Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Retainer Aptitude Test
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After the joint exam with the regular class.
Having gotten an idea from this incident, I returned home and issued a summons to my retainers.
The next morning, the retainers gathered at my mansion.
Lately, for some reason, Estelle had started showing up without fail whenever I issued a summons. Because of that, Lisitea came to the meeting place with a displeased expression.
“Milord, has something happened?”
Anton asked with a serious face. Behind him, my master was gently rocking the baby in her arms.
“It's not anything serious. I just wanted to run a simple test.”
“A test, you say?”
“You can think of it as a kind of competition.”
It was to gauge everyone's abilities and deploy them where they were needed most.
Many nations held such competitions. It wasn't unique to this world, either. Modern times were the same.
“If it's a martial arts test, I'm confident!”
Eo stepped forward as if he'd been waiting.
“Sorry, no martial arts this time. Here, everyone take one.”
I distributed the stack of exam papers I'd brought from the academy. I'd gotten extras using my cadet officer status.
“This is the test I took recently at the academy. I want to get a sense of your abilities through it, even if indirectly.”
Olaf let out a hearty laugh as he took the exam paper.
“I wondered what the test was about, and it really is just a test. Don't drag us into your boredom reliever.”
“You're right that it's partly for amusement, but you should take it seriously. I'm planning to set salaries based on this.”
“…Now that's something I can't ignore. Finally establishing a salary system?”
Until now, we'd run an ambiguous system where I just gave money whenever it was needed, but with the group growing, that wouldn't fly anymore.
“It won't count for 100% since it's so sudden, but for example, if people are up for the same salary tier, I'll use these results to differentiate. Understood?”
“Oho, that sounds fun.”
“By the way, Olaf, you're in too advantageous a position, so your results will just be for reference.”
“Tch, can't be helped.”
Olaf had been a star student at the academy just a few years ago. The material was bound to be familiar to him compared to the others.
“Along the same lines, Estelle, that goes for you too. Actually, you're not even a retainer, so you don't need to take it.”
Estelle, who had been breaking out in a cold sweat for some reason, brightened up at my words.
“Y-Yeah! Better if I sit this one out.”
She hopped up from her seat. Lutger stopped her.
“Estelle, you should take it too. I want to see how much you studied at the academy.”
“I...”
“If it's the test he took recently, it's probably the Pensilon Academy entrance exam. Doesn't that concern you?”
“Well, yes, but...”
“Then sit down and no more complaints.”
“Ugh...”
Estelle sat back down reluctantly.
I finished explaining the rules.
“I'll give bonuses or vacations as rewards to the group with the highest combined score. No time limit, so take your time.”
Gaspar and Olaf's eyes lit up at the word “vacation.”
Eonia and Anton perked up like cats at the mention of rewards, brimming with motivation.
Just as I was trying to divide them into balanced groups.
Some unexpected guests arrived at my mansion.
My older brother Percy and sister Julia, here about southern territory matters. And Bisceta Clen, who'd come to discuss the academy construction.
Perfect timing. I made the proposal to them too, and they accepted with amused smiles.
I split them into groups of three and sent each to a separate room.
---
Group 1: Lutger, Estelle, Lisitea
Group 2: Gaspar, Ymir, Olaf
Group 3: Illya, Anton, Percy
Group 4: Julia, Eonia, Bisceta
---
The retainers entered their rooms and got to work on the problems. There were no proctors or time limits, but I'd leave that to their consciences.
To prod those consciences, I'd instructed them to come out all together once all three were done.
That way, they'd think twice about cheating.
“Hey, no time to slack off here.”
Since I'd dragged the busy Bisceta into this, I needed to handle the documents she'd brought.
I was also looking after Gawain, so things were hectic.
Four hours passed like that.
Just as I was changing Gawain's diaper, Group 3 emerged first, having finished.
My master smiled warmly at the sight of me.
“Haha, changing his diaper? Everything go okay?”
“He didn't cry, so no trouble. As expected of Master's son—he's a tough one.”
“Too tough, honestly. He never cries at all. What am I going to do?”
“Anyway, good work. I'll announce results tomorrow, so come back tomorrow evening.”
My master took Gawain with a relaxed expression, unconcerned about the score.
Anton, on the other hand, looked anxious.
“No need to look so grave.”
“No, it's a competition, whatever else. Besides... I can't lose to Lady Mirabel.”
“Haha... Good work anyway. Take today off—go on a date.”
“Ah...! Thank you so much. We'll be off, then.”
The couple left with their child.
Percy bro laughed that it had been a fun experience, consulted with me on southern territory matters, and headed back.
That was when Group 2 finally wrapped up.
I asked Olaf,
“Took longer than I expected?”
“Me and Miss Ymir finished quick. Mr. Gaspar seemed to struggle a bit.”
Gaspar looked drained, like he'd overworked his brain.
“Putting an old man through this... It's torture...”
“Then why not just half-ass it?”
“C-Couldn't do that.”
His daughter was there—he couldn't afford to look bad. He'd apparently wrung himself dry to put on a good show.
“Good work. Vacation for all three of you, so take it easy today.”
“Oho, much obliged. Looks like Miss Ymir's staying here... Mr. Gaspar, how about lunch together? We've got the day off—might as well have a drink.”
Olaf dragged Gaspar off, and half the groups were done.
*
*
*
Thirty minutes after Group 2 left.
“Taking forever... Ymir, could you prepare lunch? For everyone still here.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Truth be told, this test was meant to be finished in four hours.
That was the academy's time limit.
But it had already been over five. Curious what was holding them up, I decided to peek.
First, Group 1's room.
“Ahem!”
“Good grief...”
Lutger cleared his throat sternly while Lisitea sighed and shook her head.
Estelle sat between them, pouting.
Scratch! The moment Estelle wrote an answer to one of the problems.
“Ahehem!”
Lutger raised the volume of his throat-clearing, looking displeased. Estelle's pout deepened as she caught on.
“Hold on—that's basically cheating. Lutger, Lisitea, you too. If you're done, just sit quietly.”
“Huh...!”
Lutger sighed and squeezed his eyes shut.
Lisitea crossed her arms and stared out the window, as if to say there was no saving this.
Estelle looked up at me with a face on the verge of tears and asked,
“Lord Als took this tough test too, right?”
“Yeah, I did. Not... that hard?”
Any active academy student could get at least half right. With decent study, you could hit the low-to-mid 400s, like Beryl had.
“Just for reference... what did you and Erina score?”
“I got 599, and Erina was around 580, I think.”
“Gasp.”
Estelle froze solid.
“Ahehem!”
Lutger cleared his throat again, uncomfortably.
“Oh, and lunch will be ready soon—come down in about twenty minutes. You can finish the rest after.”
With that, I headed next to the room where Group 4 was taking the test.
They were blatantly cheating in here.
“Eo! Didn't I teach you that? How can you struggle on something this easy!”
“Au...”
“And Julia? That's wrong.”
“S-Sorry...”
Bisceta, having finished first, was openly coaching the other two.
“Bisceta, if you're done, stay quiet please.”
Bisceta vented her frustration.
“Argh! I can't just sit here—I'm getting too worked up. Mind if I step out for some air?”
“Sure, lunch is being prepped anyway. Come to the dining room after.”
“Phew... This is why I said to teach them harshly. The Saint King spoiled her rotten, and look at the once-brilliant girl now...!”
Bisceta grumbled as she left the room. The other two visibly relaxed, slumping in relief.
I sneaked a peek at Eonia's paper—still under 60% done.
“Hey, Eo, having a hard time? You can quit if it's too much.”
My offer seemed tempting—her eyes lit up. But she quickly hardened her expression and asked,
“Lord Als, has that Quinter punk finished?”
“Anton? Yeah, he finished and left already.”
“N-No way! What about scores!?”
“Haven't graded them yet.”
Eo dove back into her paper, as if every second counted.
Sister Julia was in sage mode, gazing at distant mountains out the window.
“Baby bro... Do you know why I became a cadet?”
“Nope, no idea.”
“Dad told me, 'Julia, you can never get into Pensilon Academy from the regular class—better go cadet route.'”
“...”
“Obviously. Even smarter Max oppa and Miller oppa bombed the exam and couldn't get in. How was I supposed to?”
“Uh, well...”
I had no words of comfort.
Still, she was doing better than Eo—around 80% done.
Just then, the bell rang from the dining room.
“Sis, let's eat first and pick it back up. You too, Eo.”
An awkward tension hung over the dining room.
Lutger sat with a stony face, sighing heavily, while Bisceta glared at Eo like she'd made some resolution.
Estelle and Eo stayed sullen, sensing their mentors' zeal for education.
It might've been fine up to there, but...
“Anyway, your group still not done? Kurabel's standards are clear now.”
Lisitea's snide remark lit the fuse.
Bisceta didn't let it slide.
“What gives you the right to say that?”
Eonia whispered a tattletale report, and Bisceta narrowed her eyes.
“Oho, didn't expect Florand zealots here.”
“Zealots!? You're the heretics!”
“Hmph, seems you know nothing. Florand has no right to speak to our Kurabel like that. So don't you dare insult Kurabel with that mouth!”
“Ha! A fallen nation still full of hot air!”
“Fallen or not, our pride endures. The pride a bunch like Florand could never have, even after eons. Hold on—you said Florand kin? You remind me of someone...”
Bisceta stared piercingly at Lisitea's face.
Lisitea flinched, goosebumps rising.
“You know someone named Kransia?”
“M-My mother, how...!”
“So you really are Kransia's daughter. No wonder—you've got her haughty airs down pat.”
Lisitea went on the defensive now. With no clue what connection this woman had to her mother, she grew cautious.
Eo giggled, smug at the sight.
Enraged, Lisitea prodded the innocent Estelle.
“Estelle, focus harder when we get back. You should at least be able to beat that girl.”
Bisceta shot back instantly.
“No matter how rusty Eo is, she won't lose to a child.”
Lutger even joined in, turning it into an Estelle vs. Eonia showdown.
Things were heading toward all-out cheating just to win, so after the meal, I decided to personally supervise Eonia and Estelle's tests.