18 — Chapter 18

I thought homeroom would end there, but Mr. Hagan started talking about something crucial. Honestly, I think he just forgot to mention it earlier. I mean, it’s a bit weird to talk about optional clubs before something this important, right?

“Everyone, look at your schedules. There will be a test during the first period of each subject listed here.”

The classroom erupted in a buzz of excitement and anxiety. Well, that’s natural. Everyone hates tests.

“Quiet! These tests are to gauge your current abilities. There is no need for you to sit through lessons on material you have already mastered. In fact, it would be a waste of your time.”

It sounded like an explanation of the grade-skipping system. I’d better listen closely.

“My older brother skipped several subjects. The only reason he’s still here this year is because he’s the Student Council President,” Prince Keith bragged about his brother. He certainly does seem like a high achiever. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder—is the reason he hasn’t graduated yet because he still has a few subjects left to pass? …How irreverent of me. Patience, please don’t get mad.

“Mr. Hagan, is it possible to skip an entire grade level?”

Oh, Louise. I like an ambitious girl. And thank you for asking exactly what I wanted to know.

“It is possible to skip a grade. However, you must pass every subject except for the practical ones: Dance, Art, Music, and P.E. Evaluations for those four vary by instructor, and you can still take them in higher grades.”

It seems like subjects other than Magic Practicum aren’t prioritized much. Even on the schedule, while other practicals are once a week, Magic is held twice. Combined with Magic Theory, it adds up to four times a week—one-fifth of the twenty total class periods. It finally clicked for me: the Royal Academy’s primary purpose is to gather nobles and train them in magic. While there are commoner students in Class C who aren’t nobility, they look much wealthier than my family. And they all seem to have high magical aptitude. Man, I want money!

Digressing again. I looked over the schedule once more. There are no science-based subjects like Geography, Physics, or Chemistry. Classics… I wonder if that means magic grimoires or actual classical literature? Or maybe just “literary refinement”? Including Language, that’s six times a week. That’s a lot. Math and History are three times each. I’ll have to rely on Patience’s memories for Classics. The Granger library has plenty of classical books, and it seems Patience had read them. The same goes for History and Language.

The days of the week are the same as in my previous life. Well, at least that saves me the trouble of memorizing new ones.

While I was having these relaxed thoughts, homeroom ended. Now, time to take my textbooks and head back to my room.

The boys were swarming around Prince Keith, and the girls were gathering around Louise. But since I’m fired up about skipping grades, I need to go study Magic Theory in my room. If possible, I really want to be able to go home on Fridays.

I don’t know about the practical side of magic, but I’ve already memorized the Magic Theory textbook. Since it’s for kids, it’s actually quite simple. Whether I truly understand it is a different story, though. I think I can pass the test, so I’ll worry about the mechanics of magic later. After all, I haven’t actually been chanting proper spells.

It’s always been things like “Become clean!” or “Grow big!”

“I humbly beseech the Goddess Estena. Pray, send the spirits of scorching fire unto me. Fireball.” Is this some kind of punishment? Apparently, advanced mages can use magic just by saying “Fireball,” but for big spells, the success rate is much higher if you ask the Goddess Estena.

From now on, when I use Household Magic in public, am I supposed to say, “I humbly beseech the Goddess Estena. For the sake of a civilized life and to spare a maiden’s blush, pray, flush this toilet cleanly”? Well, I suppose I won’t be using the toilet in public. As I was having these sacrilegious thoughts, Patience got angry again. My head hurts! Did I really reincarnate? Or am I just possessing her while Patience is in some kind of suspended animation? Somehow, a wave of sadness told me that Patience is indeed gone.

“Patience, it’s so sad that you passed away at only ten. I promise to take good care of your brothers. So, could you please hold back on the anger a bit? It’s giving me a headache.”

The reason I was reincarnated into this world was probably because Patience was so worried about her brothers’ future. Even though magic stones exist, there must be monsters too—and you can’t defeat them with Household Magic. I’m no “Hero” type, and I’m not a “Saint” who can heal people with Light Magic.

Ah, now Patience is making a fuss, telling me to look after her father too. Fine, fine, I’ll look after him along with the boys. Truly, even at ten years old, she thought only of her family. My soul is an adult, so just leave it to me!