19th March, year 907 of the saint calendar (Saturday)
It was the arrival of the second spring after the promotion exam of G class, and I am now 15 years old.
One year and a half, although this passing of time isn't a big deal for me, who is an old man mentally, it couldn't be said the same for the surroundings around me which was changing hectically.
Unsurprisingly, Ruddle transformed the most. The technology innovation in Camelot and Arc Roy has advanced dramatically specially.
With the development of concrete and asphalt, roads and footpaths are paved by them. In addition, traffic lights are established and carriages have been completely replaced by cars.
The railway tracks ran by the railway station next to the town, running between the Ruddle's each town and village at a fixed interval. The railway tracks that were under construction between Sutherland and Ruddle have also successfully opened and five trains are running between them everyday.
In terms of Industry, the establishment of a chemical research institute and the factory on the suburbs of Camelot has led to the rapid development of chemical technologies and also succeeded in developing methane based natural gas. In this way, Ruddle was provided with three lifelines : water, electricity and gas.
Furthermore, all sorts of convenient domestic appliances like washing machines, refrigerators, gas stoves etc are being developed and put on the market for sale each day.
Naturally, the wealthy merchants in the world were also ecstatic about the Ruddle's technology and longed to sell the devices to their hometown and to other cities.
But again, these devices are meaningful only when they are provided with electricity. The things that can be done by rechargeable batteries are limited. Hence, the necessity for the establishment of power plants in each place.
I have also applied for the patent of scientific technologies like electricity, automobiles or railway in the commercial guild. However there's no one who can understand the mechanism of these machines since the technology is too high level but even if they could be built, it would be impossible for them to maintain it and become a useless thing.
Thereupon, a commercial guild approached me about the enrollment of their company's members to the university of Camelot that was established for the purpose of educating Ruddlians. Appearance, it was the decision made by the general parliament of commerce, the high level decision making body of the commercial guild, beside it was also a great joy for me for the propagation of science and technology. That's why I was making adjustments to recognize it.
Just, there was one problem. The Camelot University was based on my academy rights of my magic knight academy's professor position. In short, it becomes necessary to get the approval of the imperial government for the enrollment of someone in the academy who isn't imperialist.
I did request the imperial government for comprehensive authorization but I haven't heard a bit of word from them in several weeks. When I tried to contact them, I was summoned by the imperial government on the contrary.
"Grey一一 ah, I mean Lord Shirabe, thank you for taking the trouble to come here"
The cabinet minister of the department of education, a short haired old man, guides me to the couch on the side and urge me to take a seat.
"It would be nice if you can call me Grey here"
The reason why he restated was because my name, Shirabe Ines Navarro, had become famous after the promotion exam of the academy.
The imperial government, who thought of the inevitable chaps, decided that lord of Ruddle will be named as Shirabe Ines Navarro from hereafter.
Currently, I don't wish for my name to be exposed to Cliff and Aqua. So it just turned out to be in my favor.
The cabinet minister took the seat opposite of me,
"I am truly sorry for the inconvenience"
Said this and bowed so deeply his head was almost touching the table.
"You don't have to, although I am not aware of the situation very well but you mean to say I need separate permission from the imperial government for the enrollment in the graduate school of the Camelot?"
"I'm sorry but it's the decision of the imperial government. The graduate school of Camelot is currently one of the important education facilities of our country alongside the imperial magic knight academy. It's an educational institute managed by you. So you should be be aware of the large number of acceptance of non-Ruddlians into the general quota, right?"
"Yeah, it seems the ratio was 400% this year."
Camelot University was basically established for the education of Ruddliance. Therefore, 400 students are admitted every year from Ruddliance.
However, rumors of the success of the G class in the promotion exam of the magic knight academy attracts the winds and the requests from aristocrats and the wealthy merchants throughout the empire who hoped for their son to be enrolled in the academy floods in.
As a result, only 20 students were admitted as a general quota.
"There was a plan to increase the general quote and it should be same"
"I'm learning a lot, it's really fun!"
"Yeah, the life there is extremely fulfilling"
Both of them are students of Camelot graduate school. Apparently, they were interested after attending my lessons and wanted to enroll in the graduate school of Camelot.
Since it was just before the promotion exam, no one was whimsical enough to want to enroll in the university of savage land like Ruddle, so both of them were easily admitted without taking the exam. Of course when it's about exams, there's no use clinging to your connection. It would have been uncertain whether they could safely enroll if they were half a year late.
"Oh, I'm glad then"
I began to listen to their chattering.
Lilinoah is in the department of research and development while Olivia is in the department of political economics and enthusiastically pursuing the knowledge together with her friend from Ruddle.
I'm the principal of Camelot graduate school. There's no one to reproach me and I can manage it however I want. That's why the curriculum is taught by instructors who have endured my devilish training and thoroughly refining their knowledge everyday without any compromise.
"Have you met with Stella lately?"
Sure enough, she asked about that incident. It's not only Lilinoah. I was also asked a similar question by Lucia who's commuting to the same Camelot university last week. It was the same for others. It seems I have caused people around me to worry a lot.
"I haven't. I haven't encountered recently"
I wonder if Stella and other's S-1 and S-2 class have been harassed by the deputy head. Because they aren't even taking my lessons on the day of my sole elective subject, fairy-tale like empire's history class. There are also times when it's unavoidable due to compulsory subjects though they aren't facing me directly.
Or rather, I have been completely avoided by Stella ever since the promotional exam time. Maybe she's feeling a little guilty about me.
Though saying that, I'm personally seeing it in a positive light that Stella is able to get away from her brother. What Stella needs from now is not me alone, but lots of friends.
"Geez, why are you always like this Grey!?"
Lilinoah rose up from seat and pointed her index finger at me. It's rare for the Lilinoah to show her emotions so much.
"Hmm? Is there something to be angry about?"
"I'm not angry!"
No, you look angry no matter how I see. However, the rule of thumbs say it would only have adverse effects if I point it out, so I decided not to speak out.
"Hmm, but Stella is now 17 years old like Lily. Isn't it strange for me to meddle all the time?"
"Families are exactly to meddle!"
Families are to meddle, is it? It's true there is some truth to it and it's also true that I wanted to talk with Stella occasionally. However it's hard for someone like me who's an old man from the core to understand the mental state of adolescent children, so maybe I might have grown timid.
"Okay, I understand. I will try to talk with her next time"
"Yeah. Absolutely do it!!"
"Thank you Lily"
When I gently caressed the head of Lily next to me and expressed my gratitude,
"Y, yeah"
She falteringly nodded with her face looking down.
"Let's eat then"
I urged them and began to eat again.