Chapter 11: Dragon's Reach
[This chapter was delayed by a month because Inkstone didn't save. Kill me.]
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The broken and dilapidated homes, along with the homeless beggars and shadowy figures on the street, slowly start to change the deeper in the city we go.
The building were more 'sturdier' and the people were much more lively unlike the gloomy atmosphere from where we started.
In fact, it looks like people from all over the world are gathered here.
A woman wearing a yukata was talking to a man with a robot arm. A samurai and a priest wearing a white mask and veil, were drinking together. A giant was kneeling to the ground, trying to squeeze his head inside a small book store, holding back the line of angry customers behind him. And many more colorful faces can be found around.
It was like an entire cosplay convention.
So if two suspicious figures started making their way in the middle of this crowd. Even if one of them started eyeing everyone around the streets.
They would be able to blend in perfectly!
"Stop looking so much. You are beginning to scare them."
"S-Sorry!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"*looks*"
"*sighs*"
"S-S-Sorry! I just didn't expect there to be so many people!"
"... It is only natural. The enrollment exams for the Academy is only a few days away from now. I can imagine many of them also wish to be accepted, such as yourself."
"Y-yeah... B-but, are you sure you don't need any money to attend the Academy? I thought most people who attended the Academy where... wealthy..."
Wealthy was putting it lightly. Though yes, some of the characters in the Academy were commoners or lower ranking nobles that didn't have a lot of money. 95% of the characters there were incredibly rich, and come from prestigious families.
"I-its hard to believe a person who doesn't have any background like me will be accepted in..."
Without stopping, Vor looked back for a moment, before looking straight ahead.
"Indeed. Though I do not know the full scope of it. I am aware that most students in the Academy are quite famous and well off.
Do you believe that the Academy does not practice what they preach?"
"Uhhh... 'Do I think that the Academy is lying about what they say?' N-not really... It's just a little weird... I guess?"
I mean... the real reason is that: academies in real life usually have rich and important people attending them. So I should also fill the Academy in my novel with a bunch of rich and important people!
That's the real reason. But I'm not sure what the *real* reason is.
"There is nothing weird about it, child. Children who are born from wealth, have easier access to good education from a young age. They have a much higher chance of passing compared to commoners."
So basically rich=pass.
"B-but then how am I supposed to pass then?!"
"Talent. Almost everyone in the Academy has money. But not all of them have a talent. And talent, cannot be bought nor thought."
"... W-will it be enough?"
"It is, If it eases your nerves, I shall stake my title as a Witch for it."
I don't really know what that means, but...
"...I'll do my best."
I nod my head.
As I muster enough confidence to say to myself.
I will definitely pass the enrollment exam.
Vor was curiously glancing at my direction, with something seemingly stuck in her mind.
"...Back at the wall... Was that some sort of spell you recited?"
"??, Huh?"
"No, nevermind. We're here."
In front of us was a two story wooden house that matched the other houses in the area.
Vor opens the door to the house, letting out the trapped dust from inside. Making me cough as I accidentally inhaled some.
Inside, the place was dark and dusty as if it has been abandoned for years. It had no furniture, besides a counter top at the middle of the room.
Vor, paying no mind about the dust or darkness, sets her briefcase on top of the counter.
"Roland, open the windows for me please."
"Ah, Y-Yes!"
I go over to the windows, that were covered with old dirty curtains and open them.
"Dodge."
"Wha-!!!!"
I was almost hit by a powerful gust of wind that shot out of the house and out the window, launching up in the sky and disappearing.
Before I knew it, the whole room was spotlessly clean.
"A-aren't you worried that someone might have seen that?!"
"It was mostly dust. I doubt anyone would have seen that."
I look back to see, Vor was now sitting in a newly made chair, rummaging with contents of her briefcase.
"...This has been bothering me the whole day, but are you sure no one will suspect your a witch? Especially with your clothes."
Vor looks back at me. And as if proving my point, she tilts her overly large witch hat.
"What do you mean?"
"Well... The hat. That's a literally a stereotypical witch hat."
"This is an academic hat. Many scholars wear them all the time."
I don't know if that's true or not. Or if she's just messing with me.
"No, well yes. But more importantly! Aren't you afraid someone might have detected or traced you using magic?!"
A lot of shows and books had something like a device or a people that could detect magic and mana. I even remembered writing something like that in my novel.
"?, I don't know about demon magic. But in our world such a thing does not exist."
Or at least, I thought I did.
"What?"
What? Wait, But I did remember writing something like that! A count who wanted to find one of the heroines used it!
"Waitwaitwaitwaitwait, Are you sure?!"
Ignoring my panic Vor looks back to her briefcase.
"It seems that you are still not too used to human society. Then its a good time to transition to my next point."
Vor pulls out a huge book and places it neatly down the countertop.
"Since you seem to not be well versed with human society. I believe you should study and familiarize yourself more with it."
"....Study?"
Even being isekai'd couldn't save me from this hell.
"AH! What's the book about at least?!"
Not Math. If there are any gods I made or didn't make can hear me. Please not math!!!
It takes everything I have to stop my hand from shaking, as I swallow my breath. Waiting for Vor to announce.
"History."
A huge wave of relief crash to my shoulders.
This is great! I wrote most of the history of this world so I'm already familiar with the most of the important events! This should be easy even for me!
"Its good to see your so enthusiastic learning about our history. Well, I'll leave you alone to study while I unpack. Tell me if there's anything you do not understand."
"Understood! Sensei!"
"Sensei? Is that your word for teacher? Well then. As your sensei, I shall leave my student in peace."
Vor gets up from her chair, leaving me to take the seat. I could have sworn I saw a small hint of a smile forming in Vor's expressionless face.
Vor looked over with a hint of pride as she sees her new student sit down and excitedly open the large book that would have bored most readers.
She cherishes this moment of pride that she has also felt with her previous student. Yet the emotion was just as sweet as before.
I should prepare gift for when he passes...
"Sensei!"
Roland raises his hand from his seat.
"Hm? What is it?"
"What does this mean."
Vor leans over to see what was Roland pointing at.
"History of the Empire, its founding, origins, dragons and kings. That is the title of the book."
"Ah. Okay!"
The title is quite the mouthful so it's no surprise he would be confused.
As Vor almost makes her way to unpack upstairs...
"S-Sensei!"
Roland once again raised his hand, if not more nervously than last time.
Vor to, nervously leans over to see.
"That is the name of the author."
"O-okay!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...Um... S-sensei..."
"...That says 'chapter 1'.... Ummm, Roland?"
"..."
"...Are you... perhaps..."
"..."
"Illiterate?"
"...*Nods*"
Who knew that a fantasy world that you made yourself. With your own imagination.
Somehow has a different language.
"..."
"...It seems I might lose my title as a witch..."
"Ehhh?!!"