My novel, “Sent as a Spy to the Academy,” is set against the backdrop of a massive continent. A new continent is discovered later, but that’s a long way off…
The country that holds dominion over this continent is the Freya Empire. Ten years ago, the Empire launched a full-scale invasion of the Trud Kingdom, which had rejected their annexation demands.
Despite being outmatched in economic power, military strength, and population by over ten times, the Trud Kingdom continuously wore down the Imperial Army and managed to secure a ceasefire agreement.
But this was merely a temporary peace.
While the Kingdom suffered irreparable damage, the Empire could recover its military strength within six years and reignite the war.
Thus, the Trud Kingdom changed its grand strategy.
Before the war resumed, they decided to deploy spies en masse within the Empire to execute widespread sabotage.
Mobilizing all secessionists and anarchists within the Empire to create a situation where the Empire’s disintegration was imminent.
The protagonist, Siegfried Hertlocker, was dispatched to the Imperial University as the spearhead of this plan.
To carry out the worst terrorism in history, wiping out students and professors on the “Decisive Day.”
However, the wartime Hertlocker, whose mind had been worn down by warfare, began to regain his emotions as he met various people at the Imperial University.
Living under the stress that someday he would have to kill those he had become close to, Hertlocker noticed the presence of a much greater public enemy for humanity.
Eventually, he realized that rather than bringing down the Empire, he needed to foster unity among human forces…
Which is the main crux of the story.
“Nimi…ral…”
I’m already in trouble.
Hertlocker can no longer enroll because of me.
Now this guy won’t regain his emotions, will remain blissfully ignorant of the public enemy, and will go around committing all sorts of terrorism to bring down the Empire.
The hero of humanity has completely turned into a villain.
By the way, there’s no such thing as re-enrollment at the Imperial University, so even if I cancel his admission, Hertlocker will not pass.
“What the hell should I do…?”
If the Kingdom’s sabotage succeeds and the Empire collapses, humanity will perish.
The protagonist alone cannot withstand the approaching massive tide without the named individuals from the Empire.
I set the power balance that way, so it’s certain.
The reader who sent me here said he would help me reach the ending.
To return to the real world, I have to drag this to the ending by any means necessary.
Even if the story diverges a bit from the original.
“Okay, damn it. I’ve decided.”
I slammed down the empty beer glass.
With that, I resolved myself.
I steeled my determination.
Here’s the plan moving forward.
First, I will enroll in the Imperial University.
Then, I will rally all the named individuals from the university to thwart Hertlocker’s sabotage.
In the end, somehow, I need to persuade the protagonist…
“Damn it.”
It’s already nonsensical.
How would the protagonist react if the enemy kingdom’s university students interrupt all sabotage and suddenly ask for help?
It would be a miracle if they weren’t designated as a primary assassination target.
Shit, there’s no solution.
I can’t execute the plan without leaving out the protagonist, who is the ultimate boss counter.
It’s ridiculous how the guy who endorsed every possible enlightenment now stands against me.
“I have no choice.”
Then there is only one method.
I will make Hertlocker cooperate with me.
Even if I have to beat him up.
If necessary, even if I have to destroy the Kingdom.
I’ll take everything from Hertlocker to ensure he stands by my side in the final confrontation.
*
“I’m losing it.”
It’s darkening night.
It’s been almost six hours since I left the tavern, and I’m still wandering the streets.
The reason is simple.
I have nowhere to go.
I didn’t do nothing for six hours.
I spent an hour walking to the wiretap to find out where Schlus Hainkel lives.
But all I got from there was—
“Schlus Hainkel… No information at all.”
The only fact I learned was that Schlus doesn’t live in the Institution.
Well, it’s obvious since only bourgeoisie live on the expensive land.
So I thought maybe he didn’t at least secure a residence, and I checked every nearby lodging.
“I’m sorry. There are no reservations under the name Schlus Hainkel—”
“There’s nothing booked under that name.”
“It doesn’t show up. Maybe the spelling is—”
But there were no results.
I checked even the most rundown places but couldn’t find him.
Maybe there really wasn’t any place for Schlus to stay from the start…
“Oh come on.”
While walking down an alley, I spotted a pile of newspapers in a corner.
That could be where Schlus slept last night.
Maybe Schlus came to the Institution completely broke, ready to take the entrance exam.
Sinister premonitions were beginning to morph into reality.
“Tsk…”
The night was deepening, and drops of rain started to fall.
I was starving but only had 50 tirion on me.
That leaves only two options.
One is to barge into somewhere and beg to be let to crash for just one night, and the other is—
“I guess I have to go back.”
Returning to the Imperial University.
The latter probably is better.
*
“Is everything organized?”
“Yes, it’s complete, Examiner.”
“You’re no longer an examiner.”
“Oh, right. Chairwoman. Here’s the final result sheet.”
In the grading room of the exam hall.
Chief Professor Ludwig took the entrance exam results and frowned.
Erica von der Lichtenburg.
Edengard Trie von dem Schulzenburg.
Aintz von Wiegenstein.
Names of prodigies, all of whom had been called geniuses since childhood, were written there.
But what bothered Ludwig the most was the name at the very top.
Schlus Hainkel.
The only commoner among the new entrants.
A commoner who will enroll as the top student.
Just that fact was enough to irk Ludwig deeply, who was rooted in a sense of superiority.
“Is it because of that commoner?”
“······.”
“I heard he scored full marks on the special exam? How was it? You were there, Chief Professor.”
“He was outstanding for a commoner, but that’s all.”
Ludwig clicked his tongue and returned the paper.
From that point on, Ludwig’s mind was filled with thoughts of how to kick Schlus out.
Since the Chairwoman liked that brat, ordinary methods wouldn’t work.
He was pondering a more cunning approach that would be hard to hold him accountable when—
“Professor. An outsider is looking for you.”
“For me? Who is it?”
“Technically, they didn’t name the Chief Professor… They asked to see the dormitory superintendent, and I thought you would be the right person.”
“So who is it already?”
“Schlus Hainkel. The one who will likely become the top student this time…”
“······.”
The professor held up a crystal orb.
The orb reflected the image of Schlus standing at the school entrance, getting soaked in the rain.
When Schlus’s hollow eyes met Ludwig’s, he flinched and couldn’t help but be surprised.
The surveillance artifact installed at the entrance was hidden so that no means could observe it.
But whether it was a coincidence or not, Schlus’s gaze turned elsewhere again.
With a sigh, Ludwig finally parted his lips.
“Let him in. Tell him to come to my office.”
“Yes, Chief Professor.”
Ludwig tightened his tie and turned around.
He felt it was perfect and put on a faint smile.
*
“Schlus Hainkel.”
“Yes. It’s me, Chief Professor Ludwig.”
“······.”
As Schlus Hainkel entered the office, the corners of Ludwig’s mouth twisted.
Rainwater dripped from his soaked body, soaking the carpet.
A magician applying to the Imperial University wouldn’t come in like this without being able to use some flame magic.
Either he wasted his mana somewhere or was purposefully trying to mess with him.
While Ludwig thought the latter seemed more plausible, there wasn’t enough evidence to confront him about it.
Ludwig squeezed his eyes shut and snapped his fingers, igniting a fire in the fireplace.
“······Go dry yourself.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Schlus stood upright, bowed, and confidently sat in front of the fireplace.
He showed not an ounce of the typical submissiveness a commoner would exhibit toward a noble.
When facing Ludwig, even lower nobles would often bow their heads…
Was he completely clueless, trusted something, or simply unaware of the influence of the Vermanshtaine family…
Either way, he was a strange fellow.
“So, why did you come looking for me?”
“Is it confirmed that I will be enrolling as the top student?”
“The announcement will be made tomorrow. Confirm it then.”
“But the results are already set in stone.”
“Even if that’s so, I have no obligation to tell you. Now, why did you come here?”
“I want to advance the privileges of the top student. Single dormitory and maintenance stipend.”
“State your reasons. Without a valid one, it cannot be done.”
“I have nowhere to sleep and no money.”
“······.”
By that straightforward answer, Ludwig fell silent.
Even before his enrollment, it was absurd to request privileges designated for the top student, and what he’d cited as a reason was even more infuriating.
Commoners usually try their best to hide their weaknesses (especially economic ones that leave them vulnerable to nobility).
Yet Schlus boldly stated it, as though it wasn’t a weakness at all.
What on earth was he relying on?
A method to exploit that weakness came to Ludwig’s mind, and he replied with a faint smile.
“Normally, I shouldn’t, but… fine. I will grant it.”
“Thank you—”
“However, there are conditions.”
“What are they?”
“You must maintain your position as the top student until the end of the first semester. If even once you lose that position, I will ensure your expulsion.”
“······.”
“I am breaking protocol to extend you a favor. You must yield corresponding performance.”
As Schlus’s expression hardened in real-time, Ludwig’s smile grew clearer.
The top student title could change three times during the first semester.
At the entrance exam, midterm exams, and final exams.
So far, failing all three, no student had ever managed to retain their title in both the entrance exam and midterm exam.
Never once in hundreds of years.
That implies that the demands of the entrance exam and midterm exam are fundamentally different.
What would be the odds of a mere fortunate commoner, scoring full marks on a special exam, also leading the midterm exams with that same luck…?
Zero. Not converging—just zero.
‘He wouldn’t want to get expelled.’
Schlus sat silently for a while, lost in thought.
Just graduating would guarantee him a career that commoners could only dream of; he wouldn’t choose the path toward expulsion.
Schlus would ultimately end up shivering on the street at night, clutching his growling stomach while he tried to sleep.
If he were to freeze to death, that would be no problem.
Some might say it’s a pitiful act, but Ludwig had no responsibility to bear for it.
He’d simply done what was in his power. In essence, he was the one bestowing the favor. Regardless of how unpleasant the conditions might be.
“Alright then.”
“Sure. I expected you to say that… What did you just say?”
“I accept your offer. Please guide me to the dormitory. Also, provide me with this month’s maintenance stipend right away.”
“······.”
Somehow, Schlus was now standing right before Ludwig’s desk, looking down at him.
Ludwig, left speechless and forgetting that Schlus was a commoner, swallowed nervously.
His expectations had gone awry.
He wasn’t just clueless.
He was simply insane.
