Ch.18Let’s Go Watch the Entrance Exam

The Remnant Academy was originally a military educational institution established in the capital by Carlos the Great after founding the Empire, intended to systematically train knights.

It gathered exceptional talents discovered throughout the Empire and, through specialized education and intensive training, ultimately helped them reach the level of Master.

Then, using the power of these Master-level knights, the Empire would maintain its rule eternally.

That was Carlos the Great’s initial vision.

Therefore, in its early days, the Remnant Academy was simply an institution for cultivating knights.

However, as time passed and various departments were added, the academy expanded in size, gradually transforming into a massive comprehensive educational institution symbolizing the Empire’s prosperity.

Eight hundred years since its establishment.

The current Remnant Academy, while still receiving support from the Imperial Army, was essentially a civilian institution specializing in combat subjects.

Nevertheless, since most graduates followed their seniors in applying to the Imperial Army, it was still recognized as a core military institution of the Empire.

…In the game, it was simply a training system for leveling up low-level characters to a usable level.

—-

“It seems we should start filling out your enrollment application soon. Will you be applying to the Knight Department as expected?”

While I was practicing swordsmanship in the marquis’s garden, Nigel approached with a document in hand.

“Enrollment application?”

“Yes. While regular students will take entrance exams over the next four days, special admission students are exempt from testing. You only need to submit this application for immediate acceptance.”

Nigel explained in a calm tone. His formerly excessively stiff manner of speaking had become more natural.

It seems my request last night to tone down that awkward speech pattern paid off.

Though his speech was still formal, it had improved noticeably, which was satisfying.

That awkward way of ending every conversation with formal military-style speech.

Nigel himself probably thought it was proper for a soldier or knight, but honestly, it was awkward and reminded me of my military days, which made me uncomfortable.

After hearing my complaint last night, Nigel hung his head in thought for a while before finally muttering a deflated “…I will correct it.”

His oddly dejected appearance suggested he had some attachment or belief tied to his speech pattern.

Or perhaps he had been under the misapprehension that speaking that way made him appear more knightly.

I put down my sword, took the document, and headed to a table in the garden.

An enrollment application, huh. So they have these too.

I read through the details.

The front of the double-sided document had blank spaces for department selection and basic personal information, while the back contained admission regulations for special admission students.

I read the regulations first.

There wasn’t much of note.

One item stated that unlike regular cadets, special admission students could wear their native ethnic attire, though clothing that severely violated ethical standards would be restricted.

Most items covered benefits of the special admission dormitory, usage guidelines, curfew and bedtime, and other basic dormitory rules.

Perhaps the most interesting part was that two special admission students could request a duel under the supervision of a professor.

The consequences of the duel would be solely the responsibility of the participants, and the Empire would not allow any external interference regarding damages resulting from duels.

In other words, they don’t care if students kill each other in duels, but they’ll prevent it from becoming a diplomatic issue.

…Doesn’t seem like a rule that would be well-observed.

Then again, who knows.

Come to think of it, I volunteered to be a hostage—typically, being sent as a hostage means one doesn’t have much standing in their home country.

Unless it’s an accidental death that could earn compensation from the Empire, they probably wouldn’t care much if someone voluntarily came here and died.

After checking the regulations, I flipped the document to read about the department options.

Knight Department, Magic Department, Combat Theology, and Tactics Department

Four departments were listed with brief descriptions.

The Knight Department collectively trained close-combat classes, while the Magic Department was subdivided into specializations based on different schools of magic.

This place also primarily taught combat-oriented magic.

The Combat Theology Department was established at the request of the Eleven Deities Church and could only be applied to by those already affiliated with a religious order.

Seems like they want to keep to themselves.

The Tactics Department wasn’t for training combat classes but for educating commanders in unit tactics.

Like the humanities campus of an engineering university.

I checked the Knight Department box and proceeded to fill in my personal information.

The personal information section simply asked for name, race, age, gender, and country.

-Haschal Aishan-Gioro. Ka’har. 18 years old. …Female. Aishan.

I debated whether to write Ka’har as my country, but officially it was Aishan.

For race, I should technically write human, but the Empire wouldn’t acknowledge that.

Being treated even as a similar race is something, I suppose.

“Here. Is this enough?”

I handed the completed form back to Nigel.

Nigel neatly folded the document and placed it in a white envelope.

“Yes. I’ll send this application to the academy, and you’ll need to move into the dormitory before the entrance ceremony.”

“In four days, I’ll be saying goodbye to this mansion. Have you packed everything?”

“Most daily necessities except weapons will be provided by the academy, so we just need to prepare some spare clothing.”

There wasn’t much to bring.

The marquis’s support mostly covered supplies needed for the journey to the capital, plus tuition and a month’s living expenses.

He would cover tuition, but said I’d need to earn my own living expenses.

As a Remnant Academy student, I’d automatically be recognized as at least a quasi-knight.

That’s equivalent to at least a C-rank adventurer, so he suggested visiting the Adventurer Guild if I needed money.

I took out a cigarette from the leather pouch at my waist and lit it.

Come to think of it, I’m running low on these too. The marquis gave me three packs, but I’ve smoked through more than half already.

Right. I should definitely visit the Adventurer Guild later.

Their requests usually involve monster subjugation or dungeon exploration, which would be good experience.

…Not just for cigarette money, of course.

Having decided to live in this world, I needed to become as strong as possible.

The Empire might be peaceful now, but that won’t last.

—-

Academy enrollment was just the starting point of my hopeful life plan.

Now that I’ve passed that point, it’s time to move to the next stage.

I need to check out the face of the protagonist who’s supposed to save this world.

If they seem capable, I’ll try to befriend them, help avoid the bad ending, and just support them from behind.

Then the protagonist will naturally save the world.

And my rock-bottom reputation might improve a bit too.

The original Haschal… should I just call her Hersella?

Yes, let’s do that.

Anyway, I’m not sure exactly how terrible Hersella’s crimes were, but from what I’ve heard, she practically bathed in the blood of the Dane people.

At that level, apologizing would be pointless.

In fact, if I admit guilt and take a submissive stance, they’ll use it as an excuse to tear me apart.

And there would be no turning back.

So I need to brazenly claim that what Hersella did was just normal wartime conduct for a Ka’har against the enemy Dane nation.

I’ll face resentment either way, so apologizing won’t help.

Better to earn merit here and use that to cover the past.

It might seem shameless and cowardly, but it’s the best option.

Unavoidably so.

—-

“So, you said the regular entrance exams start today? Could I go watch while submitting the application?”

It might cause a commotion, but it’s necessary.

I’ll face commotion after enrollment anyway, and right now confirming whether the main characters appear is the priority.

“…I can’t recommend it, but if you insist, you may. Since the Imperial House has already recognized Ka’har as a similar race, and with Lord Landenburg’s name behind you, no one would dare openly harm you under the marquis’s protection.”

“I’ll have to face it all eventually anyway. Let’s go then.”

“Very well. I’ll prepare the carriage.”

Let’s see the protagonist’s skills firsthand—if they’re participating in today’s entrance exam.

Even if the protagonist isn’t there, other major characters might be.

About thirty minutes later, the carriage finally arrived at the academy’s main gate.

The entrance was bustling with numerous applicants who had come to take the entrance exam.

A dizzying mix of colorful hair swirled before my eyes.

Yellow, gold, brown, red, blue, light green, white…

…even pink.

There must have been at least a thousand people.

It would be difficult to recognize who’s who until meeting them up close or hearing their names.

I turned my head to look at the academy buildings instead.

Red brick walls surrounded the entire grounds, and through the iron bars of the main gate, I could see more than ten different buildings rising majestically.

Two knights stood guard in front of security buildings on either side, checking and admitting visitors.

An arch-shaped decoration above the iron bars caught my eye, with the phrase “Cradle of the Nation’s Guardians” written in elegant Imperial script.

…The design seems very familiar.

—-

When our turn came, Nigel, seated in the driver’s position, presented the special admission certification documents to the guard knights, who then opened the main gate for us.

After Nigel parked the carriage in the academy’s parking area, he knocked on the door.

“Haschal, we’ll need to walk from here. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes… just a moment.”

Now that we were actually here, an unexpected tension came over me.

I took out one of my few remaining cigarettes, placed it between my lips, and lit it.

Perhaps due to the anxiety gripping me, my fingers holding the match trembled slightly.

It’s fine, there’s no problem.

They might curse at me, but what can they really do?

Most of them will be weaker than me anyway.

I just need to deflect whatever comes my way.

I inhaled the smoke deep into my lungs and exhaled it like a deep breath.

The smoke billowed out like a sigh, swirling inside the carriage.

I felt calmer now.

I fastened my longsword to my waist again, and beside it, I placed a dagger I had asked Nigel to procure.

Then I adjusted my armor.

The skirt and cape with metal scales overlaid on fur, the iron plates covering the gloves and front of the boots.

I didn’t wear the breastplate because it felt constricting and cumbersome.

Somehow, even in the original work, she didn’t wear the breastplate regularly.

Finally, I attached the metal case containing Frosting horizontally to the back of my waist.

The mansion’s butler, seeing me carrying Frosting wrapped in cloth, had personally brought this case, suggesting I use it instead.

Good. Even without the breastplate, I’m almost fully armed.

“I’m ready. Let’s go now.”

Taking another deep breath, I flung open the carriage door.

Dozens of pairs of eyes turned toward me.