Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: 5. Welcome to the Summoner's Academy. (6)
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# 41
There were so many. Way too many documents.
"People are showing so much interest in our academy that they're even calling this the Great Summoning Era."
As expected of One Piece. Just by parroting a few lines from the beginning, it sparked a massive pirate—no, Great Summoning Era—fad.
Now, if a protagonist-type showed up shouting, "I will become the Summoner King!" it would be perfect!
Well, anyway.
"For now, it might be best to quickly weed out anyone whose mana is below par."
It really had become a fad—tons of applicants with no talent or skill had flooded in.
Even the perfect bureaucrat types who should've applied to Mercaria had sent in applications. That says it all.
Summoning is based on contracts and uses the summoned beast's abilities, so it requires less mana than mages or magic engineers—but less doesn't mean no mana is needed.
While ongoing mana drain can be controlled by the summoner's will, the initial summoning takes a huge amount.
Plus, drawing out the summoned beast's true power requires more mana.
For example, No. 17's Surtr, which usually acts as a sandbag, gets flames going by consuming No. 17's mana, which it then uses to fuel its own blaze.
Contracting a low-grade spirit might be one thing, but for my goal of upper-grade summoned beasts, you need mana on the level of my disciples from Howling—not quite, but at least on par with an average mage.
"Hmm... What about this one?"
"Hm, mana is a bit low, but the experience is solid. Let's pass them on the first interview and hand off the rest to Professor Marun or Professor Arhan."
-What? Discrimination?
-Close-combat specialists are the exception.
The applicant on the form another professor brought was a commoner but held C-rank mercenary credentials.
C-rank at 18 means above average.
Sure, low mana made it hard to even form a sword aura, but C-rank experience meant they'd seen some real battlefields for a commoner.
Pass them to the military-background professors and hook them up with the Imperial Armory, and they'd be useful firepower.
-But, Master? Aren't those Armory contractors basically forcibly drafted?
-Not forced. Enlistment is the contract condition. Enlist first, contract later.
The Imperial Armory.
A place stocked with famed swords and armor, enchanted magic gear, and magic armor. The Empire succeeded in bundling it all under the summoner and summoned beast concept.
Thanks to that, chosen soldiers wielding all sorts of weapons and defenses were born on the battlefield!
One unique point: it's not a contract between summoner and summoned beast, but summoner and Empire—so summoners are automatically registered as Imperial soldiers.
They train up and serve as Imperial Army officers.
In other words, guaranteed-enlistment summoned beasts!
That's why, despite the massive perks, few choose the summoner path.
-Master, this is why you brought in those old fogeys!
-Ever since ancient times, the Imperial military has boasted a 100% employment rate—it's a great job!
None of the Empire's Four Great Prestigious Academies ever talk employment rates.
Which means we can advertise with ours!
Once a few get into the palace, it'll be: [Yuglasia Academy Class of XXXX, Appointed to Imperial Palace Position XXX! 100% Employment Guaranteed!]
And the best way to do that is if No. 17 joins...
-Not happening. It's because you're my master—if you weren't, I'd run too. Even if that brat doesn't know you're the master, she looks similar enough, so running makes sense.
Even said seriously in that lispy voice, it doesn't feel serious—but reality is reality.
I'd already reviewed nearly 600 applications, and no sign of No. 17.
Heh heh, you cute little thing.
If she'd come, I'd have given her veteran treatment: student council this year, youngest president next—an express elite track.
But she used her family as an excuse to flee.
-We'll use her as a sacrifice at the Imperial Tournament to show Yuglasia's true worth.
-Eek, petty! My master's being petty!
No, listen!
A true gentleman waits ten years for revenge, but I'm no gentleman—so I strike now!
"Oh! Lady Aris of the Retia Family!"
"Pass! Unconditional pass!"
Even so, with a sliver of hope, I was diligently hunting for No. 17's name amid the applications when cheers erupted from the corner.
The Retia Family—one of the Empire's Ten Absolute Houses.
And Lady Aris was their eldest daughter. In other words...
-Finally, a big fish biting your bait, Master! Poor thing!
-Just give her an excellent summoned beast, and we're done!
I'd skimmed 300 applications, and none were that caliber.
The highest had been count-level.
Mostly lesser count kids at that—and now the eldest of an Absolute House!
-We'll hook her up with the best summoned beast for promo!
-Awesome! Thinking profits before students—our master is awesome!
A few more unexpectedly promising talents turned up at the end too.
We safely selected 300 for second interviews, then picked the top 100.
A month or so later...
"Do you desire freedom?!"
-We do!
"Then follow me!"
-Waaaaah!
Led by the student council president, the world's first student uprising broke out.
#3 Their Circumstances: A Student Council President's Circumstances.
"A child loved by the spirits."
The being who said that while smiling and stroking my head.
An elf, loved by nature since creation.
From childhood, something always clung to me.
Sometimes warm, sometimes cool, sometimes cozy.
And the elf I met by chance while following my father due to family matters called it a spirit—and said I'd become a great summoner.
Believing those words, I entered Yuglasia Academy. True to the elf's word that they only speak truth, I showed great talent as a summoner—specifically a spirit charmer—and rose to student council president.
But Yuglasia Academy's reputation was at rock bottom.
Once called one of the Empire's Four Great Prestigious Academies, it had begun a slow decline even before I arrived. As president, I worked hard, but nothing changed.
But then.
"Are you speaking of the Book of Summoning, containing all my knowledge? If you desire it, I shall give it. Seek it out—I've written of every summoned beast in this world!"
Including before my enrollment, after four years of watching, I still didn't get why they rotated through similar speeches at pre-enrollment week. But Professor Niserwin Ain's legendary speech for summoners kicked off Yuglasia's turnaround.
Starting with the famous Lady Aris of the Retia Family—one of the Ten Absolute Houses—scions of great houses enrolled.
Professors arrived too: nobles tied to the military, shocking military figures, even rare elves and gnomes—who hate meddling in human affairs—were dispatched.
An astonishing result, obvious to anyone.
We'd half-jokingly debated in council when Yuglasia might vanish, but such talk was long gone.
One person truly changed Yuglasia.
...Or so I thought.
Unaware of what the real drastic change was.
I realized it three days into the new semester.
On a day when proper classes began.
"Whoa, did you take Professor Muam's class earlier? Whoa, contractor of a Spirit King, as expected. Totally different league from the other professors!"
Spirit Kings are rare.
The water Spirit King—a major one at that—showed spirit arts that opened a new world for us. Before end-of-day homeroom, waiting for our homeroom professor, we were sharing our shock over the day's classes.
-Ah, this is the school broadcast. Please take your seats. Once more: school broadcast. Take your seats and listen to the upcoming broadcast.
The rarely used school broadcast rang out.
Those who'd gone to the bathroom trickled back and sat. After about three minutes, a voice I'd heard few times but could never forget spoke.
-Greetings, students. I am Niserwin Ain, who from this year will teach you alongside our excellent professors.
Instantly, our classroom—and neighboring ones—erupted in "Ooh!" That Niserwin Ain.
The Summoners' Association legend, now reforming the academy himself!
Students' respect for him was beyond words!
But that respect shattered in under ten minutes.
-Now, homeroom professors for each class, please enter.
With those words, our homeroom professor entered.
Holding thick stacks of paper.
-Now that all homeroom professors should be in place, I'll proceed. Professors, distribute the materials.
At that, our professor silently handed out the thick white sheets.
[Basics and Understanding of Summoned Beasts]
What is this textbook-like title? As if reading our thoughts, Professor Niserwin answered.
-The material you've received is to aid your self-study. Note: those who don't finish the problems can't leave before 22:00.
Silence fell over the classroom—no, the academy.
Everyone grasped the words, but their heads refused to accept.
Automatically, most students including me glanced at the wall clock. Current time: 5 PM.
Five hours until 22:00—10 PM.
-Of course, club activities are guaranteed. Dinner from 6 PM. Proper night self-study—night study for short—starts at 7 PM.
No, that's not what shocked us...
-As promised to your parents, I will provide the education you desire.
What nonsense. Do students even want this?
-I know everything. You're just too shy to say it, but you all burn with passion for learning.
We have passion for learning—but regular classes suffice. We don't want to be confined for that long.
-But I know some of you always cause trouble. Therefore.
Rumble rumble rumble!
"Wh-what, earthquake?"
"What's going on?!"
"What's happening?!"
As the professor paused, the school shook. And simultaneously...
Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!
Strange sounds came from somewhere.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Right beside us, a roar—thick black ropes appeared on the windows.
-There may be those who don't want night self-study. To guarantee students' freedom and rights, we also allow voluntary early dismissal.
Words and actions don't match. Someone by the window had already reported the black ropes were thick iron bars.
Barriers even rose in the hallways.
No way they'd let us leave!
-Of course, our professors will give learning opportunities even to non-self-studiers. The pre-night-study worksheets test theory. For those skipping self-study... practical. Combat.
Did he emphasize "combat"? Imagination?
-The way to skip self-study is simple: use any means to break through the faculty and exit the school. Once out, no professor will touch you, and no penalties tomorrow. True freedom to leave early.
Absurd.
Yuglasia's professors are few now, but even at its peak, it lacked such elites. Break through them?
And before that—would anyone abandon learning at this historic, prestigious Yuglasia?
No. Any student with pride in Yuglasia wouldn't!
And the next day.
"First escapee! Damn, it's Student Council President Nerkia!"
"Don't let your guard down—he's an excellent spirit charmer!"
"You think we'll let you escape, Nerkiaaa!"
I was the first to bolt among all the students.