Chapter 221: A Second Person? A Third Person??

This time, it must surely be someone who got the wrong room.

Thinking that, I opened the door, and an unexpected person was standing there.

“I am Colsen Walterford. I would be grateful if you could approve my admission to the Southern Development Research Society.”

The person who came was Colsen, the eldest son of the Walterford Viscount family.

“Colsen. I welcome your wish to join, but, well, are you sure you’re okay with me?”

“Yeah. Of course, I know about the history between you, Lord William, and the Walterford family. Unlike the previous head, our family is not part of the conservative faction.”

Is that so.

“The reason our family wasn’t abolished and was allowed to remain as a Viscount family is because you stopped the monster swarm, William. Everyone in our family is grateful.”

“Hearing you say that makes me feel relieved too.”

“My old man told me to be of use to you, Lord William.”

“Hmm, I appreciate the sentiment. But you don’t have to force yourself to join this club. The three years you spend at the academy are precious, so I want you to spend your time on what you want to do, Colsen.”

“Ah, sorry. I phrased that badly. I’m clumsy, so I only have a knack for swinging a sword. But I’ve accumulated actual combat experience, and I want to master the path of the sword. If I can swing my sword in the undeveloped lands, it will be a valuable opportunity.”

“If that’s the case, I welcome you. What do you two think?”

“If he’s walking the path of the sword, then it’s the same path as me. I welcome him.”

“I also agree to his admission.”

“Then, I look forward to working with you from now on, Colsen.”

“I’m counting on you.”

I shook hands with Colsen.

Calluses from wielding a sword had formed on Colsen‘s hand.

It’s the same as Brother Eddie and Letty.

It shows that he trains every day.

Even so, to think there would actually be a second applicant to join.

It’s a happy miscalculation.

As I was thinking that, there was another knock on the door.

When I opened the door, a girl who seemed to have hardened her resolve was standing there, trembling.

“My name is Katarina Rinaldi. I know it is above my station, but could you please allow me to join the Southern Development Research Society?”

Standing there was Katarina, the first commoner to enroll.

“No, I don’t think it’s above your station at all, but why did you want to join this society?”

“I was the first commoner allowed to enroll in the Royal Academy. Since I can use neither swords nor magic, the area where I can be of use is domestic affairs. I thought I might be able to help with the southern development that this society is advocating.”

“Is your skill the Commerce Skill?”

“Yes. For the sake of the commoners who will follow after me, I want to produce results at this academy. I thought that a society led by William-san, a hero, would surely produce great results. I am terribly sorry if it seems like I am trying to use you.”

“I don’t think you need to be sorry. I understand that you want to join this society of your own free will, so I welcome you.”

“Is that really true? Since it is a club consisting of William-sama, a hero of the Kingdom and future Earl, Her Highness the Princess, and a Margrave’s daughter, I thought it might be too presumptuous for a merchant’s daughter like me to ask to join.”

“Katarina-san, we don’t think like that at all. Differences in social status are not supposed to exist within the academy. That is a fundamental principle of the Royal Academy. Besides, we are comrades who fought together when the Empire’s delegation came, aren’t we?”

“Scarlet-san. I am very happy to hear you say that. But I was just one of the crowd back then.”

“Katarina-san, you must not belittle yourself. We have heard about you from Oliver-sensei. He said you are the daughter of a trading company that does honest business and a hard worker, so we should take good care of you.”

“Eh? Oliver-san said something like that to Your Highness?”

Katarina‘s eyes welled up with tears.

“Katarina, you’re not the only one who feels out of place. I’m just the son of an ordinary Viscount family, so I completely understand that it took courage to knock on this door.”

“Colsen. You also applied to join this club?”

“Yeah, partly because my old man told me to, but also because I wanted to swing my sword in the undeveloped lands myself. Even so, just walking up to this door was tough.”

“I understand! I felt some kind of invisible pressure, and walking up to this door was truly a struggle. I’m glad there is someone who understands.”

Colsen and Katarina are hitting it off.

That in itself is fine, but…

“What kind of unmapped territory is this place? You didn’t have to be so scared.”

“Even I, a Duke’s daughter, was nervous. The three of you are special, you know.”

“Eh? Even Elva-san?”

“Will. You should probably give up trying to think of yourself as normal by now. Anyway, we welcome all three of you. We look forward to working with you.”

“Fufu, we welcome all three of you. We look forward to working with you.”

Thus, unexpectedly, three new students joined the Southern Development Research Society.

Thanks to this, I wonder if it will start to feel a bit more like a normal academy life.