Senior-Junior Exchange Match (1)
By the time evening rolled around, Hint had changed into a fresh uniform and stepped outside. Of course, calling it “getting dressed” was a stretch since it was still just the academy uniform, but at least the spare set had wiped away every trace of his earlier tumble across the ground.
The sun that had blazed high overhead was now moments from slipping beyond the horizon, painting the forest in deep crimson.
She should be coming out any minute now.
Maybe it took longer than expected to get ready. Hint, who had emerged first, waited quietly for Stelle. On the surface he stood perfectly still, but inside his head, thoughts raced at breakneck speed.
Countless fragments of information about the Demon Lord tangled and wove together as he began piecing together his plans for the road ahead.
This latest incident had made one thing painfully clear. No matter how much knowledge he possessed, the path he walked was never the standard route—it was the apostle’s path. Especially now that Stelle lacked the Blessing of the Stars, the journey to claim the hidden piece had carried a genuine risk of her suffering serious injury.
At least I managed to secure enough stats this time.
Knowing how dangerous these detours for hidden pieces could be, he had grown reluctant to keep dragging Stelle along. Academy classes, however, were an entirely different matter. The faculty guaranteed the students’ absolute safety, and that protection would become a solid stepping stone for the protagonist to grow steadily.
I’ll have to get Stelle into S-class no matter what.
If he bore the risk of hunting the hidden pieces himself and simply handed the results to her, Stelle would gain access to the superior lessons and rewards of S-class while simultaneously obtaining treasures that would otherwise be impossible to acquire at this stage.
In the original story, the protagonist and her companions could save the world without Hint ever needing to fight at their side. In that case, his role was clear: support the protagonist and her party.
Stelle’s stats were now sufficient. What she needed next was combat technique.
And I happen to know the perfect instructor for her.
In Hint’s mind rose the image of a certain petite girl known as the academy’s strongest swordsman.
“Sorry! Am I a little late?!”
The cabin door flew open and Stelle came sprinting out. He had thought there was more than enough time to rest, yet she looked utterly exhausted. Something must have happened.
“Are you feeling unwell? If you’d prefer, we can stay home and rest today…”
“Ah, no. It’s just… I couldn’t sleep at all today.”
Hint studied her carefully. She did seem off, but if she insisted on going, he wouldn’t stop her. He walked past Stelle and took hold of the cabin doorknob they had only just left.
“Hehe. Shall we head to the academy, then?”
“Yes!”
Utilizing the Guide’s Cabin to its fullest, Hint and Stelle teleported directly into the F-class classroom at Arpia Academy. Even at this hour the campus was packed with students.
“Did you get into the class you wanted?”
“Don’t even ask. There’s no way Professor MacDowell’s lecture had any open seats. I’ll try begging later, and if that fails I’ll just take it next year.”
“Whoa, we’re gonna get chewed out by the upperclassmen if we’re late…”
“What are you doing, Dune? Run!”
Students laughed and chattered as they moved between buildings. Some second-years headed for their club rooms. The vibrant energy of the academy made Stelle’s expression darken slightly.
F-class. The lowest stratum, branded with the worst talent in the entire school. They received no proper meals, no proper lodging, and no proper chance to learn.
Of course she didn’t dislike living with Hint, but it was still far from the ideal academy life she had once dreamed of.
“There’s no need to worry so much.”
As if he had read her mind, Hint gently stroked Stelle’s head. The sudden gesture left her too stunned to even yelp. She simply opened and closed her mouth, staring up at him. Hint looked down at her with a soft smile.
“Next semester, we’ll be up there with them.”
“…Yeah! You’re right.”
After that, the pair headed toward the portal plaza. Perhaps because it was Friday night, a long line of students stretched out, each waiting their turn.
In the game there had never been any need to queue, but this was reality. It seemed Friday evenings always drew a crowd like this.
“The line is pretty long.”
“It must be because it’s Friday evening. We should have come another day.”
“Still, waiting together will make the time pass quickly!”
“…I suppose that’s true.”
As expected of the protagonist—she really had a way with words. Secretly touched, Hint spent the wait chatting with Stelle about all sorts of things. Since he didn’t have much to contribute, the conversation mostly revolved around her childhood and family stories.
“Now that I think about it, my little sibling is supposed to enroll next year… I’m worried. They’re way sharper than me, so I’m not too concerned, but I really hope they don’t end up in F-class.”
“Hehe. They’ll be fine.”
The juniors enrolling next year would start with much higher stats to match the power inflation. If it was the sibling he remembered, they were talented enough to enter S-class from day one.
“…Sometimes you act like you can see the future, Hint.”
“Hehe. Surely not.”
Oops. Had he let a little too much slip?
Fortunately, Stelle’s suspicious gaze couldn’t pierce the combination of his natural poker face and the composure granted by his skill. She eventually gave up and looked away.
The conversation made the wait fly by, and before they knew it, their turn had arrived.
“So this is what a portal looks like in person.”
The portal he was seeing with his own eyes for the first time had a shape that was… difficult to describe. A colossal iron framework surrounded a vortex of unidentified energy. One thing was certain: it didn’t look particularly inviting.
As they moved to step through, a man called out to stop them.
“Hold it right there. Freeze.”
Blue hair that seemed to radiate coldness, glasses that sharpened an already icy demeanor. The epaulets on his shoulder marked him as a member of the student council.
Student Council Secretary — Wilhelm
The man whose name was known across the academy as its strongest mage. A monstrous talent capable of trading blows with the professors themselves. For someone of his caliber to be stuck handling portal duty… There had to be special circumstances. Wilhelm made no effort to hide his annoyance as he addressed them.
“I’m annoyed too, but I still need to record your names.”
“Ah, yes!”
“Understood.”
Hint and Stelle took the roster he offered and wrote down their names and classes.
F-class — Hint.
F-class — Stelle.
“Hmm…? Aha… How annoying.”
For some reason Wilhelm let out a sigh after reading their entries. Despite his cool exterior, he scratched roughly at his head before looking back up at them.
“Sorry. You two can’t use the portal.”
“Why not?!”
“…I see. Is it because we are F-class?”
Wilhelm gave a single nod.
In the game the portal had never been restricted. So here even something this simple came with rules. Breaking a rule by force rarely led to good outcomes. Besides, Hint doubted he could get past this man even if he tried.
Just as he was preparing to turn back—
“Yo~ Sorry about that.”
A familiar voice rang out from behind them.
Hair that looked even redder beneath the sunset, a petite frame that made one wonder how she could even be there. The single brooch permitted to only one student in the entire school announced her identity.
Hina Lionhart. Student council president of Arpia Academy and the legendary strongest president in the school’s thousand-year history.
She waved cheerfully.
“President…”
Wilhelm covered his eyes with one hand. Hina grinned brightly at him.
“Wilhelm. These kids have business with me. That’s fine, right?”
“…With the student council’s approval, anyone may use the portal. Do as you please.”
“By the way, why are you here? Isn’t the treasurer supposed to be on duty tonight?”
“…I lost a bet.”
“Haha!! I didn’t even have to ask—it was gambling, wasn’t it? Even I refuse to gamble with that guy. You idiot.”
“Ugh…! It was only a hair’s breadth!”
“The way that guy makes it seem… Ha. Never mind.”
Leaving the genuinely frustrated Wilhelm behind, Hina grabbed both Hint and Stelle by the arm.
“Wow~ It’s Friday night and Shion bailed on me to have dinner with her boyfriend. You two just saved my life.”
“Eh? Ehh? We had plans?!”
Hina glanced at the still-confused Stelle, then turned to Hint with an expression that clearly asked whether the girl was an idiot.
“…Hint. Is she dumb?”
“…My apologies, Miss Stelle. I forgot to pass the message along.”
“Forget it. Let’s get moving, you little squirts! Dinner’s on me tonight!”