## Chapter 184 – The Moment a Secret Is Grasped (1)
Panting breaths and hot sweat flowed, the two women unwittingly spreading the scent of their youth.
“How is it? Manageable?”
“Barely…!!”
Here, at the academy’s training grounds, the relentless exchange of sword techniques continued.
Kicking up dust as she firmly planted her feet, the girl with flowing purple hair locked her eyes on a momentary opening her opponent had revealed, throwing her entire body forward.
But as if it were a trap, the opponent’s sword twisted in an odd trajectory, blocking the gap.
“Kuh…!!”
She belatedly raised her sword in defense, but perhaps because her change of stance was too slow.
In the end, the girl couldn’t maintain her grip on the wavering sword, losing it to the opponent’s heavy counter that struck the side of her blade, and she knelt on the spot.
As her sword flew through the air and plunged into the ground behind her, as if cleaving the earth, the girl bit her lip and let out a soft sigh.
“I lost…”
“Excellent… It would be a lie to say that’s all.
If you couldn’t predict the opponent’s counterattack, pushing forward even more aggressively is also an option.
Trying to defend clumsily could lead to the same result as just now.
But your reaction speed and judgment on defense weren’t bad.
If it were a real battle, you’d need to make faster decisions.
The choice to defend won’t necessarily save your life.
But there’s no guarantee it will bring you victory either.”
The intention was good, but the words were harsh. Anne, the girl who had risen to her feet, turned around and pulled the sword from the ground.
The silver-white blade clearly felt like a high-quality item.
Its interior was made up of numerous mechanical devices, a kind of work that combined portability and aesthetics, a mechanical longsword.
Although another’s name was engraved inside, Anne, who had not yet returned it to its owner, was becoming even stronger because of it.
A week had passed since she declared war on Lucia.
Though she didn’t know it, Vivian was busy running the brothel, and Karla and Yui were getting caught up in it.
Anne, following her rival Lucia and focusing on training, was improving day by day.
Repeatedly getting hit by the sword and rolling on the ground.
But the repeated pain was imprinting the sensation of actual combat onto Anne’s body, whose basic skills were solid thanks to her constant solo training.
“Still, compared to the beginning…
You’ve improved remarkably.
You can be proud of that.”
Lucia, who had finally praised Anne for reacting accurately to her attack for the first time in a week, put her sword back into its scabbard with a smile.
Anne, looking at Lucia with a questioning expression, stared at Lucia’s sword before asking.
“Is that all for today…?”
“No, it’s a break for now.
Proper rest is also part of training.”
“Ah…”
As expected, Anne didn’t think Lucia would be thinking of ending training already.
She was briefly confused by the sudden retrieval of the sword.
But Anne belatedly realized that there seemed to be another reason for it as well.
The voices of someone walking into the training grounds through the entrance could be heard.
“The Department of Magical Design is tough…
Honestly, I don’t understand anything I hear, haha!!”
“Originally, it’s just difficult terms for people who don’t know anything.
But Professor, you’re an associate professor in the Department of Swordsmanship, right?
I definitely have trouble even holding a sword. Hehe!!”
They were familiar faces to the academy students who did morning guidance activities every day.
And the man who was the most precious person to the two women who were hung up on love.
Edward was walking into the training grounds with someone.
Long, beautiful silver-white hair that reached her waist and exotic gray eyes.
Although she hid her body with a baggy robe, her slender figure couldn’t be concealed.
And the shadow of fatigue cast on her face gave her a sickly feeling.
Nevertheless, it gave her an even more mysterious aura. She was Eloise de Fantini, a full-time professor in the Department of Magical Design.
Anne’s heart ached at the sight of her carrying a small bundle that looked like a lunchbox with Edward, as if they were a close couple.
But perhaps they had spotted them first, as a bright greeting was offered.
“Oh? Assistant and Anne!!
You’re practicing hard even during vacation?”
“Associate Professor Rommenberg, it’s a good day.
Did you come for a meal?”
Lucia, who stepped forward slightly in front of Anne, who had her mouth tightly shut, returned the greeting, and Anne also bowed her head.
But Edward, who was currently enjoying his happiness, wore a slightly troubled smile as he spoke.
Next to him was the female professor who was his current lover, whom he loved with all his heart.
In front of him was his student, with whom he secretly shared pleasure by putting his penis in her mouth.
And diagonally was a student who was passionately in love with him, though she didn’t know the truth yet.
Was this the best expression a man could make in such a dangerous situation?
“Ah… Haha…!! Was it too obvious?
Professor Eloise prepared a lunchbox for me for the first time in a while.
I was wondering where to eat it, and I thought the training grounds would be quiet.
I’m sorry if I disturbed your training?”
“We’re on a break, so it’s okay.
How are you, Professor Fantini?
It’s nice to see you again?”
“Please call me Eloise, Lucia.
You’re the new assistant in the Department of Swordsmanship?
I think you were just a student when I met you last time.
I’ve heard a lot about you from the associate professor since then.
You probably don’t know how much he praises you?”
“You flatter me.
I like to cause trouble, though.
The associate professor became an accomplice and helped me out more than once or twice.
I think I was probably the most troublesome student.”
It was definitely a barbed remark, but Eloise, as if not understanding the meaning at all, smiled as if amused.
“Hehe… Is there a teacher who dislikes students who are growing?
I’m sure you’ll be able to become a great adult.”
“Ah, it seems like we’re disturbing you.
We’ll be leaving for a while.”
“Hmm… There’s no need to go that far…”
“It’s lunchtime anyway.
I can’t hate a junior who’s growing either.
I was thinking of buying you a meal in front of you.”
“Hmm… If that’s the case…
Have a pleasant meal.”
“Of course. Let’s go, junior. Junior…?”
Anne, as if frozen in place, didn’t move with her head bowed.
The end of Anne’s gaze was reaching the toes of Eloise, her rival in love.
Lucia’s eyes were also deepening as she watched the scene.
‘I need to know how to control my emotions.’
At that moment when Lucia was about to urge Anne again.
There were two people appearing from the entrance of the training grounds where the voice was heard again.
“Oh… It’s here… The academy’s gotten better…
When I was here, there were only three training grounds…”
“Is that so? I don’t really know.
Today is the first time I’ve looked for it like this…”
“You might not know since the departments are different?
It’s always been the rule that different departments don’t know each other well.
Ah!! There it is!! Disciple!! Your teacher has come!!”
“Uh… Uh…?”
This time, Polcinella, the owner of a dark blonde, solid body, was waving her hand at the entrance of the training grounds.
Anne’s eyes widened as she discovered the person walking demurely next to her, and a loud cry burst from her mouth without her knowing.
“Sister…!!”
Perhaps Polcinella, who had been wandering around the academy, had spoken to Marie, who looked very similar to Anne.
Marie also had a bundle with her. Anne, who had always brought a packed lunch because she couldn’t afford to buy food outside, ran to Marie and smiled brightly.
“Were you working hard, Anne?
Here, I forgot to take it with me.
I came to give it to you since I stopped by the academy.
Then that person spoke to me?
Oh, Professor Eloise! Hello?”
“Ms. Monehen? Ah!!
I thought you looked alike!!
You two are sisters?”
She felt somewhat empty today, so she must have forgotten her lunchbox.
Was it because she had been training without paying attention to anything else?
And as expected of professors and students from the same Department of Magical Design, Marie and Eloise exchanged greetings.
“Hey… Hey!! I heard my teacher came, but you’re only looking at the lunchbox!!”
“Ugh…!! Wwhy sisster… What bussinesss bringss you here……?”
Anne was trying to avoid her eyes as Polcinella playfully pinched and stretched Anne’s cheeks.
But Anne’s eyes were filled with surprise at the unexpected answer.
“You didn’t know? I’m from here too?
I can come back to my alma mater, can’t I?
It’s been a while since I came, so things have changed a bit.
Wait… You…”
Her gaze turned to the people behind Anne, and Polcinella, who had been staring at someone for a while, smiled and slammed the back of that someone’s back hard.
“Edward!! You bastard!!
What!! You became a professor? You’ve made it!!”
“Nell…? Polcinella?
How are you here…
What happened?
I heard you were making waves on the front lines?”
“Fighting and praising each other is only fun for a day or two.
I got tired of doing it for years.
So I’m taking a break.
I was doing some training at Paulo Hall.
I’m helping with public affairs now.”
The two seemed to be more friendly than expected.
Eloise, who was as dumbfounded as Anne, asked a question with a dazed expression.
“You two, do you know each other…?”
“Of course? We’re classmates from the Department of Swordsmanship?
I was in Class A, and Edward was in Class B?
Even if the classes are different, we train together, right?
We became close, I guess?”
“Let’s get the facts straight. You were chasing me.
More than that, you said Paulo Hall……?
Maybe… Were you there when we went last time…?”
Come to think of it, Edward had already been to Paulo Hall as an instructor.
Edward tilted his head, wondering why he hadn’t found Polcinella.
“Of course?
Wasn’t it when the academy students came as a group?
I met our disciple there, didn’t I?
Aww!! Our cute disciple!!
How cute and fresh she was!!
Grow up quickly and follow in your teacher’s footsteps!!”
“Eek!!”
But his eyes seemed to be dizzy as Polcinella’s reaction was too confident in a strange direction.
“Haa… I never knew…
You’re still good at hiding somewhere…
I only led the group at that time, and I entrusted the details to the assistant for experience, so I didn’t know.
So, what are you doing now?”
“The Public Security Police Department asked me to cooperate?
I heard there’s a lot going on in the back alleys these days?
So I’m hanging out with Deborah!!
It’s like a royal capital tour that I’ve been doing while I was on the front lines!”
As originally planned, Polcinella was supposed to return to the front lines soon.
But she, who liked to live as she pleased, didn’t want to go back there yet.
Polcinella clung to Deborah and asked her, who was fed up with her, to help her with the Public Security Police Department’s work, so she asked her to send a letter of cooperation to the front lines.
She was actually going to help with the Public Security Police Department’s work, so she wasn’t lying.
“Deborah? Are you talking about the Deborah I know?”
It wasn’t just Anne who was surprised by the unexpected name.
Deborah, in particular, had become quite famous among those who paid attention to the news in the academy due to the recent incidents.
Everyone’s expression except for Marie, who was busy studying, hardened at the thought that she even knew her.
“Right? Is there any other Deborah besides that Deborah?”
“Oh my god… You’re ‘hanging out’ with that Deborah…
Well, your old habits must still be there.
Who else but Deborah would hold your leash…”
“Why isn’t there a single correct word in those long words!?
Where is there a more exemplary citizen than me!!
Deborah likes it a lot when I help her, you know?”
“How can there not be a single correct word in those long words… Haa…
If you’re an exemplary citizen, are the other guys saints who have attained enlightenment through meditation?
Deborah always ran away from you when you broke into our class.
That’s why you and I, who were in different classes, became acquainted…
You’re more legendary for making the legendary best investigator of the Public Security Police Department run away like a criminal.”
Anne’s expression darkened as she realized the greatness (?) of her teacher, whose legendary deeds only produced horror stories no matter how much she peeled them off.
‘I’m sure she’s a grateful person, but……’
Is it just her imagination that there seems to be more loss than gain when she calculates the break-even point?
“Hey~ It’s embarrassing to be praised too much~
But who is this person?”
“This is Professor Eloise de Fantini of the Department of Magical Design…”
At Edward’s words introducing Eloise, an ominous smile was drawn on Polcinella’s lips as she looked at the two with a dubious expression.
As a result, it was as if she could predict what Edward felt like when he was in school.
Before someone could stop Polcinella, who was making a bad expression, her foolishness burst out first.
“Ah!! I think I know!! Is she your girlfriend?
Finally…!! Edward has that time too…!!
You said Eloise, right? Please take care of Edward!!
I was really worried about who would take him!!
He’s a strange guy, but he’s still a good guy, so I’m sure you two will get along well!!”
“Are you in a position to say that?
You should get married first, you idiot.”
– Grumble…
Everyone’s eyes were drawn to the back at the sudden grumbling sound.
Anne, the girl who was standing at the source of the sound, was biting her lip with an expression as if the world had ended, holding her stomach that didn’t know how to read the atmosphere.
As a result, Marie, who was standing next to her, gently raised the bundle she was holding and made a recommendation to the people with an awkward smile.
“Um… Should we eat first……?
I prepared it with plenty of time, just in case……”
