My name was Enderi.
Enderi Erika-teze Pugyal.
I was the seventh daughter of House Count Pugyal.
It was my third year since enrolling in Galgard Noble Academy.
The season for new enrollments had arrived once again. Since new students arrived from every corner of the vast Demon Kingdom, holding a single entrance ceremony for everyone was impossible. Instead, simple ceremonies were held almost daily throughout this period.
To ensure I remained in the instructors’ good graces, I volunteered to assist with these events. Though I was small of stature and could not claim to be particularly helpful, the mere gesture of cooperation was what mattered most.
One day, I spotted three beastman boys. They were looking around at their surroundings, marking them as new students. Since they had no attendants in tow, I surmised they were commoners. Even if I were wrong, it would hardly be a problem. At any rate, they appeared lost, so I felt compelled to help them.
As I expected, they were indeed struggling to find their way. One always feels better after performing a good deed.
However, something struck me as odd. At the academy’s main gate, Magic Dogs stood as sentries. They were notorious creatures, the bane of many a traveler. If one successfully avoided those dogs, they were guaranteed to find the sentry box. These boys must have been so overwhelmed by their new surroundings that they had completely overlooked it.
I chuckled to myself. It reminded me of my own arrival... No, I was fine back then. In my case, my attendants had found the sentry box for me without issue.
Later, I was quite surprised to learn the truth about those beastman boys. They were not commoners at all; they held a status equivalent to a Baron House Head. This was a rank reserved for the children of foreign royalty or diplomats who lacked a formal noble title within the Demon Kingdom.
I say "reserved for" because, while I had studied the rank of Baron House Head equivalent, I had never seen it in person. I imagined most students and instructors were in the same position. If I recalled correctly, the last time a student of that rank attended the academy was seventy years ago—and even then, they had only stayed for about three months.
The mark of their rank was clearly displayed on the reverse of the short mantles identifying them as students. However, I worried that students who were lax in their studies might mistake them for mere associates of a minor Baronial house.
As time passed, my unease grew. The beastman boys founded a club and seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. I worried whether they were actually attending their classes. I wondered if I should offer a word of caution.
My attendant, Meari, watched me with a knowing, warm gaze. I insisted to her that I was only worried and that it wasn't as if I particularly wanted to spend time with them. Truly, I meant it. When she asked why I was preparing a gift if I was "only worried," I told her that bringing a gift was the basic etiquette for a greeting. I told her to come along and threatened to leave her behind if she continued to complain.
They eventually treated me to a meal. To be honest, I expected little from food prepared outdoors, but the quality was shocking. It was overwhelmingly more delicious than anything served at House Pugyal. I realized then that this was the result of the seasonings and cooking techniques that Count Chrome had been using as diplomatic tools in recent years.
Were these boys associates of Count Chrome? If so, did the name "Instructor Frau," which frequently appeared in their conversation, refer to Lady Fraurem, the Count’s eldest daughter? And if that were true, was "Instructor Yuri" actually... the Royal Princess?
No, that seemed impossible.
The boys’ names were Gol, Sil, and Bron. From that day on, we became friends. I wanted them to know I was not their enemy.
I also made use of their bath. The water was a bit hot for me, though it was just right for Meari. I felt the changing area could have been a bit more spacious. It also would have looked much grander had they provided mirrors and other amenities. I found myself doing little but complaining, though that was merely my inability to be honest. It was not a bad facility at all. In fact, I wanted one just like it for my own home.
Hiring a carpenter for such a task felt uncouth. I decided that once Gol and the others had some free time, I would request their help. Until then, I intended to frequent their club.
Then, Gol and his friends had a falling out with Marquis Glitch. The catalyst was the Marquis’s foolish son, but Gol and the others refused to back down even an inch against a high-ranking noble. While I admired their courage, I simultaneously feared they didn't realize who they were dealing with.
Marquis Glitch was one of the Three Marquises renowned throughout the southern continent. His family was one of the most prestigious in the Demon Kingdom; in a different era, they might have even been permitted to call themselves kings. While I thought the Marquis was being childish, he likely felt he had to do something to salvage his son’s reputation.
The dispute escalated into a duel. I was terrified for them. The match was set for the very next day, and to make matters worse, the parties involved were barred from participating personally.
I saw through the Marquis’s strategy immediately. He was hoping for a victory by default, assuming Gol and the others would be unable to find warriors willing to fight on such short notice. It was a calculated move to end the matter before any significant interference could occur.
As I predicted, word had reached the other club members via their families, instructing them to stay out of the conflict. Opposing a Marquis was never a wise move, and they could not afford to bring trouble upon their households. While a loss by default would be a blow to their pride, it wouldn't necessarily be a disaster.
Even so, winning a duel by default was simply not elegant. If they were to lose, they should at least fight.
When I learned they were short one person, I volunteered. I told Lord Gol not to worry—though I was small, I had absolute confidence in my attack magic. I puffed out my chest, silently apologizing to my father back in our territory for the trouble I was about to cause.
However, on the day of the duel, I found myself standing next to the Demon King. I was baffled. Was he participating? Not as a spectator, but as a warrior for Gol’s side? I could only offer a strained laugh as I wondered if he was truly the real one.
Beside the Demon King stood Security Team Captain Hita, General Guiscard, and Lord Hou of the Four Heavenly Kings. I felt utterly out of place.
When the order was decided by lottery, the Demon King was chosen as the first fighter, exactly as he had predicted. I wondered if someone of his status could even bend the luck of a draw to his will. If so, was it his intention that I be placed last?
I sat there in silence, and before I knew it, the duel was over. They thanked me, but I insisted there was no need. I had done absolutely nothing. I felt embarrassed to even accept their gratitude.
I had worried that winning would cause trouble for my family, but with the Demon King and Lord Hou involved—both of whom outranked Marquis Glitch—I realized the worst-case scenario was unlikely. Count Chrome also assured me there was no need for concern. I decided I would eventually write a letter to my father to explain the situation.
Following the duel, everything moved so fast that I could hardly keep up. Gol and the others were suddenly "graduated" and appointed as instructors. I eventually realized the logic: it was a face-saving measure to ensure the Marquis hadn't lost to mere students.
Losing a duel was one thing, but losing to "inexperienced youths" would have been a public relations disaster for a man of his standing. It made sense, in a strange way. I did wonder about the Certificates of Graduation Gol and the others possessed, though. Since there were so many of them, I had assumed they were just decorations, but perhaps they were real? I decided to stop overthinking it.
Today was a day for celebration—the anniversary of their appointment as instructors. I set out with a gift in hand.
I was quite proud of my choice. I had managed to procure Killer Rabbit meat from the famous Goroun Company. Even Gol and his friends surely didn't get to eat such high-class meat often. I looked forward to seeing the looks of surprise on their faces.
Killer Rabbit: Also known as the Fanged Rabbit, a creature inhabiting the Forest of Death.