Chapter 27 — The Disciplinary Committee's Test [1]
"I don't think this place is shabby."
"You don't have to lie. It really is a shabby place."
Eleanor glanced around the Disciplinary Committee room.
"We gave up the one we used last year and decided to use this place starting this year. It's a room that hasn't even been properly cleaned yet."
"I think what's important isn't the room itself, but what kind of activities take place here."
"Activities… huh. Then let me ask you something. Why do you want to join the Disciplinary Committee?"
I thought for a moment at Eleanor's question.
Normally, I would've just made up something reasonable — something like, I want to serve the school or make it a better place.
But because I'd gone through various dating-sim content with Eleanor in the game, I knew her personality well.
And because of that, I also knew what kind of answer would be best here.
"Because I want to succeed."
"…Succeed?"
"To be exact, I want to restore my family's name."
"…Heh."
Eleanor let out a small laugh.
It was the first smile I'd seen from her since stepping into this room — no, it was practically the first expression she'd shown at all.
"You're honest. Yeah, honesty is a good thing. Makes dealing with people much simpler."
With that, Eleanor returned to the sofa and sat down. Then she gestured to the chair in front of her.
I quickly went over and took a seat.
"Your name is Alex Vanehart. From what I heard from Cedric… you're from a baron family, right?"
"Yes, that's correct. But what kind of stories did you and Sir Cedric…?"
"I work out every morning. Today, I happened to run into Cedric during training, and we ended up talking a bit — about you."
Eleanor spoke casually, her face showing no particular emotion.
"I couldn't help it, really. Sara losing was that shocking."
"Was it?"
"It's incredibly hard to beat a swordsman from the Isrinbloom Ducal Family in pure swordsmanship. But you did it — and fair and square, at that."
Her tone was calm, but her eyes gleamed with curiosity as she looked at me.
"That alone proves you have talent. If you keep honing it, you'll surely rise in the world."
"Thank you for your words."
"But that's what makes me even more curious. Why join the Disciplinary Committee for that goal? From my point of view, it doesn't make sense… Oh, wait. Do you perhaps not know the current state of the Committee?"
"I know roughly. Right now, Lady Eleanor, you're the only member…"
"Let me explain it in a bit more detail."
Eleanor didn't take her eyes off me as she continued speaking.
"The Committee used to run under a three-person system — one member per grade. But last year, the second- and third-year seniors above me were expelled. Do you know why?"
"I heard they were expelled due to disciplinary action."
"That's right. Truth is, this organization had been rotten for a long time. Instead of stopping delinquents, they hung out with them. They even abused their authority to drive out students they didn't like, forcing them to drop out. It was rotten in every way. But last year, after I joined, I tore all of that down."
I silently nodded, listening to her words — which I already knew very well.
"I voluntarily cut down the Committee's bloated budget, organized our activity records, gave up our overly luxurious office… There was a lot that happened last year. And now, this is what's left of the Committee."
Eleanor pointed toward the damp, dust-covered room.
"With nothing left, I've been doing alone what three people used to handle. Rebuilding the Committee from the ground up is far more complicated than I expected. If you join, it won't be easy."
"Even so, I still wish to join."
"…To be honest, I don't understand."
Her voice was calm for someone claiming she didn't understand, but that was just the kind of person Eleanor was.
"As I said, you have talent. If you polish it, you'll go far. I don't know what you're aiming for, but if it's something related to swordsmanship, you'd be better off joining the Swordsmanship Club. The current Committee might not help much with your ambitions."
"I understand. But even so, I still wish to join. In fact, I believe joining the Committee is more advantageous to my success than joining the Swordsmanship Club."
"Oh? And why's that?"
"Because I think forming a connection with you, Lady Eleanor, is more valuable than building ties with swordsmen or knights in the Swordsmanship Club."
"…Hah."
Eleanor let out a half-amused laugh.
"You think forming a connection with just me is more valuable?"
"I believe there's nothing more valuable than forming a connection with the next head of the Blackwell Family."
"I'm not confirmed as the next head yet, though."
"But you're the most likely candidate, aren't you?"
"…Heh, interesting."
Eleanor laughed, genuinely amused as she looked at me.
It wasn't often she laughed out loud like that.
"So you're not lying, meaning it's not flattery?"
"Yes, I spoke truthfully."
"Yeah. You're not lying."
She nodded slightly, then fell silent for a moment. Before long, she stood and walked over to the calendar nearby.
"Today's Tuesday… Alex."
"Yes?"
"Come back here Thursday, at 5 PM."
"Thursday, 5 PM. Understood."
"That'll be your entrance test. I'll be conducting it myself."
"May I ask what the test involves?"
"Hmm… no. I'd rather not say. What I can tell you is to bring one weapon with you. In your case, that'd be your sword."
Eleanor's gaze drifted to the Mistcatcher at my waist.
"That's a peculiar-looking sword. I'd like to cross blades with it someday."
"If the opportunity arises…"
"That opportunity will come soon."
"..."
I simply nodded silently.
Because I already knew what the entrance test would be, her words hit me harder.
"Lady Eleanor, that sword over there…"
"That? It's mine. Why?"
"No reason. I was just curious."
I glanced toward the large greatsword resting in the corner of the Committee room.
The crimson-tinged blade was unmistakably Eleanor Blackwell's greatsword — just as I remembered it.
'So I get to see it in person.'
Before long, I would be struck by that very sword.
Considering the nature of the entrance test, it was a fate decided the moment I applied to join the Disciplinary Committee.
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[To be Continue]