Chapter 7

"Then, let's start studying. I've received a substantial fee for tutoring, so I'll do this seriously. In the exam, math can be handled by intuition and basic knowledge, so I'll skip it. The real problem is history and magic as an academic subject."

I am teaching Kuna in the inn I borrowed through the tavern's introduction. She is sitting in a chair with her hands on the desk. Since we are alone, she is showing her fox ears and tail without reservation. Kuna has received a fairly advanced education, so if we strengthen her weak points, she should be able to manage.

"I'm good at magic, you know?"

"I know that. I saw you blow away the curse symbols on the slave trader's carriage. Even putting aside the fact that you're a fire fox, I don't know anyone who can use magic as beautifully as you. Your magic is efficient, and your understanding of the magic formula is high, which is why you can use such complete magic."

"Hehe, I'm amazing."

She stands up proudly, her fox ears perking up. No doubt, her strict father must have drilled it into her thoroughly.

"But what is required in this city is the magic that is considered correct in this city. To be clear, the magic in this city is crude, slow, and quite wrong. But in this city, that is considered correct. I'll have Kuna memorize the wrong things. After all, the instructors don't know the correct answers, and they don't have the brains to understand even if they are corrected. In theory, they will definitely mark practical skills with an X."

"...What a ridiculous situation. But if I can get food, clothing, and housing, and become a noble upon graduation, I'll endure it."

Kuna grumbled, looking unhappy. I understand her feelings. As a magician myself, it's frustrating to have to adjust to a low level.

"Rank 3 at graduation is something you should be able to achieve. Let me tell you an interesting story. There are about ten thousand dungeon explorers in this city. The breakdown is roughly nine thousand at Rank 1, seven hundred at Rank 2, and only about three hundred at Rank 3. And that's including those who have been doing it for decades. We have to reach Rank 3 in three years until graduation. Only about 0.5% of people reach Rank 3 in three years."

Among the ranks, where Rank 1 makes up about 90%, Rank 3 is incredibly distant. It usually takes a decade of talent, excellent companions, and good luck. To do it in a third of that time is practically impossible. There are only a few people beyond Rank 4, and only one person at the top Rank 6.

"So, 0.5%? That's easy. If there are 200 people, I just need to outperform 199 of them."

"That confidence is one of Kuna's strengths."

In fact, she is a genius and has a solid foundation from her hometown. However, even with that, she won't reach Rank 3 in a year. That's how high the bar is for Rank 3. However, with me around, things are different. I have a secret trick up my sleeve.

"So, let's start studying. We only have three days, so I'll prepare past exam questions. Let's try to solve all of them."

"Past exam questions?"

"Yeah, the actual questions from last year's exam."

"Such amazing things!!"

"Yeah, I can solve all of them and explain them. I'll solve them once, focus on the ones you get wrong or don't understand, and teach you."

Kuna is excited, saying, "Amazing, amazing."

Actually, the past exam questions are a lie. They are this year's test questions that players have uploaded to the database. Hundreds of people have uploaded them, and they are all almost the same.

If the system's prediction is not a lie, it will probably be accurate. In reality, with this much preparation, the exam should be easy, but there are also things to consider after enrollment. I won't tell Kuna the truth to make her take it seriously.

"If we perfect this, you won't fail the theoretical part of the exam. The system first conducts a theoretical test, and if you score less than 60%, you fail immediately. If you survive, you move on to the practical test. The final decision is based on a combination of theoretical and practical scores, with practical scores being more important. However, theoretical scores also affect the selection of scholarship students, so don't slack off."

"I understand. Soji-kun, can you tell me something? What if I pass the exam but don't get a scholarship?"

"You'll have to pay out of pocket. The enrollment fee alone is 500,000 bal. The tuition for six months is 300,000 bal. Textbooks cost 100,000 bal, and six months of dormitory and meal fees are 240,000 bal. In total, you need 1,140,000 bal."

Even at this price, it is quite reasonable compared to other schools. The price is probably due to government support.

"1,140,000 bal!? There's no way I can afford that. I absolutely have to get a scholarship."

Kuna clenched her fists.

"Well, I think you can manage it, Kuna. You can borrow money."

"Would they lend money to a little girl like me?"

"Yeah, up to two million bal. If you delay repayment, you become a slave... In other words, if you use yourself as collateral, they will lend you the money generously."

The beautiful fire fox girl.

If she were to be sold through official channels in the slave market, she would fetch at least 50 million bal.

Even with low-interest loans, two million bal is easy, and with high-interest loans, ten times that amount is possible.

"Using myself as collateral... But if I can pay it back, it's not a problem, and it's better than waiting a year to get a license... I'm conflicted."

Kuna is seriously considering taking out a loan. The benefits of entering the knight school are significant. If she can enter the underground dungeon, she can earn enough to pay off the monthly installments.

"If Kuna seems likely to delay repayment, I'll cover it for you. So even if you don't get a scholarship, you can take out a loan and enroll with peace of mind."

"...That kindness is scary. Father said that because Kuna is cute, all the men who approach her are bad wolves trying to eat her."

"Don't worry, don't worry. I'm a gentleman, so I'll only make a move after we become lovers or after I take over the debt and own you."

"Not at all, not at all!! I will definitely get a scholarship! Please give me the past exam questions quickly."

"Alright, alright. I've received a large sum of money, so I'll do my job properly."

I closed my eyes and concentrated.

I accessed the magic formulas developed by hundreds of thousands of players and selected the one that suited my purpose. I then took out a wooden board from my bag, which I bought on the way to the inn.

"【Convex Plate Creation】"

I called out the straightforward magic name and activated the spell. Countless magic formulas flowed through my mind, were calculated, and interfered with the world, overwriting physical phenomena. The ultrasonic waves I produced were hammered into the wood, carving out the text of the past exam questions from the memory in my mind.

After one minute of work, a perfect convex plate of the past exam questions was completed. I applied ink to it and stamped it onto paper, instantly creating the past exam test.

"Here, Kuna. Let me know when you finish. I have five more to prepare, so I'll start on the next one."

I took out the next piece of wood and immediately prepared the second one.

"Amazing, what a complex and multi-step magic. It's incredible that such a powerful magic is used for something so mundane. It's a terrifying waste. But I don't know any other magician who can do such amazing things except Father."

Kuna was amazed by my magic. It's no wonder; my magic is hundreds of years ahead because it is developed by tens of thousands of people using methods and open-source code.

Moreover, the homunculus body is extremely advantageous for using magic. By floating the memorized magic language text in my mind, word for word, without a single mistake, I can complete the magic. It sounds easy, but the barrier is incredibly high.

To put it in Japanese terms, it's like being asked to perfectly visualize the lyrics of a Swahili song in your mind without knowing the meaning or pronunciation of the words.

"Well, there's no time to worry about me. We only have three days."

With that, Kuna turned to the desk and started solving the past exam questions.

◇

"Father, Kuna will try harder, I'll try even harder, so..."

I could hear Kuna's somewhat tragic mutterings as she slept beside me. The fatigue from the long journey and studying had taken its toll, and she was sound asleep despite being next to me. Despite her verbal caution, this child has been raised in a gentle environment and is too trusting and vulnerable.

When I first met her in the game, she was an unauthorized illegal dungeon explorer. Her eyes were hardened, and she seemed to hate the world. Her kindness led her to be deceived repeatedly, causing her to be hurt and twisted.

After various events, it took a year for Kuna to show me the pure side of her that I see now. I wish for the real Kuna, not the one created by the system, to be happy. No, I will make her happy.

"Well, let's work hard tomorrow. At the very least, if Kuna enters the knight school, she can take a path to happiness."

I stroked Kuna's head, who was still muttering "Father" in her sleep, and went to sleep myself.