Ch.278278. Whoa… You’re supporting that much?

“Huh? I was just about to call for you, but you were already waiting?”

After seeing off His Imperial Majesty, I returned to the study to find Rupert and Professor Edwin waiting for me. Since this wasn’t a formal setting, I sat comfortably in a chair and spoke.

“Rupert, what are you waiting for me for?”

Rupert exchanged glances with Professor Edwin, and they both bowed simultaneously.

“We apologize for doubting you, Young Master.”

“Doubting?”

“Honestly, we were going to ask you to withdraw the tiered tuition system.”

I thought to myself that these people really live such tiring lives. They’re apologizing for something they only thought about but never actually said?

Why so stiff?

I rested my elbows on the desk, propped my chin on my hands, and gave them an indifferent look.

“Is there really anything to apologize for? It’s not like anything actually happened.”

“Even having such thoughts means we doubted you, Young Master.”

“Sigh… Fine. I’m okay with it, so you don’t need to dwell on it.”

I waved my hand dismissively, but Rupert maintained his respectful posture.

“How many students should we accept for Lake Academy this time?”

“I was actually about to call you for that. On average, how many people apply and how many are accepted?”

“Taking Estella Academy as an example, over 3,000 people apply annually, and about 150 to 200 of them are accepted.”

“Wow… That many people apply?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“But isn’t that accepting too few?”

As I tilted my head in confusion, Professor Edwin eagerly joined the conversation.

“In the case of Estella Academy, the lower the acceptance rate, the higher its value and prestige, which is why they accept fewer students.”

“Hmm… So the lower the acceptance rate, the higher the academy’s prestige?”

“However, for Lake Academy, assuming the same number of applicants, I think we could accept around 300 students.”

“Why?”

“First of all, Lake Academy doesn’t just accept children of nobles or specific classes, but also includes commoners’ children, doesn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“Plus, since the dormitory buildings are tall and spacious with many rooms, I think accepting that many students wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

I stroked my chin and looked up at Professor Edwin.

“It takes three years to properly graduate from the academy, so you’ve considered that in your calculations?”

“Of course, that’s been considered in our final numbers. Even if we accept 300 students for three years, there will be plenty of dormitory space.”

After watching Edwin speak without hesitation, I turned my gaze directly to Headmaster Rupert.

“He’s the Professor Edwin you recommended as the head of the faculty, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. He has the second-longest career at the academy after me, and moreover, he has excellent administrative abilities.”

“Alright, handle things like appointing the head of faculty as you see fit.”

“Understood.”

By the way.

I can understand Headmaster Rupert’s formality, but why is Professor Edwin being so respectful too?

Most professors are of noble birth, so they might even find it uncomfortable that I speak to them informally.

“Edwin.”

“Y-yes, please ask.”

What’s this?

Edwin gives off the same overly respectful vibe as Padericks or Jawil Wilson.

“Is it uncomfortable for you that I speak informally?”

“N-no, not at all. How could I possibly be uncomfortable with the Young Master speaking informally to me?”

“Young Master? Didn’t you just call me by my name before?”

“…Since I’m now part of Lake territory, I wanted to address you as Young Master.”

Ah…

It must be because of Emperor Malius.

Well, he openly referred to him as my father-in-law, so he must have figured out the situation to some extent.

Even for a straightforward professor who speaks candidly to Headmistress Giselle, dealing with people connected to the imperial family would be difficult.

I cleared my throat before speaking.

“Rupert.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“You’re perceptive, so I assume you’ve already silenced the professors?”

“Of course. Neither I nor the faculty have seen or heard anything regarding the Young Master and the imperial family.”

Edwin also swallowed hard and nodded.

I adjusted my posture leisurely.

“…But it feels like things have become too awkward between us.”

“If you find it uncomfortable, we’ll try to change.”

Rupert seemed much more composed than Professor Edwin.

I continued speaking.

“Anyway, applicants will be flooding in soon. How do you plan to select the students?”

“First, we’ll have a written test to check basic knowledge, then a practical test tailored to their chosen department, and finally an interview to filter the successful candidates.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“…Should we handle this on our own as well?”

“No, I’d like to participate in the interviews too.”

“Understood. We’ll prepare accordingly.”

This is when my Insight skill comes in handy.

It makes it easier to filter out people in poor condition.

“Oh, and how difficult will the written test be?”

Rupert gives me a puzzled look at my question.

“Is there something concerning you?”

“I just think that lacking basic knowledge doesn’t necessarily reflect one’s ability.”

“Ah…”

“You know Jawil Wilson, right? He doesn’t have much basic knowledge, but he follows training quite well.”

Rupert nodded with a gentle smile, clearly understanding.

“The written test will have no bearing on elimination.”

“Then is there any need for a written test at all?”

“For written subjects, considering the academic abilities of successful candidates, wouldn’t it be easier to educate everyone if we form classes according to their levels?”

“Oh, that’s a good idea.”

“Most academies divide classes into beginner, intermediate, and advanced based on practical test results. We’re simply applying this to written tests as well.”

“So you’re saying academic subjects will be grouped based on written test scores, and practical subjects will be grouped separately?”

“Yes, exactly.”

Talking with Rupert about academy-related matters made me feel I had made an excellent choice in appointing him.

Plus, his character is admirable—a win-win situation.

I slapped the desk with my palm and raised my voice.

“Great, get it started right away!”

*

“What’s the matter?”

A few days later, Clara suddenly came to see me, and we sat on the second-floor terrace of the mansion for a light tea time.

She hesitated for a moment before looking up.

“What kind of magic did you use?”

“What magic?”

“I’m talking about the Guardian Unit members. They don’t look like people who graduated from the academy and took a few years off.”

I smirked, thinking that training the Guardian Unit members hadn’t been in vain after all.

“Is that all?”

“…They’ll soon surpass my skills at this rate.”

“Come on, you’re exaggerating.”

“I’m not joking. We went monster hunting recently, and their casting and targeting accuracy were unbelievable. All of the Guardian Unit members.”

“Weren’t you the one who refused the captain position because the Guardian Unit members’ skills were terrible? Now it’s a problem that they’re too good?”

“It’s just too unbelievable. Some members are even stronger than the mages from Pandera territory where I used to be.”

I gripped my teacup and smiled gently.

“So what’s your point?”

“I’m curious how the Guardian Unit members improved so quickly in such a short time.”

“It’s thanks to training with me.”

“…So if I train with you too, could I become stronger?”

“Do you really need to? You’re already plenty strong.”

“I just told you, they’ll soon catch up to my level.”

Clara’s eyes showed determination.

I nodded while stroking my chin.

“Hmm… As a captain, you shouldn’t let your members surpass you in skill.”

“I’m not asking for help with training right away. I know you’re busy with the academy.”

“Alright. Once the academy opens and things stabilize, I’ll properly help you with training sometime.”

“Thank you so much!!”

It’s right to help those who have the will to become stronger.

As Clara said, if the Guardian Unit members catch up to her in skill, she might lose her ability to control them.

Just then, Jawil Wilson entered the terrace.

He was startled to see Clara but quickly composed himself and bowed.

“Jawil Wilson, at your service, Young Master.”

“What is it?”

“Nobles from various territories are currently flocking to Lake territory.”

“Why?”

“To enroll their children in Lake Academy.”

“That’s good news. But where’s Padericks? Why are you reporting instead?”

“Sir Padericks is currently preoccupied with entertaining the visiting nobles.”

I tilted my head at Jawil Wilson.

“Wait, why is Padericks talking about academy matters? What is Headmaster Rupert doing?”

“It’s not that. The nobles who have come to Lake territory wish to meet you in person.”

So they’ve heard rumors about me and the Emperor, and now they want to enroll their children in Lake Academy as a pretext to build connections with me?

Even if it’s troublesome, I should meet them.

They’ll become my valuable source of income in the future.

I nodded at Clara sitting across from me.

“I’ll help you with training soon, so you can go now.”

“Yes, understood.”

At that moment, Jawil Wilson suddenly grabbed Clara’s shoulder.

With trembling lips, he spoke.

“…Are you saying you want to receive training from the Young Master?”

“Yes, so I can be stronger than the Guardian Unit members.”

Hearing Clara’s words, Jawil Wilson shook his head in disbelief, his eyes wide.

“…Couldn’t you reconsider?”