***
The day to depart for the academy had dawned.
Fortunately, the school uniform, which I had ordered as soon as I saw the admission notice, arrived before we left.
Linia, who had always lived in a maid's uniform, looked a little strange appearing in a neat school uniform, pulling a trunk.
El, too, when dressed up in a school uniform, looked more like an ordinary elementary school student than a princess.
‘Hmm, no matter how I look at her, she looks like an elementary school student.’
[I think she’d throw a fit if she heard that.]
Anyway, leaving those thoughts behind, the three of us finished our preparations and gathered at the train station near Leventia.
“I will handle the matter of the Cult of the End, so I believe it would be best for you, young lady, to go to the academy with Sir Raniel.”
The old man, after taking charge of the illegal resident, entrusted El to me.
In truth, it was more like just telling us to go together than entrusting her, but personally, that made it even more puzzling.
No, is it really okay to just throw the princess of the Empire at me like this?
And there was even a terror attack on the train heading to the capital not long ago.
“I have a favor to ask, my son.”
“What's so difficult about that?”
I still didn't know what on earth they trusted in me to entrust her to me, but since the adults seemed to have finished their conversation, I figured there would be no problem.
“It seems I will be in your care a little longer. I look forward to it.”
“Yeah, well, I look forward to it too.”
“Personally, it’s a pity that I couldn’t find the creator of that armor in the end…”
“Ahem.”
“Well, I can just come back down during the vacation and look for him then!”
It seems a very persistent leech has attached itself to me.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Just then, a train began to appear in the distance.
Screeeech!
As we boarded the train, my father and mother waved their hands, seeing me off.
“Don’t get into any trouble when you get there.”
“My son~ Mom will always believe in you!”
It was a moment that made me realize anew that I would be saying goodbye to Leventia for a while.
After exchanging a heartfelt farewell with my family, I boarded the train bound for the imperial capital with Linia and El.
Tooooot!
As we sat down, the scenery outside quickly passed by with the sound of the train's whistle.
For a while, it was goodbye to the country town with its nice mountains and clear water.
“It feels strange to think that I won’t be able to come back for a while.”
Linia, too, seemed to have mixed feelings about leaving Leventia, where she had lived for a long time, and looked out the window with a bittersweet expression.
I too looked outside for a while.
‘There aren’t any bombs detected this time, right?’
Just in case another troublesome incident occurred, I immediately started a check.
[Yes! There’s nothing like that!]
Fortunately, it seemed there were no bombs.
It looked like it would be a pleasant journey without any incidents this time.
I quietly closed my eyes and thought about the academy and my goals.
The professor route after enrollment, and revenge.
For now, revenge was the priority.
The name of the professor who gave me a 99! I had remembered it clearly.
“R-Raniel?”
“What?”
“Are you going to kill someone?”
At Linia’s sudden nonsense, I wondered what she was talking about.
“Your expression looks like you’re going to kill someone.”
Ah, my expression must have been murderous.
The grudge of that one point runs deep.
[A 99 is still the highest score in the department.]
‘A 100% evasion rate completely avoids attacks, but a 99% can still get hit. There’s a huge difference.’
Of course, probability and scores were separate matters, but anyway, that’s how big an error of 1 was.
Therefore, I would never forget this grudge.
“By the way, the train’s security itself isn’t bad, but I have no idea what route the Cult of the End used to infiltrate.”
At that moment, El, who was looking around the inside of the train, squeezed in between me and Linia, who were looking out the window.
The space is wide, so why is this kid squeezing in between people?
“Ahem. Ahem.”
As I looked at El with an incredulous expression, El, perhaps feeling awkward, coughed a few times.
Come to think of it, this kid didn't have any friends, did she?
Even for Linia, who had a relatively high sociability, it seemed that she was not easy to deal with.
Since I agreed to take care of her, I guess I have no choice but to set the stage.
“El, this is Linia, as you’ve seen her continuously.”
“Ah, I know.”
“She’s a blockhead.”
“Hey!!”
Linia seemed pissed off at my words, but I lightly ignored her.
“Linia, this is El.”
“I know.”
“As you can see, she has no friends.”
“Y-you… it may be true, but aren’t you being a bit too direct?”
El looked up at me with an expression that looked like she was about to cry.
“Honestly, I have a hard time taking care of you lacking people.”
I lightly shrugged.
“What?! Raniel, you don’t have anyone you can call a friend other than me either!”
“I know you are smart, but it’s not good to belittle others.”
Scoldings flew in at the same time.
Of course, I lightly ignored them, and after a little while, the two of them naturally started talking to each other due to their common enemy, me.
As expected, humans need a common enemy to unite.
[Isn’t that a bit of an extreme thought?]
‘Look at history! The history of mankind is a history of struggle! Without an enemy, it has been taken for granted that they kill each other!’
[It wasn’t just because you wanted to diss those two, Master?]
Well, there was that too, but since it was resolved well, it’s a good thing, isn’t it?
In any case, one thing is resolved.
“Meow.”
Besides Linia and El, there was one more member in our party.
I had no choice but to bring the cat from the prison cell, as I had noticed it had hidden in El's luggage after the train departed.
“Why did this cat follow us instead of its owner?”
“Meow!”
Actually, maybe this cat wasn't being raised by that illegal resident, but was just blocking us because its territory was being invaded?
[It seems you’ve been chosen as its butler. How about giving it a name?]
‘No, I never said I would take care of this thing…’
“Meow.”
Looking at it again, it seems a little cute.
[It seems to like you, so one cat should be fine, right? And it’s even stronger than you, Master!]
‘You, I’m really going to tear apart that AI of yours as soon as I get a lab and some slaves!’
[To think that you would modify my personality to your liking, Master. That might be nice in its own way!]
Damn it.
My head, no, my brain hurt.
I turned my head and looked at the cat.
“Anyway, if you’re going to follow me, your name is now Mackerel.”
“Meooow!”
Unlike before, it seemed to understand something.
“Mackerel.”
“Meow.”
“Tuna.”
“…”
“Mackerel?”
“Meow.”
Seeing it react only to the name I had given it, it seemed to understand.
“Oh? Does it understand its name? It’s quite clever.”
El admired me for calling the beast’s name.
“Mackerel. It’s just a cat’s name, but isn’t that a bit much?”
Linia, who didn't seem to like the name Mackerel, grumbled at me.
No, no matter how I look at it, with its patterns and all, isn’t the name Mackerel a perfect fit?
Anyway, after giving the cat a name, we spent time playing with it and talking about this and that.
<><><>
When we arrived at the capital and got off at the station, almost more than half of the people were students wearing the academy’s uniform.
“Seeing this, it finally feels real that I’ve enrolled in the academy.”
“Huuu. Th-there are so many people.”
Linia’s eyes sparkled as she looked around, and El, perhaps nervous, was huddled up.
This kid seems to be weak in crowds, just like when people gathered in the town before.
In the end, just like when we came, I, the calmest of the group, took the lead.
And so, along with the crowd of countless uniformed legions, we crossed the capital and arrived at the academy.
But as soon as we passed the main gate of the academy, a very familiar sight came into view.
“You damn brother! Going off to a place like the academy without telling me!”
“Th-that’s not it! Keoheok!!”
The black-haired guy was being beaten up by someone.
However, the difference from before was that the person hitting him was not the punk from before, but a very small kid.
And a kid who was even smaller than El.
“Damn it! Die! Just die!!”
“I said I’m sorry!!”
Absurdly, the black-haired guy, who was being beaten one-sidedly, collapsed on the floor, and the kid with pigtails, who looked vaguely similar to him, stormed off, huffing and puffing.
“It's Karon.”
“Let's just pretend we don't know him.”
Just as I was about to stop Linia from acknowledging him and go inside,
“Raniel! Linia! You guys passed safely too!”
The black-haired guy, with a swollen face, approached us, acknowledging us first.
His uniform was covered in dust and dirt from falling on the floor, so I really didn't want to get close to him.
As I was trying to move away from him in horror, the black-haired guy, who was approaching us, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“Uh, uhh!? Your High—!”
“It's El. We are at the academy, so let’s dispense with the unnecessary formalities.”
El stopped the black-haired guy, who was hastily trying to kneel.
Well, even though he looked like that, he was the son of a high-ranking noble, a count’s family, so it seemed he had seen the princess at a social gathering or something.
As for me, I was just a noble in name only in the countryside, so I had never been to a ball or a social gathering, so I didn't know.
“Y-yes! I will follow your command!”
“Speak normally too. Here, you and I are both students.”
“B-but…”
“Are you saying you cannot accept my words?”
“N-no… N-not at all. No.”
However, the black-haired guy seemed to be subtly avoiding El's gaze, then naturally joined our group.
Although I shot him a look that said, ‘Who the hell are you?’, the others just let it slide, and a party of 4 people + 1 beast was formed.
We could even register as a gate exploration party.
[On Earth, the minimum requirement for gate exploration was a party of 5 or more people equipped with powered suits.]
‘That's right.’
After the goblin attack on the territory, I had looked into it, and it turned out that monsters of a considerable scale were frequently appearing not only in Leventia but also all over the Empire.
What was even more surprising was that in this world too, ‘dungeons,’ which were called ‘gates’ on Earth, sometimes appeared.
However, the reason it was so peaceful despite the existence of gates seemed to be because the warriors and mages here were exceptionally skilled against monsters.
[Considering the first appearance of the gates on Earth, this is practically a level with no damage at all.]
Of course, it could also be because monsters of an out-of-spec level hadn't appeared yet, so I couldn't let my guard down.
-They say that a large number of monster and dungeon response subjects will be added to each department.
-Huh? Why all of a sudden?
-They say that monsters are appearing all over the Empire these days. It must be because of that.
-No, but it wasn't a very dangerous level, was it?
-Just because it’s not dangerous right now doesn’t mean it will be the same in the future. There’s nothing more foolish than not preparing for danger.
As I was walking through the campus, I heard a conversation on the very topic I was thinking about.
In fact, such conversations were being heard not only at the academy but also in other places from time to time.
Of course, it wasn't a big threat right now, but they were preparing in their own way.
Even our territory alone was being prepared quite well.
‘A good phenomenon.’
[Considering the early days of Earth, it’s desirable.]
I was a little relieved that it seemed it wouldn’t suffer as much damage as Earth did in the future.
[But it’s too early to be relieved.]
‘Of course. That's also why I came here.’
What I was aiming for was a professorship.
The reason was, of course, that I saw it as the fastest way to repair the Prototype.
It was a position where I could access the latest magical engineering technology and use high-end human resources like slaves.
And the reason I had ‘created’ the Prototype, and the reason I was trying to repair it, was also for only one reason.
Monsters.
I knew that the warriors and mages of this world could hold their own against monsters.
But at least at the level I had seen so far, it was not nearly enough.
Monsters that the humans of this world had not yet experienced.
To face the worst monsters that had pushed Earth to the brink of destruction, a truly transcendent level of military power was needed.
‘If gates are discovered in the Empire, and the monsters’ movements are unusual… then as expected, the Prototype needs to be repaired as soon as possible.’
[But haste is forbidden.]
‘I know.’
Haste always ruins things.
Calmly and coolly, receive the best evaluation in the academic year.
And become a professor based on research performance and results that no one can deny.
That was what I had to do right now.
Thinking like this, I keep thinking about that damn 1 point. Damn it.
The 1 point that kept popping into my head was extremely annoying, and with a sour expression, I stepped into the main auditorium where the freshman entrance ceremony was to be held.
The scale of the main auditorium, where all the freshmen from the Warrior Department, the Magic Department, and the Magical Engineering Department were scheduled to gather, was quite large.
“Meow.”
But is it okay for Mackerel to follow me this far?
Mackerel confidently followed behind me and stepped into the main auditorium.
There were clearly people who looked like security personnel, but they didn't stop him.
“Caw!”
I found out why they didn't stop him a little later.
A guy who looked like a mage, wearing a robe, confidently entered the auditorium with a crow the size of his own torso on his shoulder.
“That’s no ordinary crow.”
El said the obvious, looking at the crow.
“It’s obvious just by looking at it.”
“That's not it. They say that mages make contracts with animals through some means and receive various help from them as companions.”
I had heard of it before.
Since they were such shady mages, it wasn't known exactly what it was, but did the animals that made such contracts gain a long lifespan and high intelligence?
“Meow!”
Mackerel, upon seeing the crow, became very wary, backed away, and then jumped up onto my shoulder.
“You're heavy, punk.”
“Meow.”
Although he wasn't that big, Mackerel, who was an adult cat and not a kitten, was quite heavy on my shoulder.
“Get down.”
“Meooow.”
I swatted at him with my hand, but Mackerel just swatted my hand with his front paw.
This damn cat!
As I continued to try to get Mackerel off my shoulder, the damn cat climbed onto my head and stretched out as if it were his own living room.
“Get down, you damn cat.”
“Meow!”
As I reached my hand over my head, Mackerel immediately extended his claws.
In the end, I had no choice but to give up on getting Mackerel off.
“How does the cat follow you so well? I’m envious.”
El looked at it with envy.
“If you’re envious, you can offer your head.”
“I would genuinely like that, but it doesn't seem like the cat will get off your head.”
At that moment, as if reacting to the word ‘get off,’ Linia grumbled.
“Come to think of it, you’re all in the Magical Engineering Department, and I’m the only one in the Warrior Department. Ugh, it looks like I’ll be all alone.”
“If you’re upset, you can come to the Magical Engineering Department.”
“It’s obvious I can’t get in with my head.”
She knows. No matter how I thought about it, it was impossible for Linia to pass the Magical Engineering Department with her head.
“See you later.”
“Ugh. I’m lonely…”
Linia grumbled and headed towards the Warrior Department seats.
The only saving grace was that the Warrior Department was in the center, the Magic Department was on the right, and the Magical Engineering Department was on the left, so they weren't that far apart.
Linia, who had taken a seat at the end of the Warrior Department section, which was separated by an aisle, waved her arms at us.
I waved back casually.
“It’s a relief that we know someone.”
“I know. It’s a shame for Linia.”
The black-haired guy and El took their seats next to me and nodded with satisfaction.
I wouldn't mind being alone, you weaklings.
A little while after we took our seats, the seats began to fill up one by one.
And on the stage of the auditorium, the instructors also began to gather one by one.
“Silence! We will now begin the 56th entrance ceremony of the Imperial Academy!”
After the assistant instructor settled the atmosphere in the hall, the entrance ceremony began.
<><><>
Inside the academy, in an unknown, mysterious place.
The image of the entrance ceremony, projected by a projector on the wall of a spacious room, was being broadcast in real-time.
And on the sofa on the opposite side, a girl with abundant silver hair that she could sink into and red eyes was lying in a languid posture.
And the man who was holding a document in front of her said,
“…And so, it seems that there are quite a few individuals to keep an eye on among this year’s new students. First, her highness the princess has enrolled in the Magical Engineering Department, and next, the sons of Sir Kylon, the guardian of the Empire and the sword of the Empire, have also enrolled in the Warrior Department and the Magical Engineering Department, respectively. Besides them…”
After that, the names of the prominent high nobles and famous families of the Empire poured out.
And towards the end, a peculiar individual was mentioned.
“And finally, there is one individual who has recently been added to the list. A student named Raniel Leventia, a craftsman who has been producing magical engineering products of a very high technological level through the ‘Leventia Workshop’ for some time now.”
At that moment, for the first time, the girl’s cat ears perked up.
“Raniel?”
“Yes. He has also made a distinguished contribution to the recent train terror incident, and above all, the ‘Unique Mana Authentication System’ he submitted during the entrance exam is causing a great stir among the professors. Also, the concept of ‘Mana Control’ that he proposed is groundbreaking and quite controversial…”
“It’s too long. Stop.”
“…”
The man shut his mouth.
“The last name. Send me the detailed information.”
The girl stretched and yawned languidly.
“Raniel, Leventia. Got it?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
After saying that, the girl lay down on the sofa again.
The man bowed politely, then turned and left the room.
And the girl, who was lying on the sofa with her eyes closed, muttered as if in her sleep.
“Raniel, Raniel… Raniel Leventia…”
The girl quietly opened her eyes.
“I have a good feeling this time.”
Then she muttered with a conviction that was different from before.