CH 22

Chapter 22 The Irrelevant Disparity

「Jink-kun, look! You’re the top student!」

As expected, my name is in the section of the top student in the first class of the magic department of the Quall Royal Academy.

Well, since the rarity of magic is included in the scoring, it’s only natural for me to be the top student since I can use Enchantment and Recovery Magic.

Fortunately, I was able to pass the borders of the writing test as well.

But… I’m concerned about how much the marquis reported it….

「This year, there are two people who passed the first class of the magic department besides you. I think it’s the first time in five years that the quota of accepted students is full.」

「If I remember correctly, according to the data, there are many students who fail the written test of this department and only 0-1 person passed every year, so this year is a good year since there are three people who passed.」

「That’s right! I envy the first class because they have a lot of privileges…. Well, I consider myself lucky that I could get into the second class, so I’m satisfied. If Jink-kun hadn’t taught me, at worst, I would have ended up in the third class….」

Chris was able to solve about half of the prediction questions I made, so it was a needless worry.

Well, it’s checkmate if you get into the third class, so I can understand why he was nervous about it.

Each department (Magic Department, Knight Department, Business Department, etc.) of the Quall Royal Academy is divided into first class, second class, and third class, and each class has completely different privileges and obligations.

For example, students in the first class can choose any lesson they want, are not required to attend classes, and can take any subject on any day during the test period.

The school tuition is free, and if they choose to stay in the first class dormitory, which looks like a suite, they don’t have to pay the boarding expenses and there’s no curfew.

All menus in the cafeteria are also free.

They can use all facilities in the school, and the maximum number of books they can borrow from the library is 30 books at a time.

In addition, they receive a scholarship of 5 silver plates every month, and they can freely bring their attendants (up to 3 people) to the dormitory.

And when they graduate, they can receive an honorary viscount rank (only for one generation if they want to.

The maximum number of students in each department is limited to three.

If the quota isn’t full, a transfer examination from the second class is held every year, but almost no one is accepted every year….

Students in the second class are not required to attend classes, but they are limited in the number of lessons they can take, and the schedule for their tests is fixed.

The school tuition is free.

Each student can use a simple but private dormitory room for free, and the cafeteria offers a set meal menu of one copper plate (equivalent to 1,000 yen) for free.

They can use most of the facilities in the school, but they aren’t allowed to enter the first class exclusive lounges and laboratories.

The maximum number of books that can be borrowed from the library is 10 at a time.

A monthly scholarship of 3 silver coins is provided.

…… In other words, it’s a kind of scholarship that is designed to ensure that talented commoners and lower-class nobles don’t have to worry about tuition fees.

Depending on the department, the maximum number of students varies from 30 to 100.

As for the third class….

In addition to the ridiculously high tuition fee of 3 silver plates per month, they are forced to live in a rundown dormitory with six people sharing a room, and all dormitory and food expenses are charged.

All facilities except the school building, library, and cafeteria are prohibited to use except for classes.

They can’t even borrow a book from the library.

Moreover… the school buildings are divided by class, and the third class building is a ruin that looks like it will collapse at any moment.

The lessons are the same for all students, and attendance is mandatory for all tests.

It’s a harsh class that applies corporal punishment, and the students are not allowed to leave the school except for long vacations.

Furthermore, they must treat the students of the first and second classes as higher-ranking students… and since there is an unreasonable school rule that allows students of the first class to freely punish students of the third class (including expulsion), I heard that there are many students of the third class who drop out of school or suffer from mental illness due to bullying.

Even for their families, those who can’t pass the second class are useless in noble society, and they are nuisance who are likely to do poorly in political struggles and ruin their families.

Therefore, they want to get rid of them (using any plausible reason) before they graduate.

That’s why this unreasonable school caste is recognized by most of the privileged classes in the Kingdom of Quall.

Every year, about 150 students from each department enrolled in the third class, but the limit isn’t specified, and anyone can be admitted as long as they take the second class exam and pay the tuition fee.

…… In short, it’s a kind of class where rich kids, who couldn’t get into the second class due to lack of effort, try to graduate (survive) while watching hell.

In the Kingdom of Quall, graduating from Quall Royal Academy seems to be essential for men from noble families or large merchants, so running away isn’t allowed.

But, according to the data I received, there are quite a few people who run away or fail every year….

According to Count Brand’s wife, most of those people are usually thrown out of their homes and end up starving to death.

I also read that from the data….

「I passed without any problem, so for now, I guess I’ll try to find a house and slaves. I have enough money thanks to the enchantment requests I’ve done so far. I’m going to rent a dormitory, but I also want a base for when I explore the labyrinth.」

「Don’t forget about the audience with His Majesty the King. I’m sure they won’t force you, but… since the exam is over, I think they will send you an invitation soon.」

………

That’s depressing….

~The next day~

The plan for today is to go around the slave trading houses and get slaves with good aptitudes.

Even though the danger from Rosalta has decreased, I still want to raise my forces to maintain a good environment.

As an enchanter who has combat skills, I can exert my power the more people I have under my command.

For this reason, during the three years of attending the academy, I want to use this time to accumulate power by increasing my subordinates and strengthening my own fighting power.

「Welcome. What kind of slave are you looking for today?」

The slave trader asked me so with a smile.

「For now, I want you to show me all the slaves in this trading house.」

I told him so while handing the letter of introduction from Count Brand.

I want slaves with an aptitude of B or higher, so I have to check a lot of them.

And even if they have a good aptitude, I don’t want someone with a personality problem.

「Understood. Then, I will bring 10 slaves at a time.」

The slave trader said so and brought slaves one after another, but… I couldn’t find any slaves with aptitude B or above.

「The next 10 will be the last.」

…… Found it!

I unexpectedly hit the jackpot on the 90th person!