Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: To the Academy (1)
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The mirror reflected a young man with black hair and a pristine white academy uniform neatly fitted to his frame.
"Wearing an academy uniform at my age feels so damn repulsive."
In his previous life, he had been a college graduate who no longer wore uniforms, and here, he had holed up in his room like a shut-in, so formal clothes like this felt incredibly uncomfortable.
Even if he looked young, his actual age was what it was, so the awkwardness was unavoidable.
"Come on, it suits you perfectly, though?"
Cecilia praised him as she tied his necktie.
Indeed, her habit of praising her master no matter the situation made her the epitome of a devoted slave.
'Bergil or Freya would probably call an old fogey like me senile.'
Even he would call someone over a hundred years old crazy for going back to school.
And not just any old person, but one who had been the world's best in their field.
'What can I do? This is the best way for me to get comfortable.'
As he had said before, the reason for going to the academy wasn't because he wanted to relive his youth at this age.
For starters, since the game's main stage was the academy, being there made it easier to resolve the main storyline.
Most of the key characters like the protagonist and heroines were at the academy, so recruiting and nurturing them would be far simpler as a fellow student.
Either way, the benefits of becoming an academy student outweighed those of an outsider.
'Now that I think about it, Cecilia's a sub-heroine too.'
He watched Cecilia tidy her own clothes after tying his necktie.
Her pure white uniform, flowing golden hair, and emerald-like green eyes.
She was thrilled at the fact that she was now attending the academy with him.
"You seem really happy about it."
"Of course...! The academy of all places!? A country elf like me could never dream of attending normally!"
"Fair enough."
The empire's academy was the continent's top educational institution.
As such, without high status, overwhelming talent, or a special background, getting in was incredibly difficult.
That meant a rural elf like Cecilia originally wouldn't have stood a chance.
'Well, in the original story, she does come to the academy.'
Just not as a student, but as a servant to some noble pig.
"And I'm a slave... I thought places like the academy would just remain a dream. But now I get to go with you...!!"
Cecilia's eyes turned to him.
Her gaze brimmed with genuine joy and overwhelming gratitude.
Since he had always planned to bring her along, it felt a bit burdensome.
"Don't stare like that. It's embarrassing."
"Hehe... It's just a look of thanks, nothing more."
He wanted to say the thanks was a bit too intense.
"Anyway, enrollment aside, classes depend on personal ability. You know that, right?"
"Yes!"
The academy's classes ranged from A to F, serving as indicators of a student's capabilities.
From current skill level to talent and future potential.
It measured everything and assigned a value accordingly.
Naturally, his goal was A-Class.
That was where the protagonist and heroines were concentrated.
Though... according to Bergil, it wasn't so much elite treatment as a place to corral all the dangerous types?
Like segregating hazardous materials.
The more talented someone was, the more likely they had issues elsewhere.
'In the game, they probably just lumped them together for easier plot progression.'
Either way, his target was A-Class.
"Cecilia, what class do you think you'll end up in?"
"Hmm... Probably F? I don't have any standout abilities."
Indeed, without awakening her spirit arts, Cecilia was like a bladeless sword right now.
"I bet you'll make A-Class."
"Huh?"
"Just a feeling."
In the game, Cecilia wasn't a student, so it was unknown, but academy classes weren't based solely on current prowess.
Current ability was just part of the criteria.
As mentioned earlier, exceptional untapped talent could land someone in A-Class.
Untapped genius was merely an unpolished gemstone.
Not worthless, just its value unseen.
"Hehe, even empty words like that mean a lot."
Cecilia smiled vacantly as she finished dressing.
But it wasn't empty words at all.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The long-awaited academy entrance ceremony day arrived.
After dozing off with his head on Cecilia's shoulder, the boring ceremony ended, and the aptitude test was right around the corner.
"Master...! Even so, sleeping so openly like that!?"
"It's fine. Totally fine. No issues even if I sleep."
The academy dean was his junior, after all.
No matter her new student status, if she caused a scene, she'd be the one in trouble.
Even without him saying anything, her master would tear her apart.
'Speaking of which, I wonder what she's up to now.'
Thinking of Freya brought her master, the former Frost Star, to mind.
A hot-blooded guy by personality, yet titled Frost Star—what a weirdo.
Loved summer more than winter despite using ice magic.
Apparently traveling somewhere in the eastern continent now.
"Next, number 1000 for testing. Come forward."
As he spaced out, he heard Cecilia's number called.
"Yes, coming!!"
She told him she'd be right back and hurried off with quick steps.
He blankly watched her take the test.
'Three tests or so, from what I can tell.'
Roughly gauging by eye: one for talent, one for current ability.
And one for future potential.
A total of three categories.
"Number 1004, please step forward for testing."
Lost in thought for a moment, he heard the instructor call his number.
An artificially stern voice.
Just like the drill instructors from elementary school retreats.
"Test number 1004, Yuri Karyam?"
"Yes."
"...Your major is swordsmanship, correct?"
He nodded silently at the instructor's double-check.
Old age made him sleepy, leaving his mind a bit foggy.
"Alright, we'll start with talent measurement."
A man in white robes next to the instructor began sticking something all over his body.
A sticky liquid seeping into his skin—like stickers or gum.
Whatever it was, it felt disgusting.
He desperately wanted to draw his sword and slaughter them all.
Suppressing the urge, he cooperated with the test.
Suddenly, he recalled a conversation with Freya.
"Senior, you know this, but go easy. Easy. Got it?"
"I know. I'm not crazy enough to go all out there. I'll take it easy. Easy."
"...That's why I'm saying it—your 'easy' isn't the normal 'easy'..."
Freya had sighed deeply.
Yeah, she told him to take it easy. With everything.
"Now, flex your arm once."
The man's voice.
He reflexively tensed his arm.
Crack-grind!!
"...Huh?"
"Huh?"
Something from his arm sounded like it shouldn't. Imagination?
"...Now your leg."
"Yes."
Thud-crunch...!!
He accidentally put too much force, denting the ground.
"...We'll conclude this measurement here."
The examiner scribbled something on paper.
Not a great feeling, but he went full power, so it should be fine.
"Now, swordsmanship evaluation."
As he shook out his stiff body, the instructor grinned and offered a wooden sword.
"Swordsmanship evaluation?"
Evaluation. He couldn't remember the last time someone judged his sword.
Who would've thought the day would come again.
As a swordsman, it didn't feel bad.
"Go ahead and slash that straw dummy over there."
The instructor pointed at a straw dummy.
He assumed the most textbook basic stance.
The fundamental single vertical slash.
One of the Three Core Sword Forms, the basics of swordsmanship.
Whoosh!!
No flair, no waver—a straight wooden sword stroke.
A perfectly steady strike.
The dummy split cleanly.
'Pretty satisfying.'
As he smiled in satisfaction at the cleaved dummy.
The instructor's expression soured.
"Tch... That's it? No sword school techniques or anything?"
His face screamed poor evaluation.
Even so, Freya and Bergil's influence would get him A-Class, but it grated.
He wanted to earn it himself.
"Want to try slashing once more?"
The instructor suggested another go.
At those words, he unleashed without restraint.
"Hraaaaaah!!! Heaven Cleaver!!!!!!!"
To secure an A-Class evaluation for sure.
To cleave the dummy even more stylishly.
And he rent the dummy—and the sky—apart.