Chapter 16: Anyway, I will serve you well (5)

The first day of midterms. Morning.

“Adam, did you study?”

Prince Ellen asked, looking at my confident expression. Study?

“I’m fully prepared.”

I’d been through the wringer of private education since kindergarten, and twelve years of compulsory education followed by university was the norm in my past life. I understood the importance of tests better than anyone.

“Practical scores are weighted more heavily in the Swordsmanship Department.”

The grading system was thirty percent theory, seventy percent practical. In other words, as long as you aced the practical, you could flunk the theory and still graduate without a problem.

“…So, you didn’t study.”

“Why would I?”

Prioritization. I wasn’t trying to get a job with good grades at the Imperial Academy. I was already employed by the Leon Kingdom, a major power. As long as my grades weren’t abysmal, I was fine. Besides, I didn’t have time to study.

Incidents during academy events were a given. For the sake of this damned ropan male lead’s daily life, I, a royal laborer, was destined to toil tirelessly.

“Studying is a student’s duty.”

“…That’s for ordinary students. What’s the point of getting good grades here? Are you going to abandon the kingdom and get a job in the Empire?”

It was a rhetorical question, but it gave me pause. Come to think of it, hadn’t Violet said he stayed in the Empire even after graduating from the academy?

“W-Why are you looking at me like that?”

His flustered reaction made him even more suspicious. Should I submit a report recommending his recall to the kingdom, using the academy attack as an excuse?

“Just do well on your exams.”

“That’s not what your face is saying.”

If you know, then act accordingly. I couldn’t say that, so I headed to the classroom, and Prince Ellen tagged along.

Soon, the exam began. I received the test paper…

“Hmm.”

I was momentarily disheartened by the lack of multiple-choice questions, only essays. But as long as I didn’t get a zero, I was fine. I hadn’t studied, but I’d attended the lectures diligently.

I could answer about a third of the questions confidently, and I could at least write something plausible for another third. Would I get partial credit? It didn’t matter. After finishing three subjects, the day was over. The next day was the same.

And on the third day, with all the written exams concluded, the practical exams began.

Boom!

A loud explosion echoed from the distance, followed by a plume of gray smoke rising from the other side of the academy.

“Did the Magic Department blow something up again?”

The professors’ reactions suggested this was a common occurrence. Apparently, accidents were frequent during magic exams. But knowing about the planned attack, I couldn’t just ignore it.

“I wonder if Daisy is alright.”

He was worried about the female lead at the news of an explosion in the Magic Department. He was truly smitten.

“Are you going to go look for her?”

“…No way.”

He’d actually considered it. He averted his gaze and muttered that he wouldn’t do something like that during exam time, but I knew he would run off if he learned it wasn’t an accident, but an attack.

“Don’t worry too much. Violet and the prince from Dale are in the Magic Department too.”

“…”

He nodded at the mention of Violet, then pouted at the mention of the prince from Dale. His jealousy was transparent.

“Maybe you should transfer to the Magic Department next year.”

“Should I?”

I’d meant it as a joke, but then I realized he had nothing left to learn in the Swordsmanship Department. The only advantage it offered was the Sword Emperor, and he was already learning from him during club activities. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial to learn magic countermeasures in the Magic Department?

“…But I have to consider the Leon Kingdom’s reputation.”

I had that thought too, but I quickly snapped out of it. A prince of Leon becoming a magic user? I would be recalled for dereliction of duty.

“Just kidding.”

We’d only known each other for a short time, but I would bet my entire salary that he’d seriously considered it.

“Why are you here? Isn’t it almost your turn?”

“I have some time.”

Even though Prince Ellen was far stronger than me, it was my duty to protect him. Even our King, a Sword Master, and the King of Dale, an Archmage, had royal guards protecting them.

“We’re under attack!”

As the shout echoed, I grabbed Prince Ellen’s arm as he tried to run off. A prince should seek protection during an attack, not rush towards danger.

“They said it’s an attack.”

His eyes were burning with a fierce intensity. He was about to dash towards Daisy.

“I heard.”

“I have to go.”

“Things will only get worse if you go. Good students listen to their professors and stay put.”

“But Daisy might be in danger.”

“It’s a Magic Department exam. There are several high-ranking mages, including the former Tower Master. Even the assistant professors are at least mid-level.”

That was a stronger force than the Leon Kingdom’s Royal Mage Corps. Even if Leon was practically a magic-free nation, the Royal Mage Corps wasn’t completely useless.

“I-Is that so?”

“Yes. If you get scattered and taken hostage, it’ll be a disaster.”

Prince Ellen would probably take the terrorists hostage instead, but I couldn’t give him any ideas. Just in case, I braced myself, ready to restrain him. Time for the Immovable Boulder!

“Aslan!”

…But one of the ropan male leads bolted from the classroom.

“Haa!”

And our prince followed suit.

“Huh?”

He dragged me along, still holding onto my arm.

****

Was I learning flight magic? Dangling from Prince Ellen’s arm as we soared through the air, I was dumbfounded.

Even in a fantasy world, this was ridiculous. A scene straight out of a cartoon. If I let go, I could avoid this embarrassing situation, but for the sake of my defense, I had to hold on.

I’d activated the black box recording device long ago. The Commander wouldn’t blame me after seeing this. I was doing my best! …For the sake of that excuse, I had to endure this humiliation. After about three minutes of involuntary flight, we finally landed.

“Ellen.”

“You’re not calling me ‘Your Highness’.”

Prince Ellen, snapping back to reality at my cold tone, seemed to realize his transgression.

“We’re already here, so we’ll deal with that later.”

“So, I am in trouble…”

Of course, you are. I wouldn’t punish him personally, though. I would report directly to the Queen. She was technically the Commander’s superior in matters concerning Royal Instructors. The Commander would probably get reprimanded for not informing her, but this was the right choice for Prince Ellen.

“It looks like things got out of hand.”

“Huh?”

The Magic Department examination hall was empty. As expected of a ropan heroine.

How could she always be at the center of every incident? But then again, the Magic Department treated explosions like everyday occurrences. And there were more important figures, including the imperial prince, in the Magic Department than in the Swordsmanship Department. Well, it was Daisy who’d steered the imperial prince and the Margrave’s son, who should have been more interested in swordsmanship, towards magic classes.

“What happened?”

Aslan, looking bewildered, asked, and I frowned.

“What happened? They escaped, obviously.”

There were signs of a struggle, but it was one-sided. And the direction of the fight indicated that the attackers had been repelled and forced to retreat from the academy.

“Then?”

“They probably evacuated to safety.”

The Empire knew about the attack. Aryn, the Imperial agent, was incredibly competent, despite his prematurely aged appearance. He wouldn’t be in charge of the imperial prince otherwise. If an attack occurred despite his assurances, it meant he’d been outsmarted by the plot of the ropan. Of course, there was no need to lure the enemies in, but there was also no need to tell these hotheaded ropan male leads that.

“So?”

“Let’s evacuate too.”

I pointed at the damaged academy building. These guys, typical ropan male leads, were thinking about fighting instead of retreating during an attack.

“But the academy is under attack.”

“That’s why we shouldn’t get involved. There are professors, knights, and security personnel here. Let them handle it.”

“But…”

I had to give Aslan a dose of reality.

“You’re weaker than me…”

“…”

He looked devastated, but it was the truth.

“I…”

“Keep your mouth shut before I request your recall to the kingdom.”

“…”

I silenced the two male leads, grabbed their arms, and dragged them away.

“Cheer up. I don’t enjoy dragging men around either.”

They obediently followed, perhaps out of a sense of guilt, but that didn’t last long.

“Isn’t that a Magic Department professor?”

A person lay collapsed in the middle of the hallway.

“…Taking a nap?”

They looked dead, but there were no injuries. Upon closer inspection, they seemed to be asleep.

“In this situation?”

I couldn’t argue with his incredulous expression.

“…Let’s keep moving.”

I dragged the unconscious professor into a nearby classroom. As we continued down the hallway, we found more and more people collapsed on the floor.

“That one’s a student.”

“And that’s an assistant professor.”

“Just move them out of the way.”

…Aryn, I trusted you! Even an Imperial agent couldn’t stop the ropan plot!

“Holy…”

I couldn’t help but curse as we found an unconscious elderly man. Even Aryn wouldn’t have been able to stop this.

“…McGregor, the head professor of the Magic Department?”

Even the former Tower Master was down. What could an Imperial agent possibly do?

“Where’s Daisy…?”

“We haven’t seen her.”

The two ropan leads’ eyes widened in panic at the realization that the Magic Department’s defenses had crumbled.

“Where could she be?”

Why are you asking me? I wanted to ask, but I could guess. Where else would a ropan heroine be?

At the center of the incident, of course.

“We haven’t seen the other Flower Arranging Club members either.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say it directly, so I hinted.

“Ah…!”

“Then!”

I wanted to tell them to stay put, but if they listened to me, they wouldn’t be here in the first place. So, what I needed was…

“I think I know where she might be.”

“Where?!”

“Tell us!”

A little white lie. I would lead them somewhere unrelated to Daisy and then pretend we were wrong.

“Who’s there?!”

“It’s us!”

Damn it, why are they here…?