Ch. 202
Chapter 202
In the middle of building the house, an unexpected guest came to the Livestock Shed.
A woman with dark crimson hair, dressed in a uniform coat.
It was Chariot, the assistant of Professor Hawk-eye Jennings.
It was my first time facing her in person, but she was the spitting image of her illustration from the game. It didn’t take even a moment to recognize who she was.
Her expression looked indifferent, but that was simply her usual look. If I observed her more closely, a few odd details stood out.
Despite it being winter, cold sweat beaded at her temples.
Though her face remained dry and expressionless, her gestures were restless.
Even her voice trembled slightly.
It was obvious she was in an urgent situation—there was no need for explanation.
‘She kind of gives off a slightly similar vibe to Lapin, who’s always expressionless.’
As for Chariot, her character setting said she just got overly tense all the time, or something like that.
Anyway, before I even had time to dwell on that setting, she abruptly told me to follow her and held out the rear saddle of her broom.
‘I am curious why she’s calling me, though.’
She said there wasn’t even time to explain.
Just as she claimed, it looked like time was short.
‘Let’s just follow her for now.’
If I continued ignoring her or delayed any longer, I might not even get the chance to find out why I had been summoned.
As soon as I mounted the saddle she offered, the broom shot forward into the air.
“Professor, I’ve found him! We’re heading there at full speed, sir!”
She pressed her hand to her ear and shouted—apparently using magical communication.
It seemed that Professor Hawk-eye Jennings was the one who had called for me.
‘What does he want with me? There’s no need to rush this much, is there?’
Knowing his personality, it wasn’t likely he’d call me for anything personal or favorable.
At least, that was what I thought when we entered the Main Building.
But……
After arriving, Chariot didn’t take the elevator toward the Professors’ Wing. Instead, she ran straight toward the dark underground staircase.
“Where are we going?”
She didn’t answer my question.
Or rather, she didn’t seem to have the leisure to answer.
‘I guess I’ll find out when I see it.’
It was so dark that I could barely make out my surroundings.
Since she was the one holding my arm and guiding me, I had no choice but to follow her lead.
Taking the stairs two at a time, she clenched her teeth and hurried down.
Then, suddenly, a murmur seeped through the wall.
“……!”
It was a noise reminiscent of a performance hall.
The amplified echo unique to microphones, and even the sound of applause.
‘……This is strange.’
Chariot, who had been leading, faltered for a brief moment.
At the end of the corridor ahead, faint light shimmered through the darkness.
“Do we just go out there?”
“—Hup!”
Instead of answering, she sucked in a sharp breath and grabbed my sleeve tightly once more.
Then she pushed me forward with absurd force.
“Wh—!”
I was practically flung out of the corridor.
I nearly lost my balance and fell.
Only after I managed to steady myself on both feet did the surrounding scenery begin to register one by one.
The first thing I recognized was that I was standing under dazzlingly bright lights.
And at the center of that light stood……
The protagonist of this world, Duke Ren.
“Mr. Villed!”
He raised his voice as if delighted to see me.
As my vision gradually widened, I realized Ren wasn’t the only one in sight.
The Crown Princess, blinking in surprise at my sudden appearance.
“……?”
Shia, adjusting the scarf around her neck as she stared at me with wide eyes.
Kunking, frowning, and Heidel, casting an indifferent glance.
“Oh, Young Master! Why are you so late~!”
And even Kaelin, welcoming me with both arms raised.
The gazes of the main characters from the game turned toward me.
I slowly looked around.
……A familiar space.
And beyond the lights, countless seats arranged in the darkness, filled with people.
I was standing on the stage of the Grand Auditorium in the Academy Main Building.
‘Ah.’
Only then did I realize.
‘……Has the Schuler Introduction Event begun?’
It was the event where Ren—who had once been nothing more than a commoner—became imprinted in the minds of the first-years as a ‘model senior.’
For some nobles, it sparked envy and jealousy; for commoners, it became a scene of great hope.
And yet, in that very event, I had intruded like an uninvited guest.
‘Did they bring me here to put me on this stage……?’
I glanced toward the dark corridor behind the stage.
There, Chariot was repeatedly bowing her head, clasping her hands together in apology.
Watching that, I could only let out a small sigh.
Upper level of the Grand Auditorium.
In the glass-enclosed viewing room overlooking the entire stage, professors had gathered—from the Head Professor to full professors and associate professors alike.
It was a space not revealed to students, a kind of VIP seating reserved only for faculty.
This visitation event was meant to ease the curiosity of incoming students and their parents and to help them understand life at the Academy.
The introduction of the Academy, explanations of the curriculum and campus life, and finally……
The introduction of representative students who had endured the Academy’s curriculum—the Schuler.
Professor Ruber, Professor Feria, Professor Pascal…….
Along with them, more than a dozen renowned professors were watching their own Schuler standing on stage.
A Schuler was the one and only direct disciple personally chosen by a professor.
From the professor’s standpoint as well, they had no choice but to devote great effort to nurturing their Schuler.
Naturally, those Schuler who grew under such care became a great source of pride.
“The top-ranking Schuler among the prospective second-years may be Heidel, but the most astonishing one was Duke Ren.”
“Indeed. The only Schuler who recorded such overwhelming growth was Duke Ren.”
“A student who used to be in the lower ranks received instruction from Professor Ruber and became the Crown Princess’s knight. What astonishing growth is this? I can hardly believe it.”
“You must be very pleased, Head Professor Ruber, that your Schuler has grown so well.”
There were also quite a few professors currying favor with Professor Ruber, the Head Professor.
“…….”
Professor Hilda sat alone in a corner, gazing at the stage.
Among the proud group of Schuler, hers was the only one missing.
……She had a vague idea why.
The introduction stage was meant for outstanding students who could serve as role models for the freshmen.
But Villed, the owner of absurdly meager magical energy, was someone who did not suit such a stage in the slightest—so someone must have deliberately excluded him.
As Hilda quietly watched the stage alone, someone approached her.
“Professor Hilda?”
It was a pot-bellied man.
Judging by his presence here, he must be a professor as well.
“I truly enjoyed reading your ‘Introduction to Painting Magic.’ The theory that magic is the same as painting was remarkably innovative. How did you come up with such an idea……?”
“Oh my, you read my paper? Thank you. You flatter me.”
Hilda responded with a gentle smile.
The theories Hilda had published were all featured in academic journals and received high praise.
Despite being a newly appointed professor, her brilliant achievements led everyone to consider her a genius. Yet even the seemingly perfect Hilda had one flaw.
The pot-bellied man also turned his gaze toward the stage Hilda had been watching and spoke.
“However…… I don’t see that Dedenkman.”
“Oh dear~.”
“Hmm…….”
After a low murmur, the man continued.
“In contrast to the excellent Professor Hilda, that Dedenkman hardly seems Schuler-worthy. Among all the Schuler, Dedenkman alone had a complete absence of academic results.”
“Unfortunately, that was true. But it’s alright.”
At the end of each semester, to verify the educational outcomes of the Schuler, professors had to submit teaching logs, conduct individual examinations, and present all results.
……But in the case of Hilda’s Schuler, ‘pathetic’ wasn’t even sufficient to describe it. There had been no results at all, and the exam hadn’t even been conducted.
Hilda’s Schuler had been quite the topic of discussion among the professors.
The classes recorded in the teaching log consisted of things like lighting a candle with magic and drawing pictures.
Compared to Hilda’s highly acclaimed journal publications, her Schuler education had been abysmal.
There had been no growth whatsoever.
Because of this, professors who supported Hilda often recommended that she change her Schuler.
“So, I was thinking of offering you a list of promising candidates more suited to Professor Hilda…….”
“I truly appreciate your suggestion, Professor.”
Hilda cut him off gently, still smiling.
“My Schuler is Student Villed. I have never once considered changing my Schuler……”
Though she smiled kindly with her eyes, for some reason the man felt a small tremor run through his body after meeting her gaze.
“……and I never will. Surely you don’t believe my choice was mistaken, do you?”
“O-of course not. I’m certain Professor Hilda’s judgment is correct.”
The man forced a smile, but he had yet to fully dispel his suspicion.
……The Dedenk Family must have paid quite a sum to make their second son a Schuler.
Hilda had long grown tired of sensing such thoughts from people like him.
Of course, she understood.
A normal professor would never choose Villed, who possessed such absurdly poor magical talent, as a Schuler.
……But Hilda didn’t care.
Public opinion meant nothing.
That’s right.
If she wished, she could raise Villed into the greatest mage at any time.
……But it was not yet time.
Moreover, she did not wish to force it.
She wanted to watch Villed’s brilliant ‘potential’ and ‘will’ to the very end.
If she ignored that and forcibly made him grow, it would feel as though she were destroying him instead.
And so, Hilda chose to continue observing him.
“……Ah.”
Hilda’s eyes, which had been watching the stage without much expectation, suddenly widened.
A man dressed so shabbily he could be mistaken for a laborer had bounced up onto the stage.
“Why has a janitor come onto the stage?”
The professors had no idea who the man was, but Hilda recognized him at a glance.
She immediately stood up and pressed her face close to the glass window.
With sparkling eyes, she stared at the man.
The professors murmured among themselves.
“A janitor?”
“The visitors will be startled—shouldn’t someone tell him to step down at once?”
“……I’ve just received word through magical communication. He’s not a janitor, but Student Dedenkman.”
“Dedenkman?”
“That’s the Dedenk Family’s second son?”
Everyone present doubted their eyes.
Villed’s current attire was far from noble-like.
Moreover, this stage was an important occasion where the Schuler were to make a first impression on prospective students and their parents.
Thus, all the Schuler had dressed up—wearing makeup, slicking back their hair, presenting themselves as impressively as possible……
Yet Villed was the only one who had stepped onto the stage wearing shabby work clothes, looking almost ridiculous.
“Kh, khm!”
The professors, glancing at Hilda, desperately tried to suppress their laughter……
“……Ahaha, ahaha.”
There was only one professor laughing out loud, even with tears welling up in her eyes.
Hilda.
She never lost the smile at the corners of her lips and looked only at Villed.
“……Ahaha, I truly do adore Student Villed.”