I Became The Academy’s Narrow-Eyes

< Chapter 24: Instructor Sinia’s Concerns >

“Instructor Sinia.”

“Hmm?”

In the waiting room where instructors responsible for the swordsmanship department gathered during the Academy’s entrance exam, a man approached Sinia, who was observing specific participants through image magic.

“Oh, what’s the matter?”

His handsome appearance didn’t quite match his well-built physique, creating a somewhat jarring impression, but his serious demeanor balanced it out. He was Instructor Herion of the Academy’s swordsmanship department.

“I wanted to ask about something that just happened.”

“Are you talking about my involvement in the team assignments?”

He nodded.

“Yes.”

“Did I just get in trouble?”

“I don’t know that I have the authority to punish Instructor Sinia.”

“Hehe, it’s not like that. Well, it is, but only if you whisper secrets to that old man, then he’ll throw a nameplate at me.”

“I don’t know what I’d do to the Rector… Anyway, it’s not a punishment, it’s a simple question, I’m purely curious as to what Instructor Sinia’s intentions were in meddling in the group assignments just now.”

“What exactly are you curious about?”

The third round of the exam is conducted in teams. Team assignments are random, but how each participant performs within the group is the basis for evaluation. Even if participants like Drin and Kasha have teamed up, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will breeze through the test. Nevertheless, there are clear advantages to being in a team with exceptional individuals, and disadvantages to being in a team with weaker ones.

Even with the keen eyes of the instructors, it’s impossible to assess all the details. Moreover, their focus and interest will naturally gravitate toward the top participants. In this sense,

“Instructor Sinia’s intervention in the team assignments just now was clearly a harsh decision for the two participants.”

“Who are these two participants you’re talking about?”

“Adryn Teln, and Mizu Bauer. They were originally scheduled to be in the same group as participant Agion Morci, but due to Instructor Sinia’s strong insistence—”

Herion checked his notes to confirm.

“They were placed in the same group as participant Ceylon.”

Agion Morci, the heir of the most renowned spear martial arts family on the continent, the Morci family. According to the results of the second test, Agion’s abilities were second only to Drin and Kasha, or possibly even on par with them. His skills were talked about as much as his striking beauty in this Academy entrance exam. And then there was Ceylon. In this entrance exam, the most attention was drawn to him after Drin and Kasha, or maybe even as much as them. He was known for trying to snatch the top spot from Drin and Kasha during the second test in an unfair manner, a story that had already spread beyond the participants to the instructors.

For Instructor Sinia to take Adryn and Mizu away from Agion and have them join Ceylon, it was an apparent interference with the team assignments.

“Conversely, Adela and Melhen, who were originally supposed to be in the same group as Ceylon, benefited. Two people-no, three people-benefited and another three people were penalized by Instructor Sinia’s choice.”

According to the results of the second test, Adela and Melhen’s abilities were higher than Adryn and Mizu. The instructors agreed on this as well. But, due to Instructor Sinia’s involvement, Adela, Melhen, and Agion became a team of excellence, while Adryn, Mizu, and Ceylon became a team of failure.

“If it weren’t for Instructor Sinia, such interference would never have been allowed.”

Most of the Academy’s students come from noble families, and they represent their families within the Academy. Therefore, the entrance exam can be seen as a grand event with the prestige of noble families at stake. In such an event, Sinia’s actions allowed room for favoritism toward specific participants.

1. Sinia has no interest in politics.

2. Sinia has significant influence within the Academy, beyond just the swordsmanship department.

3.The disadvantaged participant are Ceylon, a commoner, and Mizu, a member of the esteemed Bauer family.

4.The participants who benefited are all from high-ranking noble families.

If any one of these conditions were not met, the instructors would not have tolerated Sinia’s interference.

“If someone else had intervened in this way, the instructors would have suspected connections between you and Agion, Adela, Melhen—those three families. But you are not that kind of person, are you?”

Sinia smiled gently, a smile that could drain the soul from anyone who knew her even a little.

Instructor Herion was one of the few individuals within the Academy who could formally raise objections to Sinia’s actions.

“So, I’m curious. Why did you get involved and create such a pointless controversy? Oh, and one more thing.”

Herion’s eyes locked onto her.

“I heard that Instructor Sinia, in charge of the participants, discarded the records of the second test, where participant Ceylon supposedly outperformed Drin Lebringer and Kasha Hanahan. Is there any connection between these two incidents, or is it just my speculation?”

Herion concluded his inquiry with a serious expression, and a tense atmosphere had developed between them without either of them noticing.

“You said it was a simple question, not an accusation! This is nothing short of an interrogation!”

But the tension vanished without a trace when Sinia exclaimed loudly.

“Ha…”

As expected, Herion sighed.

He knew it would come to this.

Instructor Herion, whose name carried the weight of the prestigious Dederer family, found himself powerless before Instructor Sinia.

“Fine, it’s just a simple question. Sinia, you have no obligation to answer truthfully, and you probably won’t.”

“How can you judge a person like that? Listen, Herion. I’ll explain everything.”

Hmm.

Sinia sighed deeply as if she carried a heavy burden.

Herion watched her perform this act with a tired expression.

“First, regarding why I erased our 348th participant’s test records. Do you want to hear the answer?”

“Yes, please go on.”

“I did it because I didn’t want to show it to anyone else and wanted to see it for myself. Does that count as an answer?”

Herion’s eyes lifted slightly.

It was as if something soul-like had escaped from him.

“Yes, that’s a valid answer.”

“And why did I switch our 348th with… who was it? Agito?”

“It’s Agion.”

“Ah, right! Agion. Why did I ask you to switch them?”

Sinia giggled and responded playfully.

“Because I couldn’t keep him for myself!”

Herion looked at Sinia seriously.

“Sinia, you rarely show interest in people. Is that an understatement?”

Sinia rarely paid attention to others.

The fact that Sinia was speaking to Herion in such a ‘relatively’ serious manner now was due to the fact that he was a member of the 8th generation of the Dederer family, and a man who had risen to a position worthy of the Dederer name on his strength alone.

In this context, for Sinia to choose a participant who would warrant this kind of playful mention among those six…

In Herion’s eyes, besides Agion, there was no one else.

Agion happened to be a participant in Herion’s assigned group.

Herion recalled Agion’s test record and raised his eyebrows.

“Indeed, it would be a waste to let a talent worthy of that name, like Agion, be buried under the names of Lebringer and Hanahan.”

“Wahahaha, I still can’t get used to this, why is Hanahan popping up when we’re talking about the swordsmanship entrance exam?”

As Herion started discussing Agion, Sinia abruptly changed the subject to Hanahan.

Could one interpret this behavior as Sinia not having much interest in someone like Agion?

“We’re starting the third test soon.”

When those words reached Herion’s ears, he paused his thoughts.

“Understood, Sinia. I, too, will keep an eye on Agion Morci.”

“Hmm? You’ll keep an eye on Agion Morci? Well, Herion, you have quite the taste~”

“It’s just precaution, Sinia.”

Herion replied with a calm expression.

“Okay, okay! I was just teasing. But speaking of which, who do you think I was talking about when I mentioned a talent too good to be wasted, who should not be kept hidden alone?”

“Well, you mentioned Agion Morci.”

“Ah, right! Agion… Why did I talk about him?”

Sinia grinned with hidden meaning.

“Wasn’t Agion Morci your choice, Herion?”

“… Wasn’t your mention of someone too good to waste, who should not be kept hidden alone is referring to Agion Morci?”

“Um…? Well, I’m not sure~?”

Sinia’s playful demeanor left Herion pondering.

If he had to pick a participant from those six that Sinia would mention so playfully, besides Agion, there was no one else.

He concluded that other than Agion, everyone else was relatively ordinary in Sinia’s eyes.

Even if their talents were exceptional, they didn’t capture Sinia’s attention.

“Herion, since we’re on the topic, want to make a little bet with me?”

“What kind of bet?”

“Herion, observe the third test, and try to guess who I had in mind.”

Normally, Herion wouldn’t have accepted Sinia’s bet, but…

“Okay.”

Herion accepted Sinia’s bet with confidence.

2 minutes and 6 seconds.

He recalled Agion’s exceptional skills from the second test.

He was sure there was no participant who could surpass Agion, except for Drin and Kasha.

“But what’s at stake in this bet?”

“If you win, I’ll grant you any favor you want.”

Herion was taken aback. It was surprising because Sinia was not someone who casually made such offers.

“Really?”

“Since I’m sure I won’t lose anyway.”

“I see. And if I do lose?”

“If you lose, Herion, You need to share a secret with me.”

“A secret?”

“Yes, a secret. We’ll share one secret, and you’ll actively cooperate with matters related to that secret.”

Herion felt an overwhelming sense of unease.

***.

Ceylon.

He pressed closer to Mizu Bauer while holding her hands with both of his.

“Why are you doing this?”

Her expression remained emotionless, but she slightly tilted her head back. Her hesitant voice sounded muffled behind the mask.

“Why? Why are you suddenly calling me ‘Master’? What does it mean?”

At that moment, Adryn, who was standing nearby, smacked Ceylon’s hand firmly as it held Mizu’s.

“Let go of her! Where do you think you’re touching the lady?”

Upon hearing this, Mizu Bauer turned her head slightly and said in her emotionless tone, “Shameful.”