Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Top Student (4)
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Veronica sat down.
Right next to Aren.
"???????"
Everyone in the classroom had question marks floating over their heads.
...She actually sat down?
That ice... no.
Flame Princess?
Sure, there were rumors of scandals with the top student and all that, but only a tiny fraction actually believed it. After all, this year's top student, Aren, was publicly acknowledged by everyone as a madman, no matter how you looked at it.
A public confession to a high noble, and a declaration of war against an unspecified group (probably all nobles) in his entrance speech.
No one was unaware that his way of thinking was utterly different from ordinary people.
So up until now, the scandals had just been jokes...
...But doesn't this change things a bit?
"I didn't think you'd actually sit down just because I told you to."
Aren looked at Veronica with slightly widened eyes.
They hadn't known each other long, but this commoner who always acted shamelessly and turned her stomach inside out every time they met was finally showing some surprise. Veronica inwardly flashed a satisfied smile.
Of course, only inwardly.
"Should I get up right now, then? Perfect timing, since I didn't want to sit next to you anyway."
She glanced around as if she might really stand up.
There were a few empty seats, after all.
She didn't have to sit next to Aren. But the real reason Veronica had chosen his side was something else.
She wanted to see his surprised face!
So Veronica decided to tweak her approach a little. To act more arbitrarily and shamelessly, just like Aren.
But...
"Why say something so disappointing? Now that you're seated, how about we stick together like this all day?"
—Ah, it would be even better if we sat together from now on.
She mustn't forget who the original was—Aren.
Right now, she was putting up a timid act of rebellion(?), and while Aren was a bit surprised, it was only a little.
In fact, her actions were just fanning the flames for him.
No, if the girl I'm eyeing comes at me so proactively(?), is there any man who could hold back?
At least not me.
And what, push-pull games?
That's for losers.
A real man pulls and pulls and keeps pulling to get his feelings across.
You have to fight to get what you want.
"......Haa."
"Ah, Aren..."
As Veronica sighed, Lydia, who had been watching nervously from the side, grabbed his arm with a teary expression.
Lydia seemed a bit intimidated.
Well, Veronica was untouchable even among fellow nobles. From the perspective of a commoner like Lydia, getting involved would look like suicide.
"...Fine. I'm the crazy one for even talking to you."
She clicked her tongue and turned her head away, her feelings of "I don't want to talk to you anymore" radiating clearly.
Of course, she didn't get up from her seat.
Meaning she stayed right there.
Next to me.
And that... I liked very much.
Meanwhile, Veronica glanced sideways at Lydia, who was sitting next to Aren.
"...Lydia, was it?"
"Y-, yes?"
"Isn't that your name?"
"Ah, no! I'm Lydia...!"
Lydia panicked.
Why is she suddenly talking to me? Veronica's green eyes felt utterly terrifying as they fixed on her.
"I recommend you get away from this guy quickly. Staying by his side won't let you make any proper friends."
Veronica meant it as sincere advice.
Stick around this madman who's taken the top spot, and who knows when your path to marriage would get blocked in some crazy way.
So it was a noble's duty to rescue this frail commoner named Lydia from Aren's clutches.
They might look friendly with Aren now, but she figured there was no benefit to it.
"Ah, no... I'm fine."
"...Pardon?"
"Aren's my first friend... And I'm probably his first friend too, so how could I leave him...!"
"......"
Veronica was at a loss for words.
First friend...?
She's going to make her academy life harder for something like that?
Veronica couldn't comprehend it at all. Lydia looked completely sincere.
She'd been trembling earlier from Aren's sudden antics, but now she was boldly hugging his arm and staring right at Veronica.
Meanwhile, hearing Lydia's heartfelt words, Aren was deeply moved.
'Wife points: 10.'
...She's got tremendous wise-wife material...!
'...Is this what they call a perfect homemaker?'
A halo seemed to shine behind Lydia's back.
"...I'm touched, Lydia."
"Hehe."
"Will you stay my friend from now on?"
"Sure...!"
She giggled happily.
Veronica, watching from the side, was flabbergasted.
They're playing off each other perfectly... Like a drum and a gong.
'...This is exhausting.'
Just watching them drained her energy.
Academy life... Is this really okay?
She intensely debated whether to get up now and sit with the other nobles, but she couldn't decide.
After all, she'd chosen to sit here of her own will—standing up now would look like running away. With her strong pride, she couldn't allow that.
Better to lose outright than run...
"...Haa."
Veronica felt a sense of futility.
Just as Lydia, Aren, and Veronica were stirring up chaos, the classroom door burst open, drawing everyone's attention.
"......?"
The man who entered scanned the room as if searching for someone.
Whisper whisper—
"...Gasp. Isn't that Ferris? The Magic Tower Lord's disciple."
"Yeah..."
"Who is he looking for?"
Ferris.
A typical noble with golden hair and golden eyes.
Currently the Magic Tower Lord's disciple and a next-generation grand mage, he was part of the Golden Generation alongside the revered Veronica.
And that Ferris... locked eyes with Aren, scowled, and approached him.
"Ah, Aren. He's coming this way...?"
"I see."
"He's coming over here...?"
"I see."
Aren ignored Lydia waving his arm from the side.
She seemed the nervous type anyway.
She was probably worried about clashing with Ferris, who looked far from friendly at a glance... but there was no need to worry, he wanted to say.
'If we clash, we clash.'
I won't lose.
The world belongs to the strong, right?
Before overwhelming power, status, personality, looks—none of it matters.
That's how I'd lived, and that's what my master taught me.
"You're Aren?"
"That's me."
"I see."
And then.
"Don't climb where you don't belong, fake."
He picked a fight out of nowhere.
...Exactly as expected, I suppose.
Aren looked up at Ferris with indifferent eyes.
Ferris's brow twitched at the unique, multi-ringed eyes so characteristic of Aren, filled with utter apathy.
"...Are you ignoring me?"
"Hmm."
Ignoring...
Aren smiled brightly for the first time.
"Yes. So what?"
"......!"
Ferris was a loser anyway.
Aren didn't care what losers said. As he'd said in his entrance speech, if it bothered them, come at him and win?
Otherwise, complaints like "don't climb up" or whatever were just barking dogs.
Like powerless words echoing emptily.
Reading Aren's demeanor, Ferris's face twisted in rage.
"You bastard...!"
Aren could feel mana surging from Ferris.
Lydia yelped "Eek!" and clung to him from the side, but Aren didn't budge.
This was nothing.
'Not impressive.'
Golden Generation, huh? Definitely impressive compared to peers.
But.
'Compared to Master—no, even to Veronica, he's lacking.'
The amount of mana was impressive, more than Veronica's even.
However... the density was thin.
If Veronica's was narrow and deep, Ferris's felt broad and shallow. Of course, he hadn't fought him yet, but at this level, he could gauge without trying.
Meanwhile, Ferris felt the exact same about Aren.
"I won't accept this. How did a mediocre human like you take the top spot?"
Ferris genuinely couldn't understand.
The commoner named Aren before him looked utterly ordinary.
From Ferris's position, that was natural.
Aren had perfectly concealed his presence, and Ferris had never seen his exam or sparring.
Ferris always took early turns in tests and spars and left quickly.
But.
"Whether you accept it or not, what does it matter to me? Are you somebody important?"
"How dare you...!"
Rumble rumble rumble—
Mana exploded from Ferris, sweeping through the classroom.
"Kyaa!"
"Hup...!"
"The mana...!"
The surrounding students let out startled groans.
But it had no effect on Aren. Ferris's mana, directed at him, simply dissipated without reaching.
Ferris panicked at the unprecedented phenomenon.
Aren smirked at Ferris's face.
"Didn't I tell you clearly?"
—If it bothers you, come at me.
Prove it with strength instead of muttering like a loser from behind. That's what he'd said.