Chapter 16: Anyway, I'll Serve You Awesomely (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 16: Anyway, I'll Serve You Awesomely (5)
Day 1 of the Academy exams. Morning.
“Adam, did you study?”
Prince Ellen asked, noting my confident expression.
Did I study?
“I’m perfectly prepared for the exams.”
I was reincarnated from a world where private education started in kindergarten. A world where twelve years of elementary, middle, and high school were the baseline, followed by university as a standard.
Because of that, I knew what was important better than anyone else.
“The Swordsmanship Department places a higher weight on practical scores.”
The grading for our department was 30% theory and 70% practical. That meant as long as I aced the practicals, it didn't matter if my theory scores were absolute trash—I’d still graduate without a hitch.
“…So you didn’t study.”
“Why would I?”
It was a matter of selection and concentration.
It wasn’t like I was trying to get good grades at the Imperial Academy to land a job. I was already part of the Leon Royal Family—a top-tier conglomerate among conglomerates. As long as my grades weren't bad enough to get me held back or expelled, I was fine.
And besides, I didn't even have time to study.
It was common sense that incidents always occurred during Academy events. For the sake of this damn RoFan Male Lead’s daily life, a royal laborer like me was destined to be worked to the bone.
“It’s only natural for a student to study.”
“…That’s for normal students. What’s the point of getting good grades at the Imperial Academy anyway? Are you planning to abandon the Kingdom and get a job in the Empire?”
I just said it in passing, but I couldn't help but pause for a moment.
Now that I thought about it, didn't this guy wander around the Empire instead of returning to the Kingdom after graduation?
“Why… why are you looking at me like that?”
Seeing him flustered made him look even more suspicious. Maybe I should submit a formal opinion to the Royal Family suggesting he be recalled to the home country, using the Academy terror attacks as an excuse.
“I’m just telling you to do well on your exams.”
“Your face says otherwise.”
If you know that, then do better.
I couldn't bring myself to say that out loud, so I headed toward the lecture hall. Prince Ellen followed close behind, insisting we go together.
A short while later, the exam began.
I received the test paper.
“Hmm.”
I felt a brief moment of despair looking at a paper filled entirely with subjective questions rather than multiple choice. However, with the mindset that anything was better than a zero, I scribbled down the most plausible-sounding answers I could muster.
It wasn't that I hadn't studied at all; I had actually paid a decent amount of attention in class. I knew the answer to roughly one out of every three questions, and I could wing it on one of the remaining two.
I wondered if they gave partial credit. Not that it really mattered.
By the time the three subjects were over, the day had ended. The next day was much the same.
Then came Day 3 of the exams.
Just as the theory exams were finishing and the practical-heavy tests were about to begin—
BOOM!
With a thunderous explosion, plumes of gray smoke began to rise from the far side of the Academy.
“Did the Magic Department mess up again?”
The professors’ reactions were along the lines of, ‘There they go again.’
Apparently, such accidents were common during Magic Department exams. However, since I already knew an attack on the Academy was coming, I had to react.
“I wonder if Daisy is okay?”
To think the first thing he does upon hearing about an accident in the Magic Department is worry about the RoFan Female Lead. He’s fallen for her hard.
“You look like you’re about to run over there right now.”
“…No way.”
This punk actually hesitated for a second.
He muttered that he wouldn't do something like that during exam hours while subtly averting his gaze. I had a feeling that if I told him this wasn't an accident but a deliberate incident, he’d bolt immediately.
“Don't worry too much. If it’s a Magic Department exam, Violet and the Prince of Dale are there, aren't they?”
“……”
He nodded at Violet’s name, but his pout at the mention of the Prince of Dale was incredibly transparent.
“Why don't you just transfer to the Magic Department next year instead of Swordsmanship?”
“Should I?”
I wondered what kind of nonsense he was spouting, but then again, it did seem like this guy had nothing left to learn in the Swordsmanship Department. The only real advantage of being there was the presence of the Sword Emperor, but there wasn't much difference between the time spent learning in class and the time spent in the club.
Wouldn't it be more academically beneficial to go to the Magic Department and learn how to counter magic?
“…Still, the Leon Kingdom has its pride to maintain.”
The thought crossed my mind for a moment, but I quickly snapped out of it. A Prince of Leon becoming a Magic Spammer? If that happened, I might be recalled to the Royal Family immediately for professional negligence as an instructor.
“I was joking.”
How long has it been since we met? I could bet my annual salary as an instructor that this guy was seriously considering it.
“But why are you here? Isn't it almost your turn?”
“I have a little time left.”
No matter how much stronger Prince Ellen was than me, it was my mission to protect him. In the first place, our King was a Sword Master, and the King of Dale was a powerhouse who had reached the level of Archmage. Even such powerful figures, once they held the title of King, were escorted by Royal Guards weaker than themselves whenever they moved.
So.
“It’s an attack!”
At that shout, I grabbed the wrist of Prince Ellen, who was about to leap forward. This guy is a Prince; he should be thinking about being protected during an attack. Look at him trying to charge straight in.
“They said it’s an attack.”
His eyes were burning with an intense fire. He looked ready to sprint to Daisy this very instant.
“I heard.”
“I have to go.”
“Going will only make things worse. A good student should listen to the professors and stay put.”
“Daisy might be in danger.”
“It’s a Magic Department exam. There are several high-ranking mages there, including the former White Tower Master. Even the assistant professors there are considered mid-ranking at the very least.”
That force alone was stronger than the Leon Kingdom’s Royal Mage Corps. Even if the Leon Kingdom was practically a magic-free zone, the Royal Mage Corps wasn't exactly a group of lightweights.
“I-Is that so?”
“Yes. It’ll be a disaster if we get separated and you end up as a hostage.”
If it were Prince Ellen, he’d probably be the one taking the terrorists hostage, but it wouldn't be good to give him unnecessary information while trying to persuade him. Still, just in case, I prepared to plant my feet firmly.
The technique known as the Thousand-Pound Weight!
“Asran!”
…I was about to cast it, but one of the other RoFan Male Leads burst out of the classroom and sprinted away.
“Hup!”
Seeing that, our Prince, the other RoFan Male Lead, also bolted.
“Huh?”
While still dragging me along by the arm I was holding.
Did I somehow learn flight magic?
I was dumbfounded as I flew through the air at a right angle, still gripping Prince Ellen’s arm. I know this is a fantasy world, but still. To experience a scene that wouldn't even show up in a cartoon…
If I let go of his arm now, I could avoid looking ridiculous, but I had to keep holding on for the sake of my excuse. I had turned on my magic tool—which functioned as a black box—a long time ago.
The Captain wouldn't be able to say anything to me if he saw this.
I am doing my best!
To maintain that excuse, I had to endure this humiliation.
After flying around like that for about three minutes, I finally managed to get my feet back on the ground.
“Ellen.”
“W-Wow, you didn't call me Prince.”
Prince Ellen seemed to be walking on eggshells, having snapped back to his senses at my icy voice.
“Since we’re already here, I’ll scold you later.”
“I’m still getting scolded…”
Of course you are, you punk.
Naturally, I wasn't the one who was going to do the scolding. I planned to report this directly to the Queen. Even if it was just in name, the Queen was the one directly above the Captain in the instructor hierarchy. The Captain… well, I’d probably get scolded for not reporting to him separately, but for Prince Ellen’s sake, this was the right choice.
“It looks like things really blew up, doesn't it?”
“Eh?”
There was no one left at the Magic Department exam site. As expected of a RoFan Female Lead. I wondered how a terror attack could happen right in front of her, but then again, everyone in the Magic Department usually just shrugged off accidents.
Furthermore, there were more important people in the Magic Department than in the Swordsmanship Department, including the Princes. Well, the fact that the Prince and the Border Count’s brat—who should have prioritized Swordsmanship—chose the Magic Department for everything except the Sword Emperor’s classes was all because of the RoFan Female Lead.
“What happened?”
At the Minor Sword Emperor’s dazed question, I frowned and answered.
“What do you think? They got out.”
There were traces of battle, but it looked one-sided. Since the direction of the struggle led outside the Academy rather than inside, the terrorists who had charged in so boldly must have been pushed back.
“Then?”
“They probably evacuated safely.”
The Empire already knew about the attack. Aeryun, the Imperial agent, was a man of perfect skill, despite having a face that looked at least thirty. He wasn't assigned to the Imperial Prince for nothing. If a terror attack happened after he said it would be fine, it meant he either lost to the God of RoFan…
Or it was a strategy to lure the enemies in.
Of course, if you asked if it was really necessary to lure them in, the answer would be no. But there was no need to tell these hot-headed RoFan Male Leads that.
“So?”
“Why don't we evacuate to a safe place too?”
I said, pointing toward the gaping hole in the Academy. These guys, true to their nature as RoFan Male Leads—why do they always try to do something themselves instead of thinking about avoiding an attack?
“But the Academy was attacked.”
“That’s why I’m asking why a first-year student is trying to solve it. How many professors, knights, and security personnel do you think are here?”
“Still…”
To the Minor Sword Emperor, who kept trying to do something, I had no choice but to break the unfortunate reality to him.
“You’re weaker than me…”
“……”
He looked deeply shocked, but it couldn't be helped.
“I…”
“Shut your mouth before I send a request to the Royal Family for your return.”
“……”
After silencing the two Male Leads, I grabbed each of them by a wrist and dragged them along.
“Wipe those looks off your faces. I don't like dragging men around either, you know?”
Whether they had a conscience or not, they followed along without me having to use much force. But that didn't last long.
“Isn't that a Magic Department professor?”
In the middle of the hallway, someone was collapsed.
“…Food coma?”
They were lying there as if dead, but there were no wounds. When I approached to check, they really did look like they were just sleeping.
“In this situation?”
At their ‘don't talk nonsense’ expressions, I couldn't offer a rebuttal this time.
“…Let’s go a bit further.”
I roughly tossed the professor from the hallway into a nearby classroom. As we walked a bit further, we found more people collapsed one by one.
“That one looks like a student.”
“I see an assistant professor over there too.”
“Just move them out of the way for now.”
…Uncle Aeryun. I trusted you! Even as a special agent of the Empire, could you not stop the RoFan scenario?
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
After walking for a while, I saw an old man collapsed as if dead and let out a curse without realizing it. No matter what Uncle Aeryun did, he wouldn't have been able to stop this.
“…McGregor, the Head Professor of the Magic Department?”
When even the former Tower Lord is out cold, what is an Imperial agent supposed to do?
“What about Daisy…?”
“She hasn't been among them so far.”
At the fact that the Magic Department’s suppressors had been blown, the two RoFan Male Leads’ eyes flipped.
“Where is she?”
I wanted to ask why they were asking me, but I could roughly guess. Where else would a RoFan Female Lead be? She’d be caught right in the center of the incident.
“The other members of the Flower Arrangement Club weren't there either, were they?”
I couldn't bring myself to say that, so I gave a vague excuse.
“Ah…!”
“Then!”
I wanted to tell them to stay still, but if they had listened to me, they wouldn't be here right now. Therefore, what was needed now was…
“I have a place in mind.”
“Where is it!”
“Hurry!”
A white lie. I’d just drag them somewhere completely unrelated to the RoFan Female Lead and then claim, ‘Oh, I guess this wasn't the place.’
“Who goes there!”
“It’s us!”
But, damn it. Why are they here…?