"Heh heh... I never expected Baron Sung Yujin Prucus to visit Goldway Academy."
The old man sitting across from me spoke in a gentle tone.
He was Harvis Brachio, the 11th Dean of Goldway Academy and an Archmage.
An Archmage's cultivation realm is comparable to that of an Aura Master among knights.
"I've always been deeply interested in Goldway Academy. The most prestigious academy on the continent! An academy where anyone who receives its education can achieve success in life! I've always wanted to attend."
"As you said, Goldway Academy is an exceptional institution. That's why we don't accept students lightly. Moreover, it's not even the admission period right now."
The Goldway Entrance Exam is renowned for its rigor. Ordinary individuals without talent in swordsmanship or magic have no chance of admission. The bare minimum requirement is proficiency in manipulating Mana.
Goldway's obsession with talent is so extreme that even the children of Nobles are rejected if they lack the necessary aptitude. Conversely, commoners with exceptional talent can receive recommendations from alumni scattered across the land, financial support, and the opportunity to take the entrance exam.
"I am a high-grade Aura User, on the verge of reaching the Expert Cultivation Realm."
"Hoh. To reach such a level at your age... truly remarkable."
"However, I feel I lack something to reach the Expert Cultivation Realm. Attending the academy might help me fill that gap... I truly wish to attend Goldway Academy."
"Baron Prucus, you are already remarkable. There's no need to be impatient. Effort never betrays you. If you continue to cultivate diligently, you will soon reach the Expert Realm."
Dean Harvis showed no intention of admitting me to the academy.
I couldn't blame him. The traditions of Goldway Academy were at stake.
"I understand my brother is enrolled at Goldway Academy..."
"The Baron's brother...? Ah, you mean Cadet Kyle? If you wish to meet him, feel free. Goldway Academy does not forbid family reunions."
Kyle was living as a commoner, having left Purcus Castle. The fact that he'd been recognized meant someone had investigated him. Well, investigation was inevitable, and using the name "Kyle" made it easy to uncover his identity.
So, they have no intention of admitting me based on words alone.
Convincing the Dean with words would have been ideal... but there was no choice.
I placed the iron briefcase I'd prepared onto the table.
A clinking sound came from inside the case.
"I've never seen a box like this before. What is it?"
"A donation I've prepared for Goldway Academy. If I'm admitted, I intend to donate it all. After all, it's the academy I'll be attending, so it's only natural, wouldn't you agree?"
What I had prepared was money.
"Heh... ha, ha ha."
Habis chuckled in disbelief.
There must have been many nobles like me who would pay any price to enter Goldway Academy. Yet they had all failed.
Ultimately, Goldway Academy values talent above all else. Admitting a noble scion with subpar talent would immediately raise suspicions.
The difference between them and me wasn't money, but talent. My talent met the academy's admission standards. The other students would never suspect I had bought my way in.
"Didn't my brother enter the Swordsmanship Department as a special cadet, bypassing the regular admission process? Is such an arrangement impossible for me?"
"A special cadet is slightly different from a regular student. Cadet Kyle became a special cadet based on the strong recommendations of the Swordsmanship Department professors."
At the academy, cadets must be recommended by professors. While they receive education like regular students, they also assist professors with their research.
Normally, cadets are selected from among the students, but Kyle is a special cadet brought in from outside the academy by a professor.
Kyle's swordsmanship is fundamentally different from that of this world, so the professors summoned him to study his techniques.
"I have no intention of becoming a special cadet like my brother. My abilities are far too lacking for that."
Click-clack.
When the bag was opened, it revealed a hoard of gold coins packed tightly inside.
Habis stared into the bag with wide eyes.
"There are 4,000 gold coins in total, worth 2 billion Neru."
"...Hmph."
Habis's eyes flickered.
Two billion Neru was a substantial sum, equivalent to several months' revenue for a small Magic Tower.
Though an Archmage, Habis was still human, and immune to the allure of wealth.
And recently, an incident occurred at Goldway Academy. They must have spent a fortune cleaning up the mess.
Rumor had it that the Department of Magic had been studying a captured Chimera when it went berserk, destroying several magic research labs.
"Hmm... But..."
The earlier decisiveness had vanished. Habis's hesitation was plain to see.
"I don't intend to stay at Goldway Academy for long. As the Master of a Territory, I plan to attend for only about three months before departing."
Goldway Academy is a five-year institution. While there is an early graduation exam, it is notoriously difficult.
"Three months?! Are you serious?"
"Why would I lie?"
"Hmm. Three months might be possible. However, I cannot grant you a diploma."
"I understand. It would be daylight robbery to earn a Goldway Academy diploma in just three months."
"I'm glad you understand. However, enrolling as a regular student won't work. We need a different approach..."
He fell into deep thought. I waited patiently. Just gaining admission to Goldway Academy was already a significant achievement.
"A sudden transfer would raise eyebrows among both professors and students... Hmm. That's it! An Auditor position would be perfect."
"...What?"
Why was the topic of auditing suddenly being brought up?
"Wouldn't it seem odd for a transfer student to only attend for three months? The professors and students would likely object. But if I subtly spread rumors that you're an auditor, the resistance will vanish."
"...That makes sense."
An auditor posing as a student, secretly auditing the academy for three months. If such rumors circulated discreetly, the professors and students would likely treat me with extra care.
"Starting tomorrow would be too abrupt... We need time to spread the rumors. You should enroll as a student three days from now."
"Thank you, Dean Harvis. Thanks to you, I'll finally get to experience attending Goldway Academy, something I've dreamed of for so long."
"Hmm. Will you be staying in the dormitory?"
"Yes, I would prefer that if possible. However, I have three servants. Wouldn't the dormitory be too small?"
"That's no problem. Several dormitories reserved for nobles are vacant. You can use one of those."
"Thank you for your consideration."
"I'm merely fulfilling my duties as Dean. But this money..."
"Yes, I'm donating it all. Please use it for the Goldway Academy."
"Ahem. Very well."
Habis collected the bag of money. Will this money truly be used solely for the academy's benefit?
I shook my head, dismissing the doubt. The money was no longer in my possession. How it was used was no longer my concern.
Heh heh. Academy life. I'm fucking looking forward to it.
I and my maids entered the dormitory prepared by Dean Habis.
The noble dormitory was smaller than I'd expected. It had three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a private bathroom.
This is hardly fitting for nobles. And the furniture is all cheap.
I decided to replace all the furniture.
Compared to my mansion in Tevra, this place is practically a dump... but it's not like I'll be living here forever.
I decided to settle for it.
I had a large, plush bed brought into the largest bedroom and summoned the maids.
"Girls, hurry over here! Since we'll be staying here, we need to mark our territory!"
"Greetings. I am Sung Yujin Prucus from the Rapelli Kingdom. I've admired Goldway Academy since childhood and will be attending classes with you all for the next three months. I look forward to working with you."
A fourth-year student in the Swordsmanship Department, I confidently addressed the crowd of over fifty students. Though young, my skills rival theirs. None here can defeat me except for Kyle.
Kyle stared at me blankly, his expression dazed. He seemed genuinely shocked.
After finishing my introduction, I casually took an empty seat, deliberately distancing myself from Kyle. He was surrounded by people, befitting his status as the original work's protagonist.
Kyle kept glancing at me, clearly wanting to approach and speak, but he hesitated due to the watchful eyes around us.
The other students were all wary of me. Knowing I was posing as an Auditor, they would treat me with caution.
Class began.
The Swordsmanship Department didn't just teach sword techniques. We also studied the continent's history, war strategies, and other related subjects.
After graduating from the academy, Swordsmanship Department students would ultimately become knights, and knights were essentially soldiers.
During the break after class, students gathered around me.
"Prucus... are you referring to the Count Prucus Family of the Rapelli Kingdom?"
"Goldway Academy is such a prestigious institution. I'm from the Kingdom of Thetis..."
Most of them were nobles, because I was a noble myself. They were also trying to impress me with their flattery.
Though I found it tedious, I maintained a polite smile and engaged with them appropriately.
"Master Sung Yujin Prucus, if you don't mind, would you like to speak privately? I can tell you more about Goldway Academy."
"...And you are?"
"I'm Kyle Zeder."
Kyle Zeder. The alias Kyle used.
I stood up.
"Please take care of me, Mr. Kyle," I said with a sly grin.
Kyle led me to a secluded area. Judging by the armor, swords, and scarecrow-like dummies, it seemed to be a preparation room.
"Yujin! I never imagined you'd come to Goldway Academy. You didn't follow me here, did you?"
He was right.
"No, I've been interested in Goldway Academy for a while now."
"A coincidence then? How could such a coincidence happen...?"
"It's not entirely a coincidence. I knew my brother was here."
"You knew?"
"Hyung, you're the second son of the Prucus Family, but you seem to know so little about them. The Prucus Family knows everything about your activities."
"..."
Kyle looked utterly shocked. With his somewhat naive nature, he clearly hadn't imagined the Prucus Family would be tracking him.
"Hyung, your jaw's going to drop."
"Oh, uh... But if the family knew, why...?"
"They respect your choices. Though Mother seems a bit annoyed."
"..."
Kyle fell into deep thought, likely pondering the family's motives. Watching him, I wondered if he might return to the mansion sooner than in the original story.
"I'm a bit surprised. With your swordsmanship skills, you don't really need to learn it at the academy, do you?"
"I owe a debt to the professor... and I wanted to learn the various swordsmanship styles of this world."
This was a fact I already knew from the original work.
Kyle's goal was to establish the Volcanic Sect in this world, and it would be wise to familiarize himself with the local swordsmanship styles in preparation for that day.
"By the way... there's a rumor going around the academy that you're the Auditor... Is that true?"
"It's true."
He lied without even wetting his lips. Since everything had been arranged with Dean Harvis, there was no chance of being exposed.
"Hmph. I see. The professors and students are all scrambling to curry favor with you. They even did a massive clean-up yesterday, you know?"
Kyle greeted me with a smile.
"When are you planning to return to the family, ??"
"...Did Mother and Father ask you to bring me back?"
"You know they're not the type to do that. I'm just asking since we're here. I really want you to come back to the mansion soon."
I wanted him to return to the family quickly and fight with Gent, the eldest son. That way, I could profit from the conflict between them.
"At least for now... I have no intention of returning."
"Alright. I'll explain things to Mother."
"By the way, Yujin, if you're here... did Yuria come with you?"