Entrance Ceremony
The day of the entrance ceremony had arrived.
The sky was clear, as if blessing the occasion.
It was a day fitting for the second step toward my grand ambitions.
The academy's grounds were far larger than I had imagined.
As expected of a sanctuary for elites, accessible only to the chosen few.
"What a splendid day, Lucina."
"Yes! And today as well, Master Lake is utterly magnificent from head to toe!"
Lucina, now fully adept at wearing her maid uniform, drew attention with her bold proclamation.
The other freshmen around us were in an uproar.
Lucina does have quite a loud voice, after all.
Before long, whispers began spreading from all directions.
"That's the one from the Gallard Company… Forcing his maid to say such things—what poor taste."
"He probably got in with his parents' connections."
"Or maybe they made a massive donation to the academy?"
… Not good.
My already low reputation was plummeting further.
I had heard rumors, but the status of commoners really is pitifully low in this academy.
And now this unwanted attention...
I got carried away and deeply regretted it.
Lucina, for her part, was furious at those whispering behind our backs. "Shall I deal with them? I found a nice secluded spot behind the school building earlier," she said, almost losing her cool.
I had to work hard to calm her down—what a hassle.
From now on, I'll need to exercise the utmost caution in public.
The noble sons and daughters here could become vital sources of income—no, important business partners—in the future.
Should I adopt a more reserved attitude?
—But that would make it harder to achieve the goal I set upon entering the academy.
That goal is… to become the ruler of the academy.
From the start, I anticipated being looked down upon due to my background.
In this world, where family status is of utmost importance, that’s only natural.
Thus, I needed to overturn those evaluations.
To achieve that, the relationships I form here will significantly shape my future.
By demonstrating my superiority, I aim to make them think, "If this man runs the trading company, it’s safe to entrust business to him."
I’ve already taken steps toward this goal.
Using the powerful connections of the Gallard Company, I had gathered information about my fellow freshmen before enrollment.
I've compiled a list of students from influential families I wish to approach.
First, I'll target promising candidates for excellent magic users.
There’s a reason for this strategy.
I had Lucina create a certain weapon during the month leading up to enrollment.
Frankly, I’m amazed she managed to achieve such high quality based on the rough sketch I drew.
But that’s what one can expect from someone considered the finest craftsman in a smithy renowned for five generations in the royal capital.
Once I assign her to oversee product development in one of our trading company branches, she’ll undoubtedly excel.
For now, though, the completion of this weapon will eliminate my weakness.
My only weakness—the fact that my mana capacity is below average.
I discovered this during the mana assessment ritual at the age of three.
I still remember how shocked I was when I first learned this truth.
I managed to master basic magic, but I had to give up pursuing anything beyond that and change my path.
Father, however, was surprisingly nonchalant, saying, "If you don’t have it, so be it," and continued treating me the same as before.
To him, magic is irrelevant.
A merchant’s worth lies in their ability to generate profit.
Besides, he himself can’t use magic, so he probably doesn’t care much about it.
Mother, on the other hand, seemed a little disappointed.
In any case, while I’m not completely devoid of mana, the priests explained that my capacity is insufficient to properly use magic, which relies on drawing from the forces of nature.
Although there are no official statistics on the proportion of people capable of using magic, I’d estimate it’s about 40%.
In other words, being able to use magic is a significant advantage in this world.
As a reincarnator, I had looked forward to mastering flashy magic like fire, water, or wind.
The disappointment was crushing.
However, this realization fueled my determination.
Aspiring to be a top-tier villain, I felt it was nonsensical to give up just because "I can't."
More than anything, I wanted to experience using magic.
That’s why I came up with the idea of developing magic tools that replicate the effects of magic.
Thanks to Lucina, the prototype is nearly complete, with only the mana aspects left to finalize.
I plan to find someone at the academy to handle that part.
Even during the entrance ceremony, I elegantly tuned out the principal’s speech and evaluated my fellow freshmen.
Afterward, a teacher provided a brief explanation of the schedule.
Formal classes would start tomorrow, and a week later, there would be a ball to welcome the new students.
This ball is a major event, crucial for securing dominance in the academy.
It’s an opportunity for students to pair up for a dance, often forming close bonds.
—In fact, that’s usually the main objective.
Most students here come from distinguished families.
Many are probably under orders from their families to invite specific partners.
The most sought-after dance partners will undoubtedly be from the ducal families.
Particularly in this kingdom, the three great families known as the "Big Three" wield immense power.
Most students will likely aim to dance with someone from these families.
However, the girl I’ve set my sights on isn’t part of the Big Three, so competition shouldn’t be too fierce.
Well, it’s not like you can only dance with one person; it’s fine to pair up with multiple partners.
Still, I’ve decided to focus on one target. It comes across as more sincere that way.
That said, I plan to approach at least one potential client for the trading company in the future… but there’s no need to rush.
For now, I’ll focus on building my track record.
After the entrance ceremony, I took Lucina on a tour of the school building.
The place is so vast I wanted to familiarize myself with the layout, and I might even spot the girl I’m looking for.
"What a splendid garden. There’s even a stream running through it."
"They’ve certainly put a lot of effort into this place."
Walking through the academy, its scale was impressive.
One day, I will bring all this under my control.
As a prelude to dominating the world, this is more than sufficient.
While strolling through a quiet garden with no one else around,
"You’re so full of yourself for a commoner!"
The refreshing atmosphere was ruined by a sharp voice.
"Master Lake!"
"… I know."
Honestly, I didn’t want to get involved, but if I left it alone, Lucina’s sense of justice might explode, and she’d pulverize the offender.
If that happened, my plans would be ruined.
Lucina wouldn’t change her response based on whether the other party was from a distinguished family or not.
That’s just who she is, but I wish she’d understand the nuances of these situations.
Reluctantly, I headed toward the voice.
There, a lone girl was surrounded by four male students.
It was a classic bullying scene, but the girl seemed to be a commoner, while the boys were from noble families.
"Hmm?"
For a moment, I wondered if she might be the girl I’d seen at the examination venue, but she didn’t look familiar.
It’s rare for someone to enroll without passing the entrance exam—unless…
Ah, that’s right.
This year, a new system was introduced on a trial basis.
If she entered through that, her absence from the exam venue makes sense.
In that case… I can’t just let this slide.
I’m not planning to be a hero of justice, but I’m starting to feel motivated.
What do you think about this chapter?
