The Angel in Class (1)

"Never trust black-haired beasts."

That was practically Soya's creed. All those black-haired beasts who had betrayed the girl in the past. Parents who ultimately cut ties with her, adults who stole the magic formulas she developed, acquaintances who begged for her help one moment and discarded her the next once they no longer needed her.

Ah, how much she had cried because of them.

Eventually, the girl realized that if she kept squeezing out tears, they'd run dry someday. So she vowed never to cry again, never to trust anyone again, and to live alone.

But living alone was too foolish. Everyone else had family, friends, organizations—teamwork. Yet Soya had to solo through every adversity.

'So what? I can do it.'

She couldn't.

In the entrance exam's first round, when the teamed-up examinees tried to drown the solos to eliminate them... as she was caught by the undine and losing her breath...

That's when she realized again how lonely it was to be alone.

And then, a boy reached out to her. No matter how many times she pushed him away, he kept extending his hand, looking at her with a truly pure, angelic expression.

Of course, whether the boy had ulterior motives or not was something only he knew...

Even if she tried to exploit his kindness... even if she pushed him away again... even if she unleashed her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠own nasty temper that she knew all too well...

He didn't leave. Without asking for anything in return. This was the first person like that.

Soya knew nothing about the boy. But a few words came to mind. Friend... friendship... No, if it were that shallow, he would've grown detached and left by now.

Then... could it be...?

"No, no, no!"

"W-what's wrong all of a sudden?"

Soya shouted and hid her flushed face under her hat's brim.

'No, no. This isn't a rational guess. My hair's all frizzy, I don't know how to doll up... my clothes are all ragged, I'm not tall either...'

The girl gazed at herself in despair, not even knowing why she felt so despondent about it.

Soya quickly changed the subject.

"You said earlier you'd get me out of the dorm. So, is there somewhere else I can go?"

"Yeah. There's the cathedral where I live. It's big enough for two."

"...A cathedral."

'Fits him perfectly,' she almost said.

"Fine. I'll go there too."

"Then let's move your... furniture—er, luggage first."

Refri beamed happily again, thrilled that Soya was coming. Of course, it was because he could keep Soya close, not because of any fancy furniture or angel power generator.

But seeing that, the girl had no choice but to pull her brim down again.

'Why is he so happy? Does he really... like me that much?'

The delusion spread. A rather misguided one.

And so, the cathedral gained a new resident. Her name was Soya, a precious future supreme mage.

"What do you think? It's not that big, but..."

"How... how...?"

"...Is there a problem?"

This new resident had gone straight into immersion upon seeing the cathedral, muttering, 'Unbelievable. The conduits follow the Second Empire pattern, but the overall structure is First Empire style. For this to work, it'd need an insanely powerful energy source...' before heading underground.

"Wait... S-Soya?"

Refri was worried. About himself, naturally. Would a barely superhuman with a bit of strength and reflexes worry about a near-sixth-circle mage? Even if the cathedral exploded right now, Soya had better odds of survival.

The boy cautiously descended to the basement. Far off, a girl was clutching the cathedral's generator, mumbling something. It was quite a scary sight.

'This is like when Yumari almost blew up the Mariana Base...'

Thankfully, Refri's feared disaster didn't happen. Instead, messages flooded in.

'Potential rises one stage? That means she'll definitely be stronger than in the future now.'

Refri clenched his fist. Was this what it felt like to be a coach raising a star player?

Title? Refri immediately opened his status window.

'Not bad.' Honestly, it was great. Even 10% of Soya's power—the greatest magical genius in human history—would match other magic-major students. Probably more.

'Just ten minutes, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Central Academy magic undergrad-level power...'

And he got the gist. The more he raised Soya, the better titles he'd get. Starting with Little Witch, next might be Seasoned Witch? Dark Magic Princess? Or...

'Dark Magic Empress is the right title.'

In his past life, Soya had been the Dark Magic Princess, but this time, he'd make her an empress with his own hands.

And...

'Wait, Han Soya? So 'So' isn't her surname?'

Did that even make sense? If So were the surname, her name would just be Ya? Classic dumb angel Refri.

There was a cathedral in a remote corner of the academy. Its mornings ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠always went like this.

"Soya."

"Mmm..."

"Soya, don't you have a morning experiment today?"

"Five more minutes..."

Refri struck a pose and wailed piercingly.

"Soya! Get up!"

"Kyaa! My ears!"

"Ugh... dark-magic hater..."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"What? Breakfast is sausage veggie stir-fry today?"

"Dark-magic lover...!"

Sausage veggie stir-fry for breakfast. Made by someone with artisan-level cooking skills, no less... Irresistible.

Soya wiped her drool and scurried to the table with quick steps.

After breakfast, Soya sluggishly headed to wash up. Refri stamped his feet in frustration.

The moment Soya emerged, Refri dried her hair with a towel.

"You didn't dry it all again."

"Ugh... nagging..."

In truth, their thoughts differed from their words. Her hair could dry instantly with simple evaporation magic, but Soya let him because she liked the thorough attention. And Refri, eyes gleaming with angel power, hoped she'd keep coming out damp like this.

Meanwhile, a pink cat outside the window watched enviously. How nice it would be if the boy gently woke her every morning? If he prepared breakfast and dinner, waiting at home... and after her bath, he...

The pink cat's fantasies grew wilder by the day.

But why was Refri scraping up angel power so diligently? Didn't he just want an easy life? Did he really need this much?

There was a reason. A very important one.

'Without angel power, I can't keep up with academy classes...!'

The academy classes were brutally tough. Refri had half-cheated his way in. His specs weren't up to par. To follow along, he had to overexert himself, spamming divine abilities—and even that often fell short. Hence, cheats were necessary.

For Rusa's classes...

"Kuhk, guk."

"How many times do I have to tell you? Your side's wide open. I told you to always be conscious of it."

She stomped the student's side again.

"Hurts, right? This spot's your liver. Press here, and the other organs scream too. How's that?"

"Guhk, kuaaa!"

As everyone shuddered and looked away, a boy stepped up and took position.

"...Please stop."

Rusa grinned at the sight.

"Brat, how many times have I said not to interrupt class?"

"We all have to spar with you once per round anyway. I'll go first."

Truth be told, Refri wasn't that righteous. He might pity the beaten student, but he wasn't brave enough to volunteer.

So why now?

For angel power? Not entirely wrong, but not the full answer.

The perfect answer was...

This buff. Protecting a weak student against Rusa's overwhelming violence was truly right. And since angels strengthen when doing right, Refri could now far exceed his base specs.

'Gotta spar anyway—might as well at the most advantageous moment...!'

Refri's intentions weren't exactly angelic. But to the other students, it looked different.

'Refri's subbing in again.'

'Phew, once Rusa's satisfied with him, the rest of us get off easier.'

'Such a righteous kid... Admirable.'

All they saw was a boy facing Rusa for the fallen student—and for them. Even the fallen one rasped,

"Thanks..."

But one girl wasn't satisfied.

"Refri, you're doing something foolish."

Yumari hid her anxiety, gazing at the ring. If she could, she'd...

Anyway, Refri's spar began.

"Come on then."

Rusa beckoned with a finger. Refri immediately activated his divine ability.

Great Angel's Dragon-Trampling Martial Arts.

A heavenly martial art, supreme in rank. If there was a weakness... it was a comprehensive style handling various weapons, inferior to specialized top arts in focus, and it guzzled angel power over time.

But it was never weak. Again: it was heavenly martial arts itself. Formless, styless. People just didn't recognize it as martial arts.

Not even martial arts professor Rusa saw Refri's ability as such.

"Haha, you really are..."

Rusa marveled. His moves screamed "never trained a day," yet he fought her martial arts evenly. Overwhelming genius. Meat she couldn't let slip.

"You must learn Fairy Fighting Method. Be my disciple!"

"While... beating... me... you say that!"

"Can't let you go!"

'Ah... will I have angel power left for the next class?'

Refri could only force a bitter smile.