Chapter 14
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Scene 014 Enrollment
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The ride in the Ruelverta family carriage was always smooth.
From the wheels to the interior materials, it was a custom-made luxury vehicle.
I could say it rivaled the comfort of a high-end sedan in the real world.
Well, actually, I'd never ridden in a luxury sedan.
The only taxi I'd ever taken was the last one of the night when I missed the final bus.
To enjoy a luxury I could never afford in reality by becoming a game charactertruly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Wendy was gazing out the window, her eyes sparkling.
A perfectly age-appropriate reaction for a twelve-year-old.
"Wendy."
"Y-Yes, yessir!"
"Where's your hometown?"
I folded the newspaper and tucked it into the compartment in the carriage.
Wendy answered hesitantly.
"Um... It's a place called Riht. Y-You probably haven't heard of it, milord."
"Hm."
She was right; I had no idea.
Even I, a lore fanatic, had never heard of it, so it must be pretty remote.
"Then this must be your first time in Luddrow."
"Yes! I've seen it from afar, but this is my first time actually coming here."
Luddrow.
The imperial capital of the Meikahel Empire.
The heart of the empire and its largest city.
Nestled along a river and surrounded by mountains on all sides, it resembled Seoul in Korea.
Probably reflected So-ra's tastes.
Still, there was one big difference from Seoul.
The most significant was that this city was protected by magic.
The carriage passed through the grand standing gates.
At the same time, we crossed a barrier resembling the aurora of the North Pole.
And with that, a change came over our carriage.
"Ooh...! It got cold all of a sudden!"
She was right.
Luddrow was protected by the ice barrier of the prestigious Elsink family.
As such, the interior of the barrier was always winter.
"Hee..."
Wendy breathed out, fascinated by the sight.
Normally, she would have fidgeted restlessly in the carriage, but the thrill of arriving in the capital for the first time in her life had her reacting just like any kid her age.
Thinking about it, in both the original novel and the game, Wendy's life was nothing but misfortune.
Beaten to death by Tristan, dying of illness, or caught in some random accidenttake your pick.
And each of her deaths triggered Tristan's downfall.
I had no intention of letting that happen.
Wendy, puffing out frosty breaths, shivered from the cold.
I took off the coat I was wearing and handed it to her.
"Put it on."
"Y-Yes... Huh?!"
Wendy jumped in surprise and waved her hands frantically.
"I-I couldn't possibly wear something like this...!"
"You'll catch a cold."
"I-I'm from the countryside, so I don't get colds!"
Yeah. No, you do. There's even an ending where you die from one.
But saying that wouldn't help, so I went with the simplest approach.
"That's an order."
"..."
Wendy bowed her head at those words.
To a servant like her, an order was absolute.
Wendy hesitantly took the coat.
"B-But what about you, milord...? Aren't you cold?"
"It's nothing."
My thick layer of fat helped, but now I had 'Patience' anyway, so I could handle it just fine.
I casually draped the coat over Wendy.
Just in case she tried to take it off easily, I buttoned it up tight.
"Huee..."
Wendy didn't know what to do.
It was oversized, giving her a total oversized fit.
The silver lining was that the coat was so high-end it made her look like a noble lady at a glance.
Hm. Not bad.
Very satisfying.
Just then, Wendy, who had been bowing her head deeply, spoke up.
"Um, milord...! I have a question..."
Oh?
"What is it?"
For her to ask first like this.
I found the situation intriguing and decided to listen closely.
!..
....
"Th-That is... Why did you make me your exclusive maid, milord?"
Ah, so that's it.
Wendy clutched the coat collar uncertainly and huddled up.
"I'm the youngest and most inexperienced in the mansion... I still mess up chores and make lots of mistakes. I'm sure... I won't be of any help to you, milord..."
"Wendy."
"Y-Yes!"
"You're already helping me."
"Eh...? Me?"
Wendy looked incredulous as she asked back.
"Yes. You're always clumsy and making mistakes. Sometimes you seem like a total fool."
"D-Dye?!"
"But."
The carriage came to a stop.
I slowly stood from my seat.
"Even so, you keep trying. No matter how many times you fail, you never give up."
"Th-That's just because I'm no good..."
"I have high expectations for you."
"......"
Wendy fell deep into thought.
That should be enough.
What she needed right now was confidence.
I stepped out of the carriage as is.
Wendy, following behind, looked around in wonder.
"Wh-Where... is this?"
The first thing that caught the eye was the massive arch-shaped gate.
Beyond it stretched a pristine, snow-covered campus.
"Is this... a school?"
"Meikahel University."
"M-Meikahel University?! This place?"
"Yes. Do you know it?"
The empire's top educational institution and the forefront of magical education.
Only the most elite could set foot through its gates.
"Y-Yes... This is where all the smart people go..."
"It's the school you'll be attending from now on."
"......Dye?"
Wendy gave me a look like she couldn't follow the conversation.
"If you're my exclusive maid, you have to be the best in every way."
"Y-Yes? Th-That makes sense...?"
"Exactly. So naturally, you should have the ability to attend the empire's top university, right?"
Wendy's face drained of color.
Mondri kept wiping sweat from his brow.
In his youth, he had risen to the position of royal court mage with his exceptional magical talent.
And he had devoted fifty long years to the royal family.
Now, as retirement age approached, the royal family had granted him the prestigious position of president at Meikahel University, hailed as the empire's finest.
It was truly an honor.
Until then, no one had ever obstructed Mondri's smooth career.
Except for one man.
'MILLIum Ruelverta...'
That man had blocked Mondri's path at every turn.
How could he not resent it?
For a man who couldn't cast a single spell to nitpick someone who was practically a sage.
It was utterly unforgivable.
Yet, it was also unavoidable.
The funds for the royal-founded Meikahel University came not from the national treasury, but from the Ruelverta family.
One misstep with that house, and he could lose even the presidency.
So when Mondri heard Millium had died, he rejoiced more than anyone.
Now, he had nothing to fear.
"Sir Mondri."
"Yes."
A cold voice calling his name.
It was a voice Mondri knew well.
"Have you understood me?"
Mondri looked at the man before him.
A rather plump young man.
He exuded a presence that filled the spacious president's office.
Mondri thought the only one who had ever been so bold in his presence was the late Millium Ruelverta...
"Yes, milord Count. You've come to apply for enrollment. However... that's a bit difficult."
"Why?"
"The application period ended yesterday."
"Then what's this?"
Tristan extended his hand, and the girl beside him placed a newspaper on it.
He pointed to a specific page for Mondri.
None other than the Meikahel University admissions schedule.
"This is... the special admissions selection schedule."
"Isn't there still time left?"
"Heh heh. Unfortunately, we've already selected all our special admits this year."
"All of them?"
Count Tristan asked back.
A mocking, unpleasant demeanor.
It reminded Mondri of the dead Millium.
"Even though the application period hasn't ended?"
"Yes... You may not know this, milord, but it's standard to select outstanding students early before other schools snatch them up."
It wasn't wrong.
Special admissions applicants were all children of high nobles.
Each one overflowing with talent.
To secure the best students first, it was unavoidable.
"So even if it's your request, milord..."
"Request?"
"?"
At that moment, Mondri flinched.
A chill pierced every corner of his body.
He nearly deployed a defensive spell without thinking.
Tristan spoke.
"When did I ever say I was requesting anything from you?"
It wasn't magic.
Not some clever trick either.
It was... the fury emanating from the young man before him.
The young man's rage sharpened like a blade, poised to strike Mondri.
"Sir Mondri. Say that again."
It was like a nightmare where the dead Millium had come back to life; Mondri shuddered.
"Does this really look like a request to you?"