Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Venderford University
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It took a full month to travel from the eastern branch to Troven.
And that was only because I stopped at the guild's outposts to switch horses; otherwise, it would have taken twice as long.
Still, the long journey was unavoidably tedious.
"Finally here. Ugh, I'm so sick of this."
Venderford University was built on a plain about eight kilometers east of the capital.
It looked less like a school and more like a massive fortress.
I couldn't shake the feeling that they had chosen a site where Troven's defenses were weakest.
It was highly practical in a way, but the problem was its distance from the capital.
'Wait, this means I can't have any fun, can I?'
I had planned to visit Salon Mascal whenever I had free time to down some Garos Cuerre.
Just getting there and back would take an eternity.
I didn't know when classes ended, but it seemed best to forget about wandering around during the week.
As I approached the entrance on horseback, the soldiers on guard blocked my path.
"Halt!"
They appeared to be the guards protecting Venderford.
I couldn't tell which unit they belonged to, but they were quite well-trained.
They didn't stop me for any particular reason.
It was just a routine identity check.
When I showed them my admission certificate and the identification issued by Count Ruberic, the soldiers quickly cleared the way.
"You can leave your horse at the stables inside."
I slowly guided my horse toward the location the soldier indicated.
After crossing a drawbridge and passing through thick castle walls, I came upon a road paved with flat stones.
The architectural style and craftsmanship were quite similar to Troven's inner castle.
Seeing the effort put into it, I could tell the emperor was paying close attention.
'Well, it's the place where his successor will be forged. Of course he'd be invested.'
It wasn't as grand as Black Scale Island, but Venderford had its own majestic charm.
The large, clean-lined main building, the dormitories, and the four soaring spires blended together harmoniously.
The grounds were so vast that it didn't feel crowded at all.
As I was admiring the magnificent structures, someone suddenly approached me.
"Are you a new student?"
"Yes."
"Please give me the reins."
The man who spoke to me was dressed in a neat, imperial-style suit.
He appeared to be the stable hand.
Venderford was clearly a place that rejected the ordinary.
Even an employee working in the stables had a clean-cut appearance and seemed well-versed in etiquette.
"The entrance ceremony begins at eleven. Please make your way to the main hall without delay."
"Understood."
After handing over my horse, I followed the stable hand's directions and headed for the main building.
I was curious about the purpose of the spacious training ground and various outer buildings I glimpsed, but there wasn't much time.
'Sightseeing can wait.'
As I quickened my pace, I began to see students here and there.
Most of them were walking around, scanning their surroundings with eyes full of curiosity, just like me.
"Why do we have to walk? It looks like a carriage could easily get through. Now, get out of my way!"
But there were also those who couldn't shed their sense of entitlement and were arguing with the stable hand.
"Horses are not permitted on campus."
"I know, but *why* not? Are you defying the authority of the Railton family?"
"It is a rule established by His Majesty, the Emperor. If you wish to protest, take it up with the Imperial Palace."
"..."
Of course, the mere mention of the emperor's strict command shut him up completely.
'The ancient sage, Master Jirobo, once said: if there are five people, one of them will be trash.'
The law of conservation of assholery, I suppose.
Anyway, the name sounded quite familiar.
Wasn't the Railton family the marquisate in the northern empire I infiltrated a while back to rescue Rovic?
I glanced over and saw a young man with striking, reddish-brown curly hair.
'He looks like a real troublemaker.'
Puffy, petulant cheeks and arrogant eyes.
I had a feeling his personality was absolute garbage.
And sure enough, the guy stomped away, huffing with a face full of discontent.
He looked like he wanted to kick something, but there wasn't even a single loose stone on the ground.
"Please, let's not get involved."
Shaking my head, I quickened my pace.
Nothing good could come from crossing paths with an arrogant psycho.
I had to remember that right now, I was just the son of a merchant, a student admitted through a donation.
When I entered the auditorium, students who had already arrived were gathered in small groups, chatting.
The initial sizing-up seemed to be over, as they had already formed cliques with people they knew.
Of course, there were also people like me, standing awkwardly on the outskirts.
They were probably commoners admitted through donations or recommendations.
'They talked about political competence, and they're already experts at forming factions, huh?'
The first person to catch my eye was a man with a constant smile, who was leading the atmosphere.
He had short black hair, red eyes, a tall stature, and a solid build. An impressive figure.
That must be the empire's second prince, Frantz Vertos.
They said he was talented in swordsmanship, and indeed, he looked quite skilled.
He was also rather handsome, which would be advantageous for building a political base.
It's always easier for good-looking guys to win people over.
I'd only read his profile and nicknamed him 'punk,' and somehow, it felt like a perfect fit.
'Then that one over there must be the third prince.'
If Frantz was leading the largest group, the second largest was definitely led by the third prince, Ellington.
A handsome young man with a relatively slender build, long black hair, and captivating blue eyes.
He didn't have the gloomy aura described in the mission briefing's appendix.
He was just a bit quiet and didn't lead the conversations.
From a distance, the tendencies of the two groups seemed quite different.
Frantz's group was lively, while Ellington's was calm.
"The vibe is different, but I can't say one has the upper hand."
Especially since Adel, called the comet of the ducal family, and Sophia, the heir of the Pennant family, were with Ellington.
So even though his group was slightly smaller, the third prince didn't seem to be at a major disadvantage.
Anyway, I never expected to see that woman, Sophia, here again.
I had been using the Seven-Joint Face-Changing Technique almost exclusively outside, so there was no risk of blowing my mission from the start.
'Hmm. That side is a flower garden.'
I gazed appreciatively at Ellington's entourage for a moment before looking away.
Besides those two groups, there were various other members of the top tier.
The direct descendants of the four great families, crown princes from various nations, and heirs of regional marquisates were among them.
Among them, there were a few familiar faces.
'...Mac Ties?'
The blue-haired boy I had met at the Black Market had grown into a young man and now stood before me.
He was one of the very few outsiders who knew my real face and name.
True to his reclusive family, Mac seemed quite uncomfortable in the auditorium, which was teeming with all sorts of people.
Huddled in a corner, communing with the earth spirits, he looked every bit the outsider.
'I was wondering when I'd get to repay him for the Black Dragon Sword. Looks like the day has come sooner than expected.'
The fact that he knew my true identity didn't make me particularly uncomfortable.
I had altered my appearance with the Seven-Joint Face-Changing Technique, so he wouldn't recognize me anyway.
The next person to catch my eye after Mac Ties was from the Felton family.
'Wow, anyone can tell he's a Felton. It's practically written on his forehead.'
A man with a sturdy build, fiery red hair, and a massive greatsword slung over his shoulder.
A bold fashion choice, wearing only a sleeveless leather vest despite the rather chilly weather.
He looked as if his brain had been taken over by bravado.
'If he's a direct descendant around my age, it can only be him. Kamil Felton.'
I recalled Kamil's profile from the mission briefing's appendix.
Not much was known about him, but he too exuded an extraordinary aura.
After all, would a tiger sire a dog?
Even though he was the third son, he was the child of Simeon, the Vast Heaven Great Emperor, so he was undoubtedly a formidable guy.
Other than them, I didn't see many others who seemed to be from the highest echelons.
Of course, it could just be that my knowledge is limited.
"Move."
*Thump.*
Just then, an irritable voice came from behind me.
'Ah, right. That piece of trash was here too.'
Bizolt, the heir of Railton who had argued with the stable hand, pushed people aside as he entered the auditorium.
Seeing them step aside without a word, they must have been students from the lowest tier, admitted through donations or recommendations.
That must be why that punk was acting so rudely.
"It's been a while, Your Highness, the Second Prince. Ah! But you'll soon be the Crown Prince, so perhaps I should start addressing you as such?"
"Haha! Nothing has been decided yet, so please, continue as you were."
The sight of him sucking up to the second prince, Frantz, was utterly disgusting.
He looked ready to lick his boots.
As I started to look away in disgust, my eyes fell on a woman with dark brown hair, her face hidden behind a fan.
'I knew she'd be here.'
The one haughtily observing the scene with only her eyes visible was my third sister and nemesis, Isabel.
Unlike me, she had apparently enrolled in Venderford as a direct descendant of the Rantzverger family.
She probably knew about my disguise and alias, so it was only a matter of time before Isabel figured it out.
Of course, that didn't mean she would interfere with my mission.
She could be a bit of an airhead, but she wasn't that stupid.
'So when the hell is this entrance ceremony going to start?'
A considerable amount of time had passed since I entered the auditorium, yet no one had appeared on the stage.
The students were just standing around, chatting amongst themselves.
Those who didn't belong to the main cliques stared at the stage with perpetually bored expressions.
Myself included.
But then, suddenly, the air seemed to grow heavy.
The red curtain at the back of the auditorium swayed, and the sound of heavy footsteps echoed.
*Thud!*
The resounding impact, which seemed to press down on both body and soul, caused the atmosphere in the hall to plummet.
The murmuring chatter had already vanished.
There wasn't a single student who couldn't feel that heavy presence.
The energy radiating into the auditorium was that powerful.
Just as everyone's gaze was fixed on the being beyond the curtain...
*Kwoooosh!*
A wave of energy, far more intense than before, surged out, and the red curtain was thrown wide open.
"Hngh!"
"Ughhh!"
At the same time, groans erupted from all over.
It was the sound of students collapsing, one by one, unable to withstand the pressure.
*Kuuuung!*
But the storm-like presence showed no signs of abating.
On the contrary, its intensity only grew.
Finally, the being who had parted the curtain stepped onto the stage, scanned the assembly, and spoke.
"Welcome to Venderford."