Chapter 50
"I'll skip the greetings since they don't seem necessary."
"Ah."
"Could you tell us what kind of lessons are conducted in the Civil Officer class and the Martial Officer class?"
I heard a questioning sound, "......Hmm?" from Sil, who is sitting next to me, but I didn't raise my hand with the intention of picking a fight.
"......Regardless of the class, academics such as reading, writing, and general knowledge are mandatory, as are swordsmanship, physical combat, and horseback riding, though the passing standards differ by class."
"I heard that the first year focuses on basic knowledge education and building basic physical strength, so that's what this is about, right?"
"We can't just throw kids who don't know the basics or how to handle weapons into rigorous training right away. In most cases, we observe them for a year, and the instructor in charge of the class decides the training content as needed."
"Are swordsmanship and physical combat joint lessons with the Martial Officer class?"
"To be precise, they are joint with both Civil Officer and Martial Officer classes. There are three training grounds, and one of them is used exclusively by first-years."
"I also heard that from the second year, classes are divided based on which military department one hopes to join."
"Where did you get that information......?"
Smiling brightly at Harrison, who looks annoyed as if to say there's no shortage of soldiers, I continue.
"In the Civil Officer class, students choose from areas like paperwork, accounting, equipment-related tasks, or medical fields such as military doctor or hygiene, and the class is reorganized accordingly. However, in the Martial Officer class, everyone learns the same things—tactics, strategy, proper weapon handling, and field exercises—assuming they will become future commanders or staff officers. Therefore, based on academic performance and mock battle results, they are not reorganized into new classes but are ranked within the class as upper, middle, or lower tiers."
"Does that ranking depend more on mock battle results than on academic exams?"
"That's right......"
"From the third year, there's no class reorganization, right?"
"Do you really need to ask me......?"
Since my sources are people who graduated from military school decades ago, it's only natural to confirm whether things are still accurate.
"Ahh...... From the third year, there's no class reorganization."
"If you want to be at the top of the hierarchy in this school, you have to work yourself to death for two years, huh?"
Muttering that while shrugging my shoulders, I heard a stifled laugh from the front seats before Harrison could say anything, and I turned my face in that direction.
A trio sitting huddled together by the corridor-side seats.
A chestnut-haired boy, smirking mockingly with his chin resting on his hand, whispers something to the two beside him, causing more laughter. They were the ones who openly showed hostility and kept glancing at me during the entrance ceremony.
As I stared intently at the chestnut-haired boy, for some reason, he grinned and said, "Ah, sorry......" as an apology, so I gave a slight nod and turned my face back to Harrison.
"Is there a ranking system like in the Martial Officer class for the mixed class as well?"
"Rankings are based on both academic exams and mock battles. You can't excel in just one and neglect the other."
"Does the mixed class stay the same until graduation?"
"No, from the third year, just like the other classes, students will be divided into the classes they hope to join, but......"
They said this class is special, but in essence, are they just gathering troublesome noble children with power in one place to isolate them and break their unnecessarily high pride over two years......?
"Celes...... Celes......"
Being called in a small voice by Sil while he tugs at my sleeve, I glance at him sideways to see what's wrong, and notice Sil pointing at a certain spot with a sad expression, his eyebrows lowered.
It's not that I didn't notice; I was deliberately ignoring it......
Reluctantly, I looked at the spot Sil was pointing to, and saw the chestnut-haired boy glaring at me with a terrifying expression, his shoulders trembling.
"A woman, of all things......!"
While I'm dumbfounded that there are still nobles with misogynistic values, I shake my head at the chestnut-haired boy who's watching for my reaction.
I remember Harrison, the instructor in charge, mentioning during his self-introduction that today, the first day of class, would just be for meeting classmates and explaining the curriculum.
"Instructor Harrison, what's the plan after this?"
"......There's nothing in particular."
Harrison, frowning in suspicion, probably intended to start special lessons from tomorrow, but that's too late.
"In that case, rather than waiting until evening, how about we conduct basic physical training right now?"
It seems there's someone right there whose pride needs to be broken first.