Failure!?

Author: Unicoon
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8138gc/19/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

The next day, Romulus Castle.

Teachers of Romulus Academy had been gathered in the audience chamber.
Princess Charlotte and Minister Rudolf were present as well.

On the throne, King Zenon.
Standing before him was an old man with a fine beard.
He was the highest authority of Romulus Academy: Headmaster Neumann, a mage known as the Sage.

“Headmaster Neumann. Sorry for the unreasonable request.”

“Ho ho ho. Don’t concern yourself, King Zenon. It is no great matter.”

King Zenon and Headmaster Neumann spoke in a familiar air.
Their eyes, however, were not smiling at all.
A taut atmosphere flowed, as if they were probing each other.

“Father… your fake smile is far too poor…”

“As unfriendly as ever…”

Princess Charlotte and Minister Rudolf both sounded exasperated.
The air told of how poorly the royal house and the academy got along.

“Now then. Today you wished to know the results of the entrance exam, was it?”

“That’s right. It’s a crisis of national survival. I want to know the results early. I’m counting on you.”

Hearing that exchange, dissatisfied voices rose from the teachers.

“Originally, even royalty shouldn’t be able to learn the results first…”

“A crisis of national survival? His daughter’s pass or fail is a crisis of national survival? That’s far too exaggerated…”

The teachers grumbled, unconcerned even before the king.
In that hostile air, Headmaster Neumann took out a sheet of paper.
The exam results.

“Then, Princess Charlotte’s results—”

“No, no. Charlotte’s results don’t matter. Tell me Ulrika’s!”

“…Ha? Don’t matter?”

At King Zenon’s words, the chamber buzzed.
Every teacher gathered had thought this was a report of Princess Charlotte’s results.
Meanwhile, Princess Charlotte took a solid hit.

“Father! My exam results don’t matter!?”

“Hn? Ah, sorry, sorry! Tell me Charlotte’s results too.”

King Zenon scrambled to cover.
Headmaster Neumann cleared his throat and read the results.

“Her Highness Princess Charlotte has passed into the advanced class.”

The advanced class was a special class to which only especially excellent students were chosen.
“Ohh!” cheers rose from the teachers as well.

“Written and practical were both more than satisfactory. There were no results from the field exam, but—”

“I got it, I got it. That’s enough about Charlotte. So, Ulrika?”

King Zenon leaned in for Lady Ulrika’s results more than his daughter’s.
Princess Charlotte wilted, “Father…”
Headmaster Neumann looked at the paper again and read.

“The examinee Ulrika is, regrettably, a failure.”

“A failure!?”

At that unforeseen result, King Zenon stood from the throne.
Unlike with Charlotte, the force was tremendous.

“A failure? What is that supposed to mean!?”

“Written, practical, and field were all the lowest scores. Frankly, she has far too little talent.”

“That’s absurd!?”

King Zenon went pale and slumped on the throne.
Rudolf, who knew the circumstances, came over.

“What will you do? At this rate the country will be destroyed…”

“Ah… I know… what should I do…?”

“Don’t ask me. Please take proper responsibility as His Majesty.”

“Guh…”

King Zenon cleared his throat and sat back on the throne with a sharp expression.
His face was dignified, but his forehead was soaked in cold sweat.

“Nnn… Headmaster Neumann, I have a consultation—”

“Regrettably, pass and fail will not be overturned.”

Forestalled, King Zenon still clung on.

“Guh… but it’s a crisis of national survival. Can’t you make her pass somehow?”

“Have you forgotten our school’s principle? ‘Scholarship and politics ought to be kept apart.’ Even the royal house cannot overturn results.”

The audience chamber went dead quiet.
Then the doors flew open.

“Zenon! Charlotte! I came to play!!”

“You mustn’t, Lady Ulrika! You can’t just come in!!”

Lady Ulrika burst in, full of energy.
A flustered Olivia chased right behind her.
Watching that exchange, the teachers let out half-laughing voices.

“Ha ha ha. Is this child Ulrika?”

“She’s still a little kid. Does she even meet the conditions for enrollment?”

“Don’t tell me… they were trying to force her in with royal power?”

An uneasy air flowed through the chamber.
King Zenon sighed, “Haa.”

“Ulrika, the timing just now—”

“Hiiiiii!?”

King Zenon’s voice was drowned by a sharp scream.
The one who screamed was Headmaster Neumann.
He had seen Lady Ulrika and his legs had given out.

“Th-th-this person is!?”

“Hm? Who are you?”

“What enormous mana! What an overwhelming presence!! How frightful, how frightful…”

In a perfect kowtow, Headmaster Neumann bowed his head again and again.
At the sudden odd behavior, everyone froze with their mouths open.

“Is this person a Hero… no, a Great Sage… no, no, a god or a Demon King… fuooooh…”

Headmaster Neumann prayed with single-minded fervor.
Tears streaming, his whole body shaking—completely abnormal.
Seeing that, King Zenon put on a wicked little grin.

“Oh, that’s right. I hadn’t introduced you to Headmaster Neumann! This is Ulrika, a friend of mine.”

“Ulrika!? Don’t tell me…”

“That’s right. The Ulrika who just now failed…”

“Absurd! A failure is impossible!!”

Half-crazed, Headmaster Neumann ripped the results paper to shreds.
Then he rubbed his head against Lady Ulrika’s feet.

“Lady Ulrika! Please, by all means enroll in our Romulus Academy, I beg you!!”

“You mustn’t, Headmaster Neumann. Changing pass and fail—”

“Silence, you brats! Failing Lady Ulrika—are your eyes holes in a board!!”

Hit with the headmaster’s bellow, the teachers went quiet.
It was an extraordinary force, hard to believe from an old man.

“Is this about school? Can I go to school?”

“Of course! Please, by all means come to Romulus Academy!!”

“I did it! I’m so glad!! Zeno~n, I passed~”

Lady Ulrika hopped and bounced, delighted.
King Zenon let out a breath of relief and waved, smiling.

“Father… you’re wicked, you know…”

“That’s good… we’ve avoided destruction…”

Princess Charlotte and Rudolf were exasperated.

And so Lady Ulrika’s enrollment was decided.