How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 206
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magic Family (206)
“What?”
“What do you mean? Seven people? Up to 7th place is Team 1?”
“All the 3rd years had 6 people. Is this allowed?”
The audience began to stir uncontrollably. All sorts of questions burst forth.
Haike stood frozen with only her eyes wide open.
[Student Haike Einsiedel. Are you not present?]
“….”
[Haike Einsiedel….]
“I’m here.”
From the darkness, Haike rose from her seat and looked at the Professor.
He cleared his throat and spoke calmly.
“Professor, you just called 7th place. You announced that from 7th place would be Team 2, so if there was an error, could you please confirm once more….”
[2nd Year Team 1 consists of 1st place through 7th place, a total of 7 people.]
“Excuse me?”
At such a brazen rule violation, the audience fell silent.
Everyone was looking at Haike and the Professor.
Haike’s face could be seen turning pale even from a distance.
Despite making it into Team 1 that everyone had hoped for, she didn’t look happy at all.
“….”
[Student Einsiedel, please come up.]
“Professor, I’m satisfied with Team 2. I don’t understand why I, who placed 7th, should enter Team 1.”
[This is a matter decided through a meeting between the faculty of the Empire’s 2nd Educational Institute and 1st Educational Institute’s Magic Department. If you cannot accept the decided matter, our faculty must exclude you from this selection exam.]
‘Hah.’
Exclusion? This wasn’t a joke, and after completing all three rounds, there was no way she could accept that.
Haike, who had been staring blankly at the Professor with her mouth open, walked out slowly as if possessed by a ghost.
Looking to the side, all the team members were soaked in confusion.
“…Suddenly 7 people?”
“We’re getting one more team member?”
I couldn’t help but be confused as well.
I alternately stared at the Professor and Haike Einsiedel’s faces.
The regulation that had been firmly established a month ago was broken with a single word.
The school’s whim was excessive. Proceeding this way in a place with about 1,500 students and even Empire newspaper journalists would gradually undermine the credibility of the rankings the school had given so far and all decisions they would make in the future.
Of course, this one thing wouldn’t completely create distrust, but….
There was one concerning point.
‘Why Haike Einsiedel of all people?’
What was the reason the school forced Haike Einsiedel into Team 1 while bearing the burden?
His unique ability to read the memories and history of objects was excellent.
However, he hadn’t been trained and raised specializing in unique abilities like Auguste, nor did he possess exceptionally outstanding skills like Ulrike that would make him seem absolutely necessary to the team.
Rather, if they really needed to insert a student from the remaining 18 students into Team 1, it would seem more appropriate for Auguste to take this position.
Similar sounds could be heard from other students watching from the audience.
“…Does that kid have the skills for Team 1? Why go this far?”
“Who is that? I don’t know that kid.”
“That kid was 10th place in the last exam.”
“If they’re going to add someone, wouldn’t Hildegard and Auguste be better? Why…?”
Countless whispers reached my ears at a volume I could occasionally understand.
Haike came up on stage with a frozen expression.
We were equally bewildered, and due to the audience’s negative reaction, it wasn’t an atmosphere for small talk, so only silence continued in this space.
The host confirmed that Haike had stood next to Ulrike, then casually drew his wand and thrust it into the air. Letters began to be written in golden magic power.
[ 2nd Year 1-3 / 3rd Year 2-4 / 3rd Year 1-3 / 1st Year 1-3 / 1st Year 2-4 / 2nd Year 2-4 ]
The exam we took was written at the front.
[This Student Military Corps final selection exam was conducted identically for all students from 1st to 3rd year. The list now being shown is the final ranking calculated by combining the scores of each exam. In this exam, the 2nd Year 1-3 team showed the most excellent abilities throughout the Empire’s 2nd Educational Institute, and each member’s individual abilities were all outstanding. Therefore, our school judged that lowering the completeness of the 2nd Year Team 1 due to existing personnel limitation regulations would be regrettable for safety reasons, and decided to exceptionally expand the 2nd Year final successful candidates from a total of 18 to 19 people. Therefore, the total final successful candidates for all grades including 2nd Year Team 1 is 19 people, and we inform you that Team 2 was selected as 6 people without any vacancies.]
With Haike joining Team 1, one more student got an opportunity. Thanks to this, the expressions of the 2nd year exam participants became much more relaxed.
Yes, I understood well that the bonus point team had essentially become Team 1.
But why go this far? That question still remained unsolved.
“….”
I looked at the numerous audience seats that surrounded this hall in a circle.
The other 1,500 students excluding the 2nd year exam participants still had unconvinced faces.
Someone raised their hand and spoke in a loud voice.
“Professor! The Student Military Corps selection numbers were definitely announced a month ago. You said you considered safety, but Team 1 is composed of students skilled enough to face 4th-grade rampagers, so I think six people are sufficient. Especially since 3rd Year Team 1 also wasn’t six people, was it?”
The Professor paid no attention to the audience’s expression and words, which were even somewhat aggressive.
[Our school judged that the unique ability of Student Haike Einsiedel from the 2nd Year 1-3 team, specifically Team 1, could be usefully utilized in the field, and placed the student in Team 1 considering their excellent situational judgment and combat magic skills.]
Behind where the Professor and we stood, exam footage prepared by the school began to play.
It was a scene of Haike casting sound-blocking magic and speaking to Leo.
When I was caught by Leo’s vines and lying face-down on the street, Haike was telling Leo something that was half wrong and half right.
Of course, even if it was half wrong, if Leo had followed his advice, it would have been a good result for Team 1.
‘Did they focus on this? No… Other students could make this level of reasoning too.’
This definitely wasn’t it.
There had to be another reason.
The school finished the announcement immediately after the video ended, without any additional explanation.
[Objections will be received at the 1st Educational Institute’s Student Military Corps Management Bureau. We send praise to the 7 students who achieved the most excellent results, from Student Lucas Ascanien to Student Haike Einsiedel. We hope you will do your best for the safety of the citizens as the face of the Empire’s 2nd Educational Institute going forward. With this, we conclude the 2nd Year Team 1 announcement.]
“Hah, no way….”
Between the applause loud enough to make ears sting, confused muttering could be heard.
The Professor began calling Team 2.
[Now for 2nd Year Team 2, 8th place. Auguste Rosenheim.]
After that, familiar names were called in succession.
Melvin Klockner, Hildegard Blomberg, Philip Goering, Oswald Schmidt, Gunter Bock.
As soon as Philip’s name was called for the same team, Melvin was practically dying. I waited for the announcement time to end while avoiding Melvin, who was emitting an ominous aura from behind, as much as possible.
Team 3 included Florian.
After the 2nd year announcement passed, 1st Year Teams 1 through 3 were announced.
Adelbert’s final ranking was 2nd place.
Having come back down to the audience, I responded to him instead of Elias, who was looking at his cousin with an indifferent face without even clapping.
Adelbert, who had been frozen with tension, smiled and slightly wiggled his fingertips.
“Adelbert is waving at you, Luca~”
“I saw.”
“Aren’t you getting too close?”
“Maybe. It’s good to get close.”
“Ah, no way. Luca shouldn’t get close to guys like that. Among the Hohenzollerns, only play with me~”
Elias put his arm on my shoulder and leaned his body left and right.
Guys like that. I should be more wary of the eldest son than that guy. Although that eldest son is trying to get close to me.
When I deflected with laughter, Elias smiled and changed the subject.
“You know we’re getting new dormitories too? We don’t wear school uniforms anymore and get fitted for different clothes.”
“Wow, where did you hear that~?”
Narke, who was sitting next to us, lit up.
“The 1st Educational Institute’s Student Military Corps Management Bureau. They already had a student corps there.”
“Hmm… That’s quite a waste of resources. Do all teams get that?”
“Hahaha! I don’t know that much, but the resource waste is definitely real. This is copying the Imperial Court mages. Even though it’s just a school.”
That’s right.
The mage organization Hyung belonged to was also under the Imperial Court.
Mages with outstanding abilities operate bound together in the Emperor’s name.
Entering under the Imperial Court is a once-in-a-lifetime advancement and honor for a mage. Of course, it doesn’t apply to me, but that’s how it’s generally regarded. Everyone goes to university trying to get in here.
Naturally, the Imperial 2nd Education Institute Student Military Corps is only affiliated with the school, not the Imperial Court.
Even the Imperial 1st Education Institute isn’t affiliated with the Imperial Court, so what’s the point.
“So… what do you think about Haike?”
Elias cast a sound-blocking spell around Narke and me as he spoke.
It was a topic I’d been thinking about ever since the school crushed all the students’ protests—or rather, complaints that weren’t quite protests.
“It feels fishy. You think so too, Luca.”
“…”
I nodded.
The school’s excuse wasn’t very convincing.
Haike’s unique ability has high utility in the field?
The same goes for Auguste. What about Philip and Oswald?
Why did the school have to put Haike in Team 1, even making vague excuses? Why Team 1 and not Team 2? Why coincidentally Haike ‘Ainsiedel’?
Narke, who was sitting next to me, spoke quietly.
“I don’t think it’s a natural situation either.”
“…”
“Still… let’s be cautious but not make it too obvious. Haike is confused because she doesn’t know anything either.”
Right. Haike had been looking unusually dejected after receiving such blatant criticism, and now she’s hunched over far back in the rear rows.
No one would be mentally sound after receiving jeers—well, it wasn’t quite that, but it certainly seemed that way to the person involved—from 1,500 people.
‘If even Narke says that… there’s nothing to gain from pressuring Haike, so I should comfort her for now.’
[…This concludes the final announcement for the 1st class of the 2nd Education Institute Student Military Corps.]
“Hey, is it over now?!”
Elias seemed restless and prepared to bolt from his seat immediately.
Even though the announcement was over, we’d still have to go through all sorts of long procedures to leave.
In this announcement hall where tension had been thick throughout, he didn’t seem particularly nervous, perhaps because he was in such a strong position for Team 1 admission. The same went for me and the other friends.
‘Everyone’s sitting there looking like they just finished some task.’
Meanwhile, the Team 2 and Team 3 students looked like they’d barely survived.
[Finally, we will announce the representative mage team for the 1st class of the Imperial 2nd Education Institute Student Military Corps.]
“Huh?”
“…Hmm?”
Elias, who had been gripping the armrests with both hands ready to bolt, quietly settled his bottom back into his seat.
[Today, a total of 9 mage teams were born in this place. Our faculty has comprehensively evaluated the results from the 1st to 3rd examinations and selected the mage team with the qualities and capabilities to represent the face of the Imperial 2nd Education Institute and the foundation among the 9 teams.]
“Why would they do such a thing?”
Even as he said this, Elias’s gaze was seriously fixed on the announcer.
Julia and Leo, who seemed slightly flustered, were the same.
Far away, I made eye contact with the seniors sitting in the 3rd year admission section. Richthofen looked at us with an indifferent expression before turning his head away.
The announcer who came to the center of the stage looked at the note in his hand once, then looked at the audience.
[2nd Year Team 1, the Imperial 2nd Education Institute representative team.]
“…”
An employee standing in the aisle gestured for us to come up.
Surprisingly, Elias, who had been acting like he’d flee the announcement hall at any moment, was the first to stand up and head to the stage.
When Leo led our newly formed team members up to the stage, I brought Haike, who was half-dead at the back of the rear seats, and took her up to the stage with me.
After confirming everyone was in place, the professor looked around at us and spoke.
[Although all grades took the same examination, no team achieved the highest results in such a short time. The meticulous strategy and actions you students showed our faculty during the examination could not have been accomplished without your constant effort, patience, and dedication. With your excellent knowledge and outstanding capabilities, you will be able to wisely overcome any challenge in the future.]
I don’t know where they get such sleep-inducing platitudes.
As I thought this, the professor looked at me.
[Student Lucas Ascanien.]
“Yes.”
[Despite learning magic for the shortest period, we pay our respects to the abilities of the student who led the team to victory and completed the examination in the shortest time among all grades. Our Imperial 2nd Education Institute believes without doubt that the student will become a mage who brings glory not only to our school but to the Empire and Imperial Court.]
“…Thank you, Professor.”
I have to bring glory to the Imperial Court too?
I smiled while thinking this.
[Therefore, our foundation wishes to entrust the position of representative of the Imperial 2nd Education Institute representative team to Student Ascanien.]
“…”
Hm?
All the team members’ gazes focused on me at once.
Of course, it wasn’t just the team members. Having momentarily lost my words, I slowly opened my mouth, conscious of the gazes of about 1,500 people and the small shutter sounds of the Imperial Newspaper cameras.
“I sincerely thank you for this honorable proposal.”
I continued while making eye contact with the professor.
“However, I would like to give this opportunity to another student. I believe Student Leonard, who has led his friends for a longer time than I have, can lead our 2nd Year Team 1 more excellently.”
“…”
[Student Leonard, what do you think?]
Leo glanced at me and nodded.
“I’ll follow the team members’ opinions.”
“I agree.”
Elias said quickly.
His tone sounded like he was hurrying in case some troublesome problem might come his way.
“All the other team members’ opinions will be the same. Right?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, that’s good.”
Ulrike and Cheringen nodded and answered. The other students also looked at the professor as if asking why he was asking again, since they naturally intended to leave it to Leo.
Leo was smiling somewhat ambiguously for some reason, but since it was something he always did, he didn’t seem to have any particular resistance.
I watched this scene with satisfaction and looked at the professor.
‘That’s a relief.’
What kind of position…
Representative? It’s best to have someone else do such troublesome things, not me.
[Very well. From now on, we understand that Student Leonard Wittelsbach will represent 2nd Year Team 1. Please work hard for the team.]
“Yes, I will.”
[Next…]
It’s not over yet.
I emptied my thoughts and stared into space.
Then, the professor said something unexpected.
[At the end of the long examination, you have finally become able to greatly contribute to your future and the Empire. We will announce the name of the representative team that will represent our school and protect the Empire’s safety.]
“…?”
I exchanged glances with the team members.
I was somewhat surprised when they selected a representative team, but I accepted it. But they even came up with a name? Of course, they need to come up with a name to call us, but this suddenly?
‘…Is there something they didn’t tell us?’
They wouldn’t make such pointless waste.
Just as I was beginning to have such suspicions, the professor changed his wand to a staff and lightly tapped the floor.
Just like how announcements had been made so far, golden letters were written in cursive in the air.
[Eszett]
“…?!”
“Huh?”
My friends’ expressions were quite a sight. Probably everyone sitting in the audience had expressions worth seeing.
I too had to suppress a laugh that was about to escape.
Eszett, ß.
A letter that exists only in the German alphabet.
‘What kind of naming sense is this.’
It sounds like saying “From now on, your team name is Hieut.”
Of course, the pronunciation wasn’t bad to our ears, but the initial shock when first seeing it was unavoidable.
[This is a unique character used only in our linguistic region. We named it with the hope that our school’s representative 2nd year Team 1 would become a one-of-a-kind existence in the entire world.]
“Is anyone going to ask why they put that kind of sentiment in there?”
Elias cast a sound-blocking spell and used ventriloquism.
I ignored Elias’s nonsense and stared at the letters with empty eyes.
‘Why do we even need a team name in the first place…’
Right, as I thought earlier, we can’t keep calling ourselves 2nd year Team 1, 2nd year Team 2 forever.
The Imperial Court and Bavaria also have special mage teams that possess their own names alongside their numbered designations. Similarly, the team Hyung belongs to has a name too.
‘It does mean the School intends to treat us properly.’
19 out of 100 people. And among those, only 7.
We went through difficult tests to get here, so it makes sense.
The moment I thought that, I heard another unbelievable statement.
[Starting February 10th, Eszett is scheduled to transfer from being under the Imperial 2nd Education Institute to being under the Imperial Court.]
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
