V2C15

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Episode 21

Riding Lessons

As the third hour passed, it was time for our riding lessons.

While we waited for the instructor to arrive, the class decided to do some training.

.

“How are you?”

Antoine, the man from Lamberg I’d met on the train, had suddenly appeared.

I feel he dislikes me because I was an Executioner.

.

I suddenly heard a “Tch”.

For a moment there, I thought I had accidentally verbalized my thoughts, but the sound didn’t come from me.

I looked behind me.

Karen was hatefully staring at Antoine, while the latter just slicked back his oiled hair.

“Greetings, everyone. My name is Antoine Katralov! I am known as the strongest magician of my generation. This gentleman over here will be your riding instructor. Believe me when I say I am able to teach you how to ride unicorns or dragons.”

.

Antoine whistled and a black dragon swooped down from the sky.

.

It had a long slender neck, but an ugly face.

“Could you ride it?”

Rand asked Himari.

“No.”

“Black dragons are not easy to command.”

“…I

As Antoine was stroking the dragon’s head, I noticed he wore a pair of goggles.

“Why is he wearing goggles anyways?”

“Well, you don’t want wind, or in weird cases, trash and debris to get into your eyes. And…”

Himari looked at the dark lenses of Antoine’s goggles.

“…More importantly, you don’t make direct eye contact with dragons.”

Himari looked towards the dragon.

“Dragon’s can determine people’s true selves, like if they were a coward, just by looking at their eyes. If it judges you unworthy, it’ll never allow you to mount it. Most people just don’t want to risk it.

Antoine got on the dragon.

“You will never be able to see flying prowess better than this. Haha!”

With a laugh, Antoine and the black dragon soared into the skies.

However, their movements seemed random and discordant, which made it appear that Antoine had no control over the dragon.

“Seriously? He looks like he can’t control it at all.”

“The dragon we saw when we entered the academy was much better than this, right?”

“Definitely.”

The dormitory manager handled his dragon much better.

Antoine came down, breathless. His hair and clothes were all over the place and not a shred of his former elegant demeanor could be seen anywhere.

“Whew. That’s how it’s done. So… does anyone want to try riding the dragon?”

Himari immediately stood up.

Is this girl an idiot?

“Teacher. Isn’t it too dangerous to allow an amateur on a flying dragon? Isn’t it too early?”

“Are you saying that I, an adult and your superior, am remiss in any way? Not to mention the fact that I am your teacher.

Himari wrinkled her brow and sat back down.

Antoine then gazed at me with an evil grin.

“Charles. Try riding it.”

I thought this would happen. I knew it was futile to refuse, so I obediently stood up and tried.

“Charles…”

Rand had a look of concern on his face.

“…I’ll just run away if it’s dangerous.”

I whispered.

I wouldn’t have gotten this far in life if I was a coward.

I walked towards Antoine.

“Teacher, could you lend me your goggles?”

“Goggles? Ah, there is no need! This lizard is perfectly friendly~”

Looking at the dragon’s behavior earlier…

Heck no.

Himari shouted.

Antoine silenced her with a glare.

“……Got it.”

I approached the dragon without goggles.

But from behind. I tried to stealthily get one.

Don’t make eye contact? Easy! Just don’t get seen–

“You bitc–!”

Prompted by Antoine’s call, the dragon met my eyes.

“It flew towards me.

The dragon swooped down.

“RUN, CHARLES!”

Rand was shouting. A female classmate screamed.

I looked at the black dragon, unfalteringly.

The dragon roared loudly.

I started to sweat.

Antoine was flabbergasted.

“What… this is…?!”

“…the dragon acknowledged Charles as worthy.”

”“No way…” Himari was also stumped.

The beast looked at me with submissive eyes.

.

I say on the dragon’s back, being careful while doing so.

It roared once, frightening the class, but took off into the skies.

Its great wings flapped majestically as we flew.

.

My classmates were cheering for me. By the way he looks, it seems Antoine hated me even more now.

After flying to my heart’s content, we landed on the training ground. When I got off, my classmates crowded around me.

“You really flew! How was it?! How did it feel to ride a dragon?!”

Typical Rand excitedly asked first.

“…Honestly, you looked a lot better than Antoine.”

Rand whispered with a grin on his face.

Antoine then proceeded with the class as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn’t forced me to ride an untrained dragon. After the class was over, he privately called me over to the black dragon’s hut. After securing the dragon, he calmly turned towards me, as if he was about to tell me why he called me out. Suddenly, he grabbed my shirt and slammed me against a tree.

I can’t help but remember my old master in moments like this.

“Why didn’t you get executed too?! The main culprit of the Lamberg attack! Like that Henri girl!”

“Evilest bitch in town. So many people died because of her releasing the death row prisoners!”

Upon hearing Henri’s name, I grabbed the arm Antoine was using to pin me.

Antoine’s face crumpled with pain.

“Evil? Bitch? Her?! An Evil Bitch?!”

Antoine broke away from my grasp and took out his wand.

“Are you seriously attacking me? I’m a teacher! Violence against teachers is unforgivable! That’s common sense!”

“

“So what? Have you forgotten who I am?”

Antoine looked at me with disgust and hate in his gaze.

“I’m the guy who killed his own girlfriend. And you think I’d think twice about killing some random teacher?!”

Antoine started trembling.

A third-party intervened. Vice-Principal Harman.

Antoine hurriedly hid his wand away when he saw Harman.

“My student has four lessons left. Can you please dismiss him?”

Antoine alternates between glaring at me and at Vice-Principal Harman.

Antoine left in a huff, trying to get the final word in.

Vice-Principal Harman just smiled, smoking a cigar.

“Good job.”

◆

“The wand broke when I tried to cast Baptism.”

“That’s because the wand couldn’t withstand your spell.”

“So, a wand is a no-go. What about a knife? Would you like to try?”

Harman threw me a folding knife, which I caught in my right hand.

I brandished its blade and started to chant.

Upon casting, the knife started to turn to ashes from the blade down.

I noticed that when I baptized the wand, it burned then broke. Does using different items have different effects?

“I reckon you need to use a big sword, or hammer, or something sturdy and can let magic flow easily. If the wand was a little bit more durable, it could probably withstand the spell once… In any case, I forgot to tell you, but you should refrain from casting Baptism as much as possible. It is an Execution Art, and thus, anyone who’s familiar with them will be able to notice you immediately. So you must be mindful.”

There was a minute of awkward silence.

“Then, I think it’s about time for me to go.”

“Hoho? Does Charles have a girl waiting for him?”

“No, just a friend.”

“Just a friend, eh?”

We both smiled.

When I finally exited the training ground, I heard Rand whining.

“Charles, I’m so hungry already.”

“Sorry, sorry. Let’s go already.”

We left the school to eat at home.

| TOC |

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