Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Entering the Academy
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"Over there! Set that luggage down right here!"
"Careful! You almost spilled it!"
"S-Sorry."
Time flew by like that, and Elric's academy enrollment day arrived.
'See you at the academy, Elric. Don't slack on your training in the meantime.'
'Elric, if anyone so much as lays a finger on you, I won't let them get away with it? Both of you, heh.'
Joel and Silua, Elric's older siblings and academy upperclassmen, had left early. Unlike the freshmen, second- through fourth-years entered earlier, or so they'd said.
"Hoo..."
Elric pressed one hand firmly against his head. His scalp throbbed from the relentless abuse of the past month and a half.
Still, skimping on sleep to study nonstop had paid off, at least a little. He hadn't grasped everything, but he could recite it all convincingly enough now.
No matter how he thought about it, Elric pondered his memory and cognitive abilities, which seemed to have skyrocketed.
'Did possessing a genius's body boost my intellect too?'
Whatever the reason, it was welcome news. With Yeo Si-un's original brainpower, let alone a month and a half—even a year and a half wouldn't have been enough to memorize it all.
In a way, he owed this to 'Elric.' The thought drew a hollow chuckle from deep inside him.
'Owe him? If I hadn't possessed him, none of this would've happened in the first place.'
No, that wasn't right. He did owe 'Elric' a lot. The guy had anticipated the possession and prepared for so many things.
Whew, yeah. After a month and a half of physical and mental torment, he was getting too sharp. Elric shook his head to clear the stray thoughts.
"Elric."
Elric, mid-head-shake, turned toward the familiar voice calling him.
"Mother."
Celest Raishion, 'Elric's mother and the only normal one in this household, smiled brightly behind him.
"You're a Houser Academy student now too."
Elric nodded faintly at her words.
Houser Academy.
The backdrop where most of the events in My Goal is to Graduate as a Warrior from the Academy took place.
And the place where he'd have to play the genius role most intensely—while also potentially holding the key to unraveling the possession mystery.
Elric's insides twisted. He didn't want to go because he had to act like a genius, but he had to go to learn more about why he'd possessed this body, and to do that, he had to act like a genius...
He shook his head again to dispel the looping thoughts. Celest chuckled at the sight.
"Oh my, Elric, what's wrong? Nervous?"
"...I have some unfinished research."
A month and a half of hell had made even the 'Elric' act second nature. He wasn't a true genius, but he could talk like one.
"Hohoho. At the academy, you can pursue whatever research you want to your heart's content. Just bear with it a little longer."
Her words only deepened his anxiety. Research to his heart's content? How much brainpower would he have to burn there?
Speaking of which, Celest was here, but where was Techel? Elric glanced at the mansion.
Up until today, Joel and Silua had drilled him daily, and Celest had dropped by for chats now and then.
But Techel hadn't made a single appearance. Not once had they crossed paths.
That left Elric's thoughts on him even more muddled.
What kind of man was he? What kept him so busy that he couldn't even show his face when his son was leaving for a year?
Did he lack attachment to 'Elric'? That might be for the best. It'd mean Elric could let his guard down a bit around him.
"Young Master, everything's ready."
A servant approached him then. Elric nodded and bowed politely to Celest.
"Then, I'll be off, Mother."
"Hee hee, alright. Take care of yourself, and have fun at the academy."
"Yes."
With that simple farewell, Elric departed.
Left alone, Celest watched his carriage pull away with a smile before turning back into the mansion.
...There sure are a ton of people.
Elric peered out the carriage window at the academy grounds, which they'd reached in the blink of an eye. Teleportation magic had made the trip instantaneous.
"Young Master, we've arrived at Houser Academy."
"...I'll get out."
Elric closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
The academy. A den of real geniuses where his fake-genius act could unravel at any moment.
He had to be extra careful. His heart pounded with dread.
A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes and stepped out.
Several nearby gazes turned his way. Elric tensed instinctively.
But the stares didn't linger. They soon turned back to their groups, resuming conversations.
Only then did Elric relax and survey his surroundings.
And he was awestruck by the academy's grandeur.
Towering, antique buildings. A massive, ornate main gate. People of all sorts walking, running, even flying through it. Lavish carriages everywhere.
It was all new to Elric.
And exactly as described in the novel.
Seeing the story he'd enjoyed so much come alive filled him with overwhelming emotion. He stared blankly ahead, forgetting to breathe.
"...Young Master?"
The servant cautiously called out to Elric, who'd stood frozen for a while, finally snapping him out of it. His mind was still hazy.
Ha, haha...
Until moments ago, his head had been full of worries. Could he keep up the 'Elric' act? Pull off the genius cosplay among real prodigies? Hold a proper conversation with Professor Kuina Rosly?
But all those thoughts crumbled the instant he laid eyes on the real academy. In their place surged awe and exhilaration.
I'm here... in this place...
At the real Houser Academy.
For a reader who'd loved the novel, it was an indescribable sense of fulfillment.
"Let's go."
"Y-Yes!"
Elric forced down his surging emotions and spoke in a flat tone. The servants, sensing a subtle shift in their master's demeanor, hurried after him.
And so, Elric set foot inside Houser Academy.
Whoa...
Looking around, Elric suppressed an exclamation. The interior was even more impressive than the outside.
Yeah, this kind of thrill makes it worth it. Otherwise, I'd die of resentment.
Stepping into his favorite novel and experiencing it firsthand—an incredible adventure. The satisfaction it brought.
Without this, he'd have buckled under the stress of this cursed situation long ago.
The servant, who kept glancing at his unusually distracted master today, led the way. Elric followed discreetly, taking in the sights without drawing attention.
Soon, they reached the admissions office.
"Elric Raishion, second son of the Raishion Ducal House of the Sisly Empire. Here for enrollment."
"Ah, yes. Please wait a moment."
The staffer's attitude was exceedingly polite. Even as a servant, he was from a ducal house—far beyond what commoners could aspire to.
"Elric Raishion, top of the 372nd Houser Academy freshman class, confirmed. Proceed to the auditorium. Here's the map."
Huh? Top of the class?
Come to think of it, the academy's first episode was the freshman oath. And as the genius protagonist, Elric was valedictorian.
...At the enrollment ceremony oath... ah.
Mid-recall of other events beyond the oath, something hit him.
His face paled.
"Young Master, they said to go to the auditorium. This way."
"...Got it."
Elric followed the servant in a daze. For a different reason this time.
At the enrollment ceremony oath...
I have to fight a professor!
That's right.
Houser Academy's tradition-that-wasn't-a-tradition: the freshman top student's challenge.
A duel between the top freshman and a professor.
In front of everyone!
Ha...
Elric's vision darkened.
He staggered forward, half out of his mind.
"Principal, the top freshman has arrived. We just got the call."
In a vast room cluttered with haphazard papers, a man spoke up.
Moments later, pop—a face emerged from the pile. Light green hair in twin tails swayed. Pink eyes sparkling like star-flecked gems blinked.
"Oh? Who is it?"
"Elric Raishion, second son of the Sisly Empire's Raishion Ducal House. Magic department freshman."
"Hmm~ Elric Raishion? That one?"
"Yes, exactly."
The man answered the contextless question effortlessly. The principal's lips curved into a smile from amid the papers.
"Since it's magic department, I'll send Asel—"
"No."
The principal flicked her hand, levitating herself. Floating in midair, she continued.
"I'll go myself."
"...Pardon?"
The man across from her wore a look of utter disbelief.
"It's that Elric Raishion. Now I want to check him out myself."
"But..."
"Ahh, I'm curious. What kind of guy is he?"
The principal's eyes gleamed with interest.
Too late. When her eyes sparkled like that, no one could stop her. The man sighed softly.
"Understood."
"Hee hee~"
The principal grinned.
In an instant, her figure vanished.
Left alone, the man rubbed his forehead.
"Please go easy on him, Principal..."
Words lost to the void.
"Young Master, this is the auditorium."
"Right."
Wow...
True to its reputation, the auditorium was massive. Elric gazed in admiration at the packed hall that still had plenty of space left.
"Where's the magic department?"
"Ah, over there..."
"Hi?"
Suddenly, a girl from the side called out to Elric. He turned with a puzzled look.
A girl a head shorter than him peered up with sparkling eyes.
"Nice to meet you! Freshman this year?"
"...Yeah."
"Whoa! Me too. I'm Nihe Pruna. Magic department."
"Elric Raishion. Magic department."
Elric gave a curt introduction. Nihe beamed and thrust out her right hand.
"Same department! Nice to meet you! Let's be friends!"
Elric nodded lightly and shook her hand. Nihe spoke in an excited tone.
"Hey, what field are you into? I'm..."
Chattering nonstop beside the silent Elric, she walked with bouncy steps.
Her light green twin tails swayed with each stride.