Chapter 227
Chapter 227
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 227
Chapter Title: Where is Shirone? (2)
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Cheers and applause erupted. With someone who had served as the headmaster of the nation's top educational institution now here, the students' expectations were higher than ever.
“I have heard much about the reputation of Alpheas Magic Academy, so I have no intention of meddling too much with its existing policies. However, modern magical society pursues high efficiency and practicality. Pragmatism. That is the seed I wish to plant during my tenure as headmaster.”
The nuance was that, until now, Alpheas Magic Academy had been conducting classes disconnected from practical application. The students might have taken offense, but when a great mage said so, they had no choice but to accept it as fact.
“This is serious. I knew this would happen.”
Iruki, who had attended the Royal Magic Academy, had a feeling the moment he saw Olivia.
I heard she retired from her position as headmaster years ago. I have no idea what brought her here.
Similar sentiments were being shared among the Class Four students.
“Just as I suspected. The prediction in was right. We're going to be worked to death starting tomorrow.”
“I heard her disciples are coming here too.”
“I know, I read about it. Isn't one of them Dante?”
Shirone listened to their conversation. It seemed many students already knew during the break that Olivia would be appointed headmaster.
“Iruki, what's ?”
“It's an academic journal published by the Teacher's Association. You could say most magic academy students subscribe to . It covers things like graduation exam trends, the latest magic fads, and issues happening at the academy.”
“I see. Do you read it too, Iruki?”
“Are you crazy? Who cares what other schools are doing? I go my own way.”
Shirone asked Nade as well.
“What about you?”
“I used to borrow it from friends, but I don't read it these days. I'm going to be an engineer anyway, so I'm not that interested.”
Iruki said.
“Still, Dante is a big deal. The whole school will be buzzing. He's basically the number one student in the kingdom.”
Number one in the kingdom. Shirone couldn't even begin to fathom the weight of those words.
What kind of student could he be? No, what must it feel like?
To be number one in the entire country.
After the entrance ceremony, on the way back to the dorms, Iruki asked.
“Shirone, what are you going to do? It'll probably be hard to see Headmaster Alpheas today.”
“Everyone must be busy on the first day of the semester. I'll just go tomorrow during lunch, after morning classes.”
He had a mountain of questions for Alpheas. About how much was known of Heaven's existence, and the story behind Miro's entanglement with time and space. But today wasn't a good time. Promising himself he'd do it tomorrow, Shirone returned to his dorm.
***
Joining his friends early in the morning, Shirone entered the classroom for the historic first class of Class Four.
It was already about half full. In Class Five, he had always been the first to arrive, so this felt different.
Just as Shirone was nervous, the students of Class Four were also subtly watching his group's every move.
Shirone, in particular, was always the number one topic of interest, being the unprecedented case of a student who had climbed from Class Seven to Class Four in just half a year.
It wasn't that there hadn't been students as brilliant as Shirone in the school's 50-year history. But such exceptional students were assigned to high classes from the start, making Shirone's case unique.
Shirone felt strange, seeing people who were his seniors until yesterday become his classmates. Nade and Iruki, on the other hand, waved casually as if it were perfectly normal and found empty seats.
“You're finally here. Welcome.”
A hand suddenly appeared in front of Shirone. He looked up to see a friendly-looking boy with a round chin smiling at him.
Chris Boyle, the top-ranked student in Class Four. His specialty was summoning magic.
Befitting a boy known as a model student, his appearance was impeccable. His collar was buttoned up to his neck, and his hair was parted neatly to the side.
Shirone shook Boyle's hand and said.
“Nice to meet you too. Though it wasn't so much 'finally' as 'barely'.”
“Haha! No need to be so modest. This is the final gateway of the advanced classes. Now is the time to promote yourself, not be humble.”
Though the advice was well-intentioned, it felt like he was looking down on Shirone. But this, too, was likely one of the ways to promote oneself, just as Boyle had said.
“Thanks. I look forward to getting along.”
“Yeah. Though I'm not sure how long that will be.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“What do you think I mean? I'm talking about applying for the graduating class, of course.”
Class Four students could apply for the graduating class at any time. This year, Amy had been the first to start the trend, followed shortly by Seriel. With a total of eight students having entered the graduating class so far, only two spots remained.
“Usually, applications flood in during the latter half of the year, but since Senior Amy challenged it so early, there aren't many spots left. It's first come, first served.”
The other students perked up their ears at Boyle's words. From Class Four onward, grades weren't the most important thing. It was a strategic game of deciding whether to advance to the graduating class or to build up one's fundamentals a bit more.
Of course, no one wrote their application out of impatience.
Once you moved to the graduating class, there was practically no time to polish your fundamentals. Moreover, it was said that the shock of failing the graduation exam, even if you could attempt it every year, was greater than one might think.
In fact, while 60 percent of those who passed the graduation exam did so on their first try, only 20 percent of the entire academy's student body passed on their second attempt.
Based on such data, students were carefully considering when to move up to the graduating class.
Boyle asked.
“What about you? You're obviously planning to prove your worth in Class Four and claim one of the two remaining spots, right?”
Last night, Shirone had discussed this very issue with his friends. They had concluded it was too soon.
He had scored over 80 in all subjects in Class Five, but that was merely a stopgap measure to pass the exams.
There was always the option of passing the graduation exam immediately after entering the graduating class, so they calculated that spending half a semester building his foundation wouldn't be a loss.
“No. I'm staying in Class Four for this semester.”
This was unexpected for Boyle. He thought Shirone, who had climbed to Class Four in record time, would naturally challenge it to set a new record.
Was it a deceptive tactic? That didn't seem to be in his character. In any case, having one strong competitor drop out wasn't a bad thing.
“Well, can't be helped then. Anyway, let's do our best. Iruki, Nade. I look forward to working with you two as well.”
“Yeah, well... not sure how hard we'll be working, though.”
Iruki said in a bothered tone. The students sensed that none of the three would be advancing to the graduating class.
Since they wouldn't have made such a decision for no reason, it became an opportunity for the others to reconsider their own plans.
It was no coincidence that the first person to greet Shirone's group was Boyle, the top student in Class Four.
This, too, was part of the power game in Class Four.
As such, the second-ranked student, Azelio Pandora, was displeased.
When Amy was number one, every other student was simply second best, so there was no need to care. But now, the score difference between the current first and second place, Boyle and Pandora, was only one point.
As Boyle's conversation was winding down, Pandora stealthily approached Shirone and raised a hand.
“Hello?”
Nade let out a groan. The fact that he, a friend to all, was repulsed, spoke volumes about her personality.
She was a famous eccentric in the advanced classes. A girl who thought she was the greatest person in the world.
Shirone knew this as well. But seeing her live so self-centeredly without a single friend also made her seem lonely.
“Hi, Pandora. We're in the same class now. It feels a bit strange.”
“Huhu, how does it feel to be in the same class as a beautiful woman like me?”
Pandora leaned forward, making a pass at him. In a situation like this, even Shirone had to steel his expression.
It wasn't that she was ugly, but her gaudy makeup was overwhelming. Just the smell of her powder made his heart feel strange. It must have been related to Pandora's specialty, fragrance magic.
“Oh my, look at you blushing. Don't be shy. Let's get close from now on.”
As if she had approached him with intent, Pandora's blouse had two fewer buttons fastened than usual. When she bent over like that, he couldn't decide whether to close his eyes or just keep looking. Either option felt rude.
“Hey now, what's all this? Shirone's already taken.”
Nade covered Shirone's eyes. Then, for the sake of his blinded friend, he took a peek inside Pandora's blouse for him.
Pandora was too annoyed to even care about the male students' gazes.
Shirone's 'taken' status was, of course, due to Carmis Amy.
When she was in the advanced classes, no other student dared to even voice their own excellence.
Whether it was grades or looks, she was superior in every way. The reason Pandora hit on Shirone was to prove that she could make him her man if given the chance.
“Hmph, I know he's dating Senior Amy. But they can't even see each other anyway. Besides, she'll pass the graduation exam and leave the academy. Shirone needs a new woman. A sophisticated and intelligent woman, like me.”
Pandora subtly pushed together her treasured chest.
“Anyway, you'd be wise to pick the right side. I'll be catching up to Boyle soon. If you guys side with me, I'll look after you.”
Iruki pulled Shirone back and wagged a finger.
“Aren't you underestimating us? We're on Shirone's side.”
“Hohoho! It's your first day, so enjoy it while you can. You'll soon find out that Class Four is no pushover. Well then, Shirone. See you later.”
Pandora blew a kiss and returned to her seat. Shirone's head was spinning before the first class had even begun. But thanks to that, he could guess how Class Four operated.
Boyle and Pandora, the top two students, were aiming for the graduating class, while the other students below them were cautiously watching the situation unfold.
Shirone felt he had made the right decision to give up on the graduating class for now. He had no intention of avoiding competition, but he didn't want to get into an emotional fight with his friends over the few first-come, first-served spots.
He decided that if he could achieve remarkable growth this year, he would apply first thing next year, just like Amy.
The first three periods passed without incident. As they waited for the fourth-period Mentalism class, the teacher entered with three transfer students.
The students who subscribed to magazine recognized them and started murmuring.
Victor Sabina.
Bonifar Closer.
Airhein Dante.
They were from the Royal Magic Academy in the capital, Bashuka, and were currently the most talked-about students in the kingdom.
Airhein Dante, in particular, was a genius among geniuses, so talented that even active mages called him the next great mage.
“Alright, alright! Everyone quiet down. These are the transfer students who will be joining Class Four starting today. They're going to introduce themselves, so please give them a warm welcome.”
Dante stepped up to the podium and looked around at the students. His first impression was 'lame.' To his eyes, accustomed to the cutting-edge trends of the capital, everything looked tacky.
Dante fixed his gaze on Boyle. He was clearly dressed like a mama's boy, yet he was staring back with a gaze so confident it was unnerving.
‘Is that kid Shirone? No, couldn't be.’
He was different from the impression of Shirone he'd gotten from Olivia. He didn't know about his looks, but at the very least, he didn't have that kind of aura.
Elsewhere, a girl with caked-on makeup was making eyes at him. Her face was pretty, but her ridiculously heavy makeup was unbearable to look at. If she walked around like that in the capital, she'd be mistaken for a bar hostess.
“Dante, what are you doing? You need to introduce yourself.”
Dante pushed his thoughts aside and opened his mouth.
“Nice to meet you. I'm Airhein Dante. Let's get along.”
And with that, his self-introduction was over.