How to Survive at the Academy

Chapter 5: 6 Days Before School Starts (1)

[Newly Crafted Product]

Low-Grade Fishing Rod

Made from a tree branch polished by a dagger, repurposed silk threads from fabric, and a small nail as a replacement for a hook.

It has poor durability.

Difficult to determine whether a fish has bitten or not due to the lack of a fishing float.

Production Difficulty Level: ●○○○○

《 Production completed. Production skills have increased. 》

I realized that the biggest drawback to harpoon fishing was the fact that it required too much energy.

So I thought about using a fishing rod and made one instead. There were a lot of branches for me to use so I just chose the one closest to the right size.

I then found a fabric among my belongings made of silk. I pulled a few threads out and layered them to use as the fishing line.

I also had to take one of the small nails attaching the hinge of one of my wooden suitcases. I ended up breaking one of the bags as I didn’t have a claw hammer to take it out.

In the end, I had a fishing rod, low-grade as it may be. For bait, I was able to obtain earthworms from under the rocks near the stream.

With everything ready, I threw the line into the water.

I sat down by the stream and waited for a fish to bite.

“Hmm…”

It wasn’t so bad sitting down waiting, chin in my hand. Compared to running around in the water and getting drenched, this felt as though I have become some sort of god.

“It would be great if this succeeds.”

I remembered when I was young, running around the mountains and streams in my childhood. I had no worries back then, no fear of dying from hunger. I was able to just be happy. Thinking back on those times made me feel emotional for some reason.

“Hmm… I don't think I did anything wrong.”

I thought of pointless things as I held onto my fishing rod, wondering if I made the right decision telling Princess Penia about the golden marble.

“I should be more careful next time.”

My biggest advantage was knowing everything that would happen at Silvenia Academy in the future.

But if I were to do something useless and end up changing the future… then wouldn’t I have just thrown away my own advantage?

According to what I knew, Princess Penia wasn’t supposed to find the golden marble.

If it were to follow the story, the person who was supposed to find the location of that marble was someone named ‘Lazy Lucy’.

She was a talented person who always placed 1st in the Magic Department, starting from the class assignment examination all the way to graduation.

“Well, in my defense, that was the only plan I could come up with in that dire situation.”

It couldn't be helped, the more pressing matter was to make sure that Princess Penia wouldn’t expel me from school.

I knew desperately begging and appealing to her emotions would be the worst thing I could do.

While the best thing was to make her strangely suspicious of me so she feels that she shouldn’t kick me out of the academy.

It wasn't the most convenient choice, but I thought it wouldn't be too dangerous. Although it was an unusual stance to take.

If someone were to ask me what kind of bullshit excuse I was saying… Well, I would have nothing else to say. I mean, it's not that difficult to talk crap, to be honest.

* * *

Professor Glast was known as the ‘rude skull-faced bastard’ amongst the students.

It wasn't unusual for students to give teachers mean nicknames. However, even Professor Glast’s nickname could be considered a bit too harsh. Although the reason for it was rather accurate, the professor was both rude and resembled a skeleton.

“I will announce the results of yesterday's Class Assignment Examination.”

The busiest and most well-maintained area was Phillis Hall, located in the southeast part of the island. All the freshmen students from the Magic Department sat waiting while Professor Glast was on the podium.

He had a scrawny and pale appearance. And due to his neatly slicked back light-green hair, his bony facial features were more prominent.

“First off, all of you ‘brats’ who came back within the first hour will all start in Class F.”

The entire hall became noisy at his words.

“Next, all of you ‘brats’ who thought for a bit then brought back lots of marbles, you still have room for improvement, at the very least. Depending on the type of marbles you brought, you will be assigned to a class ranging from Class E to Class D.”

Looking down on the students and having the attitude to keep calling them ‘brats’ was already quite rude. Among these students are famous aristocrats, powerful and wealthy people, and even royalty–and yet, he didn’t care.

It was law in Silvenia Academy. When it comes to education, the hierarchy shouldn't be important.

It was considered separate from the lifestyle and personal relationships of the students. Learning was an even playing field.

“There are only three students accepted into Class A where they will be guaranteed the highest level of treatment and education–Lortel, Lucy, and Ziggs. Among them is Lucy, who came on top of the class. As for the rest of you, you can check your position on the list I distributed. I do not accept appeals. That will be all.”

After his speech, chaos ensued once again. Professor Glast tried to come down from the podium, dusting off the fabric of his robe.

- “What is the meaning of this? I can’t accept this!”

- “The criteria wasn’t even clear. Did you just randomly assign our classes?”

- “Please explain yourself! What were the intentions of this test and what skills did you want to see?!”

* * *

Translator - Plumper

Proofreader - kianianian

* * *

Some students loudly complained amidst the commotion. Professor Glast went back to the podium, as if he had already expected this reaction, and cast Voice Expansion on himself.

“The intention… why should I have to explain any of that?”

Everyone was shocked by his words. Princess Penia was shocked herself.

The princess looked at the issued list and was left speechless.

The freshmen were divided into six levels: Class F to Class A.

Only three students made it into Class A and not a single student made it into Class B or C. The remaining students were all split into Class D, E, and F. Princess Penia’s name was listed under Class D. And even then, she couldn’t believe that her rank was already in the top 10%.

“If you want to get into a higher class, then prove your ability. That’s what you need to do.”

The situation was more ridiculous than the princess had thought.

She felt humiliated but soon shook her head.

Before the entrance ceremony, the headmaster already talked about this. Once she entered Silvenia Academy, there would be many cases where she would not be treated comparably to her authority as a princess.

It was Princess Penia herself who decided to escape her grand but impractical training room to learn magic at Silvenia Academy on equal footing with everyone else.

She was ready to accept this humiliation.

But she still needed to understand.

“Even then, at the very least, you can explain the situation a bit more, Sir Glast.”

The words left her lips.

She didn’t raise her voice, but the murmuring ceased at once. Everyone was already aware.

That here with them was a princess of the kingdom.

As a student, she temporarily placed the importance of her status behind her, but she couldn’t completely erase her inherent noble nature.

“Princess Penia, I’m sorry to say this but this is my education policy.”

A cold gaze.

She had felt that very same gaze from the many vassals who sat next to the king, vassals who were knowledgeable in their abilities and ways. Professor Glast’s eyes contained that same specific coldness.

Using her Insightful Eyes, she could definitely see it, a feeling that she felt so often that she was already sick and tired of it.

“But… If Princess Penia says so, I will make an exception just this one time.”

And that attitude of willingly ignoring his own rules was also similar.

“However, even if I tell you, I just know you will all misunderstand and say I made the reason up. To prevent this, I will have the top student explain it instead. Lucy Mayreel? Lucy?”

The professor called Lucy’s name but there was no answer.

“Ms. Lucy? She should be here right now. Ms. Lucy?”

Another commotion broke out as the students looked around, trying to find where Luxy was.

“Ugh… Keugh…”

Just then, the girl sitting two seats ahead of Princess Penia reacted.

She looked a bit disoriented. The witch hat that covered her face was much bigger than her head, so much so that even her shoulders were covered. Her frame was so small that even the sleeves of her robes were hanging off her arms.

“Were you dozing off?”

“Ah… yes… I dozed off…”

Her voice itself sounded drowsy, coupled with her droopy eyes that made her look tired.

She even admitted that she had dozed off. She was clearly one of those… weirdos.

“Would you like to come up to the podium for a moment and discuss the intention and methods you used to solve the test?”

Lucy’s eyes shook at the professor’s suggestions.

It was obvious she was annoyed.

“Do I have to do it… now?”

Tension filled the air at her words. She just openly said, ‘It’s bothersome,’ in front of Professor Glass, someone who was known to be extremely rude.

However, some of the students who had heard certain rumors about Professor Glast weren’t very surprised at his answer.

“That’s right.”

“Uuek…”

The professor was extremely harsh to the untalented but was merciful to those who are.

Professor Glast was that kind of person.

“Kgghh… Ackk…! Kyaaak!”

Lucy threw her wide-brimmed witch hat to the empty seat next to her. She stretched both her arms and legs wide apart like a baby cat who just woke up from a deep nap.

She stood up like a caterpillar. Although it would be more apt to say she looked like a sloth.

“You may answer there if you don’t want to come all the way here. Just explain how you found the golden marble in ‘The Guardian Tree of Merilda’.”

“If you don’t want to come all the way to the podium, you may answer there. You can just explain how you found the golden marble in ‘The Guardian Tree of Merilda.’”

“Ah, really? Uhm… this should be quick then.”

Half-sitting on her chair, Lucy began to explain as if it were nothing.

“It’s what Glockt, the archmage, defined… The three qualities of an archmage who seeks truth. Magic resonance, quick and accurate judgment, and the will to explore. You wanted to check if we had these qualities, right?”

The name that was written the largest in all magic history textbooks was that of the archmage Glockt. The qualities of an archmage he defined were quite well-known.

“Uhmm… I was just taking a nap nearby and when I woke up, the sun was already setting... So I just gathered the magic marbles that I could sense around me.”

The students began to lose interest as Lucy mumbled on. However, Professor Glast was still waiting patiently for her to finish.

“Of course, no one else could have located that marble except for me.”

Her words sounded arrogant, but the way she said it couldn’t be considered as such.

The tone she used to explain was nothing but reciting an obvious ‘fact’, like the sun rising in the east or a glass cup breaking if it fell to the ground. She stated her words as if it was nothing special.

As she continued to elaborate through her drowsiness, the other students felt a sense of incompatibility.

A genius.

Someone that can’t be explained logically.

Lucy Mayreel was someone who was born with innate talent.

And those like her would surely manifest their unique prowess.