Chapter 4
A strange silence hung over the exam hall, thick with emotions. The professors' eyes widened at the sight of my sword.
"Even as the Sword Ghost's disciple, to that degree?"
"That level of achievement at his age. He's historic."
"Two commoners... what a historic class."
I ignored the murmurs. They sure love that 'historic' crap.
Of course, this class really was historic, not just hype. My talent was too.
But that's that, and this is this.
Riding the hype train is fine, but I didn't ask for this much fanfare. Especially since...
"The commoners are going to cause a stir. His Highness the Prince won't be pleased."
"I'm worried it'll backfire on us."
"If we show some goodwill first, it should be fine."
Commoners who soar make enemies. Plenty of eyes were glaring at me with distaste.
How could professors stoop so low?
This is going to be a hassle.
They'd glimpsed a fragment of my power, so they wouldn't touch me directly. But there were endless ways to make trouble.
Who knew what schemes they'd cook up abusing their authority? In the original story, whenever the heroine got hurt, the great male leads snapped their fingers and fixed it.
Not for me.
I want some great heroines too, damn it.
Why do I only get stuck with these villainesses? And isn't the dean supposed to block this bullshit?
"Hoho. You exceed my expectations. I like it."
Sigh. Not holding my breath.
The old man's just a musclehead with power. He knows zilch about academy politics.
So I'd have to handle it myself.
"Am I passed?"
"Of course. You've satisfied the faculty."
"That's it? No proper procedure?"
This was too sloppy. How could they tell if the professors were satisfied just by looking at faces?
I questioned if this was really how things worked—no discussion, no vote.
"When I, the dean of Rozril Academy, approve it, which professor would object?"
Maybe the dean didn't need brains. If your body's strong, your head doesn't have to work hard.
Solving everything with brute force like that would make anyone dumb.
"Well then, allow me to guide you..."
"I'll do it."
A clear, girlish voice cut off the dean. Who had the guts to interrupt him?
Curious, I turned toward the voice. From the faculty side, a silver-haired female professor stepped forward, her pale purple eyes meeting mine with a bright smile.
Sea Reniar?
I recognized her instantly. No choice—the original novel I possessed had few illustrations, but the descriptions were clear.
"A size that inspires awe," or something like that.
Yeah... I could see why the heroine went from jealousy to admiration.
"Hi?"
Sea flashed a soft smile and waved at me.
"Dean, I'll guide this kid."
She turned to him, her expression shifting slightly. Polite words, but her eyes twitched. She clearly didn't like him much.
"Professor Sea. I figured you'd take an interest."
"He's my precious friend's disciple."
She gazed at me fondly, like Erde. It stirred memories.
"I have business to attend to, so I'll leave him to you."
The dean tucked his staff away. It morphed from staff to bowler hat in his hand.
Wearing it, he clasped his hands behind his back and floated away. While I stared in stunned silence, the other professors trickled out one by one.
"I've been wanting to meet you, Ethan."
"You're my master's friend, right?"
Honestly, shocking. Erde, who hated magic, friends with a renowned archmage?
"Yeah. We attended this academy together as cadets."
"That's surprising. That my master even went here."
"She dropped out midway, though."
Sea said it bitterly.
"Master dropped out?"
"I don't know why. It was... so sudden."
"I see."
She didn't seem keen to continue, so I dropped it.
"Follow me. I'll show you around."
Outside the exam hall with Sea, Linea greeted me with a beaming smile.
"Why'd you take so long!... Sir."
She looked genuinely thrilled, probably lonely waiting alone.
"Who's this?"
Linea's pupils shook at the sight of Sea.
"Professor Sea?"
"Still no manners, I see. Linea."
"...ma'am."
"Wait. Linea, did you just use honorifics with me? For real...?"
Sea scanned her with wide-eyed shock. She glanced at me, lips moving as if to ask something, but clamped it shut.
"Follow me."
We entered the academy building behind Sea. Linea trailed silently after me.
"Why are there no cadets around?"
Opening ceremony shouldn't still be going, right?
"They're at the opening ceremony."
"Still? Hasn't it been a while?"
"It's... long. Lots of pomp and circumstance."
In the novel, it was just "they held the opening ceremony." Events happened after, so I never realized... This sucks.
Separate ceremonies were annoying enough, but long ones? No wonder I question why this is the continent's top academy.
And the special exam was half-assed too.
Hold on. What about the dean?
He oversaw my special exam.
But the opening ceremony... Does the dean not need to be there?
"The dean sent an avatar."
What? That's cheating. How does that old staff-wielding geezer have so many tricks?
"Anyway, not the point. We need to finish the tour before the ceremony ends. Time's tight."
"Sloppy."
"Special exam got scheduled last-minute. No choice. Follow me!"
Sea led first to the dorms. Fitting for the top academy—top-tier facilities.
Even the single room was spacious. Room for Linea too.
Next came the other facilities.
"You sure you don't want a full tour?"
"Yeah. More fun figuring it out myself."
I skipped the rest. I wouldn't use them much anyway, and I knew the details.
Dorms weren't needed, but I checked the size.
"Okay, time to spare now. Next, pick your department..."
"Magic Faculty."
"Hmm... Really the Magic Faculty? Not Knights?"
"Yes."
I don't use magic. But recalling why I came to the academy, Magic Faculty was non-negotiable.
I wasn't here to get stronger.
Monitor side characters' variables, stop the villainesses contracting demons. Build my foundation for that.
That was the real goal. Most novel characters were in Magic Faculty.
Knights barely appeared, except a few.
"Fate, maybe. Erde's disciple joining Magic Faculty too."
"'Too'?"
Did that mean Erde was once in Magic Faculty...?
"Forget I said that."
Something there. A reason why magic-hating Erde was once in Magic Faculty.
Even more reason to get close to Sea.
"Now, electives..."
Masking her slip? Sea launched into explanations.
Types of electives. How they determined class assignments. What to pick for her class. Professor-like, she didn't hold back.
I calmly stated my pre-planned choices amid it all.
"Here's your schedule."
The timetable she handed glowed briefly.
"No big deal. Means your name's on the roster."
I knew that. Muttering internally, I stuffed it in my pocket. Then noise approached.
"Ceremony's over, huh. Close call, right?"
Sea grinned.
"Yeah."
Glancing at quiet Linea as I answered, she scanned the academy with longing eyes.
Spotting me, she scowled.
"Teasing me?"
Her voice was sharp.
"Not at all."
"I wanna attend again too, y'know? Y-you, b-bad Master."
She stammered but finished. Meant it from the heart.
Whatever, what can I do?
Linea was rotten from year one. Mediocre magic talent in a marquess house, constantly picking fights with professors.
That was tame because she was weak. Stronger, she'd blast magic at eye contact.
In the original, after magic breakthroughs, her personality worsened.
She's my slave now, though.
"Slaves can't attend classes, right?"
Sea, who'd been listening, chimed in.
"Yeah, but can't she even enter classrooms?"
"She can enter, but not hear lectures. Ears block during class. Eyes aren't restricted, though."
"Perfect."
I hadn't assumed Linea could learn. Just pondered her academy treatment.
Waiting outside would've been awkward. Or stuck in dorms.
Enterable? No issue.
"And get this? Your first period is my class."
"Today?"
"Yup. Wanna go together?"
"Wait. Together?"
Already drawing stares dragging Linea. With a professor? The glares would be insane.
"Can't I? Pleeease...?"
"...Let's go."
"Yay!"
To class with Sea. Eyes stabbed inescapably en route.
Overwhelming. Linea edged closer behind me.
"I'll summarize the semester's content. First day, nothing intense—don't worry!"
Sea chattered on, oblivious.
Glares intensified at the sight. Especially guys'—stinging hard.
"Here we are."
Into the classroom. Questioning stares: Why with the prof?
Ignoring, I scanned for seats.
Huh?
There she was. The protagonist. Lechel, heroine of "Obsessed Over by Heavyweights."
Lechel wasn't stunning compared to her obsessors. Cute by normal standards, but this academy overflowed prettier girls.
No beauty praise in the novel either. Yet...
What the hell is with her?
Love at first sight. No—had to be. The world's will demanded it.
