Sword, Magic and Academic Society

Before 4:00 p.m., I returned to the Viscount residence.

When I returned, I saw Mother and Elder Sister fidgeting while waiting for me at the entrance. They hadn't asked anything about the exam in the past 3 days at all, but they must have been equally worried about it.

"Good work, Allen-kun!"

Elder Sister welcomed me with a content smile.

Well, it might seem like I was bragging, but I do take pride in the fact that I have given every ounce of power I could muster in these three months. Seeing the worry-free smile of my Elder Sister, I think my efforts paid off.

"You've done great. I can tell just by looking at your face, you must have given it your all, didn't you? Rose has worked hard to set up an appreciation party for tonight."

Mother was strict when it was necessary, but aside from that, she was often gentle. She smiled like a young girl. It was hard to believe she had raised four children.

I was truly blessed with my family.

"Mother, Sister, I'm back!"

I said with heartfelt gratitude.

◆

The next day, I came to check the results with my mother.

I did have confidence in myself. There was one uncertain element — that unkempt beard — in all this but I didn't think I would fail in the practical exam.

......In fact, I wanted to come here alone. However, when I informed my mother about my decision,

"If you really want to go alone, then I won't stop you. However, after seeing you shed so much sweat all this while, I do wish to watch the result of your effort by your side, regardless of the outcome."

After saying that, Mother beamed like a young girl.

"Fufufu. In fact, I have more confidence in your result than you have. Just think of it as filial piety, won't you share the joyful moment with me?"

There was no way I could reject her request when she said it like that. And that was how, accompanied by my guardian, I came to see the result.

Incidentally, there was also my Elder Sister who passionately talked about how 'I also believe in you', 'I also want to share the joyful moment with you', or at the end, 'I want to live together with you' line that didn't have any correlation with the exam. Though she was shot down by Mother saying "You have your school research, don't you?", bringing a pool of tears in her eyes with an aggrieved look.

◆

Going back in time— half a day before the result announcement.

The people related to the exam process in the Royal Academy were grading the tests in a flurry as they had dinner.

"Once more, Emmy. Please start once more at the training ground."

When asked by Godorfun Von Vanquish, who served as the vice-commander of the Kingdom's Knight Order until a few years ago, the current magic instructor didn't find any reason to refuse it.

Currently, the image of Allen entering the grounds was being projected on the monitor-like magic tool.

"Even you are looking at the image of his exam huh, Old man Godorfun? What about the grading for the Mage course?"

A burly giant with a body bursting with muscles, standing at a height of 2 meters and weighing around 120 kg, approached Godorfun.

Sporting short silver hair and matching color eyes, his gaze was tinted with gentleness, though he had a split chin in the end.

"Dante. The magic course doesn't have that many applicants. I have more or less seen them, so rest can handle them."

Dante came over to Godofrun's side and stared at the monitor together.

"Hmm...... He's walking so naturally...... He even reached the reception from the entrance, and then the way he closed the distance with Dew-san in a short moment, there really is no other interpretation, don't you think so?"

"That's what I was thinking. That soil was specially prepared for this exam with significantly less rebound and friction force. It was delivered yesterday evening, and I was the one who thought about the composition. The one that delivered it was also a reliable vendor. It's hard to imagine he had prior knowledge of it."

Just then, another man approached them.

"......And while the examinees were demonstrating their technique with their utmost effort, the examiners were in fact looking at their feet— their reflexes and mana manipulation sense. You really have one heck of a mean personality to come up with this exam, Old man Godorfun."

Justin Rock, the young man who had undertaken the duty of receptionist in the practical exam, approached them while grinning.

He was the genius who graduated from the Royal Academy this spring with excellent marks and got admission into the Kingdom's Knight Order. At the same time as his enrollment, he was also specially selected to help out in the long-established entrance exam of the Royal Academy.

This entrance exam was the gateway to nurture the pillars that would someday become the very support of the kingdom. One couldn't discount the possibility of information leaks, so the Academy had rigidly screened them based on their personality as well.

"Hmph. The petty skills they acquired in the countryside won't even get them to the lowest of positions at the Royal Academy. This year too, there was no lack of fools in the first half of examinees who pointlessly performed bold moves to show off their ample mana capacity. Good gracious, what did they think the initial mana capacity measurement was for? The practical exam is a way to check their growth potential. We don't need complicated systems to find those with talent."

Another figure approached.

"......Everyone, I understand that he is amusing but we also have to announce the result tomorrow by 10 a.m. You haven't forgotten it, right? Now if you can, please focus more on your work."

Mujikka Yugria, the one in charge of coordinating the physical exam grading floor for the knight course, approached and tactfully reminded them.

"I know… Hmm, but the soil was too easy for this brat."

Godorfun said while rubbing his white beard.

"Well, that's to be expected when he runs in the rain without slowing down his pacing much at all... I will say he really has a talent for mana manipulation."

Just as Dante had agreed with Godorfun's words with his face scrunched in a wry smile, the door to the floor opened.

The unkempt beard— Dew Owiel, the defense in-charge, and examiner dispatched by the Kingdom's Knight Order for the duration of the exam period, had just returned from his patrol. On the day of the exam, he was also silently acting as a bodyguard to the examinees.

The reason for the security could be traced back to 4 years ago when an absolute moron went berserk in the exam venue and injured more than 60 examinees.

"I knew the old man would think so, that's why I checked that guy's vessel."

Cracking his neck, Dew approached Godorfun and the others.

"Dew-san, have you finished chasing out the examinees?"

Mujika asked.

"Yeah, except for the related personnel, there is just one kitten on the Academy's premises."

"You're as efficient as ever......"

Mujikka shook her head in amazement.

With the arrival of the parties involved, the examiners who had been on the floor gathered around. Everyone was intrigued by the newly discovered toy (Allen).

"Aren't you a sly one, he was definitely coming toward me, but you snatched my chance...... It was hard to see him from a distance......"

Parch, the amicable-looking examiner who was popular among the examinees and whom Allen had an eye on, grumbled as he also joined the group.

"......Haa. Please keep it short...... And I am saying this again, but we need to announce the result at the main gate by 10:00 a.m. at any cost."

Mujika said with a deep sigh, and then shrewdly secured her spot between Dew and Godorfun, fully intent on listening to the details.

"So you heard us? Your hearing is as exceptional as ever. Anyway, can you tell us your thoughts after your spar with him?"

Godorfun inquired.

"Huh? Shouldn't it be obvious? Aside from his twisted personality, his mana manipulation sense clearly towers above others. As long as you beat that crooked spirit out of him a bit and nurture him, he might turn out to be quite formidable. As the examiner, my evaluation is 'S'."

The final evaluation score 'S' meant the student was ranked first in the evaluation. Each examiner could recommend only one 'S', and then, through discussion, it would be narrowed down to one person.

Following that, the recommendations for 'A' evaluations were limited to four examinees per examiner. The final 'A' results were then narrowed down to around 20 examinees through discussions. In this way, examiners determine the examinees they could recommend, and then decide on the final score of the examinees' scores.

Although tough examiners were more likely to have students eliminated, the number of students they could recommend remained constant. So being evaluated by the examiner who had a low number of examinees was more beneficial for evaluation.

"Well, that opening trick was met with mixed reviews after all. Though it gave me a really good laugh when I watched the video...... I get why some are skeptical about him as a knight, though many praise him as well, like old man Godurfun here. The unanimous agreement is that there's no problem."

Parch said with an amused smile.

"Of course. Who cares if the opponent is stronger or weaker, we fight to win! You can't aim for the top without such spirit. Those who haven't experienced war are just cowards!"

"If you ask me, It all depends on the time and situation though."

Young Justin said while shrugging his shoulders.

"...Also, about that. The initial overhead strike was a bait, sure enough. I had subtly monitored him from the moment he entered the training ground, and I didn't see him adjusting his mana circulation either. I thought I would just knock him back if he made a feeble strike, but I sure had underestimated him. So, it's not surprising that he saw through my stance, but......"

Closing his eyes, Dew recalled the feeling he had during the exam and continued.

"That brat probably had already concluded that his attacks wouldn't be able to make it through to me. Even though I declared I wouldn't counterattack, there was no hint of relief on his face whatsoever."

Dew spoke in annoyance.

"Fufufu. Sounds interesting. In fact, he's just to my liking. I'll be taking this guy."

"That's a no-go."

Mujikka instantly turned down Godorfun.

"Old man Godorfune, you've already decided to be in charge of the A-rank. We are currently evaluating which class he will be placed in so it all depends on his theoretical exam now."

"Hmm. In any field, there are no fools among geniuses. With such a high score in the practical exam, there's no way his academic abilities are just borderline pass."

Godorfun stated confidently.

"Even if he is not a fool, there's no lack of guys who can't study, right?"

Justin teased.

"......Wanna make a bet?"

Godorfun glared at him.

"That sounds interesting."

"Just perfect. I'll have you make up for yesterday's loss."

With Dew, who was always the one to get excited about betting, chiming in from the side, the members of the Knight Order who came to assist in the exam started joining the bet one after another. With their eagerness to bet, they looked more like ruffians than the kingdom's aces.

Editor's note - Lol at the kitten. Such a random detail. That kitten will be important, mark my words 😂

T/N - Wait for it, we will soon be having some good laughter in the upcoming chapters.