episode_0019

[ What are you doing? ]

I read the X-Talk message from Estelle and take out the lunch box I packed in advance and eat.

Since I usually eat with Iris and Estelle, I thought mealtime would be a little lonely.

“So how many points do you think you’ll get? I mean, I was nervous the moment I got in, but I heard pretty good evaluations. I did apply for the magic section though. They said they’d give me extra points.”

Marty, whose face I had become quite familiar with since the waiting room, also seemed to be taking the magic exam, and he was making such a lot of noise that I didn’t even have time to feel lonely or anything.

[ Well, I’m eating and talking to a guy named Marty. ]

It was such a one-sided conversation that I wondered if we could really call it a conversation.

[Marty? Looks like you made a new friend. I’ll take good care of you when we become friends.]

When I go to the academy, I will be too busy to care about anyone but Iris and Estelle, so I give her a vague answer to take care of me, and then look back at Marty, who is chattering away in front of me.

“Marty, why did you come to the Academy?”

“Huh? Why are you asking such an obvious question? It’s to somehow establish a connection with the nobles and the royal family. My ultimate goal is to join the Imperial Knights.”

I don’t know whether Marty, who said he would join the Imperial Knights right before my eyes, will pass or not.

In the game I played, only the princess and the saintess and the people close to them were highlighted, and the extras were not highlighted at all.

But the Marty in front of us is talking about his dream of joining the Imperial Knights.

“Is this really a game?”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Well, even if you have doubts, there’s nothing you can do.

I just hope this game doesn’t end in doom.

But isn’t it really interesting?

The Les Route is considered one of the most difficult modes among the routes, but it has been going so peacefully without any problems up until now.

Is it because I haven’t entered the academy, which is my main stage?

“Hmm… … .”

The main stage of the game ‘Ruin’ is clearly the Academy, no one can say for sure.

Although there are events such as previous past events or occasional travel to other places depending on the level of affection, it is basically a game where two main characters who met at the academy develop a love and friendship and reach a happy ending.

So, if you pass this academy exam, you will be admitted to the academy, and the story will really begin to progress.

To prepare for that time, you need to store up a lot of stamina now.

“Ah, this is so much fun! I really feel like I’m born for taking tests~”

Yeah, I don’t have time to listen to a guy who’s talking so loudly right in front of me.

Why does he have so much to say to someone he just met?

If that’s great, then great.

So, if we think about it in terms of MBTI, which is popular among the MZ generation these days, does that mean that the capital E is that kind of guy?

Is there such a thing as the MZ generation here? I don’t know, do you know anything about that?

“I’m done eating, so I’m going to go check the magic test order.”

“Oh! You’re eating fast, Theo! I’ll follow you soon! You go first!”

Still, it’s a good thing he didn’t ask me to wait until I finished eating.

Anyway, after exchanging greetings and a proper response, I went to the magic test registration desk, showed them the registration slip I had received in advance, and was given my turn…

“I’m bored.”

And then the endless waiting period begins until the test order is determined.

***

Earth magic that turned the lush green grass upside down, wind magic that swept through the magic barrier, ice magic that froze all the exam-related documents on the supervisor’s desk, fire magic that created a pillar of fire, and water magic that created pretty raindrops that slowly fell from the sky in case the magic caused any harm to the exam site.

Theo’s magic test was more like a show than a test.

A magic show that you have to pay to see.

“Huh… .”

Although they sent Theo out without saying anything, the test supervisors were so nervous that they could only catch their breath after sending him out.

If you ask me if there has ever been an applicant with this level of power, well, I don’t know.

It might have happened someday.

But relatively recently, there hasn’t been one.

If such a mutation existed, there is no way they wouldn’t have known about it.

What’s even more ridiculous is that this contestant didn’t think his strength was that strong.

If I had really known how strong I was, I wouldn’t have turned the exam room upside down like this.

I guess they showed it with some degree of adjustment.

Since it’s usually stupid to reveal all of your cards anywhere, you probably only showed enough strength to pass.

“… … Iris, did you know that guy’s power?”

The Emperor also continued to feel surprise as he looked at Theo.

At that level, after graduating from the academy, you could choose where you wanted to go between the Imperial Knights and the Magic Tower.

No, it was clear that wherever he went, they would covet his abilities and try to scout him.

Promising great wealth and fame.

“No, I was just there when the saint was there, I didn’t know.”

It was a lie.

Theo was preparing for the Academy, and Iris, who was by his side, could not have been unaware of his skills.

But it was also true that if Iris had decided to hide it, it would have been impossible to know.

The emperor did not keep an open eye on her.

“… Then, enter the academy and make sure you catch her first so that she doesn’t get taken away by the saintess.”

“Catch him, what do you mean?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know? Since he is a person of our empire, shouldn’t he be remembered as a talent of the empire? If the Holy Empire finds out about this result, they will definitely covet him. They can’t let a talent be taken away.”

Iris, seeing the Emperor revealing his dark inner self, let out a sigh of relief.

What on earth do they mean when they say they are peaceful on the outside but are telling us not to let our talents be stolen?

If that was the case, I couldn’t understand why they wanted to let the saint enter the academy together with Iris.

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to just not let the saint enter?”

“What are you talking about? Your and the saint’s joint admission is the first step toward peace between the two countries.”

The emperor was as secretive about his own feelings as Iris was about her relationship with Theo and Estelle, seemingly unwilling to reveal what was on his mind.

“… Let’s go back now.”

“Aren’t you planning on doing more tours?”

“You have been ordered not to let your outstanding skills be taken away, so girl, just follow that order.”

“Oh, I see. I guess I’ll go back to where the saint is. Okay, I’ll leave that to you.”

Iris was not feeling well.

I didn’t want to be with the Emperor any longer.

“Oh my, it’s too bad you’re leaving already.”

I didn’t want to see the young empress babbling nonsense about how upset she was when she was clearly trying to spend some time alone with the Emperor.

The age difference between the Empress and the Crown Princess was not that great.

“Let’s go back now.”

The empress, who was about the same age as me, was extremely jealous, but she caught the emperor’s eye because she was so lovely, so she seduced the emperor while Iris’s mother passed away, and was able to ascend to the position of empress.

Of course, even while Iris’s mother was alive, she would often show her affection for the Emperor by attending tea parties hosted by Iris and the Empress.

Considering that the Emperor himself sometimes welcomed her, it is possible that the two had already had a relationship before Iris’ mother passed away.

‘Well, actually, that woman will take the position of empress as soon as mother passes away.’

I used to find it disgusting, but now I don’t really feel anything.

‘It’ll end if we just kick them out anyway.’

The emperor and the empress.

Iris was not an ally.

‘My ally is not my father or stepmother.’

If you ask if that means there are no allies, it used to be just gloomy, but not anymore.

‘I now have a place I can return to.’

Where Theo and Estelle are.

‘Of course, Estelle, that guy, isn’t necessary. He’s not even a citizen of the empire.’

Theo’s hometown was the place she could return to now.

As time passed and she became the Emperor and not the Crown Princess, she thought that this palace would be the place she would return to, but at that time, Theo would definitely join her in the palace.

‘Estelle… will become the Holy Emperor of the Holy Empire. Surely she won’t take Theo to the Holy Empire?’

Applying for immigration was an incredibly difficult task in a world ruled by imperial power.

However, if it was not the person himself but the royal family that was pushing for it, it was usually common to give approval for the sake of mutual safety and peace.

As such, if Estelle had demanded Theo’s immigration application as a condition for peaceful reconciliation, it might have been possible until recently.

‘But now, even Father knows about Theo’s abilities.’

It was not something that could be easily agreed upon, and Estelle had no place to apply for immigration right away, as she had entered the academy and was to remain in the Ermund Empire for a while.

If that happens, I will have to break up with Theo too.

‘When he graduates later, it will depend on Theo’s choice, but he will probably choose the Ermund Empire where he was born and raised.’

I had been vaguely thinking that way, but it was clear that the reason I felt uneasy was because of Theo’s outstanding abilities.