Chapter 8: Townsperson A Graduates Early

The day after I obtained the 【Alchemy】 skill, I headed to school to take my graduation exams.

Normally, the system was structured so that students attended elementary school until age twelve and middle school until age fifteen. However, unlike in Japan, skipping grades was a fairly straightforward process. Utilizing the memories of my previous life, I had already managed to breeze through elementary school and graduate at the age of nine.

Today was the day of my middle school graduation exam. Many children didn't actually attend this middle school; in practice, it served more as a preparatory course for those aiming to enter the Higher Academy. The curriculum focused on the kingdom’s classics, "advanced" arithmetic, the names and crests of royalty and nobility, regional specialties, international affairs, and etiquette—essentially everything one needed to know to participate in politics.

It’s basically just rote memorization, I thought. The volume of information isn't even that daunting. As long as you study properly, acing it is a piece of cake.

Besides, the math and science subjects that everyone else seemed to despise were only at a basic arithmetic level. They called it "advanced calculation," but it was just fractions. After receiving a Japanese education, this was child’s play.

Furthermore, with my 【Appraisal】 skill, I technically had a built-in cheating tool. There was no way I could fail. Not that I actually intended to cheat, of course.

I entered a small room and took my seat. A moment later, a teacher arrived and handed me the exam papers.

"Good luck, Allen-kun."

Apparently, graduating early at this age was unprecedented, so I had been saddled with the reputation of a "prodigy boy." To be honest, I felt like most Japanese elementary schoolers could handle work at this level.

"Now then, the exam will last three hours. Begin."

At the teacher's signal, I flipped over the exam. Since it didn't matter which section I tackled first, I simply started filling in the answers from the top of the first page.

Question: State the current King's full name. Answer: Bartille Manfred von Sentlaren.

Question: State the current Crown Prince's full name. Answer: Karlheinz Bartille von Sentlaren.

Question: List all Three Great Ducal Houses. Answer: House Innoburg, House Ramslett, House Schlestain.

It was simple rote memorization. Easy.

Question: Calculate 22.3 × 11.8. Answer: 263.14.

Question: Represent 3/4 as a decimal. Answer: 0.75.

Again, any average person from Japan could do this. While geography had taken me a little more time to commit to memory, I had prepared thoroughly.

Question: Which territory had the largest wheat production last year? Answer: Ramslett Ducal Territory.

Question: Which territory had the highest iron ore production last year? Answer: Wimlett Marquis Territory.

It went on like that. Once I’d memorized the data, it was no big deal. In fact, I suspected a Japanese elementary school social studies class required learning significantly more than this.

I finished filling out every answer sheet in about an hour and a half.

"Teacher, I’m finished."

"As expected of you, Allen-kun. Well done. I will notify you of the results in one week."

The teacher left, leaving me with my thoughts. To simply graduate, I only needed sixty percent in each subject. However, I was aiming for ninety or higher. If I hit that mark, I’d receive a recommendation for the Higher Academy and an exemption from the academic portion of the entrance exam.

It was a strange system—even if you graduated early, you couldn't actually enroll in the Higher Academy until age fifteen. My theory was that grade skipping existed to get commoners into the workforce as quickly as possible, sending talented individuals out into the world early. In contrast, the Higher Academy was designed for nobles and the wealthy; the system likely never anticipated a student who would finish their prerequisites years ahead of schedule.

But for me, this was convenient. I had three years until enrollment. That was plenty of time to work as an adventurer, gather necessary items, train for the combat exams, and save up for my entrance fees and tuition.

One week later, I returned to school to hear the results.

"Allen-kun, congratulations! You scored a perfect hundred in every subject! Graduating at eleven is amazing enough, but you’ve achieved a feat unlike any other since our country’s school system began!"

I was praised to high heaven, and I have to admit, it didn't feel bad. Since I hadn't used 【Appraisal】 to cheat, I felt a genuine sense of accomplishment despite the ease of the material.

However, I couldn't forget my manners.

"Thank you very much. It’s all thanks to everything the teachers taught me."

I gave a polite bow, and a small smile played on the teacher’s lips.

"Now then, Allen-kun, your grades are more than sufficient for a recommendation to the Higher Academy. How would you like to proceed?"

"Please, I’d like the recommendation. I intend to spend the time until I turn fifteen preparing myself thoroughly."

"I thought you might say that. I’ll submit the recommendation to the board. How should we contact you?"

"Through the Adventurer's Guild, please. My mother is often away for work, so there’s a high chance we’d miss each other if you sent it home."

"Understood. We will send the results to the Adventurer's Guild. Allen-kun, congratulations on your graduation!"

The teacher celebrated my success, and soon, the other teachers joined in to offer their congratulations.

"Thank you, everyone! I’ll work hard so that I can make a name for myself once I enter the Higher Academy."

And so, I officially graduated from middle school early.

A short while later, a notice arrived at the Adventurer's Guild. My application for the Higher Academy entrance exam had been approved, and my written exam was officially waived.

I had a little over three years until I’d be forced onto the stage of the game. Just you wait, Scenario. I’m going to tear you to pieces.