A Revelation

"I want to discuss about a potential terrorist attack on this academy. Please listen to me carefully." Emmeline told me with a determined look on her face.

...

"There are various questions I want to ask, but first, why me?"

"Because you knew about it already didn't you?"

"And why do you think so?"

"About that,... let me explain it from the start."

.

.

.

Lunch break was for 30 minutes, and she took nearly 15 minutes explaining what was going on. 

Some of the parts were expected, but some were not quite like I thought.

First of all, how did she come to me to talk about such sensitive topics, even though everyone knows what type of personality I have, I mean Chris has?

Apparently, she found that I was the one who reported about dangerous monsters at the entrance of dungeons at the guild. Well, I went there myself without any disguise because I was expecting this. 

The academy doesn't bother with the informant. If the info was from the guild, they just had to cross check. But, the one whose plan was ruined completely would definitely search for everyone involved. 

That means she was bound to find me out. 

But, why is it too early? Let me enjoy a bit of my school life.

Apart from that, I was surprised to find that she told me that she planned the attack herself. I couldn't believe my eyes when I heard her.

[I also couldn't believe 'my ears when I saw her'.]

...Heh. Very funny.

Anyway, she told me everything that she had planned to do on the day of the forum.

Moreover, her main objective is to obtain that artifact for herself. 

On the surface she is cooperating with her father, but she is actually building her own plan to gain it. She told me something about she doesn't want to let go that item into wrong hands, and she would have returned it eventually.

But the attack plan failed, and one of her sub ordinates got captured. He has been transferred to the interrogation room of the capital jail.

However, after that incident, she got no reply from the remaining personnel. And something strange has been going on with the course 2 students lately.

Particularly, a group of students including the leader of their protest. 

"You didn't answer my first question, why are you telling me all of this?" I enquired, because it was still strange that one would just confess everything to someone they barely know.

"...Because, I don't think you are a bad person. I have heard from some people in the city that you often go towards the forest. Your family had already kicked you out and you are not allowed to live in the academy dorms. So, you are living there, aren't you?"

"So?"

"Well, I am just guessing but I think you are the one who helped both Christiana and Harald when they were gone missing."

"...It may be the other way. I might be the one who injured them in the first place."

"No, I don't think so. I mean, in terms of power, you are no match for them."

Yeah, I understand. This girl is may be a little intelligent, but she trusts people too easily. If anyone would show some good deeds to her, then she would trust them blindly.

"Are you still sure you want to confess everything to me? I mean, what if I just go and tell the student council and the management whatever you have told me?"

"That's....."

Not prepared for that, huh? 

"Don't worry. I don't have any definitive proof of what you did or what you said. And who in this academy would believe anything coming out of my mouth."

It's true. Even if I had some proof, they would just have put the blame on me. Emmeline is the perfect outgoing model student after all.

"Anyway, after saying all that what do you want me to do?" I asked her the last question.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

As she was going to tell me something, the bell rang ending my precious launch break without having any food. 

I had eaten nothing before coming. Due to running for a long time, I was starving inside. 

Let's endure this hunger till end of the class then.

"Launch break is over. So, if you don't mind, let's continue this conversation after the end of the class."

"O-Okay."

I agreed reluctantly.

***

The afternoon classes were joint combat training with class A.

Well, I was also curious about this session, because I wanted to see how do they fight a swordsman with a bow or a spear.

"Alright! Everyone pair up with a different class student!"

As the instructor announced it, I was completely relieved.

Why?

Because there are exactly 40 and 39 students in class B and A respectively. It means one student has to sit outside of class B.

And I don't think anyone would want to be paired up with me. So, I stood at a corner not to be noticed by the instructor. 

I am totally aiming for that scholarship scheme. But it is important to observe your opponents' abilities before going into the battlefield. 

That's why, I am gonna just observe them today. Also, I am a bit hungry now, so I don't wanna fight anyone.

Or so I thought. 

However, shattering all my plans, Harald called out to the instructor and reported me.

Dude. I am not going to save you anymore. 

The instructor was a woman probably in her mid twenties and a sword wielder at that. As I was the odd one out, she told me to fight with her.

"Ah, you are the famous suspended one, aren't you? What is your name?"

"...It's Chris Harrison. By the way, I am a dagger user. Is that okay?"

"What is?"

"I mean, everyone is paired with someone with the same weapon. So I was wondering if it was okay for me to fight a sword wielder."

Yeah. Everyone got perfectly paired. It was more like the class student distribution was planned for this type of class. And as I was suspended, they didn't take me into consideration, so that made a perfect 39 against 39.

"In a real battle, no one would care about your weapon. Would you complain if a goblin appears before you holding a spear?"

"I suppose not. But that doesn't seem to be the case with others though."

"Ugh! How many question you gonna ask? Just take out your dagger and get ready to fight."

"...Understood."

At first, I didn't recognize her, but now I remember. There was a female professor for combat lessons with a little tanned skin but a gorgeous face and short hair in the novel.

So its her, huh? 

She took out a wooden sword instead of a real sword. Maybe she is having pity on me.

Well, I would gladly take you upon that offer.

The month I spent in the woods were filled with intense training only. So this is my first combat experience.

It's not like I know a lot about it, so I just dashed her with the two daggers in my hands.

Argh!

With a swift and strong blow she hit my stomach with her sword which threw me at some distance. 

Shit! I thought I was just going to puke on her due to that blow. 

Its not even a fight from any long angle. Whenever, I dashed at her with some change in my motions, she dealt a blow with just one swing without moving from her position.

But, there are some tactics I learned through all that ordeal. 

Sword is longer than a dagger. So closing the distance is most important.

As my objective was just blocking her attack, focusing on footwork proved to be effective. 

Still, I was not able to block her attack. After a few swings, I was gradually adapting with her movements, but not her insane speed.

Then getting a few more blows to stomach and limbs, I learned that deflecting is better than blocking, and I have an advantage of two weapons at that. 

Noticing my change in approach, she increased the number of feints, and kept the pressure on me.

I thought of her to be the type to talk and instruct during a fight, but when I took a glance at her, I was taken aback to find a grin on her face.

Taking advantage of that opening, she dealt a final stronger blow to me. Realizing that I can't deflect this one, I used both my daggers to form a cross blocking structure and was successful in it.

But the impact was too large for me to handle as I was thrown again to some distance. 

This is it! I can't even move my hands due to the numbness. 

"I surrender." As I declared my defeat and looked around me, everyone was staring at me.

Probably their matches were over. 

Well, seems like it was quite a spectacular defeat for me, as I saw some students laughing among themselves.

Sigh.

And here I thought of not attracting any attention on the first day.

After that, the instructor dismissed the class and everyone started moving into their respective classes.

 I should stop by the bathroom to clean the dirt on my uniform.

Apparently, for training purposes, there was different uniform for everyone. 

Wait. That t-shirt I used on Christiana to stop her bleeding was the training uniform?

Ugh! I have to buy a new one from the academy.

Well, I have to search for a job as soon as possible.

As I was leaving the training ground, that instructor looked at me, and as our eyes met, she winked.

...

The hell is wrong with the teachers here? I guess, being strong comes with unique behaviors.

[Maybe she is interested in you! Yes! A forbidden relat-]

'System open my physical stats.'

{

PHYSICAL STATS : Stamina (7), Agility (8), Battle IQ (10)

}

There is a new one this time. Battle IQ huh? Seems like it opened just now because I didn't fight anyone before. 

Well, let's go to the bathroom for now.

***

As I was exiting from the bathroom and going towards my class, I noticed Christiana standing at the front.

"You waiting for someone?" I asked her knowing that no one was there.

"What were you doing with Emmeline during launch time?"

Huh? I thought we were alone that time. How did she know?

"I followed you after launch started but you disappeared with Emmeline, I couldn't find anywhere."

What the hell. Is she suspicious of me that I am involved in the attack?

"She was just asking me some questions. Like there were some sentences written on my desk, so how I was feeling about it."

"Is that all?"

"Yes. Did you wait for me just to ask that?"

"Hmm. Yeah, never mind. It's not my business anyway. I am going to my class."

What was that? Did she find anything about the movements of terrorists? And more like did she believe me that easily or she knew that I was hiding something and chose not to pry further?

Anyway, I don't need to mention everything about Emmeline to her. When the right time would come, I have to clear her name from this attack too.

Moreover, I have to hear about the rest of the story from Emmeline after class too.

It's getting a little hectic now. 

But as I thought, this is exhilarating!