episode_0095

“Is there anyone who disagrees that the outstanding student representing the magic department this year is Princess Marian?”

A middle-aged man who has just entered his 40s. The young professors raised their hands one by one as Baron Howard, Dean of the Academy’s Department of Magic, spoke.

“Hmm. Until now, Princess Maria had always ridden the car… so it’s not strange for her to be the younger brother…”

“Isn’t this a too hasty decision?”

“No matter how much you are a princess, you are still just a student, but to give a presentation without going through the academy at all.”

Although there were valid opinions, there was also Soin-bae who harbored petty jealousy toward a young student.

“I think this is a somewhat arbitrary move. Moreover, he is an excellent student. Even though the princess’s attitude toward class is the same, the attendance rate itself is far from being an example.”

Professor Mikel, who hit the table with a bang, jumped up.

“Attendance rate is not a problem as you are keeping the minimum number of days of attendance stipulated by the Academy. Even if you subtract the attendance score, the gap between the runner-up and the second-place finisher is already clear based on test scores alone.”

The all-white-haired professor raised his hand.

“I admit that it is excellent. However, even though Princess Marian is a student at the Academy, she wrote several papers on her own and alone with the Magic Tower without any discussion with us…”

He was planning to present his thesis at the Magic Tower, but was given a cold shoulder after being pushed aside by Marian’s thesis.

However, the backlash came immediately. Following the usual principles, Professor Mikel, who is synonymous with old-fashioned knowledge, glared sharply and quickly silenced himself.

“Professor Allen. You have said it yourself. Yes, you are outstanding. Princess Marian is a more talented person than anyone else in the history of the Academy. What’s the problem with presenting a thesis independently with Magic Tower? Do you think that’s something anyone can do?”

Mikel raised his voice again.

“The academy’s top students are not a social club. I, Mikel, am convinced that there is no one more suitable for a student to be inducted into the Hall of Fame than Princess Marian!”

“Hmm. That’s true. There is no problem with the thesis. If it goes through the Academy, the Academy’s status will be higher, but it is inefficient as it takes time. And just having such excellent students increases the status of the academy.”

After reaching a conclusion, the head of the Magic Department stood up and headed to the academy’s main building, the conference room.

* * *

Cardea Academy selects and recognizes outstanding students through rigorous evaluation every semester, and then inscribes their names in the Hall of Fame.

Unlike the valedictorian of the grade, only one student out of all the students, the dean and professors secretly hoped that he would come from among the students in his department.

Produced excellent students. That alone raised the status of the department and its visible support.

The deans of departments gathered in the conference room had similar thoughts.

‘This year, you must become a student at our department.’

A strange tension lingered in the conference room.

The person who first opened the door was the head of the swordsmanship department.

“Student Ian Ripleton is recognized by everyone as having extraordinary swordsmanship skills, and everyone acknowledges that if he continues at this rate, he will become a sword master before he even graduates.”

But before he could finish speaking, the head of the Department of Magic stopped him.

“Is Sword Master a separate thing? I understand that the student from Yugosei High School who graduated last year has been a sword master since his first year. Nevertheless, I was never inducted into the Hall of Fame.”

It was a clever speech worthy of the head of the Department of Magic, which has produced excellent students for four consecutive years.

A remark that subtly disrespected swordsmanship, but I couldn’t point it out.

“…That’s not the problem of high school students, but those who are overshadowed by their outstanding abilities.”

As he tried to emphasize Ian’s talent and righteousness, he was blocked before he could even speak. As the head of the Department of Swordsmanship, he was excellent at martial arts, but he was not good at talking.

“That’s right, this time too, Princess Maria’s younger brother, who is such an outstanding shadow. It’s ridiculous to say that someone else is the chief when Princess Marian is here.”

The corners of the dean’s mouth rose slightly whenever something was said about princesses, but no one noticed because the discussion was so intense.

“If the overall leader, Princess Marian, does not receive the commendation, then who will receive it?”

The head of the Department of Magic shouted after defeating one of his rivals.

The Dean of the Department of Theology, who was quietly watching their confrontation, opened his mouth.

“The divine power of Yuri West’s students is so high that no one can match it in terms of purity. It is one of the best in the history of the Academy, and this has already been recognized by the Archbishop.”

“Well, didn’t you say that the amount was too small?”

For some reason, Yuri’s divine power decreased over the years. However, to say that he lacks faith is because the purity of his divine power is so high that he simply serves without stopping.

“That’s because student Yuri works so hard to serve. Because of his consistent good deeds, he is even said to be the reincarnation of the Goddess Frey, so he will become an example to everyone.”

“Ha. Isn’t that what ignorant people who don’t know anything, rude people, and especially poor people say?

After a fierce and lengthy debate, the candidates were narrowed down to Marian Arjein and Yuri West.

The dean of the theology department opened his mouth with a very disapproving look on his face.

“Do you think it makes sense to give recognition to a student who is absent for more than 90% of classes in the first place, who should be an example for everyone?”

Dean Howard pursed his lips.

“Ha. You’re saying that because you don’t properly understand Princess Marian’s thesis. What happens if I don’t show up for class? It’s not that you violated the required number of days of attendance, and even if you didn’t show up to class and stayed in the workshop during that time to write your thesis, the quality of the thesis written by the princess was not high.”

The head of the theology department, who had been speaking politely at the remark containing blatant disregard, widened his eyes.

“What, what! I wasn’t going to tell you this, but who is Princess Marian’s older sister? Isn’t this Princess Maria, who received recognition for four consecutive years? Who is your father? Since he is a duke of the empire, various information and cheating must have been simple. On the other hand, Lady Yuri comes from a Korean-American family and achieved excellent grades through dedication without anyone’s help!”

“Put. Excellent grades? Yes, that’s right, Lady Yuri’s grades. Did you place in the top 10 overall?”

The professors’ fights gradually crossed the line and reached the point where they slandered the students.

“Stop.”

The conference room suddenly became quiet due to a deep voice filled with mana.

“I think there is no student with as excellent qualifications as Princess Marian.”

Let’s even have the most vocal dean raise his hand. Even professors who had been quiet spoke up again.

“How about watching it a little more carefully?”

“That’s right. Princess Marian is currently having a difficult time attending school. Under the premise that you will be absent for the entire remaining period.”

It was then.

The conference room door burst open and elderly people wearing pure white robes entered. What was unusual was that they were all wearing robes with a laurel tree symbolizing the Academy.

“All of you!”

“Former Dean.”

“What happened to the Lord of the Magic Tower…”

“Aren’t you the Minister of Magic?”

“Minister of Justice.”

“Even the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

Everyone in the conference room expressed surprise. They represent the empire and are so famous that no one who makes magic for a living, or even a professor, knows about them.

“We will participate too.”

Due to the nature of the Academy, where the influence of the Magic Tower was secretly directed, the power of the Department of Magic was bound to be strong.

But it was something that no one really cared about.

This is because no matter how eccentric the wizards are, they do not pay attention to each student’s recognition.

Now something strange has happened.

In an instant, the number of powerful votes increased by 5.

The meeting, which had been suspended due to a sudden intrusion, resumed.

“The budget in the first place. Do you know that it is awarded by our Ministry of Magic?”

The senior elder, who had acted like a kind grandfather in front of Marian, spat out coldly.

“Hey, Minister. This is just an event to recognize excellent students.”

“No, what do you mean by that? Do you think we don’t know any of that? This is why young people these days tsk tsk tsk.”

Baron Sein, the 42-year-old Dean of the Faculty of Theology, who became childish with just one word, kept his mouth shut.

“Ha, but. Attendance Day,”

“What! why! What!”

Even the professors who tried to open their mouths to the second elder’s old-fashioned power only pursed their lips.

“Just looking at the documents, there is no student as excellent as Princess Marian. I don’t know if this is worth discussing? Giggles.”

The 4th elder said: It was a gentle voice, but those eyes would not allow any objection. I felt that kind of will.

‘Do you think I don’t know that this old man is planning to score points with the princess?’ The 2nd elder glares at the 4th elder with that look in his eyes. But since we were on the same side, there was nothing we could say.

“There are definitely not enough days of attendance, so if I miss the entire remaining period, I may have to repeat a grade.”

“That’s right, that’s it.”

The professors spoke of what the third elder said as if it was an opportunity, but they had to listen to the end.

“In that case, all of Princess Marian’s remaining classes will be Magic Tower training. The paper you submitted is more than worth it, and the rest of your attendance will be left to your discretion.”

Is there another problem? I nodded with that meaning in mind.

The professors gaped. ‘Can we handle this like this?’ However, I did not dare to challenge him, the third elder of the Magic Tower and the Minister of Justice.

The dean, who had been watching quietly, opened his mouth.

“Then. It seems that this year’s outstanding student is Princess Marian. Then.”

In an atmosphere where it seemed like no one could talk.

“Me.”

The woman next to the dean raised her hand. It was Professor Elena, who also served as the dean’s secretary.

“Princess Marian is a general studies student.”

“What…?”

The professors’ mouths dropped open. Naturally, they thought they were magic students.