When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 133, Part 4: Memories of Youth Arc

Episode 133, Part 4: Memories of Youth Arc

Thinking back, it feels like it took an awfully long time to get here.  

During our school days, I was once connected to him. But as we became adults, we drifted apart. It’s been eight years since we graduated from the academy. By sheer coincidence, I met him again. As we started spending our days together once more, his presence grew bigger and bigger within me.  

Then, amidst those days, he suddenly disappeared. Of course, I was worried about the princess, my master. But more than that, I was so worried about him that I couldn’t sleep.  

And when I finally saw him again, a torrent of overwhelming emotions surged within me.  

I’m such a fool. How could I not have realized these precious feelings sooner? One wrong step and we might have never met again.  

The thought alone makes me shiver with fear. But now, he is standing right in front of me. Yes, if I just reach out my hand, I can touch him.  

So, I won’t hesitate any longer. Stop lying to yourself. Don’t cower before the atmosphere around you. Don’t fear being rejected by him.  

Because—  

I love him.

・　・　・

I first became aware of his name exactly ten years ago. It was the spring when I turned 16, during the announcement of the entrance exam results for the Royal Academy.  

Looking back now, I was so overconfident and blind to my surroundings back then that it’s almost unbearable.  

The hidden gem of the Saylor family. The greatest genius of my generation. The future of the kingdom. I had grown up in the royal capital, and at various social events I attended with my father, as well as in secondary school, that’s how people referred to me.  

In fact, no matter where I went, be it in martial arts, magic, or academics, I was always the best at everything.  

Around that time, there were even talks of my father becoming the next chancellor, and it’s no exaggeration to say that the Saylor family was the most prominent noble house in the royal capital.  

Given those circumstances, it’s no surprise that the young me became arrogant. But even now, thinking about it makes me cringe with embarrassment.  

On the day of the Royal Academy’s entrance exam results, I confidently made my way to the announcement board.  

The entrance exam for the Royal Academy consisted of four parts: academic studies, martial arts, magic, and interviews, which also included mock debates and presentations.  

Though the academy itself is large, with around 1,000 students per grade, the admission rate was still competitive at about five times the number of applicants.  

The reason is simple: applicants flocked to it from all over the Azelion Continent, regardless of their social standing, not just from the Kingdom of Tashman.  

The Kingdom of Tashman was internationally famous for its overwhelming military power, but that strength was supported by advanced industry, science, and education.  

The foundation of that higher education came from the Royal Academy and the Academy, which also provided scholarships and dormitory life to cultivate various talents.  

Because of this, the Royal Academy in the capital city of Nevorista was notoriously difficult to get into.  

Yet, I wasn’t concerned about simply getting in. Of course, I would pass the entrance exam. What I cared about then was my ranking. Now, I realize that school grades are such a small thing, but it consumed me at the time.  

Anyway, only the top ten overall scores and the top performers in each subject were posted publicly during the entrance exam results.  

Out of 1,000 students, being in the top ten was proof of exceptional talent. I was confident that I would be first in all categories. After all, there was no one in the capital city of my age who could beat me.  

Yes, there was no one in the capital—  

Or at least, that’s what I thought.  

But when I saw the results on the announcement board, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Overall Results  

1st: Erin Saylor  

2nd: Miriam Stonewell  

…  

8th: Jez Norman  

9th: Victor Alchemist  

…

Academic Studies  

1st: Victor Alchemis  

2nd: Erin Saylor  

3rd: Miriam Stonewell  

4th: Jez Norman  

…

Martial Arts  

1st: Jez Norman  

2nd: Erin Saylor  

…

Magic  

1st: Victor Alchemis  

2nd: Erin Saylor  

3rd: Miriam Stonewell  

…

Interview  

1st: Jez Norman  

2nd: Erin Saylor  

3rd: Miriam Stonewell  

…

No matter how many times I looked, the results didn’t change. While I barely secured the top overall score, I came in second in all categories—academics, martial arts, magic, and the interview. 

Me, in second place!?  

I was happy to be first overall, but it felt like a bitter defeat in every individual category. As if I were some “silver collector.” The results were so far from what I expected that I stared at the board with a gaze as if glaring at an enemy. 

But no matter how much I stared, the reality didn’t change.

Victor Alchemis. And Jez Norman.  

…Both were names I had never heard of in the royal capital. But I had heard the names of the Alchemis and Norman families before.  

One was a prestigious family of alchemists, and the other, a powerful house from the northern region. They were probably students from the provinces who had come to the royal capital.  

…I was determined to defeat them.  

If only I could go back and tell my younger self, who was so full of animosity before even enrolling: “Don’t waste your time trying to take on those two idiots head-on.”  

Still, in the end, it’s because of that time that I am who I am now.

・　・　・

On the day of the Royal Academy’s entrance ceremony, I found myself yawning widely under the pleasant spring sun.  

It had taken me about a month by carriage to travel from the northern central city of Foresval to the royal capital, where I had arrived just yesterday.  

I should have arrived sooner. But the snow was melting during this season. There were avalanches in the northern mountain regions that delayed me longer than expected.  

Anyway, no matter how many times I told my father that I couldn’t rely on him any longer, he overruled me. I ended up enrolling in the Royal Academy. I’ll repay this debt someday.  

…Although knowing my father, he’d probably just laugh it off. If he won’t accept my repayment, then I’ll do whatever I can for my younger brothers and sisters.  

It’s been 16 years since I reincarnated into this world. A lot has happened, but thanks to my father and mother, I’ve managed to survive.  

From here on out, I plan to live by my own strength. That said, I didn’t want to stand out too much, given everything that had happened up until now. So, I intentionally held back during the entrance exam.  

Yet somehow, I ended up ranking first in martial arts and the interview, fourth in academics, and was completely out of the top 10 in magic. But I was still ranked eighth overall.  

Wait, did I mess up? … The mental toll of trying to process this at my current mental age was oddly taxing.  

Well, my father and mother were happy, so that’s good enough for me. Even my little brothers and sisters were excited, though they didn’t really understand why.  

As I was lost in these trivial thoughts while walking, I noticed a group of girls approaching from down the hallway. I thought we would just pass by each other, but one of the girls whispered something to the one leading the group.  

The leader had an air of arrogance about her. After hearing this, she glanced at me for a moment.  

“Hey, you there… You’re Jez Norman, right?”  

Her tone was calm, but her attitude was high-handed. With her entourage in tow and that haughty atmosphere, if she had blonde ringlets, she’d be the perfect picture of a villainous noblewoman.  

And here I was, a provincial student being approached by a villainous noblewoman at the entrance ceremony. I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Wow, I’m really good at triggering these reincarnation flags, huh?” I nodded.  

“Yes, I’m Jez Norman. And you, Lady—who might you be?”  

Hearing my reply, the girl scoffed lightly before answering.  

“Erin Saylor. I’m the top student in this year’s class. I’m going to be number one in everything. Well, nice to meet you.”  

With that, she turned and walked off with her entourage in tow.  

What was that? Am I supposed to say, “What an interesting girl” or something?  

Here I was, just trying to live as a student in the royal capital, and now I’d been dragged into some nonsense with a villainous noblewoman.  

I would never have imagined at the time that ten years later, this girl would propose to me.  

And of course, Erin never would have thought that ten years later, she would end up proposing to a man like me.