515 – Last Semester – 3

The last vacation was a glorious time to wander around for Mar and her first child, but since Mar is not a 24-hour eating machine, she actually spent little time wandering around. No matter how long I was outside, it was only 2 hours a day.

Thanks to that, she was able to enjoy the peaceful and relaxing rest that befits the word vacation, but that doesn’t mean she really played without lifting a finger.

“This is material prepared through cross-verification and advice from local people. It will be difficult to provide help after this semester, so please consider it my sincerity.”

“Oh, no, you don’t have to go this far… “

Materials on the history, culture, and characters of the North written during vacation.

As someone studying the North, when I handed over material that did not include One Piece, Gerhard stuttered as if he was moved.

“From the moment I decided to help Mr. Gerhard, Mr. Gerhard’s research became my job as well. Of course, wouldn’t it be necessary to do it this way?”

The giver seemed so grateful that it made me happy, which made me smile. Basically, a gift is made up of the sincerity of the giver and the reaction of the recipient. In that sense, this gift is the best gift.

Even this data is not made up of my memories and experiences. Until now, the North was the territory of a hostile force, so we had to rely on memory, but now the North and the nomads are clearly an imperial force, aren’t they? If you contact the communication district right away, there are more than ten great lords from nomads who will give you a detailed explanation.

‘Everyone was cooperative too.’

Moreover, when he mentioned ‘a teacher who devoted his life to the study of the North’, the great lords kindly told him even things they did not ask.

As nomads are also people, it may be an expression of favor or respect for the teacher who studies them, but the great lords who pursue the imperialization of nomads more than anyone else hope that the north will become a familiar region for the empire. Therefore, the deeper the empire’s research into the north, the greater the benefit to the great lords.

Of course, I have no intention of telling Gerhardt such things. It’s not cool to talk about the details.

“So please accept it. If it is a burden, think of it for the peace and prosperity of the empire, not for Mr. Gerhard’s personal desire for knowledge.”

“Thank you so, so much! It may take a lifetime to not be enough, but I will definitely repay this favor someday!”

Anyway, after adding his own good words, Gerhard bowed his back, showing off a perfect 90 degree angle.

Meanwhile, it was impressive to see him swearing to repay the favor. If everyone in the world were half as old as Gerhard, wouldn’t the continent be full of laughter?

‘It’s a shame that this relationship has to end like this.’

Eventually, a small desire arose deep in my heart. It is a natural desire to continue to have great talent with a combination of intelligence and character.

Yes, this is a natural desire. There is nothing to say if you are an experienced academy teacher in a situation where even bright children who have just graduated from the academy are being taken away.

No, it would not be right to just let go of a person who devoted his life to northern research as a faction leader of the northern faction in the first place. Even if other people turn away, I cannot turn away from Gerhard.

‘Scouting must be difficult.’

However, the title of academy teacher is an irreplaceable honor and power for scholars and educators. It is difficult for any country to give a position greater than that.

Hmm.

“Now that I think about it, Mr. Gerhardt, you said that it is better to experience research in the field than to read it in words, right?”

“Oh, yes, that’s right. After all, there is no better data than the field.”

Gerhardt, who was looking at the data with a happy expression as if he were looking at his oldest child, hastily nodded at my words.

‘Good.’

I was worried that he might be the type that doesn’t like moving, but looking at his secretly sad expression, it seems like he prefers moving around rather than sitting at his desk his. He just became a forced desk favorite because he couldn’t go to the North until now.

“Then, northern research will gain even more vitality in the future.”

With those words, he took out a business card from his pocket and signed.

A letter of recommendation has been created to be distributed to graduates whenever possible, but this will be used for purposes other than letters of recommendation.

“Fortunately, I have some close relationships with the great lords who manage the North. If I show them this business card and tell them that I am here for academic research, I will not be blocked from entering.”

Gerhard’s eyes widened when he heard that it was a free pass authorized by the faction leader.

In fact, the North is still an unknown territory for the general public. It has only been a year since it became part of the empire, and compared to the vast territory, the population is small and even those living scattered here and there, and unlike that, there are many animals. Even with empty words, it is difficult to say that the general public can travel safely.

Thanks to this, with the exception of soldiers from the northern garrison and merchants doing business with the north, entry to the north by natives is restricted, but Gerhard received my name. If you want to enter the north, not only will you be refused, but you will even be escorted.

“Well, if entry is not blocked…?”

“You can go anywhere as long as you don’t cross the border.”

Based on my confirmation, Gerhard’s waist went beyond 90 degrees and reached a miraculous 120 degrees.

If you can’t keep him under your command, you should at least keep him close to you. The entire north is like my jurisdiction.

‘My jurisdiction…’

It’s a little bitter. How did that vast territory come to be under the jurisdiction of a single count?

This is all because of the emperor who gave me the position of leader of a faction that did not even exist in the Eight Characters. The ones who promoted him were the great lords of the North, but it was because of that b*stard.

***

Lately, I can feel that Later has become more motivated.

“Can’t you stop harassing that damn bishop?”

“This is fun, are you asking me to give it up?”

“Damn it.”

Of course, being motivated and having skills are two different things, but it is clear that I have more passion than last semester.

This doesn’t mean that Laterra was lazy and lethargic as usual. Radical and radical moves that would not have been seen if it were just Lateral have been seen frequently recently. As if there were no more left behind.

‘There really isn’t one.’

Very regretfully, this semester is the last semester we will be able to gather together. This semester is the last time we talk while eating cookies, warm up by playing foot volleyball, and exercise our brains by playing chess.

However, even now, with graduation just around the corner, Laterer has never beaten me at chess. It’s really unfortunate.

‘At this point, I don’t want to lose either.’

If we had alternated between wins and losses, if La Terre was gritting his teeth to increase his chances of winning, he would have been okay with it.

However, my win rate is higher than Laterer’s and I am in a situation where I will win every game. I don’t want to graduate with a blemish on this perfect record. It can’t be helped if you lose because of your skills, but you should avoid losing because you’re watching.

‘Anyway, this guy isn’t normal either.’

I laughed as I watched Later grinding his teeth. The other guys are annoyed by me and then play chess among themselves, but Laterer is taking on the challenge alone. He is steadily accumulating a record of losses and is constantly dealing with me.

I know that it’s not human to make fun of the same person over and over again. However, it is not the knight’s duty to avoid the opponent’s risk of defeat.

That is why we are using all kinds of tactics when dealing with Laterer. Shaking the spirit with an unprecedented style and shaking it again through provocation. That is the greatest respect I have for Laterer.

‘It’s going to be a mess during the anti-semitic war.’

The idea that started with chess eventually progressed to a half-match game. Chess is not the only game where you have to compete with Laterer.

No, rather, the war against opposition is real. The results of chess are known only to our club, but the class competition is an open match known to the entire academy.

‘He must have sharpened his knife too.’

And it is correct to assume that this guy is also thinking what I am thinking. Just as I consider the war against the two countries to be a real thing, this guy will be fully prepared to win the war against the two countries.

If not, that’s even weirder. You can grind your teeth just by playing chess, but you just pass up a half-match match? That is only possible if you are a person with distorted values.

So I go with all my heart. To determine which is stronger between Armain’s sword and Yuven’s staff.

“Where has the chess player gone?”

In that sense, I threw a small provocation towards the groaning Laterer. If today’s provocation contributes to tomorrow’s victory, we can do whatever we want.

“You…!”

Naturally, the effect was clear.

It’s a bit surprising. He looks like an ice mage with cold blood, but surprisingly he has a fiery personality.

‘Has it changed because of me?’

If so, I’m sorry.

***

This year, things got a little dark regarding the return to the Academy. When Mar was on the student council, I naturally heard about the academy schedule and work progress, but there is no way to do that anymore. If you barge into the student council room just to hear about the schedule, others will see it as strange.

‘If anyone sees it, they’ll think you’re there for inspection.’

I also forget about it once or twice a week, but the official reason for my permanent presence at the Academy is to inspect the Academy. If an inspector makes a surprise visit to the student council room, it can only be seen as a surprise inspection.

So, even though the situation at the Academy was dark, I decided to do it and moved on. If it’s something really important, the principal or vice principal will let you know. It’s something only a fool would do to come forward and ask for work.

But even I feel that the atmosphere at the Academy is unusual these days.

“Why are they like that?”

A small playground visible from the window. I looked at Erich and Lyutis having a passionate sparring there. Lateral also poured out magic without stopping on one side, and it felt like watching a veteran wizard participating in the battlefield.

“Ah, I’m preparing for the class competition. I heard you want to decorate the final competition with a win?”

Rize kindly answered my questions.

I see It was an obsession with victory.

‘Fucked.’

Even at first glance, the preparation showed a lot of passion, so I naturally broke into a cold sweat. If you prepare with full power like that, the probability of an accident occurring also increases.

During his later years as an inspector general, he had to be careful of falling leaves, and during that critical period, an emergency situation occurred where a key figure in another country might bleed or faint—

‘…You already shed it the year before last.’

Now that I think about it, even if they fight among themselves, they won’t get hurt as badly as they did the year before last.

I suddenly felt at ease.