Chapter 13 – Genius vs. Prodigy

—Gulp.

Lodels, a third-year student and member of the Cradle’s swordsmanship club.

He waited for someone, his face etched with anxiety.

Moments later, a presence arrived, and feet descended before him.

At the same time, a maid, fully armed, took her place at his side.

“Your High—!”

He almost blurted out the honorific, but managed to restrain himself.

He kept making the same mistake. Even knowing how much the person before him detested it.

She considered herself not a person of noble birth, but a warrior burdened with duty.

“Senior.”

“It’s been a while, Lodels. How was your vacation?”

“Good, Senior.”

For a while, they exchanged the customary small talk.

How were the Marquess and Marchioness doing? How was his elder sister, now that she had married?

They were students of the same Cradle, members of the same swordsmanship club, and wielders of the same sword.

It was this that sparked a measure of camaraderie between Rodels and the woman before him.

“Indeed. You must be swamped with the beginning of term. What brings you to me?”

And so. He found himself capable of making such an outrageous request, just this once.

“Senior. Would you be willing to lend your aid to the Swordsmanship Club?”

“Hmm.”

“It is in no way my intention to exploit your authority, or your influence. As a Swordsmanship Club. As a Cradle Awakened. I am requesting support from a powerful ally.”

Born of noble blood, yet she refrains from flaunting it herself.

Rather, she places greater importance on her duties as an Awakened, having awakened her own ability.

“I implore you. Senior. Please, I beg you, for the sake of the Swordsmanship Club!”

“Insolent. Lower your voice.”

The maid at her side frowned slightly, and Rodels flinched.

“Enough. Surely our junior doesn’t intend disrespect. Besides, this is Cradle, not the Imperial Palace.”

“My apologies.”

“So. Would you care to elaborate? To come to me so abruptly, with such a request. That it concerns the Club, well, that piques my interest somewhat.”

“It’s just….”

Rodels bit his lip, reflexively halting his response. He felt a sting of shame.

He was a high-born noble. A student of Cradle, and a future Awakened of the Empire.

Yet here he stood, resembling nothing so much as a child, beaten and bruised, begging for someone to scold the bully.

“Don’t be ashamed, Rodels.”

As though reading his very thoughts, the woman beyond the screen smiled.

“This concerns the Swordsmanship Club. And I am a member of the Swordsmanship Club. I have every right, every reason to intervene.”

“Ah….”

Rodels let out a sigh, and carefully recounted the events of the day prior.

Without exaggeration, nor any omission. As calmly as he could, yet with utmost sincerity.

“…That’s the caliber of this freshman, Senior.”

“Yes. Senior. Truthfully, even if the entire Club had thrown themselves at him, I believe the outcome would have been decided within ten seconds.”

Rodels’s grades within Cradle were among the top tier. Not just in theory, but in training as well.

With a little more effort, he could easily contend for a spot in the top three of his year.

Yet such a Rodels reacted like this. Anticipating defeat. No, convinced of it.

It was this that stirred the woman beyond the screen’s curiosity to no small degree.

Just how strong could he be? How overwhelmingly powerful could this new student truly be, to elicit such a reaction?

“I see.”

A smile graced her lips. A peculiar heat bloomed in her heart.

“For now, go. Junior. And wait.”

“Yes, Senior.”

No firm answer was given. Whether she would truly oversee a practice match, or not.

But Rodels didn’t seek an answer.

He simply acknowledged her words. Apologizing once more, before taking his leave.

“How unexpected. That junior doesn’t strike me as someone to ask for help.”

At the woman beyond the screen’s words, laced with amusement, the maid lowered her head.

“I thought perhaps it concerned the Marquis family.”

“Surely not. If Roderhs, my junior, was only capable of *that*, would I even call him my junior?”

“Indeed.”

The maid’s reply was layered with unwavering faith.

“Is this the last one for today? I heard there was supposed to be one more.”

“That… actually, the Student Council President requested an audience a short while ago.”

“Nepherti, my junior, was that other person? I wonder what brings her here so suddenly.”

The screen parts, and a snow-white woman appears from beyond.

From head to toe. Quite literally a figure sculpted from pure light.

“I cannot possibly receive the Student Council President in a place like this. I shall arrange a more suitable setting.”

“As you wish.”

*

Within the Cradle, the Student Council wields considerable power.

The students here are not mere students. Each and every one possesses an ability, a unique power.

They are the Empire’s most crucial asset. The ones who will one day close the Gates, and fight against the monsters.

Therefore, the Student Council, at the heart of these students, naturally holds significant sway.

The Student Council President, leader of that council, becomes the focal point for all students within the Cradle, regardless of status.

Even those nearing graduation. Even the teachers cannot easily dismiss the Student Council President.

“….”

Nepherti may be the Student Council President, holding such a position, yet she cannot help but feel nervous now.

The person she is about to meet is undeniably formidable. Not to mention, also the Commander of the Expeditionary Force.

“Were you kept waiting? Student Council President?”

Finally, a melodious voice reached her from behind, and she rose from her seat.

Then, with exceptional grace, she bowed deeply, performing the formal greeting.

“Student Council President Nepherti greets her *sunbae*.”

“There’s no need for that. Couldn’t you treat me a little more… casually?”

*Huhu*. Smiling, the silver-haired woman gestured to a seat.

At that, Nepherti moved to sit down again. Or, rather, she tried to.

“*Kkeureuk!*”

Tripped up by something again, it seemed. The Student Council President landed on her rear.

The woman merely chuckled, watching her tumble.

“Some Wind-attribute users maintain perfect balance through their ability. Is the Student Council President not capable of that yet?”

Finally, when Nepherti managed to right herself, the woman posed the playful question.

“Ah. That… no matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to prevent myself from falling.”

“How peculiar. Here, try this. It’s a new blend, the aroma is quite delightful.”

Indeed, it was no exaggeration. She had never tasted such fragrant tea before.

With a single sip, her chest felt refreshed, and her mind cleared.

“How is student council business?”

“It’s only just begun, but it’s manageable. Even enjoyable.”

“That’s good. With passion and enthusiasm, there’s nothing we humans cannot achieve.”

If even a sense of duty were added to that, all the better. Neferti nodded at those words.

They felt like something she wanted to say to every single ability user.

“Still… what could possibly bring the student council president, so busy with other matters, to visit Senior Lee? Could it be about the dispatched unit? Or perhaps a change in the schedule for the fourth years?”

“It’s nothing like that.”

“Ahem.” After a brief pause, Neferti spoke again, a decision seemingly made.

“Senior.”

“Yes, Student Council President.”

“Are you truly… planning to participate in that club friendship match?”

“Direct, aren’t you? Not very like the usual Student Council President.”

The woman, who had been tapping at her teacup, regarded Neferti intently.

“I was originally on the fence. But for the Student Council President, of all people, to say such a thing… it only piques my interest further.

What is the Student Council President’s opinion? I’m listening.”

After a moment of consideration, Neferti spoke cautiously.

“Perhaps… it might be better if you didn’t get involved.”

“Really?”

“It’s not that I doubt your skills, Senior. But this is a truly promising newcomer, the best I’ve seen among the underclassmen in a long time. To see them cut down so early… it just doesn’t seem right.”

A deeper curiosity flickered in the silver-haired woman’s eyes.

The Student Council President. Neferti, who first proposed the possibility of utilizing wind-type abilities, typically relegated to support roles, in combat. A genius of her age.

She was pleading with her not to crush the confidence of the younger student.

“…Student Council President.”

“Yes?”

“Saying something like that… only makes me want to participate even more.”

“Eep! S-Senior!”

Neferti, flustered, raised her voice, sounding almost embarrassed.

But she quickly realized her mistake and offered an apology.

“I’m sorry, Senior. I got too carried away—”

“No, Student Council President. I’m the one who should apologize. For not being able to grant your request, even after you plead like that.”

“…”

“I am a princess of the Empire. At the same time, I am an ability user and a student of the Cradle. If there is a talented underclassman, I would like to meet them, and even clash with them. Because that talented underclassman will be a pillar of the Empire’s future.”

And, incidentally… I want to see what the promising students of today are like, as a promising student of three years ago.

*

Ultimately, the Student Council President departs empty-handed. I gaze upon the younger student I cherish so.

“Your Highness.”

The beautiful woman with hair like a cascading silver waterfall slowly turned her head.

“You truly intend to accept?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“There’s no reason you shouldn’t. But…”

“I haven’t been very active, but I am still a member of the Swordsmanship Club. The club asked me for a favor, and to coldly refuse them… As a club member, as a senior… wouldn’t that be the wrong thing to do?”

As she asked with a beautiful smile, the guard-maid retreated with a sigh.

“More than that… I’m quite looking forward to it.”

If those lads in the swordsmanship club were anything to go by, she was facing some fairly decent ability users.

And this student, a freshman no less, had plunged them headfirst into the depths of defeat.

Even the student council president came out and openly touted him as the most promising newcomer.

The undisputed strongest student in the entire academy. A genius who’d never relinquished the top spot.

Shabel’s prized pupil, the most accomplished talent to emerge from Yoram. The Empire’s Third Princess, Luciel Margretel.

A slight curve graced her lips as she thought about the friendly club competition set for tomorrow.