Chapter 10 — Challenge [2]
"No need to be so formal. This is the academy, after all. You can treat me comfortably."
"Thank you for your consideration. But still, I feel more comfortable this way."
Layla wasn't saying that just out of formality.
From what I'd learned while playing the game, Layla genuinely didn't care about social status.
She treated nobles and commoners alike—the very image of an ideal royal.
'Thanks to her, this class didn't have those common conflicts between nobles and commoners.'
Of course, it was partly due to Layla's character, but it was also because none of the commoners dared to harbor resentment toward a Princess, even if she were just another student.
And in this class, the nobles included two from ducal families and one from a count's family.
There were many commoners, but the imbalance alone was enough to make them feel small.
"Is that so? Well then, Alex—since we're in the same class, why don't you join us for a chat before class starts? We were just talking about you, actually."
"Were you? May I ask… why?"
"Your Highness."
Before Layla could answer, Sara had already risen from her seat and approached us.
"I would prefer if you didn't share that story with this man…"
"Sara. I told you, here at least, call me Layla."
"…Understood, Layla."
Sara lowered her head slightly in acknowledgment, then looked back at me.
Her eyes were still full of displeasure.
"I didn't expect you to end up in the same class as me."
"I didn't expect to meet you again this soon either."
I spoke with a polite smile—the kind of sales-smile I'd perfected back when I still had a job, before I turned into a full-time gamer.
But Sara looked at me with a mix of irritation and suspicion all the same.
"No matter how I look at it, you're suspicious. Some no-name noble from an unknown family dared to face me and—"
"Hey, hey. Sara. That's enough."
A green-haired boy—Cedric—approached us, chuckling softly.
"If you're a swordsman, you should know how to accept defeat. Clinging to it like this is just… pathetic, honestly."
"Shut up, Cedric. And I didn't lose to this man—"
"Yeah, yeah. I heard it all from Layla earlier. He blocked all your attacks, right?"
With a teasing grin, Cedric successfully shut her up, then turned to me and extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Alex. I just heard about you from Lady Layla."
"It's an honor to meet you, Sir Cedric."
I shook his hand firmly, and he smirked at my reply.
"Oh? You know who I am?"
"As a fellow swordsman, I've heard much about the Falkren Family."
"Oh-ho."
Cedric looked at me with an intrigued glint in his eyes.
"I heard from Her High—no, from Layla. You crossed swords with Sara earlier, didn't you?"
"It was just a brief exchange."
"Really? She said you won."
"…I wouldn't say I won. I merely managed to defend myself."
"The moment you blocked all of Sara's attacks, that was your victory."
Cedric said that, then paused for a moment to look me over.
"Alex Vanehart. From a baron family, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Hmmm. Interesting. A swordsman from some unheard-of family managed to beat Sara…"
"Cedric! I told you I didn't lose! The duel just didn't have a winner!"
Sara raised her voice, her face slightly flushed.
"And if you've got a problem with my swordsmanship, you can fight me yourself. I'll beat you too."
"I'd rather not. You fight way too dirty."
"Did you just call my family's swordsmanship dirty…?"
"Hey, you two, stop. Not here, okay…?"
Layla quickly stepped in between them to mediate.
Meanwhile, I stood awkwardly caught in the middle, unable to do or say anything.
I wanted to quietly slip away, but walking off without a word might offend these "highborn" students.
"Alright, alright! Everyone, take your seats. Huh? Most of you are already sitting. Oh, not all—hey, you four, sit down."
Just as I was fidgeting helplessly, my savior appeared.
"Today, we'll just do a quick round of introductions and call it a day for the morning."
The man who'd just entered the classroom was Lucas Thorne—homeroom teacher of First Year, Class One.
At his arrival, Sara glared briefly at Cedric before returning to her seat. Layla and Cedric followed suit.
I quickly slipped toward the back and sat beside Roy.
'Haah… I thought my heart was going to give out.'
As expected of Sara.
No wonder players used to curse her out constantly.
'Still, no matter how nasty her personality is, I need to stay on good terms with her.'
To become a knight, it was best to maintain friendly ties with the heirs of the three ducal families, whether I liked it or not.
Well, that could wait for later.
'It's been a while since I've sat in a classroom like this.'
I turned my gaze toward Lucas as he began introducing himself at the front.
Listening to a teacher like this again… it really did feel like I'd gone back to being a student.
Except this wasn't a school in twenty-first century Korea—so the feeling was entirely different.
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[To be Continued]
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