144: The first time something like this happens, you gotta be careful about it.

The festival, which is normally held on the same day as the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, lasts just one day.

I don’t know about other countries, but in this kingdom, it’s the biggest festival of the year, held in every region.

Even small villages host it, but families with children turning sixteen have to move to a larger city designated by the kingdom.

It’s a pain every year, but not an issue in the Elixiris Frontier March.

Because all children under sixteen are enrolled in the academy, their whereabouts are always clear.

Even families in Leifan Town have long since moved to Goldendown with their whole households.

Some only send the kids to the dormitories.

We’re planning to open an academy in Leifan Town eventually, but that’s still a ways off.

Normally, the festival lasts one day. But here in the Elixiris Frontier March, it’s three days long.

We’d had big festivals before—dragon hunts, celebrations for the new frontier barony, all that—but this one was on a whole different scale.

Result.

“Woooh! Deliveries! Deliveries won’t make it in time!”

“Craft! Hand that over to the Guild Grandmaster!”

“Hey! You’re just shoving it on me!?”

At my shout, Leifan immediately shoved the work onto the Grandmaster, who let out a shriek.

“…I’ll handle the arrangements. Grandmaster, focus on this side.”

The one who quietly took on the task, the trusted aide who’d come to Golden Dawn with the Grandmaster, was Syndery Stonework.

Still as painfully thin as ever, but that’s just how he looked healthy.

A man as capable as Leifan, someone who could pull the Grandmaster’s strings.

"Shindery!?! That’s a hell of a workload on this side too, you know!?"

"Of course the guilds across the land send in Coming-of-Age Ceremony payments. It’s routine."

"S-so that’s Leifan’s...?"

"It’s the Grandmaster’s job. Oh, and do it in two hours. After that, there’s still this city’s portion left."

"Are you kidding me!?"

"Either you do it or you don’t. If not, the Coming-of-Age Ceremony crashes. You want to hear more complaints from the Commercial Guild?"

"Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh!?"

Even the Grandmaster, who usually dodges work by dumping it on Leifan or Shindery, can’t run today.

Seriously—do your own damn job!

"Alright then, Shindery, I’m leaving this delivery in your hands! I’m heading to the academy!"

"Understood."

The Grandmaster’s competent, so if Leifan and Shindery give him a good kick in the backside, he’ll manage somehow.

Getting him to actually care? That’s the hard part.

So I handed off the work and headed off to help out at the academy.

First up, I went to pick up the Seal Officer, Genelis.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Genelis!"

"Perfect timing—I just finished getting ready."

He stepped out with a bag stuffed full of registers, and we walked together toward the academy.

When we arrived, Obrio Rellnen was already herding the students into place.

"Those becoming adults, over here! Visitors, line up over there!"

Inside a classroom, seventeen nervous faces sat waiting—the ones becoming adults this year.

Some might wonder why only seventeen people are becoming adults in a place like Goldendown, where the population’s been growing fast. But there’s a reason.

First, this land’s a frontier settlement.

Most people who come out here are already adults. Kids? They’re almost never around.

Families thinking of moving out here? If they’ve got kids near adulthood, they’ll either find work locally or wait till the kids hit adult age before packing up.

Sure, plenty of families end up moving in together without jobs, but those are usually the ones with younger kids.

They’re all betting everything on the rumors about Goldendown.

The number of younger students keeps rising at the academy, but the older grades—like the Kendall siblings’—aren’t growing much.

Still, once word spreads about the heraldic aptitude tests starting now, I bet the influx’ll pick up.

"Thank you, Professor Obrio."

"Just doing my job. …Ryuuko’s not here today… right?"

"Same as usual. Staying home on guard duty."

"Ah. Good."

Obrio lets out a breath. Ryuuko’s been giving him PTSD, apparently.

The motion makes his hair shift slightly. He tucks it back casually, like nothing happened. The odd feeling vanishes.

Yeah. Next time, I’ll make you a hair-growth tonic with alchemy.

I mentally vow it as I guide Genelis to his seat.

The Seal Officer pulls the resident registry from his satchel.

That’s why the title “Seal Officer” is a national certification—because they’re entrusted with this registry.

This time, Kyle handed it over directly.

Genelis turns to the seventeen coming-of-age candidates.

“Now, in past Coming-of-Age Ceremonies, you’d each name your desired crest, and we’d use a marking spell. But this time, per Lord Kyle’s suggestion, we’re all being tested for crest affinity.”

The seventeen swallow hard.

“Of course, if anyone doesn’t wish to participate, we’ll proceed as before. Anyone?”

All shake their heads.

No surprise.

“Still, there might be some who don’t have any affinity at all. You’re all fine with that?”

The adult group glances around for a moment, then all nod again.

Genelis gives a satisfied nod and picks up the roster.

"First, Alfonso. Come here."

"Yes!"

Alfonso stands up with a jump and sits in front of Genelis.

"Left hand out. Palm up... don’t move it."

Not just the adults, but even the older students watching are tense, eyes fixed.

Genelis raises his hand, building the spell pattern.

I didn’t pay much attention when I was tested, but this is seriously complex.

"Seal Aptitude Judgment."

A flood of magic power flows through the spell, racing across Alfonso’s body.

(Well now… I see. This thing’s actually checking a person’s magic power in detail. Not just etching a mark like usual—this thing uses *a lot* of magic.)

Only seventeen here at Golden Dune, but normally it’s hundreds getting the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Can’t possibly check every one for heraldic aptitude.

I knew it in theory. Now I understood it for real.

“Hmm. Alfonso. You’ve got three aptitudes—‘Farmer,’ ‘Warrior,’ and ‘Woodcutter.’”

“Three? Really!?!”

Alfonso shouts. The classroom buzzes.

I’m shocked too. Multiple aptitudes? Seriously?

“W-what should I do? My parents run a timber workshop…”

“Hmm… no guarantee you’ll get a mark outside your aptitudes, but it’s unlikely. If you’re aiming for something like ‘Artisan,’ talk to your parents. Think it through. Fortunately, none of the marks clash with your aptitudes.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

Alfonso’s face shows both joy and confusion.

If it’d been business as usual, Alfonso would’ve just wanted the craftsman’s crest, and if it hadn’t shown up, he’d have sighed and given up.

Alfonso stepped back. I called out.

“Sure, I’ll listen.”

“Yes… but I’ll talk to my parents first.”

“Good. That’s the way. Remember this—whether you end up without a crest and follow your parents’ trade, or get a crest and take up another craft, either path is honorable.”

“Yes!”

Genelis moved on to the next student, checked their aptitudes, and found three matches.

The crest was tied to their parents’ trade. The kid cried with joy.

“…Craft. Can I borrow a potion?”

“Ah, of course.”

I pulled a mana elixir from my spatial storage and handed it over.

Genelis seems to have a lot of mana, but can two people really drain it all like this...?

He finished the potion and started checking each one’s affinity in turn.

Thankfully, everyone had some kind of aptitude—relief washed over me.

Eight legendary-grade mana potions from seventeen people? Yeah. Impossible without Goldendown. That’s it.

I quieted the excited students.

“Decide your heraldry by the day after tomorrow. Lunch is already prepared for everyone here—eat, then disperse! Don’t go overboard at the festival!”

“““Yes, sir!”””

And just like that, the first morning was over without a hitch.

...If word gets out about this, we’ll have an immigration surge. Seriously.

More than now?

We’re already swamped with immigrants daily—now it’ll get worse?

Alright. No more thinking about it.

My other book

The Adventurous Life of the Carefree Female Mage: A Relaxed, Easygoing Slow Life Starting with a Maid

The second volume of the manga adaptation comes out on the twenty-fifth—so please check it out too!