BSS 19

Chapter 19

“Jinny, is your dream small?”

“Small? What are you talking about! Being rich is amazing. There’s nothing money can’t solve!”

Mia seemed not to understand the usefulness of money very well—probably because she was the daughter of a wealthy family.

“If you have money, you can just play and eat all day!”

“But you can’t buy spirits with money.”

“You can buy a spirit tamer.”

“…Eh, but you can’t buy love with money!”

“Maybe? But I don’t need love anyway.”

As we enjoyed a leisurely afternoon, exchanging these trivial talks, Mia suddenly shouted, pointing behind me.

“Jinny! Look over there, Laiya. Lai!”

She waved her hands wildly, clearly excited.

I turned my head and saw Lai emerging from the bushes.

I had tied a big pink ribbon around her neck that morning, but it was gone. She must have lost it somewhere—or deliberately discarded it.

“Ah, she’s going away. Call her, Jinny!”

“Leave her be.”

“But then she might come, right?”

“I see her every day—it’s tedious. We’re like family.”

“But…”

Mia was desperate to touch Lai, fascinated by her, but Lai absolutely hated Mia. Even now, she was cautiously backing away despite being a snake.

Lai was my snake at the academy. Some students had freaked out over her triangular head, thinking she might be venomous, but after months of causing no harm, everyone just left her alone.

Above all, the king had approved it.

Of course, no one expected that the pet I raised would be a snake.

I’d heard that some people had tried to grab her, but all they got in return was broken weapons.

If you set traps, she’d eat them; if you tried to fight her with a sword, it was useless because she was stronger.

Lai always maintained a consistent weight, but her strength grew terrifyingly day by day.

She spent all day scavenging and eating whatever she found—no wonder.

Still, raiding an entire warehouse was extreme.

Even though I had told her she could eat anything that fell to the floor… Well, she at least obeyed one rule.

“Enjoy your freedom and roam around all you want, but you must follow this one rule: do not eat what humans own.”

Since she would eat anything metallic, I had to impose restrictions or who knows what disaster might happen.

For a moment, I wondered if the warehouse incident counted as an accident.

Well, I didn’t tell her to do it. So it’s not my problem, right?

I stretched out comfortably on the grass. Truly peaceful days.

Since I could skip almost all classes under the pretense of personal training, life couldn’t be more satisfying.

I hoped nothing happened today or tomorrow. I hated troublesome matters.

“Alright, everyone, please be quiet.”

The headmaster’s voice boomed through the auditorium via amplification magic.

As always, the children were busy chattering during the assembly.

Today, since all students were gathered, it was even more chaotic and noisy than usual.

I had skipped many school-wide assemblies before, so this was my first time attending one.

I had tried to escape again, but Teacher El caught me. She seemed to know all my escape patterns by now, which was inconvenient.

“Haah.”

Among the students divided by grade and department, I was the only one in the Spirit Studies Department.

I stood roughly beside the Alchemy class, yawning, and surveyed the surroundings.

I saw taller students in the distance. They were probably the adolescent division.

Drike Academy was divided into Early Childhood and Adolescent divisions, split at age 13, and the adolescent division went up to 18.

By 19, students typically graduated and were assigned positions in the kingdom based on their specialties.

One could apply for positions they desired with upper management’s approval—but as an early childhood student, that was far off. Not that I cared.

I had no interest in jobs or careers.

To insiders, Drike Academy seemed dull, but outsiders regarded it as a prestigious institution since graduates often worked directly in the royal court.

Especially for commoners, getting in was like winning the lottery.

Around me, most students were from the Alchemy or Magic departments—hard for commoners to attend—but the Swordsmanship Department had quite a few commoner students.

“Now, we will begin the special assembly.”

Ugh. I was sleepy already. Was there no magic to let you sleep while standing?

“In one month, the Winkan Festival will be held. As you all know, this festival is an opportunity for the five allied nations—the Elan Empire, our Dmitri Kingdom, the western Veilan Kingdom, the eastern Koran Kingdom, and northern Heidrike Kingdom—to come together and strengthen harmony.”

Ah, right. A ‘harmony festival,’ but really just a hierarchy check: “We are the emperor’s subjects.”

“The festival is held every five years at the Winted Academy in Elan. Each royal academy selects its top students to showcase their skills…”

I started tuning out.

The festival was just a competition among students where high-ranking performers got prizes. Usually, Empire Academy students dominated.

Fancy words aside, it was just a festival to glorify the Empire.

Gathering the best students from each nation to compare abilities seemed pointless—everything would ultimately go as the Empire wished.

They call it an alliance, but it’s practically a vassal state. The hierarchy is clear.

Dmitri was strong but no match for the Empire, and Elan especially kept Dmitri in check.

“The Empire’s concerned because Dmitri has skilled knights, but it doesn’t go beyond being a nuisance.”

“Now, we will announce the 20 students representing the Royal Drike Academy at the Winkan Festival. Most of you will not be selected, but do not be disappointed—work even harder in your studies. Those selected must represent our nation honorably!”

I thought I caught the headmaster’s gaze for a moment—but probably imagined it.

“Jinny, Jinny?”

“Hmm?”

Mia tapped my shoulder, gesturing for me to lean in, then whispered affectionately.

“I got chosen! I’m going to the Winkan Festival!”

“Heh.”

“What kind of reaction is that? This is amazing!”

“How amazing is it?”

I wasn’t sure. I knew Mia was excited, though.

Students from the Swordsmanship Department cheered as if the world belonged to them when their names were called.

“The Winkan Festival tournament is a rare chance to make a name for yourself across the continent. Fame is the highest honor.”

“Honor… but isn’t it a fighting tournament? And you’re going?”

“Oh, you really have no interest, do you? Knowledge-type students like me compete in quizzes. The fighting is for magic and swordsmanship departments!”

“Ah, I see. Win, then.”

“All the continent’s geniuses will be there! Do you know Robenin Pedri? He’s participating too.”

I didn’t know him, but okay. I just nodded, spacing out due to lack of a nap.

“So, the Swordsmanship students fought hard to be on the team.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s a golden opportunity to face Robenin Pedri! Prince Pedri is the Empire’s swordsmanship prodigy. If you beat him, you’re recognized as the continent’s best swordsman.”

“Lots of geniuses.”

Unlike my disinterest, Mia was clearly excited.

The Winkan Festival was rare—every five years, and run by the Empire, so everyone on the continent probably looked forward to it.

“Magic class: Bright Kenian, Koga Isterao, Yurphi Sanierun, Peter.”

Peter… just the name screams commoner. So there are some commoners in magic class. Only four selected from magic class out of twenty—must be talented.

“Finally, Spirit class: Jinny Crowell.”

Oh, another Jinny? Same department too—what a coincidence.

“Selected students, please come to the stage.”

Jinny really is a common name, huh?

Ha! I pretended not to hear, but was gradually nudged toward the stage.

The headmaster’s speech about “honor of Drike” sounded like nonsense to me.

“Wait!”

“Come on, Jinny.”

Mia had grabbed my hand.

“Why?”

“Because you were selected.”

“This is strange! I’m really going?”