Chapter 98: Second Year (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 98: Second Year (5)
The Imperial Academy.
While it has a formal name, almost everyone calls it by this title, to the point where it feels like its semi-official designation.
It isn't the only academy in the Empire, but when someone says "The Imperial Academy," this is the place everyone thinks of.
It is the representative academy of the Empire—and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it now represents the entire continent.
If you enroll and manage to graduate safely, a job is practically guaranteed. Even if you drop out halfway, as long as you've proven your skills, you can easily find work in a small-to-medium territory or join a famous adventurer party.
Thus, the entrance ceremony of the Imperial Academy felt like a dream come true for most, but there were those whose expressions were utterly miserable.
"Sigh."
A man watched the students entering with joyful faces and then looked back at the school gates, letting out a hollow laugh.
Of course, he understood why they looked so happy. They had literally seized a chance to change their lives; it would be strange not to be thrilled.
However, he knew the dark side of the Academy—the side they were oblivious to—all too well.
‘This is a place that was raided by Dark Mages over ten times last year alone.’
What kind of beings were Dark Mages?
Generally, people thought of them as those who sold their souls for power. In reality, most Dark Mages did indeed walk that path for that very reason.
However, he was aware of rumors that Dark Mages were surprisingly organized into groups, and that some factions were even in league with the Demon Tribe, beings spoken of only in legends.
‘Still, the Demon Tribe might be a bit of a stretch.’
It wasn't that he believed the Demon Tribe actually existed. It was more likely a way of saying they associated with equally dangerous entities. There had long been stories of cultists who worshiped the Evil God or ancient beings who used curses instead of magic, operating under the guise of Dark Mages.
Regardless, the state wouldn't just leave such dangerous bastards alone. The Church of Light also periodically dispatched personnel to investigate any suspicious incidents, seeking semi-forced cooperation regardless of the nation involved.
Yet, despite those efforts, Dark Mages were rarely discovered. Even when they were, they had usually already fled. It was said that even experts from the Church only saw a real Dark Mage a few times a year.
And yet, there was information that this Academy had encountered those elusive Dark Mages more than ten times in a single year.
If that was the count confirmed by an intelligence group from a small nation against the Empire, the actual number of times Dark Mages had infiltrated was likely even higher.
‘Why hasn't this place gone under yet?’
Was the information wrong?
If it were, his half-brother—who was hell-bent on killing him the moment the information was confirmed—wouldn't have immediately recommended him to the Imperial Academy.
"Right."
While he was lost in thought, the majority of the students had already headed inside. Only a few remained, staring blankly at the Academy's main gate, perhaps soaking in the overwhelming joy of the moment.
"What can I even do anyway?"
His father's sudden death. His half-brother naturally seizing power. Their already strained relationship had reached a breaking point.
Having naturally become the loser in that power struggle, he had come here as the price for delaying his death.
He had to survive. In a place where everyone else was dreaming, he had to exert all his effort just to stay alive. The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"I have to survive."
Surely, the Dark Mages wouldn't show up as often as they did last year.
With that resolve, Kane, a prince of the small peripheral nation of Pernil, passed through the main gates.
However, there were a few things he didn't know. First, that the people staring blankly at the Academy around him weren't dreaming of the future, but were people like him, struggling for survival.
Furthermore, he didn't know that he would encounter a Dark Mage just three days after the entrance ceremony!
And finally...
"Ah, ah. Dark Mages have invaded. Freshmen, please follow the guidance of your seniors and evacuate."
"…?"
By the time he realized something was horribly wrong—seeing the casual way some of the seniors handled the Dark Mages—it was already far too late.
A new semester had arrived.
Just before it started, Prince Ellen cornered me, demanding to know why I’d left him behind. Daisy and Boradori also chimed in, complaining about how hard things were in the Holy Kingdom and insisting we all go there together this summer. I ignored them all.
The "old-timers" in the second year weren't the priority right now.
Rather than the RoFan female lead and the Flower Arrangement Club, whose relationships were already somewhat stable, I needed to focus on the freshmen—who were essentially a giant pile of variables.
"Is that the one?"
I had already received information, including portraits, from Uncle Aeryun. However, some of the individuals were so different from the Empire's data that it took me a while to sort them out.
Of course, it wasn't the Empire's fault. The only time the Imperial Intelligence Bureau failed was when they faced the "forced developments" of a RoFan world.
So, was the information wrong because of some RoFan curse? Well… not exactly.
It was just, purely…
"To think Photoshop exists in this world too…"
Two princesses had just messed with their portraits a bit too much.
One of them, I could let slide—she clearly didn't like her youthful appearance and had tried her best to look like an adult. But the other one was a completely different person.
"How did they even pass the interview?"
At this point, their disguise skills were so good I’d believe it if they said they were wearing a human-skin mask. …Wait, did they actually wear one?
I stared for a long time at the person who felt strangely similar to the portrait yet looked entirely different. Since they were the only one left, I had to assume they were the same person.
"Even Uncle is going to be surprised by this."
I took photos of their current appearances with a magic tool and updated the files.
Most of the royalty who enrolled this year weren't from major powers like Leon or Dale, but royalty was still royalty. According to Boradori, some of them were even joining the Flower Arrangement Club, so I had to stay focused.
Once the entrance ceremony ended smoothly and I saw everyone heading off to their respective clubs, I went into the club room of the club that still didn't have a proper name.
"Oh, a newbie."
There was indeed a new member. Unlike us, he looked incredibly disciplined, which felt refreshing.
"Is he one of yours, Uncle? His discipline is no joke."
Seeing him standing stiffly in front of Uncle Aeryun, I wondered if he was an Imperial agent.
"…Are you kidding me?"
"Huh?"
"No, are you serious?"
"About what?"
Uncle Aeryun’s reaction was a bit strange.
"Um…"
Instead of Uncle Aeryun, the freshman in front of me answered my question.
"I am Elian, from Leon."
"……"
"……"
Ah, he was my junior. He should have said so.
Elian.
A talented mage of commoner origin who came to the Imperial Academy through Leon’s scholarship program.
That was his "concept."
"A mage?"
"D-did you not know?"
I didn't. The Commander just said he was sending someone; he never mentioned it was a mage.
"A mage from our kingdom, huh…"
It was a bit awkward to act like this in front of agents from other countries, but honestly, a "mage from Leon"? My trust in him dropped by about 40% instantly.
"That’s just your cover, right?"
I had to ask seriously. If he was using the mage concept as a cover to catch enemies off guard before slicing them with a sword, that might actually work.
"I really am a mage, though…"
But my junior betrayed my expectations again. No, really? A mage? From Leon?
"……"
I stared at Elian in silence. The one who reacted wasn't him, but the Fire Spammer standing next to him.
"Leon can have mages too!"
"No, they can't."
"You said you guys have a Magic Tower too!"
"That’s not a Magic Tower."
"Then what is it?"
"…A Magic Tower Wannabe Club?"
"…Isn't that a bit harsh?"
"What’s harsh is the Leon Magic Tower spending most of its budget on outsourcing."
That’s not what a Magic Tower is for. As I muttered that, the Fire Spammer’s expression stiffened.
"W-where would such a Magic Tower even exist!"
"Exactly."
There’s a reason I call them a wannabe club.
"Still, it’s not like there are no Leon people who use magic."
"Right?"
"Pardon?"
The Fire Spammer let out a sigh of relief at my words, while Elian looked at me as if asking what I meant. To satisfy Elian’s curiosity, I raised both hands.
"Wait, no way?!"
The Fire Spammer’s face contorted.
"Look. Magic."
I manifested fire and ice in each hand.
"Unbelievable!"
"Kyahhh!"
Elian looked on in awe, while the Fire Spammer had a fit. She kicked her desk and lunged at me, screaming that it wasn't magic. I lightly dodged her and moved around the club room.
"Fireball!"
Unlike before, I threw a flame that now maintained a decent spherical shape at the Fire Spammer. It would be dangerous to throw it at the room, but since the Fire Spammer would just "eat" it, she was the perfect target.
Well, the problem was…
"This is what true fire magic looks like!"
After consuming my flame, the Fire Spammer growled and started acting wild, claiming she’d show me real fire.
"Hey, hey! Stop her!"
"You crazy woman! This isn't the Rias territory!"
To prevent a terrorist attack on the Academy, Uncle Aeryun and Taylor threw themselves at her to hold her back. So, I continued.
"This is a new technique. Fire Arrow."
I pulled at the flame, stretching it out into a long shape. Of course, it was impossible to actually fire it like this, so I had to just throw it, making it feel more like a javelin than an arrow. But since it was the size of an arrow, "Arrow" seemed appropriate.
"Kyahhh!"
"You madman, stop provoking her!"
It was effective enough to get under the Fire Spammer’s skin.
"H-how…"
Unlike the Fire Spammer, Elian was watching my flames with pure admiration. I slightly averted my gaze. Seeing him so genuinely impressed made my conscience prickle a bit. As a fellow Leon native, he seemed happy to find someone else walking the path of magic.
It felt a bit wrong to tell a guy like that the truth—that I was just "popping elixirs."
"Don't be fooled! That’s just the effect of an elixir! It’s just adding an attribute to his mana!"
Too late.
As the Fire Spammer growled while being held down by Uncle Aeryun and Taylor, Elian looked at me with a shocked expression.
"Um……"
That’s not true, right? His face practically screamed the question. I had no choice but to nod.
"It’s true that it’s not exactly magic."
I didn't want to hurt my innocent junior’s feelings, but I couldn't lie.
"No way…"
The junior stumbled back as if he’d received a massive shock.
"……?"
Wait, was it really that shocking? I was thinking that, but his next words were the ones that shocked me.
"He… he was at the same level as me."
"What?"
"What was that?"
I wasn't the only one shocked; the Fire Spammer also looked at Elian with a blank face. It was inevitable. The fire I created was literally just mana with an attribute added to it. This level of "magic" was something even a commoner who hadn't properly learned magic could do if they had a bit of talent.
To clarify, so there’s no misunderstanding: that "talent" doesn't mean the realm of geniuses; it means being slightly better than the average commoner.
Therefore…
"How on earth did you get into the Academy?"
I asked with total sincerity.
"……I don't know?"
Elian answered with an awkward expression.
"……"
"……"
"……"
When the gazes of myself, the Fire Spammer, and Taylor naturally turned toward Uncle Aeryun…
"It wasn't bribery, okay?"
"……"
"No, seriously, I don't know either!"
The mystery only deepened.