We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Holy Knight Academy City
Ten days of travel eastward across a land of sand and rock.
After passing one mid-sized town and forging a path where no path existed, it suddenly appeared.
A large blue lake, dazzlingly set against the desert-colored land, spread beautifully in a hollow of endless sand dunes. Green covered the area around the spring, and houses with white outer walls stood lined up as if pushing back the desert sand.
And beyond the blue, white, and green cityscape, a giant structure stood majestically.
“Is that the Holy Knight Academy?”
Amira, standing next to me, nodded at my amazed whisper.
“Yes. That is the Holy Knight Academy’s dormitory and school building.”
“Can we stay there too?”
“People from all over the Eastern Continent gather here. Those who cannot secure lodging or housing in town stay at the dormitory. My older brother and I are renting a room in the dormitory. Uncle Luludodo has a room for instructors.”
“I see.”
From the sand dune we climbed, treading on sand, the Holy Knight Academy City could be seen spread out below.
The Holy Knight Academy, with its special presence, looked like a great shrine from a distance.
Its outer walls, beautifully built with white stone, reached about five stories high. Numerous spires extended from there.
There wasn’t just one building; many stood in a row. These buildings were connected by ground-level corridors and sky bridges, forming a single, cohesive structure.
“To think there’s such an amazing building in the desert. The one who built it must be a splendid person, right?”
During our desert journey so far, everywhere we looked, the scenery was only sand and rock.
Even the slightly larger towns we passed through had buildings made solely from processing stone quarried from the desert. They were plain in appearance, and even the large houses lacked any special feeling.
However, the Holy Knight Academy City was different.
In the desert scenery we had seen until now, we hadn’t encountered any white rock or stone ground.
Of course, there were no quarries around the Holy Knight Academy City where white stone could be mined.
In other words, the person who built the Holy Knight Academy here must have brought in a large amount of white stone from elsewhere, not only to build the school but also to develop the cityscape.
And someone capable of such an achievement must possess great power or exert strong influence over those around them.
“Amazing!” As I gazed at the magnificent view, seeking agreement from Srain and the others, Amira spoke.
“Elnea-kun, please don’t be surprised? Actually, it is said that the founder of the Holy Knight Academy created this academy city in just one night.”
“Wh-what did you say!?”
Startled, I slipped and tumbled down the sand dune.
I ended up rolling down with Uncle Luludodo, a grand tumble.
“Hey, don’t drag me down with you!”
“Uncle Luludodo, you haven’t bathed again, have you? You smell.”
“You fool. Water is precious in the desert. Only royalty or the extremely wealthy who rule major cities can bathe every day. And you haven’t bathed during your journey either, have you?”
That’s right!
Since being abandoned in the desert, we haven’t even had a proper wash, let alone a bath.
But, perhaps due to the desert’s dry climate, we don’t feel that uncomfortable, do we?
Still, I suppose it’s true that we might smell if we haven’t bathed in so long.
Ah! What if Amira thinks I smell?!
Later, I’ll secretly ask Ruilala to let me take a bath. Ruilala can surely create a bath with water magic!
However, it would have to be somewhere out of sight of the public.
I can’t afford to draw attention for doing something strange.
So, perhaps late at night?
“Honestly, dragging me down the dune with you. You’re as fearless as ever.”
“That’s not true. I always respect you as my senior, Uncle Luludodo.”
As Uncle Luludodo looked up at the sand dune we had fallen down, laughing as if I were lying, I seized the opportunity to tell him quietly.
“Uncle Luludodo, please don’t be surprised. We came here to investigate a request regarding the connection between the Holy Knight Academy and forbidden techniques.”
There was no one else around besides Uncle Luludodo and me. Everyone else was looking down at us from the top of the dune or confirming the remaining part of our journey.
In response to my sudden confession, Uncle Luludodo nodded, his gaze still fixed on the dune.
“Hmph, do you think I’d be surprised by something like that? It’s about that strange sword Magdalia had, isn’t it?”
As expected of Uncle Luludodo.
He seemed to grasp everything we questioned or suspected as a matter of course.
“You mentioned her name and came all the way to the east of the continent, so it must be about that, right? With your traveling companions being only demon race members and not a bride, it must be related to that Divine Race Empire?”
To decipher so much from my brief words.
His insight and perception, which he boasts have spread throughout the continent, are not mere boasts.
“It’s helpful that you understand so quickly. Perhaps your reason for coming to the Holy Knight Academy is the same as ours? We suspect the founder of the Holy Knight Academy is suspicious!”
Had they infiltrated before us?
As an instructor at the Holy Knight Academy, perhaps Uncle Luludodo could contact the academy’s higher-ups?
Someone must have negotiated with Uncle Luludodo to become an instructor and set conditions.
To my question, Uncle Luludodo quietly murmured, “No.”
“You already know the purpose of our journey, don’t you? We are not traveling to concern ourselves with the world’s problems.”
Uncle Luludodo explained that the reason he enrolled Alf and Amira in the Holy Knight Academy was purely to train them.
“I did feel something strange about Magdalia’s sword. However, I have no intention of getting involved in that matter. Nevertheless, I won’t hinder you, and I will cooperate if necessary.”
With a “There we go,” Uncle Luludodo began to climb the sand dune, looking back at me and extending his hand.
“However, be careful. The board of directors and the founder of the Holy Knight Academy are likely tricky individuals.”
“If you say that, you don’t know the details either, Uncle Luludodo? When you were asked to be an instructor, did you not meet with the board members?”
I clasped Uncle Luludodo’s hand and began to climb the dune as well.
As we climbed the sand dune together, Uncle Luludodo murmured softly.
“Unfortunately, no one within the academy has met the board of directors or the founder. It is said that the only ones who have been able to meet them in the past are the third-year graduates, Magdalia and her two companions, and the first-year Lapis, a fairy.”
“What!?”
Not a single enrolled student has met the founder?
What’s more, not even those chosen as instructors have met the people serving on the board of directors!
“Isn’t that strange?”
Then, how is the Holy Knight Academy operated?
Do the people involved with the academy believe in the ideals and thoughts of people they’ve never met and diligently pursue their studies day by day?
Uncle Luludodo couldn’t answer my question.
Instead, he concluded with these words:
“As I said, they are tricky. They operate the Holy Knight Academy with a deep understanding of what they are dabbling in. If that’s the case, no half-hearted investigation or pursuit will reveal their intentions. You must be prepared.”
The people who are our predecessors and who have influenced those who travel the world are the ones who will stand against us from now on.
Treading on the sand one step at a time, I climbed to where everyone was waiting.
“We’re finally here!”
With the academy city in our sight, we walked again.
And so, we finally arrived at the desert paradise, where buildings with white outer walls lined the streets, and greenery bloomed in various places.
“The desert journey was more arduous than I imagined.”
Surprisingly, it was Srain who made this remark.
“Even though Srain is used to traveling, the desert was still tough, wasn’t it?”
“It was quite different from walking through wastelands or mountains. I’m really looking forward to seeing what kind of power the inhabitants of such a unique land possess.”
“You’re only thinking about combat, aren’t you!?”
On our journey so far, Srain had shown great interest not only in Amira but also in Uncle Luludodo.
Well, Amira was thoroughly protected by me and Alf, and Uncle Luludodo skillfully evaded Srain with his seasoned deflective maneuvers.
“I wonder if there’s anyone who can satisfy Srain. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Hahaha, Cadis, you’re eager too.”
Cadis and Ruilala were looking out at the cityscape side by side.
Though they seemed to be exchanging lighthearted remarks upon finally reaching their destination, they were actually conducting reconnaissance.
It seems they haven’t forgotten their objective.
“Well then, we’re returning to the Holy Knight Academy… what are you all going to do now?”
Alf, who had taken over as the leader of the Great Sandworm Extermination Squad from Amira, called out to us while giving instructions to the students.
“What do you mean, ‘what are we going to do’?”
“You want to enroll in the Holy Knight Academy too, right? If so, you’ll first need to find lodging somewhere in town and go through the enrollment procedures for the entrance exam, won’t you?”
“Ah! Now that you mention it, that’s right.”
“We will submit a joint recommendation from myself, Amira, and Uncle Luludodo. After that, do your best to enroll. Especially you, Elnea, who hasn’t been recognized for your abilities by students other than me and Amira!”
“Ah, that’s right!”
In the end, I was never truly recognized for my abilities by all the students of the Holy Knight Academy.
This is all because my skill in fighting with a wooden sword exceeded their common sense.
“Ugh… Even though the students didn’t acknowledge me, I’ll make sure to be recognized by the townspeople before the exam.”
“You have to, or you’ll fail the exam. Wahahaha, good luck!”
“Older Brother, you’re laughing too much. Elnea-kun, I’ll be cheering for you, so do your best!”
“Yes, Amira and the others, please wait for me at the academy. I’ll catch up to Alf right away!”
“You’ve got some nerve.”
“Fufufu, I’m looking forward to it.”
We parted ways with Amira and everyone from the Holy Knight Academy at the entrance to the town.
“Well then, let’s go. First, we need to find an inn to set up our base.”
And with the trio of demon race members in tow, I entered the academy city.
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