All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 36

36. The Academy’s All-rounder Player – Episode 36 (36/300)

Exploration of the Eve Festival – 2

He stopped himself from speaking.

“Haha. You’re trying to pry into my personal life, aren’t you? Are you that curious?”

It must be a personal matter, so he wasn’t particularly curious.

Aran Seth gave a wry smile at Ian’s indifferent reaction.

“There’s no need to push further, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then let’s head back.”

They’d shown their faces, and there was nothing particularly interesting anyway.

There was no need to stay any longer, so Ian turned around.

Just then, a couple approached them.

“Instructor Aran Seth. Ian.”

It was Acewyn, the representative of Class C, and Siren, the cleric from Class C who had cooperated with them in the fight against the demon.

“Ian. Are you finished exploring?”

“I’m not sure if there’s anything more to explore.”

While Acewyn looked disgruntled at Ian’s reply, Siren spoke in a cheerful tone.

“Ian, you remember me, right? Mya ne~ You know me?”

“Mya mya~ Mya ah~.”

“It’s Siren, right?”

Mya ne, and Ian too.

Seeing that both seemed to recognize her, she smiled brightly.

“Oh~ You remembered? Thank you.”

After a brief greeting, she approached Ian and asked as Acewyn began talking to Aran Seth.

“By the way, Ian, there’s something I’m curious about.”

“What?”

“Last time when you fought Voladi, you clearly repelled the demon’s energy even with an unblessed weapon, right? How did you do it?”

“I had a lot of holy objects with me.”

Ian took out the holy objects from his necklace and pouch.

Seeing them, she exclaimed.

“You have so many! Are you perhaps interested in becoming a paladin?”

“Why? Are you going to introduce me if I’m interested?”

“If you want, I’ll recommend you to my teacher in our territory. How about it? Even if our classes are different, that doesn’t have to matter after graduation, right?”

At Siren’s words, Ian paused for a moment before shaking his head.

“If I go there, there will be more than one or two kids in Class B crying and whining. Besides, I’ve already received an offer to join the paladins.”

Aran Seth, who was hearing that story for the first time, stopped talking to Acewyn and became serious.

“Are you thinking of leaving the academy and becoming a paladin?”

“No. I have a promise with you, Instructor.”

Only then did Aran Seth feel relieved.

“Oh? Oh oh. Th-that’s right.”

As he smiled brightly and nodded, Siren looked disappointed.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

As the conversation seemed to be over, Siren grabbed Acewyn and pulled him.

He resisted, wanting to talk more, but she just kept smiling.

“Ian, think about my offer.”

* * *

While Ian was attending the party, the town outside the academy was preparing for the Hero Festival.

The continent’s powerhouses gathered in a small tavern in the town, which was bustling with preparations.

The Carza Knights of the Carza Marquisate.

The Scarlet Knights of the Scarlet Kingdom.

The Palette Free Knights.

The Widron Mercenary Corps.

In addition, the leaders of prestigious groups from various countries on the continent glared coldly at each other.

“I get chills every time I come to this academy,” Killord Auden, the head of Auden County and a master [a highly skilled warrior or mage], said casually to those exuding murderous intent.

“Like the cultured and refined people we are, let’s not fight here.”

Everyone agreed.

If they were going to fight, they would have fought when this meeting first took place.

Personal grudges had to be put aside here.

As the murderous intent subsided, a large middle-aged man sitting on one side opened his mouth.

“In our Carza Knights…”

Ise Carza, the leader of the Carza Knights and the younger brother of the Carza Marquis [a noble title, ranking below a duke], said confidently.

“Acewyn Carza. Kaden Bartz, Widra, the acting president of the student council. And I will take Ian Brandon. The rest will be decided later.”

Ise’s blunt words caused frowns here and there.

“Are you just notifying us? Geez. Anyone would think you’re the strongest one here.”

Widron Dufain, the leader of the Widron Mercenary Corps, sneered at him and gripped the table tightly.

He was smiling, but he seemed quite annoyed by Ise’s announcement.

As the table he was holding crumbled, Keith Icebin, the leader of the Scarlet Knights, said.

“Shouldn’t we take care of the Scarlet Kingdom’s people first?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

Once again, the atmosphere turned hostile.

Killord, who was watching them, tapped the table.

“Are you all idiots? How many times do I have to say it?”

Only after he growled did everyone shut their mouths.

Of course, it wasn’t because they were afraid of Killord.

It was because this was a rule agreed upon by everyone.

You could scout the talent you wanted in any way, but there was only one exception.

Violence against each other during the Hero Festival was absolutely not allowed.

The moment that was allowed, all the powerhouses in this place would start a bloodbath.

“Let’s just drop everything and go outside and fight to the death. Of course, I’ll be the ultimate winner.”

Everyone laughed at Killord’s confident words.

He looked around at those who were shaking their shoulders as if they were about to go out right away and sighed.

Still, it seemed like they had calmed down somewhat.

“Well then. You’ve all gathered information about the people you want, right?”

The student who was currently receiving the most attention was Ian.

The third son of Baron Brandon of the Scarlet Kingdom.

A person who had not shown any talent until now suddenly showed his strength.

In addition to that, they were paying even more attention because of the unidentified teacher who had guided him.

“Well then, let’s start the scout war…”

The door to the room they were in was opened roughly.

The one who entered the door was a person wearing a white mask.

While everyone was surprised by the appearance of the masked man, he spoke very naturally.

“The Sword Flower Troupe will take Ian Brandon.”

“The leader of the Sword Flower Troupe? What brings you here?”

The Sword Flower Troupe, which had only participated in the scout war once, was stepping forward, and they were aiming for Ian.

While Killord was intrigued, those who had grudges against the leader of the troupe bared their teeth and stood up.

“You’re full of it. Forget it. Come on.”

“Today is the day I’ll take your head.”

“Try it if you can. And this is…”

The masked man, the leader of the Sword Flower Troupe, took out his sword, showed the flower pattern, and left.

“It’s a warning.”

Those who scoffed at his arrogance shouted roughly.

“If that bastard is aiming for Ian!”

“I’m aiming for Ian too!!”

Even those who had only been interested in Ian until now began to aim for him.

Eventually, as the atmosphere became even more hostile, Killord frowned.

“I should just quit being the host of this meeting because it’s so messy.”

* * *

The Hero Festival had begun.

For the students, it was the beginning of a bloody war, but for the townspeople, it was the beginning of a festival where they could make a fortune.

“Welcome! Welcome! Delicious Paruk [a type of local snack] for only 10 coppers!”

“Very delicious honey skewers are 10 coppers!”

Wildy frowned as she walked through the streets, which were several times more crowded than usual.

“Those honey skewers… They’ve tripled the price.”

“You know the price? Does a young lady from a count’s family eat things like that?”

“I can’t eat them because I’m on duty.”

“Then buy some? Even tripled, they’re cheap.”

“I’m on patrol.”

During the Hero Festival, not all classes took the exams at once.

The days for each exam were different, and in their remaining time, they patrolled the academy streets to maintain security and earn extra points.

Class B was in charge of patrolling on the first day of the Hero Festival.

Therefore, Wildy was trying her best to focus on patrolling and not pay attention to anything else.

Ian, who was next to her, poked her and pointed to one side.

Blanche and Park Bare, who were on another patrol team, were walking around with skewers and drinks.

“Th-those guys…?! Haa… By the way, Ian, I heard you escorted Instructor Aran Seth to the party yesterday?”

“Why? Did you want to go?”

“I couldn’t have gone anyway. I was meeting with the mages from the Magic Tower yesterday. Hehe. Are you disappointed? Okay. Then I’ll let you escort me to the party after the Hero Festival.”

She winked and smiled cutely, but Ian ignored her.

While Wildy, who had become embarrassed, shut her mouth, he pointed to one side.

“Pickpocket.”

The fact that there were many customers meant that it was a good time for pickpockets and thieves to be active.

A man was seen secretly taking the wallet of a middle-aged, pot-bellied nobleman while he was talking to the owner of a store.

Ian immediately threw a dagger at him.

“Kkyaaaaaaack!!”

The pickpocket, who was working, screamed, and the store owner and the nobleman who were about to be victimized looked over in surprise.

“Keuak… Damn it…!! Are you academy bastards!”

“You should say, ‘Are you academy students, sir.'”

“Bind!!”

“Ugh?!”

Ian, who had slapped the pickpocket bound by Bind [a spell or skill that immobilizes the target] and knocked him unconscious in one hit, grabbed the limp man.

In the meantime, the guards ran over after hearing the commotion.

“Oh my! Thank you for your hard work.”

“No. You guys are working harder.”

Wildy spoke kindly, and the guards greeted Ian as well and dragged the pickpocket away.

The nobleman, who was blankly watching that, cleared his throat and approached them.

“Ahem. I’m grateful. As a reward, would you like to have a cup of tea? Or a meal would be good too.”

“We can’t because we’re on patrol.”

As Ian refused, he smiled slyly.

“Is that so? Then I’m staying at the lodging called Parhen’s Song in the west, so come visit me anytime! Ah, this is a token of my appreciation.”

Ian, who saw the three 10 gold coins he gave, quietly put them in his pocket.

“Are you thinking of going?”

“I’m not going.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I’ve heard that there are quite a few people who try to lure students in this way and make the kind-hearted ones their knights or subordinates.”

“Wow… Like this?”

“Yeah. Well, it’s a good way to build connections, even if it’s with someone from a hard-to-deal-with family.”

Most of the students at the academy were nobles.

So there was absolutely nothing bad about making connections in this way.

Ian, who had easily noticed his intentions, continued his patrol with an indifferent expression.

They mediated fights between nobles and caught pickpockets.

As they patrolled, it was almost time to return.

A woman who looked to be in her late thirties ran up to them urgently.

“H-help… Please help me… Th-those nobles are… are hurting my husband…”

“Ian, go check it out.”

In the place where they followed the woman, two young nobles were drunk and grabbing the collar of a man who appeared to be a store owner.

“Okay, okay. Stop.”

“Ugh… Who are youuuuuuaaaaaaaack!”

Ian grabbed the staggering young man and pulled him lightly.

As he screamed and fell, Wildy pointed her staff.

“It’s the Hero Festival right now. If you cause unnecessary trouble, you will be forcibly expelled.”

She spoke politely, but would a drunk person listen to that?

He glared at Ian and Wildy with a flushed face and grabbed the sword at his waist.

“You… Hic! Wh-what are you! Do you… Do you know who I am?!”

He’s nothing special.

In the first place, would a guy who causes trouble during the Hero Festival, where many nobles and powerhouses come, be a decent guy?

Ian stared at him and opened his mouth.

“If you draw that, I’ll kill you.”

At that moment, not only Wildy but even the drunk Witon, no, everyone around here felt a chill down their spines from the intense murderous intent that emanated from Ian.

“Uh… Uh oh… Yo, you what…”

“Amazing.”

A knight in armor approached, pushing through the crowd.

As the knights who followed grabbed Witon, the knight at the head smiled.

“Just like the information said. I like it. I am Ise Carza.”

“You are the leader of the Carza Knights.”

As Ian nodded, he calmly opened his mouth.

“You are Ian Brandon, right?”

“Yes.”

“Does the fact that you took the Carza’s sword mean that you want to join the Carza Knights?”

Ian, who heard his confident words, became so serious that the listener was embarrassed.

“No, I don’t.”