Chapter 142: The First School Bell
For the first time in Althoff’s history, hundreds of children gathered outside a building constructed for the sole purpose of educating them.
The morning sun illuminated the freshly completed Althoff Elementary Academy, where colorful ribbons decorated the entrance and rows of wooden benches had been arranged across the courtyard.
Parents filled the grounds alongside their children, many wearing their finest clothing despite having traveled from workshops, farms, and residential neighborhoods.
Some children stared excitedly at the classrooms visible through the windows. Others clung nervously to their parents, uncertain about spending several hours surrounded by unfamiliar faces.
Raymond watched the gathering from the Academy’s entrance, accompanied by Alaric, Eleanor Whitcombe, and several senior administrators.
"Quite a turnout," Raymond remarked, surveying the crowded courtyard. "I expected enthusiasm, but this is something else."
Alaric smiled as he consulted the attendance arrangements. "Many families arrived considerably earlier than instructed, Your Excellency. The registration officials have been helping them find their assigned gathering areas."
Eleanor appeared equally pleased, although she kept examining the arrangements with a watchful expression.
"Our teachers are ready, my Lord," she reported. "We’ve organized the pupils according to their preliminary assessments, and the younger children will receive additional assistance during their first lessons."
Raymond nodded approvingly.
"Excellent. Let’s make sure today gives them something worth remembering."
Among the gathering families stood Lily, wearing a freshly cleaned dress and carrying a small satchel containing her writing materials.
Marianne Holt had personally helped her prepare that morning.
"Young Master, do I look all right?" Lily asked when she approached Raymond, nervously smoothing the front of her dress. "Mistress Marianne says I should stop worrying, but everyone else seems to know exactly where they’re supposed to go."
Raymond smiled reassuringly.
"You look perfectly fine, Lily," he answered. "And I suspect half the children here are just as nervous as you are. Have you found your assigned class?"
Lily nodded quickly.
"Yes, Young Master. Mistress Eleanor showed me where to stand," she replied. "But I wanted to see you before the ceremony."
Raymond gently patted her head.
"Then enjoy yourself today," he told her. "Your duties have already been adjusted, so there’s no need to rush back to the manor between lessons."
Lily’s expression brightened.
"I’ll study hard, Young Master!" she promised before hurrying toward a group of children waiting near the courtyard.
Raymond watched her depart with a satisfied smile.
Shortly afterward, the opening ceremony began.
Eleanor stepped onto a small wooden platform erected before the Academy’s entrance. Beside her stood the teaching staff, while representatives from the Administration occupied seats near the front.
"Good morning, everyone," Eleanor announced, her voice carrying across the courtyard. "My name is Eleanor Whitcombe, and I have the honor of serving as the founding Headmistress of Althoff Elementary Academy. Today marks the beginning of something important for our children, our families, and our entire community."
The gathered parents applauded warmly.
Eleanor introduced the teachers and briefly explained how the Academy would operate. She reminded families that the first days would focus on helping children become comfortable with their classrooms, instructors, and daily routines.
She then invited Raymond forward.
The applause grew louder as the young Count approached the platform.
Raymond looked across the courtyard, taking in the faces of farmers, craftsmen, merchants, laborers, and children who had gathered to witness the occasion.
He waited until the crowd quieted before speaking.
"Good morning, everyone," Raymond began with a welcoming smile. "When we started rebuilding Althoff, our greatest concerns were food, shelter, employment, and security. Those things remain important, and we’ll continue improving them. But a prosperous city needs more than roads, markets, and strong walls. It needs people who possess the knowledge and opportunities to build a better future."
He paused briefly, allowing his words to settle.
"Many parents standing here never had the opportunity to attend a school," Raymond continued. "Some learned to read through relatives, others acquired their skills through apprenticeships, and many have worked hard throughout their lives without receiving any formal education. There’s no shame in that. But I believe your children deserve opportunities that previous generations couldn’t always enjoy."
Several parents exchanged emotional glances.
"At this Academy, children will learn to read, write, count, and understand the world around them," Raymond said. "Whether their parents are farmers, carpenters, merchants, soldiers, or servants, they deserve the chance to discover their abilities. Some may become craftsmen, administrators, teachers, or something none of us can imagine today. Whatever paths they choose, I hope the knowledge they gain here will help them pursue those futures."
Raymond looked toward the children gathered near the front.
"And to our new students, I have one request," he added, smiling. "Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your teachers are here to help you learn, not to expect you to know everything already. Make friends, work hard, and enjoy yourselves. Today belongs to you."
The courtyard erupted into applause.
Raymond stepped away from the platform as Eleanor approached, smiling appreciatively.
"A wonderful speech, Your Excellency," she remarked. "I believe the children understood your message."
Raymond chuckled.
"Hopefully they remember the part about enjoying themselves. I’d hate for their first impression of school to be listening to a Count talk endlessly."
Alaric, standing nearby, gave him an amused look.
"Your Excellency, considering how frequently you summon administrative meetings, that would be rather unfortunate."
Raymond laughed before turning toward the entrance, where a ceremonial ribbon had been stretched between two decorated wooden posts.
Eleanor handed him a pair of polished scissors.
"Whenever you’re ready, my Lord," she said.
Raymond positioned himself before the ribbon while the crowd gathered closer.
"Then, by the authority of House Althoff, I officially declare Althoff Elementary Academy open!" he announced.
With one clean motion, he cut through the ribbon.
Cheers and applause swept across the courtyard.
Several children clapped enthusiastically, while others jumped excitedly beside their parents. A few younger pupils seemed more interested in the falling ribbon than the significance of the ceremony.
Raymond found that particularly amusing.
Moments later, the Academy’s newly installed bell rang for the first time.
Its clear sound carried across the courtyard, announcing the beginning of the school day.
Teachers began guiding their pupils toward the classrooms.
Parents offered final encouragement, adjusted collars, and reminded their children to behave properly.
Helena knelt beside her daughter Clara, straightening the girl’s satchel.
"Listen carefully to your teacher, sweetheart," Helena instructed with a proud smile. "And when you come home, I want to hear everything you’ve learned."
Clara nodded eagerly before joining her classmates.
Nearby, Deren watched his son enter the Academy with an expression that mixed pride and uncertainty.
"Never thought I’d see the day," the farmer murmured to another parent. "My boy might end up better at numbers than I am."
Raymond overheard the remark and smiled.
Inside the classrooms, the teachers welcomed their students and introduced the day’s activities.
Beatrice Fenwick began her first lesson by asking the children to introduce themselves, while Matthias Keller used wooden counters to demonstrate simple arithmetic.
Lily sat among several children close to her age, carefully arranging her writing materials upon her desk.
When her teacher asked the pupils to write their names, she gripped her writing instrument with determined concentration.
She already knew how to form the letters, thanks to Marianne’s patient instruction, but writing them inside a real classroom felt entirely different.
For the first time, Lily was not merely Raymond’s personal maid.
She was also a student.
Raymond spent part of the morning observing lessons from the classroom doorways without interrupting the teachers.
He watched children struggling with unfamiliar letters, others confidently answering questions, and instructors patiently guiding their pupils through their first exercises.
The sight left him unexpectedly moved.
By midday, the opening activities had concluded successfully.
Eleanor reported that the teachers had settled their classes without serious difficulties, although several younger children had required reassurance after separating from their parents.
Raymond thanked the staff before returning to the manor.
He had barely entered his private study when a familiar notification appeared.
Ding!
[Infinite Clan Treasury System]
[Major Family Mission: The Rise of a Count’s Domain]
[Educational Development Milestone Completed!]
[Althoff Elementary Academy has officially opened and commenced instruction.]
[Milestone Rewards]
- Shop Points ×20,000
- Specialized Civilian Summoning Ticket ×1
- Mana Awakening Elixir ×30
[Rewards deposited into the Family Treasury.]
Raymond smiled as he examined the notification.
The additional thirty Mana Awakening Elixirs brought his accumulated supply to fifty, providing even greater possibilities for Althoff’s future military development.
Nevertheless, he intended to preserve them until the necessary training arrangements were established.
The Academy was operating, and another important objective had been achieved.
Yet Raymond knew his responsibilities extended beyond the city’s development.
He opened a drawer and withdrew several documents bearing the Royal Chancellery’s seal.
Among them were correspondence concerning territorial registration, military obligations, and the formal responsibilities accompanying his elevation to Count.
He had postponed those matters while concentrating on construction and education.
Now they demanded his attention.
Raymond examined the royal documents thoughtfully before reaching for his correspondence ledger.
"Well," he murmured, "I suppose it’s time to deal with the nobles."