Chapter 8

"Breakfast♪ Breakfast♪"

Kuna and I walked through the morning market together.

We planned to buy breakfast from a stall, then go back to our room after registering for the exam in two days.

There are few shops open in the morning, but the stalls offer cheap and delicious food.

"Still, those were some pretty bad grades. Your math was almost perfect, but your history and magic were terrible."

"Puu, I don't know anything about other countries' history, and the magic questions were wrong. What was that question with the useless spell? The structure was off, and the person who made the question didn't even understand the magic formula."

"Yeah, that's true. Basically, the magic research here is based on command formulas whose meanings aren't fully understood. Researchers understand their own fields, but they keep their knowledge secret. So, the current magic is at a level where it can be done if the structure is like this, but it's not well understood."

Still, there is a certain common understanding based on the similarity of effects. As a result, the initial inefficiencies have been passed down without being corrected.

"I want to rewrite them. It makes me irritated to see those useless spells."

"I wonder who Kuna's father is to be able to teach you proper magic formulas."

"He's just a stubborn old man. And he's a real womanizer."

"Really?"

"Yes, he has three wives. I have five siblings, and two of them are half-sisters."

"That's tough. So, is Kuna's mother unhappy?"

"…She seems incredibly happy. They're always affectionate and act like teenagers in love. But she looks sad when she can't see Father, and when she sees him with other women, she looks sad. She's happy, but sometimes I think it would be better if Mother was the only wife."

From what I can see, Kuna's mother is a super beautiful woman. For her to have two more wives is really the lowest.

"That's why I decided. If I get married in the future, I want to marry someone who will love only me."

"Yeah, that's a good idea. You should be with someone who loves you the most."

I truly believe that.

But I can also understand Kuna's father's feelings. Men want to have many cute girls around them. …In the end, it depends on how the individuals feel.

"Hey, Soji… cough, Soji-kun, the soup at that stall looks delicious. It has meat and vegetables, and it's really nice."

"Kuna, you were about to call me 'wallet,' weren't you?"

"Fa, no, that's not true? Look, let's hurry."

Kuna pulled my hand and led me to the soup stall.

◇

In the end, we bought two large servings of soup, and I gave one to Kuna.

The soup contained chopped vegetables, meat scraps, and chewy wheat balls similar to wontons.

The soup was salt-based, with a good broth from the meat and vegetables, making it quite delicious.

"It's great. This is a cheap and delicious meal made from things that would normally be thrown away."

"Actually, these stalls open as regular shops during the day. So, they dispose of the ingredients they can't use there. The shop owners can use their free time, and the materials are cheap because they would be thrown away. Early morning explorers of the underground labyrinth appreciate the cheap and nutritious meals."

I shared this trivia while drinking the soup.

I know this world better than Japan now because I've lived here for so long.

"That's great. If I get into the knight school, I want to leave early in the morning, drink this soup, and go to the underground labyrinth. It feels like an explorer, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, if you pass, let's go together. And this."

I put 10,000 bal in Kuna's hand.

"What's this?"

"Without cash, it's inconvenient, right? It's better to have it."

"No, I can't take it!"

"Who said I was giving it to you?"

"Huh?"

"I'm just lending it to you. It increases by 10% every ten days, so be careful."

"Such a high interest rate! That means it will double in about two months!"

"If you don't like it, pass the exam as a special student and start making money in the underground labyrinth."

"I definitely won't pass. …If I do, I'll end up having my tail petted to pay off the debt."

"That's quite healthy."

"Where? My tail! It will be petted!?"

While we were having this silly conversation, we arrived at the front of the knight school.

It seemed that the registration for the entrance exam was being accepted until today.

"Wow, there are so many people, Soji-kun."

The registration area had dedicated seats set up in the courtyard, and about fifty people were already lined up.

"Usually, about five hundred people apply."

"Even with the age limit of sixteen and under, that many people come? I'm surprised. In my hometown, there were only about thirty kids my age."

"People come from all over to fulfill their dreams. It's like that."

"By the way, there are only three special student slots. How many regular slots are there?"

"I think there are a hundred slots for nobles and fifty for commoners."

"There are more slots for nobles. Even though there are far fewer of them."

"Nobles receive training from a young age and buy magic stones to increase their power, so there are many excellent people. They are also well-mannered and educated. Commoners usually get a license and dive without attending the knight school. In most cases, they can't use magic well and lack the know-how, so they either earn small amounts in the shallow layers or die in the deeper layers."

"This is a class society…"

It seems that the academic subjects are included to weed out people.

History, magic, and math. You can't take the exam unless you come from a wealthy and educated family. Explorers need intelligence and knowledge. If only physical strength was required, the number of applicants would be three times as many.

We finished the registration and started to prepare to go home when we heard whispers.

"Look, there she is."

"Yeah, from that fallen family?"

"I heard she was going to apply here, but is she really coming?"

"Even though she's from a noble family, isn't it embarrassing to apply as a commoner?"

In the midst of these whispers, a girl walked up.

She was wearing what must have been very nice clothes, but they were dirty and frayed, making her look disheveled.

Her silver hair, which must have been beautiful, had lost its luster due to poor nutrition.

The only thing that stood out was the long sword hanging from her waist, which shone out of place.

However, despite her haggard appearance, her expression was dignified, and her walk was graceful.

She was a beautiful girl. I thought so. Kuna is also a beautiful girl, but her cuteness is more prominent, while this girl exuded beauty.

The prospective examinees, who were waiting in line, naturally made way for her.

"I would like to apply as a commoner. My name is Annelotta Oakley."

The receptionist's hand was shaking.

Oakley… I knew that name too.

A great noble family known as the king's right hand and the sword instructor of the royal family.

…But that was in the past. A certain incident occurred, and the family was now called the greatest stain in the kingdom's history, with the head of the family executed.

But I know the truth. That it was a miscarriage of justice, the truth behind it, and why it was necessary to bring down the Oakleys.

"Thank you. Good luck with your work."

"H-Hai."

The girl, who called herself Annelotta, thanked the receptionist and walked away gracefully. The receptionist's face was red, affected by the girl's dignity and charisma.

As Annelotta passed by us, she suddenly stopped and looked at Kuna closely.

"Princess Elsie. Why are you here?"

"Ah, you must be mistaken. I'm just a common, ordinary beautiful fox girl. I think you must have mistaken me for someone with overflowing dignity."

"No, I'm sure it's you. I remember meeting you at a palace party."

"You must be mistaken. I don't know anyone named Annelotta."

"I only allow a select few to call me Annelotta."

"…I'll rephrase. Please ignore my status here. I am here as Kuna. Please understand the reason."

Kuna, unusually serious, said this with a stern voice.

"You have your reasons too, don't you?"

"Exactly. Annelotta, why are you applying as a commoner? If you apply as a noble, it would be easier."

"…I am no longer a noble. I was stripped of my title due to a miscarriage of justice. Even to plead my innocence, I am not heard as a noble. I will become a noble here and restore the honor of the Oakleys."

In other words, to restore the family's name.

In any form, she needs to obtain a noble title to even have a conversation.

The title of honorary noble, which can be obtained by reaching Rank 3 at graduation, is her goal.

"Annelotta. As a friend, I advise you. It's foolish to be bound by your family. Forget about it and think only about your own happiness. It's more meaningful."

Kuna said this almost self-mockingly.

"Indeed, that is correct. But I won't give up. The Oakleys are a part of me."

A tired but proud smile.

I thought she was truly beautiful.

"Annelotta, are you aiming for a special student slot?"

"Yes. I have no money now, so that's my only option. But even without money and status, I still have this sword!"

She smoothly drew the long sword from her waist.

The blade was pure white, and the slight leakage of magic revealed it as a magic sword. …I felt a sense of nostalgia. I once carried this beloved sword.

It's a wonderful sword. But it's not just the sword that's wonderful. She drew and held it, and from that simple action, her skill was evident.

Her words were not about the sword's performance. It was the training she had accumulated to master it. That was the only thing left for her after losing everything.

"I'm also aiming for a special student slot. It's a competition, Annelotta."

"I won't lose. But if possible, I want us both to get into the three special student slots."

"Sure."

Kuna started a sports drama without me.

Annelotta turned her back to us and waved her hand. Every gesture she made was graceful.

We watched her retreating back.

Suddenly, she collapsed as if a string had been cut.

"Annelotta!!"

Kuna's worried voice echoed.