Knock knock.
"Professor, it's Elysia."
After a light knock, I waited briefly until a voice called from inside.
"Come in."
As I entered, Professor Ferrent rose from behind his desk and greeted me.
"Please, have a seat."
Ferrent gestured toward the sofa in the middle of the room and then walked over to the tea set behind his desk, preparing tea while engaging me in conversation.
"As you know, it's required for professors to conduct counseling with their assigned students every semester. That's why I called you in."
Ferrent brought over two cups of freshly brewed tea, placing one in front of me and keeping the other for himself as he sat down.
"Of course, I'll be calling the other students as well, but I figured I'd start with you."
Sip.
With nothing particular to say, I picked up the tea and took a sip. The fine quality of the tea was immediately apparent—it was the kind of luxury I never could've dreamed of back in my assassin days.
"So, how's your academic progress going?"
"It's going well. I'm keeping up just fine."
In truth, both my written and practical skills were holding up without any major issues. I didn't anticipate any difficulties unless the material became more advanced in the upper years, and even then, I could manage with some self-study.
"Hmm, I expected as much. You've always done well, so I'm not too concerned. Have you thought about your specialization for your second year yet?"
"Not yet. I'm still weighing my options."
Ferrent sipped his tea, then continued.
"Well, with your talent and diligence, you'll do well no matter which path you choose. That said, if I may offer some advice, I wouldn't recommend the military. You seem more suited for direct combat than for strategy and tactics."
The distinction between a soldier and a knight was often blurred. If I chose the military path, I would likely become an officer in charge of commanding troops. Knights, on the other hand, operated more as individuals, much like a special forces unit. Each knight was a formidable force, incomparable to ordinary soldiers.
Of course, once you reached the rank of knight commander, the distinction between soldier and knight largely disappeared. To rise to that level required not only combat prowess but also mastery in tactics, leadership, reputation, and even politics.
There were also independent knights, often called wandering or free knights. But aside from a rare few exceptions, they were usually just knights who lacked the skill to join an official order.
While Ferrent advised against the military, I had no plans to become a soldier in the first place. Now that I had my freedom, I had no intention of wasting it in the rigid structure of the army. If anything, I would lean toward becoming a knight, as it offered more personal freedom—and let's be honest, it looked cooler.
"I've also been considering becoming an adventurer."
After all, adventurers enjoyed the most freedom of any profession. Essentially mercenaries, adventurers operated under the Central Adventurers Guild system and could accept jobs as they pleased, so long as they had the necessary skills. While some looked down on adventurers as mere money-chasers, those opinions didn't matter to me. Even among knights, there were those who ignored chivalry, and not all adventurers were dishonorable. It was simply a matter of personal character.
Griffin Academy, being the continent's top academy, ensured that any graduate would have their pick of careers. Before graduation, many organizations tried to scout students, and the year-end graduation ceremony was always packed with dignitaries and recruiters from every corner of society.
In the military, graduates were guaranteed at least a hundred-man command, and those with the right connections could become thousand-man commanders right away. Knight orders engaged in fierce competition to recruit the most talented graduates, while the Adventurers Guild granted silver-rank badges to all graduates, ensuring a good start in their careers.
"Hm, I see. I'm glad I prepared this ahead of time."
Ferrent stood up and retrieved a stack of documents from his desk before returning to hand them to me. He tapped the papers on the table to straighten them and then placed them in front of me.
Seeing the puzzled look on my face, Ferrent gestured for me to read them. I took the papers and began to skim through them.
"I was going to offer this to you later, but I didn't want to wait too long and risk someone else snatching you up first. What do you think?"
The documents were straightforward: an offer to join the Empire's 3rd Royal Knights. It wasn't as prestigious or powerful as the 1st Royal Knights, but the 3rd Royal Knights were still part of the imperial family's forces. Comparisons to the elite 1st Royal Knights were unfair, given that the 1st was composed of the empire's best, but the 3rd Royal Knights were still highly respected.
"Although I stepped down as commander, my successor keeps asking for recommendations. They've been struggling with personnel shortages lately and asked me to refer any promising talent from the academy."
I had almost forgotten that Ferrent used to be the commander of the 3rd Royal Knights.
"This is... quite the offer. I didn't expect anyone to approach me so early, let alone with terms this generous."
The conditions outlined in the documents were tempting, to say the least. While I was still a student, they'd cover all my living expenses, including room and board, and provide a stipend. Upon graduation, the salary offered was far beyond what I'd imagined. It was clear that they had no doubts about my graduation, as there were no provisions for what would happen if I failed. This offer was made with full confidence in my abilities.
"And considering you're the last survivor of the Frentz family, becoming a royal knight would make restoring your family's name much easier, don't you think?"
Being a member of the Royal Knights meant being directly associated with the imperial family. While I wouldn't be handling things personally, I'd have the emperor's backing. Under those circumstances, reviving the Frentz family might not be a walk in the park, but it would be significantly more manageable, as Ferrent had pointed out.
I had already decided to restore the Frentz family, so Ferrent's offer was incredibly appealing.
"Thank you, Professor. I really appreciate the offer, but I'd like more time to think it over."
However, I politely declined for the time being, sliding the documents back toward Ferrent.
I was still just a first-year student, with over three years left until graduation. I was confident that I could increase my value significantly before then. Ideally, I hoped to receive an offer from the 1st Royal Knights—or even better conditions than those currently on the table.
"Heh, a wise choice. As much as the former commander in me wants to recruit you now, as your professor, I respect your decision to take your time. Just remember, when the time comes, it was the 3rd Royal Knights who recognized your talent first."
"Thank you, Professor. By the way, if you're making this offer to me... I imagine you'll be extending an even better one to Cillian, right?"
As much as I didn't like admitting it, I wasn't the top student in our class. That title belonged to Cilly. I might be considered one of the best, but I wasn't the best.
"No. I won't be offering her anything. Even if I did, she wouldn't accept. The Deretia family has its sights set on producing the next Hero, so there's no point in getting involved. Besides, there's no need to risk alienating the Deretia family by making unnecessary offers."
He had a point. No matter how prestigious or powerful a knight order might be, it was meaningless if someone became the Hero. The Hero was the one destined to face the Demon Lord, chosen by the world and the goddess herself. Someone with that title would have no use for a knight order. If Cilly successfully defeated the Demon Lord, then she wouldn't be joining a knight order; instead, orders would be vying for her favor.
"I'm sure Cillian will make an excellent Hero and defeat the Demon Lord."
"And will you be joining her as part of the Hero's party?"
Although the Hero was the only one capable of directly opposing the Demon Lord, no Hero could undertake that journey alone. Every previous Hero had assembled a team of the most skilled individuals to accompany them on their quest.
If Cilly were to become the Hero, who would she consider first for her party? To be honest, it would probably be me. I wasn't lacking in skill, and—most importantly—we were now close friends. I had a feeling she'd ask me to join her. Defeating the Demon Lord wasn't an easy task, but the potential rewards were enormous.
"No comment on that."
But I couldn't give a definitive answer. In truth, I wasn't eager to take on the Demon Lord. The risks were just too great. Sure, the world was in danger, but it wasn't like I was the only one who could help. There were plenty of others across the continent who could take my place. Still, lately, my feelings had begun to shift.
At first, I'd only gotten close to Cilly out of necessity. But now, I considered her a true friend. And if she were to ask me to join her, I wasn't sure I could refuse.
"Well, that's not something you need to decide just yet. You have time to think it over. If you ever need advice, don't hesitate to reach out. You're one of my students, after all."
Ferrent gathered up the papers and stood.
"Or, you could always consider becoming my assistant. I'm sure you'd earn your degree in no time if you—"
"Thank you for the tea, Professor. I'll take my leave now."
I placed my empty teacup back on the table, gave a polite bow, and made my way out.