Sword, Magic and Academic Society-Chapter 319Vol. 1 - - School Festival (1)
It was the season for summer vacation.
The Royal Capital was preparing for the founding festival taking place next week. Every year, the capital at this time would be caught up in fever moments, bustling with liveliness and smiles on all faces as the people gradually join for the preparation. The festival’s significance had increased lately as the Yuglia strided for consecutive achievements.
It should have been how the week leading to founding festival was supposed to look like, but—
There was a slight twist to the scenery of Royal Capital this year.
It all began with the proposal of a certain unheard-of-an-event by a certain boy during his whims, and now, the capital was bustling with a crowd just as unprecedented.
There should've been a merry-making vibe in the air, yet the expression of the crowd looked slightly bloodcurled, as if they’re sleep deprived.
Soon, it was about time to open the curtain from the ever event of the kind for the world—
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"It's finally the day, Director."
Mujikka murmured inside the Director's office, her gaze looking down at the lush green lawn spreading outside the office's window. There was an unusual sharpness in her voice.
Her gaze followed the crowd in the plaza as they took their steps inside the academy premise, having verified themselves at the reception. Some sprinted around the fastest they could, while others displayed a gesture of trepidation, and yet of a curiosity as they checked their surroundings.
She had been far from the crowd, but it was quite clear the crowd's face was undoubtedly dyed in excitement.
Near the entrance, just ahead of the wide lawn, an eight reception desk had been arranged, but neither of them were stuck with a never-ending stream of crowd.
Even outside of the academy, there was a huge row running parallel to the outerwall. One could easily make out the impatient expression as they waited for their turn.
"It is. I am truly relieved we at least made it to the opening. .....Well, then again, it took monumental effort just to coordinate it."
Today was Yuglia's Royal Academy's first ever... School Festival.
—Do you have any suggestion, or point to improve regarding the academy, Allen Rovenne?
It was a question Miharu Shutrene once asked from Allen Rovenne out of curiosity when the latter dropped by her office for certain reasons.
The academy should hold a School Festival, was the suggestion from him. He said to open the academy's door—which had always kept its circumstances confined within the walls of the academy—to the general public once a year for cultural exchange with the outside world.
Furthermore, everything about the event should be planned by students, prepared by students, and led by students. He explained with an unusual enthusiasm.
The first time she heard the suggestion, Miharu could have felt her face muscles twitching wildly.
The students of the Royal Academy were the golden eggs that would one day carry forward the Yuglia. At the same time, their excellence was also a glimpse of their achievement in cutting-edge research.
It wasn't just the training facility or research labs, the strength, and even the personality, of the students were kept in extreme secrecy unlike other schools. How could they allow an uncontrolled variable such as a crowd to enter the premises and increase the risk? And that's not to say about the absolute danger, like the infiltration of assassins.
As a fact, the entry to academy was strict to the degree even the academy's alumni or the student's parents weren't allowed easily. The premise was heavily monitored and well-guarded.
So, opening the door of the academy to allow the general populace's entry was a thought instantly quashed.
Obviously, the same were the thoughts of Miharu, and she explained the complexity of the situation to Allen in a thorough and easy-to-understand manner.
"I see, so that's it is," Allen listened to it attentively, but then, just as the explanation came to an end, he abruptly stood up from his seat and—using the board available—talked about the fascinating aspect of the school festival.
It was as if he didn't listen to a single word of Miharu, and just kept talking.
"But, do you truly think the common sense of yours is indeed the correct choice?! Where's the distinction between traditions that truly matters and the traditions that are nothing more than their empty shell?! —’That's how it had been until now.’ How long do you think this argument can persist? The survivors didn't make it out because they're strong, or wise. It's because they adapted! ......So I was taught by my tutor Schord."
He finished his words with the said explanation.
«Change isn't something to be feared». The quote had already become one of the seven commandments of Schord at present.
Allen's face was fraught with an expression of impatience and frustration when he said that. The words spoken by him, who had defied everyone's common sense over and again, put Miharu in a stunned state that the words she thought to refute never came out.
Allen then took a backstep, and instead suggested a middle ground.
"However, I do understand it's risky to allow entrance to anyone right off the bat, eh... How about, restricting the entrance to only people of age of 15 or below?"
The truth was Allen simply hoped for a cultural exchange with students of other schools. So, while this was his 'first compromise,' he knew the standard of negotiation and had instead begun with serving a highball.
"............You do know how to negotiate well huh, Allen Rovenne-kun. Well, it's... certainly possible to have it by keeping the entry to only kids. However, how do you think the authenticity of age can be verified?"
As they say, the negotiation was already a success if the other party was willing to reach a common ground together.
And that's how, after several suggestions—such as prior registrations of students under 15 across the academy by working together with the other schools that includes their profile photo, foreign student's entry being limited to invite-only, restriction from bringing any mana tool in the premise, and a confirmation of written pledge that academy wouldn't be held responsible for anyone injured or dead—the Royal Academy did looked forward to the School Festival.
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"The day has come at last, Prai-san."
The trio of Prio and his lackeys passed through the entrance and walked across the lawn at a steady pace.
They're the students of Runerelia Comprehensive Advanced Study Institute, a school noted for its staggering amount of fee, which practically meant any of their students were the young masters of the affluent families.
As soon the words had spread out, they'd used their money to immediately have proxies get into the queue for registration as early as two weeks, making them one of the earlier entries.
Well, despite that, they'd only managed to get an entry at an early three digit number. Only god knew how long the earlier people had been queuing for this opportunity.
"Ah, It's so moving. ......It was on that day one and a half years ago I was cast away by fate. If only I hadn't happened to catch a cold... I, too, would've been a part of this dazzling life. Well, it's also because of that turning point I am the current me."
Prai remarked in a rueful tone, squinting his eyes.
Though it was, in fact, a miracle that he was qualified to attend the entrance exam. He was at the fringe of the requirement for mana capacity. And then coming to the practical exam, the heaven and earth would've toppled down before he could've managed to gain even an inch of progress.
Such excuses were quite commonplace. "Ah, if only I hadn't fallen sick that day,' or 'the measurement device had some errors' were the typical statements said by those who couldn't make it.
Regardless, he wasn’t lying as well. He had qualified to take the exam, the achievement alone was enough to boast for a lifetime.
His lackeys were smart enough to know the standard protocol, so much as they'd retort "Well then, how come you also fumbled in the exams for noted schools like NOKM?" at the tip of their tongue, they knew better than to say it out loud.
"......Ah, truly unfortunate how fate robbed you of your glory, Prai-san. ...S-speaking of, the commoners sure are in quite a hurry, eh?"
In contrast to Prai and his lackey's leisure stride, the other entries were sprinting the course at their full speed, their expression bloodshot.
The rush made it as if they're at the opening of a theme park.
"Hmph. It's in these moments you see who's truly noble. An occasion of this sort does not come often. Instead of scurrying just to tick the event checkboxes, why wouldn't they reminisce with all their senses? What's truly important is to let the air soak you in. What else is more paramount than this?"
Prai spoke in a haughty tone, his face pulling a self-satisfied look. One of the lackey shrugged his shoulder,
"You're absolutely correct, Prai-san. I presume they're rushing for the official guidebook? Apparently there are only three hundred of them."
"L-limited... w-what is this about?"
Anything with 'Limited' words was like music to Prai's ears, his pace slightly quickening up when he heard that. The lackey A answered, his tone awkward.
"Y-you taught us to soak into the moment, so we truly didn't go out to gather any information, Prai-san. ...I, I was following your guidance, but it's just... my parents fed me with the details without my permission. The words are that the first ever executive committee for Royal Academy's School Festival has put up only three hundred limited edition officials—each with their unique serial number—for sale. It's filled with every sort of information about the events taking place in the School Festival..."
Immediately after, Lackey B added.
"They apparently even come with a special pass—two passes along with one guidebook—that allows you to skip the queue and jump ahead for any kind of event."
At first, lackeys were in complete belief that Prai had made all the preparation and hurried to the academy to chase after the said guidebook. But as they finally made their entrance, they despaired when they saw Prai instead taking it leisurely, quoting "We must act with grace."
As much they'd wanted to, they could only swallow the disappointment.
The hierarchy in their group was based on the influence of their respective family, and it was Prai himself who had sent people to register for them as well, long before the words about guidebook leaked out. So they couldn’t rush ahead, leaving him behind, for the said guidebook
In particular, the special pass in Lackey B's explanation was a must grab for anyone. The pass would allow them an instant, as well as guaranteed, access to the events taking place in other clubs which would've tremendous queue of participants.
There were quite a number of clubs that were already in the crosshair of many peoples. The Hill Road Club's «Haunted House», Mana Tool Research Club's «Escape Game», Magic Car Club's «Bike Race», Magic Research Club's «Seance with Spirits», Sail Club's «Sports», and Geography Club's «Stamp Rally» were one of the most chase after places.
These clubs, in particular, became centres of attraction due to the prize and rewards revealed. For reference, clearing the Haunted House event would award one with a Health Meter (Bracelet Ver.) specifically prepared by the Hill Road Club. Then, the winner of Escape Game would even have the opportunity to become a researcher at Dragoon's Futuristic Mana Tool Research Facility—a.k.a «Doramimon».
Or, the winner of the Bike Race event would be awarded with a Motorbike available to the 2nd year students of Magic Car Club even before the booking opens. The same two-wheeler mana vehicles which were trending hot ever since Allen Rovenne went far and wide to chase after a certain band of thieves to retrieve these vehicles, claiming them as the 'Yuglia's Future.'
Overall, either of the rewards were something that would absolutely have the whole crowd get into a cutthroat competition to get them.
And even among them, the mysterious «Scroll of Heaven and Earth», revealed to be the reward for the Magic Research Club's «Seance with Spirits» event had already garnered attention from all over the places imaginable.
There'd been rumours that the book's authors are Allen Rovenne and Rudolf Austin. Of course, this part was mere rumours. They'd been written by the 'expert' of Skirt Flipper Research Group like Banana Shake who'd graduated this spring.
Prai's jogging pace had already shifted to sprint when he heard the explanations. And the final explanation from Lackey C hammered the final nail.
"There's also an autograph space on the back cover of the guidebook. You can have your favourite student's sign on it. And despite all the special privileges, the guidebook is on sale for mere five rea, apparently to make sure even poor kids can purchase it as long as they can make it. Some even say a guidebook signed by one of the famous students would easily fetch enough money to build a castle in the countryside. Well, then again, it wouldn't be till a hundred years at least before they reach auction."
People always wonder—why are rich folks rich? Wasn’t it because they love money?
And that was the last blow. Prai's eyes turned bloodshot just like other entries as he dashed at his full speed.
T/N - How do you do, everyone? I hope you're having fine day. I have an announcement to make.
With the latest chapter update, we've officially caught up with Author. And right now, their pacing is weekly most of the time, and monthly break after an arc completion. Next Chapter should be dropping in couple days, so that would be updated as soon it is done. With that said, the chapters will continue to unlock whenever we've new update. So previous chapter would remain in their current tiers. But if there's a big break, the remaining chapters would be completely unlocked.
It's been two and a half years, I guess, since we began with the series. Thank you very much for all of your support until now. It'd meant a lot. Hopefully we continue to steady stream of update with how arcs are evolving and gradually reaching last 1/3rd arc before graduation.
