My father's words brought me to tears, and I finally regained my composure.
　Seeing this, Luxor opened his mouth.

"Lacelle," he said. It's not too early to be reassured.

　I wipe the tears away once more.
　The reflection in my father's blue eyes - a little pathetic - smacked my cheek, as if to warn myself.

'I understand. To repay your father's kindness...'

It's not like that, Lacelle.

What?

'You just have to be strong for you. That's the kind of man you should have been.

　My father pushes me back.

　Oh..... You're right.
　I do not become strong for anyone else.
　I become strong for my own sake.

　But......

　Just a little bit.
　I'd like to add to that reasoning.

　It's for my father's sake--.


　◆◇◆◆◆.


　We heard the sound of a carriage at a very good time.
　The carriage pulled by two horses was quite magnificent.
　I wondered if some minister was riding in it, but the one who appeared was a man in heavy magical metal armor.

　He stroked his oil-treated hair.
　He's a gentleman to look at.
　His bright yellow eyes glittered and he waved his hand towards Luxor.

''Senpai!''

　It sounded like a woman's yellow cheer.
　She lunges at Luxor, trying to jump on him.
　However, he was met with a straight right counterattack from his father.
　His face contorted to an interesting degree, and the man was blown away just like that.

"Geehee......... Se, senpai.........

Don't try to hug me all of a sudden, Valar.

Father.... This man?

　An instructor at the School of Adventure.
　He's very young.

His name is Verrar Hallair. He was my father's employee.

Could this be Mr. Racel?　I don't know if you remember your brother. We met when you were much younger.

No way I'll remember it. And you don't even know your "brother" anymore. Don't let looks deceive you, Racel. He's 39 years old.

　Whoa!　That was a bit surprising.

　For all intents and purposes, he looks like he's in his twenties....

　The way he speaks is also childish.

'Instructor Varal. That's enough for a reunion greeting.

　Another voice came from the carriage.
　Then, from the boarding gate, I see a wet foot.
　Then a priestly garment appears, black as a raven's wing.
　On the neck with a hexagonal guardian's seal (pentagram) on it was a man with a very nervous-looking face.

　A priest with pale skin and a shaved head approaches, sniffing something with a soong.

'Varal, who is this man?'

'I am Priest Remsen, the Witness. I am the sitting instructor for the clergy class at the Adventurer's School.

Hey, buddy. You didn't tell me you had a Witness, huh?

　Luxor's eyes narrowed.
　Varal panicked at the former Knight Commander's anger.
　The one who stepped in between them was his own Remsen.

''I'm Remsen Sam. Best regards, Baron Stark.

Hey, it's my pleasure...

　When he shook hands with them, Remsen immediately cut him off.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that recently there have been a number of cases of bribery among the aristocracy to force them to illegally enter the school. I've come to confirm whether or not this special exception will be fairly judged.

　Then Remsen turned to me.
　I took out a pair of glasses from my pocket and placed them on my nose.
　It's probably a magic tool with a 【Appraisal】 spell on it.
　It must be quite an expensive item.
　If the burglars found it, they would be happy to take it away from me.

　To be able to take out such an expensive item, it seems that an adventurer's school is surprisingly profitable.

''I see. It's really like a [villager], isn't it? .........Hmm. It's hard to believe at first glance. Is it really possible for a [villager] to use magic?

I assure you. My son is stronger than I am.

I think you'll find out if it's worth it when you meet me, Priest Remsen.

　Verlal suggested, and Remsen nodded.

'Very well. It is important to get your business done as soon as possible. If we return home now, we'll be well on time for the curfew of the capital.

'What?　Are you not going to stay in the territory?

　Varal asked, and a sharp look came from Remsen through his glasses.

''It's not a game, Lord Varlal.

　He said with a snap.
　Without a second thought, Varal stretched his back.
　But soon he is disappointed and paragraphing like a shriveled sprout.

　He was probably thinking of staying at the mansion and having a drink with his father.

　Perhaps realizing this intention, Luxor clapped Varal on the shoulder to encourage him.

'Come back when you get a break.'

　Varal burst into tears at his former boss's encouragement.
　''Senior!'' And he dives in like a child, but gets blown away by the counter again.

　Will he be okay, this guy........


　◆ ◆ ◆ ◆


　And so the judging began.
　Varral drew his slippery, edged sword.
　Lightly, he held it in the middle.

'You can come at me seriously.

'Are you sure you're (sic) sure (sic) that you want to (sic)?'

How can you be so skeptical? I'm still an instructor at the School of Adventure. I used to work for my father. There's no way I could take a sword from a man your age.

You'll get hurt.

'Haha..... I know there are students like you. Insolent students like you are. It's fine. I'll crush you.

　Verlal keeps an eye on him.
　He didn't mean to provoke her. But the instructor finally seems to have gotten serious.
　I pull out my training shortsword, which is also edged out.

　The judge is Luxol.
　The witness, Remsen, was staring at the battlefield.

''Hajime!''

　The order is given.
　I jump out.

"Oh!　That's pretty fast. But I can see it.

　There!

　An innocent voice flies like a child playing hide and seek.
　But the rigid sword that was brought out was not innocent.

　The flashes of swords that seem to pop the air around them fly.

　The power is stronger than it looks.

　Verlal caught me.
　To be precise, it's my after-image (I wish I could have been more accurate).

''Huh?''

　Varal rolls his eyes at the unresponsive response.
　He had completely lost me.

　I knew it.

　I was a little disappointed.
　I thought it would be a bit of fun to hear that you were an instructor at the Adventurer's School, but....
　It's nothing.

　He was clearly lower in rank than the current Luxor.

''It's over here.

　Varal reacts to the killing atmosphere that has emerged softly.
　The blade I pointed at was waiting at the end of my spinning body.
　The tip of the cutting edge of the blade is on my left cheek.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find it.

When did you start...

On the second beat.

Who did I cut?

An afterimage.

　I explained, smiling at Nicoli.

　This is not magic.
　It's a [dark walk] and a pacing technique used by assassins to escape.
　At first he moves slowly, and the moment the opponent's eyes get used to it, he increases his speed to the maximum.

　With the sudden change in speed, the brain's processing can't keep up with the sudden change in speed, and it will slash the afterimage under the illusion that he's still there.

'Yeah. But this isn't really a test, is it?''

　That's right.
　This is not a test.
　Because in order to take the test at the Adventurer's School, it's an absolute requirement that you can use magic.

　I'm going to activate my magic.
　【Strengthen Muscle Mass】 【Accelerate】......
　Furthermore, I've given the short sword the magic of 【Sharpening】, 【Hardening】, and 【Attribute Granting】.

　Quickly cutting and cleaving at once.
　Varal was not looking at it with a blink of an eye either.
　He immediately took a defensive stance.

　Kokon!

　A small, eerie sound echoes through the training grounds.
　The sword's cutting edge was spinning in the air.
　As it was, it stabbed into the ground behind Varlal.

　Varlal's sword had been broken in half.

''Oh no!　My sword--

　With the surprised instructor at my side, I activate more magic.

　[Mage (Wizard)] [Storm Bubbles].
　The atmosphere gathered in my right hand and created a storm bubble.
　Just by touching it, it has enough power to shoot up high into the sky.

''Hey!　Mr. Lacelle!　You've won the battle!

Excuse me. I told you, I'm serious.

''Oh, no......... Gyaaaaaaahhhh!

　Nothing against Verlal, but it's another test.

　Forgive me!

　[Stormy bubbles]!

　Without hesitation, he struck into the vaults.
　The heavily armored instructor disappeared into the sky.