"The Talented Dragon Hides Its Claws" ~ The Eldest Son of the Baron Family, Called Useless, is Actually One of the World's Strongest ~ - Episode 66

A week has passed since then.

Today, the names and rankings of the successful candidates will be announced on the bulletin board at the
Imperial Academy Square.

Earlier, the gates of the Imperial Academy opened, so Ryu and Lena headed towards the square.

I am currently walking at the end of the line of exam candidates.

“Ugh… I’m getting nervous…”

“But the exam was almost perfect, right?”

“Yes. Except for the last question…”

“Well, it seems that the final problem is always set from outside the syllabus to prevent anyone from getting a perfect score, so there’s nothing we can do about it. If Rena couldn’t solve it, then probably no one could.”

By the way, this final problem was taken from the Imperial Academy entrance exam, so it’s no wonder Lena can’t solve it.

When I arrived at the square, a crowd had gathered in front of the bulletin board, with voices of joy and despair mingling together. Since this is the top academy of the empire, there were no scornful glances directed at those who had failed. There were even a few people taking the exam just for the sake of it.

The two of them pushed through the crowd and stood in front of the bulletin board.

The bulletin board on the left is the pass list, and the one on the right is the ranking list.

First, check the left side…

“Um, my exam number is 716, so…”

702………

716―――Lena Arden

724………

“Big brother, I passed!!! Yay!!!”

“You did a great job, Rena… Congratulations… *sniff*”

“Hehehe” petting and petting

Next is the crucial ranking.

If you can place in the top ten, you will become a special scholarship student and the exam fee will be waived.

1st place―――Alice Blanc

2nd place―――Lena Arden

3rd place………

4th place………

“Second place!!! It was second place, big brother!!!”

“！！！！！！！」

“Hehehe” petting and petting

Ryu was speechless with joy, but his hands moved automatically.

(Danger, danger. My magic was about to go out of control.)

The seemingly short yet long journey of exam preparation has finally come to an end.

Since there is an even longer line behind me than when I arrived, I immediately step aside to avoid being in the way and retrace my steps.

Tonight, a party called the Exam Encouragement Party will be held at the Second Mansion of the Grace Marquessate. Only noble families who are on friendly terms with Grace have been invited, and of course, Lena has also received an invitation.

“Lena, what are we doing about today’s invitation?”

Since we’ve gone to the trouble, I think I’ll go.

“Have fun out there.”

“I wish I could have gone with you, big brother…”

“I’ll pass this time. It’s the party for the successful candidates today.”

“Is there really no way?”

“Even if you give me those watery eyes, it won’t change anything. If I go, I’ll just be a nuisance.”

Ryu is the type of person who can generally distinguish between things. This is partly because the event is being held by Grace.

Outside the gate, many distraught examinees stood, some being gently patted on the shoulder by their parents, while others were grabbed by the scruff of their necks and thrown into carriages by irritable parents.

“Well, you’ve passed other schools, so don’t be too down. You can still work hard from now on.”

“Tch… Come on, get in quickly! You useless piece of trash!”

With a sidelong glance at them, the two also boarded the carriage.

“Other families seem to be having a hard time…”

“The imperial nobility has a particularly strong tendency towards meritocracy, so if you say it’s inevitable, that’s the end of it… but still, it’s quite pitiful. A thirteen-year-old who worked hard for the entrance exam shouldn’t have to endure such treatment.”

There are likely not just one or two noble children who have fallen out of the heir succession race due to failing the Imperial Academy. However, since most of the imperial nobility have been woven into this system, no one has the right to complain.

“Oh, by the way, wasn’t Alice Blanc the one in first place?”

“Yes. I remember.”

“Actually, I’m acquainted with that kid’s father. He might have even been there today.”

“Wow! How are you connected?”

“He was a great help during the war. He was a capable and noble person… Count Blan.”

“That means, you might be invited to today’s appreciation party as well.”

“Please get along with him. I’m sure you’ll be in the same class, so it won’t be a loss.”

“Got it! I’m looking forward to it~”

Count Blan is a capable individual who helped clean up after Baron Cassano’s reckless actions during the war. The border regions tend to have a lot of doting parents for some reason, so it’s quite likely that the Count came to receive his reward while also accompanying his daughter for her exam.

If we arrange the nobles who achieved military exploits on the Western Front in order of their ranks, it would be Marquis Grace, Count Blan, and Viscount Arden. Since Grace is a doting parent and Arden is a siscon, if we apply the Othello theory, Count Bran must surely have some kind of complex as well.

Dusk.

“Big brother, I’m off!”

“Make sure to have a great time. Also, say hello to Count Blan’s daughter for me.”

“Understood!”

The carriage carrying Lena headed towards the noble district.

“Well then, shall we get going too?”

“Baruru”

Actually, I just received word from the Imperial Castle that the reward mansion has been decided, so Ryu is going to inspect the property now. Since it was chosen by the Empress, I don’t think there’s any mistake, but I still want to confirm it just in case.

“So, why me…?”

Because you seemed to be free.

“I’m busy preparing for my trip right now! You fool!”

“I’ll treat you to dinner, so it’s fine, right?”

“Hmph… it can’t be helped.”

Picking up the self-proclaimed genius apothecary Lorith, Ryu also heads towards the noble district.

“What’s wrong with Lena?”

“Actually…”

Ryu informed her that she had passed the academy entrance exam.

“Ho, you’re quite something! As expected of Lena!”

“Make sure to praise her later. She’s been working really hard, Lena has.”

“Of course!”

The noble district is surrounded by high walls and is completely independent from the general city. This is not due to a sense of superiority, but simply because imperial nobles are often targeted by underground organizations, and if they are not so overtly protected, incidents would occur frequently. Especially, the kidnapping of high-ranking nobles’ children for ransom is so common that it is hard to count even now.

If you pass through the checkpoint and go through the gate, a luxurious and quiet residential area comes into view.

“This is the number one noble district in the empire, huh? The safety, the spaciousness, and the level of architecture are on a whole different level.”

“Hey, is this your first time here?”

“It’s my first time. What about you, Esther?”

“I am in high demand among the nobility, you see. I’m frequently invited to this town.”

“I see. So from today, I finally get to be the one inviting others.”

“To begin with, it was strange that I wasn’t the one doing it.”

“Our family has been poor for generations.”

“You managed to acquire this mansion in your first year as head of the family. Even a duke’s family wouldn’t be able to just throw around that kind of money.”

“This year, I’m incredibly lucky.”

“You’re a cocky little brat, but you’re humble too.”

(It’s not luck, it’s your skill…)

Riding the accelerator and moving forward for about twenty minutes.

Up until now, I’ve passed by the patrolling knights at one-minute intervals.

The security is that robust.

“This area is for the high-ranking nobles, you know?”

“But this mansion in this area has a mark on it, you know. Look.”

Ryu showed the map.

“……You haven’t made any kind of pact with His Majesty, have you?”

“I haven’t exchanged any. But well, I have a few ideas.”

“Whoa~”

The empress must be serious about wanting to get Ryu.

“Oh, I can see it now. That mansion with the black roof.”

At the place where Ryu is pointing, there stands a magnificent mansion.

“Isn’t it, like, way too big…?”

“From a distance, it looked normal, but…”

As I approach, the full extent of the mansion gradually becomes clear.

And.

“Wow… how are we supposed to manage this…?”

“No matter how you look at it, it’s way too big… This size is comparable to the head marquis family…”

In front of me stood a building more than three times the size of the Arden mansion.

(We must ensure the port town plan is a great success and earn enough to pay the servants.)

As the two were overwhelmed by the mansion, a person in black appeared from the garden.

“Is this Lord Arden?”

“Ah, I’m the head of the family, Ryu Arden. And you?”

“I am the Vice Chairman of Weel Real Estate. I have come here today in the name of His Majesty. However, there is not much to do, just a tour of the premises and rooms, and obtaining your signature on some documents, so I believe it won’t take much time.”

“Understood. I will express my gratitude politely.”

“By the way, who might you be…?”

“This little one is Esther. She’s an amazing apothecary.”

“Unbelievable…! So it was the renowned Esther the Healer…!”

“Is it really that famous?”

“Well, it’s already a given that when it comes to the representative pharmacist of the capital, Esther-sama is the one. Just like real estate… hehehe.”

“What the hell is this guy…?”

After being shown around the grounds and the interior of the mansion, I signed the contract documents. Although the vice president occasionally made strange remarks, his handling and explanatory skills were nothing short of impressive.

“I was taken care of.”

“No, no. Originally, the president was supposed to come himself, but I ended up stepping in as the vice president, so I feel quite sorry about it.”

When the vice president was leaving, Esther twitched her ears and muttered with a puzzled expression.

“The mansion next door has been noisy for a while now.”

“Currently, an event is being held at the neighboring mansion…”

“It’s a bit harsh on elf ears.”

“Well, well, Esther. Why don’t you suck on a candy to calm down?”

“Whoa!!!!!!!”

As a result of trying to please Esther by giving her sweets, the quiet residential area was filled with the cries of a loli.

Ryu instinctively places his hand on his forehead.

(I messed up…)

Then, from the neighboring property.

“Huh? I think I just heard Esther’s voice coming from the neighbor’s house…”

“Hmm? Could that voice be… Lena?”

“Yes! It’s me!”

“Lena-chan, is something wrong?”

“It seems that my benefactor, Esther, is on the other side of the fence.”

“Well then, since we’re at it, shall we invite them?”

“Over here, we have Ryu too!!!”

“Brother?!”

“Ryu-sama?!”

“Oh no… I wasn’t planning to interfere, but it ended up like this anyway…”

Ryu had noticed it from the beginning, but in fact, this mansion is adjacent to Grace’s second mansion.