14.
"Laura, about what I mentioned earlier..."
"No."
The young woman replied coldly, adjusting her glasses. Lancel hadn't even finished speaking.
"Have you at least considered it?"
"I already said no. You want to teach the Department of Knights Studies and our students together? How would that possibly benefit the Academy’s Magic Department? I'm rejecting it without hesitation."
"If you could at least consider it for the sake of fostering mutual understanding and respect..."
"If you can first teach the Department of Knights—the root cause of all this discord—some understanding and respect, perhaps they might get along better in the future. I'm busy now, so I'll be going."
"Laura."
"I said it won’t work!"
"I heard you need research funding."
Laura froze, her hand on the door handle.
‘I didn't want to be so direct, but there's no other way.’
"You do need it, don't you?"
"Are you trying to buy me off with money?"
"Twenty gold coins."
Laura's eyes flickered.
"I know all about your situation, Professor Laura." Lancel approached her with a smile. "Your husband, Baron Cote, is having trouble with his sugar beet farm. And last year, when he tripled his cultivated land, the drought lasted so long. The losses must have been devastating."
"How did you...?"
"Professor Laura is blameless, of course. It's Baron Cote who's at fault for squandering all the research funds on frivolous expenses."
"I... I..."
"Professor Laura must be deeply disappointed, having worked so hard to become a Court Wizard through this research."
"......" Her trembling gaze and faltering voice revealed her complete vulnerability.
"Laura." Lancel gently lifted her chin, revealing a face filled with anguish.
A smile deepened at the corner of Lancel's lips.
"I can lend you twenty gold coins—no interest, no repayment deadline. I will also ensure that Baron Cote never hears a word of it. What do you say?"
"Hic..."
The negotiation was complete.
* * *
[Friday-Saturday: Mutual Understanding Between Wizards and Knights
Instructors: Laura Cote, Lancel Dante]
"Mutual Understanding Between Wizards and Knights?”
The academy students looked utterly bewildered by the recently added lecture.
Joint training sessions between the Department of Knights and the Magic Department, twice a week? This was a type of education they had never encountered before.
"Surely we won't have to train alongside those knights, will we?"
"I heard there might even be occasional camping trips..."
"Camping? You mean sleeping outdoors?"
The students of the Magic Department immediately recoiled in disgust.
"Eek! Eating and sleeping outside! That's something only barbarians would do!"
"Ugh, I'm the kind of person who only lives indoors."
"Bugs, sunlight, dirt, grass... No, I hate it. I hate it!"
"Camping when we barely have time for research! And we have to walk around outside!"
"Damn it, it has to be Professor Laura. So I can't even skip it."
"She's terrifying."
As if they hadn't spent most of their lives indoors, the wizard apprentices were already shivering from head to toe.
The knights, however, reacted in the exact opposite way.
"Camping? Outdoors? This is awesome!”
Smiles spread across the faces of every student in the Department of Knights Studies.
"I've been itching for some action. This is perfect!"
"Even the academy feels cramped after a while."
"Camping with the wizards? Does that mean we get to see those weaklings struggle outside?"
"Heh heh heh, the next two days every week are going to be fun."
"Mary, I'm not letting that damn brat get away with this!"
The knights were visibly excited.
"Achoo!"
And then there was Marigold, who had been eating her plain bread for lunch and sneezed loudly.
With that, the first scheduled event was one step closer.
.
.
.
"Listen carefully. I won't forgive you if you lose to those pathetic wizards. Especially that Mary—that tiny, mouse-like girl. Don't you dare lose to her."
"Sir Lancel?!"
Marigold was feeling betrayed.
15.
[Friday, First Week of April - Weather: Exceptionally Clear]
"Are they really going through with this?"
"Didn't the Headmaster say he'd approve it if Lancel could persuade a professor from the Magic Department to support him?"
"How was I supposed to know he'd actually pull it off? How did he convince Professor Laura of all people? That notoriously strict woman..."
The Headmaster and the professors murmured among themselves as they watched the academy's training grounds.
An unexpected tension hung over the vast grassy field.
The academy students, divided into two groups, faced each other. On one side stood the knights, tall and powerfully built, while on the other were the wizards, relatively lighter in physique.
"How wonderful it would be if knights and wizards could truly understand each other. That pure intention is what drove me to create this training exercise."
Clap, clap, clap.
Professor Laura applauded with an expressionless face.
Lancel strode confidently into the space between the two groups.
"And what do you think is the best way to achieve mutual understanding? It's simple: by clashing. Skin against skin, fist against fist, sword against magic."
"So that means..."
Lancel paused, glancing around before continuing.
"Ten representatives from each side, step forward."
The training grounds buzzed with anticipation.
"Only those who believe they can handle these wizards—or these knights—step forward. Ten from each side."
"Are you suggesting we spar against each other?"
"It's the first day. We need to gauge each other's skills, right?"
"Ah!"
Those words ignited a fire.
Dozens of students from the Department of Knights surged forward simultaneously.
"I'll do it!"
"I'm going! You stay back!"
"The last one to volunteer should back down, what are you even saying...!"
"Anyone who thinks they're up to it, step aside quietly."
Unlike the students of the Department of Knights, who were physically vying for the chance to spar, the Magic Department remained silent.
"......"
They exchanged nervous glances, secretly hoping someone else would volunteer first.
"No one from your side?"
The wizards averted their eyes.
Taunts from the Department of Knights immediately followed.
"Heh, just as expected from these bookworms. No one's stepping up."
"There's a reason why they say wizards can't contribute in war."
"It seems we're scaring them, Professor Lancel."
Lancel saw Marigold's expression change in that instant.
"Mary?"
"Really?"
She strode forward, her long staff tapping the ground with each step.
"Mary. I knew you'd come out, you impudent, commoner brat."
A chilling tone. It was the son of the Duke of Monde.
It was a voice that flowed from Wivel Monde’s lips. A dark smile spread across his face as he glared at Marigold.
"One punch wasn't enough, was it? This time, I won't stop at just a bruise. So don't even think about running."
Wivel Monde had previously grabbed Marigold by the collar and fought her. He had been nursing the humiliation she inflicted on him ever since.
"Hmph."
Marigold frowned, ignoring his gaze and turning her sulky expression toward Lancel.
"Hmm."
Just then, a handsome young man from the Magic Department stepped forward.
"If no one else is volunteering, I'll do it," he said. "May I, Professor Lancel?"
"Is there any reason you shouldn't?"
"Really?"
The boy with the blue bob haircut, a gentle smile, and a teardrop-shaped mole approached Mary.
"Just so you know, I won't be responsible if anything goes wrong. Controlling magic is harder than it looks."
His voice was calm and confident.
A wave of tension visibly spread through the previously arrogant knights.
"Aldehar Ro Lucia."
The name was already famous throughout the academy.
The sole royal in the Magic Department, Aldehar was a genius wizard with extraordinary talent.
When he first arrived, no one in the academy could have missed the grand carriage procession from the Kingdom of Lucia.
His lineage was so noble that even most ducal houses couldn't match it.
"Please take care of me, Miss Mary," Aldehar said, smiling warmly at Marigold.
‘Do they know each other?’ Lancel wondered, stroking his chin.
In the game, Aldehar had been a named character referred to as the "Prince of the Vassal State."
‘If I remember correctly, he was nearly as difficult to conquer as a prince.’
For such a man to approach and speak to her so readily…
‘What exactly have you been up to, Marigold?’
"I never imagined Young Master Aldehar would personally intervene...!"
"That's it! Young Master Aldehar would never lose to a bunch of rookie knights like them."
"He's the youngest Fourth Rank wizard in the entire continent, you dimwitted knights!"
The Magic Department's confidence soared.
"Those bastards..."
The knights’ eyes blazed with fury.
"Well, I guess I have no choice. If Young Master Aldehar is stepping up, I should lend a hand too."
"I'm in too. I've never liked those knights anyway."
Several more students joined Aldehar, quickly filling the ten-person quota.
"Is everyone ready?"
Lancel, observing the divided groups, turned to Professor Laura.
"By the way, it wouldn't be any fun without a wager. What do you think, Professor Laura?"
"I agree."
Professor Laura closed her eyes briefly, pretending to ponder.
Just as they had agreed beforehand.
"How about the losing side cleans the winning side's dormitory until the next lecture, Sir Lancel?"
"Cleaning?"
"Yes. If the Department of Knights loses, you'll have to clean the dormitory of the Magic Department’s students for a week. Thoroughly. Without a single complaint."
"Hoho, that's an excellent idea. Thanks to you, even the servants who are usually burdened with cleaning will get a vacation."
"Always thinking of your subordinates, Sir Lancel."
Cleaning.
A wave of shock rippled through the crowd.
“This was a bet?!”
“Clean their dormitory? Those bastards'?!”
“This is the ultimate humiliation!”
“Losing would be a lifelong disgrace!”
Only Laura and Lancel's laughter broke the tense silence.
The situation suddenly turned dire as everyone realized the two professors were serious.
"Hey, we absolutely can't lose this."
"I know. You better pull your weight."
The knights' eyes blazed with determination.
"We have to win."
"Young Master Aldehar! Don't hold back!"
"Mary, you can't lose this time either."
"......Okay."
Among the wizards, their resolve hardened.
16.
"Listen carefully. I won't forgive you if you lose to those pathetic wizards. Especially that Mary—that tiny, mouse-like girl. Don't you dare lose to her."
"Sir Lancel?!"
Marigold's eyes widened at Lancel's rallying cry to the knights. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Lancel ignored her reaction, pretending not to notice. Here, he was on the knights' side.
"Win this, and we'll make those wizards clean your sweaty dorms. Got it?"
"Yes, Sir!"
A wave of martial spirit surged from the Department of Knights
"Oh dear, oh dear," Laura chuckled, turning to face the Magic Department. "Did you hear that? If you lose, you'll have to clean those barbarians' dorms for a week. You all know how brutally knights treat their living quarters, right?"
Panic spread through the crowd of wizards.
"Clean the knights' dorms...?"
"Just breathing the air in there will get you pregnant... No way!"
"Eeeek!"
The female wizards' faces turned deathly pale.
Except for one.
"We won't lose," Marigold declared, gripping her staff tightly, her eyes burning with determination. "I will win, Sir Lancel!"
Lancel smiled bitterly.
‘That’s exactly what I expect, Marigold.’
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