SWNOVELXO Chapter 176
“You’ve pulled off something big.”
“Definitely exceeded expectations.”
After wrapping up his activities, including a lecture in Sylvania, Rupert returned.
“Let’s make Sylvania a cultural powerhouse!”
He worked hard to give speeches that would make anyone think he was born and raised in Sylvania, firing up the pride of the Sylvania people multiple times within that short time.
But all that hardship bore significant fruit, allowing him to smile and chat with Esteban now.
“I want to send talented people from our Sylvania to the Imperial Academy this year.”
It was a direct proposal from Eldran, the king of Sylvania and Adrian’s father.
In response, Rupert pledged to sell the latest items—animation videos and projectors that hadn’t been sold in other countries yet.
While this might seem like a simple friendly agreement, it was important that it was taking place with Sylvania.
Having achieved unbelievable progress in improving relations with Sylvania, Rupert was summoned to the emperor right after his return and received plenty of praise.
“If possible, I’d like to appoint you as an honorary duke right away!”
To be fair, the relationship with Sylvania hadn’t been good for a long time, but it had worsened recently, mainly due to the current emperor’s war against the nobility to weaken their power.
“After the war, all the other countries we had even a shred of exchange with turned their backs, so even the emperor must have felt a lot of pressure.”
“That’s true. But it seems like something happened at home while I was away. Do you know anything about it?”
“Huh? I haven’t heard any special stories about the Somersets.”
“Is that so?”
Rupert recalled the strange atmosphere he felt when he returned to the mansion.
“Aida wouldn’t cause any trouble!”
When he went to find Aida to give her a present he brought back from Sylvania, she was sweating profusely in the middle of winter but wouldn’t answer any questions.
“Seems like you’ve had a tough time, huh? By the way, His Highness the Crown Prince has something urgent….”
When he asked Duke Bradley for a souvenir and about Edric’s whereabouts, he seemed flustered and mumbled something that sounded suspicious.
But since there didn’t appear to be anything particularly strange, Rupert let it slide.
There were too many other things to worry about at the moment.
“Are those piles of papers the admission applications for the Art Department?”
“It’s really a headache.”
As a professor at the Imperial Academy, Rupert had to get involved in selecting new students.
This year, the number of applicants for the Art Department soared to a staggering more than 100 times compared to last year, burying Rupert in admission paperwork.
“Art Department professor? It’s supposed to be the least busy job of the year.”
Typically, the most popular departments were the Military Department, Magic Department, and Administration Department.
Of course, getting into the academy itself was a sign of exceptional talent, so the competition was fierce in other departments too.
But these three departments generally had professors residing at the academy during the admission period, working diligently to select students.
On the other hand, the Art Department, the least popular, would finish selecting students in less than a day, making this the most leisurely time of the year.
However, that was old news now.
“Getting a chance to learn under Professor Rupert? Can’t miss out on that!”
“Who says we can’t become the next Somerset?”
“Just the chance to build a connection with Professor Rupert is an incredible opportunity!”
As soon as the application period for new students at the academy began, countless people, regardless of status, applied just to get into the Art Department.
For commoners, one of the most desired jobs lately in the empire was working at Somerset Workshop or being a writer at Manapia, so this made sense.
“Did you hear the employees at Somerset Workshop earn dozens of silver a month?”
“Is that all? Sometimes, on anniversaries, they hand out gifts that are limited edition goods.”
“Rumor has it that the author of the series at Manapia bought a ship at a young age!”
Some of this was true, and some exaggerated rumors, but to the people, it felt like they had won the lottery.
Nobles weren’t much different either.
“The Somerset family is now a marquis house. There’s nothing bad about getting close!”
“I heard they have close ties with the imperial family, Duke Bluewell, and the Mage Tower?”
“Since His Highness the Crown Prince cherishes Somerset so much, their influence will definitely increase.”
Noble families that had long sought to establish ties with Somerset never ceased their attempts, but since both Duke Bradley and Rupert didn’t show much interest, opportunities to build relations were scarce.
So many nobles were keen to enroll their children in the Art Department, hoping to at least get a foot in the door.
“The students currently in the Art Department are practically picking up gold off the street.”
“That’s not entirely true. Haven’t you heard that rumor?”
“What rumor?”
Of course, before the Art Department’s status changed, there were whispers that the students admitted during that time were lucky.
Looking closer, though, it was half luck and half misfortune for others.
“Why can’t we raise our son’s grades?”
For the nobles who entered the Art Department, it was often more about their family’s wealth than their talent.
Unlike other departments that had generous budgets or overflowing support from alumni, the Art Department relied solely on donations from nobles.
Thus, student grades were traditionally determined more by the amount of donations than actual ability.
After Rupert became a professor, believing in this tradition, some noble students slacked off in their studies and assignments, acting with bravado.
“Hah! They’ll just adjust the grades with donations anyway.”
The noble students who had suffered humiliation under Rupert’s initial authority were split into two groups afterward.
In any case, getting to learn directly from Rupert was a wonderful opportunity, so there were those who decided to work hard, while others clung to their pride and refused to yield.
The stubborn faction continued to resist Rupert’s guidance and even bullied the diligent commoners.
Yet, they still placed their faith in their family wealth.
After bombing the midterms, they confidently paraded around claiming that the top two spots were theirs, only to be horrified when they received their report cards.
F. Their report cards were cluttered with grades indicating failure, causing chaos when parents stormed into the Art Department.
“It’s simply that your child hasn’t studied hard enough to get good grades.”
“Professor Rupert, if the grades don’t change, the donation we agreed to might be canceled.”
“That’s fine. I can cover it myself anyway.”
As the nobles threatened to withhold their donations unless grades were adjusted, Rupert simply smiled and said he would substitute for them, leaving them with no counter.
Rupert was now one of the people in the empire rapidly increasing his wealth, so an academy donation was no longer a significant burden.
Only then did the stubborn noble students realize that what they had believed in was useless, but it was too late.
“Professor’s family has been elevated to a marquis house!”
Rupert’s status rose sharply from day to day, and in contrast, the faces of the stubborn noble students grew increasingly pale.
There were even some who were so frightened of Rupert’s growing stature that they voluntarily dropped out.
“Oh, by the way, are you preparing well?”
“Preparation? Ah, you’re talking about that.”
While reviewing the applicants’ documents in Esteban’s office, which he had become as familiar with as his own workshop, Rupert suddenly asked.
“Thank you once again, really.”
“Don’t feel too burdened. I intended to leave the remaining spots for you and Duma from the start.”
As Esteban responded, he quickly wiped away the tears that had almost welled up in his eyes.
“I’ll do my utmost for Somerset, as I have until now.”
What Esteban was preparing for was none other than the titles of nobility for himself and Duma.
Five baron certificates granted to the Somerset family with their elevation to a marquis house.
One of them was given to Mularus, a knight who had long protected the family, and although Oun hadn’t accumulated seniority yet, he was also expected to receive one someday.
Among the remaining three, two were offered by Rupert and accepted by Duke Bradley, and those two were none other than Esteban and Duma.
“Are you really going to award me the baron title?”
At first, when Esteban heard this news from Rupert, he couldn’t believe it.
In the empire, commoners could become nobles in two ways.
Either become a knight or soldier and achieve great merit in war,
Or, when wizards from the Mage Tower, alchemists, or scholars achieve historical milestones like century-defining discoveries.
Other than that, no amount of effort would grant them noble status, although there were rare exceptions like being elevated when a family itself was promoted.
However, the baron certificates granted to nobles who had been elevated usually came with specific conditions.
Particularly for merchants, due to the deep-rooted disdain from the nobles, no matter how much profit they generated, they could never receive baron titles.
Yet, Rupert ignored that tradition and gifted the baron certificate to Esteban, who had supported him selflessly for so long.
“I will repay this kindness without fail, Young Master.”
Thus, Esteban, becoming the guild leader of the Seven Great Guilds, was finally able to alleviate the deep-seated inferiority complex stemming from being mocked by nobles for being a mere merchant.
At the same time, he renewed his resolve to devote his life to Rupert and Somerset once more.