"I will watch over him," Cloten replied with a deep bow. "Let's go inside, Luka." The nobleman followed his pupil into the cabin, and the door closed behind him.
The coachman signaled for the horses to move. The family carriage began to roll away from the mansion with a half-dozen knights on horseback surrounding the vehicle.
"It's a half day's ride to Tirli City. Please take a nap. I'll let you know when we arrive," Lord Evans said.
"Okay," the teenager nodded. He pulled Bel and Gripper out of storage before closing his eyes. While Luka didn't expect another assassination attempt during this journey, he wanted them to watch his back.
Luka had spent the last five weeks studying for the test, and he felt confident in achieving a high score. Thus, he didn't feel the need to engage in last-minute cramming.
Lord Evans arranged for Luka's departure the day before the exam, and they will spend a night in a hotel that catered to upper-class nobles. The tutor used his vast social connections to reserve rooms for his party because all the noble families with children taking the test tried to make similar arrangements. Thus, the demand for rooms far outstripped supply.
Cloten paid a hefty deposit of 1,000 gold coins to secure separate rooms for himself and his charge, plus two more for their escorts. Although the lord considered putting the bodyguards in a cheaper place to save money, Cloten rejected this idea because he wanted the knights closeby to protect his protégé.
During this journey, a pack of fifteen wolves appeared on the road. But the knights killed several of them quickly and drove off the rest. No bandits showed up to intercept the carriage, but a knight patrol did pass by once. These guards recognized the Heavensfell emblem on the carriage and saluted; they didn't dare to stop the vehicle for an inspection despite having the legal right to do so.
The Royal Academy was in Tirli City within the northern part of the Morninglory Archduchy. The city became lively with out-of-town visitors seeking to take the entrance exam. The academy required candidates to reach at least fifteen years old and did not discriminate due to candidates' race, background, or countries of origin. Thus, beastmen and demons intermingled with humans within the streets and inside shops. However, not a single elf was around.
The coachman drove slowly on the busy road and eventually stopped in front of a five-story stone building. Above its entrance was a sign which read, "The Princely Abode."
Lord Evans patted Luka's shoulder and said, "We're here."
The pupil stretched his arms and shoulders. Luka followed his teacher out of the cabin and entered the hotel. His initial impression upon seeing the front lobby? Luxurious. He stared at an expensive-looking crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. A lush, red carpet covered the entire floor while paintings of nature decorated the walls. Next to the reception desk was a rest area filled with coffee tables and leather chairs.
Some nobles already filled those seats while looking bored. They occasionally glanced impatiently at the servants waiting to check-in at the reception desk.
Luka sat in an empty chair and brought Bel and Gripper out of storage. The rabbit sat on the teenager's lap while the gorilla stood behind his contractor like a bodyguard. The six guards stood in a parabola to surround the trio and drew attention from the other guests.
Luka noticed the hard but impolite stare of a girl sitting across the table and smiled. She wore a bright yellow dress adorned with lace and trimmings and a gold necklace around her thin, pale neck. Her shiny, golden hair had drills at the end in the fashion of aristocrats. Her haughty look marred her pretty face. "I'll give you ten gold for your pet rabbit!"
"Bel is my magical familiar, and he's not for sale," Luka explained in a polite tone of voice while groaning inwardly.
[This kid has good taste!] Bel's floppy ears flapped happily. [But I think she wants me as her dress-up doll. No, thank you!] The rabbit turned around to show his tail. Pooh! He farted in her direction!
"Eew!" The girl lept out of her seat and angrily pointed her finger at Luka! "We're not staying under the same roof as this boor! Hmph!" She stomped out of the inn, followed by her two attendants.
"You shouldn't prank her like that," Luka admonished. He created a gust of wind via magic to disperse the foul odor.
[I need to find entertainment somehow.] The demon smirked.
"Hoot!" Gripper agreed wholeheartedly with his boss.
Lord Evans shook his head. He heard the commotion but declined to intervene. The noble continued to wait in line at the reception desk. Typically, his butler would perform this task, but Cloten left Lartius to watch his house in Erz City.
Also, he didn't want to reduce Luka's protection by making a knight wait on Cloten's behalf. Thus, the lord did it himself. A few minutes later, Cloten reached the front counter. "I have a reservation for four rooms under the Heavensfell family," he said.
The innkeeper checked her reservation book and confirmed this information. The middle-aged woman retrieved four keys and placed them on the desk. "Each key has its room number. Your guest rooms are on the top floor. Thank you for choosing The Princely Abode, and please enjoy your stay," she said and gave a deep bow to the nobleman.
Cloten nodded as he took the keys. He walked away from the desk, turned toward Luka, and pointed at the staircase.
Luka quickly left his seat and followed his teacher as the group moved in single file to climb the stairs. Since he was in excellent shape, Luka had no difficulty walking up five flights. Moreover, he received a nice reward for his troubles: the best guest suite in the entire building!
When Luka explored his suite, he saw a room decorated similarly to the front lobby. The lavishly furnished guestroom had a crystal chandelier, an oversized bed with enough space for four adults, a study desk with a bookshelf next to a window, leather sofas with seating for six around a long coffee table, a small kitchen, a walk-in closet, and a washroom with a full-sized bathtub.
Luka thought this place was more like an apartment and felt awed at the prospect of staying here for a few days. The mage used his Spatial Sense to confirm his suspicion: this suite took up half the floor space! He turned around and looked at Cloten, who had followed him. "This guestroom is too big for me," Luka complained and shook his head.
The teacher laughed. "You are the heir of the Heavensfell duke family, the second most powerful aristocratic house within the kingdom. This room is the most suitable for you. If you take a smaller room, people will gossip and question your noble pride. Also, do you remember noblesse oblige? Your financial obligation requires you to rent the most expensive room available in this establishment. That's why your head butler did not bat an eye when he handed me the funds required as a deposit to reserve our rooms."
"After the exam, we will stay for two additional days and wait for the public release of test results. So it behooves us to find the most comfortable room for you to stay." Cloten waved his arms. "This place will suit your needs perfectly. However, the duchess expressly forbids you from bringing girls here," he teased.
"I won't do that!" Luka huffed as his ears turned red. "Besides, Bel and Gripper don't help attract girls, either," he noted with a sigh. "Bel just repelled a girl in the waiting room."
The teacher laughed. "You should relax for now. I'll call you when it's suppertime. Be sure to lock the door behind you." Cloten left the suite. In the hallway, he encountered the knights. "I want one of you to stand guard outside the heir's door at all times. You will arrange the rotation yourselves." The nobleman handed over two keys and then entered his guestroom.
Luka felt restless because he slept for several hours during the carriage ride. But he didn't want to do last-minute cramming and cause his confidence to plummet on the eve of the examination. Thus, he settled for meditation on the bed and absorbing the magical energy within his environment.
Lord Evans retrieved him at dinner time as promised. Luka was astonished by the delicious meal he received: roasted lamb chop with a side salad, garlic bread, and honey m
ead with ice inside the mug! Since Zaleron lacked the technology to create ice, the inn had to hire an ice mage to make them at great expense. Therefore, Luka was very impressed by this establishment's standards and thought it was worthy of its name.
The aristocrat took this opportunity to display proper etiquette; thus, Luka ate very slowly and spent an hour finishing his meal. Also, he forbade Bel and Gripper from eating at the table no matter how much they stared at Luka with pitiful eyes. Instead, he asked a barmaid for takeouts for them to eat in his guestroom.
Luka and Cloten ate at a separate table from their escorts, who received noticeably less fancy meals: stew ( with minced meat of unidentified origin) and hard bread. However, the knights didn't complain about their disparate treatment because the escorts recognized this as usual. Instead, the knights were happy to fill their bellies with real food instead of travel rations.
After Luka finished his meal, he returned to his room while the tutor stayed behind. However, two knights resumed their bodyguard duties and accompanied Luka back to his suite. Then one guard stood outside his door while the other returned to his guestroom for a temporary respite.
Ten minutes later, a worker delivered takeout to the suite, and the guard brought it inside.
Luka placed the food on the table and said, "Please don't make a mess."
Bel and Gripper ignored him and competed to stuff the meat into their mouths. The gorilla tried his best to eat fast, but he couldn't keep up with the rabbit.
Luka left them alone and took a long, hot bath in the washroom. When he came out, he ignored the mess on the table because the workers will clean it up. But Luka couldn't overlook the food stains on the carpet and quietly cast Cleanse. Otherwise, he feared that the innkeeper would charge him extra to replace the ruined carpet. "Keep watch while I sleep," Luka ordered before climbing into bed and retiring for the night.
He awoke at dawn the next morning and began to practice his swordsmanship, followed by his stick-fighting. Then Luka took a quick bath, dressed in aristocratic attire, and left his room.
"Good morning, young master," the guard outside his door greeted.
"And to you," Luka replied with a nod. He descended the staircase, walked past the front lobby, and approached the dining room.
However, the receptionist said, "I'm sorry, milord, but the dining hall isn't ready to serve breakfast yet. May I ask that you wait in the lobby?"
"How long would I need to wait?" Luka asked.
"About ten minutes," the worker replied.
"Okay," the noble nodded and took a seat in the reception area. Luka saw that he was alone with his escort. He closed his eyes and meditated until the eatery opened. As the first guest, he claimed a seat near the window and enjoyed the view while sipping hot tea.
A servant soon appeared, bringing a platter with two scrambled eggs, three strips of bacon, stuffing made of potatoes and onion, and freshly baked bread.
Luka slowly ate while soaking in the sunshine. When he was half-finished with his meal, Cloten arrived and joined his table.
"Good morning, Luka!"
"Good morning, Lord Evans!"
"You look ready to ace the exam!" the tutor said after studying his pupil's demeanor. Cloten didn't see any sign of nervousness.
"Yes," Luka nodded.
"Registration will start at eight and runs through a quarter to nine. You will receive a random test number and use it to remain anonymous. The written examination will begin at nine sharp and lasts until eleven. Test-takers are required to remain in their seats until this period ends. So I discourage you from drinking too much because you won't get to use the bathroom during that time," Cloten cautioned.
"The practical portion will follow immediately. Instructors will test your physical fighting skills and magical power. Hopefully, you will leave the testing grounds by twelve-thirty or one at the latest. I will accompany you to the registration site and take you back to the inn when you exit."
At seven, the two took a carriage ride to the test site and arrived a half-hour later. Although the journey would usually take fifteen minutes, the streets overflowed with pedestrians and other carriages. Thus, the coachman couldn't move any faster through the heavy traffic.
When Luka left the cabin, he saw the royal academy campus for the first time. Frankly, its layout was similar to colleges on Earth, with wide-open space full of grass and buildings with exteriors made of expensive stones like marble.
Lord Evans stopped at the front gate and said, "I can't go inside. Good luck!"
Luka nodded and walked through. Guards from the academy glanced at him but didn't stop Luka from entering. From his youthful appearance, they assumed that Luka was a test-taker for the entrance exam. He soon encountered a sign splitting the nobles on the left and commoners on the registration area's right side.
The candidate obediently lined up on the left side and eventually reached the front. Luka submitted his name and received an identification badge with the number "A5297" and instructions to sit in the appropriate test room.
Luka found his room inside a large lecture hall, took a seat, and placed his writing utilities on the table. He closed his eyes, ignored the other test-takers, and quietly waited for the exam to begin.
The protractors distributed the question package at ten minutes to nine. A bell rang when the hour arrived. "You may begin!"
Luka carefully reviewed the questions and plotted a time management strategy to answer them. He quickly settled on an hour for the essay question. This allocation meant he needed to finish the rest of the exam before the bell rang again.
The candidate breezed through the ten math problems. He spent a bit more time filling in the map. Luka had to slow down his pace when he encountered legal and historical questions. Fortunately, Lord Evans' lessons helped Luka fully prepare for this exam, and Luka felt confident he answered correctly.
Right after he finished the last problem, the bell rang. Luka took a few minutes to check his answers. When he moved forward and read the essay question, the candidate deeply inhaled because he felt upset by it. The question read: "During the Netherese War, Tsunka Heavensfell sacrificed his life to fuel Goddess Altima's power to expel the extradimensional invaders. Did he make the right decision? Explain why or why not."
This question targeted him! Luka began to doubt the wisdom of enrolling in the academy. He decided to retaliate against the person who made this question by offering a genuinely abnormal response. Luka began his essay with the following: "The citizenry of Morninglory universally regarded Tsunka Heavensfell as a great hero. Despite being in the prime of his life, he willingly became a living sacrifice to save the world. But in doing so, he ignored his primary duties to his family. Tsunka left behind a wife who is struggling to this day to maintain the Heavensfell name. He also callously left her to care for an heir alone."
As Luka wrote his essay, he grew angrier because he felt the seemingly innocent question was mocking his father's tragic fate. The questioner lacked a real appreciation for this sacrifice. Thus, Luka felt inclined to "litigate" the failings of Tsunka's early departure from the world of the living. Frankly, he assumed that he would receive zero points for this portion of the entrance examination. But at this point, Luka didn't care at all. Somehow, he finished writing his essay right before the bell rang again.
Once the proctor collected his test packet, Luka stormed out of the lecture hall like a hurricane.
"This kid must have bombed his answers," someone jeered.
"Knock it off!"
"You don't wanna piss off noble brats!"
Luka followed the ushers and entered the training grounds. He found his ID number and gathered with fellow test-takers who previously sat inside the same room.
A man in his twenties stood at the center of a circle holding a wooden sword. "Come, my cute little lambs. Uncle Brye will play with y'all," he grinned.
A bespectacled woman holding a board and a quill frowned at him. "My name is Jiehara, and I'm
your judge for this portion of the exam. When I call your number, please go inside the circle and spar with Instructor Brye. If you're not carrying a practice weapon, you may choose one from the barrack. He is a B-Rank adventurer, so you're not expected to win against him. We want you to demonstrate your fighting ability. You will receive a letter grade F, D, C, B, A, or S."
Luka watched as Brye abused his authority to harass and humiliate the candidates regardless of gender while mercilessly attacking with his practice sword.
"You're too big and clumsy to swing that toothpick!"
"Are you too busy wanking to hit me?"
"Yeah, keep swinging those milk jugs!"
"Come on! Move that fat ass!"
"Where are you looking at, four-eyes?"
Some candidates fell for his taunts and swung their blades haphazardly.
Brye easily evaded those awful attacks and either knocked down his opponents, disarmed them, or booted them out of the circle. However, he smartly avoided striking their vital points and left the kids with only bruises.
Luka activated his Critical Insight as he observed these short matches and learned Brye's tendencies. When Jiehara called his number, Luka stepped into the ring holding his staff.
"What's this, a stick-fighter? Your family couldn't afford to buy you a real weapon, huh?" the adventurer jeered.
Crack! Luka teleported behind Brye and slammed his weapon against the taunter's skull.
Brye immediately dropped to the ground like a marionette with its strings cut loose.
The courtyard became silent for a moment. Suddenly, the kids roared and cheered at the surprising end of this match. When the audience saw Luka enter holding a wooden stick, they thought he would lose quickly. No one ever believed he would defeat a B-rank adventurer instantly!
Only Jiehara managed to keep up and follow Luka's movements. The judge circled Luka's ID number and scored him as "S." Furthermore, she jotted down the words "staff" and "teleport." The woman muttered under her breath, "Serves you right, moron!" Jiehara belatedly entered the ring and held smelling salt under Brye's nose.
The Divine Summoner: Godson of Altima Page 41
