I tear off a piece of bread and toss it into my mouth.

As expected, it’s tasteless. If only it were freshly baked. But after sitting overnight, the bread is dry and crumbly. Slathering it with butter makes it slightly more bearable, but only just.

Across from me, Lili eats her bread with the same dissatisfied expression.

“What did Kilpus say about the class one advancing into the dungeon?”

Still, even with this blandness, I'd rather eat here than line up in the morning rush at the cafeteria.

Lili pours milk into my cup.

“No. You need to address His Majesty properly. I don’t mind how you talk to me, but stop calling him by name. Even if you used to throw vases at each other for fun, if you keep treating him like a friend, it’ll cause trouble for you in the future.”

“…O-Oh.”

She had a point. Here, I wasn’t Blythe or Eremi—I was Eremia.

Though, for the record, we never threw vases at each other. Neither I nor Kilpus was that stupid. I just couldn’t bring myself to correct her.

“His Majesty only oversees the school’s management. He’s not supposed to interfere with its educational policies.”

“Is that so?”

“I doubt he even knows the results of the recent meeting.”

So, even if something happened at the school, it wouldn’t reach Kilpus. That’s probably why the identity of the chairman had been kept secret—to prevent any interference.

Just one of his many cunning strategies. Though this time, it seemed to have backfired.

“Still, since this is a knight academy, there will come a time when students are assigned life-threatening missions. Even if there’s no war, they’ll at least be tasked with monster subjugation.”

“It’s too soon for that.”

“Even for you, Eremia?”

“Of course it is. Void, Oujin, and Riona would be fine. I would, too—we’ve all been through enough life-or-death situations outside of the Homunculus battle. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have reacted the way we did in a crisis. The problem is the rest of the class one.”

Lili frowned.

“I can tell that about your own team in Unit Three, but you’ve been through life-or-death situations too, Eremia? At ten years old?”

“Ah? Of course I—”

—Oh crap!? Idiot! I’m an idiot! I’m ten years old! What kind of ten-year-old has been through hell and back!?

Wait, I remember something!

“Th-that was, uh… oh yeah…! One time, I was peeing in the mountains and got attacked by a beehive…”

“……”

“I bravely swung a branch I picked up to swat away the swarming bees as I… r-ran for my life…”

“……”

Judging by Lili’s face, that was a terrible story.

Maybe I should just make something up.

“Baron Neu—I mean, my father, you see… well, the Neu family is a rural noble house, right? So I was, uh, helping out with monster extermination in the territory?”

“Why are you asking me…?”

“I-I did help! It was awful! They threw me into a nest of monsters like some kind of poison pit ritual and told me I couldn’t come out until I wiped them all out?”

Lili raised an eyebrow.

“That sounds like something Blythe would do, not your father. It’s an effective way to train, sure, but way too soon at your age.”

I, Blythe, have never done such a thing! I just made that up on the spot!

Also, what do you mean ‘effective’!? How is this woman even allowed to be an instructor!?

“W-well, you were already fighting in battles by the time you were my age!”

“My first battle was at eleven.”

“Was it? A year after Blythe took you in?”

“That’s right. …Ah, I suppose one year doesn’t make much of a difference.”

Having finished her bread, Lili sipped her milk, gazing at the empty air as if reminiscing.

“Well, Void and you aren’t that different either. It’s not uncommon. Not in this world.”

“True.”

Though I was the one who said it, I wasn’t sure if I truly believed it.

I finished my bread and took a sip of milk.

The milk this morning was good. I never knew there was a drink better than alcohol. Ah, milk is amazing. It helps you grow taller, strengthens your bones, and tastes great. It’s the ultimate drink.

Lili, watching me absentmindedly, muttered softly.

“You drink so cutely.”

“……”

I set down my empty cup.

I was full. I hadn’t eaten even a tenth of what I used to in my past life, yet I felt satisfied. At this rate, who knows when I’ll regain my former physique.

“Thanks for the meal.”

“Mm.”

“I’d like to eat something you cooked for a change.”

Something warm. Maybe it would help me remember more of the past.

“I don’t mind, but this room doesn’t have a proper kitchen.”

“That’s true.”

As I packed my textbooks into my bag, Lili, who had already finished getting ready, peered at my uniform.

“Oh, right, Eremia. There’s something I forgot to mention.”

“Hm?”

Fastening my sword belt, I turned to face her.

Lili was already in her instructor’s uniform, wearing glasses. That meant today’s lessons would be lectures rather than practical training. She never wore glasses during combat instruction.

“You should be careful. The decision to reinstate the dungeon curriculum and remove instructors from monster extermination was pushed through by Instructor Givley of the elementary Division.”

“Oh?”

“He’s from a powerful noble family in the capital, so it seems he strong-armed the other fully licensed knight instructors into agreement.”

“Is that so?”

“I don’t think he’ll try anything directly, but…”

“Hmmm?”

Lili narrowed her eyes at me.

Avoiding her gaze, I secured my gladius and wakizashi.

“You do understand what I’m saying, right? The meeting took place right after class one’s performance in the Homunculus battle became known. Your entire squad’s names came up—including yours.”

“I see?”

“Which means class one may have been chosen as the vanguard because of you—because your name was on the list.”

A chill ran down my spine.

Lili’s piercing gaze stabbed into me.

“Why?”

“…Eremia. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten… about Lawrence Givley?”

“Who the hell is that?”

My instructor sighed, rubbing her forehead in exasperation.