Chapter 46

[Later] posts are also planned for today.

Thank you.

In Ishtarka, there are many schools and private cram schools.

Among them, when it comes to which one is at the top, the Royal Kingsland Academy is always mentioned.

The exam for this school is said to be far beyond the level an 8-year-old can take, and it is a very selective process.

The number of students is so few that it would be easier to count from the bottom among the many schools. However, in terms of the school's land area, it is one of the largest, and the facilities are well-equipped.

The Ishtarka royal family invests private funds, and the high education level is maintained through donations and other means.

Each grade consists of 100 students, with five classes and four classes having 25 students each, and three classes and two classes having 20 students each. ... And the first class has only 10 students.

Even if one is in the fifth class, it can be said that their future career path is guaranteed. If one can advance to the third class or higher, it is not an impossible dream to become an important figure in Ishtarka's future.

And if one can enter the first class, they will likely be recognized by the state even during their school years. Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that many students work hard to the point of risking their lives to advance.

However, there are also those who, like the ones having this conversation, enjoy their school life with a certain degree of ease.

"So, Roland, you want to work for a state-run development agency?"

"Yeah, yeah. But eventually, I want to use that technology to create something big, like... well, something like the White King, a large-scale project."

The White King is the name of the warship passed down through the generations of Ishtarka kings.

The latest technologies are deployed without hesitation, and much of its mechanisms are classified as top secret.

"Ah, the king's ship... Indeed, it's a dream."

"I hope I can be involved when Aine-sama has his own dedicated ship."

"Alright. Then let's make a promise. In the future, Roland, you'll be involved with my ship, okay?"

"Huh!? Well, I did say I'd be happy if I could be involved now, but..."

Aine, not wanting to be treated too formally by his classmates, asked Roland to be more relaxed with him at school.

However, Roland, being the crown prince, could not possibly call Aine by his first name.

While he could adjust his tone, he refused to drop the honorific "sama."

"But, I really like Roland's ideas about magic devices. They're new, and I'm really looking forward to them because they seem very convenient."

Being involved in the development of a warship like the White King, which is crucial to the country, is a dream for developers. However, from Roland's and a typical developer's perspective, the White King is developed using monstrous technology. The developers possess knowledge, development skills, and creativity far beyond their own.

"...It's a big confidence boost to hear that from Aine-sama."

"There's still plenty of time. I won't have my own ship for a while, and even if you can't be involved from the start, the facilities can always be upgraded later. So I believe Roland will do something for me."

Roland's ideas for magic devices were similar to the technology from Aine's past life, a world he had almost forgotten.

He was given a specific problem during the entrance exam.

"Currently, in Ishtarka, there are several issues with the water trains. The biggest problem is the laying of tracks. Although they are laid in ideal locations and many routes run across the continent of Ishtar, it is not enough to aim for further cultural advancement and development. However, it is difficult to simply increase the number of tracks due to land issues. Propose a solution to break this status quo."

When Aine heard this from Roland, he thought, "Is this school crazy?"

It was not a problem that should be given to 8-year-old children. Asking for a solution to break this status quo seemed unreasonable. But at that moment, Aine thought, "Did Roland clear this problem to get into the school?"

Curious, Aine urged Roland to continue and heard his answer.

Roland's proposal was to attack the problem from a completely different angle. At the exam site, he designed and proposed a magic device to safely dig underground. He also added a plan to reinforce the walls of the dug tunnels.

After that, he proposed to develop new routes using these tunnels. This conclusion helped him pass the exam.

Now, Roland admits that his proposal had significant flaws, especially in terms of cost. The development of the magic device was expected to be too expensive, making it impractical, he said.

Still, the idea of digging huge tunnels underground and using them was a bright spot in the eyes of the examiners.

The entrance exam for the liberal arts subjects at the Royal Kingsland Academy is designed such that the results are announced a few days later. This was different from the martial arts subjects.

During this period, Roland's proposal was sent to the national development agency for review.

While the proposal had many flaws, its potential and future prospects were highly evaluated by the excellent researchers. Although Roland himself was unaware, the development agency already recognized him as a promising young talent.

"Hmm... Yeah, if I give up now as a developer, that would be bad."

"Yeah, that's why I'm waiting."

Aine will not have his own dedicated ship for a while. Therefore, considering this, there is a significant opportunity for Roland. Aine was looking forward to Roland being involved in the development of his ship, his first friend at the school.

"Got it. I'll be waiting, Aine-sama. Oh, Aine-sama, Dill-senpai is here to pick you up."

Dill, a sixth-year student in the first class, came to pick up Aine.

It was past 3 PM, and Dill, who had just finished a class he needed to attend, hurried to Aine.

"Hey, Dill. Thanks for today."

"Aine-sama, I kept you waiting. Roland-kun, thank you for spending time with Aine-sama."

"N-no, no... It's an honor to be able to talk with Aine-sama."

Dill knew Roland well. In fact, Aine didn't know, but Dill had detailed information about his classmates, which Warren had investigated.

This information was necessary for safety and in case of emergencies. Dill also had a good impression of Roland's character through their direct conversations.

"It helps to hear that. ...Shall we go, Aine-sama?"

"Got it. See you, Roland. See you tomorrow!"

"Highness, see you tomorrow."

Aine said not to worry, but Roland still spoke a bit more formally when Dill, his bodyguard, was around.

"Aine-sama, how was your day?"

"Thanks to the free class system, I could do a lot of things freely. I could even go to the library as much as I wanted."

"That's great to hear."

The first class does not have regular classroom lessons. Students go to available teachers to ask questions or study on their own.

But this is fine for this class. All the students can study on their own and use the school facilities at their own pace, making it the best environment for experiments, research, and self-study.

"By the way, the regular exams are coming up soon. Do you have any problems?"

"To be honest, I don't think I have any problems. The scope of the exam is still within what I studied at the castle."

"Understood. I'm relieved to hear that."

Dill smiled kindly. A nearby female student was captivated by his smile. Unlike his father, Lloyd, Dill had the face of a pure, handsome young man. He was also a top-class swordsman, making him a perfect heartthrob. His popularity extended even to students from other schools.

"By the way, the school city seems to be getting lively lately. Is something happening?"

"...Yes, there is indeed a major event."

"What is it? I haven't heard about it."

"The Inter-School Competition is coming up. It gradually turns into a festival atmosphere."

Aine's heart leaped at the mention of the Inter-School Competition. But what did he mean by "it's not related to us"?

"That sounds really fun! But what do you mean it's not related to us? It's an inter-school competition, right?"

"Yes, Aine-sama is correct... Unfortunately, it's a special measure."

"Special measure? We can't participate?"

"To put it simply, it's due to the skill gap. The competition involves not only martial arts but also many other fields. However, to be frank, the Royal Kingsland Academy is at a very high level. But to completely exclude participation is a problem, so students from the third class and below represent us in the competition."

"Ah, I see... So, it's because the competition wouldn't be fair?"

"I can't say it loudly, but that's correct."

In the unified nation of Ishtarka, where students from all over the continent gather, the Royal Kingsland Academy stands out among the many schools.

Even without the top students participating, the school has consistently achieved significant results, leading to this special measure.

"So, Dill, you've never participated?"

"No, I haven't. Occasionally, I've gone to other schools for exchanges and shown my skills."

"...But?"

"...Well, I received my current position as Aine-sama's bodyguard from the royal family. My father is the current marshal, Lloyd. I have received a lot of training at the castle since I was young!"

"I know... So, how was it?"

"...I think it was probably not very fruitful for either side."

The skill gap was too large, making it meaningless. Aine had also been trained by knights at the castle, but the knights who worked at the royal castle were all elites. For Dill, who was even more elite, his peers were naturally not a match.

"Alright, I get it. But what about the competition? Can we watch it?"

"If Aine-sama wishes."

"I see. I might want to go watch it."

"Understood. I'll let Chris-sama know as well."

The Inter-School Competition, where many people gather, requires a higher level of security than within the school. Therefore, Chris will likely accompany Aine as a bodyguard.

The conversation continued until they met up with Chris.

Apparently, Dill's childhood friend, a boy, is participating. He entered a knight training school and has been out of touch since then. Dill mentioned that