Akatsuki Translations

When Manika offered to guide Shuou to the training grounds, he realized her sincerity only when faced with the long, steep slope leading there.

The incline was so severe it could be considered light mountain climbing. Manika enthusiastically led the way, but before they were halfway up, her steps became unsteady. Yet she maintained her posture, keeping her back straight—a display of admirable willpower.

“I can go on my own, you know,” Shuou suggested, unable to bear watching Manika, who looked like she might keel over at any moment.

Despite her labored breathing, Manika replied with forced vigor, “N-no… As the head instructor, it’s my duty to introduce new staff members.”

“Then shall we go back and prepare horses?”

Manika shook her head at Shuou’s suggestion. “That won’t do. It’s Gemstone Academy’s tradition to walk to the training grounds on one’s own feet.”

Shuou connected the dots between the strange dungeon he’d seen in the school building during Yuuhina’s tour and Manika’s mention of tradition.

Even for the athletic Shuou, this path was far from easy. He could only imagine how tempting that dungeon’s shortcut must be for the children living here, forced to make this trek on foot every time.

Upon reaching the top of the slope with Manika, they could see a large plaza below where candidates with vibrantly colored hair were engaged in various practical exercises. The sight of mock battles with wooden swords and horseback riding clearly illustrated Gemstone Academy’s nature as a military academy.

“The swordsmanship training area is over there,” Manika said, pointing to the western side of the plaza after they slowly descended a gentle slope.

In the designated area, wooden dummies shaped like human torsos were lined up. Around them, candidates with wooden swords were either swinging them around haphazardly or sitting idly, chatting.

What particularly caught Shuou’s eye was a group of students forming a circle, their backs turned as they clamored around something.

“You lot! I said to study independently, not to play around!” Manika shouted.

The scolded students flinched, shrinking with embarrassed expressions.

“There! What are you doing?”

At Manika’s bark, the circle of students parted, revealing two male students at its center. One was small with black hair, the other a tall, lanky blonde. The former was lying face-down on the ground, with the latter’s foot on the back of his head.

Suddenly, Manika’s expression twisted with anger.

“Cadel Misanth, remove your foot this instant!”

The blonde student called Cadel raised an eyebrow coolly and lifted his foot from the black-haired boy’s head.

“Is this better, Ms. Manika?”

Manika stared intently at Cadel, who remained composed despite the scolding.

The black-haired student who had been pinned down slowly got up, keeping his face down, and shuffled to the back of the group, disappearing from view.

Sighing, Manika touched Shuou’s back. “This is Shuou, sent by the military as a temporary swordsmanship instructor. He will be overseeing classes for the upper years until an official replacement for the previous instructor is decided. Everyone, please keep this in mind.”

A murmur arose among the students.

Cadel quickly raised his hand. “Teacher, this must be some kind of joke, right?”

He shrugged, tapping the pale green sunstone on the back of his left hand.

“This is no joke,” Manika replied firmly.

“I’ll say what everyone’s thinking: Are you telling us to learn swordsmanship from someone with a dunstone? That’s like asking us to learn language from cows or chickens. The Misanth name hasn’t fallen so low as to seek teachings from livestock.”

Giggles erupted from various corners.

“Be quiet! This appointment has gone through proper procedures. It’s not something a mere candidate should comment on.”

“Even a mere candidate isn’t so powerless as to silently accept such injustice. I’ll report this to my family. For now, I’d like to abandon this ridiculous situation and make a statement of intent. Everyone, let’s withdraw.”

In agreement with Cadel’s words, the students turned their backs and began heading back to the school building.

‘Well, I expected as much,’ Shuou thought.

Even faced with this rejection, Shuou remained calm, unfazed. This level of reaction was easily predictable.

Manika raised her voice, trying to stop the students, but they ignored her, having shut their ears to her words.

The black-haired boy who had been kicked by Cadel earlier was left behind, timidly taking a step to follow the others.

Manika called out to him. “Candidate Arata.”

“…Yes,” he responded quietly.

“Are you injured?”

“…No.”

The boy called Arata, his uniform disheveled and covered in dust, bowed slightly and walked away without energy.

Watching Arata’s back with concern, Manika said bitterly, “For those from good families like Cadel, this place must be a comfortable world. But that boy, despite being smart, has always been picked on because of his background.”

Manika began picking up the numerous wooden swords scattered on the trampled ground. Shuou hurriedly joined in to help.

“By the way, how confident are you in your swordsmanship skills?” she asked while tidying up.

Without looking up, Shuou replied, “Not at all. I’ve only just started learning.”

Noticing Manika had stopped moving, Shuou looked up to see her with raised eyebrows and mouth half-open.

“It’s not my policy to pry, but I can’t help wondering why you were assigned here,” she said.

“Indeed, I wonder that myself,” Shuou agreed.

From an outsider’s perspective, it must have been an absurdly nonsensical conversation.

By the time they finished inspecting the training grounds and returned to the school building, the cool morning air had given way to the warm afternoon sun.

The students of Gemstone Academy were spending their extended lunch break as they pleased.

Manika, her legs wobbling from the round trip to the training grounds, downed some cold tea in her room before announcing she would guide Shuou to his lodgings.

As they stepped back into the hallway, which had been empty moments ago, they found Yuuhina standing gracefully.

“You… if you have business, it can wait,” Manika glared at her.

Yuuhina remained unfazed. “I’ve come to escort the new teacher.”

“Escort? I don’t recall giving such an order.”

“This person is an important guest of our family. The head of the family is very concerned about him.”

Hearing this, Manika stared at Shuou as if she’d discovered some rare creature. ” Lady Orthoclase…?”

“So if it’s about showing him around the facilities, I’ll take care of it,” Yuuhina offered.

Manika seemed offended by Yuuhina’s proposal. “That won’t be necessary. Remember your place as a candidate.”

“It is necessary. I’ve been ordered to assist Shuou with his life at Gemstone Academy. Please don’t forget that these words come from the head of the Adulelia family.”

Manika was momentarily speechless. Her slightly trembling shoulders hinted at her daily struggles.

“I’ll allow you to accompany us. But only during break time,” she conceded.

Yuuhina bowed her head with an artificial smile. “Thank you.”

Manika led the way, with Shuou following at a slight distance, and Yuuhina close behind him.

As they passed by an open classroom halfway down the long corridor, Manika peeked inside and suddenly shouted. Immediately after, a boy and girl with disheveled clothes darted out of the classroom, leaving behind words of apology as they ran off.

“Really, how disgraceful… turning this sacred academy into a den of iniquity,” Manika muttered as they walked.

Behind Shuou, Yuuhina stifled a laugh. She whispered softly, so only Shuou could hear, “I think the act of nurturing love and leaving behind children is also sacred.”

“But they should choose a more appropriate place,” Shuou said, siding with Manika.

Yuuhina smiled quietly. “Perhaps. But we humans can only leave behind offspring with those we’ve formed a heart connection with through love. So, I thought it unkind to pluck a budding flower.”

Finding Yuuhina’s opinion not entirely off-base, Shuou murmured in agreement.

“If we humans could form relationships with anyone, I wonder if the nature of Gemstone Academy, which forces young men and women into the same space, would be different,” Yuuhina mused.

“You mean, if anyone of the opposite sex could have children together?” Shuou asked, turning back.

Yuuhina nodded. “If that were the case, humans could increase their numbers more efficiently. We might even be able to match the numbers of the rabidaemon lurking in the Abyss. It’s a far-fetched analogy, but I sometimes think about such things.”

Manika, walking ahead, stopped in her tracks. “I can hear you. Stop it. Talking about people as if they were insects or rodents… it’s revolting just to listen to.”

Yuuhina immediately apologized when scolded, but the face she secretly showed Shuou had a small red tongue peeking out.

“This is the dormitory,” Manika announced. “Most instructors commute, and only a few single individuals use this as temporary lodging, so don’t feel too constrained.”

They were led to a strange room leading underground. After descending stairs and walking through a narrow passage, they came to a large space with about ten rooms branching off. The atmosphere was more like a prison cell than a dormitory, but the rooms were designed to let in sunlight, oddly lacking a sense of confinement.

“I’ll inform the staff, so meals will be brought at your requested times. If you have laundry, place it in the basket in your room, and someone will collect it. Remember that,” Manika instructed.

“How much will it cost?” Shuou asked.

Manika looked at him curiously. “Don’t confuse Gemstone Academy with some cheap inn. There’s no financial burden.”

Shuou leaned forward, swallowing hard. “So, the meals are free?”

Manika stepped back, perplexed. “That’s what I’m saying.”

The image of a large, brown-skinned man flashed through Shuou’s mind.

“If possible, I’d like to bring a companion here as an assistant,” he ventured.

“A companion? Is this person’s background reliable?”

Shuou nodded vigorously. “The Ode commander has approved.”

Manika considered for a moment, then nodded. “Very well. Once confirmed, I’ll submit an official request.”

Upon hearing this, Shuou clenched his fist.

The thought that the food expenses for that big eater might be completely covered made Shuou feel like he could grow to like this place called Gemstone Academy.