Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Academy Entrance Exam (4)
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In novels, academy entrance ceremonies were bound to bring terrifying incidents.
Roughly speaking, villains would attack or something, monster hordes would escape or whatever...
'What, but that's got nothing to do with me.'
Who's guarding us right now? The great and mighty Emperor of the Empire, no less.
Dozens of Imperial Knights had come with him and were already patrolling every corner of the academy grounds.
On top of that, the academy had bolstered its own defenses, so forget villains—even a villain's great-grandmother couldn't stir up trouble here.
Unless someone tunneled in from several kilometers away...
'But I doubt there's an idiot like that.'
In short, we were safe.
Our academy was safe.
"Next up is the awarding of medals to the top entrants. Luke Nineheart of the Swordsmanship Department, Evan Kaiser of the General Studies Department, and Elena Frozenheart of the Magic Department—please come up to the stage."
Finally, the moment had arrived.
I let out a short sigh to steady my nerves and rose to my feet.
In the silence, I could feel countless gazes upon me. Some carried respect or envy—positive looks—but plenty were laced with jealousy or envy of the darker sort.
'This is exactly why I hated being top...'
To be precise, it wasn't topping the ranks I disliked—it was standing out. The more you stood out, the more likely you were to get dragged into trouble.
Sure, there were upsides too, but from my perspective of drifting along like a leaf on the river, neither felt particularly welcome.
'Well, at least it'll be over by year's end.'
There were four chances to receive a medal at the academy: entrance ceremony included, once per year for top grades, and graduation.
This time was a fluke for me, but the rest should go to Yubel Lutwalt as planned.
No, please take them.
"Then, let the medal ceremony commence."
As the three of us took our places on stage, a middle-aged man of considerable years stepped forward to face us. Neatly dressed with a bushy beard, he was the academy dean.
He soon approached me, medal in hand.
"Thank you for joining our academy. May you pursue your dreams here..."
As the dean spoke those words and moved to pin the medal to my chest—
Rumble...!
A deafening roar shook the ground as if an earthquake had struck.
In that instant, a memory flashed in my mind. From the original novel.
"Dean, you need to evacuate."
"Ah, right...!"
The dean hurriedly turned and retreated.
Leaving him behind, I headed for Elena.
She stood with eyes wide, staring down at her feet.
"Duchess, you need to evacuate."
"Luke, there's magic power rising from below..."
Yeah, I knew. Something was happening underfoot.
But we couldn't stick around to check.
"Excuse me."
"W-wait a second. This position..."
I tucked Elena under my arm.
I'd planned a proper princess carry, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
"Ahaha... Duchess, long time no see. Greeting you like this is rather embarrassing."
"...Likewise."
Evan Kaiser. I couldn't very well leave His Highness the exalted prince behind.
Thanks to that, I escaped the stage with two limp cats dangling from either side.
"Sir Luke, thank you. You saved my life."
"Just doing my duty as a subject of the Empire."
I set them down in a safe spot, and Evan offered his thanks with an awkward smile.
Meanwhile, Elena was glaring at me like she had a grudge. Probably because being tucked under my arm hadn't been pleasant.
But I felt wronged too. I couldn't abandon the prince.
That was when it happened.
Boom-!
An explosion erupted below the stage, flames bursting forth.
When the flames finally cleared, a single figure stood there.
The man in a shabby, dirt-caked robe was Yurbe Zodiac—the villain who loathed Cain Seleas enough to crash the entrance ceremony.
Tunneling several kilometers to infiltrate the academy? Impressive, in a twisted way.
The problem was the hostage now gripped in his hand.
"Bring Cain Seleas to me right now-!"
Captured in his grasp was the General Studies professor who'd been emceeing moments ago. She trembled, her face on the verge of tears.
A Swordsmanship or Magic Department professor might've escaped somehow, but a research-obsessed general studies prof? No chance.
Not that they'd expected this.
Even I, who'd read the original, hadn't seen it coming at first. How could they?
Anyway, the situation was grim. Handing over the future Magic Tower Lord spelled trouble, but refusing meant worrying for the hostage's life.
Then, amid the silence, a majestic voice rang out.
"You there. State your name."
It was the Emperor. Amid the chaos, he simply sat there, utterly unfazed.
Did that poise give Yurbe pause? He faltered for a moment.
"...Yurbe Zodiac."
"Sir Yurbe, let's hear your side. Why ruin the entrance ceremony and demand Cain Seleas?"
"That bastard got me excommunicated...! The future Magic Tower Lord seat was mine... But he...!"
"If that's the case, I'll discuss it with the Tower Lord later. Should your claims prove true, we'll wipe today's sins clean. So, why not release the hostage? We don't want innocents harmed."
It was a perfect response—accommodating on the surface while aiming to defuse safely.
Whether it'd work was another matter. Someone persuadable by words wouldn't pull this stunt.
Especially not in front of the Emperor.
"No. I'll judge him myself. I'll cut out his tongue and gouge his eyes."
Negotiations collapsed. The only option left was for Cain Seleas, future Magic Tower Lord, to step forward.
Yeah, that's how it should've gone.
So why...
"How about taking me hostage instead?"
The voice came from right beside me. Terribly familiar—the one I'd heard more than any other.
Startled, I turned to Elena.
"No, Duchess."
Coldly logical, it was the right call. A Magic Department student like Elena had better odds of escaping than a general studies professor.
But as her exclusive attendant, I couldn't allow it.
What was the whole point of me being here? Protecting Elena and seeing her graduate safely.
If she got hurt—if she died—my plan to live easy under her protection forever would shatter.
Unacceptable for her sake, or mine.
Though Lady Elena, protagonist of this world, would ignore my opinion anyway.
"And who are you?"
"Elena Frozenheart of the Frozenheart Ducal Family. How's that? A duke's daughter might make a more worthwhile hostage."
"...Get over here."
Elena slowly advanced toward the ruined stage.
With every eye on her as she volunteered to save the hostage, I couldn't stop her. Blocking her would make me a traitor.
Above all, I couldn't dismiss her courage and resolve.
'This is insane...'
As I racked my brain—
━ Luke, trust me.
A voice suddenly echoed in my head. Not through my ears—directly in my mind.
I'd had a similar experience before. Around two years after Elena started learning magic.
I'd taught her walkie-talkie theory, and she'd replicated it as magic. Adjusting mana wavelengths so others couldn't hear...
I couldn't wield mana, so no sending back, but receiving? Easy enough.
'Anyway, she's got a plan.'
Even so, I couldn't relax. She'd still be a hostage.
"Come on—bring Cain Seleas here! Or the duchess dies-!"
Yurbe Zodiac had Elena in his clutches. A razor-sharp dagger hovered at her throat.
One hand on my sword hilt, I watched his every move. At the slightest slip, I'd charge.
The standoff dragged on briefly until someone burst from the crowd.
Blue hair, blue eyes. Cain Seleas—future Magic Tower Lord and one of Elena's marriage candidates.
His murderous glare fixed on Yurbe Zodiac.
"Yurbe Zodiac. Release the hostage."
"Finally... finally, I can kill you...!"
The moment he spat those mad words, exposing an opening—
━ Luke, now.
The voice rang in my head as intense mana erupted from Elena's body.
I drew my sword in sync, kicking off the ground. Air exploded behind me, propelling me forward.
A countdown would've been nice...
Oh well. Can't ask for the moon.