TMKWPL CH 24

Chapter 24

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Chaotic Entrance Ceremony (2)

There was a small event during the entrance ceremony. While the parents were listening to announcements, the children, already assigned to their classes, headed out to a small garden for a brief orientation.

There were four designated spots, each marked with a character symbolizing its class. Chairs were arranged in circles according to the number of children.

Fortunately, Cézar, Ivonne, and Nia were all placed in the Sparrow Class. They sat close to one another on their little chairs, huddled like fluffy chicks.

“Alright, who would like to introduce themselves first?”

A seasoned, middle-aged teacher looked warmly at the children. One child’s eyes lit up, and she ran to the centre with a loud shout.

“I’m Ivonne! My family, the Baronetcy of Berna, makes desserts. You know it, right? Fossette Peperone! I’m the granddaughter of that bakery! When I grow up, I’m going to win first place at the Giant Dessert Festival!”

As Ivonne shouted confidently, the other children erupted in cheers.

“Wow! Does that mean you eat lots of cakes and cookies? I'm so jealous!”

“I know that place! My mom said the cookies we had earlier were from Fossette Peperone!”

The sociable children clapped and welcomed her immediately. Ivonne pinched her dress and gave a polite curtsy, accepting the praise like a seasoned noble lady.

“My, what a lively new friend we have,” the teacher said with a bright smile, patting Ivonne’s head.

“Shall we continue down the line?”

Cézar, who was sitting next to Ivonne, hesitated for a moment before walking out with a disciplined stride.

“I am Cézar Chapley. Grandson of the Barony of Chapley.”

Cézar bowed his head slightly in a textbook-perfect greeting. For a five-year-old, his pronunciation was flawless. It was clear he had received rigorous education.

“Cézar, you can tell us a bit more, like Ivonne did,” the teacher encouraged gently.

Cézar thought for a moment.

“...My father is a professor at the Academy, but I want to become someone who protects the Empire brilliantly, just like Commander Leon!”

“Oh, a professor’s son! No wonder you’re so well-spoken. And such a wonderful dream. I’m impressed! Everyone, let’s give him a clap!”

Amidst the applause, Cézar lowered his head shyly and returned to his seat. Next was the boy on the other side of Cézar, a mischievous-looking child with orange hair and a face full of freckles. He stood up with his hands stuffed arrogantly in his pockets.

“I’m Gederin! My dad is the head of the Horny Merchant Guild! He said he bought a Baron title recently. So that makes me a baron’s son. And—”

“What does it mean to buy'a title, Teacher?”

“Can you buy them with money? I want to buy a Count title! How much is it?”

“Ge-Gederin. That’s enough for now. You'll learn about that later. Next person, please!”

The teacher was flustered; in all her years of teaching, she had never encountered such a situation. Questions from the curious children flooded in, but she quickly called the next child to move things along.

Gederin, pouted. His lips jutted out because he hadn't finished his introduction, making his already mischievous face look even more spiteful. Finally, the turn came back around to Nia, who was sitting on the other side of Ivonne.

“Would you like to come introduce yourself?”

Nia’s eyes darted around before she stepped cautiously into the centre. Since she had already resolved to adapt, she kept brainwashing herself that this was nothing. But as all eyes focused on her, she instinctively shrank.

“...I’m Nia.”

It took her a long time just to say those two words, but for Nia, it was an act of monumental courage, her first step toward reaching out to others. The teacher gently nudged her to say more.

“Nia, you can talk about your dream like Cézar did. Tell us a bit more about yourself.”

“...My mom is a very beautiful and cool knight...!”

Nia’s heart thrummed. She didn't have a prestigious family name to boast about, but she was happier than anyone else because she had a mother to introduce. To the child, her mother was the dream. Throughout her miserable early years, Nia had only ever dreamed of a mother. Being able to introduce that dream proudly was a precious moment.

“Haha! A knight?! How can you have a dream when your rank is so low? My dad said knights are below Barons! He said you have to have a high rank to be someone important!”

“...”

Nia’s eyes filled with tears as Gederin mocked her. 

Was Nia not supposed to say it? 

She didn't know what a rank was, but she understood one thing: he was saying she couldn't have a dream because her mom was a knight. Even a child could tell it was an insult.

The teacher hurried over to Gederin.

“Gederin, you shouldn't say things like that to a friend. Apologise.”

“I don't want to! My dad said if you have money, you don't have to apologise! My family is rich! I won't do it!!”

“Gederin! Apologise this inst—”

Before the teacher could finish, another child let out a roar.

“HEY!!!!!”

The sheer volume of the shout, fuelled by pure anger, was enough to make the birds in the garden scatter. The culprit, of course, was Ivonne.

“I've listened enough! And you've got a lot of nerve for a son of a lowborn commoner!”

She looked like an angry baby wild boar ready to charge. The teacher gasped at Ivonne's choice of words.

“Ivonne! That is a very bad word that lowers your dignity. You shouldn't say that to a friend.”

“Why? He’s the son of a merchant, so isn't he a commoner’s son?”

It was the flawless logic of a five-year-old.

“W-Well, that’s not exactly how we—”

The seasoned teacher was momentarily speechless.

“Hey, lowborn. Apologize to Nia. Nia is a much better kid than an uneducated brat like you!”

“You...! Why you!”

While the teacher was stunned, Gederin raised his hand toward Ivonne. But who exactly was he trying to touch?

Thwack!

Ivonne, the most spirited toddler on the continent, caught his hand with her own small palm. Startled, Gederin swallowed hard.

“You made a mistake.”

In an instant, the look in Ivonne’s eyes changed. It was the same spirit that didn't back down from her mother (a rolling pin expert), Aunt Gillie (possessor of monstrous strength), or Lucia (the strongest knight alive).

Cold sweat ran down Gederin’s back as he realized he had messed up.

CRACK!

Ivonne grabbed Gatherin’s collar and delivered a swift, brutal headbutt.

“AHH!!! WAAAAAAAH!!!”

A sharp, piercing cry rang in the teacher’s ears. Since the kindergarten's founding, there had never been an incident at an entrance ceremony. In the midst of this chaos, the middle-aged teacher decided that this was the year she would finally take her long-delayed sabbatical.

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“Berl, I’m telling you. Commander Lucia’s child is at the entrance ceremony today. Cézar is there with Commander Leon. Oh my, don't tell me... as the Vice Commander, you didn't hear?”

Marien’s final remark provoked Berl. His whole body trembled at being excluded again.

Vernon, Gilliana, Heath... those bastards.

They hadn't told him the Commander was back from her 5-year training, they hadn't told him she was living with them, and they hadn't even told him her daughter was starting kindergarten today.

Fine. It’s all your fault. This time, I’m the one leaving you out.

This was why Berl was currently stationed outside the Academy’s kindergarten with nearly 100 knights in tow. According to his grand plan, as soon as the Commander and Nia stepped out, the knights would form two perfect lines and perform a formal sword salute.

Nia and Lucia walking between a canopy of honourable blades... to him, it was a magnificent vision that would make everyone envious. He smirked, imagining the mother and daughter smiling happily at him in the balloon-filled plaza.

However, where there is a crazy person in a group, there are usually sane people to balance them out. Behind the Vice Commander’s delusional grin, the knights he had forcibly dragged along were trembling. One brave soul finally broke rank and started running to find someone who could stop this madness.

T/N: Lol! No wonder the guys are leaving him out, because he’s so dang naïve!

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While the children were in the garden, the parents received small handbooks and instructions on what to fill out: class selections, food allergies, medical conditions, and so on.

Though it didn’t have to be submitted immediately, the young couples listened intently. Far from the now-quiet group, Lucia lazily flipped through the list, planning to dump it on Vernon later, and stifled a yawn.

“Are you... feeling alright?”

Leon approached while the other parents were distracted. Lucia had managed to avoid unwanted attention thanks to him earlier, but his proximity now was a new problem.

“What are you doing here?”

Leon was asking because he was worried about the injury she sustained recently, but Lucia was only interested in getting him to leave before things got noisy again.

“Ah, well. There was an urgent matter at the Mage Order's administrative office...”

Leon tried to sound natural, recalling the excuse Marien had coached him on. But for a man who had been secretly in love with this woman for seven years, even looking at her was difficult, let alone lying. When his eyes finally met her clear blue ones, he turned red and trailed off, unable to maintain eye contact.

The Unicorn of the Social World, usually so graceful and composed, looked like a shy, blushing schoolboy. If his admirers saw this, they would either grind their teeth in jealousy or clutch their hearts in agony.

He came all this way just to cover for a busy subordinate...?

Why did this man live such an exhausting life? In the past, he was always meddling—insisting on having an office near hers, claiming his mages needed to get used to duelling just to send them to the Black Knights' training ground, and even showing up in the mountains under the pretext of managing retired knights.

Why did he care so much about others when it only made his life busier? She remained completely oblivious to the fact that all those coincidences were orchestrated just to be near her.

“Um, when the ceremony is over, would you... like to go together? I would very much like to escort you home this time.”

His suggestion reminded her of the incredibly soft leather seats in his carriage. It was a luxury she had never experienced in her life. She considered it for Nia’s sake, but going together would draw massive amount of attention.

“I decline.”

“...”

Crushed by her instant rejection, Leon’s gaze dropped. With his slightly downturned eyes, pale skin, and long lashes, he looked like a dejected, elegant deer.

Even Lucia, who was usually numb to such things, felt like a hunter who had just shot him.

...Is he really that desperate for attention? But if I keep indulging him, it’ll just get more annoying.

Poor Leon, treated like an attention-seeker despite his graceful heartbreak.

“Commander Leon. I will not be riding in your carriage in the future. Also, I need to listen to the instructions now, so please excuse yourself.”

Lucia made a shooing gesture, keeping her distance.

“...Ah.”

Leon’s complexion paled, shocked by her coldness. He had rushed here, ignoring even his own mother, whom he hadn't seen in years, just to see her for a moment on Marien’s advice.

The plan was for him to use Cézar as an excuse, draw away the crowd's attention so Lucia wouldn't feel burdened, and then offer an escort once things calmed down.

Did I get the timing wrong?

Blaming himself, Leon swallowed his tears, finding small comfort in the fact that he had at least done what he could today.

Chapter 23

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Chapter 25