All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 282

141. The Days to Pass – 2

Elda tilted his head, puzzled by the mention of ‘Daddy-Long-Legs’.

Grazyn chuckled at his reaction.

“That’s Ian Brandon.”

“Gasp.”

Elda was astonished.

The man who championed opportunities for those with ability but lacked education due to their humble backgrounds.

The one who defeated the Dragon Lord and vanquished the demon gods, bringing peace to the continent.

To meet Ian Brandon, the owner of Fredon Academy and the strongest person on the continent, in person.

Elda’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he followed him.

“Sir Ian! Um, excuse me.”

“There’s nothing more regrettable than being unable to strive when you possess the ability but lack the opportunity.”

“Pardon?”

“What I enjoy is seeing people resist injustice and grow through that resistance.”

“Ah…”

He didn’t quite understand what Ian meant.

He wondered what joy there could be in watching such a struggle.

But Ian had said that’s what he desired.

It was true that he owed Ian a debt.

Until now, the stage hadn’t even been set, but now it was prepared.

He would be judged on how much he grew through his own efforts, so he had no choice but to work hard.

“I will do my best!”

“Excellent.”

Grazyn nodded, impressed, and Ian chuckled.

“Yes, excellent. Now, let’s go. But he’s not the only scholarship student, is he?”

“There will be some who arrive without taking the train.”

“Is that so?”

True.

There was still only one railroad track.

Once the railroad connecting to the Salt Margraviate was built,

and after the track was connected to the Elven Forest, other tracks could be added and expanded.

“We need to build the tracks diligently.”

“The wizards and engineers in the research and development zone will be working themselves to the bone.”

“Originally, their blood, sweat, and effort are the fuel of technological development.”

“I don’t think you’re the one to talk, after detonating hundreds of Titans [powerful magical constructs].”

Elda listened to their conversation with wide, sparkling eyes.

Titans, no less.

Hundreds of them.

It seemed like he had encountered truly extraordinary people.

At that moment, Myane, who was perched on his shoulder, meowed softly and jumped towards Elda.

“Myaah~”

“Wow~ what a cute cat! She seems to like people a lot.”

Myane settled on the trunk and moved her white, fluffy paws.

While Elda was admiring her, a large man approached from the alley.

“Hey, Ian. Are you heading back to the Academy?”

It was Blench, who had gone to the market for other errands after leaving with Ian and Grazyn.

Grazyn looked at him, puzzled, as he held luggage in both hands.

“What’s all that you’re carrying?”

“Snacks for the tea party today. But who’s this boy I’ve never seen before?”

“A new student. He’s accompanying us because he’s going to the Academy too,” Ian replied.

At Ian’s reply, Blench looked at him with interest.

Blench grinned as he met Elda’s gaze, who was staring at him confidently.

“You’ve got a good look in your eyes. Do well.”

“Yes! Senior!”

After finishing their errands, the four returned to the Academy.

The entrance of Fredon Academy was crowded with students and their families who had come to enroll.

“Alright, alright. Let’s get through.”

The nobles who wanted to see their children enter Fredon Academy frowned at Ian and his group as they tried to pass.

Ian, Blench, and Grazyn were not wearing student uniforms.

But Elda was wearing a student uniform.

Moreover, it was a student uniform with a mark indicating a new student.

“What? Who are you guys? New students? Hmm…”

All three of them next to him looked like knights from ordinary noble families.

Judging from their plain attire, he thought they were at most people from a baronet family, and he smiled arrogantly.

“To dare to ask Baron Roblanc to step aside. How very insolent.”

“Mister, is this your first time here?”

Blench snorted.

There were people like that from time to time.

Lords who were treated like kings in their own territories would act like kings in other places.

“Fredon Academy isn’t a place where just anyone can act like that.”

“Hmph. It’s just that, seeing as you’ve only just arrived with a new student…”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you know that the order of admission for new students entering Fredon Academy this time has been determined by rank?”

That was the first time he had heard of it.

Blench looked at Ian, puzzled, and Ian asked Kirke [an AI assistant] mentally,

‘What’s going on?’

‘Ah. Is that so? But it doesn’t include everyone, does it?’

There was nothing particularly problematic.

What could he say if they were exercising their noble privileges before admission?

But if they did that after entering, they would be subject to immediate disciplinary action.

‘Good. Let’s tell Rowena [likely a staff member].’

While Ian was talking with Kirke, Roblanc stroked his 멋들어진 [Korean for ‘stylish’ or ‘fancy’] mustache.

“Anyway, if you want to pass, you’d better go back that way.”

“Why should we go back? And wouldn’t it be better to move when we’re asking nicely? You don’t even know who we are.”

“Hmph. Who are you? And judging by that guy, he looks like a commoner. If you’re bringing a commoner, then you guys are also…”

Just as he was about to say a few more words, Ian grabbed Grazyn and Blench and stepped forward.

“I’m Ian Brandon.”

“……Yes?”

Roblanc thought he had misheard.

No, even the nobles who were watching and snickering next to him had stiff expressions.

“Wh-Who did you say you were……?”

“I’m Ian Brandon. Move.”

“D-Don’t be ridiculous. Sir Ian Brandon is……”

Ian lightly raised his hand.

At that moment, a jet-black aura blade materialized above his hand.

“Do I have to cut your throat for you to move?”

“Hey. If you cut his throat, he won’t be able to move, will he?”

“Is this the time to be saying that?”

Grazyn scolded Blench, but no one paid attention.

To think that the person in front of them was really Ian.

Roblanc turned pale and slumped down.

And the nobles who were watching also stepped back in fear.

Ian, the strongest on the continent.

The hero who defeated the Dragon Lord and captured the god of demons, saving the world.

Considering Ian’s personality, they knew they should never act rashly.

They were on good terms now, but at one time he had even been willing to wage war against the Scarlet Kingdom.

In addition, he had destroyed the gates and walls of the Theocracy and directly brought down the Iron-Blooded Duke, who was the second-in-command of the Empire.

There was even a story that even royalty and nobles had to be careful in front of him.

“I-I’m sorry. I was very rude.”

It was no different from offending his sensibilities.

Fearing that they would be caught in the crossfire, the nobles who were next to him stepped back, while Roblanc trembled and knelt down.

“It’s okay since you didn’t know.”

Ian released the aura blade.

Roblanc was surprised at his response.

“Yes?”

“If you knew and attacked, I would consider it resistance and deal with you accordingly. But to someone who attacked without knowing and then surrendered… there’s no need to go that far, is there?”

“Th-That’s right! Thank you! Thank you!”

“Now you know, so it’s okay, right? Be careful in the future.”

Ian lightly patted Roblanc’s shoulder and went inside Fredon Academy.

As he, Blench, Grazyn, and even Elsa, who happened to be next to him, entered, the nobles who were watching quickly racked their brains.

“Sir Ian Brandon……”

“But who is that new student?”

“Could he be Sir Ian Brandon’s younger sibling or child?”

“But he’s known to have no family?”

Everyone failed to guess that Ian and Elda had just met at the station.

While the nobles were racking their brains, Ian, who had entered the Academy, said to Elda.

“The new students are gathering over there.”

Some of the new students were already gathering and going inside.

Elda, looking back and forth between them and Ian, clenched his fist slightly.

“Sir Ian. Um… you belong to the upper class, right?”

“Yes.”

“I… I want to go to the upper class too.”

“It won’t be easy.”

Blench said with a smile.

To get to the upper class, you need to be at least an Expert.

In terms of magic, you have to reach the 5th Circle [a measure of magical proficiency].

No matter how talented you are, would that be easy?

“Well, if you get special training from Ian, it might be possible by the next semester.”

Ian had raised Princess Charlotte, who was only a 2nd Circle mage, to Master in just over a month.

Elda, who knew that, nodded slightly.

“So, um.”

“The sponsorship ends here. You have to climb up the rest on your own.”

“Ah……”

Ian smiled at him, who was visibly disappointed.

“Try to get to the upper class. Your current level seems to be around the 3rd Circle.”

“How did you know?”

“I know everything once I see it. Well, good luck. Hey, let’s go.”

Ian turned away with Blench and Grazyn.

Elda stared blankly at him and clenched his fist tightly.

A figure of admiration that had never existed before had appeared.

“……I will definitely get to the upper class!”

With that determination, he strode towards the grand auditorium where the new students were gathering.

“Where have you been?”

Haroon was there when they entered the lobby.

Wilval, sitting in front of him, was seriously contemplating something, probably playing a game of Go for a bet again.

Blench showed him the luggage to the one who asked the question, and Haroon smiled.

“You bought new snacks? Then let’s finish quickly and have a cup of tea.”

“I’ll make the tea.”

“Wow~ that’s an honor. Sir Ian Brandon is even making tea for us.”

“What are you talking about? You drank it yesterday too.”

With skillful movements, Ian prepared the tea while other students came down from upstairs.

Seeing Blench unpacking the snacks on the table, Widiya looked at Ian and said.

“You’re brewing it with the one I brought from home this time, right?”

“Yeah. Hey. This is good.”

“Hehe. It would be even better if you came to my house and drank it later. This year’s tea is especially good.”

She grinned and took a sip of the tea that Ian had brewed, enjoying it.

He didn’t know where he had learned it, but the tea that Ian brewed had a better aroma than the tea that others brewed.

“How did you brew this?”

“I brewed it with two spoons of sunshine, one spoon of moonlight, and one spoon of affection, putting all my heart into it.”

“Good. I don’t know what you put in it, but.”

While the students were enjoying a short break with tea and snacks,

the door to the dormitory lobby burst open.

It was Vala and Park Bare.

“Hey! Come out!”

“Why?”

“There’s a fight! We have to go watch!”

“Fights happen every day, don’t they?”

“It’s a fight between new students!”

Fights between the weak are always the most interesting.

As a few people felt interested and went out, Blench put down the teacup he had finished drinking.

“Are you going?”

“I’m not going.”

Ian said as if he had no interest and stroked Myane’s back.

Myane, who yawned leisurely, began to doze off.

Blench smiled at the sight and got up from his seat.

“Then I’ll go and see. I’m looking forward to seeing how much these new students can do?”

Ian only sipped his tea, as if he didn’t care whether he went or not.

As all the students left and the lobby became quiet, Ian said alone.

“Kirke. What’s the world collection rate?”

<97% completed.>

“It’s a little faster than expected.”

“What is the expected completion date?”

At Ian’s question, Kirke answered calmly.