Chapter 8

“The decision was made to recommend you for support based on your recent exam, but unfortunately, the royal palace has rejected our academy’s opinion.”

“W-Why…?”

“I don’t know… Something like this has never happened before. I reviewed the exam report myself and found no flaws in your aptitude or practical skills. Yet the royal palace insists, ‘The student does not possess any promising qualities.’”

The headmaster spoke with a remorseful expression.

No one present could grasp the situation.

“Ausel worked so hard… Why on earth would this happen?!”

“Luke…”

“…I have a hunch. It seems likely some form of pressure has been exerted from above. Ausel, can you think of anything? Perhaps some comment or behavior that may have caught the attention of a noble?”

“N-No way! I don’t have that kind of courage…”

Courage… Yes, only someone with real bravery would dare challenge a noble.

Someone like Luke…

‘If you end up regretting this later, Luke…’

“Ausel, do you have any idea why this might be?”

“N-No… Nothing at all…”

In his mind, Ausel saw the image of Brute glaring at Luke. There was a possibility that Brute, holding a grudge against Luke, might be taking it out on Ausel, but Ausel thought it would be unfair to suspect him without any evidence.

“Does Minel know about this?”

“No, I haven’t spoken to anyone yet. Only you two and Mr. Kate are aware. We intend to recommend you again, but without understanding the cause, it will likely be rejected regardless. I’ll also look into what’s happening on my end.”

We left the headmaster’s office and returned to the classroom to grab our bags.

The quiet classroom, now empty after everyone else had gone home, made the two of us feel even more downcast.

“This just doesn’t sit right…”

“…”

“There’s no way this could happen… It should’ve been a sure pass…”

Luke tightly gripped the handle of his bag.

He’d only just woken up this morning with the thought of finally being able to enjoy school life. Now, all the joy had turned into bitter disappointment.

It felt as though a hole had opened in his heart.

He didn’t know what to think.

Words escaped him.

“Well, well? You two seem awfully down.”

Turning toward the voice, they saw Brute, flanked by his followers.

In the “People I Least Want to See Right Now” rankings, he might’ve taken first place.

This guy never failed to find someone vulnerable to bother.

“Something sad happen? If you’d like, I could lend an ear. After all, we’re friends, aren’t we? Kuhihi…”

“I don’t recall ever being friends with you.”

“Oh? Is that really how you want to speak to me? I might be able to solve your problems, you know? I can secure any number of recommendations if I talk to the royal palace.”

“…”

Brute was the eldest son of a duke.

If he wished, he could get any recommendation he wanted.

To someone in his position, our joy and sorrow must seem ridiculous.

I couldn’t help but envy someone born with everything.

…But something felt strange.

Aside from Luke, only Mr. Kate and the headmaster knew about the withdrawal of my recommendation.

Yet Brute spoke as if he already knew.

The only people who could know were those directly involved—perhaps the one who had canceled my recommendation.

“Are you mocking us? Do you have so much free time that you’d hang around after school just to insult us?”

“Don’t be so bitter. I’m only speaking to you out of kindness.”

But if Brute was responsible, why would he want to trouble me?

What would he gain from forcing an orphan out of the academy?

Was it a whim? Just a game? Or perhaps, some petty revenge against Luke?

Suspicious though it was, I still couldn’t pinpoint a clear motive.

“I’m not joking. I can arrange that recommendation for him right now.”

“R-Really?”

“Though, of course, there’s a condition.”

“A condition…?”

Brute flashed a greedy smile at Luke, like a bully who had just found his prey.

Could it be that this was Brute’s aim from the beginning…?

“Luke, if you pledge your allegiance to me, I’ll secure his recommendation.”

Brute’s persistence and readiness sent a chill down my spine.

Luke had courage. If threatened, he’d sooner choose to leave the academy on his own.

But if it were for someone else, that bravery might backfire, compelling him to comply.

Brute intended to use me as leverage to make Luke submit.

“Obey my every command, and I’ll allow Ausel to stay here.”

“…Alright. If it means Ausel can stay…”

Before Luke could finish, I stretched out my arm to stop him.

“Luke, that won’t be necessary.”

“But…”

“My recommendation was probably canceled by Brute.”

“…!?”

“Oh? And what makes you say that…?”

“The only ones who knew about the withdrawal were myself, Luke, and the teachers. Yet Brute is speaking as if he knows it was canceled. Only someone involved would know this.”

“T-That’s true… We hadn’t told anyone else about the cancellation. How did you know?”

“W-Well… being a noble, I tend to hear such things.”

“There are classmates from prominent noble families too, but they all congratulated me.”

“Grr…”

“Brute! You…!”

“It’s all your fault, Luke! How dare you, an orphan, acquire a skill superior to mine! If you don’t follow my orders, I don’t need you! I’ll cancel your recommendation too! Serves you right, idiot! Hahaha!”

Abandoning any pretense, Brute laughed mockingly.

His jealousy clearly stemmed from Luke acquiring the “Sword” skill, which he, as a noble, found intolerable.

But considering he skipped lessons and made no effort himself, his jealousy was utterly misplaced.

“W-What…!! D-Don’t come any closer… stay back…”

“You bastard!”

“Luke!?”

“Ugh!”

Without a word, Luke started walking.

Before I could react, he had already struck Brute.

When Luke was summoned to the headmaster’s office afterward, he was formally expelled from the academy.