I Raised the Villain's Daughter Too Well-Chapter 18: Didn’t Know! -

There’s such a thing as an occupational disease.

Not everyone gets it, but at the very least, I did.

“Hold still.”

“Let go. I want to go.”

“Ehh, I told you to stay still.”

I shoved a piece of butter cookie into Arin’s mouth as she struggled.

As if someone had turned off a switch, the commotion vanished. She began nibbling at it little by little, clearly trying to savor it, and I was able to continue braiding her hair.

“Phew, done.”

After a 30-minute-long epic (20 minutes of which were spent choosing the style), I managed to create the latest hairstyle trending in the capital.

I was fairly satisfied with the result, but Arin looked into the mirror and twitched the corner of her lips.

“It’s uncomfortable.”

“But it’s pretty, right?”

“...Yeah, pretty.”

Maybe we’d arrived too early.

A whole two days had opened up, and even after researching the Special Talent exam, I still had plenty of time left. My hands itched, and this ridiculous behavior was the result.

I had already bathed her, dressed her, and made her look presentable—almost like a person. So I did feel the urge to let her go free, but one must take responsibility for what one picks up so carelessly.

If I let her loose like this, it was obvious she’d sleep outside and wouldn’t even be able to find the exam hall properly. Out of the bare minimum of decency, I planned to escort her.

And doing hair... after doing it for so long, not doing it made my hands tremble.

This time, I kneaded Arin’s cheeks as I pondered.

‘This Special Talent exam—wasn’t designed to actually be passed.’

Special Talent students were part of a policy instituted by the former Emperor, who declared that those with talent should be treated like nobility—

But not a single noble besides the Emperor agreed.

Not that they looked down on commoners entirely—some nobles even married them.

However, commoners attending the Academy? Wouldn’t that tarnish the prestige of an institution meant only for high-ranking nobility?

That’s why they make the exam absurdly, outrageously shitty. So no one passes.

Every decade or so, one or two with impossible-to-hide talents get accepted...

But considering that last year’s exam included the condition “land a valid strike on the Knight Commander within ten minutes,” it seems plainly impossible no matter how you look at it.

“You’ve done well. This time I tried coloring it using only natural flower petals—what do you think?”

“I don’t know.”

“...That’s understandable.”

Leaving Arin staring blankly into the mirror, I headed to the library.

The exam would take place this afternoon. But before that, there was something I wanted to look up.

“Yes, Sir Virdem of the Serbus Family. Your identification has been verified. What book are you looking for?”

“I’d like information on the history of the Seriratus Family.”

“...?”

The librarian tilted her head briefly at the strange sight of a Serbus butler asking for books on Seriratus history, but soon led the way.

Of course, I know the Seriratus Family best. Honestly, I probably know more than the Young Lady herself.

But there’s just one keyword I have absolutely no knowledge of.

What the hell is Geminos?

No matter how many times I asked Maclaine, he kept saying strange things like, “I can’t tell you.”

As I searched through the Seriratus history section, my hand brushed against someone else’s.

“Ah, you first.”

“Thank y—...”

The woman’s voice was familiar.

Turning my head, I saw a young noblewoman with a sharp face and a height that didn’t even reach my chest staring at me in horror.

“Ah, you!”

“...It’s been a while, Lady Emily.”

I answered without hiding my look of disgust.

Emily, wearing an even more disgusted expression than I did, asked:

“...Why is Firnea’s butler in the capital? Academy entrance is still quite a ways off. Are you here to do preliminary research?”

“I’m here to take the Special Talent exam.”

“Speciaaal Talent? You?”

Emily dragged the end of her words in disbelief.

“Yes. I’ll be taking the exam.”

“You’re a butler. Do you think the Special Talent exam is a joke?”

“It’s by my Lady’s command.”

“You’ve got to be kidding. Just because she commands you to pass, you’ll pass? There should be limits even to foolish orders. Would you mind telling your master to keep her ambitions in check?”

I twitched an eyebrow at the whining Emily.

She’s crossing the line.

Since I didn’t want to see this madness continue even inside the Academy, I checked to make sure no one was around and lowered my voice.

“Lady Emily.”

I stepped toward the bookshelf, blocking the path behind her so she couldn’t slip away.

“Wh-what? What is it?”

Thud. I bent down and stared straight into her flustered eyes from a distance close enough to hear her breath.

“Might I suggest you stop acting so rashly.”

“What??”

“I’ve heard that the pride of House Laurencia has taken quite a hit recently. Making enemies of us won’t do you any good.”

“...That’s all your fault...! Why are you tormenting us like this? We didn’t even get involved in that incident! We’ve already proven that!”

“That’s true. But you did try nibbling at the edges like rats. I suppose you thought the Seriratus Family looked easy to prey on.”

“...”

After Duke Pitus was assassinated, Laurencia took advantage of the leadership vacuum—not overtly, but subtly, encroaching on various interests.

Naturally, Maclaine and Firnea didn’t forgive this.

House Laurencia became an example. Even without its master, Seriratus remained Seriratus—and Laurencia became the living proof of that. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

They were slowly and thoroughly beaten down, and now the house was a declining one. If Emily failed to show any remarkable talent, the situation would become truly dire.

“You must be quite afraid. Considering you’re investigating your ‘enemy’ in such detail.”

“Ugh...”

I slowly pulled the book from her hands.

Her resistance didn’t last long. I leaned in close to her ear and whispered.

“If you want to live, keep your head down. Just to be clear—this isn’t a threat, it’s advice. Because Lady Firnea is now shining brighter than anyone else in the world.”

“...How long do you think that arrogance will last?”

“You say amusing things. Isn’t that thought still something only House Laurencia, blind to reality, would cling to?”

Emily clenched her fists, trembling.

But she couldn’t refute me. Not a single word I’d said was false.

As I left her standing there, head bowed, a curse with a hint of tears came from behind.

“You... You really think someone like you can become a Special Talent student?”

“Thank you for your concern. I’ll do my ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) best.”

“You don’t even know what this exam is! Fine, I’ll watch closely as you freeze to death, you... you dirty dog of Seriratus... d-dog...”

Hm.

A useful enemy, right to the end.

****

On the day of the exam, a crowd like a tidal wave surged in, but the exam hall itself was smaller than expected.

“Please receive your number tag! Fifty people will enter at a time!”

And once a group of fifty entered, they never came back out.

Thanks to arriving early, we were able to enter in just thirty minutes. Once I brought Arin into the exam hall, we underwent a body check and received a bag.

Inside the bag were a pickaxe, rations, a lantern, and various other supplies.

As expected, once all fifty participants were packed into the small classroom, a balding government official greeted us briefly and immediately began his explanation.

“Welcome. Everyone, this year’s Special Talent Exam theme is: Survival.”

“...Survival?”

The moment the word was spoken, the room became noisy—it was a word that made you anxious just hearing it.

The official, unfazed, brought out a board with detailed information.

“Starting now, all of you will be dropped into random locations within the northern Crovan Mountains. Your objective is simple—destroy the crystal located in the direction pointed to by the compass you've been issued. Once it’s destroyed, you will be teleported back immediately, and it will count as a success.”

“W-Wait a second.”

A beastkin student raised their hand, clearly flustered.

“Crovan Mountains? Isn’t that the habitat of Yetis?”

“Yes. Combat or evasion of the Yetis will be the primary challenge.”

“How far is the crystal from our drop point?”

“Depends on your speed, but roughly a two-day journey...”

“Have you lost your damn mind?!”

Bang! Another examinee slammed their desk loudly.

“Are you insane? Crovan Mountains?? You’re telling us to march through that place for two days?! Even if this exam was never meant to produce successful candidates, this is just too much!”

“Of course, we are fully responsible for the safety of all examinees. If you break the compass you were given, you will be immediately treated as failed and teleported to the infirmary. If you aim to complete the course, keep it safe, and if you’re ever in danger, we highly recommend you break it without hesitation.”

“What if I die before I can break it?”

“We don’t anticipate situations that urgent. There are several knights stationed in the area to observe, though they may be unable to intervene depending on the location. In such cases, yes, unfortunate incidents may occur.”

The official explained in a calm tone, as if fully expecting this reaction.

One examinee who had been trembling shook his head.

“...I’m forfeiting.”

“Then please step through the next portal. For confidentiality, you will be transferred to a waiting room and will not be permitted to leave until all examinees have entered. It should take about a day. Please return the issued bag beforehand.”

Nearly twenty others forfeited alongside him.

Those who remained did not mock them. Rather, it was the opposite.

Those who left laughed at the ones who stayed.

“Tch. Just how desperate do you have to be... Tsk tsk.”

“It’s not like this is your only shot...”

From those reactions, it became clear—even repeat-takers had never seen an exam this extreme.

Looking to the side, Arin was—

Scratching the desk with her fingernail, drawing some bizarre shape.

She seemed completely uninterested in the test details, so I asked:

“Did you hear what this is about?”

“Yeah.”

“...”

The official clapped his hands as he looked at the remaining participants.

“If you have any questions, please ask them now. The portal will open in exactly five minutes.”

“Hey.”

A blond man seated in the back raised his hand.

Arrogant expression. Expensive clothing.

A noble. Though apparently not from a house prestigious enough to receive a direct Academy invitation.

“There are only three crystals, right?”

“There is only one per examinee. It regenerates within one minute of destruction. Since you will enter in intervals, this is standard procedure.”

“What? Then what happens if multiple people destroy their crystal?”

“This exam will be monitored and evaluated by several proctors around the clock. Even if you manage to destroy the crystal, if you do not display sufficient potential during the process, you may still be eliminated.”

“Hah. What a fucked-up setup. Suits me fine, though.”

The man laughed with satisfaction and crossed his arms.

“Well then, starting from the front row, please proceed in order.”