“Do you know about the inheritance system of the Cromwell family?”
“Yeah, kind of. It’s not the typical primogeniture, but rather an evaluative system where adult children of the patriarch are selected based on assessment. It’s a family tradition.”
“Yeah, I know it well. Here, Seed’s older brother was the top student in Senia for three consecutive years. So, wouldn’t Seed be anxious? Rumor has it that Seed and his brother have a very bad relationship.”
“I see.”
Nigel responded soullessly.
Even with a story, Nigel was just a story-filled person.
Nigel and Allen decided to walk in the courtyard until the start of class.
But as soon as Nigel appeared, the atmosphere cooled down.
“Wow, Allen. I must be a famous figure. Everywhere I go, students look at me like I’m Seed Cromwell?
There were many students looking at him suspiciously. Most of them had the emblem of wisdom, a snake, and a pen, engraved on their chests.
“Um… I guess it’s because the political department takes pride in their grades. Most of the kids are nobles, too.”
Allen cautiously speculated while observing Nigel’s reaction.
“Oh, I see.”
“Maybe it’s because I’m young? You’re using your energy in such useless places.”
Nigel, who had never been an adult, replied without changing his expression.
“Don’t worry, Nigel. Once they know what a good guy you are, they’ll stop.”
Allen patted Nigel’s back reassuringly.
“Yeah, Allen. I should show them how good of a guy I am.”
“Exactly! Great idea!”
Allen smiled brightly, unaware that his standard of a good guy and Nigel’s standard might be completely different from one end of Senia to the other.
“Oh, right. Allen, do you know Teller and Orend?”
“Huh? How did you know our teachers’ names?”
“No, I just guessed.”
As expected. Even prestigious and powerful people couldn’t beat wealthy people.
Nigel walked happily, lifting the corners of his mouth lightly, towards the classroom.
“Nigel, come with me!”
The first class at Senia was the history of Arenium, a common subject for first-year students.
Classes at Senia were divided into common classes and departmental classes (or elective classes).
Apart from common classes, which all students of the same year took regardless of their department, students had to choose their desired departmental classes to fill the remaining time.
Since Senia allowed students to change departments once during the first semester of their first year, the entire first semester for first-year students was filled with common classes.
Of course, despite the purpose of common classes being to acquire knowledge necessary for the year, the students were divided into three groups, sitting tightly together by department.
Inside was the magic department, in the middle was the political department, and on the outside was the martial arts department.
“Oh, Noah’s here?”
“Yes.”
At that moment, Noah Basilion, a prominent figure in the martial arts department, passed through the martial arts department’s seats and sat in the magic department’s seat, causing the faces of some martial arts department students to darken.
“How was the special interview with the headmaster?”
“It was normal. He was a nice person.”
“Did he congratulate you on your admission and tell you to study hard in the future?”
“Yeah, and he also asked about my reasons for joining the academy.”
“What did you say?”
At Nigel’s question, Noah and Nigel’s eyes met in mid-air. Noah’s pupils shook for a moment.
“Well… that…”
Ding. Ding.
The bell signaling the beginning of class started ringing.
Druruk.
When the last bell was left, the classroom door opened, revealing a man with a stern face wearing glasses.
It was Cladian, the professor in charge of the first-year political department.
“The whole day…”
At that moment, a whisper came from the middle of the political department’s seats.
“The whole day?”
“Oh, because they said he always comes in when there’s one bell left, the whole day. According to my sister, who graduated, he has never broken this rule.”
The students who heard the whisper exchanged glances nervously.
“And… there’s also the fact that, unless there’s something special, he teaches the whole day without giving breaks or ending class early, the whole day.”
“…Even on the first day?”
“Yeah. According to my sister, even if demons attack the academy, he’ll keep teaching.”
The faces of the bright students darkened rapidly.
As if to prove that point, Cladian opened his textbook right away.
“We don’t need introductions since we had the entrance ceremony. But since today is the first day, let’s have a brief session for communication instead of going through the textbook.”
“Oh…!”
“He seems nice, doesn’t he?”
The students exchanged glances quietly.
“Of course, today’s lesson will be reflected in the exam. Keep that in mind.”
“…The whole day, huh?”
“It’s the whole day.”
The students who had lost all hope watched as their classmates took out their notebooks and writing tools and placed them on their desks.
“Shall we start with a simple question? What year did our empire sign a peace treaty with the Kingdom of Crena and what was the reason?”
“Too simple.”
“Ugh! Do we really have to endure this for two hours?”
At that moment,
“Ah, right. There are two people… these new students are quite useful. The student who raised their hand first, please answer.”
Cladian said, raising his glasses.
The first student to raise their hand, no, Nigel, rose from their seat, receiving the gaze of Cromwell with warmth and stood up.
“The year the empire signed a peace treaty with the Kingdom of Crena was 1622. At that time, the emperor was the grandfather of our current emperor, His Majesty Edwin.”
“No need for further explanation. What about the reason?”
Cladian said.
“It was triggered by the invasion of demons. The Kingdom of Crena, with most of its territory being fertile plains, had an advantage in agriculture, but it had a fatal flaw in repelling demons. Therefore, through the peace treaty, our empire provided military support, and the Kingdom of Crena granted the empire most-favored-nation treatment, which has been maintained to this day.”
Cladian raised the corners of his mouth gently.
“Well, well spoken. And what’s the student’s name?”
“I’m Nigel As.”
“Ah, the perfect student everyone’s talking about. It seems our department students are in for a tough time. Our new students should be well-prepared.”
“Thank you.”
Nigel nodded vaguely and sat down.
“Nigel, are you a walking encyclopedia? You sounded just like our professors.”
Noah also applauded Nigel.
“…And the political department students are about to burst into flames.”
Allen whispered softly, glancing around.
“What happened with the political department? How could fellow new students…”
“No, it’s okay. Let it be.”
Nigel answered.
Allen’s eyes wandered awkwardly among the political department students on the right.
“…Nigel, why are you like that? Are you feeling sick?”
Nigel whispered to Noah, leaning closer to him.
Nigel’s black hair seemed to almost touch Noah’s face. Noah pulled his upper body slightly back and replied.
“…I’m worried about the next class.”
“What? What’s the matter…
