A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

115 – Gray Winter (5)

“This place looks like a very imperial-style building?”

“As it is a separate building where international students from the Thersian Empire will stay, we paid a lot of attention to it.”

“Wrote it…?”

“From the establishment academy side.”

The janitor in gray overalls guided the white-haired eldest daughter, who took off her bread hat, inside the dormitory.

“The first floor has a kitchen, dining room, lounge, laundry room, etc. There are separate bathrooms here for men and women.”

“Do I have to come down from upstairs to use it?”

“Other dormitories have one per floor, but this one is a little different. This way.”

Click.

When the gray janitor walked up to the wall and pressed the magic stone button, the light started flashing on the magic stone button and the folding door opened to the left and right.

“Wow!”

“In the Empire, they call this an elevator.”

“Are there things like this in other dorms?”

“It’s only here.”

“Isn’t it a privilege?”

“It’s a benefit given to special people.”

The cleaner extended her hand and pointed inside her, and the white-haired woman lowered her sunglasses slightly and entered her.

“Thank you, hehe.”

“Not much to say.”

Whether or not he saw her squinting, the gray cleaner entered the elevator and operated the buttons inside her.

“Oh. Is this, by magic… ?”

The elevator started to go up.

“A pulley is installed as a safety device, but the default is floating magic installed on the floor.”

“Floating magic…?”

“A product called floating stone produced in the Empire was made into the floor here.”

“Hey…”

The white-haired woman tapped the floor with her feet, her eyes sparkling.

“What happens if I just run this?”

“Because of the safety device, the rope will be pulled a few times, but if it falls, it will be broken.”

“You should be careful about running around.”

“Isn’t it like that in the Empire too?”

“Oh my. Did I tell you I’m from the Empire?”

“They said that all the female students from the empire who came to study abroad this time have white hair.”

“Hey…”

Ding.

The elevator stopped.

“It’s the 4th floor.”

“Wow. This is…”

“This is a special room.”

The fourth floor of the dormitory for international students had only one door.

If there’s one more thing, it’s the fire door on the stairs.

“Does the owner live here? Is it just a room for the chief executive?”

“This is a room for the prettiest, most beautiful and noble among the international students.”

“Hey…”

The white-haired woman tapped her name engraved in front of her door with her hand.

“Astasia von Tersian?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Is that what you think?”

“I haven’t met the imperial granddaughter in person, but I’m sure so, right?”

“Hmm…”

The white-haired woman fiddled with the front of her mask, but she quickly lowered her hands and leaned back against the wall.

“Then… “

“Follow me this way. I’ll show you to the rooftop.”

“Inside the room…”

“Your Royal Highness, Granddaughter Astasia von Tersian, must open it first, so I cannot open it and show it to you.”

“Boo.”

It was obvious that she was puffing out her cheeks even though she was wearing a mask, but her gray cleaner did not pay any attention as she opened the door to her rooftop and climbed her stairs.

Squeak.

The stairs leading to the rooftop and the double doors with locks were opened.

“Wow!”

“There is a separate garden on the rooftop. There is also a separate ceiling, so it actually feels like the 5th floor.”

Rooftop with open surroundings.

The dormitory building was already higher than other buildings, so you could clearly see the surroundings, but when you got up to the rooftop, it was like looking down on everything.

“Why go this far…”

“It would be a problem if someone came and ran around on the rooftop or if birds came and polluted it carelessly. We have taken all measures, but this is just to prevent it in the first place.”

“Hmph…”

Hwiiing.

The wind blows.

“It’s so pretty. Here. I bet they put a lot of effort into preparing it.”

White hair fluttering in the wind, the woman giggled as she leisurely walked through the garden on her rooftop with her back to her.

“Is this the place that symbolizes the unity of the kingdom and the empire, Gibraltar and Thersian?”

“Gibraltar and Thersian?”

“Oh my. Mistake. Hehe.”

The woman lifted her index finger and placed it on her mask.

“Will you take a look?”

“I’m just a janitor, so I don’t know much about that.”

Tak.

The gray cleaner swung her hand quickly, and one of her flying insects bounced off her hand.

“At least if there are things that contaminate this building, we will clean them right away.”

“That’s right-“

Wow!

Loud shouts heard from below.

“Tsk… “

The white woman clicked her tongue

“It looks like the exam is slowly reaching its peak.”

The gray janitor looked down in a calm voice.

“Would you like to take a look? The battle between the kingdom and the canyon is not an easy sight to see.”

* * *

Nostrum is the land of swords.

This is a country that lives by the sword and dies by the sword, to the extent that anything other than the sword is considered an external way.

That’s probably because the Gibraltar family has been the strongest for generations, and for 500 years, the Sword Master has never once come down from being the ‘kingdom’s strongest’.

That’s why everyone learns the sword.

Except for the spearing used by the dragoons, which is another Nostrum tradition, everyone learns to use a sword while keeping both feet on the ground.

In Nostrum, swords are number one.

There is a window below it.

Below that, the general trend is to evaluate everything as being there.

That trend may be broken now at this test site.

“Cheer up, Gibraltar!!”

“What are you doing? Are you treating me like a princess?!”

People in the outfield raise their voices without realizing it.

Forgetting that the boy fighting while swinging his sword is Gibraltar-

“Show Gibraltar’s power!!”

No.

They are forcing Gibraltar to win even more.

Gibraltar is undefeated.

From noble mtl dot come

We must not be defeated by anyone.

Even if the opponent is the princess of a kingdom that uses a spear!

“oooh!”

The boy, Noir, swings the sword.

The black mana flowing from the steel sword sparkled like embers, widening the distance by constantly repelling the rushing spears.

“Wooaaa!!”

Forgetting that it was an exam hall, everyone was in a crucible of enthusiasm.

“It’s Gibraltar after all!”

“To be able to manifest mana to that extent at that age…!”

“It is true that I learned swordplay from the Earl of Gibraltar at the age of 7!”

Noir Gibraltar was the nucleus of the storm during this test.

Even though he is only 14 years old, he will be admitted to the academy as a first year student.

Noir Gibraltar’s participation in the Academy reflected Crimson Gibraltar’s faith and trust in him.

That’s why, even against the princess of Nostrum, he will endure and endure like this.

“Huh…”

Princess Naria catches her breath as she retrieves her spear.

Unable to wipe the sweat dripping down her face, she continues to squeeze and open her window, showing her discomfort.

“Why are you doing this, Princess Naria? Do you find it difficult to use the sparring spear?”

“…”

Noir stretched out his sword to provoke Princess Naria, but Princess Naria just touched her wooden spear here and there and took a stance again.

Bu-euung!

A big blow aimed at the head.

The movement is so large that it feels like throwing a pole rather than swinging a spear.

“Oh!”

“Golden Mana!”

However, the ‘mana’ at the end was sharp.

“Ugh?!”

Sarak.

In a very short moment, the mana on the tip of the spear became a sharp blade like an auror.

Noir tilted his head back and barely avoided the attack.

“!!”

At that moment, a trace that seemed to have been seen somewhere passed by Noir.

Shadow of gray.

The shadow that was swinging the pole towards me and putting pressure on me.

Although it was a memory from several years ago, the remnants of a man passed over Princess Naria’s body

A barrage of strikes is coming.

While swinging the baton, wrap your wrist and raise it upwards, then hit it straight down and hit the top of your head.

-If the move is a big combo, you have to block it before it reaches you.

It tickles my ears as if someone’s voice is overlapping.

-To do that.

The hand moves on its own.

-Break the chain of attacks with a faster attack than the opponent.

“!!”

The moment he thought a shadow was casting over his hand, Noir unconsciously swung his sword from top to bottom with all his might.

Ujikkeun!

The pole was broken.

The wooden fragments shattered and scattered, and Noir forced his sword forward.

Bu-euung!

The sword wind flowing from Noir’s sword scattered the remains of the broken wooden pole.

The direction the tip of the sword points is above Princess Naria’s head.

If the tip of the sword had come down two spans further, it could have been aimed at Princess Naria’s forehead

“Ha, ha…”

Noir took a deep breath, and Princess Lia spread her hands, looking at the broken spear in despair.

Fighting.

A broken window sill fallen to the floor.

“I lost.”

Princess Naria spread her hands and surrendered.

“Waaa!!”

Once again, cheers fill the testing room.

“Amazing, Noir Gibraltar! As expected, the pride of Nostrum!”

“Ah, that’s right! If you’re a sword master, the Sword of the Canyon, you should have that level of skill at that age!”

“I never thought Gibraltar’s future would be this bright!”

Clap clap clap clap.

Although they came to take the test just like the two people in the center of the testing room, praise is poured on them for demonstrating skills that far surpass those gathered in the testing room.

“Gibraltar! Gibraltar! Gibraltar!”

Correction.

Rather than a tribute to Princess Naria.

“Our sword, our guardian! The guardian of Nostrum who will sacrifice everything for the canyon!”

Toward Noir Gibraltar.

“The guardian deity of the kingdom who will surely defeat any enemy that appears!”

Or, a celebration of the birth of a martyr who will protect them unconditionally.

“…”

Noir retrieved the sword with a slightly sour expression.

“As expected, Gibraltar’s successor is Noir Gibraltar?”

“I guess so. You’re still that strong now, but how strong will you be when you become an adult?”

“Hehe. Is this the second coming of Crimson Gibraltar?…”

Noir began to shrug his shoulders at the words of the older people who appeared as test proctors or who came to the test site.

“Huh, huh…! Of course I’ll win…! I’m Noir, Gibraltar!”

Noir extends his sword vertically towards the sky.

Wow!!

Although it is not a competition, congratulatory applause pours in for the winner.

“Congratulations, Noir Gibraltar.”

And in the center of it all, Princess Naria was clapping her hands with her expressionless face.

“As expected, the dark flash of Gibraltar.”

“Yes, yes…?”

“I enjoyed it. Thank you for your continued support.”

Princess Naria extended her right hand and offered to shake hands.

“For the future of Nostrum.”

“…”

Noir held his hand without realizing it.

Wow ㅡㅡㅡㅡ

A louder shout than before filled the testing room, but Noir’s shoulders began to feel heavy due to the strange atmosphere contained in the shout.

Nostrum! Gibraltar! Nostrum!! Gibraltar!!

Anywhere.

There was no name ‘Noir’.

* * *

“The chief and second positions have been decided.”

“You want it now?”

“If you have 100 points in all other subjects, the difference between winning and losing in a swordsmanship sparring will be decided by 1 point.”

“Is it swordsmanship?”

“In Nostrum, the concept of sword sparring includes all weapons. Even if you use something other than a sword, it is ultimately sword sparring.”

“It’s strange.”

“Because that’s the nostrum.”

“…”

The white-haired woman played with her hair with her fingers and then turned her body.

“Hey, are you the person who works here?”

“It’s true that I work.”

“Then do you know anything about a person named Gray Gibraltar?”

“Why all of a sudden…?”

“No, just.”

The white-haired woman placed her hands on her waist.

“Someone often gave interviews and took pictures that they didn’t really want to do, just to show off their pretty side.”

She continued speaking with her eyebrows raised above her black glasses.

“I don’t know where anyone is hiding, I can’t even see my nose!”

“…I don’t know everything, but Gray Gibraltar will appear sooner or later.”

“How?”

“Officially…Well, that’s right.”

The gray cleaner answered while fiddling with the watch on her wrist.

“Imperial standard, March 1, 97, Unified Calendar.”

“If you’re from a kingdom, shouldn’t it be calculated based on the kingdom’s power?”

“Isn’t it better to express it neatly rather than a complicated and baseless calendar?”

“Wow. That doesn’t sound like something that would come out of the mouth of someone from the kingdom.”

“The year of Hyangwol with golden winds blowing, the third wind crossing the valley for the first time…”

“Yes, yes. March 1st, 1997 by the Unified Calendar. This day is the ‘entrance ceremony.'”

“At the same time, it is the opening anniversary of Orosol Academy. If there is anyone looking for Gray Gibraltar, I can tell you this.”

The gray janitor cleared her throat and answered.

“I’ll see you at the entrance ceremony.”

* * *

Winter is over.

March 1st of the Unification Calendar.

The main gate of Orosol Academy has opened.