Chapter 31: Chapter 31

The first test was held at separate locations provided by the Academy.

For Leila and me, it was a temple.

You could say that due to the very holy atmosphere, one couldn’t even think about cheating. Well, I wasn’t going to cheat even in a different atmosphere.

The test wasn’t difficult, so I was able to submit my answer sheet and leave with a sense of relief.

After completing the first test, Leila and I returned to the duke’s mansion and were informed of the results of the first test the next morning.

I was in first place.

Thanks to this, Leila, who I had thought would devote herself to swordsmanship training, seemed to be greatly shocked when she received the results through the communication bracelet (this was also invented by my eldest sister) distributed to applicants before the exam.

“I thought I would naturally be first place…”

Leila’s pride seemed to have completely disappeared. I didn’t think she’d have such a gloomy expression. Was second place really that disappointing?

Leila couldn’t stand it anymore and pushed her face closer to mine, asking, “How on earth did you study?”

“By focusing on past exam questions.”

“…”

It was true.

The academy’s first entrance exam was a well-rounded test designed to filter out the ignorant.

So, all I did was ask my eldest sister to get me several past exam question books and ask her about them.

It wasn’t that difficult, either.

“It was really difficult… especially military science…”

For me, military science was the easiest and most fun.

Military Science.

That knowledge I had acquired through my previous life experience.

Of course, there was a clear gap between theory and practice, but since they were essay-type questions, I faithfully wrote down the doctrines and methods of practice based on theory.

I remembered it as probably the most enjoyable time during the entire exam. It was a hundred times better than boring things like art history or music history.

It might also be because I knew it well.

“But why ask fourteen-year-olds like us about war strategy, tactics, and military management? Isn’t that too much? No matter how much filtering is needed!”

“That was the easiest for me. Wasn’t it fun?”

“What’s wrong with you? It wasn’t just military science, there was art! And music! There was even a section about the history of the Drenik Empire!”

That was my specialty. After all, I picked up a lot of things knowingly or unknowingly while rolling around on the battlefield.

I was afraid that I would be treated as a spy for no reason, so I just wrote down fragmentary information—that is, information that everyone would know if they studied.

Leila looked at me with eyes that seemed to say she was looking at a weirdo, then shook her head.

“You always go beyond expectations. You taught me how to release mana, you beat me, and you came in first place!”

Leila turned away with a face that was heavy with emotion. She hit her chest out of frustration.

I shrugged my shoulders. There was still a long way to go before she knew everything.

By the way, first place, huh? Since both my sisters participated as test supervisors and examiners, they probably already knew, right?

As soon as the second test was over, I should tell my parents. I had a feeling they would really like it.

“Oh, right. Where are you taking the second test? Hmm, mine’s at Cedric Hall. It seems to be an auditorium.”

Those words reminded me of what I had seen earlier.

“I’m taking the test in three places.”

“Three… three places?”

Leila’s face lit up with horror.

She was really good at using her facial muscles. Her expressions were so colorful.

“You… No way! Did you apply for the autonomous major?”

“Yeah.”

Leila was silent for a while before nodding and saying, “Right, I shouldn’t try to understand.”

“Why?”

“This is beyond my understanding!”

Autonomous major. Swordsmanship, spearmanship, magic, summoning.

“Why on earth did you choose that?”

“Because I want to study all of them.”

Honestly, I couldn’t choose just one of those four because I liked everything. I didn’t want to pick one and lose the opportunity to learn about the other three.

So, I chose to take all four.

The autonomous major boasted an extremely low passing rate.

“If I pass the autonomous major, I can take any class I want until I graduate. I don’t have to choose a major until I graduate, and I can do research with professors from all majors under the authority of the dean.”

“…Do you think others don’t know that so they don’t apply?” Leila started to babble. “Is it because you don’t want to go to the academy with me…?”

Tears welled up in her eyes. I guess she thought I probably wouldn’t pass.

“Of course not,” I chuckled and reassured Leila.

“How… how could you choose the autonomous major…?” Leila muttered blankly.

Well, I suppose it was to be expected. After all, to attend under the autonomous major, you had to get the approval of all professors in three majors to pass.

“Be honest! What else do you have besides spearmanship and summoning magic?”

There were many talented people in the world, and that ‘talent’ varied from person to person.

Whilst some people could figure everything out just by looking at it once, others couldn’t understand anything even after trying dozens of times. This was because their ‘talent’ was different.

However, there were few who had a multitude of talents.

Scholars said that even if there were such cases, they were mostly limited to taking charge of a few fields.

The reason swordsmanship and magic couldn’t’ coexist was not only because of the conflicting characteristics of the core and circle. Since both were such difficult fields, it was difficult to learn just one.

Therefore, the autonomous major program required one to choose three majors and receive approval from all professors of those majors before being approved.

No one applied unless they were very savvy and overconfident or just plain stupid. So, people wondered just why such a major existed.

This time, there was only one applicant.

Dane Sogres.

Because Dane chose spearmanship, magic, and summoning, the three professors gathered together and were talking with bewildered expressions on their faces.

“Autonomous major… Are there any students that still apply to that these days?”

“When it was first created, many people applied. But even if you try hard, you would only get two passes, and most people wouldn’t get even one pass.”

“Right. If it’s magic, then magic. If it’s swordsmanship, then swordsmanship. If it’s spearmanship, then spearmanship. It’s better to support just one.”

“Being good at everything is the hardest thing in the world…”

The Dean of the Magic Department, Dinavo.

The Dean of the Spearmanship Department, Ingrid.

The Dean of the Summoning Department, Delphineso.

None of these three got their professorships through kid games, so they knew very well how difficult it was to do well in one field.

But all three fields?

“It’s been about two hundred years since the autonomous major was created, right? The passing rate is…”

“What passing rate? Almost no one passes.”

“You said it wasn’t that difficult at first?”

“It was only in the beginning, back when the Academy needed talents. Three hundred years ago, it wasn’t the empire it is now.”

Autonomous major.

A Special Major for the Talented.

At first, several students passed.

Back then, it was a time of conquest, where any talent that was even a little bit visible had to be utilized. Thanks to this, the status of autonomous majors rose significantly. Almost all of the empire’s past talents came from the major.

“But as time went by, the standards got higher and higher. Selection and focus became important, and the atmosphere was such that it was better to do one thing well than to try several things.”

“Then why leave it? If no one will apply, or even if they do apply, they won’t be accepted.”

Dinavo answered Ingrid’s question seriously, “It’s symbolic.”

Symbolism.

The symbolism that only the best talents of the Imperial Academy could enter. Now, it was a faded and inefficient major, existing only in name.

It happened often, and there were those who challenged this symbolism.

“So there were two in the last hundred years? One of them dropped out and converted, and the other was the previous emperor.”

In other words, unless you were a true genius, passing the exam was impossible.

Of course, since it was at the ‘professor’s discretion’, if the professors were generous, it was possible to get in somehow. The problem was that it was impossible for the professors to be half-hearted due to their pride.

“…”

The two professors swallowed their words at Dinavo’s words.

“Let’s see how confident a kid is to challenge such symbolism.”

A common thought occurred to the three professors.

Dane Sogres.

The youngest son of war hero Arken Sogres. Unlike his two older sisters, he might just be a young man drunk on pride.

The three professors, who were already busy and gathered because of one person who applied for the autonomous major, were starting to get nervous.

“Hello.”

Today’s main character, Dane, who the three professors had been waiting for with bated breath, opened the door to the examination room and entered.

“I am Dane Sogres, who applied to the Imperial Academy’s autonomous major program.”

All three liked the simple introduction. He didn’t mention being someone’s son, not even mentioning his father or siblings’ backgrounds.

But that was it…

“Do you know what it means to apply for the autonomous major?” Delphineso asked.

“Yes. I understand that I have to pass the exams for the three majors I chose.”

“Does that mean you have the confidence?”

What came back was an answer without hesitation.

Ingrid, the dean of the Spearmanship Department, burst out laughing.

“You said your name is Dane, right? Well, it’s not too late. I have great respect for your father, Count Sogres. No one in this empire can wield a spear better than Count Sogres. I would hate to see his son go down in defeat.”

Ingrid’s advice was full of truth and sincerity. The professors rarely said such to the applicants.

Ingrid thought it was a pity.

Fourteen years old.

It was an age where it would be hard to realize and cultivate a single talent. At that age, it made no sense to choose the autonomous major and apply for the exam.

Moreover, he was the son of Arken Sogres, whom she respected.

“Thank you for your words. I will do my best.”

Ingrid was dumbfounded by Dane’s words.

Confidence.

It was completely different from arrogance.

‘Does he feel burdened by his elder sisters?’

Delphineso, the dean of the Summoning Department, thought it might be plausible. It was often the case that members of noble families, feeling overshadowed by their siblings, would do this.

The eldest sister was a talented person who received recruitment calls from magic towers throughout the empire and was a great magical genius who had already created numerous inventions.

The second sister was already a great warrior who could summon several giant summons and was considered the next great summoner.

She thought it was only natural since they were both incredibly talented.

‘It can’t be helped.’

Finally, Dinavo nodded.

“Good. Then let’s start the exam. The exam will test your skills in magic, summoning, and spearmanship. It will be a different type of exam from the normal specialization exam. Any questions?”

“No, sir.”

“If you fail, you will automatically fail the exam.”

“I understand.”

The professors exchanged glances.

The first one to step forward was Professor Delphineso of the Summoning Department.

Delphineso Einz.

A woman who was the highest-ranked summoner among the summoners of the Altheon Empire, and who had set a record of maintaining three summoned creatures of level 2 or higher at the same time, which were notoriously difficult to summon and even control.

“I’ll start. The test is simple,” Delphineso said, crossing her arms.

“Satisfy me in any way you can with your summoning skills.”

Autonomous major.

It was a test where three professors from different majors randomly gave whatever exams they wanted. That was the moment when it became clear why there were no applicants.

But Dane spoke without hesitation.

“Then would you please summon?”

Summon?

What followed was even more spectacular.

“Any summons will do.”

“What?”

Delphineso was momentarily taken aback. Only those who had completed formal training as a summoner could receive the Summon Sign. That education only took place in the academy.

So, of course, she thought he’d explain the theory behind summoning. But he was asking her to summon a beast?

“Are you planning to use the summons as a teaching aid?” Delphineso pretended to be fooled and went along.

Obviously, any summons would be fine.

“Answer my call.”

The moment she said the words, the air split, and the summons appeared.

“Oh my God.”

Ingrid inhaled sharply. The same went for Dinavo.

What was revealed through the air was一

“Okay, you said to summon any of them.”

Eterarch.

He was a 4th-rank summons, and among them, he was the most vicious one—a so-called ‘mad summons’ that attacked anyone he saw except his summoner.

His appearance was reminiscent of a giant wolf.

Claws that were much larger and sharper than those of a wolf, red eyes, and, crucially, a vicious roar.

“Ggggrrrrrr!”

It was said that his strength was so great that it took several dual-class knights to defeat him.

Even Delphineso was nervous at the sight that would make a faint-hearted person collapse the moment they saw him.

‘What is he trying to do?’

Nothing would go wrong, but if he provoked Eterarch by doing something strange, she needed to immediately summon him back.

It was at that time that Delphineso was making full preparations.

Step, step.

The boy took a step forward.

Towards Eterarch.

Delphineso was astonished and said, “Stop right there! What are you trying to do?”

Dane paused for a moment, tilted his head, and asked, “Didn’t you ask me to prove it in some way?”

Yes, that was right. But she didn’t ask him to prove it by jumping into a pit of fire.

“I will prove it to you.”

Dane started walking again.

It was at that moment that Eterarch bared his teeth at the approaching Dane. Delphineso raised her hands in an urgent gesture to make a reverse summoning sign, and the other two professors were shaking with nerves.

Dane stared into space not far from Eterarch, then reached out his hand… and then he grabbed something invisible and pulled it into his body.

“Yeah, good boy.”

Eterarch’s tail slowly went down.

“…Huh?”

Delphineso let out a sigh.

The tail was down. That meant that his guard had been lowered. The bared teeth slowly disappeared.

“You’re much bigger than Gendpu, aren’t you?”

Finally, he reached out and buried his face against Dane’s outstretched hand.

“…”

“…”

What the hell was going on right now?

“Krr.”

“That tickles.”

Delphineso was dumbfounded by the sight before her.

That evil Eterarch, even if he never harbored any ‘hostility’ towards his summoner, had never wagged his tail and rubbed his face against her like that—and even going so far as to lick the boy?

‘Oh my God.’

She quickly realized why, spotting it when she concentrated.

A thread of magical power linked Dane and Eterarch.

And one more thing.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

At that moment, the colors were slightly brighter on Dane’s side than hers. It wasn’t to the point of obeisance, but it was at least enough for Eterarch not to show any hostility.

How did this make sense?

Innate friendliness?

It was an area that couldn’t be explained by that alone.

Guts.

Boldness.

Based on that, the previously linked magical power threads were analyzed in an instant, and then a similar magical power thread was created and connected.

‘The only way to counter summoning or a method that can be used by unmarked summoners.’

She recalled her past self. She remembered doing something similar and getting praised by her teacher.

But Dane was greater than she was then.

Delphineso quickly came to a conclusion.

“You pass.”

Without further ado, she passed him.