Dragging into Special Class
I was late on my very first day. But I strode in without a care. Because...
"Welcome, Celestia. It's been a while. And... congratulations on being the earliest to arrive in the special class."
"Teacher Edn."
"It's professor."
The special class was free game when it came to being late...
The whole concept was centered around independent research. There were no regular classes. You could crash any lecture you wanted. Or skip them entirely—no one would stop you. If you needed funds for research, just submit a proposal and you'd get the budget.
This kind of freedom worked because the special class kids produced results even if left to their own devices. It was actually better for their research that way.
"It's been a while, Teacher Edn."
"Professor."
"Oh, right, Teacher. Why'd you run off like that back then?"
"Run off? What're you talking about?"
Anyway, the special class system wasn't the point right now. What mattered was the reason I'd set my sights on the Imperial Central Academy in the first place.
Sure, it was the original story's main stage, and as the Fredericia family's lady, I was bound to end up here anyway. But the real spark? Teacher Edn.
He'd bolted. And toys don't get away that easily.
"The academy's gotta have some wooden swords lying around, right?"
"You didn't come all this way just to spar, did you?"
"Of course I did. Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused me by blabbing to my father?"
"No clue."
"Anyway, I'll forgive you. Let's have a quick round before the others show up."
I said that, and Teacher Edn let out a deep sigh. Then he clapped twice.
Rumble—!
Suddenly, the special class room expanded. One wall slid away, and the desks and chairs rearranged themselves like a game of Tetris.
Oh... classic fantasy flair. Love it.
"Guess I should give you the special class rundown first? Orientation time, Student Celestia. That cabinet over there holds all sorts of weapons. Bows, wands, staves, swords. Wooden swords too, of course."
"Knew I could count on you, Teacher."
I pulled two wooden swords from the cabinet. Tossed one to him, gripped the other.
I unbelted the Black Demon Sword and leaned it against the wall.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
"Begin."
"I'll take you on with my eyes closed."
My first real rival, my long-lost toy. Fighting him again had me buzzing so much I could barely sleep. Dopamine surged. My lips curled into a grin.
I charged straight at Teacher Edn.
Bam—!
I rushed at Teacher Edn with glee, swinging my wooden sword. He blocked it head-on.
"Ngh...! What kind of power..."
"I've gotten stronger."
Our first clash, I'd been on the defensive the whole time. Now? I was clearly on the attack. I'd grown that much in such a short span.
Teacher Edn shifted to deflecting rather than blocking outright. But I wasn't even serious yet.
"How long are you gonna keep deflecting?"
"This is getting tricky...!"
Scraaape—!
Edn deflected, then leaped back, timing it perfectly to erect dozens of magic barriers.
Oh, neat trick... So all that back at the estate was him holding back? Perfect.
My lips crept up again. Dopamine exploded.
"Hiding more? I love new stuff, Teacher."
"I've always thought you were a bit off, Celestia."
"Thanks."
"Not a compliment."
Boom—! Thud—!
Sword met magic. Compressed air burst like bombs. Two strikes shattered his layered barriers.
Then I closed in again. More clashes followed.
Snap— Thunk—!
My sword snapped his wooden blade. His stance faltered for a split second.
I didn't exploit it. Instead, I calmly slipped into his blind spot.
"Hup...!"
He threw up hundreds—no, thousands—of barriers. A massive gust whipped up too.
"Useless!"
I brushed the wind aside like a fresh morning breeze and swung.
Oh, right—time to show off. How much I've grown. Teachers love seeing their students shine, right?
"Kenbu 32 Strike."
Eyes shut tight, I sharpened my focus in that instant. Even dense barriers had weak points—gaps.
I calculated every angle, every target. Then I dove in.
Bam—! Bam—! Bam—! Bam—! Bam—!
"What?!"
Strike 8: My wooden sword snapped in half.
But Kenbu 32 Strike didn't stop.
Strike 13: Half his barriers shattered.
Strike 19: The broken blade chipped shorter.
Strike 24: It caught fire.
Strike 27: All barriers down.
Strike 32: Sword scars ringed him—everywhere but him.
My "sword" was now a splintered pencil nub.
"Ha... In the five years I was gone, you turned into a monster, Celestia."
"Flattery will get you nowhere. Admit defeat?"
"I admit it. Welcome to special class."
Dopamine exploded.
But regret tinged it.
Too strong now.
Yeah. Way too strong. Teacher Edn couldn't satisfy anymore. He was weaker than three lyntblooms at once.
The high faded, leaving bitterness.
"Better toss this wooden sword."
I chucked the remnants into a classroom trash bin.
This year's special class had four students total. After my duel with Teacher Edn, the other three trickled in one by one. Shockingly, that was everyone—and more than last year, apparently.
"Everyone's here. Nice to meet you, special class. I'm Edn, your homeroom teacher."
"Got it, Teacher Edn."
"Celestia. Thanks for responding, but professor?"
"Sure, Teacher."
"..."
The special class kids were all eccentric.
No one but me paid Teacher Edn any mind. They were all in their own worlds.
One guy chuckled over a novel nearby. Another fiddled with an alchemy kit, brewing something. The last one timidly peeked at everyone.
She was familiar. Wide-brim mage hat, round horn-rimmed glasses, purple twintails. Matched the novel's description perfectly.
"Teacher, is the special class always this vibe?"
"Last year, no one showed on day one. Everyone coming today is practically diligent."
"..."
Yeah. This was special class. Extreme geniuses with extreme freedom. Academy rules? Pointless.
This year's bunch was even the "responsible" type.
"Self-intros first?"
"..."
"Um... I'll go..."
Amid the indifference, the timid girl beside me raised her hand shyly. Maybe the bravest of us.
"I'm... uh... my name is..."
"Shariel Dransua. Kingdom mage, right?"
"...Huh? H-how...?"
Shariel Dransua. The original hero Glan Braden's sole special class ally. A weirdo who only shone when pissed. She could spam massive AoE spells in a rage, but her timid kindness kept her from snapping. That fun dynamic made the novel pop—especially her eventual awakenings.
"Speak clearly, with pace. Crisp. My turn. Celestia Erienne El Fredericia. Fredericia family's top output—and top swordswoman."
I called myself the "top swordswoman." Shariel and Edn aside, no one cared.
Hmm... Slacking off, huh?
"Hey, Alchemist."
I tapped the girl deep in her kit first. Yellow hair, emerald eyes. Childlike face, expert hands. What was she brewing?
"Celestia? The others don't care about intros. Best not poke."
"Nah, Teacher Edn."
"Huh?"
I prodded a glass vial from her setup with the Black Demon Sword's sheathed tip. Her eyes snapped to me.
"What? Can't you see I'm busy?"
"Spar?"
"Hey, Celestia."
"Kidding, Teacher. Think I'd lead with a duel to strangers?"
"Wouldn't put it past you."
"Anyway, your turn, Alchemist."
"Wha—huh?"
"Self-intro. We're going around."
I pointed at shy Shariel and myself, then spun my finger to her.
"Make Novel Boy go first."
"He's last."
"...Fine. Eldrin Viola El Aristia. Got into alchemy, it went too well, ended up here. Good enough?"
"Perfect."
I nodded. See? A little nudge, and they play along.
Finally, the chuckling novel boy.
"Hey, Lit Boy."
"Yeah? Wait, good part..."
Snatch—!
I yanked his book. He shot up.
"Hey! Psycho much?"
"Why? Wanna go? I'm game."
"Bring it, crazy bitch."
"Wait! Celestia! Give him the book back."
"Tch... Lucky, thanks to Teacher Edn."
I handed it over. He snatched it, glaring daggers.
"Hurry up with your intro."
"Do I have to? Ranta. That's me."
He dove back in. Total brush-off.