Chapter – 07
The Exam and the Knight
Thanks to Lord Kelts’s arrangements, I was able to take the interview right away.
As a result, thanks to Lord Kelts’s backing, I wasn’t asked any strange questions. However, the interviewer seemed to be on guard against me.
That was only natural. A pair of commoner siblings, both studying at Central Magic Academy, the kingdom’s premier institution.
Janitors, dorm mothers, and cooks are permitted to work here, but students absolutely cannot pass unless they are at least from a Count-class family.
After the interview, it was straight to the written exam.
Well, it had already been arranged for me to pass, but several tests were being administered to assess my actual abilities.
However,
“This is way too easy…”
As I said before, the academic level of mathematics and science in this world is about middle school level. For me, who retained all the knowledge from when I was actively teaching math, this was easier than breakfast.
“More to the point, this problem says ‘Prove that pi is 3.15’… The problem itself is wrong to begin with.”
I let out a wry smile and wrote down my answers.
After the written exam came the practical skills test.
So, I found myself in Central Academy’s arena, facing off against a knight affiliated with the school. He wasn’t a student, but apparently a staff member.
However,
One thing bothered me: he was glaring at me, radiating killing intent.
“Hmph, so you’re Rina’s older brother, are you?”
“That’s right.”
“Don’t get too full of yourself, commoner.”
Said the knight, looking down on me.
It was our first meeting, yet he was rude. But I quickly understood why he was taking such a cold attitude towards me.
“That wound on your neck… could it be…”
“I told you not to get conceited!! That was a fluke! And today, I’ll prove it!”
“…”
Who could have inflicted that wound on the knight’s neck?
Needless to say.
My little sister.
During the practical entrance exam a year ago, he had nearly lost to my sister, went berserk, and in the end, Rina gave him a scar that would never fade. On top of that, he suffered a complete defeat at my sister’s hands.
In other words, he must hold quite a grudge against us.
The person serving as the referee looked at me and declared vigorously,
“Begin!”
The moment the signal was given, the knight charged at me with his sword. Of course, it wasn’t a weapon that could kill a person, but it would certainly hurt a lot if it hit.
As expected of a knight affiliated with Central Magic Academy.
Not just his movements, but above all,
The killing intent directed at me was immense.
His gaze screamed, *’Because of your sister, I’ve been branded the knight who lost to a commoner.’*
Driven by rage, he swung his sword wildly.
The sound of the blade cutting through the air struck my ears, and each time I dodged, the swordsman’s face contorted. As if not wanting to give me a moment’s respite, he muttered something.
“Speed Up!”
Suddenly, his physical abilities skyrocketed, and his movements became twice as fast.
“Tch!”
Caught off guard by the sudden increase in attack speed, I withdrew momentarily.
“Ahaha… a mere commoner… know your place! I’ll make sure you pay for the crime of wounding my neck!”
That was clearly hate speech, yet the adjudicators and the referee remained unusually silent. In fact, even the examiners were narrowing their eyes and glaring at me.
Even with Lord Kelts looking out for me, he probably couldn’t change their ingrained mindset of looking down on commoners.
Ragged breaths. And a servile smile, anticipating the pleasure that would come from exacting his envisioned revenge.
Sensing this unpleasant atmosphere, I realized it.
I was being tested by the people associated with this academy.
The knight thrust his sword towards my neck. At that speed, a direct hit could potentially be fatal.
So, I grabbed that sword with my bare hands.
“Wha— He grabbed it with his bare hands!?”
And then I kicked him squarely in the stomach.
“GUHAA!!!”
Sent flying about a hundred meters, the knight clutched his stomach and coughed.
“Damn you!! Agh! *cough cough*!! I’ll kill you… Me, who earned such good results in the Royal Knights, beaten by a commoner… AAAAAHHHH!!!!”
The knight threw away his sword and summoned a new one with magic. That sword was clearly sharpened solely for the purpose of killing me, its tip constantly aimed at my neck.
This guy lost to Rina.
If that’s the case, even if I, Rina’s brother, win,
it shouldn’t be a problem at all.
However,
“Match over! Combat intended to cause lethal harm is strictly forbidden by the rules of Central Magic Academy. Therefore, the victory goes to Kanato.”
Naturally unable to accept the referee’s declaration, the knight shouted,
“DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!! DIE!!!”
And charged straight at me.
I chanted softly.
“Scatter Shot…”
A modified shotgun materialized in my hand. I quickly aimed it,
and fired at the knight.
This time, he was sent flying about two hundred meters and lost consciousness on the spot.
—
In the end, I received a perfect score on the practical exam. Also, the interviewer and the school officials apologized to me. The staff seemed quite mindful of Lord Kelts.
After all the tests were over, I was waiting on a sofa in the staff room when a teacher who looked incredibly self-important came in and sat down across from me.
“Kanato-kun, the results are in.”
“Y-yes.”
He would probably tell me which class I was being assigned to.
I had tried my best, at least, so as not to embarrass Rina. I’d aimed to get into the top class, where Lady Elena is, but I wouldn’t have minded the advanced class either.
Thinking this, I looked at the teacher. Suddenly, he raised his index finger, looked down at me, and declared,
“You are in the lowest class!!!!”
“Huh?”
