Chapter 11

  Hakuna Matata

  At the entrance of the training hall, Dan stood before the massive steel doors. From within, the sound of clashing blades echoed sharply.

  He took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and pushed the doors open.

  The first sight to greet him—

  Rafinya Saint-Pauli’s lithe form twisting midair, her sword—long and slightly curved—slicing with red aura toward the thicker blade of senior Jenny Vardy. Sparks burst from the clash, forcing Jenny to retreat to regain her stance.

  One look at her face said it all—

  Even Jenny was clearly struggling in this direct confrontation.

  Then, with a shift of her wrist, Rafinya reversed the angle of her blade, stabbing forward like a swarm of a hundred needles. She followed up with a sweep to Jenny’s legs. The senior lost her footing but somersaulted back, launching fire from her mouth to fend Rafinya off, before rebounding to the corner ropes.

  “Time out. I need a break.”

  She raised her hand, signaling.

  “Thought this was just a warm-up, Rafinya?”

  “It is. A warm-up, senior.”

  Rafinya slashed an X through the air before sheathed her sword. The crimson velvet aura faded.

  “Were you trying to kill me or what?”

  “If you couldn’t block, then maybe.”

  “You’re really something else, Rafinya.”

  Just then, Chiesa Saint-Germain closed his thick book and turned—not to Dan, but to the one behind him.

  “Princess Nora.”

  He bowed politely. Jenny followed suit, but Rafinya simply stood with a hand on her hip, offering no such respect—since academy protocol didn’t require it.

  ...Still hanging around him, huh?

  Rafinya thought to herself.

  “It’s an honor to have Your Highness visit our training hall.”

  Chiesa stepped forward to receive her. Nora nodded.

  “Just speak casually.”

  “You’re interested in the knight division?”

  “I’m just here to train. Preparing myself.”

  “With your skills, Princess, that seems hardly necessary.”

  “Thanks.”

  While Jenny continued chatting with Nora, Dan dropped his things onto the bench and looked around.

  “Where are Senior Aaron and Helena...?”

  “Busy.”

  “…Ah. I see…”

  So much for small talk.

  Nora passed him with a training sword in hand. She glanced his way and gave a slight nod. Dan nodded back.

  Rafinya saw this—but showed no reaction.

  While Dan changed into his training gear, Rafinya climbed down from the ring. She spoke in passing.

  “Don’t come tomorrow.”

  “Huh?”

  “Oh, come on, Rafinya! You weren’t supposed to tell him yet!”

  Jenny groaned from across the room, clearly disappointed. She’d wanted to keep that detail to herself for the drama—but Rafinya, somehow, spoiled the fun.

  Rafinya didn’t respond.

  “What do you mean?”

  “First-years have duels to earn points, remember?”

  Chiesa approached from behind.

  “So you get Thursdays and Fridays off training—to prep for your Garden matches.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Oh…”

  Dan blinked.

  “I see…”

  Pat, pat.

  Chiesa passed by with his sword, and as he walked past Rafinya, he playfully ruffled her hair like a younger sibling. Rafinya scowled—but not in a serious way.

  Oh?

  Dan realized—

  They were both Saint... Saint-Germain and Saint-Pauli.

  And on the first day, they already seemed familiar with each other. So they must be connected somehow.

  “All right, time to split and train.”

  Time passed.

  Dan gripped a practice sword, training on a wooden combat dummy. Something Fury had never done before. He was still awkward, his form stiff and clunky—but not bad enough to bother others.

  Huff… huff… huff…

  His arms were sore, shoulders twitching. He paused for breath—then glanced sideways.

  Clack! Clack! Clack!

  Rafinya struck again and again, each blow fluid, precise. Her movements sent the wooden dummy reeling back, unable to counter.

  Her form was beautiful—more like a duelist than a traditional knight. It reminded Dan of Casca Saint-Maximin in battle. That same grace… maybe—

  Maybe this girl was the next Casca.

  “Hey Dan!”

  “Yes, Senior Jenny?”

  “Sharpen my sword for me, will you?”

  “…Sure.”

  …

  Later, during a break in Rafinya’s routine, Dan spoke up.

  “Miss Rafinya… what do I need to do to get as good as you?”

  “Train.”

  “Since childhood?”

  “Don’t break my focus.”

  Now was training time.

  Dan fell quiet. He closed his eyes and exhaled.

  “Then… can we talk before we finish?”

  He picked up his sword and moved to the far side. Rafinya watched him go.

  Five minutes before closing.

  Rafinya stood tall, arms crossed.

  “Miss Rafinya… let me be blunt. Do you have a problem with me?”

  Dan met her gaze directly, serious.

  “I don’t think this is a very sustainable dynamic.”

  “What problem?”

  “This...”

  He gestured vaguely.

  “If I’ve done something to annoy you—or you just don’t like me—I’m sorry. But you don’t have to treat me like I don’t exist.”

  “If you want me to notice you—then show me your power.”

  Rafinya stepped closer, pointing a finger at his chest.

  “There are students out there who deserve to be in your place. A knight scholarship has honor. And you treat it like it’s a toy. I can’t accept that.”

  “Even so, you didn’t have to leak what happened between us.”

  “It wasn’t me.”

  Rafinya unwrapped her hand tape as she spoke.

  “You’re not worth wasting my time on.”

  !

  Then who…?

  “Dan, darling~”

  Senior Jenny appeared from behind.

  She was packing up—but her foxlike eyes locked onto Dan with a sly smile.

  “If you get injured too often, Professor Foden might reconsider your scholarship for ‘unsuitability,’ you know~”

  Dan turned to her.

  “That’s a thing?”

  “Of course. If the faculty agrees. Here’s the thing, Dan.”

  She stepped in front of him, replacing Rafinya.

  “To be a knight, your mind needs to be as strong as your body. Which means—if your heart wants it, but your body can’t keep up...”

  Her voice lowered.

  “You won’t survive this path.”

  “So I’ll just be stuck at the bottom of the food chain forever?”

  “No one’s forcing you to stay.”

  Environmental pressure.

  The academy always had replacements ready. And that replacement... could be Gronk.

  Jenny patted his shoulder.

  “Enduring pressure is part of training too, kid~ So hang in there.”

  “Enduring pressure?”

  “You’re gonna face a lot more when you graduate. If you can’t handle this… what makes you think you’ll last out there~?”

  She added one final jab.

  “Don’t forget to clean up as usual!”

  “One word: ‘pressure.’ Another: ‘pressure.’ You all keep repeating that. Is that the excuse that lets you use me however you want—without guilt?”

  Jenny and Rafinya both turned.

  Even Chiesa, wiping his face nearby, paused.

  “…What did you just say?”

  “You heard me, Senior Vardy.”

  Dan met her gaze—now knowing full well who had leaked the story of his defeat.

  “You’re right. Pressure can make someone stronger. But my question is…”

  He dunked a rag in the water bucket, looking up.

  “Have you ever felt real pressure? Or is ‘pressure’ just midterms and school fencing tournaments for you?”

  “…What did you just say…? Fencing tournaments?”

  Jenny’s smirk vanished—her demeanor changing entirely. For a moment, the fox mask she wore slipped.

  “Someone like you dares to call our knight discipline a fencing sport? You Zentinel trash?”

  “From what I’ve seen… it pretty much is.”

  “Learn how to swing a sword before you lecture me.”

  Her voice went cold.

  Dan remained calm. He wrung the rag out and resumed cleaning the tiles.

  “I was just asking, that’s all.”

  “And I was just answering.”

  “You still didn’t answer anything.”

  “Hey—let’s all cool down here…”

  Chiesa stepped between them before things got worse.

  “What was that just now, Dan?”

  “What do you mean, Senior Chiesa?”

  “What you said just now.”

  “I just asked if Senior Jenny really knew what pressure felt like.”

  “Dan… come on…”

  “No, I’m serious.”

  “We’ve been through national tournaments. You shouldn’t belittle her like that.”

  Chiesa guided Jenny back a step.

  “When we’re in the ring, we carry the academy’s name, our honor. We’re the #1 institution. If we lose, there’s a lot on the line. Do you get that?”

  “So… pressure from... swordplay tournaments. Got it.”

  “You little—!”

  “Jenny.”

  Chiesa held up a hand, calming her down. Then turned to Dan.

  “It’s no joke.”

  “I get that. But—”

  Dan stopped cleaning, resting both hands on the mop handle, then looked at all three.

  “Is it more intense than shaping the future of the country? Or facing pressure from neighboring nations?”

  “…That’s not really our domain. You’re going off-topic. That’s above our station.”

  “I’m not off-topic.”

  Dan shook his head.

  “We’re talking about pressure, right? I’m not arguing. Just asking—because you brought up ‘pressure from the outside world.’”

  All three fell silent.

  “What I’m asking is: this ‘pressure from the real world’ you all keep teaching me about—have you actually lived through it?”

  “I’ve joined my father on missions to take down border raiders.”

  Chiesa stepped forward, serious.

  “You see this hand, Dan? I’ve taken lives with it. I’ve risked mine. I know what pressure looks like.”

  “I respect that, Senior Chiesa. You’ve supported my family’s missions before.”

  Dan bowed slightly.

  “But the worst pressure you faced was the risk of dying on those missions, right? Meanwhile, tens of millions of Luminus citizens still went to bed with full stomachs.”

  “They might not if I let those raiders run wild.”

  “Border raiders don’t invade cities the way food prices do when they climb so high the poor can’t afford rice.”

  !

  “Getting cocky, huh Dan? If you’re so capable, you wouldn’t have gotten knocked out cold like a dog.”

  Jenny had had enough. This… this was Dan’s true nature, she thought.

  Tired of the tension, she waved goodbye to Chiesa and Rafinya.

  But just as she opened the door—

  She froze.

  Because standing there, walking in—

  Was Princess Nora, finished with her own training.