Published: September 6, 2025
Since lectures would begin the day after the social gathering, everyone immediately started studying earnestly as soon as they returned.
“This year, the lecture content will change significantly, as we were informed in advance. Therefore, the students from Drevannel are expected to be tough opponents. Let’s do our best to maintain our ranking.”
“At Ehrenfest, we have been studying the old lecture content for a long time. There is no need to overly fear this.”
After finishing their discussion about the dedication ceremony, Charlotte and Wilfried encouraged the students and joined in studying. Among the adults who had come for the rituals, Darmel, Brother Cornelius, Leonore, and Hartmut took on teaching roles, helping the freshmen who were short on study time.
Angelica is my guard. She is by no means useless. Thanks to Angelica’s presence, the Guard Knight apprentices can concentrate on their studies, so she is useful outside of studying — just like when she works at the temple.
“Liselotte, Angelica. I am sending the Ordnance, so let’s return to our rooms.”
To avoid disturbing those studying, I took Angelica and Liselotte back to my room and dispatched the Ordnance. I sent a message to Solange to reserve registration for the new students, and to Eglantine with apologies regarding Hartmut and Brother Cornelius, along with a warning that something might happen at the dedication ceremony.
Solange replied, “Please come for registration during the lunch break in two days.” And Eglantine responded, “I want to discuss in detail what might happen at the dedication ceremony after the lord candidate course lecture.”
…But how am I supposed to know what will happen? What should I reply?
The next morning, even after breakfast, the students reviewed until the last minute before attending the first day of lectures.
My grade had theory lectures in the morning and practical sessions in the afternoon. Everyone passed the morning theory without issue. Although many territories were confused by the curriculum changes, students from the top territories appeared well prepared.
The afternoon practical was alchemy, with the task of brewing a somewhat potent healing potion. Using magic to shorten the time, I quickly finished my preparation. Compared to brewing magic paper for Ferdinand’s request, this was so easy that I found myself with nothing to do until the lecture ended.
Glancing around leisurely after finishing early, I noticed everyone was gradually getting more skilled, especially the civil official apprentices who had more chances to practice alchemy.
“You can tell who the civil official apprentices are at a glance. Their technique is noticeably different.”
“Lady Rosemine completed the task faster than anyone else using advanced techniques; she must be a lord candidate.”
Hannelore was cutting herbs carefully and gave me a wry smile.
“Oh, Lady Hannelore. I am also a civil official, so it’s not surprising that I am skilled at alchemy.”
“You know, ordinary lord candidates don’t brew their own healing potions or make magic tools, Rosemine.”
Wilfried, still a bit clumsy with his knife, said that while chopping herbs. Seeing that Hannelore’s technique wasn’t much better, I understood that lord candidates rarely did alchemy.
“Lord Ortwin is comparatively skilled. Brother Wilfried, wouldn’t it be better to hone your alchemy skills a bit more before Gewinnen? If you’re not good at cutting finely, then at least cut pieces evenly so the mana concentrates uniformly.”
Ferdinand would have disqualified others for poor preparation, so Wilfried glared at his knife with a “Hmm…” in response to my comment.
The following day, theory again passed smoothly. Because my close aides were teaching, even the freshmen seemed to be passing with relatively high scores.
Since today at noon was the day for new student registration in the library, I hurried through lunch and headed there with the freshmen and my student aides. As the registration had nothing to do with the dedication ceremony, the adult aides stayed behind at the dormitory.