“……”

A heavy atmosphere dominated the room.

Everyone present remained silent, hesitant to speak, and gauging the reactions of others. Despite being skilled individuals in their own right, the group assembled in the room behaved like chastened children.

────Why am I here too???

Indeed, they were about to receive a stern scolding, but amidst it all, one person couldn’t comprehend why they were included.

The annual first-year joint training session held earlier at the First Training Ground had been abruptly canceled due to the actions of some fool. The training ground itself was rendered half-destroyed and unusable by another idiot’s recklessness. While there were no injuries, the teaching staff were not so tactless as to continue the session amidst such a bizarre situation. Instead, the culprits were summoned to the dean’s office for a thorough lecture.

────That much makes sense. It’s an entirely reasonable outcome, but…

Even so, I couldn’t understand why I had been called here. Admittedly, I had faced off against the knight responsible for the uproar in a mock battle that was more of a brawl to the death, so I wasn’t entirely uninvolved. However, if anything, I was more of a victim, and the fault lay squarely with that cyclops woman alone.

────I don’t get it.

Despite my frustration, once I was escorted into the room of the most influential person in this Magic Sword Academy, I couldn’t say a word in protest.

In my first life, I would have undoubtedly voiced my complaints loudly, but this time was different. Sometimes it’s better to bow to authority for one’s convenience—a lesson I had learned in my first life. While pondering such trivialities, the room’s master, the aged Dean Guin Braysicle, finally spoke.

“Now then, may I ask once again why this situation occurred?”

“……”

The chilling weight of his voice made everyone present—Glass, Gilflare, and even Mr. Volt, the supervisor for the joint training—tense up and unable to respond. The dean continued without paying heed to their hesitation.

“I’ve heard that a knight brought personal emotions into the joint training meant to guide the bright young minds of our future, turned it into a disaster, and even endangered others in the process. Is that correct?”

“……”

Glass’s face turned deathly pale. Her eyes darted around, and sweat poured from her. I had never seen her so visibly drained of color before.

“The title of ‘One of the Seven Peerless Swords’ is laughable. When did it degrade to something so worthless?”

“Eeek…”

Despite thinking she deserved this, seeing her react so miserably up close made me feel a bit sorry for her.

“What do you think, Claym Bradley?”

“Huh?”

As I cast a sympathetic glance at the trembling Glass beside me, the dean suddenly addressed me.

────Don’t drag me into this.

I almost answered reflexively but held my tongue. I couldn’t afford to make a mistake here.

“I… I think no one is perfect…”

“Cl-Clay-chan…!!”

For some reason, my words came off as a defense of Glass, though that wasn’t my intention at all. She deserved the scolding and should reflect on her actions. That said, my statement was sincere. No one is infallible, myself included.

“Oh────”

The dean seemed to ponder my response before asking again.

“So you think this situation was unavoidable?”

“No, I think it’s definitely something she should be scolded for.”

“Clay-chan!!?”

I felt her protesting glare from beside me, but I ignored it. Just accept your punishment already. Hearing my response, the dean nodded deeply. What was this man’s aim?

“Fortunately, there were no injuries, and there was also some good news. So, just this once, I will overlook the matter on account of Bradley’s presence.”

“Phew…”

“However, I will report this incident to the Knights’ Order. They will see to your formal punishment.”

“Hah…!!”

“Reflect deeply on this, Glass Greyfrost.”

The dean’s skillful alternation between leniency and strictness left Glass fainting beside me. My condolences.

“Gilflare, you too.”

“Yes, sir!!”

The other knight bowed his head, accepting his responsibility gravely. Unlike the cyclops woman, he was a man with a strong sense of duty and competence.

Seeing Gilflare’s earnest reaction, the previously stern dean softened his expression slightly.

“As for Volt, I’ll give you a thorough talking-to later… Claym Bradley, my apologies for involving you in this unnecessary farce.”

“N-not at all, sir…”

Apparently, aside from one person, the scolding had concluded.

────I thought for sure I’d be reprimanded too…

Though I believed myself a victim and not at fault, being called here made me feel guilty regardless. But evidently, I wasn’t going to be scolded.

While still confused, the dean spoke again, smiling warmly.

“This year’s class is exceptional, and you stand out among them. I’m counting on you. Keep striving for excellence.”

“Uh… Thank you…”

The stark difference in tone left me replying listlessly. It seemed that, unlike my first life as a reckless brat, I was seen as a more innocuous child this time. With permission to leave, I quickly exited the room.

Ultimately, I never understood why I had been summoned.

The dean’s office remained chaotic.

One knight lay unconscious, another knelt in deep remorse, and the dean himself, Guin Braysicle, appeared uncharacteristically cheerful.

“……”

Volt’s feelings were conflicted. If he could, he’d have left the room like the student who just departed. However, his lecture was yet to come, and he couldn’t escape.

Still, the dean showed no signs of beginning the reprimand. Gathering his courage, Volt stole a glance at the old man────

“~~~~”

The dean remained in high spirits, seemingly oblivious to Volt’s presence.

────Can I go now…?

As this naive thought crossed his mind, Volt reminded himself that he was a teacher and a knight. Even so, he wasn’t free to act as he pleased.

“What do you think of him… Claym Bradley?”

Breaking the silence, Volt spoke up. He had been puzzled when asked to bring the student here, and the interaction between the dean and Bradley only deepened his confusion. After a pause, the old man responded.

“As sharp and strong as I’d heard────but also dangerous.”

“Dangerous…?”

“A determination so intense it would sacrifice anything to achieve its goal… a kind of obsession. I’m truly looking forward to seeing how he grows.”

“……”

Though Volt had asked, he still couldn’t understand. Nonetheless, seeing the dean’s good mood, he began to hope his own reprimand might be skipped────

“Now then, let’s proceed with your lecture. Do you have anything to say in your defense?”

“……No, sir────”

Life, as always, doesn’t go as hoped.