06

Under a flawlessly blue, cloudless sky, Kansas and Sophia came to the front gate of the estate to see off Laika and Ains.

“Alright then, I’m off, Father.”

“Yes. Don’t rush yourself, alright? Keep a calm mind.”

With a gentle expression, Kansas patted Laika on the head.

“Ains-sama, is it truly impossible for me to go with you?”

“Give it up, Sophia. Apparently, it’s a rule.”

“There must be some way!”

Seeing Sophia refuse to give up, Ains let out a sigh.

But in the next instant, a brilliant idea struck him.

“I’ve got it! This might be a great solution, Sophia!”

“What is it, Ains-sama!? Please enlighten foolish me!”

Sophia pleaded as if a lost lamb seeking salvation from a prophet.

“Next year, you should take the exam and enroll too!”

“W-what!? No, that’s…”

“That way you’ll be a year behind, but you can follow me and Laika, and you can learn magic too. On top of that, you might meet a promising man in the future! You could even find someone to marry!”

Murmuring to himself,

“This is too good an idea—am I a genius?”

Ains admired his own inspiration.

“I-I’m not looking for a marriage partner right now! I’m not troubled by that at all! I’ll pass! I’ll stay here and wait for your return, Ains-sama!”

Sophia pressed in on Ains with a bright red face, firing back her words.

After that, she kept shaking her head violently while muttering, “No, no,” causing her tied-back hair to whip around and slap Ains across both cheeks.

“…Ains, are you done now?”

Laika said, watching their exchange with exasperation.

“Yeah, I’m done. Looks like Sophia’s given up on following us too.”

When Ains added, “Right?” for emphasis, Sophia replied with a still-flushed face,

“Please take care and have a safe journey.”

“Alright then, Kansas-san, we’re off. Sophia, thanks for holding down the fort.”

Ains and Laika waved as they departed.

The distance from the residential district to the Sorcery Academy was not far enough to warrant a carriage, so they decided to go on foot.

Because the residential district was lined with noble estates, many sons and daughters heading for the Sorcery Academy entrance exam were likewise walking there.

Some chatted cheerfully with friends, some were deep in their own world, focusing intently, while others were so tense their bodies were stiff.

“You don’t seem nervous at all, Laika,”

Ains said, glancing at the other examinees.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but my confidence is stronger,”

Laika replied.

Her straight-backed, dignified stride overflowed with self-assurance.

“Or what? Were you hoping I’d be trembling with nerves, looking up at you and saying, ‘Ains, hold my hand until I calm down’?”

“Ah… I can’t really imagine that. If you did say it, I’d be so scared I’d overthink it three layers deep for no reason, so please don’t.”

Laika laughed, clearly aware that such a pose wouldn’t suit her.

“Right?”

As they continued walking, chatting idly as usual, the number of boys and girls who seemed to be examinees steadily increased.

Their destination was the Sorcery Academy, which occupied a vast expanse of land.

Because students spent three years there before adulthood, each year consisted of about one hundred students, for a total enrollment slightly exceeding four hundred.

There were several buildings for lectures. However, one could not improve their magical ability without actually using magic. As such, most of the expansive grounds were used as training fields.

At the academy gate stood signboards guiding the examinees, directing them to training fields divided into blocks according to exam numbers.

“There are quite a lot of people gathered,”

Ains remarked.

“Well, of course. Not just nobles—common families can apply too. And if you graduate from the Sorcery Academy, your future is secure, so everyone flocks to take the exam,”

Laika replied.

Graduating from the Sorcery Academy did not automatically mean becoming a mage.

By acquiring magical knowledge, graduates were highly valued as technicians in production professions that required magical expertise and ability. They handled the creation and design of magical tools that required specialized knowledge, such as mana lamps used for everyday lighting. As a result, the majority of academy graduates earned high incomes.

“Laika, good morning.”

Turning toward the clear, ringing voice, they saw a beautiful girl who exuded an unapproachable aura.

“Good morning, Kirishiya. Is this your exam site too?”

Laika greeted her calmly.

Ains had seen Kirishiya once in the throne hall, but since she had been wearing a dress then, it was only now—hearing her name from Laika—that he finally remembered her.

“Yes. I’m glad you’re here too, Laika. I was feeling a little uneasy.”

With just a slight lowering of her gaze, a delicate beauty emerged.

Ains found his eyes drawn to her.

Noticing that, Laika frowned and stomped hard on Ains’s right foot.

“Lady Laika, it has been some time,”

Said the man standing behind Kirishiya, dressed in a tailcoat. From his appearance, he seemed to be in his early twenties.

“Long time no see, Seidel. Since you’re here, does that mean you’re Kirishiya’s attendant?”

Laika promptly lifted her foot away from Ains.

“Yes. I am honored to serve,”

Seidel replied with a bow.

“You’re as stiff as ever.”

Laika said with a wry smile.

“Oh my, you’re the one we met in the hall the other day. If I recall correctly… Ains-san,”

Kirishiya’s eyes settled on Ains.

“About that time, I’m very sorry. I behaved quite rudely,”

Ains said with an awkward smile, scratching his head.

“Indeed. It was such a grand commotion that both my father and I broke out in a cold sweat,”

Kirishiya replied.

“But it was amazing, you know? With my fa—Father there, along with the chancellor, my brother, and the Royal Guard, you still went straight at Captain Darte of the Royal Guard. I’ve never seen that look on Darte’s face before,”

Kirishiya laughed aloud, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Oh? So you were the one at the center of that incident. You have quite the nerve for someone who looks so mild. I would have liked to see Captain Darte’s expression in person as well,”

Seidel said.

It was unclear how he had heard about the incident, but upon realizing that the one who had challenged Darte was the very Ains standing before him, he showed a look of surprise.

“You might not know this, Seidel, but Ains-san is amazing, you know? Lady Lizelotte herself acknowledged him as a sorcerer.”