I'll Smash Everything with Passive Skills-Chapter 88: 0. Gunther’s Melancholy (2)

Anna is a female student in B-Class.

She hails from the Holstein baron family in the northern part of the Empire. It is said that her family, once a knightly lineage, only gained noble status in recent times.

"Phew."

Even she had her own troubles that she couldn't usually speak about.

It was the famous Veris, the pride of the academy, and his close friend, Gunther von Haruen, who was the cause of her worries.

A few days ago, Veris had come to see her. His reputation was so great, and having witnessed his power from afar left her astonished.

And Veris had said.

That a man named Gunther was interested in her and suggested that they meet.

To be honest, she didn't dislike the idea. She just wanted to focus on her family situation and her studies.

"It's tough."

In front of the B-Class girls' dormitory.

Sitting in the garden she often visited, Anna muttered to herself.

It was true that her heart was restless. Just then, reading a letter sent from her family made her heart sink.

[ To my beloved Anna. Please forgive your father for speaking so abruptly. There has been heavy rain in the territory, causing floods. As a father with the duty to care for the territory's people who have lost their homes, I will not be able to provide you with your allowance for a while, hence this letter. ]

Sigh.

The content of the letter was simple. Due to the difficult situation in the territory, her allowance would be cut off for the time being.

At a glance, Anna seemed to be in a bad mood.

But the reason for her bad mood was not merely the fact that she wouldn't receive her allowance.

'The territory is suffering...'

Like her father, who had become a noble, Anna was also a girl who loved her territory and its people.

During harvest season, the people of the territory would sing of abundance and praise the lord and his family.

To think that those people were suffering from floods. In this situation, there was nothing she could do.

"You seem deep in thought."

"...!"

At the sudden appearance of a man, Anna couldn't help but take a deep breath.

He was a male student with a dazzling beauty that could only be described as terrifying.

Just like a few days ago, Veris appeared without a sound.

...And behind Veris was a large student who was subtly avoiding eye contact.

Gunther von Haruen. Was there any academy student who didn't know his name?

"...I'm not in the mood to talk today."

Avoiding Veris's gaze, Anna lowered her head and spoke.

It was a matter concerning her territory and family. How could she confide such worries to someone she wasn't close to?

But Anna had overlooked one thing. That Veris and Gunther were not ordinary students.

"I heard there has been heavy rain in the northern part of the Empire recently. Is that what's troubling you?"

Veris nodded. However, his insight was precisely on point, leaving Anna in shock.

"How did you know that?"

"Did you forget who this guy's father is?"

Receiving Anna's gaze, Veris pointed to Gunther with a relaxed gesture. Gunther von Haruen.

The heir of the great Marquess of Haruen, a noble from the northeastern border of the Empire. A promising talent known as the genius of swordsmanship in the Empire.

"Ah...."

Anna's eyes trembled.

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In fact, it was something she had forgotten. This academy was filled with talents from the Empire, no, from the continent.

Unlike Anna, who came from a mere knightly background, here were the children of dukes and marquesses.

"P-please tell me your troubles. If there's anything I can do to help, I'll be at your service anytime."

Gunther, who looked visibly nervous, spoke with surprisingly smooth eloquence.

Seeing Veris's playful face, Gunther hurriedly added.

"I'm not just saying this out of pity! There's a saying that even a blank sheet of paper is better when held together!"

"...."

Anna looked at Gunther with newfound eyes.

Unlike the Gunther von Haruen she had imagined, he somehow exuded a reassuring aura.

Tap.

Taking a step back, Veris lightly tapped Gunther's back.

It seemed like a light gesture, but pushed by Veris, Gunther ended up standing in front of Anna.

Swiftly.

Standing awkwardly in front of her, Gunther extended his hand.

"I-I want to help you."

Who wouldn't understand the meaning of that hand?

Anna took Gunther's rough hand in hers.

*

Gunther and Veris declared they would help Anna.

The two men, having said goodbye to her, headed towards the central district of the academy.

"Where are you going?"

However, there was a problem; even Gunther, who followed Veris, had {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} no idea what Veris was planning to do.

The central district was where the administrative heads of the academy and those of higher ranks or years were located.

Naturally, it was a place where it was difficult to see ordinary students.

Yet Veris walked through the central district without hesitation. Naturally, Gunther couldn't help but feel an unexpressed anxiety.

"We're here."

"...Where is this?"

The place where Veris stopped was a mansion.

Had it not been maintained for a long time?

The exterior walls of the mansion were covered with green vines.

"You said you wanted to help Anna."

"Y-yes, that's true, but I can't understand what you're thinking, brother."

"You'll understand once we go inside."

Knock knock!

Approaching the door, Veris knocked on the mansion's door.

And the door opened. The man who appeared had a fierce expression that could make anyone tense.

"...Who are you?"

Was the man not expecting Veris's arrival?

He looked surprised, alternating his gaze between Veris and Gunther.

"We've come to see him."

"...Please wait a moment. I will convey your message."

Contrary to his appearance, the man bowed his head politely.

As the man quietly closed the door and disappeared, Gunther asked Veris with a bewildered expression.

"Where exactly is this? You know someone here, right?"

Gunther's question, still not grasping the situation, was filled with numerous analyses.

In response to Gunther's question, Veris smiled playfully.

"Gunther."

"Yes?"

"Do you have any money?"

"...!"

Gunther was shocked, never expecting such a question to come out.

He had thought of himself as Veris's close friend, yet here he was, being asked for money!

Creak!

Just as Gunther was about to protest with a voice full of sorrow.

The mansion door opened again. And the fierce-looking man appeared once more.

He spoke politely, bowing his head as before.

"They say to come in. If it's alright with you, they would like to have lunch together."

"Sounds good."

Veris stepped into the mansion through the wide-open door.

Left alone in front of the mansion, Gunther could only stare at Veris's broad back with a dumbfounded expression.

*

"Ha ha! Is this the friend you mentioned?"

"He's quite exceptional in terms of willpower."

"Indeed, as you said, the traces of training are very evident!"

Gunther was on the verge of tears as he listened to a middle-aged man evaluating him while looking at Veris.

He couldn't tell if the food was going into his mouth or his nose.

Initially, when he followed Veris to the central district, he thought there must be some plan in place.

But.

'The Sword Saint!'

The middle-aged man who welcomed Veris and Gunther introduced himself as a duke of the Empire, named Heinkel.

What did that mean?

The Sword Saint.

The famous Sword Saintwas leisurely dining in a mansion in the central district of the academy!

"Th-thank you for your kind words...."

Gunther swallowed the food in his mouth and bowed his head.

His demeanor was unmistakably that of someone terrified, and the Sword Saint could only laugh heartily.

"More importantly, I'm curious. What brings you to find me?"

"Nothing special. I believe you already know."

"Know what?"

"Recently, there has been heavy rain in the northern part of the Empire."

At Veris's voice, the Sword Saint nodded.

He looked at Veris as if to say, how do you know that?

"This guy said he would use all his wealth for relief in the north."

"Cough!"

What an unexpected crazy statement.

Gunther felt the food he was chewing get stuck in his throat. As he clutched his neck, the Sword Saint's warm gaze fell on him.

"Oh, truly a friend with a meaningful heart."

"Th-thank you...."

Gunther had not contributed a single thought to that statement. Yet, it was unavoidable that he felt good being praised by the famous Sword Saint.

"By the way."

"Yes?"

"I hear you want to support the Holstein baron family first."

"The Holstein baron family."

The Sword Saint seemed to be pondering, sinking into his chair and closing his eyes.

Gunther, who was not one to swallow his food without noticing the Sword Saint's actions, silently watched him.

Slurp.

"Ah, brother."

Veris, who was casually shoving food into his mouth, was visible.

Gunther could only grimace.

"I remember now. It was a place governed by a knight who recently received a noble title."

...A duke is a significant title. Just the baronial territories under the duchy must number in the dozens, and the fact that the Sword Saint remembered that was impressive.

"Now I understand what you were trying to say."

The Sword Saint smiled warmly. Then he looked at Gunther and said.

"Well, such things are common in the academy. So, is the daughter you like from there?"

"Cough!"

Gunther, who had just taken a sip of water, spewed it out in a grand fountain at the Sword Saint's grotesque insight.