episode_0101

It was the fourth day since Edan and I had arrived at the Island of Knowledge.

Early in the morning, after quickly finishing our preparations for going out, we headed straight to the academy a little earlier than usual.

Today was finally the day when Edan would take the entrance exam for the Swordsmanship Department at Luminoir Academy.

“Are you feeling okay, young master?”

“Yeah. I slept enough, and I’m fully prepared.”

“Good to hear. I was worried that you might be nervous about the entrance exam since you seemed restless yesterday, perhaps due to lack of sleep.”

“…It’s because of the maid.”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind, it’s nothing.”

Bland.

Well, at least he was in good condition on the day of the exam. Yesterday, he seemed tired all day as if he had trouble sleeping.

He had suggested sightseeing on the first day if we arrived without delay, but he ended up falling asleep until evening due to fatigue. That meant we had to stay mostly at the inn on our second day on the Island of Knowledge. We had all three meals at the tavern-cum-restaurant on the first floor of the inn.

“Well, whatever.”

It was fortunate that he seemed to be in better condition on the day of the exam. Perhaps he felt fatigued from the long carriage journey he was not used to. It was a good thing we had left a day early for the trip.

It was much better to be in good shape on the day of the exam than to be tired and groggy.

Of course, apart from the Magic Department, the entrance exam for the noble students this year was expected to have a lower passing cut-off. But at least the evaluation reflected in the entrance exam would be helpful in making connections in the first semester.

Naturally, more people would gather around the top student rather than the bottom student in the department.

“With Edan’s current skills, he could easily aim for the top student position.”

Even though it was just a mock duel with a wooden sword, he had the skill to occasionally win against a Sword Master.

If he could demonstrate half of his usual skill, he could easily outperform most students.

The only variable was how strong the protagonist character was…

Well, at least Edan wouldn’t encounter the protagonist today. Today was the day for the noble students to take the entrance exam for the Swordsmanship Department.

If the protagonist entered the Swordsmanship Department, he would participate in the entrance exam for the commoners the next day.

While there might be a competition for the top position, clashing swords directly would come much later.

“The inn is quite far from Luminoir Academy, should I call for a carriage to take us there?”

“I think it’s better to walk slowly. There might be nobles who arrive at the exam venue early in the morning, so dragging a carriage might make us even later.”

“I agree with that, young master.”

“…If the exam ends a bit early, we can explore the island as much as we missed yesterday afternoon.”

“Sounds like a good idea, young master.”

Thanks to Edan’s wise decision, we were fortunate not to experience traffic congestion in this world.

Avoiding the long line of carriages that appeared as soon as we started walking, we entered Luminoir Academy.

***

The entrance exam for the Swordsmanship Department at Luminoir Academy lasted from morning till evening.

Fortunately, not all applicants had to take the exam from morning till evening; the exams were conducted in order of arrival.

Initially, students who had entered the academy formed groups of four to take the entrance exam.

These groups of four prospective students engaged in one-on-one sword duels.

Since the principle was for each person to face all opponents once, there were a total of six duels. Each person dueled with each opponent three times.

Including the six duels and the rest periods in between, the duels usually lasted about one or two hours.

New students who had not yet entered the academy would not have to duel with dozens of opponents, nor would they need to maintain a standoff for ten to fifteen minutes to exploit their opponent’s weaknesses.

After completing the duels in one or two hours, the results of the exam would be posted on the academy bulletin board the next day or the day after.

Edan would be taking the noble Swordsmanship Department exam, so he would have to wait until the day after the commoner Swordsmanship Department entrance exam was over.

By the way, coming in first in a group of four did not guarantee passing, and coming in last did not mean automatic failure.

The method of dividing the sword among four people in a group was simply a way to save time and prevent variables, not meant to evaluate the four prospective students against each other.

Imagine if the students who ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the upcoming swordsmanship department competition were in a group, and the 4th place student ended up losing to another 4th place student. How unfair would that be?

The evaluation that truly affected the grades was the assessment given by the supervisors who watched the swordsmanship competition. In that sense, it could be considered somewhat fair.

Of course, since it was a human evaluation, it couldn’t be considered perfect, but that’s just how exams are.

With Ethan’s level of skill, there was no need to worry about losing embarrassingly somewhere else. The age where I had to take care of everything had long passed.

“Have you properly prepared the two swords, sir?”

“Yes, I have them properly prepared.”

“Have you not forgotten to carry the long sword on your right side? Since you draw the short sword with your right hand, if you want to draw it quickly when needed for combat…”

“I know. The swords are my responsibility, I don’t need the maid to take care of them.”

“I will check once again if the sword belt is securely fastened. If it were to come loose during combat, it could be dangerous.”

“I’ve already checked, maid…”

I don’t worry at all. Ethan’s skill, which I’ve been watching closely, is enough.

Although I was a little worried because today’s competition was with real swords, not wooden swords, the academy’s training ground was safe in its own way, so there was no real danger.

In case of a serious injury, the judges would intervene and stop the competition before it was completely decided, and even if someone were to receive a fatal wound, they would be transferred to the Aurelia Church within the Luminoir Academy, not killed.

To prevent any accidents during the students’ competitions, there was a ‘death prevention spell’ cast in the exam venue.

In that sense, it was much safer than the mock competition ground where Harold was fighting. There was no possibility of death at all.

Even if the death prevention spell were to be activated and someone were to be sent back to the church, it would be the opponent who was cut by Ethan’s sword, not Ethan himself. That was for sure.

“As this is a competition with real swords, you must be even more careful in observing your opponent’s movements. Although there is no risk of losing your life, the pain of a momentary injury will be remembered.”

“I appreciate the advice, but I have already heard about real combat from my father, so there is no need to worry until the release.”

“There may be opponents who attack unpredictably, unlike your father. Not all swordsmen always make accurate and efficient attacks. It is better to strive for safety rather than endure injuries and attempt attacks in combat…”

“No need to worry, maid…”

I trust Ethan, so I don’t worry at all.

No matter how he fights or talks, I don’t worry at all.

After Ethan registered his name at the Academy’s swordsmanship department reception.

With a moment of leisure, Ethan and I waited a bit leisurely on a bench near the reception area for his opponent to be determined.

“It’s still early in the morning, but surprisingly, there aren’t many people.”

“If you miss the opportunity this year, you’ll have to wait until next year. Even if they are nobles, they will move diligently today.”

“Even the maid who says that is a noble now.”

“But I didn’t come as a noble, I came as your maid today.”

And if you really think about it, in reality, the authority as a noble was almost nonexistent.

I just thought of it as a superficial title to graduate safely from the academy, so considering that, I felt much more comfortable thinking that I wasn’t a noble.

Unless I was going to be a part of the Blackwood family for the rest of my life, it was a useless title.

…Come to think of it, I wonder who Ethan will be facing as his opponent in today’s competition.

“Ethan, may I ask what your registration number is?”

“It’s number 15.”

“In that case, numbers 13, 14, and 16 will be your opponents.”

“That’s how it will be.”

By the way, if nobles were taking the exam at this early hour, there was a higher possibility that they were lower-ranking nobles rather than high-ranking ones.

Most high-ranking noble examinees were probably stuck in traffic somewhere on the road by now.

Even if I waited for hours on the road, it was a common trait of nobles not to walk on the road themselves. And this tendency tended to be even more pronounced among high-ranking nobles.

Therefore, the opponent I would likely encounter at this time was probably a relatively weak opponent.

Generally, high-ranking nobles had a higher maximum amount of magic power than lower-ranking nobles, and their swordsmanship was also more advanced, so it was a natural result.

Well, whoever the opponent was, if it was Edan, he would probably win easily and still have energy left.

Thinking such thoughts, while waiting for Edan’s turn in the duel, someone showing the way began calling out the examinees who would participate in the next duel in front of the dueling ground.

“I will prepare for the next test! Contestant number 13, Louis Fin Agonist!”

If it’s number 13, then it must be one of Edan’s duel opponents.

Seeing that it was an unfamiliar name, they probably weren’t a major character.

Judging by the fact that I’ve never heard of the Agonist family name, they were probably from a remote baron or viscount family.

Thinking such thoughts, while waiting for the next name to be called, I soon heard the name of contestant number 14.

“Contestant number 14, Benjamin Huckleberry Belvin!”

This was also a completely unfamiliar name. Both the name Benjamin and the surname Belvin.

It seems that there are many contestants from remote families because it’s the morning session.

There probably aren’t many high-ranking nobles who would walk to the exam themselves at this time, maybe just Edan.

If these are the opponents, Edan will probably win easily.

“Contestant number 15, Edan Richard Blackwood!”

“Please proceed, sir.”

“Yes.”

After confirming that Edan’s name was called as contestant number 15, as I was about to walk towards the dueling ground with him, the next contestant’s name that came out of the guide’s mouth made me momentarily doubt my ears.

“And finally, contestant number 16, Karam Jaemyul August!”

“…Karam?”

…Why is his name being called here?