Classes would begin tomorrow. That said, the first session was an orientation—apparently there would be explanations about lectures and facilities for the new students.
At dinner, I questioned my attendants.
"What bell marks the start of classes?"
"On days with lectures, the Noble Academy uses a different bell schedule. A half-bell rings between the second and third bells. That's the signal for classes to begin."
Breakfast started at the second bell, and the morning lectures at the second-and-a-half. When the third bell rang, the subject changed, and another subject change came at the third-and-a-half.
At the fourth bell, everyone returned to their dormitories for lunch, and the afternoon lectures began at the fourth-and-a-half. Lectures continued until the sixth bell, followed by dinner. The seventh bell was lockdown—the dormitory front doors were sealed shut.
"So then, until the fourth-and-a-half bell after lunch, that's free time, isn't it? I'd like to spend my lunch break at the library..."
"It's not free time, Lady Rosemine. It's preparation time for the afternoon lectures."
...Having a library and a lunch break but no reading time? Impossible!
"I'll finish all my preparations for the day before we leave in the morning, so the library..."
"No."
"Guuu..."
...I won't give in! I will absolutely not concede until I've won myself reading time!
"Please let me go to the library! I'll come back as soon as the afternoon bell rings!"
"That's exactly why I'm saying no. When the bell rings, you won't hear it and you won't come back—will you?"
That hit a sore spot. The possibility was extremely high. Back in my Reina days, I'd been kicked out of the library by the head librarian the instant the bell rang.
"But I want to deepen my bond with books, even just a little. I just want to look over what books the library has, at the very least... If it comes to that, I'll skip lunch."
"No. It's bad for your health, and if you skip lunch, none of your attendants can eat either."
"S-So... my library..."
At the Noble Academy, going to the library was non-negotiable for me. And yet they wouldn't let me go—Cornelius was being awful.
I stared at Cornelius with teary eyes while letting out a long whine, when
"Rosemine, let it go. You look young as it is—throwing a tantrum like that makes you look like nothing but a brat."
...Eh? A brat!?
Shocked by Wilfried's remark, I looked around. Sure enough, being repeatedly rejected and told "no" by fourteen-year-old Cornelius and refusing to accept it—my behavior as a six-to-seven-year-old was, from an outside perspective, nothing but a tantrum.
"You look young, Rosemine, so you must be even more careful with your words and actions than the rest of us. You can't afford to give anyone from other territories an opening."
"...Fine. I'll give up on lunch and go every day after classes."
I nodded with a drooping head. Wilfried had grown so much in two years—had I really become his little sister? Two years was a long time when you were still a child.
"You handled the Lady very well, young Wilfried."
Richalda smiled as she praised Wilfried, then knelt with a smile before me.
"Furthermore, regarding the Lady's entry into the library—Lord
"Nngh..."
...Gah! Chief Priest!
How far would my library-hermit plan be thwarted? My greatest enemy might truly be the Chief Priest.
"If you wish to go to the library, all you need to do is pass all the exams, my Lady."
"Understood. I just need to pass the exams, right?"
When I looked up firmly at Richalda, Wilfried shook his head.
"It's not just you, Rosemine—all first-years must pass. We can't have you holed up in the library while neglecting Student Council activities. You're a lord candidate, after all."
"...I see. Understood. I'll give it my all."
Fufufu, I laughed to myself as I recalled tomorrow's schedule. Then I swept my gaze across all the first-years in the dining hall.
"Anyway, tomorrow's lectures are orientation, arithmetic, and theology, correct? I've heard that everyone who experienced winter lessons in the common room last year—and the year before—passed both arithmetic and theology on the first day. So this year, everyone should be able to pass as well. I will not tolerate any disgraceful failures."
"Y-Yes!"
Every time my eyes met a first-year's, they snapped to attention with a start. Satisfied with their responses, I nodded once.
"The afternoon practical is handling magic power. The moment it ends, return to the dormitory immediately and study for the history, geography, and magic exams the next day. Each of you should work on reinforcing the weaknesses I pointed out yesterday. I'll oversee everyone's studying. Let's aim for a first-day pass for all."
"A first-day pass for everyone!? Rosemine, are you sane!?"
Wilfried shot to his feet, his face drained of color. But what was the point of saying that now? If the library was off-limits until everyone passed, then the only option was to get everyone to pass as quickly as possible.
"I believe I said I'd give it my all, Brother Wilfried. I'm the one who's holding back on the library for everyone's sake. Naturally, I expect everyone to put in an equal amount of effort."
The silence was so thick you could hear people swallowing.
"This looks like the beginning of a new saint legend."
After dinner, I had the first-years study history and geography until the seventh bell. Some already looked fed up, but classes hadn't even started yet—their motivation was woefully lacking.
After the seventh bell, I finished my bath and went to bed. The instant the first bell rang, I got up early and compiled weakness-reinforcement materials for the five students who were falling short.
"Lady Rosemine, why are you awake!?"
Richalda had come to tidy my room before waking me and let out a cry of astonishment when she saw me at my study desk in my nightclothes.
"There isn't enough time before the exams."
"My Lady, you're pushing yourself too hard. It's not good for your body."
"I'm not pushing too hard. Compared to the preparation period before
How much could I cram into a single day? Hmm, I groaned.
I gathered the materials I'd prepared for each student and headed to breakfast, handing them out to the five.
"Study these. I've written down what each of you hasn't quite memorized yet."
"...Thank you."
I handed the materials one by one to the pale-faced first-years. Wilfried, who'd been watching, furrowed his brow.
"Rosemine, don't push everyone too hard just for your own library."
"Why not?"
"Wh-Why not—because you..."
"I pushed for the all-first-year-pass condition specifically because I want to get everyone through as fast as possible, even if I have to chase and corner them. I said I'd give it my all, didn't I?"
After breakfast, I finished my preparations for the lecture hall and headed to the multipurpose hall to study.
"
"I'm sorry."
"Roderich, here and here—the territory names are swapped."
"I'll fix it right away."
As I ran a Spartan training session with the five middle- and lower-ranking students, it was soon time for lectures. Watching their progress, I furrowed my brow slightly. It wasn't going smoothly.
"...It's time. Today's exams shouldn't be a problem, so you must all pass."
"Yes!"
When I spoke, the five of them relaxed as if relieved.
"...Lady, aren't you being a bit too strict?"
"More than a bit, Richalda. Having to hold back on the library until every first-year passes is genuinely painful for me. But I will absolutely not give up. I'm going to make sure no one can complain, and then I'll head to the library at top speed."
I clenched my fist as I declared this, and from the corner of the room I heard Wilfried murmur, "My apologies, everyone."
I had Richalda carry my study materials and headed to the same lecture hall as yesterday. My attendants accompanied me to the hall. After seeing me inside, the guards would swap with the soldiers stationed at the central entrance.
"Don't leave the lecture hall under any circumstances until I come to collect you."
With that reminder, Richalda and the other attendants departed. I entered the lecture hall together with all the first-years and took my seat at the desk marked with the number thirteen.
"I'll now begin the explanation. Listen carefully and make good use of it for life at the Noble Academy."
In the grand lecture hall, the orientation for the Noble Academy lectures began. Apparently the format was that every subject had an exam on the first day, and only those who failed would receive the lectures.
"In past years, many first-years pass the written portion on the first day, but the practical exams seem to take longer."
The written lectures common to all grades were held in the lecture hall, but the practicals differed depending on magic power, so they were divided by rank. The lectures took place in the rooms where the social the day before had been held, and as numbers decreased, the classrooms were changed.
There was also an explanation about the library—it had been open since today, and each student could use it after registering. However, registration could only be done when
Make an appointment, wait for a reply, then go on the appointed day... It would apparently take a surprising amount of time before one could actually use the library.
...I need to submit my appointment request when I go back for lunch.
Furthermore, registering at the library cost money, which many lower-ranking nobles couldn't afford. So there was also a reminder that the lord candidates and higher-ranking nobles from each territory should assign work to the lower-ranking nobles.
...I'll have the lower-ranking nobles make copies of books that aren't in the castle library. That's what I'll do.
Lastly, we were told that building connections with other territories was a good thing, so we should work on our social skills from now on. Apparently, since you couldn't enter other territories' dormitories, tea parties were held in designated rooms with assigned numbers.
The lengthy explanation concluded as the third bell rang. Next was the arithmetic exam. The brief interval between teachers changing over served as a break.
"Then, one representative from each territory, please come collect your exam papers."
Roderich, the student squire, went as our representative. The papers appeared to be parchment. It had been a while since I'd used anything other than plant paper, so it felt a little novel.
"Please prepare your writing instruments. I will read the problems aloud, and you should fill in your answers. The problems will be repeated three times. Write down the problem first, then think about your answer."
The writing implements were magical tool pens—remarkable instruments that let you write using your own magic power. While lecture notes were one thing, Noble Academy exams were said to be taken using these magical tools. Apparently, if you dipped them in a special dissolving liquid, the ink vanished and the paper could be reused. It was enormously fascinating.
"Begin."
I placed the paper Roderich had brought in front of me, and everyone took out their pens.
The exam was extremely simple—addition and subtraction with two-digit numbers. I finished well within the time the teacher read the problems three times over. Looking around, I could see everyone from Ehrenfest tackling the exam with ease. At this rate, there shouldn't be any problems.
"What should we do when we finish the exam?"
"Please wait quietly until everyone from your territory has finished."
"What if everyone has finished?"
"...Once all the papers from your territory have been collected, you may study for the next exam. However, please keep it quiet."
I instructed those at the end to pass their papers along to their neighbor, collected all eight from Ehrenfest, and handed them to the teacher. Then I quietly told everyone to start studying—specifically, for tomorrow's history and geography exams.
While everyone studied hard, I was thinking ahead to the upcoming exams.
"Ehrenfest—everyone passed."
The grading must have been swift, as the teacher's voice echoed through the lecture hall. More than cries of "We did it," murmurs of "Thank goodness" could be heard. Then attention immediately shifted back to studying for the subjects they were still anxious about.
Ehrenfest had passed with excellent scores across the board, but since first-year lectures weren't particularly difficult, plenty of others also made it through.
The theology exam came next, and Ehrenfest was again the first to finish, with everyone passing. An all-pass wasn't all that unusual, but being the first to finish both exams drew a bit of attention. When the fourth bell rang and I returned for lunch, Wilfried told me as much.
"Rosemine, did you not notice all the stares?"
"If I'm thinking about tomorrow's exams, I don't have the luxury of looking around. What matters is that everyone passes so we can go to the library. If our grades were bad that would be one thing, but if they're good, what does anyone else's opinion matter?"
"No, it matters. Reactions from those around you are important."
"Then I'll leave watching our surroundings to you, Brother Wilfried. Since you're likely to pass all subjects, keep an eye on things for us."
I delegated the task to Wilfried and, during lunch, supervised the five students' studying while also writing a letter to Solange, the head librarian, requesting an appointment. I asked
...I hope the reply comes quickly.
In the afternoon, the second-years would use the lecture hall, so the first-years would be divided by rank for practical exams. Since there were few lord candidates, they would be grouped together with the higher-ranking nobles.
Today's practical was handling magic power.
"Inside this box are magic stones. Each of you, pick up one magic stone and dye it with your own magic power. Direct your magic power into the stone. Once it's completely dyed, show it to me. After that, completely withdraw your magic power from the stone. If you can do that, today's task is complete."
Putting magic power into something and pulling it back out was a skill required for everything, and the ability to do it quickly and accurately was essential.
"This will also be necessary for crafting magical beasts later on."
We took magic stones in order of territory. I picked one up as well. But when I sat down, there was nothing in my hand—just fine golden powder.
"H-Huh?"
...The magic stone had vanished!
I stared at my open palm, blinking in confusion. Wilfried looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"Rosemine, did you not bring a magic stone?"
"No, I did bring one. I was sure I was holding it properly..."
After everyone had gone, I lined up and took another magic stone. This time, I set it gently on my palm and guarded it carefully as I returned to my seat.
But even before I sat down, the transparent magic stone quickly took on a pale yellow hue. Then it let out a small flash, crumbled, and transformed into golden sand.
I recognized this transformation. It was the same as what had happened when the former High Priest had pointed a black magic stone at me and I'd kept pouring magic power into it. The size of the stone was different, and the attributes of the transparent versus black stones differed, but the phenomenon had to be the same.
...But why? I wasn't doing anything. I hadn't even thought about putting magic power in—the stone had absorbed it on its own and crumbled.
Staring at the golden sand, I furrowed my brow.
"Now, please pour in your magic power."
Hirschur clapped her hands once lightly, and everyone focused on their stones. Wilfried, sitting beside me, had apparently gotten quite accustomed to handling magic power over these two years—he dyed his stone almost immediately.
"There, done. ...Rosemine, what happened to your stone?"
"I failed."
I stared at the golden sand in my hand, utterly crestfallen.
"It's rare for you to fail. Why don't you get another stone and try again?"
"...Yes."
I doubted the result would be any different. Unless I figured out how to stop the phenomenon of the stone absorbing magic power on its own without any intention on my part, this was pointless. As I frowned in thought, Wilfried cheerfully took his stone over to Hirschur.
"Very quick, and well done. Excellent work."
Wilfried returned from Hirschur's praise beaming with joy, and promptly withdrew all his magic power, leaving the stone completely empty.
"I didn't expect to finish the practical before you, Rosemine."
Wilfried said this smugly, then practically bounced out of the room, the first to leave.
I gently chanted "Settle, settle, gather, gather" as I tried to coax the golden sand back into the shape of a magic stone, but it didn't change at all.
The higher-ranking nobles and lord candidates seemed to have plenty of magic power, as they all dyed their stones, withdrew their magic power, and finished the practical with hardly any trouble.
"A lord candidate staying behind for the practical?"
By the time that kind of jeer was being directed my way, only a handful of students remained—one on each hand. Soon I was the only one left.
"Lady Rosemine, infusing a magic stone with magic power isn't that difficult, is it? To not be able to do even this... Ah, I see. Of course. I'd completely forgotten."
Hirschur said this in an exasperated tone as she approached my desk, but upon seeing the golden sand on top of it, she let out a sound of understanding.
"What do you mean? I wasn't even thinking about putting magic power in, but the stone dyed itself, crumbled, and I don't know what to do."
"I heard from Lord Ferdinand that you wear a magical tool for physical enhancement. That's the cause. You're surrounded by a massive amount of magic power, so for a small magic stone like this, it probably exceeds capacity almost instantly. Remove the tool from your left arm only."
Hirschur set another magic stone in front of me with a clack as she said this. Then, with a bright, cheerful smile, she swept up the golden sand.
"Um, Professor Hirschur. I'm sorry. I broke the magic stone..."
"It's quite alright. Golden sand formed when magic power reaches saturation is a precious material."
...Precious, huh? Then what happened to the sand from the former High Priest's crumbled stone? Did the mad scientist of a Chief Priest collect it?
Thinking such thoughts, I did as Hirschur said and removed the magical tool from my left arm. The next instant, my left arm grew heavy, and I could no longer move it freely. I used my right arm—the one still wearing its magical tool—to support it and lift it.
"First, just touch the magic stone. See whether you can make contact without flowing magic power through it. Don't touch it with your right hand, which still has the magical tool."
I moved my left arm, which didn't cooperate as I wished, and gently touched the magic stone. Careful not to let any magic power flow, I rested my finger on it.
I held it there for several seconds, and the stone's color didn't change.
"That seems fine. Now, please infuse it with magic power."
"Yes!"
I directed magic power into the stone of my own will in order to dye it. In that instant—bang! The stone exploded and scattered.
"Kyah!?"
"You infused too much, too suddenly. Do it more gently, in smaller amounts..."
"Yes."
Hirschur placed the next stone in front of me as she said this. With my heart pounding from the unexpected event, I set my trembling fingertips on the stone once more.
...Just a little. Just a tiny little bit.
Slowly, I began to trickle magic power in. At least, that was my intention—but bang! The stone burst apart again.
"Wha!?"
"Do it over."
Bang!
"Ugh!"
"Yes, next."
In the end, I only managed to successfully dye a magic stone and withdraw my magic power after sacrificing ten stones.
"You have more than enough magic power, so learning fine control is Lady Rosemine's next task. Here—please turn all of these into powder."
Hirschur set the shattered fragments of the burst stones in front of me with a rustling sound and said this. I reattached the magical tool bracelet to my left arm and touched the fragments. One by one, the small pieces turned into golden sand.
"Professor Hirschur, how can I get better at control?"
"I think you should ask Lord Ferdinand, your mentor. He, too, had an excess of magic power when he first enrolled. Despite that, once he learned magic power compression, he was the type to keep challenging himself to compress more and more. He'd do it all with a straight face while everyone watching was on edge."
...In fact, he's still doing dangerous, nerve-wracking things like drinking potions to recover magic power and then testing new compression methods.
"Lord Ferdinand hasn't changed, has he? He's still doing the same kind of thing. He's a research maniac."
"Is that so? He used to say he preferred life at the Academy over life in the castle, so I'm glad to hear he seems to be enjoying himself."
Hirschur narrowed her eyes nostalgically as she said this.
When Lady Rosemine gives her all for the library, the other kids can't keep up.
It was terrifying.
Next up: history, geography, and music.