Chapter 4: The Royal academy

Exactly one week after the banquet, the entry exams were held.

All students were divided into ten smaller groups and then they were send to their respective testing grounds.

"Seems I'm in group D, what about you?"

"Group B," Kiira showed me her card.

"I'm in group B too," Alette smiled.

"Group A here," Taru waved her card above her head.

"Guess we will be alone then," a giggle ringed from behind me.

I turned around and saw familiar long stright hairs of rose gold color.

"We meet again Nina," I smiled at her.

Name: Anastasia Nina Gal Netrose
Level: 30
Race: Human
Titles: Daughter of ruined family, Adopted daughter of a Frontier count, Overcome an unhappy life, Unseen prodigy

Skills:
Unique: Telepathy
Supreme: Hide skill (7), Auto-heal (5)
Extra rare: Increased mana recovery (5), Magic manipulation (5),
Rare: Psychic magic (6)
Uncommon: Dark magic (4), Wind magic (5), Etique (5), Hereditary (5), Taming (1)
Common: Swordsmanship (5), Animal training (2), Marksmanship (5), Keen hearing (2), Long sight (3), Cooking (5)

Blessings: Magic goddess (5), Sword god (1), Archer goddess (3)

"It's been far too long, Leo! Everyone!" Nina gave everyone big energical smile as she show off her card marking her as group D.

"Let's go Leo! The testing ground is over there!" Nina started pulling me to the site.

"Well, I'm going now! Everyone let's give it our all!"

"""YEAH!"""

Nina pulled me almost all the way to the auditorium where we were supposed to have the first writing exams. But right before the doors she pulled me away.

"Um, Nina I think we were supposed to go that way..."

"We will in a minute," she smiled mischieviously.

She pulled me behind a corner and turned around. Now I had my back against the wall and Nina right before me.

Wait, shouldn't this be the other way around?!

Before I even realized it, Nina already planted a kiss on my lips.

"Humph?"

"Fufufu... I wanted to do this for so long," she let out happy smile, while breathing heavily.

"Nina—" I wanted to say something but she placed finger on my lips.

"I know about your engagement with the girls. But I won't miss out, I'm joining them too."

"Are, are you sure?"

"You helped me much more then anyone else... BUT you also revealed my unique skill which people here thought off as a curse skill, so I will have you take responsibility for that," she smiled mischieviously again and started walking to the exam auditorium.

"Heh, I got quite the troublesome follower didn't I? Not that I really mind... and she's not even the first one..."

I walked back to the auditorium behind Nina and took my seat. As I was looking around, I noticed that about sixty percent of present people were humans and the rest was mix of demihumans.

Hm? There're elves too? I haven't seen one except Kiira and Ruzu before... Well, they never leave the elven forest anyway... are the three of them from the Elvieren ducal family?

Duke Kiran Fleu Elvieren is leader of elves and one of a kind spirit magic user, it's said that he can use three different elements at one time. Even Ruzu who is half spirit can only manage two right now... well let's give her time, she will crack it one day.

I took out my pen, which had build in replaceable ink bottle. I based it on earth's ballpoint pen. Looking around I noticed that everyone else had already started preparing their ink bottles or pencils.

I should introduce this pen in my shop too... I can already see how much money would roll in... I can also sell them with packs of ten ink bottles with one pen... selling the bottles should also be doable... I can even change the color of the ink heheheh...

The doors opened and profesor in red uniform walked in.

The school uniform come with base white shirt and gray vest for everyone, and different colored trousers and cape. The color of cape and trousers of teachers is red and students have blue.

But there are also two different types of uniforms. The student council wears white capes while still having blue trousers. Completly different from those, are uniforms of Disciplinary comitee which are full black.

"Does everyone have their answer sheets? Great, now open your tests, testing starts, NOW!"

I opened the test sheat and I froze.

These questions... are too easy!

What the heck? These questions... history is the most basic... magic... yeah that's not even questionable, too easy... I learned this much from Liteena-sensei during our first two weeks of learning! ...wait isn't she one of the thirteen wands of the kingdom? I forgot about that...

Within ten minutes I finished my test and had more then fourty minutes left.

Next tests are magic control. Previously was said that we should use our strongest spell, but I don't think that using «Space rupture» is safe with this many people around.

Should I use something less destructive? Maybe «Warping bullet» would do less damage... no that thing went through sheet of mithril as if it was paper... I need less damaging spell...

Well, let math to the talking. Power of the spell is base power muliplied by skill profficiency and all that muliplied by magic goddess' blessings level. So for Warping bullet it's (25*10)*8...

I can't use space magic! If I do, I will destroy the entire school!

Maybe magic manipulation skill could help... I never had to hold back against monsters...

"The test ends now. Put down your pens and return the answer sheets!" the profesor yelled at the auditorium and everyone started moving.

I returned the sheet and went to the next testing ground, but on my way there, someone bumped into me.

"Watch your steps plebian," angry voice barked at me.

This is first time someone openly called me plebian! Don't think I'll go easy on you!

"I am truely sorry sir, this one didn't saw you behind this one's back. Could this one know your noble name?" I said in obviously fake scared voice, but fatty boy or his goons, didn't pick up on that.

"I am first son and sole heir to prestigious ducal family of Orchidee! Julius Rauburst Orchidee! You should remember it well!"

"Such a noble name, please allow this one to state his name too. MY name is Leonard Hirano Dragonrose, I AM a Count and a dragon slayer," I said with intimidation skill active.

"Hieeee!" Julius jumped back with fear and his two goons were already gone with the wind in their back.

"So. Sir Julius, now that we made clear our status, I should remind you that anyone entering these grounds has to follow it's rules. And the rule number ONE is that the titles have no value here, as founding king said himself: Knowledge is meant for everyone. If you don't follow this rule you are not just breaking rules of the school, you are also breaking royal decree!"

As the level of intimidation rose, the Julius's pride sunk even deeper.

"If you understand now, then follow the rules!" I said as I was walking away.

"You were so cool~" Nina smiled and started walking beside me.

The second test was simple shoting magic at a dummy which could absorb magic and show power of the spell in numerical order.

This dummy was created by Big sis Hina when she was in her fifth year. Currently she is first seat of the Royal mage department, which is directly under thirteen wands. Also due to her power of Void magic and brilliant mind she's commonly called The Fourteenth wand. Incidentaly, I was the one who had to test these dummies whenever big sis came from royal capital... I ended up destroying quite a lot of them...

"When I call your name out, come here and fire your strongest spell! These dummies were send to us two weeks ago by Lady Hina Netrose, the fourteenth wand herself! Acording to her these dummies can take dragons breath and survive without a single scratch!"

Oh really? I doubt that.

"First is... Allan Went."

"Here!" young boy answered and stepped in front of the line from where he was supposed to shot his spell.

"Come forth earth, strong and mighty as deserts of east! «Razor sharp sand»!"

WHAT is this?! What's that chant?! Why didn't he just fired of his spell with activation words?! I mean, chantless spells are hard to control I get that, but what the hell was that?!

The spell created some sharp blades of sand and flew to the dummy. The hit showed the powe of 42. So weak! And what's with that smug face dude? You should be ashamed of that!

"Uu~ nice one! You pass!" the female teacher smiled.

How low are your standards?!

The test went forward and spell after spell was shot with simmilar long chants. I started to sweat bullets.

"«Dark wind»" Nina shot dark magic spell like it was nothing.

"The numbers are... 290! that's the highest of the group so far! Good work miss Gal Netrose, next is Julius Rauburst Orchidee," the teacher smiled happily.

"Come forth flames of my heart! I command you to burn my enemies to the crisp! «Burning flare»"

"Oh! Three hundread points! Great work!"

As the teacher said that, Julius throw a smug face at me. Wait does he think I'm only strong with sword becouse most of the dragons are capable of negating magical attacks?

"Okay! Last one is Leonard Hirano Dragonrose!"

"I'm here," I waved my hand and stepped forward. When I was on my mark I turned to the teacher: "Is it really okay to use my strongest spell?"

"Of course! These dummies can withstand even dragon's breath after all!"

"Alright, then I won't hold back «Space rupture»"

When I activated the spell, almost unseen pruplish cracks appeared all around the dummy and in the next instant the dummy was on ground shredded to pieces. Yey! I managed to make the radius smaller!

"Wh-what, what just happened?" the teacher's glasses fell from her nose, but becouse they were fixed by string they just stayed hanging on her neck.

"That's one of my original spells, Space rupture. You see, Big sis Hina was using my spells as a test to see their durability... but it seems I got even stronger then I was a year ago, hahaha..."

"Little brother of lady Hina… what a power…"

After that was over I went to the swordsmanship exam.

I walked over the yard and looked over the examinees.

"Hey Will, you are in group D too?" I called out familiar face.

"Oh, sir Leo! Yes I'm here too. They say that our examiner is former Silver ranked adventurer."

"Silver ranked? I heard from sister Eru that two years ago it was only bronze rank though…" I pondered at the sudden difficulty increase.

I mean, normal bronze rank is around level 30 while silver rank is 40 and up. Also most of adventurers and explorers get stuck at bronze rank due to the extreemly high difficulty to get to higher levels. Gold ranks are usually level 49 but the Adamantite blue team my grandfather nurtured is apparently level 59, one level higher than me. They are also only group on the continent that can slay dragons, apart from me obviously.

"I heard that the adventurer who usually took the tests moved to silver rank, but went missing in a dungeon two months ago," William said and silently added, "some people belive that the criminal organization called Golden quince is responsible for that."

Missing usually means dead so I can understand why people would belive that.

But on the other hand Golden quince huh? I haven't heard about them in a long time… well some of the thugs we took out with Kiira two years ago had a tatoo of quince with sun behind it so maybe they were a part of that organization? Urgh… I should have take at least one prisoner back then…

"Yeah I heard something simmilar. Anyway how do you feel about this upcoming test?"

"I'm really nervous lord Leo—"

"Just Leo is fine," I waved my hand.

"But I couldn't! You are a dragon slayer after all!"

"Will. Call me Leo from now on please! That nickname is seriously killing me~" I got little embarrased by the fact that people refer to me as such.

I mean, I did kill a dragon, but you don't have to call me that all the time!

"O-okay. Leo. Still, I'm really nervous becouse we can't use magic…"

"Yeah… oh, that reminds me, you are good with wind magic right?"

"Yeah, that's true, I can use all the spells up to intermediate «Sharp wind»"

"Hm… I see," I looked over his body and checked his stats, "If you want, I could help you with some Sword magic I recently devised for wind magic, you interested? Also it would be good training for you."

"YES! I would be happy too! Please teach me!" Will instantly grabbed my hands and his eyes sparkled.

"Great let's make arrangements tomorrow."

After that the examination of fighting prowness which, I still call it swordsmanship tests for some reason, though.

Nina showed her exquisite swordmanship using rapier, Will simmilarly excelled with his dual sword wielding.

I defeated the examiner in matter of seconds due to my maxed out physical enhancement skills.

All in all, the tests were fun and quick to finish. As I was heading back to the gates, I noticed Kiira standing there with her head down.

When she noticed me, she quickly moved to me, grabbed my hand and started walking away. I knew her for far too long so I instantly knew something happened.

"What's the problem Kiira? Did something happen?" I asked when we finally stopped under one tree.

"You see that maid with those elvish boys?" Kiira's voice trembled a little.

I looked over the place she was pointing at and saw a human woman with bright red hair in victorian-style maid clothes with green base and white apron. "I see her, what's about her?"

"That woman… is my biological mother."