Ascendance of a Bookworm

The practical session in the afternoon was about receiving the divine blessings of the gods. In addition to the innate aptitude one is born with, receiving the divine blessings from the gods made it easier to use magic of that attribute. Therefore, this practical session was important for third-year students who split into specialized courses.

This practical session was conducted one by one in front of the altar of the gods located at the back of the noble academy’s lecture hall. Because of this, students who passed the theology written exam, which required memorizing all the names of the gods, were gathered in the lecture hall regardless of their rank. Since everyone in Ehrenfest had passed, everyone gathered in the lecture hall today.

“It’s the first time I’m doing the practical with Lady Rosemine,”

Filine smiled happily as we walked from the library to the lecture hall. So far, the practical sessions had been separated by rank, so I had never done the practical with Filine before. I thought it was cute that she was happy about something like that, when she rummaged through her belongings and took out a writing board.

“Hartmut told me to write down which gods’ blessings Lady Rosemine would receive,”

Roderich also proudly took out his writing board and said,

“We decided to split the work so that we can handle receiving blessings from many retainers.”

...Hartmut is such an idiot! What on earth is he asking for!?

“There’s no need to do that. I’ll scold Hartmut for asking such unnecessary things.”

I didn’t know what Hartmut was expecting, but basically, it was enough for me to know which gods’ blessings I had received.

When I entered the lecture hall, those taking the practical session together this time were gathered. At a glance, almost everyone was wearing either the pales green cloak of Drevannel or the bright yellow ochre cloak of Ehrenfest. All the other colors combined wouldn’t even reach the count of one hand. There were probably fewer than twenty people. It seemed that memorizing all the gods’ names was not easy.

As I approached the gathering of the green and yellow ochre cloaks, I saw Wilfried talking with Ortwin. I overheard Wilfried saying, “What was that about it being difficult to pass on the first day because of the epidemic?”

“Sorry. It was like an ambush. But we had no choice. From now on, Ehrenfest will give it their all.”

Wilfried was making a skilled move by making excuses while provoking, and I silently cheered him on, but I didn’t want to get involved in a manly friendship. I stopped my steps and looked around the lecture hall. Hannelore, wearing a blue cloak, was standing alone quietly. It seemed that she was the only one from Dunkelfelger’s third-year students who passed on the first day.

...As expected of Lady Hannelore! A fellow book lover.

“Lady Hannelore, good day,”

I approached with a smile and greeted her. Hannelore turned to me and gave a gentle smile.

“Lady Rosemine, good day. Ehrenfest really has everyone here. That’s very wonderful. I struggled a lot to memorize all the gods’ names.”

“I struggled too.”

“Oh, Lady Rosemine as well?”

Hannelore blinked several times in surprise as she looked at me.

“I was appointed as the head priest almost at the same time as the baptism ceremony. Every ritual requires the names of the gods, and the Sacred Scripture is filled with the names of the gods, so memorizing them was tough. But because of that, the lectures at the noble academy are a bit easier.”

“Head priest since the baptism ceremony...”

Hannelore’s expression darkened. Even in Dunkelfelger, the temple’s status seemed low. She looked sadly as if thinking, ‘To think Lady Rosemine would be put in a place like this.’

...Ah, I have to correct that, or else the Foster Father will be called a terrible aub again.

It’s best to clear up misunderstandings starting from nearby matters. I hurriedly added,

“I don’t know what other temples are like, but Ehrenfest Temple is very comfortable. Aub frequently comes and goes, and Brother Wilfried and Charlotte, although they don’t have official positions, also help with the rituals. Furthermore, Lord Ferdinand, who has already been betrothed to a great territory, was reluctant to leave the temple.”