Since When Did You Have The Illusion That You Don’t Have Magical Powers?! - CH 29

Characters in this chapter:

Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge

Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier

Clawis Omnibus Worstitters/Clawis Garcia, Crown Prince of Worstitters

Rivera Hernández,Clawis’ companion/guard

Soon, there will be an examination held to check the level of learning attained. The academy is somewhat tense and more students are frequenting the study room and library. Everyone is preparing for the examinations. The examinations cover language, arithmetic, magic, continental history and art. However, elective subjects such as swordsmanship are not included.

I’m preparing for the exams like everyone else. Because I am a scholarship student, a certain level of performance is required. It is a typical student-like event that I have never experienced in my previous life.

Adventurers are often thought to be uneducated because of their profession and the fact that many of them are rough and rowdy. It’s true that it’s rare to find one who says they went to school, and it’s true that most adventurers are uneducated, but language and arithmetic are the only things they are good at. After all, if they can’t keep financial accounts, they will be cheated out of their rewards, and if they can’t speak the language, they won’t be able to undertake work in other countries. Therefore, adventurers are expected to be able to speak several languages. But even if they can speak a foreign language, they may have an accent or use dirty slang in their conversations, but it’s okay as long as they can communicate with people.

And so, I’m no exception. If it were a conversational exam, I would probably get frowns, but when it comes to reading and writing, it doesn’t matter if I have an accent.

I’m also reasonably good at arithmetic, since I was originally the third son of a former merchant family. Continental history is also manageable, although limited to certain periods, as I’ve actually experienced and seen things. Magic goes without saying, I have no problem with this at all. Then what is not good is art. It is said that as an aristocrat, you should have a deep knowledge of some kind of art, but I can’t compete using my memories of my previous life in this area. I don’t understand painting at all, and similarly for music. In the first place, Sapphiras was not in an environment that enriched his artistic emotions. He likes to listen to music, but he honestly has no idea who the composer is, or who is playing on what instrument. Music is good as long as you feel good listening to it. I don’t care about the value of a painting as long as I like it, but it seems that this is not the case with aristocracy.

“This is Titicelli’s ‘Birth of a Goddess’, and this is Tortilova’s ‘Fortina who guides destiny’.”

In the cafeteria after school, while listening to Percival’s explanation in front of the catalogue borrowed from the library, the characteristics of the paintings are hammered into my head. What good would it do in my life to remember the artist of this painting? It’s fine if I just remember the artist’s name. Furthermore, it is said that there are principles in paintings.

“So, who is the artist of this painting and what are his principles?”

“……Uu”

It’s jammed. This is a complete dead end. It doesn’t matter whose painting it is. What principles? Is that important? Shut up! I don’t know anything about that! I suppress the urge to brush off the catalogue on the table. Even painting is like this, but from next year, music will also be a subject in examinations.

“Hahaha, you seem to be having a hard time.”

While I was holding my head in my hands, Clawis and Rivera arrived. After that soirée, I had been interacting more with Clawis and the others in the academy. Recently, the four of us sometimes have lunch together.

I realised that I, who used to be a loner, had made more friends, and although I am far from 100, they are my trusted and hard-earned friends. One person is worth 100. That means I now have 400 friends, including Aurora. This is strong. I can already climb Mount Paluum and eat sandwiches.

“Clawis, Rivera…….”

“I thought Sapphiras could do everything, but I guess there are some things you’re not good at.”

“Well, yeah.”

I plonked myself down on the table and let out a deep, deep sigh. Art is such an easy way to drive people to despair. I’ve learnt that.

“Shall we take a short break?”

I wholeheartedly agreed with Percival’s proposal with both hands raised in the air. I’ll eat something sweet to nourish my brain. I quickly clear the table and go to order tea and pastries. Today, it’s egg tarts and dried fruit cakes. Both are my favourites, and I’m debating which one to choose, when Percival offers to share, to which I gratefully do.

Feeling good, I go back to the table, only to catch my foot on something and stumble forward. Wow, this is a disaster! I thought, but Clawis quickly picked up the tray I was holding before it toppled over, and Percival supported my back as I almost fell, so I managed to avoid disaster. No matter how much magic I can use, I can’t control this kind of carelessness.

“Oh, thank you. You both saved my life.”

“……Tch.”

When I was feeling relieved, I could hear the click of a tongue. When I looked around, there was a student at the table beside me who was clearly averting his gaze in an unnatural way. Despite his quiet demeanour, he has quite the spirit.

Recently, I’ve been receiving this kind of petty harassment from time to time. For example, I’ve had my notebook ripped out. I say harassment, but I don’t even think of it as harassment. At best, I feel like I’ve been bitten by an insect when I’m sleeping outdoors. However, I bought the notebook with the money I received from the Duke’s household, so I thought it wouldn’t be good if I just left it alone.

I don’t know why they want to harass me, but even if it’s just an insect, it’s depressing if it bites you frequently. Well, if you do it again, I’ll break your legs. I’ll hold off on the notebook for now, because if they’re not caught red-handed, it could become a false accusation.

“……Sapphiras, you’re looking good.”

“Huh?”

Oops, it seems I’ve got what Percival calls a villainous face again.

A beautiful villain is attractive, but a villain doesn’t suit me in the first place. Fortis is now described as a very extravagant magician, but inside he was someone who got carried away easily, so much so that Urla often called him an idiot. The pinnacle was when he crashed into the carriage and died.

“This is the Royal Academy of the Kingdom of Solmontana, the most powerful country on the continent, and yet some of the students here don’t belong, do they, Rivera?”

“Yes, it would seem so. Clawis-sama.”

Oops, sarcasm plain and simple. The guy who was spoken of is blushing with shame and anger, but the other party is a foreign student from another country. Judging from the fact that he does not say anything back, it seems that he has the discretion to harass them to the extent of insect bites, but not to be disrespectful to guests from foreign countries.

“Now that I safely didn’t fall over, let’s go.”

I urge the three of them to move to the table we were at earlier. I don’t have time for insect bites right now. After the break, I have to fight against the solid walls of paintings that stand in my way. I don’t feel like I can beat an opponent that can’t communicate with magic, but…

On that night, I had a nightmare of being chased by incomprehensible paintings such as classicism and impressionism, and I didn’t feel like I slept at all. This was a lot more excruciating than the plain harassment.

I managed to get through the three-day exam period that began shortly afterwards, despite being troubled a lot by art. I think I managed to score well in most subjects, but I don’t know about art. If the achievement level is not acceptable, I can only say that I am really sorry to His Excellency the Duke.

However, The exam is over. I’m liberated! No more nightmares about paintings! I was walking lightly with a sense of exhilaration, when I was stopped by a group of ladies I didn’t know.

“Excuse me, Sapphiras-sama. Do you have a minute?”

“I’d like for you to hang out with us for a bit.”

“Ha……”

From the disturbing atmosphere they are carrying, this is that thing right? That thing called summons.

Well, I didn’t have any urgent business, so I decided to follow them.

I was a little curious to see what they were going to do.