“Where on earth did you even find time to prepare?”

I blurted out, instead of Khalid. Dad, as if he already knew, answered smoothly.

“Money and threats... no, money and negotiation skills. With those, you can do anything.”

“Ah... right.” 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

As expected of him.

I was about to ask if that wasn’t a bit much when the knights, arriving late, shouted from the back.

“Hey, Khal! If you don’t make it into the top three, we’ll scatter flower petals all over your bed!”

“If you win, I’ll finally tell you about that famous northern dessert place you’re obsessed with! Wait—does he even like cake?”

Just what kind of life does he live among the knights?

Khal, normally so shameless, cleared his throat loudly and turned his head away.

When the crowd’s eyes gathered on him, I could clearly see his lips forming the words: “I don’t know those people.”

“Pfft, he’s embarrassed.”

Hiding behind my words, Khalid’s ears were completely red.

Because my noisy family barged in, the cheering grew even louder as people tried to compete. Buried in the noise, I whispered softly:

“Do your best! My friend.”

Even though it shouldn’t have been audible, Khalid suddenly looked up, his eyes on me.

When the announcer finally came in and the heat reached its peak—

“Then, for safety’s sake, everyone be careful... Ready, go!”

The race began!

“Hm. So there was such a talent hiding in the north?”

At the judges’ booth for the horse race.

Those seated there were the judges with authority to give out Star Stickers. Most of them were academy professors.

“Headmaster Odely. You seem interested.”

Odely nodded firmly.

“Very much. A healthy mind comes from a healthy body. And that calm, indifferent face, even after victory—that’s exactly what I like.”

It had been a storm-like victory.

Khalid shot forward like an arrow, leaving the other kids far behind, and in the blink of an eye, finished the race. His breathing hadn’t even faltered, so it didn’t seem like he’d tried his hardest.

Odely tore off a large number of Star Stickers, and another professor spoke with concern.

“He doesn’t look like a noble child. Wouldn’t it be difficult to bring him into our academy? He’s probably past entrance age, too.”

Odely sniffed.

“Why do you think I created the scholarship and transfer system?”

“Ah, I see.”

“Send the academy’s introduction packet right away.”

“Yes, sir.”

From the other side, another professor spoke.

“Now that you mention it, I believe the youngest lady of House Zebret is also almost of age to enter the academy.”

Odely smiled brightly.

“Yes. We must not miss either of these students. You all know enrollment at our academy has been falling every year.”

“Gasp, yes.”

“We can’t let Marriad in the south steal them!”

The girl who was extraordinary from her first appearance, and now the boy who had become the hottest topic...

“We must bring them both to our academy!”

Odely’s eyes blazed with fire at the discovery of new talent. But one professor poured cold water on it.

“Ah, but I heard Duke Zebret never lets his youngest daughter out of his sight. Instead of sending her to the academy, wouldn’t he just hire a tutor?”

“No parent can ever beat their child.”

“...What?”

“Professor Euliope, what’s the schedule for our academy’s trial camp?”

From the back row, [N O V E L I G H T] a tired young professor sighed.

“...Tch. We didn’t plan one this year.”

“Plans are meant to be changed.”

Odely spoke cheerfully.

Ah, I can hear it, the sound of workloads piling up. The professors’ eyes all trembled violently.

“In autumn, who’s free? It’ll be the perfect chance to lure—no, meet adorable new students. It’ll only take ten days.”

“Ahem. I suddenly have urgent matters.”

“Ow, my stomach hurts.”

The professors ignored their headmaster’s nonsense with practiced skill.

“Awesome.”

I gave Khalid two thumbs up.

“You didn’t use acceleration magic, right?”

“Who do you think I am?”

“That was really amazing! First place!”

I clapped, too, and Khalid rubbed at his lips, looking a little embarrassed.

“He was unbelievably fast!”

The other kids couldn’t even chase him—they were laps behind. The gasps and exclamations of the crowd still rang in my ears.

“Here.”

Khalid held out a golden badge to me.

“Huh? Why are you giving this to me?”

“I don’t need it. Same for these stickers.”

He shoved a card full of star-shaped stickers into my hand, too. A total of ten cards—and with the badge, that made 150 points!

“But... is it okay to just give these away?”

“They said it doesn’t matter as long as it’s between participants. Look—those kids are pooling theirs too.”

I saw groups of children gathering, handing all their Star Stickers to one teammate.

Though still, none of them passed 100 points.

“I see... so negotiating to get badges and stickers can also be a strategy.”

I stared at the badge and stickers in my hand.

Wait—if I collect some Star Stickers in the Maze Challenge, maybe I really could aim for first place?

“Thank you, Khal!”

I beamed happily.

“Well... it’s thanks to your cheering anyway.”

“Huh? Isn’t that a bit much for just cheering?”

Khalid coughed, his face red, and muttered shyly:

“I only heard your voice.”

“Eh, no way.”

Not that I didn’t like the sound of that.

The second day of the competition.

Today was Liam’s day.

“Now, we will begin the Quiz Contest!”

The children sat in rows on the tiered seats.

“The subject of today’s Quiz Contest is history and biology!”

The announcer declared.

‘Huh? Not herbalism?’

From the stands, I tilted my head. Olivier and Titi had told me it would be herbalism—it must’ve been bad info.

‘Good thing they didn’t enter after all.’

At least they avoided sweating over the wrong subject.

The participants started walking in.

“Did you eat sticky caramel?”

“Take your fork! Pick good answers!”

Parents shouted desperate encouragement.

“Alright, put your books away. This is where your usual studying shows. If you reviewed the textbook three times, there’s no problem.”

The announcer’s strict voice rang out.

‘What is this, an entrance exam hall...?’

Among the kids, Liam Zebret adjusted his glasses with a proud face.

Sharp and tidy, the cold handsome boy had a colorful cheering sash draped across one shoulder.

‘I thought he’d hate it... but good thing he liked it.’

It was the hand-drawn cheering sash I made last night.

“Hehe, good luck, big brother!”

When I shouted, Liam raised one hand in response, his face still calm.

“Now, Question 1! History! Let’s start easy, with the legends of Vamilon!”

Finally—it began!

“In ancient times, the goddess Wistal fled to this land to escape the curse of the first Demon King. The first person she met was—”

Beep! Liam pressed his buzzer.

“You didn’t even let me finish the question... Well, yes. Liam Zebret?”

As if it were nothing, Liam answered crisply.

“The founding emperor, Lin Vamilon.”

“Which number Lin Vamilon?”

“...”

“This year, the first question is multiple choice. That was our new rule.”

Crack. I clearly saw a small crack appear on Liam’s perfect face. But he didn’t falter.

“...Number?”

“Excuse me? I didn’t hear you.”

“One, two, three, four... five...”

“...?”

Heh. Liam’s lips curved into a sly smile.

“Number three, Lin Vamilon?”

“Oh? Correct!”

What?!

Reading the host’s body language while pretending to mumble numbers—what kind of skill was that?!

“You’re very lucky. Next question!”

That was the only time Liam wavered.

After that, it was all his show.

“Pointed ears, body as hard as stone... Yes, Liam Zebret?”

“Orton Forest Boar. Mainly found in the east. Often mistaken for a monster due to its size, but actually quite cute—”

“Yes, no need to elaborate. Next question. How do you remove poison from swamp creatures—”

“Pound, steam, then dry.”

“Next quest—”

“Mudworm.”

“I didn’t even start the question!”

The host shouted in frustration. Liam pushed his glasses up with a smug look.

“Judging from recent question trends, it was about time for that one.”

He could even see through the examiners’ minds.

Should I call him amazing... or just exhausting?