Chapter 21 Is It Too Much to Ask to Be Unnoticed at the Entrance Exam？
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Meanwhile, over with Layla-chan, the Seyfried family’s apprentice maid, and Meryu-chan, the completely useless maid assigned exclusively to the hidden base’s Shin.
”Meryu-chan, is your ‘day laborer’ job the reason you’re My Watashi no guardian today? Are you going to be with me the whole time?” Layla-chan inquired, her voice polite and earnest.
”U-Uh-huh. Gosu-jin Shin-sama mentioned something like that, didn’t he?” Meryu-chan muttered, her tone already slightly defensive.
”Gosu-jin-sama? Does Meryu-chan have a Master like my Shin-sama, too?” Layla-chan asked, tilting her head innocently.
”That’s—that Master is different, you see! It’s not some kind of Master-Servant relationship! That Master gives me proper wages and rest, and if I just follow simple instructions, he lets me run free in town! He gives me accessories and cute things—not just me, but everyone! He’s a good person, you know?” Meryu-chan wailed, defending her controversial employer.
My name is Meryu-chan. My former name? My Master, Shin, told me not to use my true name in this world, so I’m just a poor, lost fairy from the Fairy Kingdom.
It was just a few months ago. I’d managed to wedge my pretty little backside firmly in a tree hollow that leads back to the Fairy Kingdom and couldn’t budge, when a little demon (brat) showed up carrying a weird net and a great big cage!
Yes, indeed. It all happened on a very hot summer day.
Mooowah-WAH!…
(Meeen! Meeen! Meeen!)
(My butt is too big, and I’m stuck! Waaah! Fairy Queen, come rescue me!) Meryu’s internal whine was palpable.
(What is this? Is this some kind of light novel where the ‘Hidden Heroine’ is stuck in a tree hollow and can’t get out?) A skeptical little voice echoed in the air.
(Hah?! Who are you, little child? Good timing, actually! Help the Highest Water Fairy, Meryu-chan, get free—) I tried to command.
SHWIP… GRASP!
(Hey! What are you doing?! Why are you wrapping your net around my body?!) I shrieked, instantly panicking.
(Gotcha~! Lucky me! This is perfect! I was looking for a maid exclusively for my hidden base, anyway. Meryu-chan is a Hidden Heroine, so there’s no problem making her My Boku no exclusive maid, is there? Well, then! Let’s enforce a Master-Servant contract! The ‘Oath Book (Honorius)’! Go and carve a Pleasure Crest onto Meryu-chan’s belly—do it! Go! Go!) The brat cackled maniacally.
‘…Executing the command. Hee-hee-hee.’ A mechanical, dark voice confirmed.
(What?! Isn’t that the Oath Book, the very tome that governs the laws of all creation and space?! Why does a child like you possess such an expensive thing, ahhhh////) The sheer shock made my voice trail off into a flustered sound.
(Heheheh. You can’t go against me anymore, Meryu-chan. From now on, you’re going to work for me like a draft horse.) The brat declared triumphantly.
(D-Don’t be ridiculous! I’m Watashi is Meryu, the Highest Water Fairy of the Fairy Kingdom… Meryu… Meryu… M-MeryuMeryuMe~, you know!) I tried, weakly asserting my status.
(Well, I’ll put you on part-time contract, with weekends and holidays off. You won’t have any trouble with life here, MeryuMeryuMe~-chan.) He placated me with practical offers.
Ever since then, my Master has kept me busy with work five days a week, complete with three meals, a nap, and a snack, and I even started receiving something called wages. Two months ago, I started getting an extra payment called a ‘bonus’. On my days off, I go shopping with my colleagues, and I’m actually having a really fun life in this world.
Occasionally, I try to escape because I miss the Fairy Kingdom, but my Master always says, “Your butt’s just going to get stuck again anyway. Hey, I brought some delicious snacks, why don’t you eat these instead, Meryu-chan?” and feeds me all sorts of yummy things… Wait a minute. Am I actually starting to like this world quite a lot?
Kuuh! This is all because that Master Shin-sama keeps feeding me and providing me with such a pleasant work environment, isn’t it?! If this situation keeps up, what is even going to become of me?!
”Ah! We’ve arrived, Meryu-chan. That’s my Grandfather’s office over there.” Layla-chan announced.
”Over there? That certainly looks like a luxurious door,” Meryu-chan observed, momentarily distracted.
”Oh? Is that you, Layla-sama?! You’ve arrived!” A man who looked like a classic magic-user greeted them, slightly startled.
”Hello, Mr. Napes! It’s been a while!” Layla-chan chimed happily.
* * *
(Alys Magic Academy Headmaster’s Office)
”Excuse me, Headmaster Mustang. I have brought Layla-sama.” Napes announced before opening the door with a click.
”Grandfather! It’s been so long! I missed you so much!” Layla-chan cried, rushing in.
”Oh, Layla! It’s been about a year, hasn’t it? You’ve grown quite a bit since I last saw you, my girl. The letters said the Seyfried family was treating you well, and it seems to be true,” the Academy Chairman, Callus Crescent, said, his voice warm and gravelly.
”Yes! I’m spending every day happily with Shin-sama!” Layla-chan confirmed, beaming.
Layla-chan’s Past Sight… and now Magic Power Sight! The elderly human in front of me has an incredible amount of magic power! He must be extremely powerful.
”Yes, and this is my…” Layla-chan started to introduce Meryu.
”Oh? The Highest Water Fairy herself, I see? Did you manage to form a contract?” Callus asked, immediately recognizing Meryu.
”Yes! She’s become my exclusive attendant!” Layla-chan declared proudly.
”N-No, I haven’t! Why do you assume that?!” Meryu-chan squeaked in protest.
”Huh? But Shin-sama told me: ‘Layla-chan seems to have top-notch water magic talent, so I’ll lend Meryu-chan to you while you attend the Alys Magic Academy. Here. This is Meryu-chan’s Pleasure Crest document. With this, Meryu-chan can never, ever go against you. Please cherish her as your familiar!’ and he gave me this paper.” Layla-chan explained innocently.
Layla-chan showed me the paper… wait—is that the Fairy Kingdom’s language? What on earth does it say?
[When you enter the Alys Magic Academy, you will serve as Layla-chan’s exclusive maid. Meryu-chan is the Highest Water Fairy and strong, so you seem to be a good match for Layla-chan. Please protect her—P.S. If you refuse or try to run away, the Alys Magic Academy Chairman, who treats Layla-chan like his precious treasure, will make you suffer dearly. You absolutely must say YES!! YES!! YES!! Please do your best! The pay will be generous.]
”I don’t know what it says, but that seems to be the gist of it,” Layla-chan summarized.
”W-Why, you—Master Shin-sama! Don’t I have any human rights?! Is this because I’m the cutest Highest Water Fairy?!” Meryu-chan exploded in a dramatic fit of tears and protest.
”Hohoho. A Highest Water Fairy as a familiar. Just as expected of my granddaughter,” Callus chuckled, clearly amused.
”Please take care of me from now on, Meryu-chan,” Layla-chan requested with a bow.
* * *
(Alys Magic Academy Entrance Exam Hall)
”Good morning, examinees. I will be your test administrator today, Louise Savaran,” a woman with pink hair and a petite, doll-like figure, who looked like a classic magic-user, announced through Amplification Magic, addressing the entire hall.
”First, all of you will have your total magic power measured. Any student who fails to meet our Academy’s entry standard will be disqualified immediately.” She concluded clearly.
The hall itself… huh, they actually made sure to be considerate in various ways. They separated the commoner and noble examinees to prevent status-related issues, and they have separate sections for Elves, Beastmen, Dragonewts, and representatives from other powerful Demi-human races and royalty in Alysphere, accommodating their respective languages and cultures.
And what about the reaction to me, the Seyfried Duke’s son, and Alexia, who is basically royalty? Well…
”Shin Seyfried-sama. Thank you for traveling all this way from the distant Seyfried Territory. I’m sure the Prime Minister will be delighted. Please, this is a Signa cake, ordered from one of Regain Royal Capital’s finest patisseries.” An official bowed low.
”A-Ah, thank you. I’ll have it later,” I mumbled awkwardly.
”Alexia Churidince-sama. Please accept this Banan’s Frappuccino as well.”
”I don’t want it. Shin-kun told me never to take anything from strangers,” Alexia refused softly.
”I-Is that so. My apologies then.” The official stammered.
They’re being incredibly considerate. When I first walked into this hall, I thought something strange was going to happen, but what is with the low posture of these examiners? Why is everyone so kind to us?
The moment I stepped into the exam hall, the highest-ranking official rushed over. I immediately dogeza-ed (bowed in absolute surrender) and tried to resign from the exam, but they hit me with this:
*”If we obstruct Shin Seyfried-sama’s examination, we may very well be erased.”
”We have received a letter from the Prime Minister, so we cannot accept your withdrawal.”
”If you do not take our Academy’s entrance exam, our entire family will be ruined. Please, please, take our Academy’s entrance exam!”*
How am I supposed to withdraw when the examiners are telling me things like that?! Just how terrifying is this Prime Minister guy?
”If you require anything at all, please call us immediately.”
”All of us Alys Magic Academy staff are grateful to you all for being friendly with Layla-lady-sama.” An official murmured nervously.
…Layla-lady-sama? There’s another piece of information I didn’t know. In Maidens x Cross-dressing, Layla-chan’s character was Shin’s exclusive maid, occasionally a source of comfort, but there was no love involved.
The information in this world (the real one) differs significantly from the game. Or perhaps, could it be that Maidens x Cross-dressing actually had…
”S-Shin-kun. Do you think I’ll pass?” Alexia whispered, turning to me with a nervous look on her face. She’s so cute.
”Alexia… Yes, I’m sure you will be fine. We’ve all trained hard for this day, you, Layla-chan, and I.” I told her, gently placing my hand on her right hand to ease her tension.
”U-Un. We worked so, so hard!” Alexia replied, and the tension seemed to melt away from her expression. That’s a relief.
But Alexia will pass easily, no doubt. After all, Alexia’s current level is—BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BZZZZZZZZ… PING!
[Alexia Churidince Level 37]
[Race: Human]
I only checked Alexia’s level using my left eye’s Appraisal Skill Eye (Scouter-like ability). It’s not good to pry into her personal information too much.
Level 37, huh? That’s even higher than the final evolution of one of the Big Three families in the game. That’s amazing, isn’t it?
Hmm, I wonder what the levels of the other entrance exam candidates are? It should be okay to check the levels of the hopefuls here, right? Dear God, I’m activating the Appraisal Skill! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BZZZZZZZZ… PING!
[Sim Seyfort Level 3]
[Swainy Renschka Level 5]
[Hanne Ziltnig Level 3]
…These are like the starting levels of the Big Three families? Or maybe the enemies in the very first patch of grass?
I can’t check the skill levels of the applicants from other countries or different races since they’re in a separate exam hall, but seriously, are the human noble levels in the Regain Kingdom really that low? Is this kingdom going to be okay?
Hmm? No, there are two or three students who are Level 10 or higher. Ah, those kids… they must be the candidates for the Regain Kingdom’s next-generation Hero or Sword Saint.
They keep glancing over here… Oh, wait, they’re not staring at me; they’re swooning over Alexia, aren’t they? That’s annoying. That’s definitely the look of kids who are going to try and hit on Alexia after the exam. I have to completely and utterly eliminate them! They dare approach my Best Girl!
…Seriously, though.
”Hmph… This is a complete victory for us, Alexia. This battle is ours!” I declared, uttering a line that could easily be considered a major Death Flag, and raised a nearby paper cup as if it were a glass, toasting the ceiling. Fuhahahaha!
”A battle? Isn’t this an exam, Shin-kun?” Alexia questioned, confused.
”Alexia, you came! Good… Why is that idiot (Shin) laughing so loudly?” Hollow, with her red hair fluttering as she took her sword test, glanced my way, but I’m going to ignore her. That girl is always so merciless with me. Maybe it’s because she’s so used to dealing with my Elder Brother (Boar-chan) and the Seyfried family in general?
Oh, by the way, I totally passed the entrance exam. First place in exam results was, of course, my Best Girl, Alexia. Second was Layla-chan. Third was Hollow, and dead last was me. I struggled so hard! I resisted with all my might! But I still got in on supplementary acceptance. Woe is me…
After the entrance exam ended, I rushed into the room where all the examiners were gathered and pleaded with a sincere dogeza, but they told me that what is decided cannot be overturned. So sad.
Now that this entrance exam—the one I never wanted to take—is over, I have to face the academy life full of Death Flags, just like the game scenario, starting next month.
It makes me want to escape reality… I’d like to be alone for a while. After all, I’m just a weak man with a pure heart. Of course, I’d be feeling sentimental, wouldn’t I?
Notes:
• Meryu – The “Highest Water Fairy” of the Fairy Kingdom, who now serves as an “exclusive maid” for Shin’s hidden base and is currently acting as Layla-chan’s guardian. She was captured by Shin (the brat) using a net and a cage on a hot summer day while stuck in a tree hollow. Shin enforced a Master-Servant contract using the Oath Book (Honorius) and a Pleasure Crest document. She is comically defensive of her employer, citing his good wages, time off, and the fun she now has, and is realizing she is starting to like this world. She is terrified of Chairman Callus.
• Napes – A man who looks like a classic magic-user and is an official at the Alys Magic Academy. He announced Layla-sama’s arrival and is polite to the students.
• Callus Crescent – The Alys Magic Academy Chairman and Layla-chan’s grandfather. He possesses an incredible amount of magic power and is instantly recognized by Meryu. He is warm, gravelly-voiced, and clearly amused by Shin’s actions, referring to Meryu as a “Highest Water Fairy” familiar. He treats Layla-chan like his “precious treasure.”
• Louise Savaran – A woman with pink hair and a petite, doll-like figure who serves as the test administrator for the Alys Magic Academy entrance exam, utilizing Amplification Magic
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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