It’s understandable to be suspicious like that. Usually, the existing teachers handed out detailed lecture descriptions two weeks before classes started. These included recommendations for which books to read to help follow the lessons.

There was so much to memorize that it could be overwhelming, but this was the first time they had received nothing at all, like with Ivlik’s tutoring.

Cedine was about to agree when her name was called. The trainees, who had been anxious, torn between wanting their turn to come quickly and not wanting to face the infamous Ivlik Wintermore, sent words of encouragement as Cedine left the waiting room.

Anyway, Cedine decided to slowly walk around the room until the instructor arrived. Her body felt stiff from sitting in the waiting room for so long. Then she suddenly stopped in front of the special glass window at the front.

“Hello?”

It was an impulsive action. Cedine closed her eyes gently as she approached the special glass window that looked like a mirror. Just like when kissing. Although she had never done it before, she knew that everyone closes their eyes when kissing.

Stopping just before her lips touched the glass, Cedine gently blew her breath. Before the faint moisture disappeared, Cedine quickly drew a smiley face with her finger.

She remembered her mother’s words that wherever you are, if you draw a smiley face on the window, that space will become yours.

‘There, now this place is claimed too.’

[I just heard on my way back from the bathroom. Percival completely broke down. They say he was curled up in the hallway, sobbing, so they moved him to the infirmary. Apparently, he’s completely lost it.]
[Are you sure it was Percival? Not Iliana?]
[I heard it clearly. They said it was Percival Brightnen, the second one to go in.]

No sooner had she drawn the smiley face like a charm than the conversation from the waiting room earlier came back to her. When someone relayed the news about Percival, there was a moment of agitation among the trainees. Percival was from a Count’s family related to the royal family, and had been on the elite track since childhood. He had excellent physical condition and learning ability, and a concentration that even impressed the teachers. He also had leadership skills, having led Cedine’s team during the 3-night, 4-day survival camp.

Above all, Percival excelled at controlling his emotions. They say nobles consider it vulgar to show raw emotions. So they repeatedly educate their children about maintaining dignity. Percival’s excellence in emotional control was probably due to the education he received from a young age.

To think that such a Percival had curled up and sobbed? It was hard to imagine. Just this morning when he left the waiting room second, he had looked nothing but elegant, without a single hair out of place. His face, as neat as a marble statue, showed no signs of tension.

[Percival is the type who would rather take his own life than show tears…]
[What on earth happened to him in the tutoring room?]

Everyone had reason to be puzzled. The trainees had already received lessons that involved withstanding high levels of pressure. They had even experienced being a prisoner, tied up with hands and feet bound and a hood over their head. In other words, they had built up immunity to being pushed to their limits.

‘But…’

Cedine thought. Everyone has a weakness they want to hide until the end. The shame of having that exposed is not something an ordinary person can endure.

The reason Percival broke down wasn’t just because of simple humiliation. It seemed he had his weakness exposed. Well, Ivlik Wintermore’s specialty was mental attacks. I just didn’t know he would use his specialty so mercilessly even on the elite course trainees that the Intelligence Bureau was carefully nurturing.

That’s when it happened.

The door to the tutoring room opened. The man in an officer’s uniform didn’t immediately enter, but stood at the door staring at Cedine. In fact, she wasn’t sure if the man was looking at her. Even if the man had his eyes closed, Cedine would have no way of knowing.

The man was wearing a sharp-edged cap, and the corridor, which had been bright just a moment ago, was now as dark as the inside of the tutoring room. Did they deliberately turn off the lights to create a sense of fear?

Cedine watched as the man, who had been facing her direction for a long time, came in and closed the door. The man was quite tall. At a rough estimate, he seemed to be about 190cm. Maybe even more than that.

“Cedine Liere?”

The man’s voice was low, calm, and slightly hoarse at the end. Cedine answered that it was indeed her name. The man gestured with his chin towards the iron table.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

“Before coming in, I watched the trainees through the glass window from the next room. Percival Brightnen acted just like you, Trainee Liere. As soon as he came in, he carefully observed the interior and then.”

Ivlik lightly touched the iron table.

“He adjusted the position of the table.”

Oh dear. Cedine inwardly sighed. Why did Percival resort to such an uncharacteristically shallow trick today of all days? Even if Ivlik hadn’t been watching, it’s a method he would have seen through the moment he entered the room.

“I suppose it made him feel like he was in control of the situation. At the very least, it was an expression of will that he wouldn’t just passively submit.”

“Brightnen must have been very nervous. He’s not usually like that.”

“There is no ‘usually’.”

Ivlik cut in softly.

“The desire not to be looked down upon. The audacity to greet the instructor brazenly after doing something so obviously calculated. That stupidity and arrogance are all part of what makes Brightnen who he is.”

Poor Percival. He probably just wanted to move the table a bit to make his expressions less visible, but he couldn’t have known that even this unwanted part of him would be exposed.

Cedine sent a casual sympathy towards her colleague.

After dealing with Ivlik for 20 minutes, Cedine admitted that her sympathy had been premature. It wasn’t the time to pity Percival. Just drawing a smiley face on the glass doesn’t really make miracles happen. That was just self-comfort.

‘If I stay in this room for even one more second, I think I’ll throw up.’

They said it was a psychological tactics lesson. Indeed, Ivlik knew how to choke his opponent without laying a hand on them. Cedine was desperate to check the remaining time. She only hoped that this psychological state of hers wasn’t showing on the outside.

“I see you’ve read my book.”

“You haven’t written any books.”

“I’ve written one under a pen name.”

Cedine shook her head slightly.

“Someone as self-aware as you, instructor, would never publish a book under a pen name. Besides, you emphasize efficiency, don’t you? For someone like that to go to the trouble of writing a book to reveal your methods to others. It’s cumbersome and wasteful, isn’t it?”

“…You seem to have researched me quite thoroughly.”

“I’ll say it’s the bare minimum.”

“Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“I’m not.”

“Why?”

“Well, I think I’ve been like this since birth. I’m not afraid of people, not just you, instructor. Seeing me like this, Dr. Straudt said he wanted to open up my head. He wondered if the part of the human brain responsible for fear was congenitally underdeveloped, or if it was damaged due to an accident I can’t remember myself.”

Cedine unconsciously frowned.