Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Academy Festival (3)
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“Are you truly prepared?”
In response to the Duke's question, Leah quietly nodded her head.
Viscount Belmond threw a glance in her direction.
She certainly seemed much calmer.
She used to have a much more mischievous air about her.
There had been more than one or two occasions where I thought this young lady would never grow up.
Like when she was chased off to the monastery by her father, Duke Dresel's, orders.
In fact, most of the retainers had said the same thing in unison.
'I knew this would happen.'
Hadn't she assaulted a commoner and disrupted a plaza concert, ultimately moving even the Crown Princess herself?
Even if she had the backing of the Dresel Duchy, one of the capital's leading families, there were lines that had to be maintained.
Leah was a girl who didn't know that.
She had an undeniable tendency to run wild, using her status.
But now.
'Something seems to have changed.'
The problem child who had caused trouble in so many ways had returned with a completely different appearance.
Was it only now that she was becoming aware of the disappointment and distrust she must have caused her father, his retainers, and everyone else who knew her name?
Her eyes were resolute, and her expression showed her will.
“If you would just give me one last chance, I won't mess it up. I promise.”
Leah bowed her head low and made her request to the Duke.
The Duke let out a quiet sigh.
A chance?
Who was he to grant a chance?
“When you meet Erdi, ask him again.”
If she wanted forgiveness, she should get it from Erdi.
He could only leave the decision to him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“So today is finally the exam.”
Victor, walking alongside me in the hallway, said with a smile.
“Are you that happy about it?”
“Of course. Though not the exam itself, but the festival that will follow.”
“Ah.”
He had taken on the role of guiding the guests visiting from afar, explaining the Academy and leading them to the event venue.
Naturally, he had volunteered for the task himself.
“That said, don't get too carried away in front of the students.”
“I know.”
At my concern, Victor's expression changed in an instant.
Was he practicing his acting lately?
He was truly methodical.
“Well then.”
Since our classrooms were different, we parted ways in the middle of the hallway.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“I will now distribute the exam papers.”
At my words, each student stood up and took the paper I handed out.
“You will each receive three sheets. Please check that none are missing.”
After a bit of preparation had finished.
I rang the bell.
The students lowered their heads in unison.
The hall was filled only with the faint scratching of pens.
“Anyone who finishes first may submit their paper and leave.”
Of course, speed is not part of the evaluation.
What matters is how many questions you get right.
How accurately you write down the answers.
In fact, for this theoretical exam, which was meant to intimidate the students, it was quite easy by my standards.
How to read notes and rests.
The order of the basic musical scale.
Key signatures, intervals, and the basics of harmony and analysis.
If this were modern Earth, it would be on the level of an elementary school pop quiz.
Of course, it wasn't like that from start to finish.
I had mixed in some difficult questions here and there.
For example, questions on understanding diminished and augmented intervals.
'What is the note a diminished fifth below A?'
'And what is the note an augmented fourth above it?'
The answer to both is D-sharp.
It's a question to see if they know the half-step intervals well and can correctly understand and apply the concepts of diminished and augmented intervals.
Someone might say even this is a joke, but.
This is the basic class, isn't it?
This is plenty appropriate.
As expected.
Diana, or rather Erdi, who had been receiving one-on-one lessons from me for a while, was clutching her exam paper for over 20 minutes.
Well, of course.
Even if you know the knowledge well in your daily life, the moment the word "exam" is attached, it tends to vanish from your memory.
Practice and the real thing are different.
I wonder who will be the first to submit their answer sheet and leave the classroom.
Just as I was thinking that, one person stood up from their seat and strode toward me.
Selena Winter.
She wasn't the only one.
A few other students followed her lead.
'Please leave quietly so you don't disturb the others.'
'Yes.'
After exchanging those whispered words, I immediately checked her paper.
I wonder if her score is as high as her speed.
'...She made a mistake on the very first question.'
A question asking for the precise name of a note.
I had placed it at the front, thinking it was the easiest.
But looking at the subsequent questions, she got them all right, so it must have been a simple mistake.
Overall, she had about three wrong answers.
Unfortunately, not a perfect score.
But a very high score nonetheless.
The students who submitted their papers after Selena had similar scores.
It makes me happy to see that they all studied diligently.
I'm quite satisfied.
A little while later.
Everyone had finished the exam and left the classroom.
It took exactly 40 minutes.
After neatly organizing the answer sheets, I headed for the break room.
I was planning to grade them with Victor.
“How was the atmosphere on your side?”
He asked me.
“It seemed like everyone was trying pretty hard.”
“It was similar for us.”
The second part of the exam would be held after lunch.
We had plenty of time, so we took our time, looking over each problem one by one and checking the answers.
We couldn't afford to make any mistakes.
“...Checking hundreds of exam papers at once is a bit tiring.”
“Let's look at the rest again this evening.”
By the time we had finished about half, it was lunchtime.
After a simple meal in the cafeteria, we went back into the classroom.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Huuuuh...”
The second exam was a random musical score performance evaluation.
It was conducted by having students come out one by one, play a piece, and having me grade them on the spot.
By the time it was over, it was already evening.
Not only the students who took the exam, but even Victor and I, who had just been sitting still, were completely exhausted.
“Let's split it over two days next time.”
Victor said, slumped on the sofa.
I understand it's tough, but.
“We can't do that. The exam must be taken by everyone at the same time and in the same space.”
That's the only way to guarantee even a sliver of fairness.
The only saving grace is.
Since I said the results would be announced after the festival, there's no real rush to organize them.
There couldn't be a rush anyway.
The problem is that there's no internet.
We have to check each one by hand and circle the score.
“Well, either way, it went well.”
I was worried that with the festival starting right after, they might get too excited and make mistakes, but.
Everyone showed skill beyond my expectations.
If this keeps up, I could probably raise the difficulty of my lectures significantly in the second semester.
“By the way, what about selecting the students for the festival stage?”
This time, I asked Victor.
“We haven't even started the selection process yet. There are over sixty applicants.”
“...”
Well, I expected as much.
“We can't send them all up, so we'll narrow it down to about ten for now.”
“I'm counting on you.”
He agreed to handle that part for me.
I have far too much else to do.
In any case, I'm busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Five days passed that way.
On a day just before summer was to arrive.
The festival everyone had been anticipating and waiting for finally began.
“...What is all this?”
To prepare for the crowds, I didn't return to the mansion yesterday and stayed at the Academy.
I couldn't afford to get stuck in traffic on my way to work.
Traffic jams exist in this other world, too.
Though it's with carriages instead of cars.
Anyway.
As soon as I woke up, I opened the window to check outside.
'This looks like even more people than the plaza concert...'
This festival was planned not just for Academy students, but for outsiders to visit and enjoy as well.
In other words, they advertised that anyone who wanted to come was welcome.
But I never thought it would actually happen like this.
I quickly got dressed and went outside.
“Good morning, Professor.”
“Hello, Professor.”
I ran into students who were already out at the event grounds.
After a brief greeting, I walked toward the entrance.
The benches and tents that Hugo and his guild members had set up were already packed with people who had arrived early.
The stalls and shops lined up in front of the buildings seemed to have already started their business.
“Wild boar skewers you can only taste today! Just one silver coin!”
The owner of a restaurant I often saw while touring my father's territory stood on a wooden box and shouted, and a crowd of people swarmed him.
'I can't resist wild boar skewers.'
And for just one silver coin, too.
That's a very reasonable price.
It seems they've decided to sell a lot for cheap rather than a little for expensive.
'Seems like things are getting started over here, too.'
Academy staff are out here and there, managing things, so there shouldn't be any major problems.
First, I headed for the theater to meet Edward.
“You've arrived?”
Edward greeted me warmly as soon as he saw me.
“Did you see all the people outside?”
“I saw them.”
But how can he be so calm about it?
I can confidently say I've seen large crowds at theaters, the Academy, and concerts, but today was a completely different world.
To be honest, even at the Imperial Knights' departure ceremony, there weren't this many people.
“Isn't that only natural? The rumor has spread that His Majesty the Emperor will be visiting tomorrow. Everyone must have come early to wait.”
“...What?”
This is the first I'm hearing of this.
“Wait, Edward, did you send an invitation to the Imperial Family?”
“Yes.”
“Why on earth did you do that?”
“You're asking a strange question. It's an event being held at the Imperial Capital Academy. Isn't it only natural?”
“I suppose so.”
Anyway, I had delegated the matter of invitations to Edward.
That meant I had given him full authority.
If the Emperor is visiting personally, the Crown Princess Elise will surely be accompanying him.
I wonder if I'll get to see Ruhan again, too.
I don't know about that part.
“Ah, shoot.”
“What is it?”
A sudden, ominous feeling washed over me.