Man is infinite, and his ambition is to slay the dragon

"Yes, you seem to not care about anything in this world. The rules we have always followed and the concepts we subconsciously agree with are completely insignificant to you. I believe I have seen many kinds of people, but this is the first time I have seen someone like you who always acts according to your own wishes and ideas."

Kurogane Ikki's eyes revealed a bit of yearning and envy: "You are very free, Sieg-san, perhaps freer than anyone else in the world. I'm afraid you will never be able to become someone like me."

"Uh... am I as exaggerated as you say?" Sieg touched the back of his head. "Maybe it's because I have always lived like this, and I just act according to my habits. Compared to this, when Miss Shinguji explained the punishment for me, she also mentioned something about you. It seems that in the end..."

"Yes, I've been told this before. It's a pity, but I do have to repeat a year." Kurogane Ikki smiled bitterly.

If you want to get credits for courses at Pojun Academy, you must meet two conditions.

One is that you need to meet a certain level of course participation, that is, attendance rate. The other is that you need to complete the exercises assigned by the teacher in the course.

The latter is no problem for Ikki Kurogane, but the former... Considering that it will take at least the second half of the year for Ikki Kurogane to participate in practical courses, the attendance rate requirement will definitely not be met, and failure to meet the requirement also means that Ikki Kurogane will not be able to get credits.

"I'm sorry, if I could have done it quicker--"

"No, no, no! It's amazing that you've managed to handle it this far! Really!" Kurogane Ikki quickly persuaded Sieg, who had a regretful look on his face, "If it weren't for you making such a fuss, I would definitely have been bullied countless times by our family. In order to prevent me from becoming a magic knight, it wouldn't be surprising if our family used any means to prevent me from graduating or even make me drop out of school."

"But the current situation is that, apart from not being able to participate in practical courses in the first half of the year, I have not been affected in any way. Even the main family can no longer interfere with my life. After all, after this incident, the International Magic Knight Alliance has also noticed the situation in the Japanese branch, and the main family has suffered a heavy blow."

"Besides an apology, I really only have gratitude for you - thank you for being willing to do this for someone I just met, Sieg-san."

Having said that, Ikki Kurogane bowed his head to Sieg once again.

Zigg smiled softly: "I don't think I have done anything worthy of your solemn apology, but I will accept this apology. And since you can accept the current result, I have no problem, but you have to keep an eye on your father and family. If they are still the same..."

"Ahaha~~~ This is a bit... I really don't think they will make any changes because of this. After all, they are a very old-fashioned family." Kurogane Ikki said bitterly, "By the way, since you have to be punished for a year, then the Seven Stars Sword Festival... you will definitely not be able to participate this year, right?"

"Ms. Shinguji told me to participate next year, but I may not be able to participate."

(After all, your strength is far beyond the level of the Seven-Star Sword King...)

Although it was a nationwide martial arts festival, the participants were only students after all, and it was a student-level competition. It was obvious that Sieg was beyond the scope.

but--

"In that case, I won't participate this year."

"Eh?"

Kurogane Ikki's words startled Sieg: "Not participating? But Kurogane you..."

"I do want to prove myself by participating in the Seven Stars Sword Festival. The new chairman also promised me that if I can win the Seven Stars Sword Festival, he will find a way to let me graduate even if I am an F-class knight. In fact, I wanted to challenge the Seven Stars Sword Festival this year."

"But now I've decided to wait another year."

Standing up, Kurogane Ikki stretched out his fist to Sieg: "The Seven-Star Sword King is a title that only the strongest among the students can have. In my opinion, among the seven knight academies right now, the strongest one is undoubtedly you."

"In that case, I want to compete with you on the same stage."

"Kurotetsu, do you mean... do you want to fight me?"

"Well - next year at the Seven Stars Swordsmanship Festival, I will do my best to advance to the finals and fight you, in order to repay your help. Of course, that... I hope you don't think I'm repaying kindness with enmity."

Seeing Kurogane Ikki suddenly soften at the end, Sieg stood up with a smile: "No. But is this really okay? I might prevent you from graduating."

"I will try my best to get the victory from you."

"......I see."

Sieg clenched his fist and bumped it with Kurogane Ikki's: "Next year's Seven Stars Sword Festival, even if that alliance and the government don't allow me to compete, I will still compete."

"Well, thank you, Sieg-san. Please take care of me in the coming year."

"Well, please take care of me, Kurotsuchi."

23. We of this era

After a while

Pojun Academy, Chairman's Office.

"Xiao Hei~~~I'm here to play with you~~~"

With a tone that was enough to make people sick, Xijing Ningyin floated into the office.

Then, looking at Shinguji Kurono, who was sitting behind the desk in a neat suit——

"puff!"

"It's very rude to smile like that right when you come in, you know that?"

Seeing that Xijing Ningyin couldn't help laughing, Shinguji Kurono glared at her helplessly, and Xijing Ningyin finally stopped laughing: "Oh my~~~ I'm sorry, Xiaohei, it's just that I really can't help it. No matter how many times I see you, you don't match this formal suit at all."

"I still like the sharp-edged you from before."

"Huh, how many years have passed? How old are you and you're already reminiscing about the past?" Shinguji Kurono sighed, "If you have nothing to do, then help me deal with some paperwork. I'm exhausted from signing all these documents."

"I don't want it. You might as well kill me than let me sit down quietly."

Floating to lie on the sofa, Xijing Ningyin put on a very lazy posture: "Ah~~~ I thought it was interesting to be a temporary lecturer, but in fact it's not interesting at all. After the novelty wore off, I felt very bored~~~"

"Xiao Hei, why don't you let that little guy out so I can play with him~~~~"

"Don't even think about it. It's only been a short time, not even half a month - but if you're bored, then this information should be of interest to you."

As Shinguji Kurono spoke, he threw a document to Saikyo Ningyin from a distance.

After catching it, Xijing Ningyin just turned over and immediately sat up: "Oh my~~~ This is really... It seems that you are serious, Xiaohei."

"You really intend to thoroughly implement the [Principle of Strength Supremacy]."

——Power supremacy.

This is the basic educational policy of Pogun Academy that was forcibly passed by Shinguji Kurono after he became the chairman of the board of directors, despite the opposition of the board of directors.

Although he had to take up the post for the sake of seeing Sieg, as the chairman, he had to be responsible for the situation of Pojun Academy. And since Pojun Academy had been defeated in the annual Seven Stars Swordsmanship Festival and had not won for many years, Shinguji Kurono naturally had to make some changes in this regard.

This was actually something she was entrusted with by the government and the Japanese branch.

The method she came up with was to abandon the idea that "rank is everything" within the academy and instead adopt an educational method that advocates "strength above all else."

One of the measures is the [dormitory matching system].

The dormitories at Pojun Academy have always been two people per room, but the arrangement of roommates, apart from following the basic [male-male] and [female-female] rules, is based solely on the order of admission. However, Shinguji Kurono plans to completely disrupt this, pairing roommates based on grade and ability.

Students with similar abilities will be matched into a dormitory, and being surrounded by people of similar levels should create a sense of competition among them, thereby stimulating their growth.

This is a very reasonable approach. If successful, it can indeed enhance the overall strength of Pojun Academy to a certain extent.

The issue is--

"I can't find a student knight in all of Japan who can live under the same roof with [Salamander] and [Worst One]."

Xijing Ningyin laughed.

Dormitories were allocated to all students, even Sieg was no exception. Although he was now required to live alone in order to supervise him, and a certain F-class knight was also assigned a single dormitory, after this system was implemented, both of them would have to accept the allocation.

But since it is based on strength...their roommates naturally have to have strength comparable to them.

Kurogane Ikki is easy to deal with, but the problem is Sieg.

"The student council president has volunteered, but even if it's Raikiri—"

"How about I live in the same room with him?"

Saikyou Ningyin pretended to give a good suggestion, but Shinguji Kurono immediately glared at her: "Then I really have to consider the crisis of that guy's innocence, but to be honest, this matter is not your concern. It's a coincidence that I just received an application for admission from a [suitable candidate]."

"Oh my? There's actually a little creature in our country that can be compared to the [Flame Beast]?"

"It's not in China, it's abroad - turn to the back."

After hearing what Shinguji Kurono said, Xijing Ningyin continued to flip through the documents in her hand, and the information of a student knight suddenly jumped into her field of vision.

next moment--

"Ahahahahaha! Hahahaha! Is this true? Oh my goodness, this is really going to be so funny! Xiao Hei!"

Xijing Ningyin laughed and swung her feet like a child, with an unconcealable smile on her face: "No, let's go and tell the little guy about it!"

"It's not confirmed yet, don't worry." Shinguji Kurono quickly pulled her back, "At this stage, we are just submitting relevant documents and applying for admission. Considering the various things that need to be prepared for international study and the situation here, the actual enrollment will be next year."

"In other words, let [her], a freshman, live with [him], who is still a freshman because he was held back?" Xijing Ningyin opened the folding fan in her hand. "Not bad, it will be very interesting, but will the other party really agree? After all, [Flame Beast] is indeed the instigator of the [Flame Beast Riot]."

"Wouldn't that be a better way to motivate people to make progress? If you don't want to die, then work hard to become stronger and don't get killed - just kidding."

Lighting a cigarette, Shinguji Kurono smiled and said, "I will tell her the relevant details later. If she can accept it, that would be great. If not, I can just change her or him to another dormitory. The student council president's roommate has not been decided yet."

"Hmmmm~~~ So next year is worth looking forward to."

Saikyo Ningyin returned the documents to Shinguji Kurono.

"How long ago was it that two A-rank student knights appeared at the same time? I think it was during your school days? Oh my, so much time has passed in the blink of an eye. The passion we felt when we fought hard against each other in the Seven Stars Sword Festival finals still seems like yesterday."

"Hey, Xiao Hei, do you think they will be the same as we were back then?"

When he arrived at the desk, Xijing Ningyin showed a serious expression for the first time.

"【Flame Beast】and【Red Lotus Princess】."

“Can they be the next [us]?”

Shinguji Kurono did not give an answer to this question.

24. One Year Later

"Dingling bell~~~Dingling bell~~~"

"Well......"

A large room that is so luxurious that it is a bit too luxurious.

As the alarm sounded beside his ears, Sieg slowly opened his eyes while lying on the big bed which was big enough for seven or eight people to sleep together.

“Um…..Ha~~~~~Ah~~~~~!”

After a long yawn and a good stretch, Sieg sat up from the bed and turned off the alarm clock that was ringing next to him.

He was now in his bedroom on the Climbheed.

After a quick wash in the bathroom and changing into the Pojun Academy uniform, Sieg arrived at the dining area soon after making all the preparations.

Good morning, Mr. Sieg.

"Well, good morning, Miss Brunhilde."

Nodding to Brunhilde who just came out with a food cart, Sieg sat down at the table and glanced around: "Where's Miss Tina?"

[Ms. Tina has finished her breakfast and is going to do morning practice. Sir Sieg's breakfast is here, and the transmission device is ready. After breakfast, you can go directly back to Pojun Academy.]

[In addition, your one-year punishment ends today.]

"Eh? Has it been a year?"

【Yes】

"Hmm~~~~"

With a slight hum, Sieg ate the breakfast prepared by Brunhilde while recalling what happened before.

A year ago, after agreeing with Kurogane Ikki to compete on the final stage of the Seven Stars Swordsmanship Festival next year, Sieg began his confinement life. However, not long after that, I remember it was less than half a month, right? Sieg got tired of the monotonous dormitory life.

Although the dormitories at Pojun Academy are luxurious, they are ultimately just a place to live and do not have any entertainment facilities inside.

So, after thinking it over, Sieg simply asked the Kressid to pick him up and then teleport him to another place. Of course, in order to avoid trouble from the Japanese government and the Japanese branch, Sieg was teleported to areas outside of Japan every time, and after he left, the surveillance cameras installed in his dormitory would be replaced with fake images by the Kressid.

To put it bluntly, after those cameras were installed, they always saw fake images.

Sieg would go back after he had played outside for a while. But when he said "a while", it was actually only one or two days. After all, he still had to go to class, and people would visit him from time to time. So Sieg's only chance to escape was on weekends or holidays.

Now I am taking advantage of the winter break at Pojun Academy to return to the Crainshid and live for a while.

And counting from the time, it has indeed been a year.

"It feels like time has passed so quickly. I don't even realize a year has passed."

[After all, time passes at a constant speed. If you don’t pay attention, time will pass very quickly in your personal perception.]

[Besides, Master Sieg has actually had a very fulfilling life over the past year, hasn't he? ]