Chapter 27: Chapter 27

After deciding to go to the academy, I spent the next two months practicing my spearmanship, assassination kills, swordsmanship, and magic as before.

It wasn’t ‘special training’ before entering the academy or anything like that. According to my father, special training was useless and you should practice regularly.

I agreed with his words 100%.

If you did well normally, there wouldn’t be any problems. People tended to make mistakes when doing something they weren’t used to doing.

Still, I did make some ‘special’ preparations.

⸢The current entrance exam system is simple. You take two exams.⸣

“Two?”

⸢Yeah, a common exam and a specialization exam.⸣

My eldest sister continued her explanation.

⸢The common exam is a kind of preliminary exam for insight. It’s a test about common things like the culture and history of the empire… If it’s you, Dane, you should be able to pass without a problem. Of course, it’s better if you do well because the score will be reflected in your admission score.⸣

According to her explanation, the overall grade was calculated at a ratio of 50 for common (1st) and 50 for specialization (2nd).

⸢Next is the specialization exam. You choose a major and take a set test. The test is at the discretion of a professor of that major. You’ll definitely pass, Dane. Plus, you have a letter of recommendation.⸣

According to my elder sister, it really was an ordinary entrance exam. It was an entrance exam that both my eldest sister and second sister passed by simply demonstrating their skills.

There were exams for each major, and students would follow the major they chose at the time of admission unless they changed their majors midway through. As a note, assassination was not included as the academy didn’t teach it.

“What majors are there?”

⸢Magic, spearmanship, swordsmanship, summoning, commerce, art, music… I hope our youngest chooses magic.⸣

“I’ll think about it.”

I decided to think about it on the way to the academy.

Swordsmanship, spearmanship, magic, summoning. I was confident in all of them. Truthfully, I didn’t think it mattered what I chose, but I wanted to be careful with my choice since it would affect my future.

“And you can’t make any changes other than completely changing your major?”

⸢That’s normally the case. Short of graduating and coming back, that’s it. While you can take classes in other majors, once you enter your third year, they normally don’t allow non-majors to take the higher-level classes for that major. There aren’t enough seats for everyone.⸣

That meant I had to choose one no matter what.

While I was listening, I heard a welcome sound.

⸢For talented kids like our Dane, there is also a system called ‘autonomous major’.⸣

“That sounds good.”

⸢But no one applies for it unless they are determined to not enter the academy. It’s a method that kids often use when they don’t want to go but their family tries to force them to.⸣

“Why?”

⸢Well, no one has passed the test so far. Most people fail.⸣

Was she telling me to jump into the fires of hell? Well, it would be a good idea for me to try to pass this time.

That was when I heard a knock.

I quickly said goodbye and ended the call.

“Are you done with the call?”

Cidrane came in with something in his hand. He handed it to me.

“It’s the recommendation letter I promised you before.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Cidrane must have put a lot of thought into it, as it was packed into a luxurious envelope and was even sealed with his seal as the head of a magic tower.

“I paid a lot of attention to the contents as well as the appearance. I’ve written a few recommendation letters before, but this is the first time I’ve written one that was so long and detailed.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Haa. I wish you would agree to be my disciple. Well, even if I took you as my disciple, you wouldn’t be the kind of person who would call me master right away…”

How did he know?

Our relationship wasn’t so strict and serious that I would call him master.

Of course, when I was learning magic, I also approached our lessons with a humble attitude and seriousness. Cidrane also taught me as best as he could.

“I definitely felt it this time. To think that you mastered all of the existing 2-chain magic rearrangement codes in two months, and even mastered one 3-chain rearrangement code. I almost fainted.”

Thanks to that, I learned a lot, just like Cidrane said. I learned all of the rearrangement codes for 2-chain magic, and I mastered the rearrangement code for ‘just’ one 3-chain magic.

As warned, the 3-chain rearrangement code was quite difficult. I thought I would get it in a day, but it took me a whole two weeks to figure out the rules.

“I wonder if it makes sense that it only took two weeks. I don’t know if the other tower heads would believe me if I told them this.”

“It’s alright to tell them about it.”

“I hate being called a liar. Hmph. I never plan on telling them.”

Perhaps I could put aside my worries about Cidrane telling others about my ancient magic or skills.

“By the way, are you ready for your trip?” Cidrane asked.

“Yes, I’m almost done. I actually don’t have a lot to pack. Things like clothes are in my subspace, and I heard the dorm’s facilities are quite good,” I replied.

“Hmm. The facilities are good. The problem is that only a few monopolize them. Well, it’s not like that would stop you from using them.”

Just listening to Cidrane’s words, the academy felt like a gathering place for noble thugs who used their families to run wild.

“Anyway, you’ll do well. I can tell just by looking at you.”

“Thanks to my talent?”

“That’s a place where only talented people go in the first place. You have to have talent to start with. What I mean is that you’re someone who can go anywhere, show off, and be proud.”

Cidrane added, “Don’t forget. It may sound grim, but it’s a place where there are a lot of people who will bare their teeth at you if they think you don’t amount to much.”

Well, that couldn’t be as bad as on a battlefield, right? If you looked weak, it was a place where swords flew first. It was nothing for me to worry about.

“Yes, I will.”

“If you need anything, just let me know. That thing, the compact thing, it looks useful.”

I guess he was using it well. And to think he said he didn’t follow trends.

By the way, this old man…

“But you speak as if you are going to leave soon?”

“Oh, you noticed? I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“Oh.”

Was it because I got so used to having classes with Cidrane? I was a little taken aback when he said he was leaving tomorrow.

“Are you going to miss me, brat? Well, it’s not like I can stay here forever, right? Your father didn’t even offer me the position of a mage advisor, but I’ll think about it later when I ‘really’ retire from being the head of the magic tower.”

Cidrane smiled and tapped my shoulder.

“You know, right? That I have things to do when I go back? I thought I had done everything, but it turns out there are still things I can do.”

Things he could do. He was talking about finding information related to the magic of the ancient kingdom that was flowing through my body and analyzing the magic. It was a happy thing for me because it would be of great help to me. On the other hand, it also seemed to give pure joy to Cidrane.

“Mages often think that only magic is important, but magic is actually something that is completed through constant exploration, analysis, and repetition. That’s why I’m searching for its essence.”

Thanks to his words, I had become more interested in the study of magic. I guess I could say that I realized that there was more to it than just memorizing the rearrangement code and casting spells. I felt like I should go to the academy and study hard.

“Anyway, thanks, kiddo.”

After enjoying a farewell party prepared by my father, Cidrane left the next day.

I didn’t forget to say, “See you again next time.”

“If anything happens or you need my help, contact me anytime. I’ll definitely pay off my debt and make you my disciple.”

“What if I don’t contact you?”

“I’ll go find you!”

It was quite a pity. Although we did not have a formal ‘mage-style’ master-disciple relationship, we were very serious when it came to teaching and learning from each other.

“Take care. Avoid the forest.”

“You’re definitely hitting a sore spot when I’m about to leave, you little brat. I’m leaving now.”

Cidrane really left, and I returned home with some sadness.

There was no time to savor the sadness for long, though. After all, it was time for me to leave.

Arken Sogres, who was about to send his son to the academy after his two daughters, tried to suppress his anxious feelings.

Today was the day Dane left for the capital. That meant finally leaving his protection and going out into the world. If even his son left, the already large castle would look empty.

‘Still, we can’t keep such talent locked up.’

Count Sogres recalled his past self, back when he begged his father to let him go to battle. He really resented his father for only allowing him to leave after he became a triple class.

He really was immature back then. Now, he thought he understood a little.

“I’m relieved that he’ll be there soon… I hope there won’t be any problems on the way there.”

Lily Sogres was also feeling heavy-hearted. The children were raised by them as if they were as precious as gold and jade. It was the third time experiencing one leaving, so she thought she would get used to it, but it still didn’t seem easy.

“Haha. What problems could there be with the teleportation gate that Arabella prepared? Is that all? When he gets near the capital, Clare says she will come and pick him up with her summoned beast.”

Fortunately, the road didn’t seem difficult or long. Arabella had been creating teleportation gates at each point for quite some time, allowing them to travel almost at warp speed to the capital. When Dane reached the capital, Clare would come out to meet him with a ‘summon’.

“We raised our children well. The children of other families are busy fighting among themselves over who should inherit or not.”

“We’ll have to make that choice someday as well, but any of them would be great at it.”

As the two of them slowly relaxed, Dane, who was finally ready to leave, approached them.

“Father, Mother, I’ll be back.”

“Of course. You have everything?”

“Yes. If there is anything I forgot, please send it to me. That way, I can use it as an excuse to listen to your voices.”

He felt reluctant.

Fourteen years old.

Even for a child of a noble family, he matured too quickly. He was still at an age where he could act spoiled and remain in the embrace of his parents for a while longer…

‘Our Dane isn’t one to do something like that, though.’

It was a pity that he matured so quickly.

“Dane, you have Nighthorn and the mark I gave you?”

“Of course.”

“If you really need help, go to the place I told you about and show them that mark. Everything should be resolved after that.”

Dane nodded his head. As expected from his mother, who was a legendary (retired) assassin), she gave Dane the mark of the assassin group she had briefly been a part of in the past.

“You gave him something that dangerous?”

“Dangerous? They’re all good people.”

“Hmmm…”

Count Sogres still couldn’t forget the gruesome memories of those days. Lily had taken him somewhere to meet her colleagues and in the blink of an eye, ten daggers were aimed at his neck.

What had they said back then? They said they were all pretty good assassins.

‘Surely Dane won’t go there and start walking the path of a full-fledged assassin?’

“If you ever need to, don’t delay going to them. Everyone will help you as if it were their own business.”

“Are they your friends, Mother?”

“Of course. They’re very close friends. Though we haven’t seen each other for over twenty years, they should still remember me.” Lily smiled and patted Dane’s head. “Don’t worry too much. Whenever and wherever you want, Mom and Dad will run right over to you.”

Those were the most reassuring words in the world. If both his parents came running, all danger could be overcome. Plus, there were also his sisters.

“Oh, Dane. Did you pack the gift? When you get there, please greet Duke Thermion.”

“Yes, Father.”

Dane wasn’t going straight to the academy. In order to keep his promise to the duke, he was planning on stopping by and greeting Duke Thermion once he arrived at the capital.

“I suppose you should be going now, Dane.”

It was finally time to leave the castle.

“Have a nice trip, young master!”

“Young master! Go and flatten the noses of those swindlers in the capital!”

“Take care!”

The people of the estate came out after hearing the news that Dane was going to the academy and waved goodbye. Some were laughing happily while others swallowed tears of sadness.

Finally, Dane got on his horse and passed through the castle gate.

“Our son will do well.”

“Of course.”

Arken and Lily, who were watching, nodded happily as if they were no longer worried.

But that was only for a moment.

After the farewell ceremony, the two each gave orders to the people they had prepared in advance.

“Gillad, tail him as carefully as you can. Make sure no one bothers him and he gets to the Teleport Gate safely before returning.”

“It’s been a while, Shadow. You know what you must do? Make sure he gets to the gate safely and that nothing strange occurs.”

One way or another, parents seemed to worry about their children all the time.