Chapter 8: Sierra passes.
The results would be announced later, they had said; yet Sierra’s acceptance was conveyed to her almost immediately.
Since it was still early in the new term, the paperwork for a transfer student like her was processed with unusual speed.
Sierra Alcnys (hiding the name “Walker”) was now officially enrolled at the academy.
In the headmaster’s office, where she received the news, Awenda greeted her with a beaming smile.
“First of all, congratulations on passing, Sierra-san.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Ufufu, you gave us quite the show.”
“A show?”
“I mean your mock battle, of course. You learned how to fight from Ainz-san, didn’t you?”
“Yep. Everything I know, Dad taught me.”
Sierra nodded firmly.
All her knowledge, all her skills; every last one came from Ainz.
“Ufufu, I think it’ll be a wonderful stimulus for the other students. I’ve prepared nearly all the paperwork myself, so I’d like you to start attending from tomorrow if possible. Is that all right?”
“Sure, that’s fine with me.”
Sierra did want to see the capital, but she had no particular plans.
More than that, the one thing Ainz had told her to do was “make friends.”
It was an experience she had never had before, and if she was honest, it was the thing she wanted most right now.
(I hope I can make friends.)
That perfectly ordinary, childlike thought had only begun to sprout because she had watched Ainz’s own circle of companions.
Tomorrow morning she would report back to the headmaster’s office, then be introduced to the class she was transferring into. With that settled, Sierra returned to the dorm room she was temporarily using.
According to Awenda, they planned to just assign that empty room to her permanently.
Since Sierra had no luggage to speak of, any room was fine with her.
And so, while walking back through the academy corridors, she passed a certain man.
“…Remember this.”
“…?”
(Who was that guy again?)
Sierra naturally had no reason to remember the examiner’s name.
She glanced once at House as he walked away, then continued on to the dorm.
“Are you out of your mind letting something like that into this academy?”
Those were the first words out of House’s mouth the moment he stormed into the headmaster’s office.
Awenda merely nodded at his outburst.
“It’s true she failed the written exam… but the one who promised that victory in the mock battle equals a pass was you, Instructor Magnis.”
“Th-that’s…”
“Besides, what possible problem could there be with bringing exceptional talent into our academy? Or are you saying we shouldn’t admit her simply because you lost?”
“……!”
House ground his teeth and glared at Awenda.
She kept smiling serenely as she continued.
“I hope this will be an opportunity for you to face the students more sincerely. You yourself are an outstanding mage, after all.”
“…Fine, I understand.”
With that curt reply, House left the office.
Perhaps Awenda had appointed him as examiner precisely because she foresaw this outcome.
She had used Sierra to deliver a warning to House.
He was undeniably a skilled mage, yet his arrogant attitude made him ill-suited as an instructor in some respects.
Still, if that single flaw could be corrected, he would become a truly excellent teacher; that was likely what Awenda believed.
The man himself, however, was only piling up resentment toward Sierra.
Even if the audience had been small, he had been humiliated in front of his colleagues.
(That vacant little face… I won’t be satisfied with just making her cry.)
Burning with rage, House hardened that dark resolve as he walked away.