11. Karelai Academy
11. Karelai Academy
A day had passed with Eurasia chattering nonstop.
After spending the night at an inn in a village midway between the Eustetia Duchy and the Imperial Capital.
We finally arrived at the Imperial Capital.
"Whoa..."
Raskal, the capital of the Hermann Empire.
As I'd seen in pictures, at its center stood the Imperial Palace, resembling the sun, and around it a hushed river flowed calmly.
The city was divided into districts along roads extending from the Imperial Palace in the four cardinal directions, and the academy was said to be located in the southern district.
I didn't even need to look around to find the academy.
It was the most dazzling building after the Imperial Palace.
Anyway.
"Whoa..."
The world had changed this much?
The Imperial Palace—when had that thing gotten so big?
And when had they even brought in a river around it?
Those ducks—raising them like that, how has nobody eaten them?
...Would it be okay if I took one?
They're so good grilled with butter.
Alright. Tonight, we're having duck.
If I ask Sara, she'll know a good place for duck.
As I smacked my lips and looked up at the sky,
another strange object was floating up there.
A round disk attached to a body made of rhombus-shaped crystal. Above the disk, rows of low buildings stretched out.
I knew it was a temporary magic tower... or something like that, but seeing it in person was a completely different experience.
How could it not be amazing, that huge thing floating silently in the sky?
I want to ride it someday.
A giant fortress that flies through the sky?
A man just can't resist that kind of thing.
Wow... But, well.
I already knew from books and rumors, but the world really had changed a lot.
Four hundred years ago, we couldn't even imagine such things because we never knew when the Demons might attack.
Everything had to be solid and practical; we didn't care about appearances like this.
After all that shouting about peace, seeing how quickly things developed—maybe even a fake peace was real peace for humanity.
"The world's become a nicer place to live..."
I wasn't exactly happy about it.
But Eurasia seemed purely excited.
"Wow! Wow!! My lady! That soufflé shop is super famous! They say you have to reserve a whole week in advance to eat there, so can't we make a reservation too?"
Eurasia's bright voice rang out across the lively streets of the Imperial Capital.
Several people who heard her voice smiled warmly at the starry-eyed Eurasia, then hastily changed their expressions after looking at my hair color.
I expected as much, but I didn't know it would be this famous.
Well, pink isn't a common color, so it's not strange for people to recognize it.
According to Sara, I should be proud of this hair color, but I don't welcome this kind of pointless attention.
I don't like the strangely fearful atmosphere, either.
I don't know why they're like that when I haven't done anything, but I chalked it up to being a noble—specifically, the daughter of a ducal house with those nasty eyes.
Still, I should wear a hood from now on.
"Let's go fill out the entrance application."
"Oh! Then the pancake shop over there too!"
"That too after the entrance—"
"Amazing! That crêpe place! It's famous because the Imperial Princess enjoys eating there! My lady!!"
"The entrance—"
"Wow, wow! That pasta shop over there is a place the Blue Magic Tower Master goes to at least once a day!! I heard their carbonara is amazing, so how about carbonara for dinner tonight?"
"Ent—"
"Actually, my lady, you should have the lasagna! I'll have the carbonara! Sara, do you want the oil pasta?"
I held back three times.
I held back three whole times.
Huuup— I sucked in a breath, about to blow up,
but when I saw Eurasia's eyes sparkling with anticipation and excitement, I couldn't bring myself to open my mouth.
Sure. She's allowed to be excited.
She's still a kid.
I sighed inwardly and spoke gently.
"Fine. Let's fill out the entrance application first, then take our time looking around."
"Okay! Then can't we start with that alley over there? They say there's a super famous designer there! I can't buy anything because it's too expensive, but I still want to look around!"
"Sure. Do whatever you want."
"Okay!"
The bright-faced Eurasia and the silent Sara followed one step behind me, matching my pace.
Seeing this, I felt really burdened.
Walking while leading two long-limbed people made my short legs work even harder.
...It bothered me for no reason.
"Sara, go to the lodging and start unpacking. I'll finish the application and be right there."
"The Imperial Capital is full of people, so there's no telling what might happen. I will accompany you."
"I said it's fine. Your bags are heavy, so why bother?"
"I'm fine as well. I will accompany you."
"Then hire a porter or something."
"I'm also a paid porter."
Zap— I glared at Sara, but she maintained her usual blank expression.
"...Fine. You do whatever you want too, Sara."
"Thank you."
Clicking my tongue, I kept walking.
After that, the road to the academy was easy.
The streets were crowded, but people immediately made way at the sight of my hair color, so my steps never stopped.
Even nobles dressed in expensive clothes with servants in tow made way for us.
For a moment I thought my hair color was useful, like some sort of ticket, but I shook my head.
Someday it was bound to bring troublesome things.
House Eustetia, known as the Hero's descendants.
Since I'm a direct descendant of that bloodline, I could become a target for Demon worshipers, and those Black Wizards—whom it wouldn't even be satisfying to chew up and kill—might try some underhanded shit.
Of course, they say the Black Wizards in the Imperial Capital are decent people who passed all sorts of inspections.
I don't trust those bastards.
The only good Black Wizard is a dead Black Wizard.
Demon worshipers, Monsters, Demons.
They're all the same.
"Whoa... It looked amazing from far away, but up close it's even more amazing!"
"No kidding."
Having arrived at the academy, we admired its grandeur, decorated in all kinds of brilliant colors.
About 350 years.
That's the academy's age.
That means it was built about fifty years after I died. Even so, it's incredibly extravagant.
It would have been difficult with the technology of that era unless they used Mana Stones called Demon Hearts.
Impressive.
But.
"Can we really apply today?"
Looking at the endlessly long line stretched out in front of the academy, I clicked my tongue.
"R-right? Did we come too late?"
Eurasia's expression darkened too.
She must have wanted to finish the entrance application as soon as possible and go have fun, but the plan had fallen apart.
"It's all right."
But Sara smiled quietly.
"House Eustetia, which rivals the founding meritorious families, has no need to stand in line."
"So, because I'm a Eustetia, you're saying I should just skip all those people and walk right in?"
I asked as if it didn't make sense, but.
Inside, I thought it sounded fine.
Not bad, actually? No, it's good. Should I just go in?
"I expected you would say that, Lady Eli, but that's not it. If anything, even if we stood in line, someone would come to escort you personally."
Sara's eyes turned to my hair.
"After all, cherry blossoms are flowers that bloom beautifully whenever and wherever."
Where the hell does she learn such cringeworthy lines?
"Fine. Then let's just wait here."
And no sooner had I finished speaking than a woman approached and bowed.
"I, Wivir Arkand, of the Blue Magic Tower and senior professor at Karelai Academy, greet the Duke's daughter, Lady Eliarnes Eustetia, the Spring of the Empire and the cherry blossom of House Eustetia."
Arkand.
A family I know, too.
The family of a Wizard who, four hundred years ago, had self-destructed in the middle of the Demon World along with hundreds of Demons—mad, yet braver than anyone.
I thought their line had died out, but it seems they had children.
As I stared blankly at her blue-haired crown and recalled those memories, people's attention turned toward us.
Silence fell for a moment.
Then the murmuring continued.
-Her hair color is really pretty.-She's so cute!-How does it suit her so well?-Look at that fair skin. Not a single blemish, right? I'm jealous...-But her eyes are so nasty. I guess nobles are nobles after all?-Still, since she's so small, she's just cute. She's probably our age, right?-She might be here on a visit.-Ah, could be.
Fuck. Is this an assassination attempt?
"...Oh, yes. Pleased to meet you. I'm Eliarnes Eustetia."
When I awkwardly returned the greeting amid the uncomfortable stares and murmurs, the blue-haired woman raised her head.
"And the person next to you..."
"Hello. I am Eurasia Espirot, of the Eustetia Knight Order, appointed as Lady Eliarnes Eustetia's personal knight."
"Ah. Yes. I've heard of you through rumors. They say you have tremendous talent. It's an honor to meet you."
"Ah, ahaha... That's not really... hehe."
When a warm answer came in response to the stiff greeting, Eurasia replied with a relaxed smile, as if she'd never been nervous at all.
She was twisting her body and making a whole fuss.
"I am Sara, Lady Eliarnes Eustetia's personal attendant."
True to her personality, Sara gave a brief greeting and inclined her head slightly.
Yet the movement carried grace and decorum.
Wivir accepted the greeting with the same smile she had shown Eurasia, then looked at me.
"I'd love to talk more right away, but as this is hardly the place, let me first escort you inside."
"Yes, well. Sure."
"Please forgive my shortcomings in escorting you."
"...Not at all."
Wivir turned away with an elegant motion and walked half a step ahead of me, her shoes tapping and squeaking off-beat, as if the discomfort would drive her mad.
Thanks to that, I had to move my short legs even more briskly.
*****
The process of entering the academy was quite complicated.
Starting with a baggage inspection, there were four or five more various checks.
It was a bit bothersome, but I nodded with satisfaction.
Most of them were inspections to identify Demons.
Right. No matter how peaceful the era, places with children should be thorough.
I don't know who made the rule, but I like it. This deserves praise.
The process after that was nothing special.
Instead of the Dean, who was too busy to come out, we greeted someone of lower rank and were given a tour of the academy's facilities.
Like tourists, we looked around the academy.
If I had to pick out a few facilities that particularly caught my eye.
First, there is a special class said to be made only of talented students.
It's supposedly decided by a vote of the senior professors and special professors based on exam results, and I heard they usually judge talent by practical skills rather than written exams.
Its name is Signia.
Well, you still have to take the general education classes, but you can arrange the rest of your lectures yourself and are given various extra benefits.
And the special building used by the Signia Class was different from the general classes, a building packed with all kinds of luxury. The dormitory was the same.
Of course, the building of the general class, 'Hurnt,' wasn't inferior.
Signia was just particularly extravagant.
And another one I'd pick.
There are the training halls of Hurnt and Signia.
Both were very spacious and high-class for something meant for students.
The Hurnt Training Hall was wider than the Eustetia Knight Order's training hall, and Signia's training hall was smaller than that, but the facilities themselves looked better.
There were also plenty of things that looked fun for training.
While I looked around and nodded with satisfaction, Eurasia ran around making a fuss with a bright smile.
But didn't they say that inside the academy, there's no discrimination based on status, even if there are differences in grades? Was it really all right to be treated so grandly?
With that question in my eyes, I looked at Sara, and she leaned in to whisper in my ear.
"That is because you are still not an academy student, but Lady Eliarnes Eustetia, the Duke's daughter. Now that you have come to the Imperial Capital, such lavish treatment will be the norm outside the academy, so you must get used to it."
After hearing that, I made a resolution.
I resolved never to go outside the academy.
I was confident.
For the past seven years, I'd been holed up at home repeating the cycle of eating, shitting, training, and sleeping, so there was no reason I couldn't do it here.
Anyway.
It was about time to fill out the entrance application.
Because the darker it got, the darker Eurasia's expression grew.
I said to the third-ranked middle-aged man, who was still laying on the flattery up ahead.
"It's getting late, so I think we should go back and rest from the journey. Thank you for the tour today, Professor William."
"...It's Willak, actually. Ahem, ahem. It was an honor to meet Lady Eliarnes Eustetia, descendant of the Hero, the Spring of the Empire, and the cherry blossom of House Eustetia. I look forward to seeing you next time at the academy."
"Ah... yes. Professor Willak. I'll see you next time."
Starting with me rising from my seat, William— no, Willak, then Eurasia, and finally Sara stood up and followed behind me.
So we arrived at the reception desk for entrance applications.
"I'm sorry, I may have misheard, but what did you say your specialty was?"
"Martial arts."
"Martial... arts, you say?"
"Yes."
"...Understood. Please wait a moment."
Click— click— scratch— scratch— bang—!
"Done. The entrance exam date is written in the second item, so please check it and attend on time. Thank you."
I finished the entrance application under the receptionist's regretful but cautious gaze.
The exam was two days later.
The results would be announced three days after that.
Admission was one month after the results announcement.
It was a long time, but with all sorts of training, it would pass quickly.
So I'd rest well until the exam, and after that, training again—
"My lady! My lady! The carbonara! They might close soon! Hurry!"
Fine. Let's eat that damn carbonara first.