NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18 Just Doing It Isn't Enough to Earn Praise in This World
The Golden Youth: Assembly of Prodigies
Chapter 18
Just Doing It Isn’t Enough to Earn Praise in This World
The capital city of Reynardia is a flourishing city as the headquarters of the Ring Church.
At its center are the Holy Nomoras Great Chapel, where the Pope resides, and Reynardia Castle, home to the King, surrounded by spotless stone-paved streets.
The streets were spotless because orphaned children collected the trash and sold it for money.
Therefore, when visiting Reynardia, one must not scold anyone for littering. They are providing work for less fortunate children.
Such superficial knowledge already existed in my head. But as the ancients wisely said, “Seeing is believing.”
“Wow! So many people!”
“Whoa…!”
Behind the excited Phil at the window of the carriage, I quietly muttered.
Though I grew up in modern Japan, and those memories have significantly faded, I’m much more accustomed to crowds than the people of this world.
Despite being a capital, I thought it wouldn’t be that impressive. Haha!
…Or so I thought, honestly.
The sheer number of people, carriages, and voices bustling through the streets. The numerous unfamiliar items displayed in the lined-up shops. These were just the beginning.
Suddenly, something like a giant lizard crossed outside the window.
It was a dragon-horse. As the name suggests, it’s a dragon-like horse that has more stamina than a horse but is more sensitive to temperature changes due to being a cold-blooded animal—so I read in a book.
The dragon-horse was pulling a cart, and on the driver’s seat sat a man who was only about half the height of a regular person.
He was a halfling. They are a race living mostly in the northern country, characterized by their short stature, dexterous hands, and a preference for pastoral living—so I read in a book.
Among others, that vegetable seller’s arm bore scales, evidence of being a descendant of the dragon-people, and the one walking with a large bag was a dwarf.
—Oh, an elf! That’s the first elf I’ve seen besides Raquel… They really are all super beautiful…
The Ring Church does not discriminate based on appearance and places no superiority or inferiority among intelligent beings. Because they are all equally under the protection of spirits. Hence, Reynardia is also a major trading city where various races from all over the continent gather.
Seeing this city makes me feel like knowing modern Japan is nothing special. In Tokyo, for instance, everyone is of the yellow race! Thinking you’re urban just because of that is a ridiculous story.
Our carriage, carrying me, Phil, Raquel, my father and mother, and Mr. Posford, proceeded along a main street wide enough for six cars to run side by side. This carriage was provided by the Spirit Arts Academy, and its side bore an emblem indicating ownership by the Spirit Arts Guild. Several other carriages with the same emblem were also seen, all heading in the same direction.
“We’re passing through the gate.”
At my father’s words, the carriage passed through a large gate. Phil and I both stuck our heads out of the window.
The large walls made of reddish-brown bricks extended in a gentle curve. These walls mark the boundary of the Spirit Arts Academy. The stone-paved paths were filled with young men and women, all dressed in the same uniform—the academy’s uniform.
And ahead, there was a large building. It looked like a temple, like a palace. Though I don’t know the details, it felt like some renowned architect managed to blend religious symbolism and architectural rationality well—a circular building.
That was our destination. One of the facilities of the Royal Spirit Arts Academy, the ‘Combat Arena.’
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The lobby of the Combat Arena was packed with hundreds of people. Half of them were children around my age, likely new students like Phil and me. Today, an entrance exam for the Spirit Arts Academy is being held here.
“Wow, there are so many people!”
“Yeah… Honestly, I thought there would be fewer.”
Since they said it was an elite school that only admits through recommendation or scouting…
“Most of them got their letters of recommendation from their master teachers and enrolled. You two, who got in through scouting, are in the minority.”
Raquel explained.
Many spirit artists run their own ‘spirit arts dojos,’ gathering disciples and training them. I once joined such a dojo before meeting Raquel. Well, I got kicked out immediately for doing something similar to what I did with Raquel.
“Does that mean we’re pretty amazing, Jack and I?”
“…Maybe? Considering Raquel’s Spartan training, we better be somewhat amazing—or else—”
“Don’t get cocky.”
“Ouch!” “Ow!”
Phil and I simultaneously received chops from our master. Holding our heads, we faced Raquel.
“You two have talent. I guarantee it, having trained you for the past year and a half. But.”
Raquel glanced at the crowded lobby of new students.
“These kids were also recognized for their potential, worked hard, and went through a narrow gate.
…Do you understand? Here, talent is something you have as a matter of course.
Effort is something you do as a matter of course.
Starting today, you’ll have to survive in a world of tough competition—a world where just doing it won’t get you any praise.”
I gasped. My slightly relaxed mood disappeared instantly.
“Raquel, may I add something? As a graduate of this academy?”
“…Please do.”
My father replaced Raquel and stood before Phil and me.
“Raquel is mostly right. This academy isn’t a sweet place. No one can survive here just because they’re a genius.
To survive in such a world, you need more than the usual talent and effort… I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I was a dropout here. How do you think I managed to graduate?”
Phil and I exchanged glances. Phil answered first.
“Because you were lucky?”
“Hahaha! Luck is indeed important. Yes, I was lucky. But there’s one more thing. Jack, what do you think it is?”
I thought for a moment.
“…Heart. You didn’t give up and kept going.”
Hearing my answer, my father nodded deeply.
“Close.”
“Close?”
“Indeed, I didn’t give up. But at the same time, I… gave up.”
?????
Phil and I were bewildered.
“I didn’t want to give up on graduating, becoming a spirit artist, and becoming a person of standing, not just by family lineage.
So I gave up on everything else.
The illusion that my talent was superior to others—
The excuse that I could do it if I tried—
I abandoned them all.
I accepted my inadequacy and precisely sorted out what I could and couldn’t do, what I had and lacked, everything within me…”
That’s—such a terrifying decision.
To self-select one’s potential… How many hopes, which could have been clung to in desperate times, or excuses, which could have been escape routes, were cut off in the process?
Facing the fear that nothing might remain in the end…
“Listen, Jack, Phil. Know what you lack. But don’t count them.
If you start counting only what you lack, you’ll be crushed and broken in no time.
Plainly put, you’ll become overwhelmingly suicidal.
I’ve known many who left the academy, despite being much more talented than I, because they started counting their inadequacies.
They’re living happily in their own ways now.
Even so, once you count your deficiencies, they never disappear from within you…”
As my father spoke with a sense of conviction, Raquel timidly interrupted.
“Isn’t this a harsh story for two about to enroll?”
“They’ll learn it sooner or later. Besides, hearing this from a parent now won’t immediately sink in. I was the same.
When the time comes and they start to entangle themselves, they should recall, ‘Oh yeah, I heard this once,’ before it’s too late.”
“And,” my father continued with a smile, showing his teeth.
“Jack and Phil, if you hit a wall, you’ll overcome it and go beyond, reaching unprecedented heights.
After all, you’re my son and the girl my son loves.”
“Hey, Dad!”
What are you saying all of a sudden!?
“Hehehe,” Phil happily laughed and clung to my arm.
“Choose your time and place!”
“What, does that mean it’s okay if there’s no one around?”
“Uh… Anyway! Get off me!”
“No way!”
While I desperately tried to pry Phil off, our parents and Raquel smiled warmly.
Oh no… I’ve become a toy for the adults. I feel like my mental age is getting closer to my physical age recently.
“Well then, Jack, Phil. I’ll go handle the paperwork.”
“We have our own greetings to make. You two should change in the dressing room.”
We received our change of clothes from the servant who had accompanied us. We were currently wearing formal attire, but we needed to change into something more comfortable for the exam. The academy would provide uniforms after the exam.
“Don’t get lost. There should be plenty of maps around.”
“I know, master. We won’t get lost. We’re not kids.”
“…Alright then.”
And so, we parted ways with Raquel and our parents. Phil and I were left alone.
“Jack.”
“What?”
“We should choose the time and place, right?”
“Enough about that! Let’s go already!”
“Eh~”
Ignoring Phil’s dissatisfaction, I headed toward the new students’ dressing room.
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「…………」
「…………」
We were lost.
“Ja-kun…”
“W-wait, Phil. Don’t look at me with such disappointed eyes.”
I glared at the map of the arena hung on the wall.
…I don’t get it…
The paths are too confusing.
“I think we should go somewhere over there… but which path leads to where?”
“Oh, I know! Let’s fly there using your spirit magic. You know the direction, right?”
Hmm…
We’d get in a lot of trouble if someone saw us.
But it’s better than wandering around until the exam ends, right?
“We have no choice…”
“It’s decided! Look, the window over there is open. Let’s go!”
Phil jumped at me. It felt like a mandate of heaven.
The arena is divided into several buildings, each with courtyards in between.
There’s a courtyard right in front of us, and on the second floor of the building beyond it, there’s an open window.
According to the map, it’s just an empty room.
If we can get there, we should be fine.
“Hold on tight.”
“Okay!”
Holding Phil, I used [Wings of Departure] to jump to the window.
My feet landed on the window frame—
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
And there, we both froze.
Me, Phil, and a girl in her underwear inside the room.
Um…
The red-haired girl changing in the room seemed about our age.
Not in my strike zone.
I’m a cool guy who doesn’t get excited over Phil’s nakedness, let alone this girl.
Lucky her.
“Eeeeeek!”
Not the time for that.
The red-haired girl screamed like a sonic blast—
At the same time, a fiery red ball came hurtling towards our noses!
“Whoa!?”
“Eek!”
We screamed too and fell from the window frame.
“Oh, I’m sorry!”
Immediately, we heard the girl’s voice, and she peeked out of the window, hiding behind a curtain.
“Are you—”
Naturally, we were fine.
We floated gently in the air right below the window.
But because of that.
Well, that’s probably why.
I locked eyes with the girl.
“Ah…”
There’s no better expression for this situation than a wry smile.
Unable to bear the silence, and not knowing what else to say, I blurted out something unnecessary.
“Do you really need a bra at your age?”
The girl’s face turned as red as her hair.
And, predictably, screams and crimson flames erupted again.
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“I admit it was my fault for changing with the window open! But isn’t it also unreasonable for you to use spirit magic to enter through the window?”
The red-haired girl, now fully dressed and having been restrained by her bodyguard before causing a fire outbreak, started to angrily lecture me and Phil.
“Normally, a sane person wouldn’t even think of jumping into a second-floor window! Yes, leaving the window open was my fault, but still!”
She’s really acknowledging her fault despite being angry.
Anyway, we have our reasons too.
“I thought it was an empty room. This isn’t a changing room, right? Why were you changing here?”
“Well, obviously!”
“What’s obvious?”
“There’s no way I’d change in the same room as others!”
I see…
“That’s why I borrowed an unused room and posted a guard at the door! I never expected someone to come in through the window! I’ll be careful next time!”
She’s quite reflective despite being a complete princess.
“Um… anyway, sorry for entering through the window while you were changing.”
“Sorry!”
Phil said it cheerfully, not really sounding apologetic, but the girl nodded graciously.
“I’ll forgive you this time. After all, I was careless too.”
She really acknowledges her own faults…
The girl flicked her distinctive red hair with her right hand and puffed out her chest a bit arrogantly.
“By the way, I am Azalea Austin, the second daughter of the Marquis of Austin. You look like new students too, right?”
“Yeah, I’m Jack Lieber, the heir of the Count of Lieber.”
“Count Lieber? Ah, yes, I remember hearing about a rural lord named that in Dimeculd or something.”
Oh, are we fighting?
“It must be nice, living in the countryside. So full of greenery. I’ve heard Dimeculd is a well-governed and stable land. You have a good father.”
She was complimenting me.
“And this girl is your sister?”
Azalea turned to Phil, who hugged me tightly.
“I’m Philene Posford! Ja-kun’s wife!”
“What?”
“Huh?”
What is this girl declaring?
“Um…”
Look, you’re making Azalea uncomfortable!
“Do you mean betrothed?”
“No! I’m his wife!”
Phil, firmly clinging to me, glared at Azalea like a territorial stray cat.
“Why are you on guard?”
“She’s an enemy. I can tell by the smell. A woman’s intuition.”
More like an animal’s intuition, from the looks of it.
“Um… are you dating then?”
Azalea tried her best to interpret Phil’s unexpected behavior. She’s a good kid…
“That’s right! Ja-kun is mine and I’m Ja-kun’s! So we do various things!”
“Wha—!?”
Azalea’s face turned crimson.
…Did she get it? Miss noblewoman.
“V-various things… you’re still children… you couldn’t have done anything major…”
“We kiss sometimes!”
“K-kiss…!?”
Okay, Miss Philene, let’s be quiet now.
I covered Phil’s mouth with my hand.
“Mmff mmff!”
“Phil, you’re going too far.”
I can’t keep up at all.
“Ah, ahh…! How indecent…! Indecent…! Forcing her like that…! Always with his mouth instead of his hands…!!”
I can’t keep up with these precocious kids at all.
It took some time for Phil’s mouth and Azalea’s mind to calm down.
“…I apologize for the unsightly scene.”
Azalea, her face still slightly red, cleared her throat and tried to reset the atmosphere.
“I shouldn’t have asked such intrusive questions, but you two are also at fault! It’s wrong for children to kiss! It’s indecent!”
“Sorry about that.”
“What kind of education have you received? Whose tutelage are you under?”
“You mean, who’s our teacher?”
“Yes. By the way, I’m a disciple of the Enjin Tenshou school, founded by the hero Brendan Musgrave, who was called the ‘Fire God’ during the great war.”
I felt sorry for Azalea, who explained with such pride, but unfortunately, I wasn’t well-versed in worldly matters and had never heard of such a cool-sounding school.
I think I’ve heard the name Brendan Musgrave before.
So she’s a disciple of a traditional school.
I exchanged looks with Phil.
Well, if she wants to know our teacher’s name, we can tell her.
We weren’t sworn to secrecy or anything.
“Our teacher’s name is Raquel. Phil and I are both her students.”
“Raquel?”
Azalea tilted her head.
“I’ve never heard of such a sorcerer. Is she some rogue mage?”
“She said she’s registered with the Spirit Magic Guild, but she doesn’t visit often.”
“Hmm. So you two were taught spirit magic by this Raquel and enrolled here under someone else’s name. I won’t deny it, but you’ll regret it. If you’re not skilled enough, you’ll suffer here.”
Though her words were provocative, I heard them as sincere advice.
Phil, however, was pouting. Calm down.
“This academy gathers promising spirit mage candidates from all over the country. It’s not just a place for those who are ‘a bit better than others.’
Do you know about the Crimson Cats bandits that were taken down by two kids? Those kids were scouted and are joining this year too.
I’d love to meet and talk with them!”
“That—” Phil was about to blurt out, but I covered her mouth again.
It seems better to keep quiet to avoid complications.
“Also…”
Azalea’s tone dropped, and her expression turned serious.
“This year, the ‘Genius Prince’ is finally joining…”
“Genius Prince…?”
I tilted my head, and Azalea looked surprised.
“You don’t know? The third prince of this country, said to be a prodigy unprecedented in royal history! He’s already achieved significant results in actual battles as a spirit mage.”
An unprecedented prodigy… is there really such a guy?
Dimeculd is quite far from the capital, so we don’t get much information like that.
Moreover, I was too busy keeping up with Raquel’s training.
“Hehe… I’m excited. Worthy competitors make my talent shine even brighter.”
A very confident young lady.
She seemed to be burning with a fighting spirit on her own.
“Well, you two do your best too. As fate would have it, I’ll pray for you to pass the sixth grade. But be careful not to get hurt! Goodbye!”
Leaving behind a mix of high-handed and kind words, Azalea Austin left with her bodyguard.
She almost did all the talking herself…
After Azalea’s flashy red hair was out of sight, Phil finally commented.
“She’s so selfish!”
I silently let that slide.
…Is this what they call self-loathing?