Episode 14
Father had the butler bring a collection of documents, listing various academies.
From the academies Waslein Territory boasts, to the renowned academies in the Royal Capital and other territories. Apparently, even academies in neighboring countries were listed as potential Schools of Choice.
“Oh, so we can go to schools in other countries?”
“How many times have I explained this…? What were you even listening to!”
“Eh? Well, you know… Haha.”
“What’s so funny, you little brat…!”
Father seems quite irritated, but it’s not my fault I’m hearing this for the first time. I should just decide quickly and get out of here.
“Haa, whatever. So? Where do you want to go?”
“Hmm, let me see.”
Since my goal is to get involved with the original story, the School of Choice should probably be in the Royal Capital. And there are two academies in the Royal Capital.
The Royal Desroah Academy. Apparently, Master Desroah, a leading figure in Magic Studies and medicine, put a lot of effort into establishing it.
The Royal Ukyak Academy. It seems to be a national academy representing the country, as its name suggests.
Of these two, I just need to choose the one where the protagonist is, but I have no idea.
The information in these documents is too superficial. They could have written a bit more about their policies and school spirit.
But since I don’t know anything about the protagonist’s background or personality, that information might not be helpful anyway.
Another approach would be to consider which academy the original Geld would have chosen.
In that case, the arrogant and pretentious Geld would be drawn to Ukyak Academy by the phrase “representing the country”… No, Geld is interested in magic. So, there’s a chance he might choose Desroah.
Alright, I’ve confirmed that I have no idea. Let’s just pick one randomly.
“Hmm, have you decided?”
“Yes. Which of the academies in the Royal Capital is more amazing? I want to go to the amazing one.”
“…………”
Ah, the amount of exasperation has increased significantly. Father’s face is almost entirely filled with exasperation.
Well, yeah, saying “I want to go to the amazing school” might not be something someone who goes to an amazing school would say. It sounds incredibly stupid.
But I really had no information to go on, so I had to rely on the logic that the protagonist is amazing, so the school they attend must also be amazing, to increase my chances of guessing correctly. Please understand, Father!
“…………”
“…………”
He doesn’t understand. Well, I guess that can’t be helped.
“Eenie, meenie, miney, moe…”
“…………”
“Eenie, meenie, miney, moe… I’ve decided. I’ll go to Ukyak Academy.”
“I see… Try not to embarrass Waslein too much.”
“Of course. I’ll go there representing the house, no, the territory.”
I’m sorry, Father, I’ll probably end up kidnapping and imprisoning a girl. Please understand, Father.
I leave the dining hall, leaving Father behind, who seems to have aged five years in an instant from exhaustion. If I stayed there, who knows what kind of accusations I’d be subjected to.
But even after leaving the dining hall, I can’t relax yet. I can’t leisurely wander around the mansion, or I might run into a Maid somewhere, so I quickly head straight to my room. This is the only place of refuge.
I still can’t shake the feeling of discomfort about living in a room with walls and a roof… Huh, there’s a lot of stuff here.
The iron rod and wooden rod that were originally here. In addition to the iron Sword I stole last time, and the knife I bought for dismantling.
And this big bag is… money? It’s a bag packed with En that I kept accumulating because I didn’t use it at all while holed up in the Forest. It’s probably a considerable amount, but it’s mostly One En Coins and Ten En Coins, which are very inconvenient to use. Geld originally had plenty of money anyway, so I can just leave this En alone.
By the way, is it okay for the economy that Monsters drop money? I thought the country would carefully consider and issue it… Well, it’s a game, so I shouldn’t worry about the details.
And then there’s the stack of cards… No, I can’t. Remembering the days I spent having fun with the Maids makes me feel a pang in my chest. Resetting our relationships was a truly cruel thing to do.
“Haa… Still, it’s the Royal Capital again.”
I’m a little anxious about going to an academy I don’t know much about, but it’s somewhat reassuring to think of it as the Royal Capital, which I know well.
“Speaking of the Royal Capital… Wait, what kind of place was it again?”
Come to think of it, I might not know it at all. All I know is the forest south of the Royal Capital. I’m confident I know that place better than anyone else in the world, but I don’t remember anything about the Royal Capital itself.
“Hmm… Well, if I’m in trouble, I’ll just escape to the forest. If I live there for three years, it’ll be another reset.”
It’s reassuring to know that I have a place to escape to in case of emergency… No, that’s not right. What am I going to do in the forest? If things go wrong, it’s better to just die and reset. No, my mind is being consumed by the forest.
And maybe it’s because I spent three years living in the forest without seeing anyone, but I feel like I’ve started talking to myself more often.
I have to be careful not to seem like a weirdo by muttering to myself too much.
Well, I’ve decided to become a shiny new first-year student in the spring, but the entrance ceremony is probably more than a month away.
What should I do until then? I don’t want to see the Maids, but I’ll be bored if I stay in my room…
That’s right, I could go to the Royal Capital in advance, couldn’t I? It wouldn’t make any difference whether I went later or earlier. If anything, I could just hole up in the forest for about a month… No, no. I have to get away from the forest.
Besides, it’s still late February, so the forest must still be bitterly cold. I’d need my set of cold-weather bedding made from small animal fur, bird feathers, and vines I gathered from around there, but unfortunately, it’s nowhere to be found. It was probably mistaken for garbage and wasn’t carried over.
“No, I could probably make something even better now, couldn’t I? Improving on the shortcomings of the previous one… What am I going to do by making it?”
No, if I’m alone and thinking, my mind will inevitably be drawn to the forest.
For now, I should just act before I think. Since my brain has become one that ultimately returns to the forest no matter what I think, it’s pointless to think.
I immediately jump out of my room and head back to the dining hall, where I find Father elegantly drinking coffee or something after his meal. Let’s charge in.
“Father.”
“Geld? What is it?”
“Someone will be going to the Royal Capital for the entrance procedures, right?”
“Hmm? Well, yes. I was planning to have them leave tomorrow.”
“I’d like to accompany them and go to the Royal Capital.”
“…………Hmm? What do you mean? Why would you want to go so early?”
Father seems simply perplexed. I know it’s too early, but… it’s hard to say that it’s because I can’t bear to see the Maids. I’ll just make something up.
“How should I put it? It’s like, with the anticipation and excitement for my new school, my enthusiasm for learning has gotten the better of me, and I want to get there as soon as possible to get used to it.”
“You’re one to talk, after deciding on it so casually… It’s not even certain that you’ll be admitted yet.”
“Well, that was just an unfortunate lapse of memory… It’s not decided?”
What’s going on? I decided on the school I’m going to, so isn’t it decided already?
Father must have read the question on my face. His expression turned to one of utter exasperation again.
“There’s an entrance exam, isn’t there? Have you prepared for it?”
“Entrance? No, entrance exam. …Entrance exam!?”
That’s ridiculous… An entrance exam…? I used to have various lessons from a tutor, but of course, all those memories have disappeared.
Even though I have an infinite amount of time because I can just reset if the worst happens, you’re telling me I have to acquire enough academic ability to pass the entrance exam for a school that represents the country? You’ve got to be kidding me.
“Geld… I’ve told you so many times about the entrance exam… No, it’s fine that you haven’t prepared yet. Well, it’s not fine, but let’s put that aside for now. How could you forget that there’s even an entrance exam in the first place…?”
“Ah, well, you know, I was thinking that Waslein would let me in with just my face, one way or another.”
“What do you think Waslein is?”
That was close. Forgetting about the existence of the entrance exam itself is too unnatural. It’s not a problem because I can just reset if it’s exposed, but suicide is still scary, and waiting three years is long. It’s better to deceive him if I can.
“Then Father, if I can’t get in with just my face… is it possible to pass the entrance exam with, like, a bribe?”
“You dare suggest a bribe…! What happened to all that enthusiasm for learning you were talking about earlier!”
I thought a bribe was a good idea, but I seem to have accidentally touched Father’s reverse scale. Apparently, this father is a man of integrity, despite being a great noble with money and power.
“Well, that was just talk about future enthusiasm, and I’d like to avoid the entrance exam, which tests past enthusiasm, if possible.”
“There’s no way to avoid it. Give up and study. Or change your School of Choice? There are schools you can get into without an entrance exam.”
“No, I’ve decided on Royal Ukyak Academy. No matter the difficulties, I have no intention of changing my mind about this.”
“…I see.”
It’s the academy I need to attend to make contact with the main characters. Other schools would be meaningless… Wait, hold on?
“Ah. What about De-De-De-something Academy? Is the entrance exam easier there, perhaps?”
“…………It’s not that different from Ukyak.”
“I see. Then I guess it’s Royal Ukyak Academy after all. Well then, excuse me.”
Leaving my father, who was completely dejected, I left the dining hall. I should probably return to my room and study… but I really don’t want to.