Ch.200EP.45 – The Knight Get Autumn Blues (6)

The doors of the Royal Academy opened.

A massive crowd had gathered, with countless people eager to enter the academy, but due to the series of incidents that had occurred this year…

“Please present your identification.”

“Please fill out these forms.”

“No groups of four or more people allowed.”

Unlike the previous day, the conditions for visiting the academy had become exceedingly strict.

Some people grumbled and expressed their dissatisfaction, but when faced with the fierce glare of the security guards, they quickly cowered and bowed, or simply fled.

And for those who ran away…

“Suspicious individual! Catch them!”

Immediate action was taken.

They were blocking all possible security risks.

This showed just how vigilant the academy… no, the royal family had become.

Seeing this, anyone harboring even slightly malicious intentions had to turn back.

After all, if they were caught on some pretext, they risked being marked by countless noble families, including the royal family.

Just then.

“I have my identification here.”

“…!!”

“Ah, I also have my candidate qualification certificate. Where should examinees go?”

“Ah, well, that is…”

Gulp…!

The guard swallowed hard.

‘Who is this woman?’

She exuded the kind of ‘dignity’ typically found only in high noble families.

Her short blonde hair and beautiful appearance were certainly striking, but there was something about her extraordinary dignity that made the guard increasingly tense as he looked at her.

…It was obvious.

‘She’s no ordinary woman.’

Although her identification card indicated she was of common birth, that couldn’t possibly be true.

‘Something’s suspicious…’

While the identification itself seemed fine, the guard’s instincts were raising alarms.

This definitely required investigation…

“[There’s nothing strange, is there? Right?]”

Whoosh!

“…Ah, you’re absolutely right.”

The guard realized he had been ‘mistaken.’

Yes, though she was a commoner, she simply exuded such dignity because she was an extraordinary woman.

With this realization, the guard cleared the way.

“I hope you do well on the exam.”

“Thank you, sir.”

With a smile in her eyes, she quickly passed through the gate.

It was an incredibly benevolent smile, and the guard could only respond with an increasingly dazed expression.

“……Huff.”

Not long after passing through the main gate, the woman’s expression changed completely from her previous warm smile to a blank face.

Her expression was like that of a doll, and anyone who saw it would wonder how such a rapid change in expression was possible.

Soon after, the woman moved to a secluded area and took out a cross from inside her clothes, holding it to her ear.

“Infiltration successful. However, I may not be able to report until the exam is over.”

[—-.]

“Yes, I understand. I’ll dispose of it immediately.”

The woman detected the faint [order] that was barely audible and immediately shattered the red bead embedded in the center of the cross.

She destroyed it to powder, and if people knew that the red bead’s value was equivalent to three years’ living expenses for a family of four, many would likely wear expressions of dismay.

However, the woman, treating the tool as merely a tool, thoroughly crushed the bead and then continued walking as if nothing had happened.

Whoosh…

The fragments of the bead scattered naturally with the autumn wind.

Like sand.

* * *

There were a great many academy entrance exam candidates.

With at least 30,000 people gathered, it was truly a spectacular sight.

But do you know what?

Even 30,000 was a number that had been filtered and screened.

And among them, there wasn’t a single person who hadn’t been called a genius or prodigy in their hometown.

Well, in a way, it was natural.

There were many other academies, but this was the Pendragon Royal Academy.

An institution bearing the Pendragon name, sponsored by the royal family and major noble houses.

If you could enter and graduate, a bright future awaited.

A gateway to success.

Whatever others might say, getting into the academy was something to be proud of.

…Though not everyone would be admitted.

“They say if even a thousand people get in, it’ll be considered a bumper year?”

“Isn’t that an exaggeration? There are 30,000 people here! And they’re all considered geniuses or prodigies in their hometowns!”

“…Country bumpkin.”

“You’re a country bumpkin too, what are you talking about?”

“I may be a country bumpkin, but you’re a country bumpkin without any sense, which makes you even more inferior. Short-sighted too.”

“Why you…!”

“Do you really think someone who ranks first in a village of 50-80 people is comparable to someone who ranks first in a town of 10,000?”

“……”

An examinee who was about to get angry closed his mouth and blinked.

“Of course, there might be talented individuals from rural areas too. Just as lions and eagles are born in the plains, exceptional talents can emerge from the countryside. But such cases are extremely rare.”

“…Well, that’s true.”

“Among these 30,000 people, there are probably many mediocre ones. Frogs in a well, you know. Some might be acting arrogantly now, thinking they’re the best, but many will despair once the exam starts. So manage your mental state carefully. Don’t get overconfident and end up crying.”

“…Man, are you worried about me or just nagging? Make up your mind.”

As this nameless candidate said, despite the screening process, there were still many mediocre individuals present.

There were sons of nouveau riche families who had bribed nobles to gain qualification, and immature nobles who mistakenly believed themselves to be geniuses because they were pampered in their households.

But all such people would fail.

Although the current academy was considered to have declined compared to its past glory, it had never admitted those lacking talent.

Meanwhile.

[Ahem, can everyone hear me?]

Through a magic item—a device called an amplifier that even the headmaster had recently started using—a loud voice reached all 30,000 people.

How long had she been standing there?

A beautiful girl with perfectly matching purple hair stood on the platform.

[It’s nice to meet you all, candidates. I am Karin Alencia de Guinevere, currently serving as the president of the Pendragon Royal Academy Student Council. I am one year your senior, and if you pass the entrance exam, I will be your senior from next year.]

“━.”

Murmurs could be heard.

Guinevere.

The moment the young lady from a prestigious noble family appeared, half the candidates were overwhelmed by her name, half were enchanted by her beauty, and the remaining half felt various emotions like curiosity.

One thing was clear: everyone was focused on her.

[Ah, if you’re wondering how a first-year student like me became the student council president, it’s because the second and third-year seniors are busy building their achievements, so most first-years take over the presidency from the second semester. While it doesn’t come with significant authority, joining the student council allows you to become acquainted with professors and instructors from various departments, as well as promising students, so I recommend considering it if you’re admitted.]

The girl appeared completely at ease despite having the attention of 30,000 candidates.

Born with talent for speeches and politics, she easily handled the attention and gazes of others.

Thanks to this ability to hold people’s attention, she continued her explanation steadily and announced important matters.

[-The entrance exam will begin at 9 AM.]

[-Make sure to keep your ID and exam qualification certificate with you at all times, as we’ll check them periodically to prevent proxy testing.]

[-Many distinguished guests will visit during the exam to observe the candidates. You wouldn’t want to show them an embarrassing performance, would you?]

[-If you perform exceptionally well, you might be scouted by a major noble house on the spot. So do your best.]

Words full of dreams and hope.

Though they knew it was flattery, it was undeniably motivating.

And then.

[Lastly, I’d like to introduce the other members who lead the student council with me. The student council members will also assist during the exam. Please welcome them with a big round of applause.]

With those words, Lady Guinevere stepped down from the platform.

It seemed the explanation was over, and she intended to end with introductions to the student council.

The candidates weren’t particularly interested, but they were prepared to applaud.

After all, these were people who would be working hard for them, so naturally…

“——.”

…However, not a single candidate applauded in the next moment.

Regardless of gender, everyone simply stared with wide eyes and blank expressions at the appearance of one girl.

Step, step.

Flowing blonde hair and emerald-like blue eyes.

Skin more fair and pure than white jade.

A mysterious aura and magical presence.

All these elements made people stare at the girl in a daze.

“N-nice to meet you, I’m Irene Windler. E-everyone, g-good luck on the e-exam.”

─A fairy had appeared.

She was an undeniably beautiful being, and everyone could only stare in awe.

‘I must pass no matter what!’

‘The time has come to stake my life…!’

More than 90% of the candidates made a desperate resolution to pass the exam.

It was a demonstration of the incredible power of beauty.

That determination became the fuel that ignited the candidates’ resolve.

They would definitely enter this academy!

Even if just to exchange a single word with that senior!!

…As they were making such resolutions.

[Ah, the professor who serves as the student council advisor has just arrived. Everyone, please give a round of applause…?]

For the first time, the confident Lady Guinevere’s voice faltered.

Her voice was trembling severely.

They wondered why she was acting that way.

Boom!

The moment ‘he’ appeared on the platform, the candidates could understand her shocked reaction.

“-Professor Alfredo is feeling unwell. So I’ll be taking his place ‘today’ only.”

“……”

“Answer me.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Lady Karin Guinevere jumped like a new recruit who had just received her first assignment.

She even dropped the amplifier…

And the man who made Guinevere tremble.

“What are you looking at-?”

[……..]

The moment his gaze fell upon them, every single candidate lowered their eyes.

The man whose mere presence instilled fear in all candidates possessed an overwhelming ‘presence’ and ‘ferocity’ that was ‘too much to be called human,’ and his eyes ‘gleamed ominously.’

Why was there a <creature> who looked like it could fold the spine of an orc or troll at the academy!?

As they trembled…

“Let me warn you, I hope there are no conscienceless bastards among the candidates who carelessly litter on the streets. Especially those who discard ‘glass.’ Anyone who has done so should confess immediately. If you don’t confess and this instructor catches you later, I’ll fold your spine… no, I’ll give you severe penalty points.”

[……]

“Answer me.”

[Yes, sir!!]

…The candidates gave a sincere response.

After all, no one wanted their spine folded.

And then,

Thud, thud…

“……”

At the mention of glass, one woman broke into a cold sweat, her pupils shaking.

But when the woman slightly raised her head, thinking it might just be a coincidence.

“I’m watching you.”

…It didn’t seem to be a coincidence that his gaze was directed at her.

Thus began the entrance exam that would be remembered in academy history as the one where candidates were most orderly and diligent about picking up trash.