RSHW-Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Companion (5)

◆  

The faculty at the Cradle generally maintains a horizontal hierarchy.  

The primary reason is that they’ve gathered individuals renowned across the continent.  

Each is confident in their abilities, brimming with pride, and possesses a temperament befitting that pride—making vertical power structures inherently unworkable.  

Even a casual glance at the commentary on the ongoing ‘special exam’ in the Forest of Eternity makes this clear.  

“Has the Headmaster finally lost his mind?”  

“……”  

All eyes turned toward Kaipher Ingram, head of the magic faculty, as he spoke.  

But whether anyone was looking or not, Kaipher indifferently downed the coffee in his cup like it was medicine.  

“Ugh… Heartburn…”  

“……”  

“But I have to drink it… Save me…”  

“……Couldn’t you just drink in moderation?”  

“Shut up. You can’t even use magic.”  

“……”  

The surrounding staff exchanged glances at the absurdity of the man, but Kaipher paid no mind, pouring himself another cup.  

His dark circles—clearly the result of chronic sleep deprivation—contrasted starkly with his refined, handsome features…  

“That barrier isn’t something students can break. If you set up something like that, no one’s getting full marks.”  

Despite his eccentric demeanor, his words were undeniably reasonable.  

The spherical barrier at the heart of the Forest of Eternity was excessive by any measure.  

A degraded version of Bator’s Ward, the same barrier used by the Imperial family.  

“Even if it’s a special exam for confident students, that’s too much. No freshman outside the hero could break that.”  

“Doesn’t seem like senility. He said the exact same thing you did.”  

At the deep voice that echoed through the room, all eyes shifted to the entrance.  

A towering woman, easily over two meters tall, with muscles that looked ready to burst, stood there. Her face bore a bold smile—the very image of a heroic figure.  

The moment he saw her, Kaipher sighed wearily.  

“……Alter.”  

Alter Sicarius, head of the knight faculty, strode into the room.  

Kaipher’s expression immediately soured.  

“You reek of sweat. Mind leaving?”  

“Not unless you drag me out. Think you can?”  

“Barbarian.”  

“Coward.”  

Their exchange drew bitter smiles from the other staff.  

The magic and knight faculties were the Cradle’s most infamous rivals. Their mutual disdain ran deep.  

Not that they openly fought—they were still part of the same institution.  

But they despised each other enough to laugh louder than anyone at the other’s misfortunes.  

“Why are you here?”  

“Heard there’s a student worth watching. Came to see for myself.”  

…A student worth watching?  

Kaipher’s eyes scanned the tactical map on the table.  

Only two had reached the barrier so far.  

“How are these two adorable kids supposed to break that?”  

“Both are the Hero’s attendants. They might have something special.”  

As she spoke, Alter tossed something at Kaipher.  

A document labeled Confidential.  

“Rumor has it the standards were raised this time. Top scorers in this exam are being prepped for deployment.”  

“……”  

Kaipher frowned as he skimmed the contents, then let out a disbelieving laugh.  

“……Field training?”  

“A special reward. A trip to the capital for fun and leisure.”  

“Anyone can say that. This just looks like a cover for something dangerous.”  

It certainly did.  

The so-called ‘field training’ had an escort listed.  

“……The Gray Cardinal is the supervisor.”  

Not someone who’d take kids on a picnic.  

There had to be a reason.  

Something dangerous and underhanded.  

“It’s not just hardship. There’s a perk.”  

“Oh? And what’s—”  

“They’re visiting the Imperial Armory.”  

“……”  

Hmm.  

Kaipher’s mouth snapped shut.  

If they were going there…  

That would be a reward worth having.  

The oldest repository of forbidden arts and treasures in history.  

Wasn’t the Holy Sword itself discovered in the Imperial Armory?  

“Be that as it may.”  

Kaipher’s gaze returned to the tactical map.  

“They still have to break through that first.”  

Even as a degraded version, the barrier’s defensive capabilities surpassed imagination.  

Sheer force alone wouldn’t scratch it.  

“No matter how talented those two are, it’s impossible. Absolutely impossible for freshmen.”  

“Yeah? Wanna bet? I say they’ll get in.”  

…Was she just betting against him out of spite?  

With that rational suspicion in mind, Kaipher sighed.  

“What exactly is the point of seeing if they can break it?”  

“Dunno.”  

Alter smirked at Kaipher’s question.  

“Creativity, maybe.”  

How far could they push the limits in a constrained situation?  

The scene unfolding on the tactical map was already exceeding expectations.  

[U-uh… Will this work?]  

[Trust me, Vespa.]  

The girl’s voice trembled as the boy reassured her with instructions.  

[P-please! Can you gather as much ‘fuel’ as possible?]  

As she spoke, magic condensed before her.  

Then, the energy from the sword in the boy’s hand merged with it, fusing seamlessly.  

…Mixing two supernatural abilities?  

Since when was that possible?  

He’d never heard of such a thing outside the current Hero’s power.  

Yet here it was—two distinct energies intertwining.  

The result wasn’t additive but exponential—a terrifying surge of power.  

The sheer intensity warped the surrounding space, as if someone had crumpled the scenery like paper.  

…Impressive firepower.  

Unthinkable for freshmen to concentrate that much magic.  

But Kaipher watched with dispassionate eyes.  

Even that wouldn’t break Bator’s Ward.  

Surely.  

The next moment proved they knew it too.  

The condensed mana wasn’t aimed at the barrier—but the ground.  

“……?”  

Kaipher’s eyes widened as Alter grinned.  

The earth beneath them exploded.  

The screen whited out momentarily as a massive blast tore through the terrain, leaving a crater as if excavated by machinery.  

[Let’s go in!]  

[O-okay…!]  

As the two crawled into the hole, Alter burst into laughter behind them.  

“See? If you can’t break it, go around it. Kids these days know how to use their heads.”  

“…You.”  

Even if the ground was easier to break than the barrier, carving a human-sized tunnel through bedrock wasn’t sane.  

That terrain was solid rock. Did they just shave through it?  

Precision magic distribution, near-artistic technique—everything came together perfectly.  

“Quit whining, Kaipher.”  

Not that it mattered.  

Alter’s mocking laughter didn’t stop.  

“You said it was absolutely impossible for freshmen.”  

“……”  

…Well.  

He had underestimated them.  

◆  

“—We did it, Vespa!”  

“Y-yes…”  

Vespa awkwardly nodded as Carlisle cheered, covered in dirt.  

“……”  

Hmm. How to put it?  

At first, it felt like unnecessary effort when they could’ve rested, but seeing him pull it off so effortlessly—  

This man truly could do anything.  

Thanks to Carlisle, she’d cleared the exam safely.  

But.  

One thing nagged at her.  

‘…Why was he in such a hurry?‘  

Did he not want to sleep next to me?  

The thought brought—  

‘Huh?‘  

A realization.  

Something bittersweet.  

One thing was certain.  

Him avoiding her like that—didn’t feel good.  

‘…Huh?‘  

……Why did she feel this way?  

As Carlisle smiled before her, Vespa pressed a hand to her tightening chest.  

“……”  

There was only one possible explanation.  

◆  

-System Message  

▶ Target ‘Vespa Luciana’ vaguely recognizes her own emotions.  

▶ She will now consciously nurture these feelings!  

▶ An additional trait has been generated!  

[ ♥ Affection 5% → 10% ]  

▶ At a certain threshold of ‘Affection’, a special event between ‘Vespa Luciana’ and the ‘Spirit’ will unlock!  

-System Message  

▶ ‘Imperial Armory’ event has been generated.  

▶ Obtain items related to the ‘Holy Sword’!  

▶ Expand the Holy Sword’s capabilities!