#38. Exchange (2)

We arrived at Pellett Academy.

No particular incidents occurred during the journey. Merely Charlotte’s refusal to accept defeat, leading to dozens of attempts at a rematch.

“Charlotte.”

“…Yes, Rain-nim.”

“Just wanted to say your name once.”

“Son of a—”

“Mind your tongue.”

Stepping out of the carriage, pleasant sunlight poured down. A refreshing, distinctly autumnal breeze also swept through.

Two opposing weather phenomena, yet they made me feel quite good.

A fine start! I have a feeling this trip will go smoothly.

“Let’s get moving.”

And one person took the lead.

A woman with crimson hair.

“Yes, Professor.”

Professor Cecil.

We, still young, are objectively prone to excitement. A consequence of limited experience.

The Exchange is called an event, but every academy stakes their lives on claiming victory. Because it’s a kind of ‘tournament’ exhibiting such fervor, competitive spirit can easily overheat.

Therefore, someone was needed to control the students, preventing them from getting too carried away during the Exchange. Ensuring safety during the carriage ride was just a bonus.

That’s roughly the reason Professor Cecil is accompanying us.

…Why Professor Cecil of all people, you ask?

I don’t know the exact reason myself, but perhaps it’s because she’s the least busy.

After all, Professor Rachel is always occupied, and Professor Pelliana bears a heavy responsibility in the penicillin project.

Professor Meriel is too flimsy for a position like this, and Professor Peter is too high up the ladder.

In the end, Professor Cecil, who has no personal assignments, teaches classes, and isn’t too far along in her career, was selected.

“Let me tell you now, if you don’t listen, you’ll be doing physical training when we get back.”

Charlotte responded.

“But I’m not in the Knights Department.”

“Does that matter?”

“…I suppose not.”

I can’t help but feel slightly skeptical, truthfully.

Was it truly wise to position Professor Cecil here?

Didn’t feel quite right.

Regardless, time to begin the proceedings.

“You’re all familiar with the schedule, yes?”

We’ll be staying at Pellit Academy for a total of three days.

Each academy will compete in two disciplines, and the Imperial Evaluators will observe all three days of competition to determine the victor.

The first day is a contest of pure intellect.

The side that answers the most questions correctly wins, but they say the questions posed are anything but simple.

“Time… a bit to spare. After unpacking, you have free time until 2 PM. Explore as you see fit, but don’t be late, or else.”

Pellit Academy is obligated to provide lodging and meals for all those invited.

We’ll be using vacant dormitory rooms.

One might ask, dormitories for guests? But…

As befits the academy with the reputation of being the Empire’s finest, Pellit Academy’s dormitories boast facilities that would put most inns to shame.

Professor Cecil handed me the room key. Number 302, I believe.

I’ll just toss down my luggage and get a feel for the place.

Reconnaissance is vital, after all.

“Hey.”

“Use formal speech.”

“…Lord Rain.”

Charlotte spoke to me as I was about to head out. What’s her business?

“You’re planning to scout, aren’t you? Let me come along.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“This is Pellit Academy, after all. You might get intimidated wandering around alone.”

Doesn’t seem likely I’d be intimidated.

But, she has a point. While I might be fine, Charlotte and Kevin could be overwhelmed by the other students’ aura.

We’re facing serious competition. It’d be best to avoid wandering alone.

“Fine, whatever. Kevin, you come along too.”

“Huh? Me too?”

Kevin, who had been standing awkwardly, joined us.

We quickly unpacked our luggage and began to explore the academy.

The true reconnaissance began, and Charlotte was the first to speak.

“Hmph, not much to see.”

It was quite a lot to see.

The academic buildings were far grander than those at Lunia Academy.

The design was more sophisticated. The facilities, immaculate.

A thought crossed my mind. I should have come here.

“…What are you thinking about right now?”

“Nothing in particular.”

Time to refocus.

This isn’t tourism, it’s reconnaissance. It’s better to observe the people than admire the buildings.

We began, ever so subtly, to eavesdrop on conversations.

“Who do you think will take the crown this time around?”

“Pellett Academy, without a doubt. There’s a reason they’re called the Empire’s finest, you know.”

The spectators at these inter-academy gatherings include figures from beyond the schools themselves.

Nobles, commoners, merchants – all sorts come to witness the proceedings.

And among them, many who hold the power to bestow a ‘letter of recommendation.’ It’s why these events matter to the students, too.

This group seemed to be part of the outside contingent.

“But, during the last convocation, Lunia was a force to be reckoned with, wasn’t she?”

“Ah, that was an anomaly. That generation was exceptional. And in the end, Pellett Academy still emerged victorious, didn’t they?”

Sounded like we were being relegated to the role of mere foils.

Still, judging by how they spoke of Lunia Academy not being all that bad, it seemed our current sophomores had performed admirably last year.

Perhaps we should try spying on the students instead of the outsiders.

“Ugh, I’m so nervous.”

“What are you sweating it for?”

“Hayden, aren’t you nervous? We have to go up against Pellett Academy…”

“If we lose, we lose, so what?”

Those uniforms…

Haven Academy, wasn’t it? Situated in the southern reaches of the Empire, if memory served.

“The capital is so hot…”

“Or, it’s just that our region is frigid.”

Prison Academy from the north was also visible.

And…

“Oh? It’s Lunia.”

Pellett Academy.

“Hello, losers! Did you come to lose again this year?”

“Hey, hey! No need to be so rude on first meeting…!”

A blond man spoke, waving his hand. A woman next to him tried to restrain him, but being subjected to blatant contempt upon introduction left a peculiar taste in my mouth.

It felt strangely familiar…

“Ah.”

I turned to look at Kevin, who was standing beside me.

I finally understood the source of the déjà vu.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just because.”

Kevin wore a slightly uneasy expression.

It seemed he, too, knew why I was staring.

Kevin scratched his head and then stepped slightly forward, addressing the blond man from before.

“Don’t go around putting others down so carelessly. You never know what the end result might be.”

Oh.

He’s become mature.

“Ha, who is he to lecture me?”

Honestly, no sound truly grates on my nerves.

The path I’ve walked has been far too arduous to be shaken by something so trivial.

I intended to let it pass without a word, and then report it to His Imperial Majesty.

But now that things have come to this…

I suppose I must do something.

“I believe I am more than qualified to teach.”

Will the Lunia Academy truly face defeat?

Perhaps it sounds a touch arrogant, but allow me to say this.

“This time, it is you who will fall.”

*

Ivan Ward.

The student with the highest grades among Felit Academy’s first years.

He was, in short, a genius.

“How tedious…”

Geniuses are destined to look down upon others.

In their eyes, ordinary people appear merely dull.

Here, geniuses diverge into two types.

Those who understand and embrace the ordinary.

And those who, consumed by a sense of superiority, scorn it.

Ivan was the latter.

Therefore, it was inevitable.

For ‘comparison’ is most enjoyable when the disparity is stark.

Comparing himself to others brought him a unique thrill.

The moment he recognized that amusement, Ivan defined those inferior to him as riffraff.

“Lunia Academy?”

Naturally, all academies other than Felit were also riffraff.

“I heard they were quite close last year? Our seniors, really, aren’t they ashamed to compare themselves to such riffraff?”

Ivan was at ease.

Nervousness was the domain of the weak. He would confidently crush them all and seize first place once more.

It had always been this way, and this time would be no exception.

“I believe I am more than qualified to teach.”

Furthermore, naturally, the pronouncements of the riffraff fell upon deaf ears.

“This time, it is you who will fall.”

Just as no human pays heed to the buzzing of insects.

Yes, insects.

That silver hair, that black hair, that yellow hair.

All merely insects of different colors.

Ivan mocked them.

To speak so boldly, oblivious to reality, it was almost amusing.

“Try,” she said.

And with that, my meeting with Lunia ended.

Backs turned, we headed to our respective quarters.

Soon enough, it would become clear.

The difference between a prodigy and the mundane.

*

“Kevin, you’ve really become a proper person.”

“…Is that a compliment?”

“Of course it is.”

“I… Thank you, then.”

Before the first contest began, we gathered in the waiting room, passing the time with conversation.

“So, all the academies are competing at once?”

“That’s right. Four academies, all vying for knowledge in one place.”

The format was similar to a quiz show.

The host would read out a question, and the participants would solve it and answer first.

Nothing difficult about the rules.

“Ah, it’s time.”

The long-awaited start time arrived.

We rose almost in unison and left the waiting room.

Proceeding directly into the arena, we took our seats marked ‘Lunia’.

The arena wasn’t anything particularly special.

Four desks were arranged in a straight line, with the audience seating stretching out behind them.

A podium for the host was visible at the front.

After a short wait.

And a brief opening address.

“Then, let the exchange begin.”

The quiz show commenced.

‘System, begin.’

[Preparing to interpret the question.]

The outcome was predictable.