Chapter 6 - The beggar noble wants to earn money
There was a resting time of 30 minutes scheduled between the first and second exam, but the moment that break began we were flooded with people grouping up around us.
"Lady Bluedon, where did you find that dead reaper? No, rather than that, how amazing is it that you defeated it without any injuries!"
"No, that was-..."
Before she could involve me in the discussion I slipped away from there and changed location to an empty corner of the campus, together with Emma, who handed me some boxed lunch. Even back in youth rearing school she would always prepare one for me along with hers.
"Thanks for always."
"No problem~, but more importantly than that, hey, did you defeat that dead reaper?"
"Only as a secret between you and I."
"I knew it... You've been rapidly getting stronger recently, haven't you? Does it have to do with the great sage?"
"That's not it. It's because I found an excellent master."
"...A woman?"
"You could say that."
"Muuh~, if I'm not good enoughー"
She put on a moping look and pouted her lips. Ah-, please stop snatching pieces of my side dishes.
Trying to get her to stop being suspicious I explained that it's not some kind of weird relationship, nor is master some kind of dangerous person, but to no avail.
While we were killing time like that the second exam started. This time, points were earned by demonstrating one's speciality to an examiner. A lot of them were scattered all around the area, waiting on standby.
"――Next, Noir Stalgia."
"Here."
"Member of the number one team, huh. What will you do?"
"Right, about that――"
To no surprise, being placed first by such a large margin caused a lot of spectators to gather. The people around us far outnumbered the ones at the other examiners. Honestly, wouldn't it be fine not to aim for a lot of points here? Whether you pass or fail is decided based on the sum of both the first and second exam, so even without trying hard an S rank was pretty much guaranteed.
"I will fire a stone projectile."
"Go ahead."
I fired at the scarecrow that was prepared for me as a target. I took away some of the shot's power, but still made sure it hit the mark.
"W-wasn't that projectile pretty small just now!?"
"It might be that he's bad with magic, there wasn't a whole lot of power behind it either."
"And I thought stone projectile's shots were a fixed size... I see."
The examiner was surprised as well and wrote down a score on his sheet of paper. Well, even if I'm considered an irregular it shouldn't cause a point increase. At any rate, with this my exam was over. Now all that was left was to wait.
Several hours later we all gathered in the school yard again. Everyone that passed received a hero school badge and Lenore, Emma and I also properly received one.
With this, unemployment has been officially escaped!
Apparently the top ten scores were to be publicly announced by the school director. Although I had already passed I was still curious about the final order, so I stuck around.
I wasn't among the ranks from tenth to fourth. Of course, neither were Emma and Lenore.
"――Third place, Noir Stalgia. Second place, Emma Brightness. First place, Lenore Bluedon!"
Seems like the first exam's points were too high after all. Good thing I took it easy with the second one, standing out by getting first place would have been awkward.
"Noir Stalgia! Was it you who defeated the dead reaper?"
Rank one Lenore came to question me with a serious look.
"My memory isn't so good, anything more than three minutes before gets a little fuzzy."
"Like you're that kind of old geezer!"
Nice quip, Emma.
"Isn't it fine either way? You got first place. Congratulations, Lenore. Since we'll be in the same class from now on let's forget the tension at the beginning and get along well. Not that I'm trying to force you though."
"...No, I'm the one that should say that. I apologize for my impoliteness. The fact that I looked down on you for being of baronet status is the truth."
She displayed an unexpected amount of sincerity and initiated a handshake.
To avoid the commotion caused by submitting the dead reaper I also asked her if she could take the role of the one that defeated it and she gladly accepted the proposal.
"I mean, as far as actual ability goes I could have defeated it on my own just as well, so I suppose I will grant your request."
"That's a relief."
She sure is the type to want to brag. That personality saved me this time.
――And thus, my enrolment into hero school was decided and I was in a pleasant mood. Until I arrived at the reception desk, that is.
"Congratulations on your enrolment. Please prepare the school fee of 300,000 ria until the school entrance ceremony in one week."
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