Chapter 177 - Postlude 5: "Looking back on my student life!"
Greetings! It is I, Violia Nico Fortesia!
I have come to Elsemarin for the first time in a long while!
"It's nostalgic~"
The sunlight reflecting off the white plastered buildings.
The cool sea breeze.
The glamorous beauty of the main street, and the charm of the back alleys that faintly wafted from its shadows. Elsemarin, which it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call my second home!
Ah, it's nostalgic! It's so nostalgic!
"You just came here for the Kraken hunt the other day."
"Even so, at that time, I didn't even have the leisure to feel nostalgic about the cityscape."
Keeb has a bit of an exasperated face, but that was definitely different. Coming to Elsemarin to beat up some tentacles is completely different from coming to Elsemarin elegantly like this!
"...Oh? Or is it, Keeb? Are you perhaps 'lacking leisure' right now?"
"T-there's no way that's true."
When I tried teasing him a bit, Keeb showed me a grumpy look... but I know. That he's a little nervous today.
Last night, too, he was preparing and checking things for today until the very last moment before he fell asleep.
"I suppose so. Fufufu, pardon me. I just wanted to tease you a little. Right, 'Professor' Keeb?"
...That's right. Today, Keeb has been invited as a special lecturer at the Royal Academy in Elsemarin.
The catalyst was very simple. It's national policy.
...Yes. It's national policy. As the Queen of this country, there are parts I had decided to reinforce first and foremost.
One of them is research. I also have Keeb working as a magic researcher at the royal castle.
New technology is a good thing, after all. To compete with other countries, you must have at least one or two areas where you excel over them, or it's out of the question. I have no intention of making my country someone else's vassal state.
And the thing that supports that research. That is education.
Yes. Education. Naturally, I am not thinking of anything unrealistic like 'every citizen should attend higher school.' There are plenty of jobs that require experience more than study. Each person should choose a job that suits their nature and stature, and gain the learning necessary for that job in their respective places.
Therefore, the 'promotion of education' I speak of is... education for those who will lead this country, those who will be involved in research, education, and national administration.
Well, in short, it's the enhancement of places like the academy in Elsemarin.
Originally, the Royal Academy in Elsemarin was mostly for nobles... but that meant it was a place of education for those with an aptitude for magic or those who would be involved in politics in some way. Look, most nobles have an aptitude for magic, don't they? So, to prevent them from carelessly blasting magic and causing a disaster, education was necessary in that sense too...
...Well, that was the original situation of the Royal Academy. This time, I, the Queen, decided to go on an inspection myself.
Regardless of anything else, this academy was quite shaky until recently.
There were many incompetent teachers who got in through connections when the incompetent fools of Orchesta were managing it, and because of the chaos of the revolution, some of the intellectual class with high crisis management skills fled the country... there was a shortage of human resources!
I am somehow calling back the intellectual class with high salaries and generous treatment. But I haven't been able to call everyone back. There were teachers who took care of me during my academy days, but some of them had already gained positions in other countries and could no longer return...
And I fired all the incompetent teachers Orchesta had sent in.
Well, even without me firing them, there were many cases where the cleaning was largely finished just by appropriately arresting them while they were participating in activities like 'Drag down the Devil of Fortesia who unjustly took the throne!' Why do incompetent teachers want to become activists? What is it? Is there a rule that they must become like that...?
...Well, setting aside the incompetent, the academy has become quite refreshed like this.
I also kidnapped or sold off some of the students, and some went into exile... overall, the scale has become smaller.
For that reason, as a national policy, I decided to strictly spend money on education and said, 'Even for commoners, scholarships will be provided to those who pass the entrance exam. Learn.' It's better to replenish the students who have decreased to some extent.
...And at the same time, I decided to invite special lecturers from all over to take charge of classes for a short period.
Several of my mentors who had gone across the sea also taught, saying, 'If it's for a short period, I can do it!' It's a grateful thing.
...And, the special lecturer starting today is Keeb Old. The youngest to belong to the Royal Magic Research Institute, a budding mage who has already achieved numerous results. Ohohoho.
So, it's the academy. ...Just two years ago, I was still a student here. For me to be the Queen now, visiting here for an inspection, it feels a bit strange...
"Now. Keeb. You have preparations for your class, don't you? Go to the staff room."
"What about Violia?"
"I shall go see the Headmaster first. I'll definitely come to see your class, so rest assured."
Keeb says things like 'I don't really need you to come see it...', but that's out of the question! My cute favorite is going to stand at the lectern!? There's no way I won't go see it!
"...By the way, what are you going to talk to the Headmaster about?"
"Let's see, first about the future management policy, I suppose. Also, I want to hear what kind of assistance they need. Providing support without knowing the actual situation on the ground wouldn't be efficient."
Keeb is also nodding, saying 'That's true.' He's a cute boy who understands reason, which is very good.
"Also, I might talk a bit about old times. Well, it's a rare inspection. A break is also necessary."
Well, I have some connection with the Headmaster. That person is quite a shrewd old man, but I don't dislike him.
Since there are many things to talk about, I thought I'd have a chat.
...Or so I thought.
"What kind of student was Violia?"
"Oh, are you curious about that?"
Keeb seems a bit curious. Though, it wasn't anything that great...
...No, my academy life might have been, well, a little bit unusual. Ohohoho.
There's still a little time until the appointed hour. I'll sit on a bench in the courtyard and talk to Keeb first. The Headmaster can wait.
"My student life was, if anything, miserable and lonely."
And so I remember my student life.
...Well, it wasn't enough to be a burden. But it was certainly a little bit lonely.
"I had no friends."
"Ah... I see."
Yes. Well... it was unavoidable.
House Fortesia was, after all, nouveau riche. Since we weren't original nobles, there were no connections or traditions between houses, and above all, the nobles at that time were completely rotten. Among classmates who were strictly told by their houses 'Do not associate with the likes of Fortesia,' there was no way friends could be made.
Well, I myself thought that craftsmen and merchant houses were more preferable than nobles. I couldn't fit in with the nobles of that time myself.
"Having water splashed on my textbooks, having water splashed on me... splashing sparks back in return. Various things happened."
"You splashed sparks. Not bad."
Looking back now, it's just 'various things happened,' but at that time, I sometimes felt pained. But now, because Keeb says 'Not bad,' I feel somewhat saved. The me of that time who lives in my heart is also smiling at this!
"Naturally, I was first in all the written exams. I didn't slack off in my studies."
"Heh. What if Violia became a special lecturer at the academy?"
"Unfortunately, I can't quite find the time for that... Besides, my practical skills weren't exactly high-scoring, you know?"
I remember the magic practical exams.
Partly because I was originally nouveau riche, and above all, because most of my magic power was taken up by my own poison resistance and my poisonous blood, I could hardly use magic.
The only thing I could use properly was body reinforcement magic. In addition to that, I could use simple fire magic and illusion magic.
"So I managed somehow with tricks... Since I was completely hopeless with summoning, I would create a fire bird with fire magic and illusion magic to make it look plausible and somehow pass..."
"You're quite skillful..."
Oh. I think Keeb could probably do that much if he wanted to. Look, he's already mumbling and creating a small bird that flickers with lightning. It's adorable. I won't touch it because I'd undoubtedly be electrocuted instantly.
"In that regard, Onii-sama was truly an excellent person... He exceeded full marks in both written and practical exams, and was always the top of the year!"
Well, I was me, but Onii-sama was Onii-sama! He was truly excellent... my pride of an older brother!
"Wait? Contraus doesn't have that much magic power either, right?"
"Yes. But Onii-sama is very skillful. Let's see..."
I think of an example for a moment... and then, I'll go with that one I actually heard from Onii-sama.
"Listen, Keeb. If you were given a task in a magic practical to 'use magic to destroy all the targets at a distance,' what points would you be concerned about?"
"What points, you say..."
Keeb thought for a moment, and then immediately gave an answer.
"...First, whether there's a time limit. Whether the score is higher if you're faster, or if the score is higher if you hit the center of the target. Things like that?"
"Oh, you're excellent. As expected of my student."
I can't help but stroke Keeb's head! Stroking the head of an excellent and cute boy is the only way! Besides, lately, Keeb doesn't seem to dislike being stroked that much. He might have gotten used to it! Then I have no choice but to stroke him! I'm stroking him!
"So, Contraus had a different perspective?"
"No? It was mostly the same as yours. However... he was thorough about it."
While stroking Keeb, I am already all smiles. I can't miss a chance to brag about Onii-sama!
"First, magic has things people are suited for and not suited for, right? I can't use lightning magic like you, and you're not particularly good at fire magic, are you? ...Therefore, the academy's policy is 'as long as you can produce the same result, it doesn't matter if you use fire or water.'"
"Well, that makes sense."
"Yes. Therefore, Onii-sama thought about 'what is the result that must be produced'... and he performed it perfectly. In the target practice task I mentioned, he used earth magic to create pebbles and threw them to smash the targets."
"...That's not magic!"
"The task was to 'use' magic. There was no wording anywhere saying you couldn't use anything other than magic, like muscles, for example."
When I heard that story from Onii-sama, it was like scales falling from my eyes. Yes. I'm not good at magic either, but I became more conscious of 'what means can I take to achieve the goal,' and my grades also improved!
Even now, I cherish this teaching.
While one should choose their means at times... there is no need to be fixated only on choosing the means. Ohohoho.
"Well, even if I was bad at practical skills, I was top-notch in combat training. In the annual martial arts tournament, I was either the winner or the runner-up in my division every year..."
"Ah, the one where because Violia and Contraus won too much, the divisions were split into Men's, Women's, and Fortesia?"
"That's the one."
Apparently, the academy received complaints from nobles all over saying 'Don't let Fortesia participate in the martial arts tournament.' So both I and Onii-sama might have been suspended from participating.
...But at that time, the one who suggested 'Then let's make it Men's, Women's, and Fortesia' was the current Headmaster. While making it look like he was giving Fortesia cold treatment, he gave us an opportunity to make our strength known. That's why I don't dislike that person. Ohohoho.
"Well, I can understand you having excellent grades in combat training. It's you, Violia."
"Yes. It's me. Conversely, the others were just too soft... Even though martial arts are a noble's hobby, and at the same time, a duty."
Nobles, who have no trouble with food even in a famine and live on taxes taken from commoners, have a duty to fight in times of national emergency. That's why nobles can use magic, after all.
In that regard, I am currently the King and at the same time near the top of the country's military power! It's perfect! Ohohoho!
"For those reasons, my student life only had limited parts that stood out. At the end-of-year dance party, I never danced with anyone other than Onii-sama and was a wallflower... and after Onii-sama graduated first, I was truly all alone."
Well, it wasn't that I hated being lonely. ...But, I wasn't someone who liked being lonely either. Surely.
Because right now, it's very fun.
Reigning at the top of the country as Queen, having reliable companions... and having someone to listen to me like this.
If the me of that time saw the me of now, she would surely be envious. Surely.
"Now. It's about time. Now, Keeb. Off you go."
"Yeah. Then, come see the class later, okay?"
"Yes. ...Fufufu, I never thought the day would come when I'd participate in an academy class not as a student."
After finishing the talk and seeing Keeb off, I also head to the Headmaster's room. The Headmaster's room is at the top of the tower, but I can reach it by jumping in the air while kicking the walls appropriately. There's no need to rush. Ohohoho.
...Oh. Come to think of it, as a student, I 'dropped out.' ...No, if I think about it, was I expelled instead of dropping out...?
Thinking about it that way, coming to the academy once in a while to listen to Keeb's classes might be an option.
...Well, unfortunately, it doesn't seem like I'll be able to find that kind of time.
"It might be fun if I could do it over."
Time that has passed will never return. But, I end up thinking a little.
If I could have spent my academy life with my current companions, wouldn't it have been fun?
Thinking that...
"...No, that's no good!"
I remembered! My companions are a werewolf, a skeleton, and a drug addict! Keeb and Lital might be fine, but if the others were in the academy, they'd undoubtedly be arrested immediately!
Thinking about it, academy life probably wasn't suited for me after all...
...Yes. That's right. Right now is the most fun! Even if it's busy! Ohohoho! Someone please take over even just a part of my duties!
And so, with that, everyone, farewell! Please, live happily in the present!
Believe it or not, it's been adapted into a manga. Please see the activity report for details.