049 – Another Name For War Is Enrollment #2

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049 – Another Name For War Is Enrollment #2

The Queen's aide getting attacked by assassins in his sleep.

That was definitely a possibility. 

Being killed by a ninja who appeared out of nowhere.

That was also possible.

Hence, I was always alert regarding assassins.

This was why I could hear the voices whispering in the night better than anyone else.

━Should we wake him up?

━Is that a good idea?

Two men were talking on either side of my bed. I didn't know what this was about, but it was certainly not a very good thing.

Thus, I slowly moved my hand and reached for the dagger hidden under the pillow. I had resolved myself to stab anyone who would come at me!

"Theo Gospel, if you're still awake, we're going to have an opening party."

… Opening party?

I pondered those words before slowly opening my eyes. The sight of two men with candles on a brass cup greeted me.

It was pretty scary with the shadows on their faces, but at least I could tell they didn't mean harm.

"What is happening?"

The man with a fat belly sticking out his sweatshirt replied.

"Literally a party! It's the first day, so how about we introduce ourselves?"

"We decided to come and talk first. It's nice meeting you! Theo, right? Theo Gospel."

'Ah, I see.'

To think it would be an invitation to some kind of social gathering…

For a moment, I actually thought they were assassins.

Actually, this was rather strange. Could the world be so soft that someone invited me to a social circle?

As I got up, the fat blonde man said.

"I am Hans Walter. I'm the second son of a small southern landowner. You can just call me Hans! The boy with the glasses here is-."

"I am Benjamin, an Apprentice Priest!"

The boy with glasses looked quite young, about 14 or 15. From the outside, I felt like he was younger than me.

There seemed to be no hostility from them…

Having decided so, I bowed my head and said hello.

"I am Theo Gospel. As you may know, I'm from Angmar. So, what do we do with the opening party? Aren't we supposed to be asleep after the lights go out?"

To my question, Hans pointed to a corner.

"That's right, but as long as they don't see the light, we don't have to worry about getting caught. We do this every semester."

Now that he mentioned it, I could see the windows and doors of the dormitory being covered with a cloth to prevent the light from escaping to the outside.

"For now, let's eat some cheese I brought. Cheese is the specialty in our estate! Hey Benjamin, take out the bread you brought too."

"Ok."

And thus, in Room 7, we sat on my bed and shared food.

It was just that, bread crumbs started spilling all over my bed, bas†ards…

After a while, Fatty Hans said while sharing food.

"So is it true? That you are 'the' Theo Gospel. Me and Benjamin were curious about that since it's such a famous name. I thought you're the real deal, plus Benjamin also said that you got the same name."

At his question, I could feel Benjamin looking at me while still eating. It seemed that this was the gist of things.

"It is true. Perhaps, I am the same Theo Gospel you're thinking of."

"Is that so… People said that you're a monster that is over eight feet tall with eight arms. I guess rumors can't be trusted… Anyway, Benjamin, hand me 10k!"

Flap-.

As Hans reached out his fat palm, Benjamin clicked his tongue and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over.

My eyes widened because it was the first time I was seeing such a type of currency.

"… Is that a banknote?"

Hans answered my question while flapping the bill.

"Yes. This is Ark's currency called 'bill'. This one in particular a 10,000 coin bill. Isn't it amazing that a piece of paper has such a value?"

Aha-. It did say that inside Ark, they had their own monetary system that didn't use the existing copper or gold coins.

When I entered the Academy, I also received about 1 million coins through scholarships and development incentives.

By the way, did he just say that the value was close to one million won in cash?

As I was intrigued by the currency system, Benjamin said.

"But it's really 'the' Theo. You only look like a dude around the same age as me… Speaking of, excuse me, but how old are you?"

"Ugh…"

Benjamin's question made me feel the need to set my age. Which age was the least annoying?

"… I am 20 years old."

"Well, then, you're the same age as me! Take it easy, my friend. Let's do well in the future and talk comfortably around each other."

"You're older than me. I am currently 15."

This was the time when I regretted my decision, I should've said 21…

Knock, knock-.

━Go back to sleep. Since it is the first day, there will be no demerit points.

Someone knocked on the door, making us scatter to each other's beds, hiding under the blanket. We were like rats seeing a cat. 

… What just happened?

With this thought, I eventually succumbed to my progressively heavier eyelids.

First of all, my roommates seemed nice. There might be something that they wanted from me, but at least I didn't sense any ill will right now.

Were they really just nice guys?

… Could such creatures exist in this world?

But then again, this was a place where the Church raised Champions.

Maybe this was a given.

Rather, wouldn't it be stranger if there were people who had a problematic personality like Aira or Elga?

* * *

The next morning at dawn.

I was awakened by the sound of bustling movement.

What was going on?

Did a ninja pop out!?

"What happened?"

"Good, you woke up in time! My friend, we have to move! Bronze Class like us have to move early to sign up for classes! If we're late, we'll be left with nothing!"

I just got woken up by a fat blonde man talking to me in a friendly way. I guessed I really was living in a dormitory.

Anyway, I quickly put on my clothes and went out to the front of the building in charge of registering classes, treading the morning air with the yet to rise sun. 

However, despite our haste, there were already a lot of people gathered. Seeing this, Fatty Hans clicked his tongue. 

"There are more people this year. If we had arrived a little later, we would have lost all Class A lectures."

"Class A? What is that?"

I casually asked. Speaking informally was one of the ways to get friendly with other people.

These guys seemed to have spent a few semesters at Ark, so if I got on their good side, they would definitely give me some useful information.

Surprisingly, Benjamin was the one who answered my question.

"Ark's lectures are graded accordingly. Basically, it represents how easy listening to the lectures is. Classes that you can easily receive high scores are classified as A. Likewise, the further down the alphabet, the harder it is-."

"You mean the professors are strict, there are a lot of assignments, and it's difficult to get good grades?"

Benjamin nodded, his short chestnut-brown hair waving along.

"Yes, that's right. This time, I plan to take two Class As, one Class B and two Class Cs."

At this revelation, Hans asked in surprise.

"You will take two Class A lectures!? Will you be alright!?"

"I have to somehow get high grades this semester and receive a scholarship. Otherwise, I have to go back to my hometown…."

I didn't know the details, but there seemed to be an overarching circumstance.

Just then, a question popped up in my mind.

"Then, isn't it better to fill your schedule with all Class A lectures? You could just come early and apply for it!"

This time, it was Hans who answered my question with a shake of his head.

"Things aren't that simple… Bronze Class cadets like us are the lower ranks of the Ark Hierarchy…"

Hierarchy, a class structure.

I wanted to ask him for clarification but didn't get the chance, as Benjamin and Hans soon moved to an empty line.

"You can now enter!"

In the morning, the faculty and staff opened the door to the teller in charge.

After scrambling through the throngs of people, I had to wait quite a while for my turn before finally being able to talk to the counter staff.

"I am Theo, Her Majesty Aira's aide. Can I enroll in the Queen's stead? There will only be two subjects."

"Her Majesty is a Platinum Class, correct? I'll take care of it right away. What about Sir Theo's?"

"I will have 15 credits, here."

I then handed my temporary timetable to the staff. She wore a neat dress and glasses, while her brown hair was tied back like a horse's tail. She looked at my timetable for a while, then subtly asked.

"Are you fine with this? There are two highly competitive subjects here…"

Hearing the words 'highly competitive" made me remember the Class A information I heard at the entrance earlier.

"Yes, please."

"You came early so there might be some plaques left behind. Please wait a moment."

She then rummaged through the window-like drawer at the back before holding something out to me. It was like a wooden dog tag.

This seemed to be an identification that proved my enrollment in a certain subject.

"Alas, there are no more plaques left for the 'Tea Time' subject. All available spots are full."

"… For real?"

Despite coming this early, there were no more vacancies!?

I had to get one for Aira, otherwise…

"Is there no other way?"

"I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do for you. The Tea Time class is popular, so it's one of the first to run out of spots."

'I'm doomed!'

I didn't know this would happen…

What should I do now!?

Maybe… change Aira's timetable?

No, if I got caught doing something like that, Aira might just crush my skull…

"But, I could put you in the 'Fun and Exciting Philosophy' subject. It has a lot of vacancies!"

'Fun, what's fun!?'

Fųck!

I didn't expect to feel the pain of failing to enroll for a subject here…

I had no choice but to take a step back. Upon turning my head, I could see both the joy of those that succeed in enrolling and the despair of people who failed to do so.

━I'm screwed. 'Understanding the Precise Concept and Principle of Nymphophobia'. What subject even is this!? Why do I have to listen to this!?

━Still better than me. I'm in the 1st class…

The situation clamoring all around was similar to the strife of war.

I looked down on my enrollment application.

"Hey, friend. How did it go? Any success?"

Then someone spoke to me. Looking at the belly fat that came out under the school uniform, I could tell that it was Hans. It actually felt rather strange that he was treating me like we'd always been good friends…

"I failed one subject."

"Heh heh, that's pretty good… Could this be the famous 'beginner's luck'?"

With that out of the way, it was time to talk about each other's timetable and move forward.

"These insignificant Bronze bas†ards sure cry a lot today. Who's got the good subjects? I, Efside, want to take a look!"

Suddenly, someone appeared in the crowded enrollment area.

He was a tall, dark-haired giant with a huge scythe. His muscles were lumpy and his school uniform was torn, like some sort of end-of-century biker punk.

How could there be someone so unfit for a uniform like that?

Anyway, as soon as he appeared, the bustling atmosphere instantly turned silent.

Even Hans, who was telling me about his wonderful timetable, had his mouth and bowed his head. He then tapped me on the side.

"Hey, friend. Don't make eye contact with him."

"Why not?"

"That's Lecture Hunter, Efseid. He's a very spiteful and terrifying Barbarian bas†ard. If possible, avoid eye contact and do not move."

What was this? What was even a 'Lecture Hunter'?

But I immediately understood the meaning of said nickname.

"You there, you seem to be happy? Did your enrollment go well? Let me see your timetable!"

"… My, my timetable is bad! There is nothing to see!"

"That's up for me to decide! Let's see-"

Lecture Hunter Efside grabbed the weak, fragile-looking girl's wrist and lifted her up into the air. At the same time, he looked through the course enrollment on the girl's arm.

Efside then said aloud.

"Understanding Elves? Who the heII takes a subject like this!? Rediscovery of Sacred Music? What else?"

"… Ugh-."

Having been insulted with her timetable, the girl's face turned red from embarrassment. Or, well, maybe she was just feeling the pain from her arm since she was literally being lifted.

It was then.

"But this sounds like a great subject, 'Tea Time to Foster the Mind'. However, it seems like this would be a little too difficult of a subject for a Bronze Class. Here, how about this, I'll take this in your stead!"

"Ah, that-!"

"Instead, I'll give you my 'Introduction to Architecture'. How is it? Sounds good, right!?"

"That too much-! That's an F Class subject!"

"Are you dissatisfied? If you are, why don't we have a duel? I will accept any sport or match. If you win, I'll give you my rank brooch. So, shall we?"

"Ugh…."

Ah.

Just like that.

That guy called Efside was a very terrifying and devious guy who stole subjects that other people had painstakingly taken.

Hans, who was next to me, quietly explained.

"They steal lectures like that. That's why it's meaningless to take a bunch of Class A subjects at the beginning. There's a lot of people that try to steal subjects from others."

"Wait, how could the Church tolerate this kind of behavior!?"

I looked at the faculty staff around me. Despite their role as supervisors, they were being willfully ignorant!

"So nobody is going to stop this?"

"… Yeah. It doesn't matter how great you are or how high of a status you have outside. Here, rank and skill are everything."

'So that's how this works.'

This enlightened me quite a bit on the Academy's system.

"That Efside guy was also a Bronze Class who ranked 900th at first. But he stole the brooches of seniors in a confrontation and climbed up to Silver Class. Worse still, the better subject he gets, the more his skills grow…."

"It's possible to take brooches?"

I looked at the brooch with a '1021' on my chest. This was my ranking right now. It WAS my rank and number.

But, there was a system out there where you could steal other people's brooches?

"It is possible if it is a duel following the presence of the leading party. Anything is possible as long as there's no killing. But, Theo, you shouldn't care about that."

"Why?"

"Hey, it's a famous story that you failed all the physical tests. You also ranked more than a thousand."

Aha, so that was why this guy, a Bronze Class, felt that I was so easy to talk to.

They must have thought that I was a friend like themselves.

But, there was something I couldn't stand.

The 'Tea Time' subject that Efside just took.

It was the class that I had longed for. Thus, the moment I realized that it could be taken away, I could hardly calm myself down!

"Friend! What are you doing?!?"

Looking back at the bewildered Hans, I gave a modest answer while still moving forward.

"If there is a ladder up, you have to climb it!"

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