Foreword:
I received a few comments about this, so I wanted to clarify. This isn't necessarily the start of a "School Arc." This is a war chronicle, after all.
"But I haven't even officially enrolled yet... and besides, the war is still going on."
In the first place, did a soldier even have time for schoolwork during a war?
"That’s exactly why you're here. This is the Knight Academy—it’s a training ground for knights. If a major conflict breaks out, even the Academy students are deployed to the front lines. Besides, massive battles usually only happen about once a year."
"I see."
Knights probably weren't on the battlefield year-round, and they were surely expected to train every day regardless of the geopolitical climate. When I thought about it that way, this might actually be an ideal place to focus on my training.
"Besides, Flare is a member of the Student Council too!" Frederica added.
"That's right! I'm in charge of Public Relations!" Flare said proudly.
"Exactly! She’s the lead for our image-improvement strategy! Basically, she’s the eye candy!"
"Th-That's not true! I was chosen because of my skill with a sword... at least, I think I was?"
I mean, don't ask me.
From what I could gather, this "Student Council" wasn't like the ones I remembered from my previous life. This was an academy of the sword where geniuses gathered. Within that elite group, a mere handful of top-tier talents reigned as a specialized unit known as the Student Council.
It seemed Frederica-senpai was also a genius-level knight, but she had apparently set her sword aside because she hated the idea of fighting.
"Why did you stop wielding a sword?" I asked.
"I'm just no good at it. I don't have the stomach to cut people. I've been to the front lines before, but I was so terrified my legs gave out. But... you know. Because of my experience striving to be a knight and my position as a Duchess, I believe there are things I can do to support the knights who fight on the front lines. That's why I'm here."
"……I think that’s very admirable."
I followed Frederica-senpai through the school. Just like the city outside, the interior of the academy was gorgeous and artistic. The hallways were lined with plush red carpets and decorated with numerous paintings. Looking at the decor alone, it felt like a school for the ultra-wealthy, far grander than anything I'd seen in my old world.
We stopped in front of a door. The nameplate read: Student Council Room.
She threw the door open.
"I'm back! Jin!! I brought him! I brought the Flare-and-Leo couple set!!"
"Please don't call us that!!" Flare squealed.
A single student sat at a desk, reviewing documents. He shifted only his eyes toward us. He had a piercing, razor-sharp gaze. I assumed he was a council member—likely the President, considering the sign on his desk literally said "Student Council President."
"...Frederica, is this the boy?"
"Yup! I brought him right to you! Leo-kun! He's the promising newcomer for our Academy Student Council."
He wore his uniform with the precision of a tailored suit, his black hair slicked back into a perfect, tight all-back. He reached up and adjusted his glasses, making the lenses glint. His entire appearance was immaculate; he looked like a man who wouldn't tolerate a single speck of dust. This personification of "seriousness" stood up and walked toward me.
"I am the Student Council President, Jin Ashtress."
He looked at me with eyes that suggested he was inspecting something filthy. I felt the weight of his presence—he was intimidating. I could tell just by the way he moved; this man was incredibly strong. His center of gravity didn't waver a fraction of an inch as he walked.
"How unsightly... You look like a commoner through and through."
"……"
With a family name like Ashtress and his rank as President, he was undoubtedly a high-ranking noble. I had heard that many of the nobility looked down on commoners with disdain.
"Flare, Frederica. Step outside for a moment."
At the President’s quiet command, the two of them obeyed without a word. The door clicked shut behind them.
I was alone in the room with him. Was he planning to fight me? I shifted into a combat-ready stance, prepared to react the moment he moved.
"Take them off."
"Huh?"
"I told you to take them off. I won't say it twice."
Overwhelmed by the sheer pressure he exuded, I stripped. Why was I standing here in just my underwear? Was this some kind of bizarre hazing ritual?
The President reached out toward me.
Zip!
"...A measuring tape?"
The object in his hand was indeed a tape measure. He began measuring every inch of my body with clinical efficiency.
Um... what exactly was going on?
"Hmph. You've trained well. Your muscles are well-balanced. Your 'spring' is particularly excellent—likely a natural talent. Raise your arms. Spread your feet."
"U-Um... alright."
As I stood there doing exactly as I was told, I tilted my head in confusion, wondering what I was doing with my life.
"—Measurements complete."
He turned to a locker and pulled out a crisp, stiff uniform that looked like it had just come from a professional cleaner. He spread it across the desk and, with terrifying speed, began cutting into it with scissors. Sewing tools appeared from nowhere, and he began stitching the fabric back together at high velocity.
The entire process took barely five minutes.
Before I could even process that, he draped a cloth over me and started cutting my hair. His movements were a blur of professional skill. My mother used to cut my hair back home, and while I’d always suspected she was just winging it, President Jin was a master.
By the time I realized what had happened, I was dressed in a perfectly tailored uniform. My messy hair had been trimmed and styled—it looked natural, yet remarkably neat.
President Jin pushed up his glasses again.
"Do not neglect your appearance. No matter how much martial prowess you possess, the people will not follow a slob. As a knight, you must be a model for the citizenry. Your appearance is the outermost layer of your character! Now, repeat after me!!"
"U-Um... My appearance is the outermost layer of my character?"
"Too quiet!!!!"
"My appearance is the outermost layer of my character!!"
"Good. Pay attention to your grooming—especially as you grow stronger. A polished appearance provides the public with a sense of security."
He offered a kind smile and extended his hand.
"Once again: I am Leo, the Student Council President of the Arcadia Sword Kingdom Knight Academy. I am also a Three-Star Knight, Jin Ashtress. I look forward to working with you."
"I'm Leo. It's a pleasure."
I was relieved. He was a good person after all. I gripped his hand firmly, and that’s when I felt it. His hand was incredibly hard, covered in thick, rugged calluses. A hand didn't get that way unless you swung a sword thousands of times every single day.
And a Three-Star Knight... at his age, he was already the same rank as Mr. Iricobert. He really was the real deal.
The door clicked open, and Flare and Frederica-senpai walked back in.
"Oh my! Leo-kun, your handsome levels just skyrocketed!"
"Wow, it looks great on you, Leo! You look so sharp!"
"You think so? But... this outfit is surprisingly easy to move in."
"Of course it is! It's designed so you can train in it exactly as it is!" Frederica explained. "It’s even blade-resistant and stain-proof. Once you wear a custom academy uniform, you’ll never want to take it off!"
As expected of a sword academy. It felt like I could walk straight onto a battlefield in this. Then again, Flare basically had.
"Alright! Time for Leo-kun's celebratory party—!"
"Wait a moment," Jin interrupted. "Leo... I'm sorry, but I can't officially admit you into the Student Council just yet."
"What?! Why, Jin? He has First Class Merit! First Class Merit!!" Flare protested.
"It's only logical. Under normal circumstances, commoners cannot enroll in the Knight Academy. Every student here is the child of a prestigious noble house. However, there is one exception. The Scholarship Student system."
"Scholarship Student?" I asked.
In my old world, that usually meant someone who excelled in academics or sports. But this was an academy for warriors. The requirement was obvious.
"Hello there, Newbie."
A man standing by the door flicked a piece of chocolate into the air with his thumb and caught it deftly in his mouth. He crunched on it loudly. He looked a bit older than me, perhaps a year or two younger than President Jin. He had a sturdy, athletic build and wore his uniform loosely. His silky blonde hair was long and incredibly shiny—the man clearly had a dedicated hair care routine.
"Allow me to introduce him," Jin said. "He is the Student Council Treasurer. Our Scholarship Student, Mr. Deskis Chocolate."
Deskis looked at me, winked, and blew a kiss off two fingers. I instinctively ducked to avoid it.
This guy was... a lot. His family name was Chocolate and he was constantly eating chocolate?
"You will fight him," Jin continued. "If you demonstrate a level of strength that satisfies us, I will officially recognize you as a Scholarship Student."
"……Wait. If he has a house name like 'Chocolate,' doesn't that mean he's a noble, not a commoner?"
I had been told the scholarship was for commoners. Deskis walked slowly toward me, still chewing.
"I love chocolate," Deskis said. "I’m told my very first solid food as a baby was chocolate."
No baby eats chocolate as their first food. If that was true, it was basically child abuse.
"I treat life as a constant battlefield. To ensure I can perform at my peak at any moment, I never allow my blood sugar to drop. Thus, chocolate."
"I-I see. I have heard it’s an efficient energy source," I replied.
He had a powerful aura, but he still hadn't answered my question about his name. Or... wait. Maybe it was the other way around.
"First Class Merit in your very first battle. A splendid achievement," Deskis said. "I also earned First Class Merit in my first campaign. The Sword King himself granted me a Knight Peerage for it."
"And you chose 'Chocolate' as your new house name?"
"Heh. Sharp. You've got good instincts. I’d love to say we commoners should stick together... but I won't know if you're worth talking to until we clash. If you're a disappointment, well, I’m afraid we won’t be friends."
I looked at Jin.
"That is the situation," the President said. "You will duel Deskis and prove your worth."
It looked like I was going to have a mock battle with this man. He was brimming with confidence, but he was a commoner who had clawed his way up to a peerage. If he had earned First Class Merit, he had to be exceptionally capable. I wondered just how strong he really was.
Frederica-senpai leaned in close to Flare’s back.
"Oh, Leo-kun! Want me to give you a little extra motivation for the fight?"
"What is it?"
"Deskis-kun is Flare's boyfriend."
Author’s Request:
Wait, wait! Hold your fire! It’s too early to start yelling at the author! Please, just read one more chapter before you judge.
Thank you so much for reading this far. If you're enjoying the story, please consider supporting me with a ★ and a follow.
When readers follow and rate the story: 1. The author gets a massive boost in motivation and works harder on the manuscript! Daily updates continue without fail! 2. Readers stay happy with consistent content and keep the support coming! 3. We make it all the way to the grand finale together!
I am determined to write this story to its conclusion, so I have a huge favor to ask. To help push this work up the rankings: - Please Follow the story. - Hit the "+" button on "Praise with ☆" below three times.
These two small actions help more than you can imagine! When the rankings go up, my writing speed increases exponentially. Conversely, seeing the rank drop is a major hit to my mental state, even when I'm determined to write.
Please, I humbly ask for your support!
↓ The "Praise with ☆" button is right below!