Chapter 13 – Genius vs. Promising Talent (1)

Chapter 13 – Genius vs. Promising Talent (1)

[Translator – Late Dreamer]

[Proofreader – Seeker]

Chapter 13 – Genius vs. Promising Talent (1)

—Gulp.

Rodels, a member of the Cradle’s swordsmanship club and 3rd year student. He was waiting nervously for someone.

After a while. Someone’s footsteps approached and stopped in front of him.

At the same time, an armed maid took her position beside him.

“Your High—!”

He almost reflexively offered a formal greeting but managed to stop himself.

He kept making the same mistake. Even though he knew the person before him disliked such formalities.

She thinks of herself not as a noble but as a warrior burdened with duty.

“Senior.”

“It’s been a while Junior Rodels. So, did you have a good break?”

“Yes, Senior.”

They exchanged pleasantries for a while. How have you and your family been? How is your sister who got married recently?

Being students at the same Cradle, members of the same swordsmanship club and even wielding the same type of sword. These were the reasons Rodels was able to get somewhat close to the woman before him.

“So, what brings you to me at this busy time of the semester?”

And so. he made this absurd request that he could only do once.

“Senior, would you be willing to help the swordsmanship club?”

“Hmm.”

“It’s not about using your authority or connections. As a fellow swordsmanship club member and as a fellow Awakened of the Cradle. This is a request for support from a powerful ally.”

Though born of noble blood she didn’t flaunt it.

Rather she prioritized her duty, as an Awakened one who had manifested special abilities.

“Please do me a favor, Senior. Please for the sake of the swordsmanship club!”

“This is outrageous. Please keep your voice down.”

The maid standing nearby frowned slightly causing Rodels to flinch.

“Leave it be. I doubt Junior Rodels intended to be disrespectful. Besides this is not the Imperial Palace but the Cradle. ”Thee source of this content no/v/(el)bi((n))

“My apologies.”

“So. Could you elaborate a little more? You suddenly came to me and even made a request. You said it’s related to the club. I’m getting curious.”

“Well...”

Rodels was about to answer reflexively but bit his lip. He felt ashamed.

He was a high-ranking noble. A student of the Cradle and a future Awakened of the Empire. Yet here he was acting like a child who had been beaten up and was asking for help.

“Don’t be embarrassed. Rodels.”

As if sensing his inner turmoil. the student smiled behind her veil.

“This is a matter of the swordsmanship club and I am a member. Naturally, I have the right and reason to get involved.”

“Umm...”

Rodels sighed and carefully told them about yesterday’s events.

Without any exaggeration and downplaying. As calmly as possible. He told them with sincerity.

“...That kind of junior you say?”

“Yes. Senior. Honestly, even if all the club members present had attacked together the match would have been decided in 10 seconds.”

Rodels’ grades were top-notch in the Academy. Not just in theory but also in practical exams.

He could even aim for a top-three ranking in his year with a little more effort.

Yet this was Rodels’ reaction. He was expecting defeat. No, he was convinced.

This greatly piqued the curiosity of the woman behind her veil.

“That’s good. With passion and interest we humans can achieve anything.”

Especially when combined with a sense of duty. Neferti nodded in agreement. Those words felt like something the woman wanted to say to all Awakened individuals.

“But why would the busy Student Council President seek out this senior? Is it something to do with the dispatch team? Or perhaps a change in the fourth-year schedule?”

“It’s nothing like that.”

After a brief pause, Neferti seemed to make up her mind and spoke again.

“Senior.”

“Yes, Student Council President ?”

“Are you really planning to participate in that club’s friendly match?”

“How direct. That’s unlike the usual Student Council President .”

The woman tapped her teacup and gazed intently at Neferti.

“I was considering it, but since it’s not just anyone but the Student Council President asking, I’m even more intrigued.”

The Student Council President’s opinion. Senior promised her that she would listen. After a moment of thought, Neferti carefully spoke.

“It might be better if you don’t participate.”

“Really?”

“It’s not that I doubt your skills, Senior. It’s just that this new student is the most promising one I’ve seen in a long time. It seems a bit unfortunate for them to be discouraged so early on.”

This sparked even greater curiosity in the silver-haired woman’s eyes.

The Student Council President Neferti herself, the unparalleled genius who first suggested the possibility of using wind-element abilities—typically relegated to support roles—in combat was asking her not to discourage her promising junior.

“...Student Council President .”

“Yes?”

“Saying that makes me want to participate even more.”

“Eek! S-Senior!”

Flustered, Neferti raised her voice while slightly embarrassed. But she quickly realized her mistake and apologized.

“I’m sorry, Senior. I got a bit carried away—”

“No, Student Council President. I should be the one apologizing. I can’t fulfill your request despite you asking so earnestly.”

“...”

“I am the Empire’s princess, as well as an Awakened and a student of the Cradle. If there’s an exceptional junior, I want to meet them and spar with them. After all, that remarkable junior is a future pillar who will support this Empire.”

And besides, as a former prodigy herself, she was curious to see what the current crop of promising students was like.

***

The princess watched the Student Council President leave empty-handed, her gaze lingering on her cherished junior.

“Your Highness.”

The beautiful woman with silver hair like a cascading waterfall slowly turned her head.

“Do you really intend to accept the challenge?”

“Why not?”

“There’s no reason to reject it. However...”

“I haven’t been very active, but I am a member of the Swordsmanship Club. They asked me for a favor and it wouldn’t be right for me to flatly refuse them both as a member and a senior.”

She said it with a beautiful smile and the attendant maid stepped back with a groan.

“More than anything, I’m quite looking forward to it.”

If they were juniors from the Swordsmanship Club, they must be quite capable ability users.

A student who drove them into the pit of defeat in an instant. A freshman, no less.

Even the Student Council President came and openly mentioned that Junior was the top prospect.

The best swordsman among the students, a genius who has never missed the top spot.

A disciple of Saber, the greatest ability user produced by the Cradle. The third imperial princess, Luciel Margretel.

She thought of the club-friendly match tomorrow and smiled.

[Translator – Late Dreamer]

[Proofreader – Seeker]