Chapter 179 : Chapter 179
Chapter 179. Major Application Rejects (3)
As they headed to Professor Thomas's office, Radel asked.
“Doesn't the end seem near, Edward?”
“……Yes, Prince.”
Edward nodded obediently.
The end did seem near.
The end of his Academy life.
If he continued to be rejected from major applications one after another like this, it was the result he would naturally face.
It was the Academy he had entered with difficulty, so he couldn't collapse here.
However, all he had left now was Transmutation Magic.
‘Professor Marianne said I have a talent for Transmutation Magic but…….’
Was that really so?
Edward had never received praise while taking the Transmutation Magic class.
Professor Thomas always looked at Edward's magic with indifferent eyes.
Eyes that seemed to ask if he had even listened to the lecture properly.
At such times, the image of him turning Edward into a toad during the freshman orientation period overlapped.
‘What am I supposed to say to that professor.’
Even if he went to Professor Thomas, it was clear he would glare at him asking why he came.
He couldn't possibly say, ‘Because Professor Marianne said I have a talent for Transmutation Magic.’
He didn't have any expectation that he would be accepted either.
He almost wanted to tame a Rock Eagle and major in Cryptozoology even starting now.
However, thinking of Radel's trouble going around with him all afternoon, he couldn't bring himself to say it.
Edward said gloomily.
“Prince, if this doesn't work out either, what should I do?”
At his unconfident words, Radel looked back at Edward.
Perhaps due to the experience of being rejected while visiting professor offices, Edward's face had become gaunt in just half a day.
“I can't even be helpful to the Prince…… It seems you are just suffering for nothing because of me.”
He seemed sorry for making Radel go on a fool's errand all day.
Radel knew what kind of personality he had.
As a high-ranking noble, Edward had strong pride but also strong loyalty.
Just looking at his dedication to the Prince who saved his life showed that.
Was it easy to trust and become a follower of a royal who didn't even have a decent faction yet?
Compared to the loyalty Edward showed, the trouble of visiting professors together was nothing.
“I don't think so. Is there any reason it won't work? Professor Marianne also said you have talent here.”
“She might have just said that.”
“Professor Marianne isn't someone who would just say things. And why do you say you aren't helpful to me?”
Radel was genuinely curious.
Edward was doing so well that even Inette envied him for having a good follower.
Didn't he suffer going around noble parties during the vacation to gather followers for Radel?
But Edward didn't seem to think so.
“There is a reason for that. When I was trying to gather followers during the vacation, there were people who came to me secretly.”
There were still more nobles who didn't know Edward was a follower of the 8th Prince.
But somehow, there were people who knew and approached Edward first.
“They approached me as if they knew the Prince was gathering followers. Even though I had never spread such rumors.”
Radel's expression became momentarily subtle.
He had a guess.
When Edward said he would gather followers, Radel had the employees of the Dice Shop spread information.
Information that the 8th Prince was secretly gathering followers.
‘But I did that to help Edward.’
Grateful for his efforts, he did it wondering if there was any way to help.
However, it seemed Edward's confidence had dropped because of that.
“Now I don't know if I am even helpful to the Prince.”
“Since you are famous in social circles, people must have come to you on their own. Don't think like that too much.”
Radel feigned ignorance and took Edward to the Transmutation Magic professor's office.
It was best to just pretend not to know here.
* * *
Finally, they arrived at the last destination.
Radel and Edward knocked on Professor Thomas's office door.
KNOCK KNOCK.
“Professor Thomas, may we come in?”
“Yes, come in.”
A dry answer was heard, and the office door opened.
Seeing the two, Professor Thomas's expression didn't change, but Radel was slightly surprised and whispered to Edward.
“He seems to be in a pretty good mood. Just in time.”
Where on earth does he look like he's in a good mood?
Even when Edward washed his eyes and looked, he couldn't find any sign of being okay in Professor Thomas's dry expression.
But Radel greeted Professor Thomas as if relieved.
“Thank you for making time, Professor. But did something good happen?”
“Did you notice? I obtained the first edition of a book I wanted to own since last year. I like it.”
A faint smile appeared on Professor Thomas's lips.
Seeing that, Edward's eyes widened.
The Prince's words were true!
Indeed, it seemed the Integrated Major wasn't something anyone could do.
‘The Prince is truly amazing.’
Edward felt he was far lacking to become a follower of such an amazing Prince.
Furthermore, facing Professor Thomas face-to-face made him even more nervous.
“H-Hello. Professor.”
Edward was so nervous that his voice trembled.
He should have shown a dignified and confident attitude, but he made a mistake from the beginning.
Edward's mind went blank.
‘That student is…….’
Seeing the flustered Edward, Professor Thomas looked him up and down.
He definitely looked familiar.
‘It’s the student I turned into a toad at the beginning of the semester.’
He was the student who argued with him during the freshman orientation period about how a noble could use the same dormitory as commoners.
To Professor Thomas, who disliked rigid thinking, Edward's attitude was inevitably unpleasant.
He deliberately turned Edward into a toad and put him in a birdcage.
But he was also a student who continued to take Transmutation Magic in the first semester even after suffering such humiliation.
“Ahem, you might not remember me, but I came to apply for the Transmutation Magic major. You might not like me, but if you accept me, I will do my best.”
The flustered Edward cleared his throat and barely spat out the prepared words.
Seeing his nervous appearance, Professor Thomas felt a little interest arise.
At first, he saw no possibility because he was trapped in the mold of a noble, but hasn't he changed quite a bit now?
But still, he couldn't just accept him readily.
He needed to verify if he was a student worthy of majoring in Transmutation Magic.
“You are the student I changed into a toad at the beginning of the semester.”
When he spoke stiffly on purpose, he saw Edward's body stiffen.
Unless a student had nerves of steel, the memory of turning into a toad couldn't be pleasant.
Furthermore, he was put in a birdcage and hung where other students could see.
Students would often be startled to see a classmate turned into a toad as they passed by.
Some mischievous students would often tease the friend trapped in the birdcage.
Edward also had friends who teased him for turning into a toad.
Quite a few of them.
It was never a good memory…….
“Yes, that is correct…….”
When Edward barely answered, Professor Thomas emphasized the toad and asked.
“Do you remember that time? How was it when you turned into a toad?”
Edward Squeezed his eyes shut.
Recalling the situation at that time was painful.
Because a memory more painful than friends pitying or teasing him awaited him.
He endured the pain and opened his mouth.
“Th-that is…… actually, I thought I really became a toad. My memories as a human were gradually disappearing……. Later, flying insects looked delicious, so I just, kuhuk…….”
The truth Edward barely vomited out with a trembling voice was too cruel.
Truly a painful memory.
Even Radel listening from the side closed his eyes.
“What did you say? You mean you really became a toad?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Professor Thomas touched his forehead as if absurd.
However, in Radel's eyes, it was clearly visible.
A strange light was dwelling in Professor Thomas's eyes.
Discovering that, Radel grinned.
It seemed Professor Marianne was right after all.
“Usually, even if one turns into a toad, one cannot discard the human ego. But you are different.”
What does this mean?
An unexpected answer was heard in the ears of Edward who had his eyes closed.
“It means you have a talent for Transmutation Magic. You brought the major application form, right?”
Edward looked at Radel with a bewildered face.
Radel, who was smiling, nodded.
A smile blossomed on Edward's lips too.
It was the acceptance he had been waiting for.
* * *
Although it took time, all first-years found their majors.
Other rejected students could also safely find their majors with the help of Radel and Professor Marianne.
The Black Falcon Dormitory was vibrant again.
What they had to do now was to make a new timetable for the second semester.
Inette, who was making a timetable sitting in the lounge, tore her hair out.
“I have to take one Physical Training class unconditionally again?”
“It’s an Academy mandatory liberal arts. You aren't saying you won't build physical strength while being a Combat Magic major, right?”
“I was taking Basic Swordsmanship too, you know?”
Inette immediately refuted Gusto's point.
Radel, who was making a timetable next to her, asked Inette.
“How about taking Basic Physical Fitness with us this semester? Professor Pirenzo teaches well.”
“Ugh, no. If it’s Professor Pirenzo, I won't take it.”
Inette shuddered because she saw how Pirenzo trained the territory residents in Raviedel.
It was obvious he wouldn't go easy, saying every single unused muscle had to be trained.
Inette, who was agonizing, asked Radel.
“But do you have time to take liberal arts? You're an Integrated Major.”
“Yeah. I dropped a few anyway. It’s fortunate that all majors are on different days.”
Radel corrected the timetable with regret.
Fortunately, although it was tight, there was time to fit in Mana Training.
Radel went to find his big-built friends to ask if they would apply for Mana Training this semester.
“Of course, Prince. We already wrote it down.”
“We applied for Mana Training first!”
Looking at the atmosphere, it seemed the danger of cancellation like last time wouldn't come.
Still, just in case, it was safe to ask Tunia too.
“Tunia, are you going to take Mana Training in the second semester?”
Tunia was glaring at the timetable with a serious expression.
Looking at the atmosphere, something seemed to be up.
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem with the timetable?”
“There is another problem besides that.”
When Radel approached, Tunia lowered her voice.
“I think I have to go out of the Academy.”
“What do you mean. You mean you will get permission to go out from the professor?”
Tunia shook her head firmly.
“There’s no time for that. I have to sneak out of the Academy.”