“Graaaandpa...?”

I was just about to go tearing toward him when I stopped short.

“Black!”

“Bwahahahaha! I matched our little runt!”

Grandpa, with the lion’s mane he used to let hang loose now neatly combed back, and even his beard trimmed nice and clean.

But...

His beard and his hair were both completely black.

“Come here, come here!”

Grandpa held his arms out again.

He looked like he’d gotten ten years younger. It was funny, but also cool. He’d already looked terrifying to begin with, and now that impression felt even stronger.

Still, I was happy to see him, so I hurried over and threw myself straight into his huge arms.

“Oh, you little thing. So you liked being away from home, did you? Hm? Had fun?”

“It was about 49 percent good and 51 percent bad! But how did you get here? Weren’t you in the North?”

“I came racing over because I missed our Ruby. Let’s see now.”

Grandpa set me down on the floor and measured my height with one broad palm.

“You’ve grown this much in such a short time! Good heavens!”

“...Huh. I don’t think your hand moved at all.”

“Well, well. Spending time out in the world really has sharpened your eye!”

“You’re mean!”

All worked up, I smacked Grandpa’s arm with a loud whap. He burst into hearty laughter and said even my massage skills had improved.

The next to appear were, of course, my brothers.

Apparently, if a camper had family present, enrolled students were allowed to join in specially, so they must have rushed over as soon as they heard.

“Rubyyy!”

Boyd circled around me over and over, practically drowning in emotion.

“So you’ve adjusted completely now? Are you going to enroll at the Academy? Are you going to ride in my bag next ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) spring?!”

“I am not riding in your bag!”

I spun around with a shriek and saw Liam smiling in satisfied amusement.

“Then next year, I suppose you can live in the library with me.”

Mm! At last, the time had come!

The time to release into the world the Academy life report on my brothers that I had worked so hard to scribble together!

Both of you had better scrub your backs and wait.

“All right, all right, everyone, settle down!”

At the same time, the professor standing on the platform calmed the people around us.

“Then shall we take a look at what our adorable future new students made during camp?”

Wow! Yes! I’m confident!

*****

The second was once again feeling just how hard life outside the kingdom really was.

Seventh, I’ll admit it. You really are good at hiding.

Inside the noisy café—

“Hmm. Would you mind introducing yourself first?”

The professor, who had an easygoing look to him, folded his arms and spoke.

This really... isn’t easy.

Swallowing a sigh, the second haltingly recited the forged self-introduction she had prepared.

“My name is Senia, and I’m twenty years old. I spent my childhood under a strict father and an absent mother, and somehow grew up well enough...”

“Hmmm. That’s enough.”

The professor, who had introduced himself as Yuliope, raised a hand coolly.

“Back in my day, I think people prepared self-introductions that made a strong impression from the very first sentence. A bit disappointing, I’d say.”

His face might have looked young, but he gave off pure old-man energy.

The second decided that Academy professors had an especially irritating style. She doubted there was anyone in the world who could satisfy a fussy man like that.

“Where did you learn ancient language? It can’t have been easy, considering how few people know it.”

“I studied in Casalia. It’s known for having a lot of mages and scholars who research ancient history. There are a lot of ruins there too.”

“Mm. I see. However...”

“Is there a problem?”

“At present, your nationality is a little unclear, isn’t it? As for your identification in the Babilon Empire...”

The second tugged the edge of her turtleneck a little higher and forced a smile.

“Ah. That’s because my records were lost during the war.”

“The Imperial family is in the middle of restoring records that were lost, though.”

“Yes. I’ve already applied for that. I was told it takes a bit of time.”

Yuliope smiled mildly.

“Ah, well, that makes sense. There are so many cases, after all.”

The second let out a breath of relief inwardly, thinking it had been a good thing she’d prepared an excuse in advance.

The atmosphere wasn’t bad.

“Yes, I understand.”

The professor neatly tapped the papers into order.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think we can hire you as a restorer, Miss Senia.”

Did I hear that wrong?

“...What? Why? Wasn’t the atmosphere between us good just now?”

“I understand the situation, but our Academy has strict identity-verification procedures.”

Yuliope coughed into his hand and took a long swallow of fatigue-recovery medicine.

“We can’t hire someone whose identity isn’t clear. Even if I approved it, Headmaster Odelly probably wouldn’t. So... regrettably, I’d appreciate it if you contacted us again once your identity issue is resolved.”

“......”

“Well then, I have another appointment.”

Watching Yuliope Moulton gather up the documents, the second could only blink blankly.

They said they were short on staff.

They said that if you passed the interview, they would issue you a temporary access pass on the spot.

So what was this pickiness?

Yuliope cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry, but would you mind stepping aside? We decided to handle everything here one at a time.”

“Ah, yes...”

It really... wasn’t easy.

How on earth did the seventh adapt to life outside?

With no other choice, she got to her feet and crossed the café.

What should I do?

It was about the point where it wouldn’t be strange if the Mage King started noticing.

I need to catch the seventh quickly.

The second bit her lip anxiously.

Then—

“Oh, I’m so nervous.”

A woman with fluffy hair tied back tight swept right past the second.

She stopped precisely at the table where Yuliope was sitting.

“Ready-to-work candidate, Zenda Camel. With my natural diligence and the translation experience I’ve built in the field, I’ll become one of the Academy’s pillars.”

“That introduction isn’t bad. Let’s see now. You’re Jerdin Camel’s older sister, aren’t you?”

Yuliope’s expression brightened. It was obvious she had passed.

The second secretly watched as Yuliope handed Zenda Camel a temporary access pass.

Then a thought suddenly struck her.

I could have just stolen that, couldn’t I?

Instead of applying honestly.

“......”

For some reason, she felt like an idiot.

Well, of course.

In the last twenty years, she had left the royal palace fewer than five times. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Most of the time, she dealt with the Mage King or the elders while handling affairs inside the palace.

In particular, her main duty had been managing the various magic circles descending from the kingdom.

The second left the café and immediately slipped into the alley beside it.

Jingle.

A moment later, Zenda Camel came out, flushed with excitement, the access pass in her hand.

*****

“...Hmm.”

Dad folded his arms and studied my work.

My first masterpiece! The one I’d made by kneading clay during crafts!

“Well? Hmph.”

I puffed my chest out proudly. Dad rubbed at his lips and let out a low sound.

“How should I put this. Mm. It contains a complex artistic meaning that seems as though it might reveal a brilliant, spirited ambition toward the world, yet perhaps not...”

“...It’s Dad.”

“...His eyes are attached to his feet?”

“It’s lying on its side— Ugh! Forget it!”

Dad’s eye for things was on Haben’s level!

Next was the thing I made when we went to the herb garden.

“What’s this? Ointment?”

Grandpa narrowed his eyes as he lifted the slim stick.

I explained proudly.

“It’s lip balm! I made it with herbs during herbal studies!”

“Lip balm our Ruby made?”

At that moment, Grandpa’s eyes flashed.

“Well, I have to try it! Mm! It’s fantastic! Fragrant! Wonderful!”

Grandpa’s lips gleamed like polished glass.

“Hey, you put on way too much!”

“As long as it makes me pretty, that’s what matters!”

“Aaagh!”

That was true, but still!

And lastly, the creation I made during the making-things period! We were supposed to gather materials from around the Academy and make whatever we wanted.

“I know.”

Liam raised one hand with an insufferably clever look on his face and announced the answer.

“A squirrel magical beast.”

“Why did you tack magical beast onto it?!”

I flared up and shouted, and he smirked as he pointed at the squirrel I had made out of branches and acorns.

“Because it smells like a magical beast claw, doesn’t it?”

“Hmph. That’s because I put ginkgo fruit in it!”

He was so annoying I sank my teeth hard into the back of his hand. Liam smiled in satisfaction and said he liked how vicious I was, just like a magical beast.

“Then let’s go look at Khalid’s next!”

I led my family toward the platform for Class A.