Ch.56Lazy Young Master Is Too Competent (2)

# Imperial Academy students were in an uproar.

“A new school rule?”

——

[ Introduction of Merit-Demerit System ]

-Applies to all Imperial Academy students without exception.

-Professors have the authority to assign merit points and demerits to students.

-At 50 merit points, students receive a recommendation letter to any institution of their choice and full tuition exemption. Exceeding 50 demerits results in expulsion.

Approved by Imperial Academy Chancellor, Clifford Finance.

——

“F-full exemption?!”

The Academy’s tuition was expensive.

Even for most nobles, it was somewhat burdensome.

Commoners or nobles from small territories received some discounts.

But even with that, it was still a considerable amount.

“Uncivilized commoner… Is tuition what matters? It’s the recommendation letter that’s important!”

Whether for mages or knights, the highest honor was working for the Imperial family.

Just having a record of working for the Imperial family made it easy to find employment anywhere.

However, to enter the Imperial service, connections were absolutely necessary. No matter how talented, those who couldn’t be trusted wouldn’t be hired.

In other words, the recommendation letter was the very reason for attending the Academy. Until now, there had been no clear criteria for receiving recommendation letters, but now there was a definite standard.

Perhaps because of this, students focused more on merit points than demerits.

“Three merit points for taking liberal arts classes? Hmph, who would take useless liberal arts classes? Isn’t that ridiculous, Hannah?”

One of the commoner students looked sideways with a sneer.

“…What are you doing?”

“Huh? Oh… nothing.”

The friend beside her was already filling out an application for liberal arts classes.

“Are you falling for the nobles’ schemes?!”

“B-but the tuition would be free…”

“…I’ll take one too.”

“I knew you would, so I prepared one for you.”

“As expected, Hannah, you’re a genius.”

Meanwhile, there was someone who showed little interest in the announcement.

That was Hersy.

‘I see.’

That was the extent of her reaction.

Those classified as high nobles from the rank of marquis and above, whose only purpose was to continue their lineage, didn’t see much merit in this. She only thought that she should avoid demerits, as they would be dishonorable.

Hersy glanced at the announcement once and walked off somewhere, heading toward the main building where the professors’ offices were located.

Knock knock.

Hersy quietly knocked on the door.

She sensed the flow of mana from beyond the door.

Creak.

The door opened automatically. Hersy put away her expressionless face and entered with a bright smile.

“Ruide! Or should I call you Professor Ruide?”

Honorary Professor Ruide.

It was his room. Ruide stared at Hersy from a fur cushion on the floor.

He looked like he had just woken up.

“Hello, Hersy.”

‘He’s so cute today too…!’

Ruide’s eyes were special. They shone brightly even in darkness. Like Amelia, it seemed to be a characteristic of the Windsors.

So when he was in dark places like this room with the lights off, he looked surreally beautiful.

Ruide used telekinesis to draw the curtains and sat up. Bright sunlight filled the room.

Because Ruide was so small, he looked more like he was nestled in the chair rather than sitting on it, which made him look very cute.

Hersy placed the lunchboxes she had prepared one by one on the table. At that moment, Miho, who was perched on Hersy’s shoulder, climbed onto the fur cushion where Ruide had been sleeping.

She curled up as if she really liked the spot. Ruide frowned.

“Hey.”

[Yes?]

Miho tilted her head curiously.

“That’s my spot. You shed fur, so sleep somewhere else.”

[Heeeng…]

Miho curled her tail around her belly dejectedly and lay down on the cold marble floor beside the cushion.

Hersy smiled and naturally brought up the topic.

“I heard the Academy’s policy changed today. The Merit-Demerit System? Did you know about it?”

“Yes. I created it.”

Hersy’s hand, which was opening the lunchbox lid, paused.

“W-what?”

She was quite surprised.

“Why? You don’t like it?”

Ruide was genuinely curious about Hersy’s thoughts.

Although it had passed easily, student dissatisfaction was another matter.

Of course, Hersy wouldn’t contradict Ruide’s ideas.

She answered seriously.

“I wondered what genius adopted such a noble and righteous method, and it was Ruide. It’s truly an excellent policy that could be called revolutionary.”

“…I don’t think it’s that great.”

Ruide thought she was being excessive in her praise.

“Is there any pushback?”

‘Dare to push back against Ruide’s policy…?’

Hersy found the mere thought extremely unpleasant.

If there were such students, she was prepared to show the power of House Minerva, which had been quiet until now.

“There won’t be any.”

“…Huh?”

“Pardon?”

Hersy put on an innocent expression.

Ruide thought, “Surely not,” and ate his lunch.

‘This really tastes awful.’

He wished she would stop using that detoxification magic.

**

“The fools are focusing on merit points, but no. The real issue is the demerits.”

Catherine narrowed her eyes as she spoke to Justin. Justin replied with righteous eyes.

“Rewarding good behavior and punishing bad behavior. This is justice.”

“Justice my foot. Is your head full of nothing but flowers?”

Catherine sighed and kindly explained the duality of this policy.

“To put it simply for you to understand, it means professors can manipulate students as they please. They can give demerits for the slightest displeasure.”

“No way. I don’t think the professors would do that.”

Justin respected the Academy’s professors.

“Well, I’m skeptical. All nobles hate commoners right now, don’t they? Will professors who are busy watching their backs actually give demerits?”

“Of course they will.”

“Sigh, you don’t know anything. Fine. You’ll see for yourself.”

Catherine took the lead and opened the door. It was time for the liberal arts class, “Noble Etiquette.”

Catherine had always recommended etiquette classes to Justin, so he was already taking them.

She knew that learning etiquette would be more useful later than learning about farming.

“Huh? There are more people today.”

The classroom had more people than usual. Justin looked around.

Catherine spoke as if it were pathetic.

“Of course people are flocking because they’re giving merit points. Other classes give +1 point, but etiquette gives +3? It’s so blatantly pushing people to take etiquette classes, it’s offensive.”

As Catherine and Justin took their seats, students poured in through the door.

“…Why are nobles here?”

Catherine frowned.

“Opportunistic bastards. There’s no noble who doesn’t know etiquette, so they’re definitely here to earn points easily.”

“Ah… I see.”

Catherine’s guess was accurate.

Some nobles had changed their strategy to take advantageous subjects for merit points.

Etiquette was one of those subjects. It was an area where nobles had a significant advantage.

“That old lady who loves nobles must be thrilled.”

“Calling a countess an old lady? Catherine, that’s not right.”

“Did learning etiquette teach you respect? Respect and harmony with commoners… Terrible. It’s like a cat worrying about a lion.”

Catherine shook her head.

Just then, the door opened. They thought it would be the countess in charge of etiquette, but it wasn’t.

-It’s Lady Hersy!

-How can she be so dignified?

The one who entered was Hersy Minerva.

Catherine didn’t like it.

‘I didn’t think she was like that. She’s here for grades too?’

Of course, Hersy had only come to find the class most likely to rebel against Ruide’s policy.

Hersy sat down without speaking to anyone. She seemed to glance this way for a moment, but soon faced forward.

The guest lecturer for “Noble Etiquette,” Countess Millennium, entered. Her eyes were slightly upturned, giving her a stern impression.

But her expression softened when she saw the classroom, especially Hersy.

‘Good heavens. She can make such an expression too.’

Justin was astonished.

“Today we have many special guests. Could it be that you came because you expected Countess Millennium to be very gentle and give merit points easily? Ohoho, what an accurate prediction.”

Emma Millennium covered her mouth and laughed. After dealing with nobles from remote territories and commoners, she was delighted to see high nobles.

“Let’s begin the class. Since many are first-time attendees, I’ll start with the basics.”

Emma pointed to Hersy.

“Lady Hersy, can you tell us on which side the fork should be placed in dining etiquette?”

Hersy stood up with a puzzled expression and answered.

“…On the right side.”

“How should you put down a teacup?”

“It should be placed down as quietly as possible.”

“Perfect answer. For her excellent response, I’ll award Lady Hersy 5 merit points—”

“?!”

The students’ expressions changed.

Nobles showed delight, commoners showed disgust. It was understandable. Countess Millennium had essentially just declared that she would openly discriminate.

At that moment, Hersy responded firmly.

“I appreciate your favor, but I must decline.”

Countess Millennium was slightly taken aback.

‘Isn’t this what she wanted?’

“I’m simply here to observe today. Please conduct the class as you normally would. Please don’t pay much attention to me.”

Feeling awkward, Countess Millennium shifted her gaze.

“Ahem. Then next… Justin?”

Justin stood up with a stiff expression.

“You’ve been taking my class for two months now. Are you bathing regularly?”

The nobles snickered. Asking if someone bathed was like asking if they knew how to walk.

“…I’m trying my best.”

Emma’s eyes narrowed.

“Trying your best? Is bathing such a difficult task?”

“I lack time, and I don’t have money for such luxury.”

“L-luxury?”

Emma said with an incredulous face.

“If you consider that a luxury, why are you taking etiquette classes? You, 3 demerits.”

“……”

The commoners looked at Emma with cold eyes. The nobles had “serves you right” expressions.

Justin sat down without a word.

Catherine quietly said.

“I told you so, Justin.”

“……”

Justin’s gaze toward Countess Millennium grew cold.

**

Fenicia hurried toward Ruide with documents in her arms for a report.

Ruide’s policy was extremely successful.

It certainly needed more time to evaluate fully, but for now, it was working.

After the Every Library incident, hate incidents had been occurring almost daily, but yesterday and today, there had been no such reports.

Fenicia recalled what Ruide had said: “Make them focus on merit points rather than demerits. For example, instead of giving demerits for not taking etiquette classes, give merit points for taking them.”

The effect was excellent. Though only implemented today, the Merit-Demerit System was receiving very positive responses.

‘How did he solve it so quickly?’

She remembered what Clifford always used to say: “Nothing is more difficult than solving a complex problem simply.” Ruide had accomplished that difficult task.

Knock knock.

Fenicia knocked on the door with a slightly smiling face.

There was no answer. Fenicia recalled that yesterday he had said, “If you have something to say, just come in.”

“This is Vice-Chancellor Fenicia. I’m coming in.”

Fenicia opened the door.

And as soon as she entered, she was speechless at the sight before her.

Ruide was curled up like a cat, sleeping on a small fur cushion on the floor.

“……”

Their eyes met, and there was a moment of awkward silence.

Fenicia laughed awkwardly.

“Um… that’s a familiar’s nest…”

“?”

“…I heard Lord Ruide uses an arctic fox as a familiar… so that’s why I put it there.”

“No object has a predetermined use.”

“…!”

Fenicia was amazed by Ruide’s broad-minded thinking. And she reflected on her own prejudice.

…But Ruide’s face had turned quite red.

‘No wonder it seemed small.’

He was extremely embarrassed.