Boy And Samurai Girl’s Dream

The academy had grown busy with all sorts of things after entering the third term. Graduating students were occupied with choosing their future paths… while the current students were growing increasingly fired up over the interclass tournament.

“Then we’ll have Rudel-kun, Izumi-san, and after that…”

It was the same in Rudel’s class. Students whom the teachers considered capable based on their grades and demonstrated ability were approached to represent the class. They could decline, but few generally did. Being able to compete as a class representative was, after all, considered an honor.

For nobles, it was a matter of prestige, while for commoners, it could also be considered an opportunity to advertise their abilities.

After classes ended, Rudel finished discussing matters with the other participants and remained in the classroom after school, reading. He had to return the library book that day, so he had decided to finish it and return it before heading back to the dormitory.

Rudel had been enjoying a fulfilling life at the academy. Even Basil, whom he had hired, taught him practical applications of magic from early in the morning while looking dreadful and without even fixing her hair, and the people around him had begun speaking to him freely about all sorts of things.

Beside Rudel, Izumi was likewise reading a book in the classroom. Throughout the third term, she had continued spending time with Rudel just as before. Though rather than reading her book… she had been watching Rudel.

From Izumi’s perspective, Rudel was eccentric but straightforward. He openly declared that he would become the strongest Dragoon in the kingdom and worked tirelessly toward that goal, and she found that admirable. Besides, Rudel had been helping her ever since her first day at the academy. Izumi’s feelings for Rudel had already grown beyond simple friendship.

…Rudel himself had no idea, though.

Rudel finished his book and placed it on the desk. At the same moment, he spoke to Izumi.

“The interclass tournament… our first match is against Aleist’s class, right?”

When Rudel brought up the subject, Izumi became flustered inwardly.

“Y-Yeah… Are you worried after all?”

“Worried? No, if possible, I want to fight Aleist. If I fight the strongest student in our year, I might be able to see how much I’ve grown and what I’m still lacking. Besides… if I’m going to fight, I intend to win.”

To Rudel, defeat was not meaningless. He only had to stand back up afterward. What was even more meaningless was a victory from which he gained nothing.

For the current Rudel, losing against someone strong held more value than defeating someone weak. He was in an environment where he could learn, and this was only a match, after all…

“You’re always so positive, Rudel… I envy you.”

Seeing Izumi lower her head, Rudel decided to ask something he had long wanted to know.

“What’s your goal, Izumi? You came to this academy because you had some purpose, didn’t you?”

Izumi began speaking with a slightly embarrassed expression. Her dream was to obtain the status of a knight in Courtois… and not merely an ordinary position. She wanted to become one of the elite among the elite, a rank above ordinary knights that was commonly known in Courtois as a High Knight… It was an enormous burden for Izumi as a foreigner, but she explained that she had been sent here so she could help her younger brother, who would follow after her, as well as the other members of her family.

The status of High Knight was not limited to a single generation. In Courtois, a kingdom that valued bringing new blood into its nobility, attaining that rank meant gaining noble status for one’s family. Precisely because of that, however, extremely strict examinations and standards had been established.

“Why do you want knightly status in Courtois? Your family is already a knightly house in your own country, isn’t it?”

Rudel was not especially knowledgeable about the circumstances of foreign nations. He knew little beyond their diplomatic relationships. He could not understand why Izumi wanted to become a knight in Courtois.

“…We lost in a political upheaval. My clan can no longer participate in politics. And the persecution against us may grow worse… In short, we want to seek asylum. Even so, my clan comes from a warrior lineage. If even one member of our family becomes a High Knight, instead of receiving only a temporary knightly rank, our entire clan will be recognized as a knightly family.”

The difference between Dragoons and High Knights was that High Knights did not ride dragons into the front lines. Instead, they served as shields responsible for guarding important figures of the kingdom and defending vital positions. If Dragoons were Courtois’s spear, then High Knights were likewise indispensable to the kingdom.

“During the examination, they’ll make you renounce your homeland and swear loyalty to Courtois, you know? They’ll literally tell you to abandon the country where you were born… Are you saying your clan is prepared to go that far, Izumi?”

“That’s a harsh way to put it… but yes, we’re prepared. That’s why I’m aiming to become a High Knight. If I manage to attain that rank and gain noble status, perhaps my family may end up relying on the Arses Family someday.”

Rudel simply assumed she meant in terms of political factions. For a minor noble house, placing itself under a great noble was only natural. No matter how many pretty ideals one proclaimed, even the most capable family could not survive after making an enemy of a great noble house.

“I see. I’ll support you, Izumi, and I’ll support your clan too. But only in a personal capacity. …If you ever decide to place yourselves under someone’s protection, though, stay away from the Arses Family. You’ll only tarnish the status you worked so hard to obtain.”

This time, Rudel lowered his head. More and more nobles under the Arses Family had been abandoning them. On top of that, the administration of their territory was in ruins, and rebuilding it would take time. A fallen house… that was what the Arses Family had become.

“You’re the next head of the family, aren’t you, Rudel? Then someday…”

“My father will never relinquish his position as long as he lives. And he’ll probably live for several more decades. …I feel sorry for the people of our territory, but that’s also the reason I’m able to pursue becoming a Dragoon. Listen, Izumi, this is the kind of man I am. Someday I’ll probably become the lord and involve myself in governing the territory… but if you ask whether the Arses domain will truly improve within my lifetime, I honestly don’t know.”

Rudel was aware that he was being selfish. He was abandoning the suffering people of his territory to pursue his dream of becoming a Dragoon. Even so, Rudel still wanted to become one.

“…”

“You should find a great noble willing to support you while you’re still at the academy. Fortunately, there are two other heirs of the Three Dukes here, and several students from marquis families are attending as well.”

“…You’re right. Maybe I should.”

As the setting sun dyed the classroom orange, the two stood and returned to their respective dormitories. Izumi had grown a little sad. That was surely because she had realized beyond any doubt that if Rudel were ever asked to choose between becoming a Dragoon and choosing her, he would immediately answer, “I’ll become a Dragoon!”

Because she now understood just how serious Rudel was… Izumi renewed her own resolve and decided that she would work hard as well.

In Aleist’s secret notebook, the character named Izumi was described as the image of an ideal traditional Japanese woman and as a girl whose life had been controlled by her clan. In her romance event, the key choices emphasized that she should not allow herself to remain bound by her family.

Izumi would “fail to become a High Knight,” and when her clan decided to make her the concubine of a great noble’s son, the protagonist would rescue her. Looking over the information he had written, Aleist began talking to himself while lying in his room.

“The tournament event is coming up soon, so Izumi’s event should start too… But Bargas is honestly kind of a mediocre character, and I haven’t bothered progressing his events. Whatever, it doesn’t matter.”

Aleist had no interest in Bargas, a country bumpkin. Bargas was supposed to be the dependable older-brother type of character… but Aleist intended to fill his party entirely with women. Wasting time on Bargas seemed ridiculous to him.

That was what he had thought.

Incidentally, the person destined to be paired with Izumi was Rudel of the Arses Family. Surprisingly enough, the two had shared a fateful connection.