# Chapter 35
—
Arthur tilted his head in thought.
No matter how hard he thought about it, there was no right answer among the multiple-choice options.
*‘They said it would be a simple common-sense question… What is this?’*
He had planned to at least pick something close to the right answer, but there wasn’t even that.
As he hesitated, on the verge of asking a question, a line of text written at the bottom of the test sheet suddenly caught his eye.
**\[If you believe there is no correct answer, please provide a written response.]**
Arthur, who had been about to raise his hand, quietly lowered it and muttered.
*‘So it was a trap. Judging from the very first question, this isn’t going to be a light test, is it?’*
With a smirk tugging at his lips, Arthur picked up his pen and began writing swiftly.
The proctor, watching him, tilted his head.
*‘What’s this? No need to write so seriously for the first question…’*
Though curious, the proctor soon shrugged. It wasn’t his concern what answers were written down.
Meanwhile, Arthur, who ended up writing out all five personality questions in essay form, checked off the rest of the exam as multiple choice and smiled.
*‘Aside from the personality section, this is easy. Guess only the first question was a trap.’*
Confidently submitting his paper, Arthur wrapped up his first day at the university.
And the very next day—
The entire faculty of Arcane University convened an emergency meeting.
Because, for the first time ever, a student had failed the personality test.
—
—
Arcane University was hailed as the greatest institution of learning on the continent.
Its prestige was matched by its faculty, who were equally illustrious.
For instance, every professor of magic was someone acknowledged as a true magician—having devoted at least fifty years solely to the study of magic.
And now—
Those same “greatest faculty” of Arcane were gathered together, staring grimly at a single test paper.
The reason was none other than the first-ever student to fail the personality test.
“This is quite a serious issue!”
The first to speak was a sharp-eyed professor.
“If he had just marked the wrong choice, that would be one thing. But the fact that he wrote such detailed answers means this student *genuinely believes* what he wrote is correct!”
“…”
“On top of that, he answered every other common-sense question correctly without a single mistake. If he had written all his answers in this style, perhaps it could be excused. But to do so *only* for the personality questions—doesn’t that strike you as strange?”
At those words, the professors’ gazes dropped to the paper on the table.
There lay the test sheet, covered with lengthy written explanations.
**\[By principle, prisoners of war should be used for negotiations of life and death. However, if the tide of battle is turning against us, there is no need to follow principle. The value of a prisoner shines only during war, and the information they provide…]**
The first line began logically enough.
But what followed revealed just how the student viewed human dignity and life itself.
**\[Lives lost after war. Lives lost during war. And when defeat comes, the countless consequences that follow. When calculated, it becomes clear—victory must be secured by any means necessary, sparing no method.]**
A cold, rationalist perspective that treated human lives as numbers.
The kind of iron-blooded thinking attributed to emperors with the epithet “Steel-blooded”—yet here it was, written by a mere seventeen-year-old boy.
Thus, while the sharp-eyed professor’s words had sounded harsh, they were not without merit.
“This student doesn’t need higher education—he needs *basic* education! No matter how gifted he is, talent only has meaning when accompanied by proper common sense!”
Another professor responded.
“Professor Norse, do you even know where this student is from?”
“Of course. House Bayern, isn’t it?”
“And despite that, you propose we reject his admission? We’re talking about the greatest house in the Empire—second only to the Emperor himself. If word of this spreads, Arcane will be accused of trying to oppose the Empire.”
At this, Norse frowned but fell silent. One by one, the other professors also began to voice their thoughts.
The debate centered on whether to accept a student who had written such an answer.
Some argued it was only a light test, so what was the harm? Others insisted it was a matter too grave to overlook.
Just as the tension threatened to escalate further—
The Headmaster, *Archmage* Heins Freya, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
“Hmm… perhaps it’s time we sorted this out.”
“……”
“In my view, rejecting a student based on a personality test is not right. After all, he passed every other common-sense question flawlessly, and above all—this child is of House Bayern.”
Several professors nodded at that.
“Indeed. Rejecting a Bayern child? Impossible.”
“That would break centuries of tradition.”
Seeing their reactions, Heins turned his gaze.
“Professor Norse, I understand your concerns. But this time, let us move forward.”
“…Understood, Headmaster.”
Hearing this, Heins declared:
“Arthur Bayern’s admission is hereby approved! This meeting is adjourned!”
—
—
The day after the entrance ceremony.
Arthur stared at the notification letter that had arrived at his mansion.
**\[Formal course selection will take place in one week, in the main hall. Until then, you may freely participate in various activities designed to help students adapt to campus life…]**
Arthur folded the letter halfway through reading it and set it down on his desk.
“Hm… none of that applies to me.”
The only reason he had enrolled was to prove his qualifications as heir of the ducal house.
He had no intention of wasting time on friendly mixers.
*‘Well, now I’ve suddenly got free time. What should I do for a week?’*
The best option, of course, was to gather new bloodlines.
Though he had already collected five, the balance among them was unstable.
For instance, the abilities of the Frakil bloodline and the Tacen bloodline interfered with each other when used together.
*‘Both are focused on physical reinforcement, but the Frakil bloodline gets swallowed up by the Tacen bloodline…’*
The greatest strength of Bayern bloodline was its perfect balance between offense and defense.
Arthur had no reason to let that advantage go to waste. Thus, he decided to seek out another bloodline.
Fortunately, there was a promising one nearby.
*‘One of Arcane’s satellite villages—Boris Village.’*
In Boris, he recalled, there was a killer with quite a unique bloodline.
Lightning.
A power allowing mastery over a natural force that ordinary humans could neither feel nor touch.
*‘If I can obtain it, it’s the best choice for now. Especially since I can’t yet wield aura, it’ll fill the gap in my strength…’*
Having made up his mind, Arthur prepared at once.
Though “prepared” was a strong word—Boris Village was only an hour away by Arcane’s train.
If he found the killer quickly, he could be back in a day.
Thus, the very next day, Arthur bought his ticket at the station.
“Fifty silver.”
“Here.”
The clerk handed him the ticket, and Arthur went to wait for the train.
Wooong—!
The roar of Arcane’s emblematic train filled the station.
Arthur, as always, marveled at the sight.
For all its size and weight, how could such a massive lump of steel run so fast?
*‘They say it runs on a magical engine device… Just how much mana must it consume?’*
As he mused, he happened to glance at the train that had stopped on the opposite platform.
At that moment, Undine, who had grown too large to perch on his shoulder, tugged at his hand.
**\[Arthur, Arthur! Look over there!]**
“Hm? Over there?”
**\[Yes! It’s Jeannie, it’s Jeannie!]**
Arthur’s eyes widened.
Indeed, in the direction Undine pointed, he spotted a familiar back.
“Oh… it really is.”
**\[Go say hi! Why not?]**
“Say hi?”
**\[Traveling together is more fun when it’s with someone you know.]**
Arthur stroked his chin.
He wasn’t sure about fun, but he was curious.
*‘What kind of reward did Jeannie get? And why did she accept that commission in the first place?’*
From what Arthur had seen, Jeannie had an overwhelming desire to survive.
People like that usually avoided dangerous work. So why was she a mercenary—and why had she taken on that request?
Unable to contain his curiosity, Arthur walked over.
Startled, Jeannie, who had been spacing out while holding her luggage, flinched.
“Silph? What kind of joke is that? Why would that lunatic be here…”
“Lunatic?”
“…?”
“Jeannie-ssi, do you know that lunatic too?”
Jeannie’s thick hair quivered—right where her ears would be.
Arthur, amused by the unexpected reaction, smiled faintly.
“…Sir Donn?”
“Yes, it’s Donn.”
“What are you… doing here?”
“Well, we’re at a station, aren’t we? To board a train, of course.”
Jeannie turned her head away.
The upward tilt of her eyes looked painfully forced.
“Ha ha! What a coincidence… Surely you’re not going to Boris Village, are you?”
Arthur replied casually.
“Hm? Actually, I am going to Boris Village.”
“….”
“Jeannie-ssi, are you going there too?”
Jeannie’s face hardened instantly.
Biting her lips, she suddenly muttered under her breath.
“…Fuck.”
“…?”
“Ah, sorry. I’m the type who swears when I’m in a good mood.”
Arthur let out an impressed laugh.
“What a peculiar habit, Jeannie-ssi.”
“Right? But… why did you come over here?”
“Well, I spotted someone I knew. And… since we’re headed to the same place, why not sit together?”
“Sit together…?”
“Our destinations match, and besides—I had some questions for you. You know how boring train rides can be.”
Jeannie’s eyes twitched faintly.
Arthur, not noticing, waited patiently for an answer.
Finally, after a tense silence, Jeannie forced out a reply.
“…But if our seats are different, we can’t sit together.”
“Where are you?”
“Seat B-21.”
“Oh. I’m B-22.”
“….”
“Guess it was fate we’d meet anyway, huh?”
Jeannie’s eyes welled with tears.
Arthur, startled, asked in alarm:
“Eh? Jeannie-ssi? Why are you crying all of a sudden…?”
“I’m just so happy to see Donn-nim again.”
“…You’re *that* happy to see me?”
Instead of answering, Jeannie gave a strained smile.
*‘Happy, my ass! You lunatic!’*
Arthur, meanwhile, smiled as well.
*‘I didn’t think Jeannie-ssi liked me this much. Well, I did save her life back then, so maybe that’s it…’*
Just then, the sound of the incoming train rumbled through the station.
The train to Boris Village had arrived.
Arthur turned his head, about to say something to Jeannie as they boarded—
When suddenly, beyond Jeannie’s shoulder—
A face he had never expected to see came into view.
“…Huh?”
Arthur instinctively reached for the hilt at his waist, muttering in shock.
“That person… Why are they here?”
—
