It’s a difficult task to conjure five flas at my level. Even more so if they are to be multicolored. However, I had the technique of handling a staff that Carlo had taught , and I was wearing the ‘Gloves Blessed with Mana’ that the housemistress had gifted . With the accuracy of the spell being compounded successively, it was entirely possible.
Fwoosh!
Five colorful flas ignited at the tips of my left fingers. Rockefeller’s eyes widened in surprise, and the onlookers were utterly silent. Then a stifled laugh broke out.
“Pfft!”
“Haha, what is that?”
Well, that’s understandable. The flas on my fingertips were tiny, barely the size of ants. But I didn’t care.
As I’ve said many tis, one must be shaless.
“The conditions have been t, so I’ve passed. I’d appreciate it if you could supervise the other examinees now.”
“Yes, you’ve passed. Quite impressive. Here, I’ll give you this award.”
Rockefeller gave a fake smile. What he handed over was a consent form listing three provisions that only those who passed the second exam could receive. The contents were brief:
– This academy does not expel students.
– Student withdrawals are not recognized.
– We are not responsible for deaths during enrollnt.
These ominous provisions were filled with foreboding. It’s just an academy, like a university, so one might think nothing serious could happen. But I knew why such clauses existed.
“I hope you can all refrain from laughing. Hersel has passed the exam. I expect you to work hard and follow his example.”
Rockefeller moved away, hiding his true feelings. Just before he exited the gate, he shot a aningful look over his shoulder. I had a bad feeling that he wasn’t going to give up easily.
***
Rockefeller walked down the corridor, ruffling his hair in frustration.
What on earth is going on?
He had been confident that Hersel would apply for the knighthood exam and had left it at that. But then the professor handling the magic departnt docunts ca to him, expressing concern that Hersel had co to this departnt.
He had repeatedly asked if he was lost or if he was a stand-in for soone else, but his answers were always the sa.
-He applied to the magic departnt, Professor Rockefeller. His identity has also been verified. With no grounds to argue further, I had him take the written exam.
Things were getting complicated. Thus, Rockefeller went to the written exam room himself to monitor for any cheating, keeping his eyes wide open.
At that mont, he was certain Hersel would fail.
Just in case, he had even instructed the professor to choose the most difficult calculation problems for him. Normally, that would have been enough. But he didn’t get a single question wrong and even passed the second exam, which seed impossible.
But for him to… This is impossible.
From the mont the headmaster showed interest in him, Rockefeller had gathered evaluations and minor rumors about him. Not only was he a notorious troublemaker and the son of Aol, but there were also credible rumors that he had survived the breath of a monstrous bird. There was not a single ntion of magic in any of it.
Naturally, it seed obvious that he would apply for the knighthood departnt.
‘Damn, I was careless. I should have sent only the recomndation for the knighthood departnt from the start.’
Sotis, there were mistakes where only the magic departnt recomndation was sent to a knighthood student. To avoid such administrative errors, they had sent both notifications, which had led to this ss.
Rockefeller cald his tense chest and took a deep breath in front of the headmaster’s office in the academy’s main building.
“Headmaster Arkandric, I need to speak with you.”
“Oh, Rockefeller? Co in.”
As soon as he entered the office, faint sounds of dying could be heard from beyond the window.
“Ugh.”
Rockefeller asked while looking at a student tied to a cross in the middle of the training ground.
“Is that a deserter?”
A muscular old man with a scar over one eye clicked his tongue.
“Tsk, you still can’t adapt after spending so much ti in the military. He’s just a student trying to escape the school.”
“Sorry, Headmaster. That was a slip of the tongue.”
Rockefeller bowed his head, and Arkandric stroked his white beard with a satisfied smile.
“Indeed. This is an educational place where we teach with love. Unlike other wretched academies that expel students once they accumulate enough derits, we end with simple punishnt. The spirit of not giving up on students is the true example of an educator. Never forget that spirit. Now, what brings you here?”
Rockefeller cautiously spoke, gauging his reaction.
“Actually, Hersel Ben Tenest has entered the magic departnt. He passed the standards, so I let him through…”
Arkandric ground his teeth and spoke in a chilling voice.
“Let ask you one thing, just in case. Was the duke the type to allow his son to learn magic?”
“The Duke is a pure-blooded swordsman to the core. He would never allow it.”
“Yes, that’s right. He’s a real pain, as the rumors say.”
Regardless of whether there was malice, Arkandric would have been infuriated by the decision to admit Hersel into the magic departnt. He had gone to great lengths to get him into the knighthood departnt.
“But, Rockefeller, you know that once the news of his survival from the griffon’s breath spread, other academies were eager to recruit him.”
“Yes, I know.”
“So what did I do?”
“…It’s hard to say with my own mouth.”
Bam!
Arkandric’s fist, as big as a pot lid, shattered the desk in two.
“I t those wretched headmasters and bowed to them. That’s not all. I even used the school’s operating funds to bribe them. And what’s the result? Huh? Answer . You were in charge of admissions, weren’t you?”
Arkandric’s eyes bulged, and Rockefeller wiped his face with one hand, speaking calmly.
“I won’t make excuses. I’ll keep trying to get him into the knighthood departnt.”
“Hmm, yes. People can make mistakes. The important thing is the will to correct them. But it must be done cleanly.”
“I understand. I’ll apply pressure within the allowed regulations.”
“Good, good. You know I trust you, right?”
“…Yes.”
Under Arkandric’s pressure, Rockefeller felt like dying. He understood the frustration. With all the talented students going to better academies, this place was left with poor quality students. The headmaster was often mocked by other headmasters, so it was understandable that he was furious.
Desperate to recruit talent, he had placed his hopes on promising candidates, only to have them go astray.
Watching the headmaster’s extre patience, Rockefeller sighed in relief.
***
After the second exam, I approached Selly, who was waiting in the lounge.
“How did it go?”
“Well, I passed, of course.”
“Oh…”
I squinted at Selly’s small sigh.
“You wished I’d fail and go ho, didn’t you?”
“No, not at all. I’m glad you passed.”
I wondered whom she took after to be so shaless.
“Don’t worry too much. Depending on the final third exam, we could have a decent life here.”
“Really?”
Even here, privileges exist, more clearly than in other academies. To receive good benefits, I needed to score high in the third exam.
“Grab our luggage. We need to move.”
“Already? Everyone else is resting.”
It’s crucial to get there first.
“Stop talking and move. Don’t you want to live in a nice dorm?”
“Of course I do.”
As we moved, the noble-looking young master from the exam room blocked our path.
“Hersel! I was so surprised. When did you learn magic?”
“…Did you pass too?”
“Of course. I’ve been learning for a long ti. But what you did earlier was amazing. When those fools laughed, and you lit the flas on your fingers, I got chills.”
Although a bit awkward, he was showing goodwill. I should respond politely.
“Calm down. We’ll be learning together in the magic departnt, so let’s get along.”
He seed genuinely moved.
“Really? You an that?”
“Yes. I look forward to it.”
“I’m honored… I’ll do my best too.”
I had other places to be, so I ended the conversation there. I was about to tell Selly to move when I noticed she seed different. Stiff, unlike usual.
“Selly, long ti no see. Are you still taking good care of the young master?”
“…Yes, Sir Rendel.”
“You know, our maid owed you a lot back then.”
“Sorry about that.”
“No, no. As Hersel’s maid, that was expected.”
Their conversation felt odd. One side seed friendly, but Selly seed scared.
“Wait, Rendel? Step aside. I need to talk to her alone.”
“Sure. Take your ti.”
As Rendel stepped back, I asked Selly.
“Who is he?”
“…Why ask when you know?”
“I told you. I’m not Hersel. I’m soone else in his body. Explain it to like you would to a madman.”
“…”
After a mont of hesitation, Selly answered.
“He’s a mber of the club you created.”
“Club?”
“You know, the one you ford with your friends.”
“What’s it called?”
“The Lethe of Oblivion.”
Ti seed to freeze for a mont. I knew what the Lethe club was. And realizing that Hersel was the founder was shocking. Rendel, oblivious to my thoughts, approached us with a grin.
“Did Selly take a while to answer? So, Hersel, how about it? How about playing that ga you invented?”
“…Ga?”
“Yes, you know. Betting on fights between maids. There’s nothing more exciting than a catfight. I’ve even brought a maid who’s good at fighting this ti.”
I gestured for him to co closer with my finger.
“Yes? What is it?”
“Rendel, right?”
“Yes, it’s an honor to be called by na.”
“You’re cut off.”
After saying that, I expanded my muscles and slamd my fist into his face.
Bam!
Without exaggeration, Rendel’s body spun in the air. With my muscles developed as a mage, my punch was too much for him.
“Ugh… My teeth!”
As Rendel picked up his teeth from the ground, I lowered my voice.
“Tell the others clearly. We’re done with those childish gas.”
“Do you an it?”
“Don’t make repeat myself. Unless you want another hit.”
Rendel, confused and furious, showed a hint of murderous intent. Ignoring him, I spoke to Selly.
“What are you doing? We need to move.”
“…Yes.”
Selly blinked, still looking at , even as we walked.
“What?”
“Just wondering if this is okay. Friends are important at the academy, right?”
“Forget it. It’s better to cut ties with those kinds of people.”
“Hehe.”
Selly chuckled and walked ahead. I don’t know what she was thinking, but I ant every word I said.
The Lethe club was nad after the river of oblivion, symbolizing drinking until you forget everything. It was a group of ruffians, serving as comic relief, getting beaten by playable characters throughout the ga.
If I didn’t want to be a joke, I needed to cut ties early.
We arrived at a snow-covered field, where a long marble table and a single professor stood out. The professor pointed to a building on the side as he saw Selly.
“Servants go over there.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Selly took the luggage and left, the professor pointed to the marble table without further explanation. On it were wooden plaques numbered from 1 to 70.
“Pick one.”
I chose the plaque with the number 7. This would give the best position for the upcoming third exam.
The next task was a joint exam with the knighthood departnt. The goal was to escape from the dungeon.
User Comments
0 comments from readers