Chapter 207 – 207. The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated Into The Baek Family
207. The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated into the Baek Family
“Huhu…. I never expected Baron Eugene Prucus to come all the way to Goldway Academy.”
The old man sitting in front of me spoke in a gentle tone.
He was Harvis Brachio, the 11th Headmaster of Goldway Academy and an Archmage.
An Archmage was a realm that could be considered equivalent to an Aura Master among knights.
“I have always had a great interest in Goldway Academy. The best academy on the continent! An academy where anyone can succeed in life just by receiving Goldway’s education! I’ve always wanted to attend it.”
“As you say, Goldway Academy is an outstanding academy. That’s why we don’t accept students carelessly. Moreover, it’s not even the period for accepting students right now.”
The Goldway entrance exam was famous. It was a place where ordinary people without talent in swordsmanship or magic could not enter. The minimum required talent was the ability to handle mana.
Goldway was so obsessed with talent that they even refused admission to noble children if they lacked it. Conversely, if a commoner had talent, they would receive recommendations from graduates scattered throughout the land and be given the opportunity to take the entrance exam with financial support.
“I am a top-tier Aura User. I am on the verge of reaching the Expert level.”
“Oh ho. To be at that level at your age…. You are remarkable.”
“However, I feel that something is lacking to reach the Expert level. I thought that perhaps I could fill that void by attending the academy this time…. I really want to attend Goldway Academy.”
“Baron Prucus. You are already amazing. There is no need to be impatient. Effort never betrays, so if you continue to work hard, you will soon reach the Expert level.”
Headmaster Harvis didn’t seem to have any intention of letting me enter the academy.
It wasn’t something I couldn’t understand. It was a matter that involved the traditions of Goldway Academy.
“I believe my brother is enrolled in Goldway Academy….”
“Your brother…? Ah, are you talking about student Kyle? If you want to meet him, you may. Goldway Academy does not prevent family reunions.”
Kyle was operating as a commoner, without using the Prucus name. The fact that he was recognized meant that they had investigated Kyle. Well, it was natural to investigate, and since he was using the name Kyle as is, it would have been easy to find out.
‘As expected, they have no intention of letting me in just by talking.’
Convincing the Headmaster with words would have been the best, but… there was no helping it.
I placed the iron briefcase I had prepared on the table.
There was a clinking sound from the bag.
“That’s a box I’ve never seen before. What is that?”
“It’s a donation I’ve prepared for Goldway Academy. If I am able to enter the academy, I was planning to donate it all. Since it’s the academy I’m attending, shouldn’t I do that?”
What I had prepared was money.
“Heh…. Heh, heh heh.”
Harvis chuckled as if he was dumbfounded.
There must have been many nobles who, like me, tried to enter Goldway Academy even by paying money. But they had all failed.
‘After all, what Goldway Academy values is talent. If they admit a noble child with substandard talent, they would immediately arouse suspicion.’
The difference between them and me was not money, but talent. With my talent, I was at a level where I could enter Goldway Academy. The other students would never think that I entered with money.
“Didn’t my brother enter as a special student in the swordsmanship department, not as a regular student? Isn’t it possible for me to do something like that?”
“Special students are slightly different from regular students. Student Kyle became a special student after receiving strong recommendations from the professors of the swordsmanship department.”
At the academy, students had to be recommended by a professor. They received education like students, but they also helped the professors.
Usually, special students were chosen from among the students, but Kyle was a special student brought in by a professor from outside the academy.
Kyle’s swordsmanship was fundamentally different from that of this world, so the professors called him in for the sake of researching swordsmanship.
“I have no intention of becoming a special student like my brother. My abilities are also quite lacking for that.”
Click, click.
When I opened the bag, there were gold coins filling it to the brim.
Harvis’s eyes widened as he stared into the bag.
“There are a total of 4,000 gold coins. That’s 2 billion Ner.”
“……Heh.”
Harvis’s eyes trembled.
2 billion Ner was a lot of money. It was the equivalent of several months of revenue for a small magic tower.
Harvis was an Archmage, but he was still human. He couldn’t be without greed for money.
‘And recently, there was an accident at Goldway Academy. They must have spent some money to clean it up.’
I heard that they were researching a captured chimera in the magic department and blew up several magic research labs.
“Hmm…. But….”
He didn’t have the same firm tone as before. It was clear that Harvis was hesitating.
“I don’t plan to attend Goldway Academy for long. I am the lord of a territory. I plan to attend Goldway Academy for only about three months and then leave.”
Goldway Academy was a five-year program. There was a system for early graduation exams, but it was very difficult.
“Three months?! Is that true?”
“Why would I lie?”
“Hmm. Three months might be possible. However, I cannot give you a diploma.”
“I understand. If I attended for three months and took a Goldway Academy diploma, wouldn’t that be like a robber?”
“I’m glad you understand. However, it seems that you cannot be a regular student. We need some kind of method….”
He was lost in thought. I waited quietly. Just being able to enter Goldway Academy was enough to achieve my goal.
“A sudden transfer would be strange to both the professors and students…. Hmm. That’s it. An auditor would be good.”
“…Pardon?”
Why was an auditor suddenly coming up?
“Wouldn’t a transfer student who only attends for three months be a bit strange? The professors and students would object. But if I subtly spread rumors that you are an auditor, there will be no objections.”
“…I suppose that’s true.”
An auditor pretending to be a student secretly audits the academy for three months. If such a rumor spread secretly, the professors and students would be careful and try to treat me well.
“It’s not right to start tomorrow… We need time to spread the rumors, so you can transfer as a student of the academy three days from now.”
“Thank you, Headmaster Harvis. Thanks to you, I get to experience attending Goldway Academy, something I’ve dreamed of for a long time.”
“Hmm. But will you be living in the dormitory?”
“Yes. If possible, I would like to, but I have three servants. Wouldn’t the dormitory be too small?”
“It’s fine. There are several empty dormitories for nobles, so you can use those.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“I was just doing what I had to do as the Headmaster. But this money….”
“Yes. I will donate it all. Please use it for Goldway Academy.”
“Ahem. I will.”
Harvis took the money bag. Would that money only be used for the academy?
I shook my head and erased the question. That money was already out of my hands. It was none of my business how it was used.
‘Hehe. Academy life. I’m really looking forward to it.’
•••
My maids and I entered the dormitory that Headmaster Harvis had prepared.
The dormitory for nobles was smaller than I had expected. There were three rooms and one living room. There was also a kitchen and a private bathroom.
‘It’s a bit lacking for a noble’s dormitory. And all the furniture is cheap.’
I decided to replace all the furniture.
‘It’s trash compared to the mansion in Tevra, but…. Well, it’s not like I’m going to live here forever.’
I decided to be satisfied with it.
I put a soft, large bed in the largest room and called the maids.
“Come here quickly, girls. We’re going to be living here, so we need to mark our territory!”
•••
“Hello. I am Eugene Prucus from the Rapelli Kingdom. I have admired Goldway Academy since I was young, and I have decided to take classes with you all for the next three months. Please take care of me.”
I spoke confidently, looking at the more than 50 students in the swordsmanship department’s fourth year. Although I was young, my skills were no less than theirs. There was no student among them who could beat me. Except for one person, Kyle.
Kyle was staring blankly at me with a dazed expression. He seemed quite surprised.
After finishing my self-introduction, I sat down randomly in an empty seat. It was a bit far from Kyle. There were many people around Kyle. As expected of the protagonist of the original story, he was very popular.
Kyle kept glancing at me. He seemed to want to come and talk to me right away, but he couldn’t because of the people around him.
All the other students were watching me. They all knew that I was an auditor pretending to be a student, so they would treat me carefully.
The class began.
The swordsmanship department didn’t just learn about swordsmanship. They also learned about the history of the continent and war strategies.
When swordsmanship students graduated from the academy, they would eventually become knights, and knights were essentially no different from soldiers.
During the break after class, students gathered around me.
“Prucus… are you talking about the Prucus Count family of the Rapelli Kingdom?”
“Goldway Academy is a great place. I’m from the Tethys Kingdom….”
Most of them were nobles. It was because I was a noble. They were also trying to get on my good side by saying all sorts of things.
Although it was annoying, I put on a smile and dealt with them appropriately.
“Eugene Prucus. If you don’t mind, would you like to talk separately? I can tell you about Goldway Academy.”
“……And you are?”
“I am Kyle Zeder.”
Kyle Zeder. It was the alias Kyle was using.
I got up from my seat.
“It’s nice to meet you, Kyle.”
I said to him with a sly smile.
Kyle took me to a secluded place. Judging by the armor, swords, and scarecrows, it seemed to be a preparation room.
“Eugene! I never thought you would come to Goldway Academy. You didn’t follow me, did you?”
He was right.
“No. I’ve been interested in Goldway Academy since before.”
“It was a coincidence then. How can there be such a coincidence….”
“It wasn’t entirely a coincidence. I knew that you were here.”
“You knew?”
“You’re the second son of the Prucus family, but don’t you know too little about the Prucus family? The Prucus family knows everything about what you’re doing.”
“…….”
Kyle had a shocked expression. He was somewhat dull, so he probably hadn’t imagined that the Prucus family would be tracking him.
“Hey, your jaw is going to drop.”
“Oh, oh. But if the family knew, why….”
“They’re respecting your choice. Although, Mother seems a little angry.”
“…….”
Kyle was lost in thought. He was probably thinking about the family. Looking at him, I thought that he might return to the mansion faster than in the original story.
“I’m a bit surprised. With your skills, you don’t need to learn swordsmanship at the academy.”
“I also owe a debt to the professor…. I wanted to learn various swordsmanship styles of this world.”
It was a fact I knew through the original story.
Kyle’s goal was to establish the Hwasan Sect in this world, and it would be better to know various swordsmanship styles in this world in preparation for that time.
“But… there’s a rumor going around the academy that you’re an auditor…. Is that true?”
“It’s true.”
I lied without batting an eye. It had all been discussed with Headmaster Harvis, so there was no chance of being caught.
“Hoo. I see. The professors and students are all in a frenzy trying to get on your good side. They even did a big cleaning yesterday, you know?”
Kyle smiled and treated me well.
“When are you going back to the family?”
“……Did my mother and father tell you to bring me back?”
“You know that they’re not the type to do that. I’m just asking since we’ve met like this. I want you to come back to the mansion quickly.”
I wanted him to return to the family quickly and fight with the eldest son, Gent. That way, I could take advantage of the situation.
“At least for now… I have no intention of going back.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to Mother.”
“But Eugene. If you’re here…. Did Yuria come here with you too?”
