Imperial Academy Entrance Exam (4)
I now understood how Lua had come to possess such vast knowledge.
It was all thanks to Mother’s rigorous teachings.
But there was a world of difference between memorizing facts and actually thinking them through to put them into practice.
When I had peered into her memories, nothing unusual had stood out, yet the question of whether Lua had also been influenced by her past life was worth considering more carefully.
After all, she was far too mature for her age.
The examiner who had lost the debate to Lua cleared his throat and smoothly shifted to the next topic.
“It seems pointless to discuss sending more military forces any further. That said, you mentioned there were other methods as well. Let’s hear them.”
“There are two more. But I believe you already know one of them.”
“And what would that be?”
“Defeating the commander. Nelaos.”
The examiner smiled.
Eliminating Nelaos, the cornerstone of the Parta Coalition, was a solution everyone had considered at least once.
He had been caught off guard by Lua’s sharp first answer, but he remained confident that an eleven-year-old’s ideas could never be truly groundbreaking.
His smile carried the self-assured air of someone about to teach a child the weight of experience.
“Very well. What method do you propose?”
“There are many. Assassination, poisoning…”
“Such methods lack honor. If we resorted to them, the entire Empire would be condemned.”
“What use is honor? Is it acceptable for rivers of blood to flow simply because we insist on fighting fairly?”
“That blood would have meaning.”
“Then I would like to summon the souls of the dead and ask them if they agree.”
The dead, of course, had no voice.
The examiner was left speechless by the chilling logic coming from an eleven-year-old’s mouth.
Here was a girl who cared nothing for honor and sought only the most practical path to victory while minimizing needless sacrifice.
“Would you like to guess what the final method is?”
Lua’s face was bright with amusement as she asked.
She was genuinely enjoying the exam.
“In truth, the two methods you mentioned are ones we have already considered. But you claim there is a third. I’m curious. Tell us this method we do not know.”
“It’s simple. The Parta Coalition is an alliance of nations that were once imperial colonies. So we simply need to bring them into a new alliance, just as we did with Solea.”
“A new alliance?”
“The Empire exploited them. But think about it—if the war continues, the losses will only grow. What if we offered to treat them as equals rather than colonies? We could even begin trade.”
The examiner’s mouth fell open.
“You’re right. That would remove any reason for the coalition to keep fighting.”
“In the best case, the war ends. Even if not, the powerful warriors of the East could become reliable allies. It may not be a complete victory, but wouldn’t it be a win for both sides?”
“Impressive.”
The examiner who had been debating Lua lowered his head.
“When you spoke of the second method, I thought your character was cruel and decided to fail you. But after hearing the third, my mind has changed. I see now that you are not cruel—you simply pursue what is practical.”
“I believe the most ideal outcome is one where no blood is shed. Honor is merely something we secure if we can.”
“A truly practical mindset. Is there more?”
The question “Is there more?” was his roundabout way of acknowledging that she had already proven her worth.
“Of course there is. But these are ideas I am not yet certain about, so I would like to refine them while studying at the Academy. For now, this is all I have.”
When Lua bowed with a radiant smile, laughter bloomed across the faces of both the examiners and the audience.
Even after a sharp debate, she had ended it cleanly, leaving no lingering resentment.
It had been an ideal exchange.
As Lua stepped out of the examination hall, I greeted her.
“Well done.”
“Whew, I thought I was going to die from the tension.”
Tension, she said—when she had faced the exam with complete composure.
Our part was finished.
All that remained was to wait for the results.
In truth, being admitted as a first-year would be proof of one’s lack of ability.
Admission into the first year meant the Academy had judged you to have no current value and intended to build you up from the basics.
At the very least, one needed to enter as a second-year to have their talents recognized and receive education aimed at further developing those talents.
“We will now announce the results.”
Aipman declared.
My heart pounded.
I had clearly demonstrated my abilities, but Lua’s case was more ambiguous.
She was neither exceptionally skilled with a sword nor particularly gifted in magic.
She had shown an extraordinary eye for the flow of the world and an open set of values unbound by convention.
Simply performing well in the debate did not guarantee she would avoid being placed in the first year.
“First, Erewon von Soleil. Step forward.”
Lua met my eyes and gave a single nod of encouragement.
“As Headmaster of the Reichland Imperial Academy, I hereby announce that Erewon von Soleil, Prince of the Knight Kingdom of Solea… ahem!”
Aipman cleared his throat before continuing.
That single cough only heightened my anticipation.
“He is permitted to enroll in the fourth year.”
Cheers erupted from the audience.
While many had entered as third-years after the exam, a fourth-year admission was unprecedented.
Even hearing it, I felt a surge of pride.
“There are reasons for allowing him to enter the fourth year. First, his mana reserves are on par with those of a first-rate knight. Second, his swordsmanship is so advanced that he can easily defeat the Academy’s own professors. Is this what you intended to demonstrate?”
The confirmation itself carried meaning.
If I was dissatisfied with the result and had more to show, this was my chance to reveal it.
“I have nothing more. I accept the result.”
“In truth, I feel your skills are almost too great for the Academy, but I wish to provide an environment where you can develop your abilities comfortably. I ask that you enroll in the fourth year. Allow us to support you.”
It was not merely permission to enroll—it was a compliment, practically a request that I join.
The outcome was even better than I had hoped.
“Next, Lua von Soleil. Please step forward.”
Lua walked to the front with confident steps.
“Lua von Soleil, Princess of the Knight Kingdom of Solea, is permitted to enroll in the second year.”
Applause followed, though less thunderous than before.
Even so, entering as a second-year was already a success.
A fifteen-year-old in the fourth year and an eleven-year-old in the second year.
Neither achievement was insignificant.
After the entrance exam, it was time for the final interview with the Headmaster.
The second-highest place in Reichland.
This was my second visit to the Headmaster’s office.
Aipman had summoned both Lua and me together.
“Welcome. Since the two of you are siblings, I thought it would be more comfortable to meet together.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Not at all. We do not yet know how long we will be working together. Especially you, Erewon—you have been admitted to the fourth year based on your proven abilities, but that also means you must achieve even greater results to graduate.”
Many students entered but lingered for years without graduating.
Dropping out without graduating was possible, but it carried immense disgrace.
“Now, I have a question. I assume you both have subjects you wish to study. Let’s hear them one by one. Actually, there’s no need to ask you, Erewon. It must be swordsmanship, correct?”
“No, it is not.”
“It is not?”
Aipman’s expression shifted oddly.
“I wish to study magic.”
“Nonsense.”
“Why is that?”
“Someone who has trained in swordsmanship as long as you have will have a body already set in that direction. It is far too late to begin training in magic.”
“Even so, I want to study magic.”
“Good heavens…”
Before I knew it, Aipman was looking at me with a pitying gaze.
“If it were up to me, I would dissuade you for days. But if that is what you want, there is nothing to be done. And you, Lua—what do you wish to pursue?”
“I want to walk the path of a scholar.”
“Now that is welcome news. So you intend to follow the same path as I?”
“But I do not simply wish to become a scholar.”
As she spoke, Lua looked up at me.
“I will become a scholar who assists the king.”
“What?”
“My dream is for my brother to become a great king. And I will be the one who supports him at his side.”
These were the words of someone who had once ruled the entire world in her past life.
In this life, things were clearly different.
Far too many things were changing in ways no one could have predicted.