[114] End-of-Term Report Card (6)
Even so, his grades didn't improve.
They'd heard he'd mastered the schema a month ago, but his rate of improvement was so slow it was almost unbelievable.
"No matter how much of a loser I am, you can't know until you try. Who knows—if I actually go for it, maybe things'll turn out better than anyone expects?"
"Heh. Yeah, that's so you."
Tess had never seen Rian nervous. It felt strange that Rian, the weakest of them facing a test that could cost him limbs, was so calm.
'Well, he was always like that.'
Tess had met Rian during the probation period.
Cadets had a natural appetite for combat. With three hundred such kids packed together, the atmosphere had been brutal from day one. The instructors didn't meddle much with life inside the barracks, and predictably a few wolves showed their teeth.
The pecking order was sorted in an instant.
Those who'd learned the schema made Group 1, the physically strong formed Group 2, and the rest fell into Group 3. The real problem was the recruits who didn't even make Group 3—boys who'd been pushed into the academy by their parents despite having no interest in the sword.
Richard Paiger, Group 1's leader, relentlessly tormented those boys. He'd always had a vicious streak, and entering an academy that legally taught killing techniques only loosened his reins.
Tess didn't care. Among the trainees, the roughly ten skilled girls were free from the rank fights.
At the time, Rian ranked mid in Group 2.
That should have kept him safe from bullying, but Rian didn't mix with anyone. He'd applied to the sword school for one reason: he didn't care about graduating—he only wanted to train until he became a swordsman worthy of Shirone.
"Ha ha ha! Hey, go! Faster!"
"Hee-hee-hin! Hee-hee-hin!"
One day in the barracks, Group 1 cadets had climbed onto the backs of weaker boys and raced them. Each time they whipped the boys acting as horses with clubs, the boys let out neighs.
Some cadets frowned, but most cheered like they were watching a real horse race. Small bets had been placed. And anyone who showed reluctance risked becoming the one crawling under them.
"Faster! We're gonna win! We're gonna win!"
Paiger, out in front, was in his element. Never one to accept defeat, he put everything into even a prank race. As the finish line neared, his blows grew harder. The cadet playing the horse crawled on bleeding knees, tears in his eyes.
"Hee-hee-hin! Hee-hin!"
"Yeah! I'm first—!"
As he reached for the line, a blurry afterimage flashed before Paiger's eyes. A sudden, sharp impact struck the bridge of his nose.
"Ugh!"
Paiger was kicked off the "horse" before he knew what happened. Behind him, the trailing racers crossed the line one after another.
"Cut it out. Is this your playground?"
Clutching his throbbing nose, Paiger glared at the blue‑haired boy.
"You little—!"
Ozent Rian.
Paiger had thought Rian's skill middling even for Group 2. His pride burned at being struck by a kid who hadn't even learned the schema.
"What are you, huh? Want to die?"
Rian didn't answer. His reserved nature hadn't changed since entering the school. If he had nothing to say, he simply said nothing.
"Look at this guy…"
Paiger rose, baring a murderous look. The situation was tense, but no terrified cadet dared intervene.
Of course, some felt no urge to step in. Tess was one of them.
This was a sword school. In a group meant to train for war, standing up for the weak changed nothing. In the end, force decided everything.
"Oh, it's Rian? So he caused trouble after all."
Tess glanced back. A girl her age, but a head taller than the boys, had planted herself like a wall.
"You know his name? He doesn't look very strong."
"He's weak. But stubborn. The Group 2 kids pooled some cash the other day—for Paiger's birthday. The only one who didn't pay was Rian."
"Oh, so he got singled out."
"He must've been stewing. Still, I was surprised. Thought he was quiet, but he's hotter-blooded than he looks."
"Hmm…"
Tess studied Rian more closely. He still kept his mouth shut, but he didn't seem like one to back down.
'There are people like that. The kingdom really is wide.'
That was all she felt. Raised under a commander father in occupied territories, she'd grown up around many eccentrics.
No matter what creed you preached, if your sword wasn't strong it would break—that was this world's iron law.
"Ha ha ha. Is he mute now? Too late to regret. You didn't expect to act like that and keep all your limbs, did you?"
"Take it outside. If the instructor finds out, it won't look good for evaluations."
Paiger was incredulous. The one who should've been begging for mercy was instead trying to avoid the instructor's eyes and insisting on a fight.
"Fine. Like you asked. Follow me. And you lot—come along. I'll show you what happens when you pick a fight with me."
Paiger dragged Rian to an open yard behind the building. Groups 1 through 3 lined up behind Paiger; only a few kids who didn't belong to any group lingered on Rian's side.
They'd already lost their nerve. None of them had intended to fight from the start; they simply hadn't been part of Paiger's crew. Inwardly, they resented Rian for escalating things.
"Hey, the ones who don't want to get beaten—cross over here."
Paiger offered them a way out. The cadets didn't hesitate; they surged past Rian and ran to the other side.
"Ha ha ha! Pathetic. Hey, Rian. What now? Everyone ran away—you're the only one left."
"Relying on numbers. Pathetic from the start."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"If you have to fight, you do it like a knight. You don't even deserve to be one."
Paiger snorted. In war, knights tore each other apart like dogs; chivalry was just a wrapper for those who survived.
"All right, let's see if your fists match your mouth. I'll take you on myself. Don't get cocky. Saying you'll do it alone means you want to die."
Rian raised his fists and took a fighting stance. Paiger strolled up as if on a leisurely walk.
"I'll take one hit for you. Go on—strike first."
Paiger flicked his fingers. Rian threw a punch. Paiger dodged and slammed his fist into Rian's abdomen.
"Ugh!"
Rian's eyes widened at the pain, as if his stomach had been torn. It felt like a heavy rock had been driven into his gut. Was that a schema‑reinforced punch?
"You idiot. Why would I take a hit for you?"
Paiger taunted, but it surprised him that one blow hadn't finished the job. He'd been careless. Realizing that, he unleashed a barrage.
Rian's condition degraded rapidly. It was bare‑fisted combat, but the schema made every hit a killing blow—like being pounded by a heavily armed soldier.
When Paiger's fist drove into his belly, Rian's feet left the ground.
When he hit down again, even someone as tough as Rian couldn't stay upright. His knees buckled and his body collapsed toward the dirt.
'Of course…'
Paiger sneered. Then, suddenly, Rian shot forward like an arrow and dove under Paiger's arms.
'What? Still got fight in you?'
Paiger flinched. Rian hadn't mastered the schema; Paiger could tell from the feel of the blows that Rian hadn't been properly defended. Normally, he'd already be out cold.
Rian focused his attacks on Paiger's abdomen. Aiming for the face would be easy to dodge. But by hiding under Paiger's broad back and attacking from below, he prevented Paiger from countering recklessly.
The tactic worked. Paiger staggered back, each blow making his gut throb.
'What the hell is this kid?'
For Paiger, the best he could expect was to come out even. Getting into a brawl with someone who couldn't handle the schema was humiliating.
"You little bastard!"
Paiger lost control. He grabbed Rian's shoulders, shoved him off, and then rained down punches like a madman. The dull thuds echoed across the yard. The cadets watched the one‑sided beating with ashen faces.
When Paiger blinked and regained his head, Rian lay crumpled like a rag. He wasn't unconscious, though—his fingers twitched. Anger flared in Paiger's eyes.
"Argh! This is getting on my nerves!"
Paiger kicked Rian as if pounding him flat. Only then did the Group 1 kids, finally grasping the seriousness, rush over.
"Hey, stop it! You'll actually kill him!"
"Let go! I'll kill him! Die, you bastard!"
Rian's reactions dulled until he stopped moving. Paiger looked around; seeing the fear on the cadets' faces eased his temper somewhat.
"Listen up! This is what happens if you mess with me! Hey, bring a rope!"
They stripped Rian down to his underwear. Bruises mottled his hard, muscular body. Paiger decided to make an example of him: he tied Rian up and hung him high in a tree.
Blood dripped from Rian's face; he was curled like a shrimp.
"Ha ha ha! Like baiting a worm on a hook. Should've known your place before you acted up."
"Heh. That's humiliating—bragging and then getting caught."
Scoffs and jeers poured from all sides, as if they'd won a battle.
Tess frowned. No matter how weak someone was, to give a person that level of humiliation—
There were girls their age here, too. What must be going through Rian's head? How deep the hurt?
"Ugh…"
Rian came to. He hadn't lost consciousness, but he wasn't whole. A crowd of cadets snickered, gaping like they were watching a monkey in a zoo.
Tess met Rian's eyes and tried to keep her expression composed. Sympathy now might only wound him further. But contrary to expectation, Rian smiled and winked.
"Ah, sorry about that. Ladies present and all."
Tess kept her face neutral, but something strange stirred inside her.
"Ha ha ha! What are you even saying? Showing off in a situation like this—you're an idiot."
"Be honest. Do you think acting cool after getting your ass kicked makes you look better? You're ridiculous."
"Embarrassing, huh? Embarrassing, huh? In front of the girls like that. I'd rather bite my tongue and die."
Rian looked down at the cadets. Despite their taunts, his gaze was calm.
"It's fine. Even if it's embarrassing."
"Ha ha ha! Guys like you will live like that forever. Or are you into some kind of kink? You enjoying this?"
Rian said plainly, "I'll forget it soon enough."
Silence fell. An inexplicable unease took hold.
"I fought my hardest, so I'm not ashamed. Time will pass and you might not even remember a day like this. But tell me—can you really forget?"
No answer came. Their hearts were all racing.
"The image of you cowering and running without even trying will probably follow you for the rest of your lives. You'll regret it—if only you'd fought back then, if only you'd stood up. But you know the truth, don't you? You can't turn back time."
The cadets' faces trembled. This fear was a different kind from Paiger's violence.