Chapter 11 – Episode 11. Astrid Is Determined
“Then, from now on, I will move on to major assignments. Everyone stand up.”
“Oh, today is the day of enlistment, so you mean we start training right away?!”
When the instructor announced the end of the entrance ceremony and proceeded directly to the next procedure, one of the freshmen’s voices burst out.
Among the people around her, who clearly looked bewildered, Astrid alone remained calm.
‘It’s the military, so what?’
Is there anyone who considers it the day of enlistment or not?
“His Highness Leopold.”
“Hmm?”
“Your major is a magic knight, right?”
Magician.
A bracelet in the left hand and a sword in the right.
A so-called magic swordsman who engages in close combat with a sharp sword, while using insufficient attack power, defense, and various other support magic.
Originally, there was a perception that they were neither one nor the other, that they could not be first-class as swordsmen or first-class magicians, but that perception changed greatly during the unification war.
A repository of knowledge located in the eastern part, the Wizard’s Tower.
It was the opportunity to start wearing the bracelet developed by Escarotte von Jorgien, the head of the Georgeen family and the wizard, the owner of the place called the Magic Tower for short. For instance, the current emperor, Kreuz von Einthafen, is also a magic knight.
“It is natural. Magic in one hand, sword in the other. How manly is this.”
“I guess so.”
“What is that lukewarm response?”
‘What’s so cool about holding a skewer and poking around and then fighting with magic? Did all the men freeze to death?’
“Ah, Astrid, you’re thinking strange things again… !”
“You are moving. Let’s go.”
Leopold and Astrid also got up from their seats and followed the cadets as they left the auditorium.
*
Even if it was a major assignment, it didn’t mean much.
Before coming to the academy, everyone already knows what their aptitude is, and as they steadily build up their skills, this is just a simple procedure, but Astrid’s case was a little different.
“Astrid von Mitterien.”
A young man who looked like a young boy, wearing a name tag with the word “Assistant” On his chest, rummaged for a long time holding a chart.
“Lady Mitterien… Oh, here you go. You haven’t been assigned a major yet, do you have any aspirations?”
Since Astrid was decided to enter the school relatively suddenly, the major assignment had not yet been completed.
Most cadets are judged for acceptance only after document screening and practical tests, so they have already been assigned majors, and even if it is a procedure to verify that there is no one who wants to change it later, Astrid is not assigned at all.
“Mid-long term knight.”
“Long-term knight… Long term article. Yes, heavy knights have four types of weapons.”
Unlike magic knights whose equipment is fixed, heavy-duty knights who must engage in pure hand-to-hand combat.
“They are four weapons: spear, hammer, sword, and greatsword.”
Astrid stared blankly at the weapon racks that were being reviewed in front of her.
All made of wood You said that real swords aren’t given to first-year students, maybe…
Since they are made of wood, they all look like toys.
“Even if it’s wood, don’t underestimate it. It is made with a weight that is almost the same as that of a real sword… Hey, young lady?!”
Astrid moved on before she could hear the assistant’s words.
There is only one weapon I want to use in the first place, and I have no interest in other weapons.
If it’s a man, if it’s a man’s weapon –
“It’s a bit light.”
A greatsword as long as Astrid’s height and boasting an area as wide as her waist.
Picking up the hilt of the sword, Astrid smiled with satisfaction.
“This.”
Seeing Astrid clutching the handle of the greatsword with one hand and swinging it loudly, the assistant put on a stunned expression.
Even though it’s a wooden sword, the weight is roughly the same, so it’s probably not the weight to handle with one hand—
No, no. In the assistant’s mind, the thought that the beautiful woman in front of him was the rumored Lady Mitterien passed by, and then it changed to a thought that was not particularly surprising.
“That that… Ah. All right… ! Then, the Greatsword… By. The major examination is here.”
Just because someone wants to become a mid- to long-term knight doesn’t mean everyone can do it.
It is said that Astrid is definitely shaking off her name, but procedures are procedures, so it is necessary to pass the examination for the medium and long-term knight major.
*
“What about the other cadets?”
“I am back in the auditorium. Astrid, get your supplies quickly and go back to the auditorium.”
After being accepted as a major, the next step was to receive supplies.
Apparently, Astrid was late in her decision to join the school, so it seemed that the others had already collected her supplies and returned to the auditorium, so Astrid took the bag of supplies offered by her assistant and left the building.
“You are late. What do you want to procrastinate for so long?”
It was Leopold.
Standing right next to the supply depot entrance, Leopold frowned at Astrid.
“What are you doing here?”
“I waited for you. You know when you see it.”
“I don’t know because you won’t tell me. Why did His Highness wait for me?”
“Go once. It seems that class assignments are in progress.”
“Maybe.”
Even the order of rotation is the same. Roughly enrolled, entered the school, assigned a platoon, received supplies… Ugh
Astrid was busy brushing away the dark memories that suddenly came to her mind.
“Wouldn’t your reputation be damaged if you lost your way here and wandered around and were late?”
The walk to the auditorium was not quiet.
I hear a song that sounds like a military song from far away, and I hear a shout from somewhere along with loud footsteps, and something pops! And I hear a popping sound
“It’s surprising that His Highness is concerned about my reputation.”
It was sincere. The fact that Leopold cared about Astrid’s reputation really came as a big surprise to Astrid.
“Your reputation has nothing to lose any more. I’m worried about your uncle’s reputation.”
“Oh yeah.”
Then it is.
As Astrid walked away, covering her mouth, she arrived at the auditorium.
The auditorium was already packed with cadets.
Now that the initiation ceremony was over, the treatment of Leopold as the crown prince and the treatment of Astrid as the grand duchess completely disappeared, and she became just a cadet belonging to the Imperial Military Academy, a first-year student.
“The cadets who came late join quickly! What are you doing stand still! Everyone is waiting!”
A man in a silver combat uniform yelled at the two of them as they belatedly entered the auditorium, raising blood in their necks.
‘Uh… Seriously, how could something like that… ‘
It was Astrid who was really, really starting to realize that she was enlisting in the army for the second time.
A purple-haired nun smiling brightly in front of her.
“Nice to meet you. I am Veracien, the faithful servant of the goddess Etherane. My major is sacred studies, and my main weapon is a mace.”
Come to think of it, at the waist of the nun’s uniform, a mace with a short single stick attached to her blunt hair was tied.
“My name is Astein. As you can see, he’s a wizard. Best of luck in the future, Cadet Astrid and Cadet Leopold.”
To the extent that it is difficult to tell whether the eyes are closed or open, if I had to say narrow eyes… A man who seems appropriate to say.
Astein raised the corners of his mouth and waved his hand at Leopold and Astrid with a gentle smile.
“This is Erana. It’s an elf. Are you confident in archery and dagger skills?”
Long ears sticking out from between the hair.
And the green hair that flowed down like a waterfall and reached to the shins.
It was the first time Astrid had ever seen an elf in person.
Magic Knight Leopold.
Long-term knight Astrid.
Priest Berathien.
Wizard Astain.
Archer Eranya.
The combination that seemed to be aimed at was born.
So, I heard that even until the end of last year, the first graders were divided into classes according to their majors. And it was clearly written that way in the entry guide.
In the first year, since the focus was on education to further refine the major, only cadets with the same major were gathered to form a class, and the curriculum was also focused on intensive major.
I did-
It was said that the curriculum suddenly changed from the first year under the banner of training elite knights who were proficient in rotational battles with other majors.
Astrid sighed haha. Not to be outdone by that, Leopold also sighed.
“You must have used your hand beforehand.”
Leopold nodded as if agreeing with Astrid’s words.
“I guess so.”
A loud cry came from behind them in the awkward silence.
“Did everyone check the class members!”
The eyes of those who filled the large auditorium turned to the owner of the voice.
The instructor was standing on the lectern, looking down at the cadets and glaring at them with intense eyes.
“Now this composition is your companions who will share the joys and sorrows with you for a year. From now on, the five of you will be called by the name of the squad, not the division, and the squad number will be called on this spot in a while, so in the meantime, you guys choose the squad leader. Got it?”
Squad.
Hearing that name again
Astrid caressed her on the shoulder, recalling her terrible memories.
I got goosebumps because it felt like the squad leader’s epaulettes would be attached, but fortunately, the feeling of touching the tip of my hand was not the rough feeling of epaulettes, but the feeling of a familiar uniform.
“… What else is the squad leader?”
“It means to elect the leader of this squad. Of course before Leopold… No, Cadet Leopold would do it, right?”
Leopold’s gaze turned to Astrid.
There was something unusual in those eyes, and when Astrid was about to ask why she was looking at me like that, Leopold’s lips moved.
“A mid- to long-term knight should be the squad leader. Isn’t it? I mean, I have to play the role of the front line on the front line of our squad.”
“Oh… I think that’s good. It’s good that the mid-long term knight is here.”
Veracien, a clergyman who chimed in as if he had been waiting.
“I wonder if the durability is good for a long-term knight, but if you’re an Astrid cadet, there won’t be any problem, right?”
Astein agreed with a smile on his face.
“Since he is thin, it is unlikely that he will shoot the wrong person, so I agree with him too!”
Erranya, an archer who said something scary.
‘… 1 year. It is 1 year. Let’s definitely go back within a year.’
Just looking at it, all of them, with the exception of Leopold, were out of order.
Noticing that fact with a long feeling, Astrid made a firm resolution.
