Chapter 206
Chapter 206
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 206
Chapter Title: Eszett
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"How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family (206)"
“What?”
“What’s this? Seven people? Up to 7th place in Team 1?”
“The third-years were all six people. Is this even okay?”
The audience began to buzz uncontrollably. Questions erupted from all sides.
Heike sat frozen, her eyes wide open.
[Student Heike Ainsidel. Are you not in your seat?]
“…….”
[Heike Ainsidel….]
“I’m here.”
From the darkness, Heike stood up and looked at the professor.
She cleared her throat and spoke calmly.
“Professor, you just called 7th place. You announced that from 7th place onward it would be Team 2, so could you please confirm if there was a mistake….”
[Second-year Team 1 consists of 1st through 7th place, a total of seven members.]
“Yes?”
The audience fell silent at the brazen rule-breaking.
Everyone stared at Heike and the professor.
Heike’s face was visibly paling even from a distance.
She didn’t look the least bit pleased despite making it into the coveted Team 1.
“…….”
[Student Ainsidel, please come up.]
“Professor, I’m satisfied with Team 2. I don’t understand why I, in 7th place, have to be in Team 1.”
[This was decided through a meeting of the faculty from the Imperial Second Academy and the Imperial First Academy’s Department of Magic. If you cannot accept the decision, our faculty will have no choice but to disqualify you from this selection exam.]
‘Hah.’
Disqualify? After going through all three rounds? No way she’d accept that.
Heike, who had been staring blankly at the professor with her mouth agape, walked out slowly as if possessed.
Glancing beside me, all my teammates were utterly bewildered.
“…Suddenly seven people?”
“We get an extra teammate?”
Even I couldn’t hide my surprise.
I alternated my gaze between the professor and Heike Ainsidel.
A rule set in stone a month ago had been shattered with a single word.
The school’s whimsy was excessive. With over 1,500 students and even Imperial Gazette reporters present, proceeding like this would erode trust in the rankings the school had assigned so far and all their future decisions.
Of course, this alone wouldn’t shatter faith completely, but….
There was one thing that nagged at me.
‘Why Heike Ainsidel of all people?’
What was the reason the school was going out of its way, bearing the backlash, to shove Heike Ainsidel into Team 1?
Her unique ability to read an object’s memories and history was impressive.
However, unlike Auguste, she hadn’t been specially trained in her unique ability from childhood, nor did she possess Ulrike-level skills that made her indispensable to the team.
If they absolutely had to add one more from the remaining 18 students to Team 1, Auguste would have been a far better fit.
Similar murmurs rose from other students watching from the audience.
“…Does she have what it takes for Team 1? Why go this far?”
“Who is she? I don’t know her.”
“She was 10th in the last exam.”
“If they had to add someone, Hildegaard and Auguste would’ve been better choices, so why…?”
Whispers drifted into my ears at audible volumes here and there.
Heike ascended the stage with a frozen expression.
We were just as stunned, and with the audience’s backlash, there was no mood for chit-chat, so silence blanketed the hall.
The host confirmed Heike standing beside Ulrike, then casually drew her wand and thrust it into the air. Golden mana began inscribing letters.
[2nd Year 1-3 / 3rd Year 2-4 / 3rd Year 1-3 / 1st Year 1-3 / 1st Year 2-4 / 2nd Year 2-4]
Our exam was listed first.
[This Student Military Corps final selection exam was conducted identically across all years from first to third. The list now shown is the final rankings compiled from each exam’s scores. In this exam, 2nd Year Team 1-3 demonstrated the highest caliber across the entire Imperial Second Academy, with every member possessing outstanding abilities. Accordingly, our academy deemed it a safety concern to limit 2nd Year Team 1 under the existing personnel restrictions, thus exceptionally expanding the total selected 2nd-year finalists from 18 to 19. As such, all final selectees across years total 19, with Team 2 selected intact at six members.]
Heike’s inclusion in Team 1 created an extra spot for another student. Because of that, the expressions of the 2nd-year exam participants softened considerably.
Right, I get that Team 1 was basically the bonus points team now.
But why go to such lengths? That question lingered unresolved.
“…….”
I gazed at the numerous audience sections encircling the hall in a ring.
The other 1,300-odd students, excluding the 2nd-year participants, still wore unconvinced faces.
Someone raised their hand and spoke loudly.
“Professor! The Student Military Corps selection numbers were announced a month ago. You mentioned safety considerations, but Team 1 consists of students proficient enough to handle Grade 4 berserkers, so six should suffice. Especially since 3rd Year Team 1 was also six, wasn’t it?”
The professor remained unfazed by the audience’s somewhat radical expressions and words.
[Our academy judged that the unique ability of Heike Ainsidel from 2nd Year Team 1-3, particularly Team 1, would be highly useful in the field, and placed her there considering her excellent situational judgment and combat magic skills.]
Behind the professor and our positions flowed footage prepared by the school from the exam.
It was the scene of Heike casting a soundproof spell and speaking to Leo.
When I was pinned to the ground by Leo’s vines, Heike had been half-right, half-wrong in her advice to him.
Even if half-wrong, had Leo followed it, Team 1 would’ve had a better outcome.
‘Is that what caught their eye? No… Other students could’ve inferred that much.’
This definitely wasn’t it.
There had to be another reason.
Without further explanation, the school wrapped up the announcement as soon as the footage ended.
[Objections will be handled by the Imperial First Academy Student Military Corps Administration Office. From Student Lucas Ascanien to Student Heike Ainsidel, we send our congratulations to these seven students with the highest scores. As the faces of the Imperial Second Academy, please devote yourselves to the safety of the imperial subjects henceforth. This concludes the 2nd Year Team 1 announcement.]
“Hah, wait….”
Amid applause loud enough to ring in my ears, bewildered mutterings could be heard.
The professor began calling Team 2.
[Now, 2nd Year Team 2, 8th place. Auguste Rosenheim.]
Familiar names followed in succession.
Melvin Clokner, Hildegaard Blomberg, Philip Garing, Oswald Schmidt, Gunther Bock.
Melvin looked half-dead the moment Philip’s name was called for the same team. I did my best to ignore the ominous aura emanating from Melvin behind me as I waited for the announcement to end.
Florian was in Team 3.
After the 2nd-year announcements wrapped up, 1st Year Teams 1 through 3 were revealed.
Adelbert’s final ranking was 2nd.
Back in the audience, while Elias stared at his cousin with a bored face instead of clapping, I cheered for him.
Adelbert, who had been rigid with tension, smiled faintly and wiggled his fingertips.
“Adelbert’s waving at you, Luca~”
“I saw.”
“You two aren’t getting too close, are you?”
“Really? It’d be good if we did.”
“Ah, no. You can’t get friendly with guys like that. Among the Hohenzollerns, play only with me~”
Elias draped an arm over my shoulder and leaned in from both sides.
Guys like that? I needed to watch out for the eldest more. Even if that eldest was trying to get friendly with me.
I brushed it off with a laugh, and Elias smiled, changing the subject.
“You know we’re getting new dorms now? And custom uniforms instead of the standard ones.”
“Wow, where’d you hear that~?”
Narke, sitting next to me, lit up.
“Imperial First Academy Student Military Corps Administration Office. They already have a cadet corps there.”
“Hmm… What a waste of resources. For all teams?”
“Hahaha! Not sure about that, but it’s definitely wasteful. They’re copying the imperial mages. It’s still just a school, though.”
Indeed.
The mage unit my brother belonged to was also under the imperial household.
The finest mages operated bound by the emperor’s name.
Joining under the imperial banner was an unparalleled promotion and honor for a mage. Not for me, of course, but that’s the general view. That’s why everyone goes to university.
Naturally, the Imperial Second Academy Student Military Corps belonged to the school, not the imperial household.
Even the Imperial First Academy wasn’t imperial.
“So… what do you think about Heike?”
Elias cast a soundproof spell around Narke and me as he spoke.
It was the topic I’d been mulling since the school steamrolled all the protests.
“Feels off. You think so too, right, Luca?”
“…….”
I nodded.
The school’s excuse didn’t quite land.
Heike’s unique ability highly useful in the field?
Same for Auguste. And what about Philip and Oswald?
Why did the school have to force Heike into Team 1 with such a flimsy excuse? Why Team 1 specifically, not Team 2? And why Heike ‘Ainsidel’ of all people?
Narke, seated beside me, murmured softly.
“I don’t think it’s natural either.”
“…….”
“But… let’s stay vigilant without making it obvious. Heike seems genuinely confused and doesn’t know anything.”
Right. Heike had looked unusually downcast from the open criticism, and now she was slumped far back in the rear row.
No one could stay composed after facing the jeers of 1,500 people—maybe not full jeers, but enough to feel that way to her.
‘If even Narke says so… No point pushing Heike and getting nothing out of it, so better soothe her for now.’
[…This concludes the final announcement for the Imperial Second Academy Student Military Corps 1st Cohort.]
“Hey, is it over now?!”
Elias, fidgety as ever, prepared to bolt from his seat.
Even after the announcement, leaving would require going through all sorts of lengthy procedures.
In this tense announcement hall, since he’d been a shoo-in for Team 1, he hadn’t seemed particularly nervous. Same for me and the other friends.
‘Everyone looks like they just finished a chore.’
While Teams 2 and 3 wore faces of narrow escape.
[Finally, we will announce the representative mage team for the Imperial Second Academy Student Military Corps 1st Cohort.]
“Huh?”
“…Hm?”
Elias, who’d been gripping the armrests ready to dash, slyly planted his butt back in the seat.
[Today, nine mage teams have been born here. Our faculty has selected, from these nine based on the comprehensive results of the first through third exams, the team with the qualities and capabilities to represent the Imperial Second Academy and its foundation.]
“Why do that?”
Even as he said it, Elias’s gaze was fixed intently on the host.
Yulia and Leo, who’d looked slightly flustered, were the same.
Far off, my eyes met those of the third-year selectees. Lichtofen stared at us impassively before turning away.
The host stepped to the center of the stage, glanced at the paper in hand, and addressed the audience.
[2nd Year Team 1, the Imperial Second Academy Representative Team.]
“…….”
A staff member in the aisle gestured for us to come up.
Surprisingly, Elias—who’d seemed ready to flee the hall—was the first to stand and head to the stage.
As Leo led the newly formed team members up, I went to the back row, dragged the half-dead Heike along, and brought her up to the stage.
Confirming everyone in place, the professor addressed us.
[Though all years took the same exam, no other team achieved the highest results in such a short time. The meticulous strategy and actions you showed our faculty during the exam could not have been possible without your ceaseless effort, patience, and dedication. With your exceptional knowledge and outstanding capabilities, you will wisely navigate any challenges ahead.]
Where do they dig up such sleep-inducing platitudes?
As I thought that, the professor looked at me.
[Student Lucas Ascanien.]
“Yes.”
[Despite learning magic in the shortest time, you led your team to victory and cleared the exam in the fastest time across all years. We at the Imperial Second Academy have no doubt you will grow into a mage who honors not only our academy but the Empire and the imperial household.]
“…Thank you, Professor.”
Even honoring the imperial household?
I smiled as I thought that.
[Accordingly, our foundation wishes to entrust the representative position for the Imperial Second Academy Representative Team to Student Ascanien.]
“…….”
Hm?
My teammates’ gazes snapped to me.
Not just them. Caught off-guard, I slowly opened my mouth, aware of the 1,500 stares and the faint shutter clicks from the Imperial Gazette cameras.
“I sincerely thank you for this honorable proposal.”
Meeting the professor’s eyes, I continued.
“But I’d like to pass this opportunity to another student. I believe Leonard, who has led our friends for far longer than I, can lead 2nd Year Team 1 even more excellently.”
“…….”
[Student Leonard, what are your thoughts?]
Leo glanced at me and nodded.
“I’ll follow my teammates’ opinions.”
“I agree.”
Elias jumped in quickly.
It was as if he feared the awkward role would fall to him.
“The other teammates will feel the same. Right?”
“Yes.”
“Of course.”
Ulrike and Cheringen nodded in agreement. The other students looked at the professor as if to say, why even ask—they obviously wanted Leo.
Leo wore an ambiguous smile for some reason, but since it was routine for him, he didn’t seem opposed.
Satisfied with the scene, I looked back at the professor.
‘Good.’
Dodged a bullet….
Representative? Better to foist such annoyances on someone else.
[Very well. From now on, Student Leonard Wittelsbach shall represent 2nd Year Team 1. Please strive for your team.]
“Yes, I will.”
[Next….]
Not over yet.
I emptied my mind and stared into space.
Then, the professor dropped an unexpected bombshell.
[After this long exam, you are now positioned to greatly contribute to your futures and the Empire. We will now announce the name of the representative team that represents our school and safeguards the Empire’s safety.]
“…?”
I exchanged glances with my teammates.
I’d been surprised they were picking a representative team, but naming it too? Sure, they needed a proper name, but this hastily?
‘…Is there something they didn’t tell us?’
They wouldn’t waste effort on frivolities.
As such suspicions arose, the professor switched her wand to a staff and lightly tapped the floor.
In the same style as before, golden letters inscribed in cursive in the air.
[Eszett]
“…?!”
“Wha?”
My friends’ faces were a sight. Probably everyone in the audience was the same.
Even I had to suppress a hollow laugh.
Eszett, ß.
A letter unique to the German alphabet.
‘What kind of naming sense is this?’
It sounded like saying, “From now on, your team name is ‘ssangsi’.”
Of course, the pronunciation wasn’t bad even to us, but the initial shock was unavoidable.
[This is a unique letter used only in our language sphere. We named it so with the hope that 2nd Year Team 1, representing our school, becomes a one-of-a-kind entity worldwide.]
“Who’s gonna ask why they had to pour that into it?”
Elias used a soundproof spell and ventriloquy.
Ignoring his nonsense, I stared vacantly at the letters.
‘Why a team name in the first place….’
Right, as I thought earlier, we couldn’t keep calling them 2nd Year Team 1, Team 2 forever.
Special mage teams in the imperial household and Bavaria had names alongside numbers. Likewise, my brother’s team had one.
‘The school means to treat us properly.’
19 out of 100. And 7 among them.
Makes sense after such a grueling exam.
The moment I thought that, I heard something unbelievable again.
[As of February 10th, Eszett will transition from belonging to the Imperial Second Academy to direct imperial household affiliation.]