Chapter 55

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 55

Chapter Title: There Are No Bad Dogs in the World

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The entrance exams for the Swordsmanship Faculty and the Magic Faculty were different, and of course, the Theology Faculty was no exception.

The Swordsmanship Faculty held sparring matches outdoors, the Magic Faculty used the training grounds, and Theology was a written exam that didn't require divine power.

There were also departments like politics, history, administration, mathematics, languages, and more. Students signed up for the lectures they wanted and accumulated credits over three years.

The combat departments had rankings, but assignments took priority, so even those with low ranks could earn points in various ways.

Most points came from contributions in practical training.

We decided to split up to take our respective exams.

"Everyone, do your best on the exams, and we'll meet back at the entrance when they're done."

"""Yes~"""

We headed off as instructed to take our exams.

As I walked down the hallway toward the Magic Faculty, people around me started whispering.

'I can hear all of you, you idiots...'

Even if they covered their mouths and whispered, I could read their lip movements in my mind and pick up even the faintest sounds.

Lumié, who had turned invisible with magic, was eagerly turning her head atop mine.

"Yeah, tell me about it..."

'What?'

I ignored the occasional weird noises and headed to my destination.

"Greetings to the Star of the Empire."

I turned at the voice that stopped me, and there stood a handsome man with black hair and dark red eyes.

Tall and lean, dressed in a shirt and pants with a luxurious embroidered cloak draped over his shoulders—this man was...

"Belial Orphis?"

As I said his name, the man in front of me grinned.

"Haha, you know me. Pleased to meet you, Your Highness. I am Belial Orphis, Fourth Prince of the Kingdom of Orphis."

The man who introduced himself, Belial Orphis, hailed from the kingdom that revered magic above all and boasted the largest number of mages. It lay to the west of the empire.

He was a bastard born from the king colluding with the government, but his exceptional magical talent from a young age earned him recognition as a prince.

He was a romanceable character in the story, harboring inner pain...

'Why is he here?'

Today was the first day of entrance exams. Logically, his assigned exam date should be a bit later.

Not wanting to embarrass the man greeting me, I returned the courtesy.

"Pleased to meet you, Fourth Prince of Orphis. Rumors of your talent have reached even the empire. But why are you here now..."

At my question, Belial smiled and replied.

"I came to the Magic Tower on patent business for the kingdom, and the academy kindly accommodated me."

'Ah, so he's the one behind that lawsuit.'

It seemed the recent agenda item was due to him.

"Ah, you were the one with that lawsuit. It's under review, so discuss the details with the Magic Tower. Well then, I haven't gotten my exam slot yet."

As I turned to leave, Belial called out to me.

"Your Highness, how about a little wager between us?"

"Huh?"

A wager out of nowhere? I looked at him quizzically, but his face still held that smile.

"Simple terms: the winner of the exam grants the loser one request."

The proposition was so out of left field that I just stared blankly at his face.

'He looks like late 5th Circle at a glance...'

The tale of him summoning a massive monster in war to crush the enemy had spread across the continent, beyond the empire.

'Ah, does he think I'm 6th Circle?'

There was a massive gap between circles, but rare cases of overturning it with epiphany or talent did happen.

The fact that I was 7th Circle hadn't spread yet.

He was probably gambling to boost his own standing.

'Is this guy trying to hook up with the protagonist?'

As I mulled it over, Belial spoke.

"If you're not confident, feel free to decline."

'Hoo.'

The classic "You chicken?" tactic.

A provocation that brands you spineless among guys if it doesn't work.

I liked his boldness, but this reckless fool who wagered without gauging his opponent needed a lesson about the world.

I'd planned to take first place anyway, so humbling him along the way wasn't bad.

I smiled back and replied.

"I accept your wager."

We headed to the magic training grounds, where the trembling examiner assigned us numbers.

"Y-You two are... numbers 124 and 125. When the inside examiner calls... p-please enter..."

"Thanks. We'll do that."

Pitying the shaking examiner, I headed to the waiting area without hearing the rest.

Sitting side by side, I scanned around in case the protagonist was nearby.

I extended my senses diligently, ignoring the surrounding noise...

"Heh, gauging my level, are you?"

A highly arrogant remark came from beside me.

I glanced over to see Belial smiling.

"No need to check. You'll be convinced once you see it with your own eyes."

Exciting.

I could hardly wait to see that confident face twist.

I nodded, imagining the future.

"Looking forward to it."

This was fun. That level of confidence meant he had some hidden ace.

Couldn't help it. Spotting a hidden expert would be fun, and crushing them even more so.

"Numbers 121 through 125, please enter!"

We stood up simultaneously.

Our swift movements screamed confidence that neither could lose.

Entering in order, at the end of the white training ground stood a single iron golem.

The preceding students sighed in relief.

"Alright! It's simple: attack that golem with your magic!"

The examiner's shout cut through the murmurs.

"121! Begin!"

"Yes!"

A brown-haired boy formed a magic circle before his eyes with a spirited reply.

Closing his eyes in focus and murmuring, a fireball soon appeared before the circle.

"Haat!"

Thrusting his hand forward with a kiai, the fireball flew and struck the golem.

As the sturdy-looking iron body toppled, the examiner ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nodded and shouted.

"Pass! Head to the written exam room."

"Yes!"

The boy jumped for joy, while the next ones gulped.

After 122 and 123 finished, it was Belial's turn.

"I'll show you."

'I'm waiting, buddy.'

Belial strode forward confidently.

"124! Begin!"

Four massive magic circles appeared around Belial.

Dozens of spells woven in at a glance. Spreading his hands before his chest, mana gathered, forming a black orb above his palm.

As if he had something to rely on, artifacts hidden in his cloak and the circles glowed.

But proving his own skill, the orb he created was high-level.

An orb requiring immense magical understanding and mana, with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠various attributes converging to expand its size.

His focused eyes snapped open as he flicked his wrist like cracking a whip. The orb flew at moderate speed and touched the golem's body...

The orb expanded, obliterating the golem's shin upward.

Its lower leg stood oblivious, even as its upper half vanished.

A performance, no doubt. 'Look how well I control it.'

"P-Pass! Go to the written exam room!"

"Promised to go with His Highness... right?"

Belial grinned at me.

'Yeah... gotta have some cliché like that!'

What kind of face is that? The smug grin of a half-baked fool certain of victory!

Feeling the academy's arrival sink in, I smiled and stepped forward.

Staring at the examiner, he shouted.

"125! Begin!"

'Hmm... what should I show them?'

As I pondered, Lumié tapped my forehead.

"Nah, I'm good."

I raised my thumb and index finger toward the ceiling.

Spinning my circles, mana fed information into my mind.

Scanning the building simply, I spread my fingers. The ceiling sliced cleanly as if by a blade, splitting the academy building in half like firewood.

Brilliant sunlight flooded in, only for a massive monster to emerge from the split structure, radiating dazzling light as it peered into the training ground.

"Wha-what the-?!"

"Uh..."

Ignoring the examiner and Belial, the monster reached out.

Indescribable chromatic energy gathered in its hand, growing larger.

"This madman!"

"!!!!!!!!"

The examiner and Belial instantly deployed magic circles, layering barriers.

The monster's magic shot from its hand and hit the golem, expanding to devour everything.

Bracing with more mana into their barriers...

Their trembling, tensed bodies felt no shock. The room was eerily silent.

Lowering their arms from their faces, no split building or monster remained.

As they dazedly stared at the ceiling like it was an illusion, I spoke.

"Examiner, pass?"

Their gazes shifted to where the golem should be—nothing.

As if to prove it wasn't an illusion.

"Examiner?"

Urging the blinking examiner, a reply came.

"P-Pass..."

Turning, Belial still gawked at the ceiling, uncomprehending.

I patted his shoulder.

"I've always wanted a dog... but gave up after an assassin came to the palace."

"Wh-What..."

"Today, I got a really sturdy pup!"

"..."

"Puppy, paw!"

Belial's face twisted savagely as realization dawned.

The Crown Prince's arrogant declaration to turn a kingdom's prince into a dog ignited unbearable rage.

"Your Highness! What arrogant nonsense is this? So undignified! The empire's prestige..."

Hmm... looks like the puppy's barking at a stranger.

Biting too... probably raised without a mother, hence the cheekiness.

I listened to the pup's yapping.

Seems uneasy in the new environment...

'There are no bad dogs in the world.'

This pup needs proper training and care...

I had to take responsibility and educate it.

I pulled out a slightly—very slightly—large stick (the Judge) from behind my back.

"Wha-what?!"

The examiner was a faint-hearted bird that trembled at even a tiny switch.

The pup shut its mouth and bowed its head at the sight.

I smiled warmly and met the puppy's eyes.

Eye contact is key when conveying intent to a dog.

"Puppy, you can't figure it out no matter how hard you look, right? It's okay... it happens."

Since the pup kept trying to comprehend the incomprehensible magic, I soothed it.

"Alright... let's start with something easy?"

"....."

"Puppy, paw!"

I held out my hand. The pup, face red with humiliation and contempt, slowly extended its trembling paw.

As the shaking hand rested on mine, I showered it with praise.

"Good job, puppy!"

Praise after training is a must.

The pup fumbled in its bosom with its other trembling hand.

"Puppy, you had so many magic tools, I took them all out! Can't have bad influences, so I took minimal measures as your owner?"

A recording magic tool dropped from the pup's bosom and rolled to my feet.

'Too early for 'fetch'?'

Too much training at once is poison.

I picked up the tool and tossed it to the examiner.

The Judge's spear slashed, erasing it without trace.

To the trembling pup watching, I said.

"Let's get along from now on, puppy!"

The pet giveaway to cozy up to the protagonist was a success.