I Favor the Villainess Chapter 19
Second Chapter â Order of the Academy
When you hear the words chivalric order, what kind of impression do you have.
For many people what comes to mind are muscular gentlemen wearing full plater armor.
Of course, thatâs a thing in the world of ăRevolutionă as well.
However, rather than in the present, itâs something that existed a bit in the past.
The soldiers under the kingdomâs control are called an army, not a chivalric order.
The army is mainly responsible for maintaining public order and national defense, as the relations with neighboring Naa Empire have currently deteriorated itâs recruiting people.
Their equipment is generally not a full plate armor, itâs mainly made of leather or cloth to prioritize mobility.
The main reason is that the development of magical tools greatly decreased the necessity of heavy armor.
Magical tools are often used for both attack and defense.
Of course, full plate magical tools do exist.
However, because such items are extremely expensive, only a small minority wears them.
Now letâs return to the main subject.
Why I brought up chivalric orderââ.
âSo, this year as well we will conduct a selection exam for candidates for the Order of the Academy.
Saturday, the academyâs lecture hall.
Saying so in front of the students is the current leader of the Order of the Academy, Lorec Cugletto.
Perhaps you might recall his last name, Cugletto is a house of one of Claire-samaâs followers.
Cugletto house is a military family, theyâre a distinguished family holding important offices in the army.
Noticing the importance of magic in the kingdom before others, they asked Tred-sensei to teach them, maintaining the influence of their house even after magic was introduced.
The followerâs name is Loretta-sama, but I donât know much about her.
However, her older brother, Lorec-sama is a cool man with frank, open-hearted character.
According to Lorec-sama, the Order of the Academy is an autonomous organization within the Royal Academy.
It consists of several members selected from among the students, the top members have authority comparable to teachers.
Traditionally, royalty often belongs to it, and along with the student council and public morals committee elite internal students long for it.
Of course in accordance to its name, the Order of the Academy at times of emergency participates in combat, itâs not just an honorary position.
âOf course, Iâll participateâ
Rod-sama announced before anyone else.
Well, hearing about such an important organization in the academy, Rod-sama will take up the challenge.
âIâll also participateâ
Yuu-sama also came forward.
The combat ability of prince characters like Yuu-sama is never low.
His handling of magic is ordinary, but heâs been trained in self-defense from an early age.
â⌠Itâs bothersome, honestlyâ
With Rod-samaâs encouragement, Sein-sama reluctantly raised his hand.
With his personality heâd prefer to say he doesnât want to participate, but it wouldnât look good for a prince not to.
âI appreciate the participation of the princes. Certainly, do your best on the exam. Does anybody else want to enter?â
âI shall also attempt itâ
The one who raised her hand was Claire-sama.
âClaire-sama⌠However, isnât such a burden too heavy for a lady?â
âThat is not the case. Certainly, I cannot compare to men at physical strength, however considering my handling of magic and everyday office work, I am also sufficiently qualified to participateâ
Claire-sama who gave fair argument was majestic.
It seems the the Order of the Academyâs leader, Lorec, was a little hesitant, but as she would be working under him, he soon consented.
I announced my candidacy.
If Claire-sama is going, of course Iâll also go.
By the way, in the game, according to your choice it was possible to not take the exam.
When I raised my hand, Claire-sama had a visibly displeased expression.
âIt is impossible for youâ
âHuh? Claire-sama, who lost to me on the test that followed the enrolment in all but Etiquette, is saying that?â
âKii! I will not be defeated on the next test, watch me!â
Claire-sama has no resistance to being agitated.
Mmhm, sheâs cute today as well.
âMisha, participate as well. In the unlikely event this commoner passed, is a person who would hold her reins not necessary?â
âIâm not Reiâs guardianâŚâ
Following Claire-samaâs words, Misha also raised her hand.
In addition, a few other students raised their hands, Lorec-sama wrote down their names and distributed the exam outline.
âThe exam begins tomorrow, on Sunday, in the morning. The exam consists of two parts, office work and magic. Detailed information is written in the outline, so please look over it. Well then, excuse meâ
Saying so, Lorec-sama left.
âHmph, for a lowborn like you it is absolutely impossible to join the Order of the Academyâ
Claire-sama raised her chin and threw a nasty comment at me.
As for me, I admire her figure thatâs in the perfect form today as well.
âClaire, Rei, Misha too, Iâm looking forward to your participationâ
âWe have to do our best, Sein-niisanâ
âIt doesnât matter to meâ
The three princes came here.
Rod-sama is completely calm, Yuu-sama isnât as confident, Sein-sama finds it bothersome from the bottom of his heart, each of them is different.
âYou really donât waver. For the most part, you donât yearn for the Order of the Academy, do you?â
âYup. I want to stay together with Claire-samaâ
Sighing and saying good grief , Mishaâs a person used to hardships.
For her, something like that would be unthinkable.
Participating aside, her character is not one to cut corners.
âDo you know what is tested on the exam, Rod-sama? We were only told it will be office work and magic.â
Claire-sama asked Rod-sama.
As I mentioned earlier, itâs well-known fact that royalty has belonged to the Order of the Academy for generations, she thought heâd have the know-how.
âI canât say that. Chances have to be fair. Well, weâll see tomorrow. No matter the preparations today, we wonât be able to prepare much until tomorrowâ
Theyâre having such a conversation, but naturally having finished the game I know the contents.
The exam is divided into written office work part and practical part consisting of combat.
The written part asks about the knowledge regarding the academyâs rules and office work, it simply tests the intelligence.
Although itâs called academyâs rules, you can answer it if youâre aware of general rules of organization activities, there isnât much difference there.
The information regarding office work is rather straightforward.
The problem is the practical skills exam.
Iâve heard that in the practical exam of the past handling of weapons like swords or spears was tested.
With magic becoming the main technology of war, the importance shifted towards proficiency in handling magic.
As I said before, magic ability depends on inborn qualities and is not influenced by the social status.
Ever since the examination method changed, the proportion of nobles and commoners joining the Order of the Academy has considerably shifted towards the latter.
However, because commoners donât see joining the Order of the Academy as such a serious honor, thereâs a tendency of only few taking the selection exam.
Whatâs important for commoners is the appointment exam for government offices, hence many donât appreciate Order of the Academy activities taking away their studying time.
Well, profit over honor, right?
While Iâm absentmindedly recalling such things, Claire-sama sternly glared at me and declared.
âCommoner, it is a match!â
Claire-sama specialty, it is a match .
Following the first test, itâs the second match.
âSupposing you do not pass the Order of the Academyâs examination, you will leave the academyâ
âEh, I donât want that?â
âHow about thinking about it a little!?â
After all, same as with the previous match, thereâs no merit in it for me.
I think the gameâs heroine did well to go along with it with no reward.
Well, itâs fun to play with Claire-sama.
âIt canât be helped. Then, letâs go with the same conditions as the last timeâ
âWait a moment. Are you intending to cheat again?â
âMy, I wonât do anything this mean. If I fail, itâs Claire-samaâs loss. How about I win if I pass?â
âVery we⌠It is no good!? Either way, will it not be my loss!?â
âIt canât be helped. If I fail, itâs Claire-samaâs win. If I pass, I win, letâs agree on thatâ
âShould it not be that if I pass I win?â
âClaire-sama will be accepted, right? Such a condition for Claire-samaâs win is too disadvantageousâ
At any rate, Claire-sama is sure to pass.
Because Iâm aware of it beforehand, I wonât make it the condition for our match.
âVery well. If you win?â
âSame as before, you will do one thing I ask of youâ
âGot it. Then, itâs a matchâ
As before, we swore to God in front of Misha.
Like this, weâve decided to take part in the Order of the Academyâs selection test.