The Retired Supporting Character Wants to Live Quietly - Chapter 59 – Field Trip to the Battlefield (5)

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 59 – Field Trip to the Battlefield (5)

The students were notified about the field trip to Ivronic Castle.

The news of a group outing had everyone excited.

Ivronic Castle is renowned throughout the Empire for its stunning scenery.

“Knightley, have you ever been to the Ivronic Castle?”

In the bustling dormitory lounge, one of Knightley’s followers asked her.

However, Knightley didn’t respond and kept looking at the announcement on the lounge bulletin board.

When Knightley didn’t answer, her followers, feeling a bit awkward, started talking among themselves.

They boasted about when their families visited Ivronic, the size of their travel parties, and how many nights they stayed at luxury hotels nearby.

Being ladies from prominent families, they were used to competing over such trivial and materialistic details.

Amidst this, Knightley was lost in thought.

A field trip to a historical battlefield—something that had never happened before.

Like the other changes over the past few months, this too occurred after Professor Dian’s appointment.

Did Professor Dian’s influence extend to this as well?

Typically, field trips to historical sites were the domain of the Theoretical Department, but it was hard to believe Dian had no involvement.

Currently, Dian’s influence at the academy was so significant that he seemed like the de facto headmaster.

He had overturned everything, normalized it, and garnered support from both students and professors.

He even turned a crisis into an opportunity when those absurd rumors about their relationship circulated last week.

Thanks to that, Knightley felt completely isolated like a duck in the Glonas River.

She had neither confirmed nor denied the scandal with Dian, subtly enjoying the attention, but then Dian announced in the auditorium hall that it was all a part of a psychological warfare exercise.

Her followers didn’t openly say it, but they were surely mocking her inwardly.

What? A special relationship with the Head Combat Professor? Ridiculous. It was all a bluff, wasn’t it?

Of course, the individual tutoring was real, but it surprisingly didn’t cause a huge stir.

‘She’s the top student, so she deserves advanced training.’

‘If it’s advanced training, it makes sense for the Head Professor to conduct it.’

‘I want to work hard and join that class too.’

‘I’m jealous of Knightley.’

Instead, there was a surge of students wanting to join that advanced class, making Knightley genuinely anxious these days.

As the daughter of the Duke of Toulouse, an influential family in the Empire, she had never known lack.

She always had what she needed and got what she wanted.

She wanted Professor Dian and managed to secure private lessons, monopolizing his time.

But not anymore. Everyone liked Dian and tried to win his favor.

Even her once exclusive private lessons were now exposed to many students.

Who knows if a new student might join, outshining her?

What if they were more talented? Prettier? More likable?

If Dian started liking that student more, it would be like having her prized possession stolen.

That could never happen.

But if Dian decided to take on a new student, what could Knightley do?

Nothing.

Deep down, she knew that if Dian set his mind on it, she couldn’t stop him.

Though he always appeared cheerful, the content of their private lessons suggested he wasn’t normal.

He had undoubtedly lived a life unimaginable to ordinary people.

How could someone like Knightley, who grew up in a greenhouse without want, possibly handle him?

What should I do now…

As Knightley pondered, someone came to mind.

That new special student with the pink hair.

If things continued as they were, she might also start vying for Dian’s attention.

And she was quite skilled… Should I take preemptive measures?

But that’s not possible.

The special student had already beaten up several top students who challenged her and sent them to the infirmary.

And if Dian decided to take her on as a private student, Knightley would be left chasing her tail.

This won’t work…

Instead of blocking others, it might be better to make sure Dian only sees me…

Hmmm…

There’s only one answer.

I need to work even harder so that Dian can’t look away.

Half-hearted efforts won’t work with Dian. This is the only solution.

But how should I go about it?

Knightley found the answer in the field trip announcement.

[Translator – Peptobismol]

The part about attire for the day. Instead of regular uniforms, they were to wear combat practice gear and boots.

Ivronic Castle on a cliff and combat boots…

Having been thoroughly challenged by Dian several times, Knightley could roughly predict what would happen at the battlefield.

“Where are you going, Knightley!”

“The infiltration practice ground.”

Knightley walked determinedly out of the dormitory, her followers hastily trailing behind.

However, they couldn’t keep up with her pace because they were still recovering from the injuries inflicted by the special student, Sophie.

It was already dark outside, the night shrouding the campus in shadows.

Upon reaching the infiltration practice ground, Knightley headed straight for the extreme terrain course.

The course, with its rocky cliffs and precarious narrow paths, seemed as if it had been ripped from a mountain.

Knightley planned to practice here alone until the field trip to Ivronic Castle.

“What are you doing, Knightley? Are you going to climb this at night?”

“Get lost. I didn’t ask you to join me.”

Her followers asked worriedly, but Knightley coldly replied as she changed into her combat boots.

The fact that they were instructed to wear practice uniforms and combat boots instead of the usual school uniforms for the trip to Ivronic Castle made Knightley draw a conclusion.

Professor Dian would likely make the students climb the old path used in the past instead of taking the elevator.

From her experience with his private lessons, she knew he would push them to climb the steep, narrow stone path that required significant courage and stamina.

Professor Dian would definitely do that.

With this in mind, Knightley knew she had to prepare.

By practicing hard here, she would surpass the other students, especially Sophie, and secure the top spot.

Then, Professor Dian would not look at anyone else but her.

Alright, Knightley. Let’s do this.

As she had always done, she would prove herself through sheer skill.

Knightley dusted her hands with the rosin provided at the practice ground and began climbing the cliff.

# # # # #

A few days later, the day of the field trip arrived.

Graduating students in practice uniforms and combat boots gathered in front of the dormitory square, laughing and chatting.

“Are you alright…?”

“Mind your own business.”

Knightley responded coldly to her followers’ concern about her bandaged hands.

She knew they had been gossiping and badmouthing her behind her back during her nightly practice sessions.

She didn’t want to waste her emotions on such people.

Knightley’s gaze was fixed on Dian, who was standing at the front and yawning.

Just watch, professor. I’ll show you what I’m capable of today.

She clenched her fist and continued to stare at Dian, but he didn’t meet her gaze.

So instead, Knightley turned to the special student Sophie.

Sophie was easy to spot with her distinctive pink hair, standing on the opposite side, surrounded by lower-ranked students with a nonchalant expression.

After beating up Knightley’s followers, Sophie had inadvertently become a hero to the lower-ranked students who had been bullied.

Sophie would surely be flustered when told to climb a cliff unexpectedly.

But Knightley knew what Dian would make them do.

There’s no student at the academy who knows Professor Dian better than I do…

This gave her a sense of superiority and a thrilling excitement.

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“Alright, everyone, get on the elevator in groups of ten!”

At the flat area below Ivronic Castle, after passing through the dimensional gate, the professors directed the students to board the elevator.

?!?!

Knightley was shocked. She had expected to climb the old path or follow Sir Linus’ climbing route up the cliff.

Confused by the unexpected situation, Knightley ran to Dian.

“Professor?! Why are we taking the elevator?!”

In response to Knightley’s question, Dian looked puzzled and asked back.

“Then what, do you want to climb?”

“It’s a field trip to a battlefield!”

“What are you talking about? Why would we suffer when there’s an easier way?”

“This… this wasn’t supposed to happen…!”

Seeing Knightley’s despair, Dian tilted his head in confusion.

[Translator – Peptobismol]