Chapter 27

"Wow..."

I, Iina Hirenbrandt, was simply amazed.

At the earthen wall that instantly formed to protect us from the wolf attack, and the barrage of magical arrows that killed the cunning beasts.

With the dynamic vision I had honed alongside my spear training, I also noticed that a couple of ordinary arrows had flown and killed two wolves.

However, even this impressive archery seemed to pale in comparison to that magic.

Due to the rarity of talent, the number of mages is extremely low.

Furthermore, among those, mages who can impress are even rarer.

In fact, among the mages employed in our Blychburg territory, the only one who could match the magic just now would be the head mage, Mr. Blantark.

Moreover, he has been a top-tier adventurer for over thirty years and has even been awarded a medal by the kingdom for slaying a dragon in the past.

Who could be using magic that rivals his?

With that thought, I confirmed the identity of the one who cast the spell.

There, I saw the figure of a classmate from the Adventurer Preparatory School, with whom I had entered together.

The caster of the magic was my classmate, Vendelin von Bennno Bauermaster, who was the same age as me.

"Such incredible skill..."

When I entered the Adventurer Preparatory School, there was a rumor circulating.

It was about the eighth son of the Bauermaster family, who was a foster child of the Blychburg Margrave family and rumored to be from a "poor knight's family beyond the mountains," who had qualified for the special student examination by demonstrating magic.

Just entering the school would have been one thing, but qualifying for the special student examination through magic was difficult.

After all, the world isn't so kind that someone can become a special student just by being able to produce a spark or a cup of water with magic.

Such low-level magic wouldn't be of much use in slaying monsters, and most people who couldn't do better would give up and try the special student examination with a sword or a bow.

In such circumstances, Vendelin von Bennno Bauermaster qualified for the special student examination purely through his magical talent.

Of course, the information must have reached the ears of the Margrave of Blychburg.

I had heard the rumor from my family as well.

Given that he could use at least mid-level magic despite being a minor, it was only natural to keep an eye on him for the future.

If he couldn't do that, he would be considered unfit as a major noble.

However, in this regard, the current Margrave of Blychburg excelled.

He became the head of the Blychburg Margrave family when I was just a baby.

Even now, the old-timers in the family still talk about his regrettable failure.

He succeeded the previous head, who died in the failed expedition to the Demon Forest, before he turned twenty, and despite the harassment and interference from other major nobles and long-standing foster children, he worked hard to govern the territory and is now considered even more competent than his predecessor.

Regarding the failed Demon Forest expedition, few people believe the official reason that it was due to a miscalculation of the monster forces in the forest, which led to the high casualties.

If you know even a little about the situation, you can tell that the explanation is a lie.

However, sometimes a lie can become the truth.

For the royal palace, the chaos in the Blychburg Margrave family, which oversees the southern region, would only hinder the peaceful governance of the south.

Therefore, they said nothing to the Blychburg Margrave family.

They neither confirmed nor denied that the expedition was requested by the Bauermaster family or that it was for the sake of a seriously ill son.

Moreover, they had no intention of punishing the Bauermaster family, who were blamed for the failure.

Everyone knows the truth, but they are not supposed to speak of it.

To me, a child, this was a story of the so-called dirty world of politics.

The Bauermaster family was pitiful, but in return, the Margrave of Blychburg provided compensation to the soldiers and facilitated trade.

He must have tried to compensate for the loss of honor with money and practical benefits.

Therefore, there are few among the Blychburg family's retainers and soldiers who harbor resentment towards the Bauermaster family.

There's too much that can't be changed by complaining.

Occasionally, there are people who, having lost family members, have no other target for their anger, or those who are truly foolish and don't even know the rumors of the truth and seriously blame the Bauermaster family.

I, in particular, have no ill will towards the Bauermaster family.

I find it embarrassing to be reminded of my early days.

My father and brothers may have a slight grudge because they lost several disciples from the family's spear school, but I have never heard them say anything about it openly.

"Thank you for saving us."

I quickly thanked the eighth son of the Bauermaster family.

Honestly, without this rescue, we would have been in serious danger.

We had been a bit overconfident.

My family, the Hirenbrandts, have served as spear instructors to the Blychburg family for generations.

In peacetime, the art of war, which is a knight's pastime, is valued, and swords are emphasized as per the oath taken when being ennobled.

At ceremonies, the higher the rank, the more expensive and beautiful the sword they prepare.

However, on the actual battlefield, bows and spears, which have a longer reach, are more important.

Most battlefield casualties are caused by these two weapons.

The one-on-one duels between knights with swords, often depicted in sagas, are rare.

Therefore, the position and treatment of a martial arts instructor who teaches spear techniques are relatively high.

However, as a third daughter, I don't have the luxury to be idle.

It's difficult for a third daughter to marry into another vassal family, and I have been learning spear techniques since childhood to be independent.

Fortunately, I seem to have some talent.

My father would say, "If you were a boy, it would be different," with a regretful tone.

While I couldn't match my father in technique, I had a slightly higher amount of magic power than an average person.

With a little training, I could produce a few cups of water a day.

It was a small amount, but this magic power was useful.

I trained to gradually channel this magic power into my body to enhance my physical abilities.

Through this training, I stopped losing to my father and brothers in practical combat simulations.

However, this also led to a regrettable result.

My father and brothers began to look at me with disapproval.

I know they care for me as a daughter and sister, but as a disciple of the spear school, they find me distasteful.

If I were a boy, I could have stayed as an instructor in my family with my skills.

However, I am a girl.

The conditions for a third daughter to marry are not good, and my spear skills are irrelevant to marriage.

Moreover, I don't want to be rumored to be weaker than my husband, so no one would take me.

Given these circumstances, I, Iina Hirenbrandt, entered the Adventurer Preparatory School.

I passed the special student examination with my spear skills.

"But, is the wolf fur okay?"

The eighth son of the Bauermaster family, who saved us, seemed a bit absent-minded or different.

He didn't say anything boastful and first asked about the distribution of the fur we had obtained.

"He's a strange one..."

Furthermore, he offered to treat us to dinner as a thank you for the day's earnings.

Is he just a good person?

After all, he is the eighth son of that famous poor knight's family.

His living conditions were supposed to be much poorer than mine.

Even as a vassal family's daughter, or rather because of that, I know the financial situation of the neighboring minor noble families.

Knowing this makes me feel a bit melancholic at times.

The world is peaceful, with no wars.

Therefore, whether you are royalty, nobility, or a vassal, the sorrow of children who cannot inherit is common.

For boys, there is the military, but for girls, the options are extremely limited, and they either secure a good marriage or try to make a living as an adventurer like me.

However, the former is difficult for someone of my status.

Either as a concubine or a second wife to an elderly noble, or as a third to fifth concubine in a minor noble family.

If you're lucky, you might marry a merchant, but many end up marrying a wealthy farmer.

In this case, it's better to be independent as an adventurer.

Someone once said, "Wouldn't it be nice if there were a war?" but I suspect there are those who secretly agree.

If the number of nobles decreases in a war, there might be more opportunities for us.

"Iina is fine. Yes, I can see that your sword skills are excellent and you're good with a bow, but Vendelin's magic is so impressive that it doesn't really matter. With Vendelin, the results would be the same even if he teamed up with a child from the neighborhood, wouldn't they?"

Despite the dinner, I couldn't help but say something unnecessary to Elwin, Vendelin's partner.

However, many are still observing, but there are many students in the preparatory school who have their eyes on the eighth son of the Bauermaster family, who can use magic.

Boys see him as a potential party member.

Girls see him as a potential marriage partner.

It might be too early, but this is a competition.

Especially for noble children in the preparatory school, who are already half in the commoner world, they are desperate for their future.

This might sound like I'm belittling commoners, but everyone is on the verge of losing the status and treatment they were born with.

They become desperate and are willing to kick others down to get ahead.

The world of nobility is harsh.

It can't be described with just pretty words.

"If I team up with Vendelin, it might work out..."

As an excellent mage, he has the potential to be ennobled if he's lucky, and even if not, his income would be good, ensuring a secure life.

If he becomes a retainer of a noble family, there's a possibility that his descendants could establish a vassal family.

For boys, to become a retainer or a servant. For girls, to become a wife.

Many in the preparatory school are already looking ahead to their second life after this.

It's a harsh reality, but noble and vassal second and younger children can't afford to be complacent.

You have to be bold and proactive.

Firstborns and eldest daughters, who have a family or land to inherit or a good marriage, might mock us for being lowly, but that's because they are in a privileged position.

After all, many noble children in the preparatory school are not really treated as nobles.

They either earn a fortune as adventurers, regardless of their status, or become famous and are employed by other nobles.

Otherwise, they retire when they feel their limits and either go to a frontier or start a small business.

In fact, there are many such people.

The kingdom has many commoners who claim to be descendants of nobles.

There are no restrictions on what they can call themselves, so many commoners have noble-sounding names.

Usually, they refrain from using their surnames.

"I don't want to live like that."

After dinner, we parted ways with Vendelin and walked home.

My childhood friend, Louise, is in the same situation; we both have to leave our families after coming of age.

We could stay, but that would mean we couldn't refuse the arranged marriages our parents suggest.

Good matches are rare, and if the other party is an elderly man over seventy, we can't refuse if we stay at home.

That's what it means to be a third daughter.

"Iina is smart, so you think a lot."

Louise, who looks young, is actually much sharper than I am.

Despite living in similar situations and being childhood friends, we are close because we are similar at heart.

"I think we've been given a chance."

"Hmm, you mean Vendelin?"

We are the same age and aspiring adventurers, but being saved by wolves doesn't mean we are weak.

Most special students would probably have had the same result.

In short, Vendelin is just too strong.

"Maybe Vendelin will notice you, Iina. You're pretty."

"That's not going to happen."

I've been told I have a good face since I was young.

However, I'm often told I look scary because of my sharp gaze, which isn't due to my spear training.

Also, I tend to be quiet when I'm thinking, and men might find me intimidating because they can't tell what I'm thinking, and when I do speak, I might say something harsh.

I don't think I'm the type of girl Vendelin would like.

Louise, who is cuter, is more popular with men, I think.

"I'm just a little girl."

"There are people who like that."

"I was surprised by what you suddenly said. Even if we consider future potential, I have more to look forward to, but it might be tough for you..."

Still, Vendelin might prefer girls like Louise.

If I'm included, we could be a tie.

More options are better.

However, I think these thoughts are pointless.

"Anyway, it would be great if we could become friends and form a party."

Louise, on the other hand, seems to have a grand plan.

Students can't enter the monster territories until they graduate.

However, they are expected to form parties in advance and practice hunting to check their coordination.

This is a crucial period for everyone.

"There will be many rivals."

"Yeah. Vendelin is overwhelming, and Elwin is a great swordsman."

However, it would be foolish to immediately request to form a party.

If someone with no skills asks to join a party, they would be seen as a burden by those with higher skills.

"Are we really ready for this?"

"Hmm..."

Honestly, I don't think we are inferior to other special students.

Both of us were in the top five in the entrance exam.

"Thinking about it won't change anything, so let's just submit the application."

"Louise, you..."

Sometimes, my friend Louise makes impulsive decisions or gives impulsive advice.

However, the results are often not bad.

"If it doesn't work out, they can just discard it."

"How can you be so positive?"

So, we decided to submit a party application with four of us, just in case.

Surprisingly, when we submitted the application the next day, our teacher, Mr. Zeckt, didn't reject it.

"Four of you in the top five. The balance of power isn't bad, and this is a matter of life and death. I can't force lower-ranked students to join just to gain experience."

Since this is a matter of life and death, Mr. Zeckt, who was once an adventurer, can't force a mix of high and low-ranked students.

We are not professional adventurers, just apprentices.

Students of similar ranks form parties, and lower-ranked students gain experience through hunting to prepare for future encounters with monsters.

This is the correct goal of the preparatory school.

"I want as many excellent parties as possible. I'll submit the application to the administration."

Surprisingly, the party application was approved without much trouble.

The only problem is that Vendelin and the others don't know about it.

That might be the biggest issue.

"It's fine."

Louise, on the other hand, wasn't worried at all.

In a way, she's a big catch.

Vendelin and the others, who were unexpectedly formed into a party, had a different reaction.

"Hey, El."

"I'm not saying I have no thoughts, but forming a party with lower-ranked students would probably be the same."

"Is that so?"

"Being an adventurer is like any other job. If it doesn't work out, you can dissolve the party and form a new one. There's no law that says you have to stay in the same party for life."

"You have a point."

Vendelin seemed to not fully understand, while Elwin's thoughts were very pragmatic.

The application was already approved, and if it doesn't work out, they can reconsider.

In fact, even top-tier adventurer parties often change members, with only a few remaining from the initial formation.

It's natural, given that they are human.

"Alright, let's give it a try. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you."

"...Nice to meet you (Do excellent mages not care about the details?)"

I decided to consider Vendelin a big catch and vowed to work hard not to be a burden.