Chapter 133 : Chapter 133
Chapter 133. The First Vacation Ceremony
Final exams were over.
That meant summer vacation was starting now.
Perhaps because it was the first vacation since entering the Academy, the first-years gathered in the auditorium with excited hearts.
Regardless of how their first semester grades turned out, everyone looked relieved.
However, there was someone who wasn't like that.
The person wearing a gloomy expression was none other than Inette.
Radel approached and asked.
“What’s wrong, Inette. I thought you would be in a good mood since it’s vacation?”
“The report card is flying to Mom. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps already!”
Inette shuddered as she recalled her mother, Imperial Consort Celiana.
With her mother’s personality, it was certain that she would use the report card as an excuse to tease her throughout the vacation. Even if she wanted to hide the report card secretly, she couldn't stop it since it was sent to parents via flight magic.
‘Then what happens to someone like me?’
Radel encountered a problem he had never worried about.
Where would they send it for someone without parents?
“Gusto, who does your report card go to?”
“I understand it is probably sent to the Bishop of the temple I belong to.”
Report card going to the Bishop.
That must be quite burdensome too.
“Tunia, what about you?”
“I have to go to the administration office to pick it up myself.”
Tunia said it was handled that way since her parents had passed away.
Radel’s expression became subtle.
“……Then is my report card flying to Father, that is, His Majesty the Emperor?”
At Radel’s words, Inette replied nonchalantly.
“Wouldn't it be so? Or it could be sent to the owner of the recommendation letter used for admission.”
If so, it means it flies to Ivan, the head of the Ability Management Bureau.
His Majesty the Emperor or the head of the Ability Management Bureau getting to know my grades. Either way, it wasn't such welcome news for Radel.
“Ah, right. Report card!”
“Is there no way to stop it?”
When the topic of parents came up, the first-years stirred little by little.
Especially those from magician families or families with high expectations from parents had a greater fear of report cards.
Edward, the heir of the Paradik earldom, was the same.
Considering how much his father boasted about his son entering the Magic Academy, he was surely eagerly anticipating the day the grades came out.
“I don’t think it came out that well though…….”
When Edward muttered, his friends beside him shook their heads.
“Too bad, Edward.”
“That’s why you should have studied normally.”
Edward was dumbfounded by the words of his friends, whose levels were similar to his.
“……Do you guys think you are in a position to say such things?”
But the friends’ answer was unexpected.
“I don’t care if I fail. I found a way to forget the pain at times like this.”
“Edward, you should use this method too. Worries about grades disappear completely.”
Radel, who was nearby, became curious at those words.
“What is that method? Can you tell me too?”
When Radel joined the conversation, Edward’s friends chattered excitedly.
“The Prince is interested too?”
“You will absolutely not suffer a loss.”
Edward’s friends giggled and took out a sheet of paper.
It was the expected report card for the first-years that they made.
“We bet money referring to this. For reference, I bet on my grades failing worse than this.”
“If grades are bad, you can win money, and if grades come out well, instead of winning money, the principle is that you feel good. Whatever happens, worries about grades disappear!”
It was truly a logic of miracles.
After hearing his friends’ words, Edward muttered in a low voice.
“These crazy bastards…….”
They were proud friends who said everything they couldn't say in front of the Prince.
However, Radel unexpectedly took an interest in the report card they made.
Because it was more accurate than he thought.
“You made it well. Is my expected score around this much?”
“Of course. We analyzed it based on the evaluations we’ve taken so far and the grades in the meantime. At this rate, the Prince is the top student of the first semester.”
Whether Edward was humiliated or not, his friends were serious.
“Even though we look like this, money is on the line, so we didn't make it carelessly. You can trust it.”
“We predict the Prince is 1st place.”
And as they said, Radel really became 1st place.
* * *
“Before the vacation, I will announce the top student of the first semester first.”
Professor Lilian went up on the podium and opened her mouth.
The first-years looked at the professor with eyes full of anticipation for who would be called the top student.
“Radel Silvert Cretian.”
As soon as Radel’s name flowed out of Professor Lilian’s mouth, Edward’s friends embraced each other.
“Yes!”
“We were right!”
Their expressions, having bet money on Radel taking 1st place, were brighter than ever.
Conversely, there were those whose faces crumpled the moment Radel’s name was called.
They were Leon’s followers.
“How can such a thing happen in the world?”
“Wasn't the final term evaluation our Prince Leon’s victory?”
“Where on earth did justice go!”
Leon’s followers lamented, but it was the result of comprehensively evaluating the combined midterm and final exam grades.
When Radel went up on the podium, applause poured out.
The professors in charge of first-years standing behind also applauded for Radel.
Clap clap clap!
The professors were happy about Radel being the top student with pleased smiles, but behind the scenes, an invisible battle of nerves was fiercely taking place.
“It turns out like this as expected.”
Professor Cailin of Alchemy opened his mouth first.
“It’s rare to see him fail in potion brewing until now. He is a friend who absolutely does not waste ingredients uselessly. I recognized it from when he first came into the lecture and pulled weeds. That he is a student who must do alchemy.”
Then Professor Donton of Cryptozoology twitched his muscles with an expression that said it was unexpected.
“That kid has a natural talent for taming. Plus he climbs mountains very well. Cryptozoology majors all have a passion for magical beasts, but a kid prepared with physical strength is rare. And what about his perseverance? It can be said to be a talent absolutely necessary for Cryptozoology.”
Marianne of Summoning Magic also joined the war.
“Has everyone forgotten that Radel is the Grade Representative? As it happens, since I am in charge of the Black Falcon Dormitory, he should come to me first for career counseling. I intend to tell him he is a talent with the aptitude most necessary for Summoning Magic. Since he even contracted with ‘that’ spirit, it would be natural.”
Professor Thomas, who was staying still, also quietly intervened.
“……He is the student who understands Transmutation Magic the best. He might be good at other magic too, but isn’t that exactly the characteristic of Transmutation Magic majors. Such a student is rare. For the development of the magic world, he really needs to learn Transmutation Magic.”
Everyone looked like fire was about to spew from their eyes.
When the first semester of the first year ended, it was the time to decide on a major in earnest.
Although one could change majors even after moving up to the 2nd or 3rd year, usually the major decided in the 1st year continued until graduation.
Wanting to teach an outstanding student was the dream of every educator.
On top of that, a student who learned magic for the first time this year grasping the Academy’s top spot?
There was no professor whose heart wouldn't flutter seeing such a freshman.
Professor Lilian of Combat Magic was also implicitly recommending her major while giving the certificate to Radel.
“Here, this is the certificate. There is also a special prize.”
Radel slightly anticipated at the words that there was a prize prepared separately.
Wouldn't it be some helpful magical tool or item.
However, what Professor Lilian held out was a priority selection ticket for majors.
“I was worried because Combat Magic applicants flock every year, but student Radel won’t have to worry, right? If you use this, you can beat the competitors and become a Combat Magic major!”
On top of that, even pressure to choose Combat Magic.
“I see.”
Radel hid his sour expression and nodded.
‘Is this…… really a prize?’
Although he was a bit flustered, being able to choose a major preferentially didn't seem bad either.
When Radel seriously put the priority selection ticket into his bosom, Professor Lilian smiled broadly.
“Though anyone would welcome someone of student Radel’s level. Oh, take this too.”
Professor Lilian held out another envelope.
Opening it, there was a small scholarship inside.
Only then did Radel regain his smile.
* * *
In Marcellent, there were many shops as old as the city’s history.
One of them was the Apprentice Magician’s Nest near the Academy.
This restaurant, said to have been there since the Academy was established in Marcellent, was also a long-time regular haunt for Academy students.
“Are you Academy first-year students? Go up to the 2nd floor!”
“Ah, yes.”
When students wearing Academy uniforms entered, the shop owner skillfully guided the students to the 2nd floor.
The first-years headed to the stairs going up to the 2nd floor as guided.
It was because they decided to have a get-together here to welcome the vacation.
It was a plan pushed forward by Radel, the Grade Representative, saying that unity among the first-years seemed lacking in the meantime.
Lectures were all over, the vacation ceremony was done, and now the first-years who only had to return home had nothing to hesitate about.
Except for Leon and a few friends who had business, almost everyone decided to attend.
“Did everyone gather?”
“Since there are 10 minutes left now, I wonder if quite a few have arrived.”
Chattering, the first-years arrived at the stairs going up to the 2nd floor.
Radel and Gusto were standing there.
“Gasp, you startled me!”
When the first-years were surprised by the unexpected appearance, Radel reached out his hand to them with a nonchalant expression.
“Th, thanks, but you don't have to hold me.”
“Not that, the participation fee.”
Radel passed the participation fees collected from the first-years to Gusto standing next to him.
Gusto drew a line on the list where collection was finished and received the participation fee, putting it into the public fund pouch.
“Can we go up now?”
When the first-years who paid the participation fee asked, Radel nodded.
“Yeah. Since we rented the entire 2nd floor today, be careful not to damage property for no reason.”
“O, okay.”
“No magic. No spirit summoning. No magical beasts.”
“……Yeah.”
Thinking that it was indeed Radel, the first-years climbed the stairs.
Then Radel added as if he remembered something.
“For reference, it’s three bottles of beverage per person. If you want to drink more, pay extra and drink.”
It was truly sharp work processing.
Inette, who had arrived first, clicked her tongue seeing Radel appear on the 2nd floor after collecting all the money.
“You could just collect roughly. Do you have to go this far?”
“Matters involving money must be done properly.”
Radel answered calmly and sat down.
Inette was fed up once again with Radel’s preparedness in ordering even the menu on the table exactly the same for everyone.
At that moment, someone shouted from the table where Edward and his friends gathered.
“Prince Radel! Please say a few words as the Grade Representative!”
“The fixer of Black Falcon Dormitory! First-year top student! Contractor of ‘that’ spirit!”
Radel poured a beverage into the glass in front of him and stood up.
Things like this tended to get rowdier the more time dragged on.
“Mm, thank you all for being together like this, and you worked hard during the first semester. Let’s do well next semester too without failing.”
“Wooooah!”
As Radel’s words ended, the get-together began in earnest.