After a long discussion that took up so much time, even when the moon had risen, the conversation was still ongoing.
Well... Batya Milov was finally reinstated as the Boss after much opposition.
Of course, this meeting was super long, and no one had time to eat, so...
"Give me a bowl of crab soup."
"I'll have a strawberry cake~"
"Stuffed tofu, please."
"ROASTED PORK!!!"
"Keep your voice down, can't you see people are eating?"
We were at a diner, ordering food.
Yes, everyone who attended the meeting went out to eat together.
There were still many tasks ahead, but they set everything aside to enjoy this dinner.
Usually, we'd eat at the organization, but... I don't really like fancy food.
So yeah, I dragged them all out to eat.
Only Leo didn't join because he's super busy, and this ridiculously long meeting had already made him want to bang his head against a wall.
"BOYS! CHEERS!" The old man raised his beer glass.
"I'm not old enough to drink beer," I declined while eating my crab soup.
"Me neither~"
"Zzz..." Sternruh was dozing off while an invisible blue arm was feeding him porridge.
"Oh, come on, you're under 18, so what if you break the rules a little?" The old man said, offering me his glass.
"Old man, if you keep pushing, don't expect me to call you Dad."
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry," he quickly withdrew his beer.
Irina raised her hand—it seemed like she wanted to drink.
"Huh? You're only 17. You're still young!"
...You just invited me, a 15-year-old, to drink beer.
"I'll drink for the Boss," Irina said with a serious face.
"Heh, that's the spirit! Here you go!"
Watching Irina and the others clink glasses with the old man, I sighed and looked over at Éclair.
He just took a sip of water, set the glass down, and leaned back in his chair comfortably.
"Not eating?"
"Boss, I can eat anytime," Éclair replied, gazing in a certain direction.
Oh right, we were sitting outside the diner. Enjoying the breeze and observing the world outside was a form of entertainment in its own way.
"Bum bam babaa... pow!"
"What are you doing?"
"Heh? Oh, I'm listening to a new song. Want to hear it, Boss?" Ga-Yul handed me her headphones.
"No thanks."
"You really don't know how to appreciate music, huh? Such a shame," she said, putting the headphones back on and swaying to the rhythm.
Oh, forgot to mention that she is the one who create the tools to calling each other.
The technology in this world is a bit... odd.
It's like this place has everything—ancient, feudal, modern...
It all blends together so harmoniously. When I first proposed an invention that allows people to communicate from a distance, they managed to create a prototype in just a few months.
Though it sounds a bit static-y, it made me realize that the technology here is no joke.
So it's not surprising to see some people using horse-drawn carriages while others have robots as security guards.
Oh yes, there are robots.
"Roasted pork is here!!"
A large platter of roasted pork was placed on the table, making everyone eager to dig in.
"LET'S CELEBRATE ME BEING THE BOSS AGAIN AND WILLHART GOING TO ACADEMY!!"
"YEAH!!!"
Please... don't shout my name so loudly in public...
***
"There's even an entrance exam?" I looked over at Éclair.
"Yes, it's mentioned in the notice. They're using it to assess everyone's abilities and assign them to appropriate classes," Éclair replied.
"Boss will definitely pass," Irina said, spinning her spear.
"How many tests are there?"
"As far as I know... a written test and a practical test."
"Practical? Does it involve combat?"
"No."
Oh... I thought it would be like those academy novels where everyone fights each other.
"Apparently, it just requires using magic."
"Ugh, my weak spot."
Yes, I'm terrible at magic. My mana is very limited, and I'm bad at remembering the incantations needed to cast spells. That's why I focus more on close combat.
"Are we allowed to wear Magic Gear?"
"No."
"I hate it."
Sigh... I guess I'll have to study hard to make up for it in the written exam.
"Are you ready, Boss?" Éclair asked.
"Yeah. Irina, let's go."
"As you wish," Irina nodded, spinning her spear.
We were sparring. Why? Because compared to the strong fighters in our organization, I'm probably considered somewhere in the middle.
Yes, I'm that weak. Even Ga-yul, who spends most of her time listening to music, is stronger than me.
I put on my gloves. No flames appeared since I wasn't using Magic Gear.
The moment I slipped them on, Irina charged at me, swinging her spear straight at me.
I dodged to the side and tried to counter, but Irina spun her spear, forcing me to jump back.
She then leaped up and thrust her spear into the ground, following up with a series of kicks.
I blocked with my arms, which quickly turned red from the impact.
"Boss, out of all the people, why did you choose the strongest opponent?" Éclair asked, observing from the side.
"Isn't fighting the strongest the best way to train?"
As I spoke, Irina swung her spear, but I managed to grab it.
"Boss, don't let your guard down."
"Yeah."
I tried to pull the spear toward me, but Irina spun it with such force that my hands started burning from the friction.
'Tch, this stings like hell.'
I decided to use magic, firing a flame toward her.
She easily dispersed it, but when she looked up, I was gone.
"Up here!"
Irina glanced upward to see me coming down with a punch.
She blocked it, but I used my leg to kick her spear away.
As her spear flew off, I seized the opportunity to unleash a flurry of strikes.
Irina evaded them all, her movements precise and fluid.
She backflipped, retrieved her spear, and countered with a swing aimed at me.
I tried to dodge, but her attack abruptly shifted downward, striking the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
As I tried to clear the dust with my hand, Irina closed the distance and swept my legs, causing me to fall. She planted her spear into the ground right next to my head.
"Irina wins," Éclair announced.
"Huh, that's my 136th loss. Great," I muttered, standing up with Irina's help.
"Boss, you're getting stronger," she said, extending her hand.
"Thanks for the compliment."
She pulled me to my feet and checked for any serious injuries.
"Sorry if I went a bit overboard."
"Don't apologize. I asked you to."
"Still, I'm sorry."
"Yeah, yeah."
Honestly, she's holding back—a lot. Part of it is her incredible control over her physical strength.
The other part is her monstrous instincts. I've never seen anyone land a hit on her.
That's why I assigned Irina as my shadow bodyguard. She rarely shows up in my room because she can sense when I'm safe.
But if I were ever in danger... well, repairing the organization wouldn't be cheap.
Éclair, on the other hand, handles assassination missions. He's essentially an executioner and doesn't speak much unless it's to announce the unavoidable death of his target (Doubt).
As for the other three... well, stay tuned for a few more chapters, my friend.
"Ugh."
I tried to stand up, cracking the joints in my arms and a few other places, then glanced at the clock nearby.
"It's already late. I need to study hard now if I want to pass the entrance exam."
With that said, I left, leaving Éclair and Irina watching me go.
"Huhhh... He works hard every single day. Doesn't he worry about burning out?" Éclair remarked.
"Why don't you stop him?"
"Hey, convincing a stubborn person like him is easier said than done."
The two exchanged glances and sighed.
"By the way, this year Fairy Tales Academy has welcomed an astonishing number of princes and princesses. So many have come from other countries."
"Why are you telling me this?" Irina asked, turning to him.
"As a guard, you need to know such information in advance so you don't accidentally kill the wrong person later."
"If anyone poses a threat to the Boss, I won't hesitate."
"Don't just focus on what's right in front of you without considering the unforeseen consequences."
The two glared at each other, their disagreement evident.
Meanwhile, Willhart was studying diligently in the library.
***
A few days passed... and today was the entrance exam for the academy.
Willhart dressed neatly, looking like a handsome NPC you'd pass by on the street.
"BOY! DON'T BE IN A RUSH! THIS TEST ISN'T THAT HARD, SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!" an old man exclaimed, trembling as he grabbed my shoulders.
"I'm not even feeling nervous yet, and you're already more anxious than I am."
"JUST DO YOUR BEST, THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS!"
"I got it."
As I left headquarters, people continued to greet me and even cried.
Some were even shouting things like "That's my boy!" or "My son has grown up!!"
Huh, stop making this more embarrassing than it already is...
I turned my gaze toward Fairy Tales Academy, not far from headquarters.
Yes, it only takes a few minutes to walk there, which is why I rented a cheap dorm room specifically for students.
After a short walk, I reached the academy gates.
And oh my goodness, it was unbelievably crowded.
People of various races were gathered there, including both nobles and commoners.
Most notably, senior students were waving at us, wishing us good luck with the exam.
Alright, it's not even orientation day yet, and you're acting like it's a graduation ceremony.
I walked forward, scanning the area for the registration booth.
"Hm?"
As I walked, I noticed a guy holding a basket of bread, shouting that each loaf cost one copper coin.
Naturally, I steered clear of him. No way was I going to get involved with him.
Continuing on, I saw a guy with red jacket arguing with a brown-haired guy with green eyes.
"SWORDS ARE BETTER!"
"BOWS ARE BETTER!"
"BLAH BLAH BLAH!!"
I decided to avoid that area as well.
Just as I turned around, I spotted a black guy holding a ukulele, serenading a group of girls. It seemed like he was flirting with them.
And suddenly, someone bumped into me, causing me to fall.
"AHH!! I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY!!"
"Ah, it's fine..." I got up and looked at the girl in front of me.
"I'm so sorry! This is my first time here. I can't believe I'm actually in such a fancy place! It feels like a dream!"
"Um..."
"Ahh... do you know where the entrance exam registration is?"
"Still looking for it."
"Really? Sorry to trouble you then!"
The girl ran off but accidentally tripped, dropping some items from her bag.
I went over to help her and noticed what she had dropped.
... A box of matches?
Wait... why does this seem familiar?
I handed the matchbox back to her as she apologized profusely and hurried away.
"Ah, I forgot..."
I glanced around at everything surrounding me.
The more I observed, the more I realized how much I had forgotten.
"This is the fairy tale world, isn't it? How did I forget that so quickly?"