Fifty-seven: Early education’s better, right?

Back up a bit.

We’re five—me, Kyle, Maina, Persia, and the maid Ryuuko—checking out the temporary school.

Meeting the people who’ll be teachers.

We got a few teachers recommended through Lord Bairoroad, the Marquis of the Frontier, since we’re setting up a school in Goldendoon.

One of them, the one we’re planning to put in charge, is a nobleman named Obrio Rellenn.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Obrio Rellenn, third son of Baron Rellenn. I’m twenty-eight. I’ve been granted special favor by Lord Bairoroad, the Marquis of the Frontier, to serve as a teacher.”

“Yes. Nice to meet you.”

Kyle grins back at Obrio’s polite bow.

"When the school building is complete, I plan to rename it the Academy. I'd like you to serve as both headmaster and instructor for advanced courses."

"Kyle-sama, may I ask a question?"

"Of course, go ahead."

"A school... an Academy—what exactly is it supposed to be? I assumed I'd been summoned only to be your personal tutor."

Obrio’s question was perfectly reasonable. The Academy system itself was still very much in its experimental phase.

"Then let me explain the basic structure of the Academy."

"Please do."

Kyle grinned, clearly enjoying himself as he began to speak.

"First, every child from six years old up to sixteen must attend the Academy for ten years."

"Wait? Does that include commoners too?"

"Of course."

Obrio’s eyes widened. He was speechless.

Of course it does. Commoners getting education? Never heard of it.

I was raised in an orphanage, so reading church scriptures was mandatory. Thanks to that, I learned basic reading, writing, and arithmetic.

After my Coming-of-Age Ceremony at sixteen and becoming an adventurer, I truly felt how important it was to know how to read and write, and how to calculate.

So I’m fully behind Kyle’s idea for the academy.

“Morning classes in academics and self-defense, balanced and tight. Dismissed after lunch.”

“Lunch?”

“Yes. We provide meals so families don’t have to bear the burden, even a little.”

Obrio was speechless again.

Then, when he heard Kyle actually paid parents every month to make sure kids came to school, his mouth just stayed open.

"Just the morning session for now. But once the temporary setup is replaced with a proper academy, we’ll add an afternoon session—advanced classes, and short-term literacy and arithmetic courses."

"What exactly are those three?"

"Yes. First, the short-term literacy and arithmetic courses. Anyone can join. Each cycle lasts three months, teaching the basics of reading and writing. The arithmetic course aims to get students to do basic addition and subtraction within three months."

"Anyone… really?"

"Yes. We’re targeting people already working. Three months is the limit we’re setting. If they don’t finish, they can start over from the beginning."

"No, I didn’t mean it like that. I mean… anyone?"

"Ah, sorry. That’s the plan—anyone. Merchant, adventurer, townsfolk—anyone at all."

"Adventurers too!?"

"Yes. …Did that sound strange?"

"Ah… I see. But can adventurers even afford tuition fees like that?"

"Wait? Tuition? It's all free. Absolutely free."

"Wha—?! Free?! I get the morning session being mandatory, but you're saying you're offering free education to commoners… and even to those without citizenship?!?"

"Without citizenship" referred to adventurers, traveling merchants, and others without official city rights.

"Yes. That’s exactly the purpose of this academy."

Oblio’s expression had completely lost any trace of noble bearing. His face went slack, dumbfounded.

"This is advanced education—but it’s a special course held once a year, open only to those who pass the exam. You’ll be teaching this class, Oblio."

"Ah… I see. So this is definitely meant for nobles and wealthy merchants, right?"

"No, anyone who passes the exam qualifies. Anyone who passes the graduation exam gets a commendation from me and a certificate of graduation. If possible, I’d like to place graduates in key positions—either as my personal aides or at Goldendown’s high posts."

"S-so that means a commoner could end up as Kyle-sama’s aide?!"

"Exactly."

"S-so that’s not at all suitable for Kyle-sama, the marquis’s own son, is it?!"

"Technically, not an aide. But I trust Craft—Craft, the older brother, born in the orphanage, ex-adventurer, guild member of the Production Guild—deeply."

"...W-what?!"

Oblio shot me a glare.

"You’re the one who was Craft, right?"

"Yes. That’s me."

He’s a noble. I keep it polite, at least.

I’d rehearsed that line a hundred times, but Persia and Alphard shot me down. Guess being commonborn, even basic politeness is enough.

“Hmm… let’s test whether you’re fit to serve as Kyle’s retainer. This is a paper I recently submitted to the academy. Can you understand it?”

Oblio snapped his fingers. His attendant shoved a stack of papers at me.

I flipped through them. Seems to be a history paper. I barely grasp half of it. At least if it were about magic, I’d have understood more.

“Hah… of course, a lowborn without noble blood couldn’t possibly comprehend the greatness of the history built by the illustrious Lord Bairoroad, could they?”

Oblio puffed his chest, smug as ever.

Then Ryuuko stepped forward from beside me.

"Excuse me for interrupting. Lord Oblio, this year date here—it's wrong."

"What? What!?"

Oblio fumbles to check the year number Ryuuko pointed at.

"These events here, and this incident—chronologically, they're reversed. Also, the name of the late Lord Bairoroad's aide is incorrect."

"W-what…!?"

"These reference materials you're using—seems like they've already been discredited by scholars. And this one here…"

"Wait, wait! Hold on a second!"

Oblio snatches the documents from my hand, flips through the pages Ryuuko flagged, one by one. His face goes pale.

"T-this… well… yes…"

Having been exposed in front of Kyle like that? That’s mortifying.

"Ryuuko, you really know your stuff, huh."

"I'm a maid."

Right. Maids know stuff.

"Master. I believe Lord Oblio lacks sufficient knowledge for teaching advanced courses."

I don’t really get it… but…

If you don’t mind, I’ll handle the advanced instruction until classes begin.

Huh? You can do that?

Yes. If Master commands it, I can manage it in a short time.

Hmm…

I turned back to Kyle.

"Kyle-sama. My maid has said this. May I have your permission?"

"Yes, judging from Lord Oblio’s behavior, it’s obvious Ryuuko’s the better teacher. If Ryuuko and Craft are willing, I’d be grateful for your help."

"Yes. Understood. Ryuuko, count on you."

"I accept."

A chill ran down my spine for a split second at Ryuuko’s calm smile. Probably just my imagination.

"Then, let’s all work hard to get the academy ready!"

And so, the morning school officially evolved into an academy.

A while later, we met again among the academy staff. Obrio, who’d just finished Ryuuko’s crash course, looked completely white.

Weird.

Ryuuko: “We really need to make sure everyone understands who the lowborn are.”

I wrestled with it for a bit. Decided to go with three chapters from here.

Take care of it.