Ch.31Entrance Ceremony (1)

# Early morning, I arrived at Stellarium Academia with Sonia.

“Where was the entrance ceremony again?”

Sonia sighed.

“The open-air theater.”

“Ah, right.”

“Did you forget again?”

“Sorry. I was thinking about something else.”

Sometimes when I’m thinking about theories, I feel disconnected from the world.

“Let’s hurry. We might not have seats left at this rate.”

“Seats won’t be a problem.”

Because I have the privilege of being a merit scholar.

When you enter as an academic merit scholar, you get assigned to the front row. Simply put, it’s the place of honor.

We were able to find the seats of honor without difficulty.

“Please wait a moment.”

Just as I was about to sit down leisurely, Sonia’s hand dug into my chest.

“What?”

“Your tie is tied strangely.”

She sighed repeatedly while fixing my collar. Her movements were quick and skillful, befitting an android.

“The uniform is a symbol of Stellarium students. Please don’t wrinkle it carelessly or wear it improperly.”

“Ah, yes.”

Though my mind is that of a proper adult, wearing a school uniform gives me a strange feeling.

“Hey, hey.”

At that moment, Seti, who had arrived earlier, poked my shoulder and said,

“Dad’s here.”

***

Arnold was not a particularly affectionate head of the family.

His main occupation was too busy for him to spend time pouring out all his affection.

Still, he wasn’t cruel enough to ignore his child’s entrance into a prestigious school.

“Father!”

In the distance, his second wife’s daughter was waving her hand.

His pace quickened.

“It’s been a while.”

“Have you been well?”

“Yes.”

They exchanged formal greetings. The kind of stiff conversation that seemed too formal for family.

“I knew you would pass.”

Even as a branch family member, an Adelbein is still an Adelbein. The fact that she took after her mother’s intelligence was undeniable.

So it wasn’t particularly surprising.

However.

Today, he hadn’t come just to see Seti.

The reason Arnold had cleared his entire morning schedule and come to Stellarium was none other than for his third son.

“…Eidel.”

Arnold narrowed his eyes as he called his son’s name.

A child born after devouring the person he had loved his entire life.

He couldn’t help but hate him, dislike him, and keep him at a distance.

But still, wasn’t he a child born from the person he loved? Wasn’t he his own child?

At first, he couldn’t openly dislike him.

But somehow, Eidel became more twisted as days went by.

In the end, Arnold chose neglect. He left childcare to androids and went to the frontlines himself.

His youngest son, who grew up without receiving attention, eventually became twisted.

To the point of crossing the line, quite significantly.

That’s why he had issued an ultimatum.

“Do you remember what I said before?”

“I remember.”

Either repay the assets squandered on gambling, enlist in the military, or get accepted into Stellarium Academia.

“You said if I couldn’t do at least one of those three, I should leave the house.”

Eidel brought up a screen through his watch. The new student representative’s oath appeared on the tiny screen.

Arnold’s eyes widened.

“…That’s.”

“Father.”

Eidel said quietly.

“I’m the top student.”

It was a heavy and concise statement.

Being chosen to read the oath as the student representative meant he was the top-ranked freshman.

An achievement that neither Arnold nor his first and second sons, who had decided to continue the family business, had ever accomplished.

It was a different kind of shock from what he had heard through Sonia’s DM. How on earth did he do it?

Of all people, it was Eidel. He hadn’t even thought he could get admitted, let alone be the top student.

Unless one had lost their mind, it would be impossible. Could he have developed Savant syndrome without anyone knowing?

Arnold was confused.

“Father, didn’t Mother come?”

Seti, who had been looking around, asked.

“She didn’t come with me.”

“I see…”

The energy disappeared from Seti’s voice.

Arnold and Seti’s mother lived separately. To be precise, they were in a relationship where they had no interest in each other.

It was a connection formed through a contract marriage to increase the family’s influence. In some families, there was something called the ‘Council of Elders,’ and Arnold had to follow their words.

In any case, Seti, who was born through such a process, couldn’t have received much love.

Fortunately, unlike Eidel, Seti grew up well-adjusted. Arnold gave Seti just as much affection as he expected. That was the best he could do.

However, he couldn’t just openly explain this situation. Arnold sighed and hid his true feelings.

“Your mother is very busy taking care of patients right now.”

“…”

“Have a good entrance ceremony. I’ll be going now.”

“You’re leaving already?”

Seti asked, seemingly disappointed.

Arnold nodded.

While attending his child’s entrance ceremony was important, there were more important matters.

“Problems arise when the frontline is left vacant for too long.”

Far away, alien monsters born from black holes were approaching.

Every time a monster sent by foreign gods reached an inhabited planet, the Federation suffered astronomical damage.

At least hundreds of thousands die in a single war. And even more people lose their limbs.

Even with countless medical androids deployed, it’s not enough. It’s a place where every single doctor is precious.

“Your mom and I need to be there to save even one more person. Seti, you’re smart, so you understand what I’m saying.”

“…I understand.”

Seti nodded with her head bowed.

She often said that she was fine without her parents’ care, that she could be strong.

But the truth was that a part of her heart felt lonely.

In fact, she had been thinking that she wished her parents would show a little more interest in her.

After finishing his conversation with Seti, Arnold briefly looked over Eidel.

Two pairs of golden eyes met.

“…”

“…”

With this, Arnold confirmed with his own eyes that Eidel was indeed the top student.

“So does this mean the talk about kicking me out of the family is off?”

Eidel asked Arnold, who was about to leave with complicated feelings.

“Hmm.”

With his back turned, Arnold waved his hand.

A promise is a promise. If you don’t keep it, trust with others will crumble too.

But now, keeping Eidel in the family had become problematic in a different way.

Not just admission, but top-ranked admission of all things.

“…This is a problem.”

What if Eidel continues to show performances like this?

What if he stops his reckless behavior and lives diligently?

What if he achieves feats surpassing his two brothers?

The power succession structure could be overturned.

The Rheinland family business is inherited not by the eldest son but by the most outstanding child. That is the iron rule of the Rheinlands.

This has become troublesome. Arnold left the entrance ceremony hall with what must have been his umpteenth sigh.

***

And so, my father disappeared abruptly before the entrance ceremony.

“Hmph.”

I can somewhat understand why Eidel became twisted. He’s the head of the family but doesn’t know how to take care of his family.

Soon, the entrance ceremony began.

No, the world’s greatest head-bowing competition disguised as an entrance ceremony began.

“We would like to apologize and compensate for what happened during the practical exam…”

Contestant #1. A bald man. His side hair falling forward every time he bows his head is impressive.

Contestant #2. A wrinkled old man. He doesn’t even have the strength to hold the microphone, which evokes sympathy.

Contestant #3. A female teacher. She must be the head of academic affairs, given the dark circles under her eyes.

As the contestants entered, the evaluation panel (parents) began their critique.

“Are you insane?”

“Can we trust you with our children?”

“My daughter almost died. How exactly are you going to take responsibility?”

Hmm, what a mess.

This isn’t an entrance ceremony! I thought as I looked around.

“What’s wrong?”

Seti asked worriedly, perhaps because my behavior seemed restless.

I answered.

“Where’s Rustila?”

Seti’s expression suddenly turned sad.

“She’s probably over there. She apologized for not being able to sit with us…”

I could understand the situation just by looking at my sister’s expression.

She must be tightly controlled.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to bring Rustila.”

“What are you going to do after bringing her? This place is only for merit scholars anyway…!”

“Since it’s a seat for merit scholars, it belongs to merit scholars.”

“What are you saying?”

“A merit scholar can let other students sit here if they want.”

I asked Seti to watch my seat and then set out on my mission.

I was able to find Rustila soon enough.

She was being “protected” surrounded by androids.

“Ow.”

Just looking at it makes me feel suffocated.

“Rustila!”

I waved my hand and approached Rustila. Her eyes widened as big as saucers.

“…Eidel!”

“What are you doing here?”

Just as I was about to get closer to Rustila, the nearest android blocked my way.

“I’m sorry, but you cannot come near… Oogh…!”

Thud.

I took out my calipers and lightly touched between the robot’s legs.

The android trembled as if receiving an electric shock and then collapsed.

“How could this be!”

When the Azure Dragon of the East took a tumble, the rest of the Four Guardians rose from their seats in fury.

“We cannot allow you to approach the young lady! Urgh!”

Double kill.

“Wait, aren’t you that wastrel from the Rheinland… Guherk!”

Triple kill.

“I, I must inform the head of the family…! Kyaak!”

Quadra kill.

[— The apostle of the ‘God of Wisdom and Curiosity’ is rampaging!]

[— You have acquired 400 Fron as a reward!]

Apostle Eidel, who had disciplined innocent muggles with his magic wand, arrived at Princess Rustila’s location.

“W-what are you doing here…?”

Rustila asked in a trembling voice.

It’s only natural to answer when asked.

“Let’s go sit together over there.”

“Over there? That’s the place of honor. Only merit scholars can sit there…”

“You have the right to sit there.”

I declared confidently. Rustila looked at me with a blank face.

It was then.

“Who dares approach my daughter?”

A somewhat irritable voice was heard. At that voice, Rustila momentarily hunched her shoulders.

Her blue eyes trembled with difficulty.

“Father, Mother…”

“Rustila, who is this fellow? Do you know him?”

“H-he’s my friend.”

Rustila answered in a shrinking voice.

Blocking my way was a middle-aged couple in formal attire. Judging by the atmosphere both exuded, they were certainly from a high-class family.

I see. These people must be Rustila’s parents.

“Student, what did you do to our house androids?”

The husband growled.

“I didn’t touch them. When I approached, they just got up and collapsed.”

I put on a friendly expression as I moved the fallen androids to one side.

What? Why is the atmosphere becoming hostile when I spoke so gently?

“What?”

“It’s true.”

“Where do you get off telling such an absurd lie?”

Before the Kersil couple could see, I had already put away my calipers. In other words, a perfect crime.

Without evidence, they couldn’t catch me. This is common sense that any legal professional would know.

“Student, who are you?”

“I’m Rustila’s friend.”

I sat in the seat kindly vacated by the android and extended my hand toward Rustila.

“Looking for Rustila to enjoy the entrance ceremony together.”

Rustila looked startled, then slightly bowed her head. Her sapphire-like eyes wavered from side to side.

“Student!”

Slap!

Rustila’s father unpleasantly struck my hand away.

“Don’t touch our daughter carelessly.”

Sharp eyes glared at me.

It seems I’ve earned their thorough dislike.

This is a bit awkward. I acted first without thinking, but how do I get out of this situation?

I couldn’t use violence against parents, unlike with androids.

Rustila’s parents didn’t seem like the type to resolve things through conversation…

But if I backed down now, Rustila might be very discouraged.

While I was pondering this,

Rustila took my hand.