed out into the street. Their only options were a life of crime or a cold death in a gutter.

Being a slave might be a nightmare, but those with enough wit could eventually buy their own freedom. Isn’t ignorance a sin in every era? I wondered. Values shifted depending on the time and the borders you stood within. To me, arguing based on purely personal, modern subjectivity felt like nonsense.

But Allen? Allen didn't do nuance. He declared that all slavery was evil, period. He went even further, asserting that the nobility itself shouldn’t exist.

He was usually so stoic, yet there he was, dropping that bombshell in a room packed with high-ranking nobles. I wasn't the only one who nearly choked on my own breath.

However, his naive, pampered tone really rubbed me the wrong way. He reminded me of those people who stood on soapboxes shouting that "war is bad" without ever offering a single solution. He was spouting high-minded ideals while refusing to acknowledge the mess of the real world.

Even if slavery were abolished tomorrow, this world would still be drowning in war. When I asked him what he planned to do with the "brats" who lost their parents to those wars, he had the nerve to say that "those with means should just help them."

Ha! What a load of idealistic garbage.

Humans are creatures of desire. We live for sleep, for appetite, for lust—and in this world, there was even a distinct desire for combat. You can’t just stand there and preach empty ideals at the top of your lungs.

“But I want to make that ideal a reality someday!” Allen insisted.

“Then quit the Academy right now,” I snapped. “If you want to play hero on your own time, be my guest. But this Academy isn’t some charity. Do you have any idea how much exploitation is required to provide the room you sleep in, the food you eat, and the very training clothes on your back?”

“...I know that. But I’m serious about changing the world. I don't want to create any more suffering.”

“You’re a hopeless, idealistic moron.”

“I can live with that.”

I knew Allen’s past. I knew he’d lost his family and his home, and that he’d grown up in an orphanage. If I were the "old me," maybe I would have agreed with him. But becoming Weiss had opened my eyes. In this world, the masses were actually happier when those with the wisdom to lead stood at the top. Fools were a constant, no matter the era or the world.

While I was looking into my family's businesses, I’d found plenty of nobles committing crimes. Naturally, I’d seen to it that they were ruined, but I knew that was just a drop in the ocean. If everyone were suddenly forced into the same social standing, the world would just rot.

Teacher Milk and Zebis were perfect examples. They were wise, and they were strong. They didn't go around flaunting their power for the sake of it, but they understood that sometimes, fools needed a proper leash.

Allen just didn't get it.

God, I really can’t bring myself to like this guy.

“Weiss... I hate you,” Allen said, his voice trembling with conviction.

“Don’t worry,” I replied, my voice cold. “The feeling is mutual.”

This is fine. We were always meant to be enemies, after all.

---

After school, I was alone in the training arena, swinging my sword to vent my frustrations. This was the same stadium used for inter-school matches. The spectator stands were vast and empty, hauntingly quiet.

For some reason, I couldn't get Allen out of my head. The guy was wrong. I knew I wasn't wrong. So... why did I feel so restless?

“You’re really putting in the work, Weiss.”

I spun around to see Teacher Milk. I’d heard she had started staying in the faculty dormitory at Nobless Academy recently. The Dragon Emblem—the mark of a teacher—was pinned to her shoulder. It was still a bit of a shock to see it there, but I had to admit, it suited her perfectly.

“...I just couldn’t shake these distracting thoughts,” I muttered.

“Is it about Allen?”

I nearly dropped my wooden sword. She’d hit the nail on the head so accurately it felt like she’d read my mind. I’d never even mentioned Allen’s name to her. How did she—?

“I heard from Darius,” she added, noticing my shock. “It sounds like you two aren't exactly best friends.”

Ah. That explained it.

“The guy is just... naive. It pisses me off.”

“Clashing opinions isn't a bad thing. Once you’re an adult, you’ll find that even having the luxury to argue is taken away from you. Now—Weiss, take your stance.”

Teacher Milk stepped onto the arena floor and leveled a wooden training sword at me. I followed suit, settling into my usual form. We both took the same high-guard stance. In the world of Kendo, it would have been called Kasumi-no-Kamae.

Taking her previous lessons to heart, I moved first.

I lunged with a relentless Gatotsu. Teacher Milk avoided the point of my blade with the slightest tilt of her head, spinning in the same motion to drive her sword toward my gut. I barely managed to leap back using every ounce of my leg strength, but the jump was too wide, leaving a massive opening. She closed the distance instantly.

“Keep your movements to a minimum—”

“I’m trying!” I barked back.

She was strong. Ridiculously, impossibly strong.

We kept at it for hours. By the time we stopped, I was drenched in sweat, leaning on my wooden sword like a cane just to keep from collapsing. As I fought to get my breath back, Teacher Milk actually let out a small, soft laugh.

Well, that’s a rare sight.

“What’s so funny?” I panted.

“Nothing. It’s just... nostalgic.”

“Nostalgic?”

“Yeah...”

I tilted my head, confused. We’d sparred during the holidays, sure, but she sounded like she was looking back on something much further away. Wait... no, that’s impossible. But...

“Teacher... were you a student here at Nobless?”

“I was. I clashed with plenty of people back then, too. It’s the kind of place that forces you to, whether you want to or not.”

No way. I never heard about this 'setting' in the game! Teacher Milk was a fan-favorite character who appeared toward the end of the story. I’d pored over her official profile dozens of times. There was never a single mention of her attending Nobless Academy.

“It was more cutthroat back then,” she continued nonchalantly. “The Point System wasn't as refined, and there were no 'carrots' to encourage us. We spent every waking moment thinking about who we had to kick down to climb higher.”

I was so deep in thought that I forgot to even nod. Then, the realization hit me like a physical blow. Wait, if she was here but she isn't in the alumni records...

“Yeah, it’s exactly what you’re thinking,” she said, catching my expression. “I was expelled. People said I lacked talent, but the truth was simply that nobody recognized me. I was isolated. Maybe I was just too overconfident in my own power. After I was kicked out, I became desperate. I did a lot of things I’m not proud of—things I can’t even tell you, my own disciple.”

“...But I think you’re a wonderful person now, Teacher.”

She shook her head sadly. “People don't really change, Weiss. That’s my personal philosophy. We just get better at suppressing our true natures. But... you’re different. I’ve talked to Zebis, Lilith, and even your father. I can tell, Weiss—you have changed. Be proud of that. It’s okay to be lost sometimes. It’s okay to clash with others. But whatever you do, hold onto your convictions. You have a natural pull—people want to follow you. Unlike me, I think you actually know the right path.”

Conviction? A natural pull?

No, you’ve got it all wrong. I’m just... desperately trying to keep myself from being destroyed.

I wasn't nearly as noble as she thought I was. I was a selfish, bottom-tier human who only thought about his own survival. But Allen... he was different. He was always thinking about other people.

I see. I was jealous of that purity... and that’s why I was so angry.

“Teacher... I...”

“You don't need to give me an answer yet,” she said, looking me straight in the eye. Her gaze never wavered. “You have talent, Weiss. Do you have any idea how many students I’ve seen? Out of all of them, you’re the best. And I’m not just talking about combat. I mean everything. —I like you, Weiss.”

“...Thank you. Truly.”

I really was... incredibly blessed.

“Sometimes I get the weird feeling that you’re looking at a future I can't see,” she added. “But even if that’s true, the future from here on out depends on you. For better or worse. Also—try to enjoy yourself a bit more. Being a student is a gift. It’s a waste to only realize how much fun youth is after it’s already gone.”

“Haha... I didn't expect to hear a 'youth is fleeting' speech from you, Teacher.”

“I’m a woman, too. I’ve had my share of experiences. I’ll tell you the stories once you get a little stronger.”

“In that case, can we go another round? I want to hear those stories as soon as possible.”

“Very well. I hope you’re ready to hear them by graduation.”

Allen, I still hate your guts.

But in a weird way, maybe we’re the same. We’re both trying to turn the impossible into the possible. I guess I can at least acknowledge that much.

Hey, Weiss.

Am I living up to your ideal?

Don't just sit there in silence; give me an answer once in a while. I know you’re in there.

Good grief.

You'd better watch me until the very end. I am going to avoid my ruin, no matter what.

That is a promise.