Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family

Chapter 33: You, Be My Comrade

Six thousand applicants.

Among them, two hundred people passed.

Those who had successfully become members of the Imperial Academy after beating the odds of 30:1 were now gathered together in the large Academy Plaza, waiting for the entrance ceremony to begin.

“Look over there, there’s our son!”

“To think our daughter entered the academy! This is a blessing to the family!”

“Great job, son! He got in after eight attempts! He’s so cool!”

Surrounding them were their families. Naturally, they outnumbered the new students by several times, and before the entrance ceremony began, they were shouting in excited voices to congratulate the freshmen.

“Haha, do you see Dane over there?”

“Of course. Oh my. Who gave birth to such a handsome boy?”

“Ahem. He’s shining because he looks like me.”

“Oh my, what are you talking about? He looks like me.”

Among them were Arken and Lily Sogres. However, the difference was that Arken Sogres was a war hero borne of a long war, and because of this, he was seated in the center of a podium with the utmost courtesy.

The two of them had just arrived at the capital that day, using the teleportation gate just like Dane with the help of their eldest daughter Arabella.

“Arabella and Clare are over there. How about taking the kids to Whale Star after the entrance ceremony later?”

“That sounds good. I’ve missed the star-salted crayfish there so much.”

As the two were chatting away, a welcome voice was heard.

“Hahaha! You look as close as always. Isn’t that so, Arken?”

It was Duke Thermion, who had just arrived.

“Bout, you’re here.”

“Hmm. Seems you’re doing well.”

“You’re one to talk.”

“Hahaha, my wife’s doing better.”

“Your Grace, how have you been? You look happy.”

“Yes, my lady. hahaha.”

Though he had been invited to the Academy’s freshman orientation every year, he’d never been happier than today. It was the day when his daughter, Leila, would finally enter the academy like her brothers.

“You raised your children well, Arken.”

“Don’t mention it. How could I compare with you?”

“Haha, there’s no use raising sons. Don’t you have two daughters? I’ve always been jealous of you.”

“I was exactly the same. But now that our daughter and son are both entering the academy, isn’t that like getting our wishes fulfilled? Haha.”

Duke Thermion smiled, but inside he felt bitter. He wished his wife could have come, too.

“Hey, do you see? That’s my little brother. See over there? The one with silver hair.”

“Him? The one you always brag about? Wow, why is he so handsome? It’s like he lives alone in the world.”

“My family is a bit like that.”

Meanwhile, Arabella was shrugging her shoulders and bragging about Dane to her friend.

“Then, does he also draw five magic circles in one day?”

“He’ll probably draw ten of them soon.”

“This is a dirty world where it’s hard to survive without talent.”

The friend who said that was also a mage of great talent. However, her talent was inferior to Arabella’s. This showed just how talented the siblings of the Sogres family were.

‘As expected of my younger brother. He stands out the most.’

She was so happy to hear from Dane that he had passed the entrance exam and that he was one of only two students to pass the autonomous major in one hundred years.

“I’ve known since I was little.”

Not far away, Clare was standing next to Professor Delphineso, talking.

“Clare, about your brother.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“I heard that he was already close with Aitz when he was a baby, is that right?”

Clare nodded, remembering how her small but very alert summons, Aitz, had rubbed his face against Dane the moment he saw him.

“Yes.”

“Huh, there was a precedence, but for even Eterarch…”

After the test, Professor Delphineso seemed to be in great shock. Eterarch was as vicious as a 2nd-rank summons, and when enraged, it would bite and kill a 3rd-rank summons. Despite this, he had even tucked his tail and rubbed against Dane.

It wasn’t something that could be explained as something so simple as innate affinity. Especially since he had analyzed the mana thread linking her to Eterarch and created something identical to it.

‘What a monster.’

A boy without a mark had done more than a summoner with a mark.

“With that level of friendliness and talent, wouldn’t he be able to summon even the beasts from ‘Beyond the Horizon’?”

Usually, she would have dismissed it as nonsense, even if it was Clare, her most beloved disciple saying so.

But not now.

Not because he was Clare’s younger brother, but because she had seen his talent.

Beyond the Horizon.

It was another world, one where summons came from. Summoning a summoned beast from a world where the link was lost over one hundred years ago一

She wasn’t certain. However, she thought it might be possible.

After all, the summons from that place ‘chose’ their summoners.

Professor Delphineso burst into laughter without realizing it.

In the midst of all this, the entrance ceremony began and the headmaster came up to the stage.

Arkwald Homet.

A mysterious figure who had served as the head of the Imperial Academy for a full forty years, he rarely showed up except for official events and did not interfere much with the running of the academy.

Because of this, he was evaluated as someone who, in turn, gave professors greater discretion and thereby raised the status of the academy.

Though he had white hair, his sturdy expression made it hard to believe that he was already in his eighties.

“Greetings, new students of the Imperial Academy. I am Arkwald Homet, the headmaster of the Imperial Academy.”

His voice was amplified by magic and resonated throughout the plaza.

“Seeing the new students who have made it to this position after going through fierce competition, I believe the future of the empire is very bright.”

He observed the freshmen looking up at him and smiled.

“Everyone standing here must be a talent of the empire, but among the new students this time, there seems to be many who are particularly outstanding.”

Outstanding talent. Those words made the freshmen’s hearts flutter.

Arkwald then said something that surprised all there.

“There was even someone who passed the ‘autonomous major’, becoming one of only two people who have passed in one hundred years.”

Mutters rang out at those words.

“Oh my God, an autonomous major?”

“Autonomous major? The major at the very bottom? Someone applied for that?”

“The dean just said that someone passed!”

“That’s ridiculous! How can you pass that? Didn’t three professors have to agree to pass you?”

Some were shocked and shook their heads while others were quick to suspect foul play.

The main reason was that only two people had appeared in one hundred years, and now the existence of the major was a mere symbol. However, everyone was silent when the Dean continued to speak.

“The student in question passed the autonomous major exam by receiving unanimous approval from the three deans of the Magic, Spearmanship, and Summoning Departments.”

Professors. That three deans had passed him unanimously…

“D-did he really pass?”

“What a crazy talent…”

Immediately, Arkwald’s voice rang out.

“I don’t think a long speech is necessary, so I would like to congratulate you again on your admission and move on to the Admission Oath.”

Arkwald looked down from the podium.

Silver hair and green eyes. His hair resembled that of Count Sogres, who was sitting at the back, while his green eyes resembled those of Countess Sogres.

‘The autonomous major…’

Historically, all those who passed the autonomous major had made a major impact on the empire, either for good or for bad. It would be interesting to see how this boy would influence this vast empire.

Arkwald finally said, “Top Student, Dane Sogres, step forward.”

Top Student.

At those words, everyone’s mouths dropped open.

Thud, thud.

All eyes were on a boy making his way through the crowd toward the podium.

Dane Sogres

The first student to pass the autonomous major in decades, and the top student that Arkwald just mentioned. With his tall and stocky physique, which was taller than his peers, no one would have guessed that Dane was only fourteen years old.

And then, one more thing.

“What kind of blessing was bestowed upon House Sogres…?”

Someone exclaimed.

Arken Sogres, a war hero and the greatest spearman of the Empire.

Lily Sogres, a legendary assassin known to few, but whose name made those who did tremble at the mere mention of her.

Arabella Sogres, the pride of the Magic Department, a great inventor, and the most talented person the Magic Department had produced.

Clare Sogres, who was considered the most talented summoner in the history of the Summoning Department. She could not only summon a 3rd-rank summons but also managed two summons at the same time.

In this family, where all of those ridiculous talents were gathered, another incredible talent was born.

“So, you’re Dane Sogres.”

Arkwald smiled at Dane as climbed up the podium and faced him, then handed him the oath.

“I hope you can fully demonstrate your talents at this academy.”

Dane smiled at those words. That was exactly what he was hoping for.

Dane took the oath, turned around, met the thousands of eyes focused on him, and finally opened his mouth.

“I swear…”

On a warm spring day, Dane’s academy life began.

After the entrance ceremony, all the new students, including me, moved to the main auditorium of the academy.

It was for a freshman orientation event.

I could feel the excitement. It was not just the joy of admission. Whether in my past life or this life, I was finally stepping out into the world for the first time.

“Follow me! Don’t touch the statues on the way! They are enchanted, and if you touch them by mistake…”

“Um, Assistant Professor! I think someone touched a statue over here!”

“Aaack!”

There were a few accidents along the way. On the long road from the main gate to the academy’s main building, there were statues of great people who had graduated from the Academy, and they were protected by magic.

“H-he fainted!”

“Move him to the infirmary quickly!”

I didn’t know what kind of magic it was, but it seemed clear that I shouldn’t touch the statues, and I could also see that the statues looked quite expensive.

“I heard that there are new students like that every year. I heard that there are many statues and buildings with magic like that in the academy.”

“It’s strange.”

“Right? As expected from the Academy. Oh, by the way, I also heard that there are a lot of secret places at the Academy!”

Leila, who was walking next to me, chattered excitedly. The academy was so big that there had to be at least one secret place.

“Is that the Dane Sogres?”

“They said he was an autonomous major. How does that make sense?”

“It’s not because he’s the son of Count Sogres?”

By the way, if gazes had a physical effect, would it be like this?

It was not that I really cared, but no matter where I turned, I always made eye contact with someone.

There were even glaring eyes. It wasn’t like they recognized me from my past life. I was stabbed and killed many on the battlefield.

“They’re just jealous. They might be envious, or they might think of you as competition.”

I tilted my head at Leila’s words and asked, “Why?”

“Isn’t that obvious? This is the stage for the survival of the fittest.”

Why was this kid so cruel?

Well, she wasn’t wrong. It would be stranger if we didn’t compete when all these talents were gathered together.

It was just a little cute.

My past life on the battlefield… Now that was the very definition of the laws of the jungle.

If you were weak, you died.

If you repeatedly survived by luck, it could be said to be a strength.

Of course, I was able to survive on the battlefield for over twenty years by adding talent to such luck.

“Listen carefully, Dane. There are probably a lot of people out there who are after you. for good or bad. Be careful. If someone suggests something, think it through.”

I would have thought that would be something my elder sisters would say, but I found it really cute that Leila, who was the same age as me, was making such strong demands.

“There are a lot of crazy kids out there. I’m talking about kids who weren’t educated properly and who continue to act like they’re at home.”

I’d seen it so many times in my past life.

New noble knights who came to the battlefield as newly commissioned officers and oppressed and treated the soldiers unnecessarily, telling them what to do.

By the way, their arrogance didn’t last long. When you were thrown into battle and found yourself rolling around in a feast of swords, arrows, and magic, you realized that class distinctions like nobility and commoners had no meaning.

Those who were enlightened lived. Usually, they would die before that.

“Yeah, I got it.”

“Make sure!”

“I told you, I got it.”

It wasn’t like she was my senior or anything.

We arrived at the auditorium and took our seats. Leila still looked around with excitement.

She kept admiring the auditorium and asked me, “Dane, where are you going after the orientation? We’re supposed to meet by department, but you’re an autonomous major.”

“Me? I saw it earlier…”

As I was about to continue speaking when a voice came from behind me.

“Are you Dane?”

I turned my head wondering what was going on, and a guy with short hair was looking at me. After that, about five guys glared at me with the same expression.

“Wow.”

Leila’s exclamation of pure admiration came from me…

I almost did that, too.

He was a whole lot taller than me, had a muscular build that was more than stocky, and had twitching muscles. The five others behind him all looked the same.

“I am Dorian Artaq, the eldest son of the great warrior and knight Kabul Artaq and heir to House Artaq. I’m also a 3rd year student of the Imperial Academy’s Martial Arts Department.”

The Martial Arts Department. Somehow, it suited him very well. He introduced himself with a deep voice, looked at me, and stroked his chin as if interested.

“Just looking at you, I can see that you have a great bone structure… Even your muscles are already developed! Forearms, pectoralis major, deltoid muscles…!”

What on earth could he see through my clothes?

“I can see it all. If you try just a little harder, you will be able to develop muscles that truly hold heavenly beauty…”

Was it just me? That gave me goosebumps.

“Wow…” Leila’s exclamation was the same sound but had a different meaning.

“Dane Sogres, we are currently promoting our club to freshmen.”

I heard about this from my eldest sister. There were clubs at the academy, and most students joined at least one club. Something about club life being the cream on top of the academy.

“So, let me get straight to the point. Come join the ‘Physical Beauty Club’. There, we cultivate and train beautiful bodies.”

Dorian, who was smiling while showing off his pure white teeth, suddenly took off his top.

“Look at this beauty!”

Was that sweat or oil?

I gave up thinking about it.