Episode 217
* * *
At the Academy, students take tests to assess how much they have learned, how much they have realized, and how much they have changed from before.
Twice per semester.
Midterms and finals.
The subjects taken may differ slightly from department to department, but broadly speaking, they are of two types: practical and written.
Among them, the most important part is the practical part, and among them, the major exam is given a lot of weight.
Traditionally, the academy only holds major exams on the first day.
Students in the swordsmanship or magic department spar with instructors. Other instructors who watch the sparring give the students a score, which is the major score.
In the case of technical fields such as the Department of Swordsmanship or the Department of Magic, the most certain and simple way to make an evaluation is through sparring.
This is also a tradition of its own, and it is actually quite effective.
So what do you score?
This is also simple.
Judgment, concentration, boldness, and daring. And further, genius and competitive spirit, etc.
Even endurance.
Evaluate all of this.
“cadet.”
I thought while stretching leisurely.
I don’t know about anything else, but I plan on taking the major exam.
Because the criteria for evaluating students based on their major exams on the first day are a system that the teacher created in the past and an absolute standard for judging students who failed.
It’s worth watching to that extent.
I can’t be a failure.
I walked leisurely towards the academy.
Harold was sitting next to me.
It looks really leisurely.
And the gazes looking at me from the side are also unusual.
“What? Do you have something to say?”
“I used to, but I just decided not to do it.”
Oh, really.
“Is this really a fake biography? It’s just like Roland.”
“……yes?”
“Roland looked at me like you do now and said this.”
“What did you say?”
“He wants to have me.”
“……yes?”
Advertisements
The more I think about it, the more I laugh.
“He said he wanted me, even though the words were a little different. Hey, didn’t you get goosebumps the moment you heard it?”
Harold, who was momentarily embarrassed, eventually chuckled.
There is a saying that a child knows his father well, and it seems that Harold has figured out why his father, Roland, was like that.
“I think he must have recognized the value of Confucius. Unlike me, who is only a merchant in name, my father is a true merchant. He must have felt that his relationship with Confucius was more important than anything else. But I find it very strange that he said he wanted one.”
“Why is that?”
Harold makes a curious expression.
To be exact, it should be called an expression of admiration.
He made a face of wonder and admiration. He also had a really amazing talent.
“I never once saw or heard my father say out loud that he wanted anything.”
“okay?”
“Yes, if my father wanted something, he would go through the proper process. He kept his beliefs and never caused any problems. He also never showed it. He kept the proper price, the proper process, everything. That’s how he got it. But the fact that he said he wanted it himself… … I think that’s probably why he had this intention in mind.”
I guess I should say it’s fun to listen to.
I’m a little curious.
“So what does that mean?”
Harold laughs.
“Father realized that no matter what he did or how he tried, he could never have Confucius. It was a regret for wanting to have him but not being able to. At least that’s how I, his son, see it.”
Why are there so many people praising me these days?
Who do you know as a real kid?
Oh, really.
“First of all, thank you for the compliment. But you are right. Who in this world would dare take me?”
I turned my head and looked at the teacher sitting on my shoulder.
“Even if you take it, I’ll take it. Right, Master?”
The teacher chuckles.
Then Harold asked again.
“Do you know about that?”
“what?”
“When the Kingdom Alliance was launched, there were several proposals, one of which was to expand exchanges between the academies.”
“I’ve heard of it.”
I’m sure I’ve heard of it.
There was a time when I sat down with my father and had a brief conversation when Agares was trembling over his intention to ascend to the throne.
We talked very lightly back then.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
I think this might have been the conclusion.
“We’ll select the top few percent of ‘talent’ from each kingdom’s academy, hold separate competitions in each kingdom, award big prizes and awards to the winners, and blah blah blah… That kind of thing?”
“Yes. I remember. As you know, Your Majesty, each kingdom’s academy has a similar system. The Teslan Academy was the original. However, the established faculties are different. Some academies only have an administrative department and no military department, and some do not have an administrative department. The common faculties are the fencing and magic departments. That is why this competition is held for students from the fencing and magic departments… … .”
Advertisements
I thought the story would be too long, so I just raised my hand to interrupt Harold.
“Just tell me the conclusion clearly.”
Harold laughs.
“We would like to send all students who are in the top 5% of their majors in the Department of Swordsmanship and the Department of Magic to participate in the ‘1st Kingdom Alliance competition’, i.e. the Academy War, to be held on November 8th.”
That was the main point.
To be honest, I didn’t think much of it, so it’s a bit sudden.
Academy War.
“Where is it being hosted?”
“This is the ‘Ismael Academy’ of the Kingdom of Ishmael.”
Why did they suddenly pop out?
“What about the prize money?”
“In the swordsmanship category, the first place winner will receive one of the ten greatest swords on the continent, ‘Extelia’, the second place winner will receive 1 million gold, and the third place winner will receive 500,000 gold.”
I burst out laughing.
“What about the magic department?”
“The first place winner will receive the 8th staff of the continent, ‘Doom Miller’, the second place winner will receive 1 million gold, and the third place winner will receive 500,000 gold.”
Wow. Oh my god.
“Host… … So the host country changes every year, so if the first prize is a famous sword, wouldn’t the prize change every time the host country changes?”
“That’s right. King Ishmael was particularly active in hosting this event.”
“That’s strange. Did Ishmael have that much money? Enough to throw a famous sword with such ease?”
“That’s a little unexpected. But it’s Ishmael. The most powerful of the five kingdoms. There’s definitely a lot of money. But this time, it was a little strange.”
“What’s weird?”
“Extelia and Doom Miller are almost cultural assets. In particular, Extelia is a great sword personally used by the current King of Ishmael, ‘Tem-Samit Ishmael’, and Doom Miller is said to be the worst staff used by a black magician who briefly appeared in the world 300 years ago. It has collectible value just by holding it. King Ishmael himself put these up, which shows his determination to hold the tournament in his kingdom no matter what. In fact, all the kings gave up on selecting the first host after seeing the two artifacts put up by Tem-Samit. This is because they realized Samit’s determination to hold it in Ishmael no matter what.”
“Why did you do that? Is there anyone you want to see?”
Harold shrugs.
“I don’t know. I’m not King Ishmael.”
That’s how I arrived at the academy.
He raised his hand and patted Harold on the shoulder.
“Then I’ll go take the test, so you go do your work.”
“Yes… … Well, it’s a bit much to ask you to look carefully, but please be gentle. Among those who are judging, there are quite a few users from our battlefield.”
He shrugged.
You don’t know me at all.
I control my strength when I play with kids.
If we don’t do it, we’ll all die.
It’s a little disappointing not to know that.
* * *
Advertisements
Arrived at the Magic Faculty Examination Hall.
But is this just a coincidence?
By pure coincidence, you can see Lord Matap entering the examination room.
I greeted him right away.
Politely.
“Hey, Lord Matap. I didn’t recognize you. Your divine power has become brighter.”
“Heh heh, does that look right?”
“Who would think you’re in your 50s? I’d believe you if you said you were almost in your 20s.”
“It’s not that bad, so don’t praise me too much. Hehehe.”
But this is no joke.
Our Lord Matap, you have definitely changed.
I should say that it looks light overall.
It doesn’t mean that he is a very light-hearted person, but it feels like he has temporarily put down a burden he was carrying.
People who show that kind of appearance usually have developed in some way compared to before, but it seems like our Lord Matap is still growing.
Oh, and.
“I came to take the test.”
“… … .”
“What’s wrong? You look so surprised.”
“… … It’s not that you’re senile, but you do sometimes forget things, you’re 14 years old. Huh… … .”
“Why are you looking at me like I’m looking at a monster? So sad.”
Bellamy chuckled and pointed towards the entrance to the tower with his hand.
“… … Go to the person in charge over there and file a report. But.”
What are you trying to say?
“Are you okay?”
“……yes?”
I was so embarrassed that I ended up asking again.
Are you okay?
Me, of all people?
I’m not sick at all.
“Those who know you know that you are no longer at the level of a fourteen-year-old. And yet here you are, talking to me, the head of the Faculty of Magic. In such a public setting.”
I ended up laughing faintly.
What was that?
“It might seem to other kids that I’m being given a lot of favoritism by the instructors?”
It wouldn’t be a leap.
“As you know.”
Advertisements
“Because kids are kids?”
Bellamy smiles faintly.
“Yeah, kids are kids.”
I slowly turned my head.
Hundreds of little kids looking this way.
Among them, some have dried blood on their heads and some do not.
Those who know see as much as they know, and those who don’t know see as much as they don’t know.
No matter what I do, there will inevitably be people who doubt me.
Because that’s the world.
He put his hands in his pockets and turned his head.
