The Top Student and the Failing Student
Upon returning to the lecture hall for the liberal arts class, I found that this time the platinum blonde had already arrived and taken her seat.
Her name was Stellarisa, I believe.
She was still sitting in a perfect posture, spine straight as an arrow.
'She'd fit right in as a staff officer.'
In the battlefield, you need field commanders like special forces leaders, but I've learned through hard experience that sometimes you need model officers like Stellarisa.
And with her looks, soldiers would naturally follow her, right?
At least better than some pretty-faced commander who just throws his weight around.
Thinking that, I naturally sat down next to Stellarisa.
Let me emphasize again: I didn't sit here because I wanted to.
A while ago, when I had time, I tried sitting in other seats as a test, but just the fact that someone was behind me kept bothering me.
I couldn't control the urge to keep turning my head.
"Are you sitting here again?"
"Y-yes..."
Whether it was misfortune or fortune, Stellarisa didn't even glance at me after that short exchange.
Surprisingly, she seemed not to care who sat next to her. Even if it was someone she didn't like, she probably wouldn't kick them out.
'She's just the type who prefers being alone, like me.'
Moreover, the back row was far from the professor, not great for studying either.
In school days, troublemakers sat in the back, while model students sat in front, right?
...So it was strange.
'She was supposed to be the top student, wasn't she?'
I remembered Arlen saying that.
By the way, the one who said it was now sitting in the front row.
How outstanding must her academic ability be?
At that moment.
'...Hmm?'
Suddenly, a red-haired girl walking briskly up the stairs caught my eye. It was clearly Kiara Scarlet.
'But why is she coming this way?'
Was there still lingering resentment from earlier?
That was unexpected.
Fiery-tempered people usually cool off quickly after getting angry.
'I hope nothing unnecessary draws attention...'
As I prayed inwardly.
Thud.
Kiara plopped down right next to me, right beside Stellarisa.
It looked like I was sandwiched between Stellarisa on the left and Kiara on the right.
'...What?'
Seeing my questioning look, she seemed startled.
"Why, what?"
She looked flustered, took a breath, and said as if apologizing.
"I-I've been eyeing this seat for a while."
It was obviously a lie.
What kind of change in mindset made her do such inexplicable things?
'Did she feel guilty because I asked if she repeated a year?'
If she felt bad about that, maybe she thought sitting here would help her grades, since the top student was here.
'No way.'
Thinking that, I glanced at the seat owner, who was still expressionless.
She hadn't shown any interest in us from the start.
"A-and you don't have a textbook, do you?"
Wait, what?
From experience, this was the moment to accuse her of coming from a poor family that couldn't afford books.
If that's the case, it was a pity.
I was about to say something about her being a poor student who doesn't even have money for books—
"So..."
"So...?"
Waiting for the next words, I stared at her face starting to heat up.
From her mouth came words I hadn't expected at all.
"Take mine, let's look at it together."
Whoa.
My mouth fell open.
Was I dreaming?
Kiara Scarlet offering her help?
To me, who had been bickering with her all along?
I was trying to figure out the reason for this incomprehensible situation when I realized.
'It won't help, idiot.'
She probably thought I was close to Stellarisa because Arlen said so.
'Cunning.'
She seemed like she wanted to benefit from being a senior in the freshmen crowd, like helping juniors with love and country.
But what to do.
It was unfortunate, but Stellarisa and I weren't close at all.
Yet.
"O-of course, it's just because I'm feeling sorry for you, so don't misunderstand...!"
She didn't back down, and I clicked my tongue.
'As expected.'
People's true nature doesn't change that easily.
*
The first subject of the afternoon lecture was 'Imperial History'.
While listening to the class, I witnessed quite an interesting situation.
Why? Because the professor teaching Imperial history was overly conscious of the student and kept glancing at her.
Of course, as an academy professor, he tried not to show it, but anyone with sharp eyes could notice.
In fact, he had no choice. I understood the professor's feelings.
The student's identity was none other than the Empire's princess.
'Antiope di Abolicus'.
Her golden curly hair, much denser and more voluminous than Stellarisa's platinum or Muriel's beige, shone like gold.
And her blood-red eyes, reminiscent of blood, were striking even from afar.
These two physical features were a kind of mark of noble bloodline appearing only in royalty.
'...But she doesn't look like her sister at all except for that.'
I was surprised that the prince and the first princess didn't resemble each other at all, but the three siblings had almost nothing in common except for the golden hair and red eyes.
Maybe their mothers were all different.
'But sisters should resemble each other a bit.'
Even if Antiope's development improved miraculously, she probably couldn't catch up to her sister.
Anyway, the fact that a princess was in the same year could be a blessing or a curse for me.
Because of her noble status, just existing would draw attention, so it would be advantageous for me, who wanted to live quietly, as aggro would be dispersed.
On the other hand, the downside...
'If I accidentally get on the princess's bad side, it might be a death sentence?'
In short, a double-edged sword.
Moreover, naturally, the group the princess belonged to (simply called the 'Princess Group') had the most influence among the first-year factions.
And since we're talking about factions, there were three more first-year factions besides the Princess Group.
Among them, the 'Swordsmanship Prestigious Families Group' that stood out in the 'Fundamentals of Combat Theory' lecture consisted of students from powerful northern noble families, rivaling the Princess Group in strength.
They were probably true to being northerners.
It wasn't for nothing that the northern region was the most free from imperial influence.
'I see some familiar faces.'
It meant not just knowing the students, but having blood ties or acquaintance with them.
During my time serving in the north, I had met quite a few people.
Among them were many from prestigious families.
On the other hand, the remaining two factions that were fading were the 'Gold Spoon Group' made up of children of wealthy merchant families from the eastern region and the 'Magic Prestigious Families Group' supported by western families who built magic towers.
The former had low influence because of fewer nobles, the latter had weak power because they were few elites.
The diverse factions divided by academics, geography, blood relations, wealth, and talent were truly an academy.
'Others besides that...'
Like me, who had innate talent, or those with no background like the failing student Kiara and the loser Arlen... but rather, there were oddballs who didn't belong to any faction, like misfits.
Ah, thinking about it, there's one more.
'...What is her identity?'
I glanced at Stellarisa sitting arrogantly next to me.
The more I thought about it, the less I understood. Saying she was the top student meant she had broken through the rivalries and checks between all these factions.
'She's a real monster.'
At that moment, I was admiring her.
"Hey, focus on the class."
Kiara suddenly poked my arm and chided me.
She had only glanced at me for a moment, but she caught it.
...Was she that desperate to eat me?
"You focus too."
Don't fail this year either, right?
I thought the rest to myself.
"I-I am focusing."
Hmph.
Kiara crossed her arms with a snort. This was probably her signature pose.
By the way, how did she end up repeating twice?
With a failing student and a top student sitting next to each other, it was inevitable to compare them.
At this rate, she must not have any talent either.
'Then...'
Should I try to persuade her to change majors?
From the way she kept talking to me, there seemed to be a chance...—
"Hey."
"H-hey?"
Just calling her name, why are you surprised?
"Do you have any plans to repeat?"
"...Suddenly?"
"The major I'm taking is too easy. Let's take it together."
Thud.
Suddenly, it sounded like something exploded, but it was just my imagination, right?
"That means... are you saying you want to stick to me like glue all day...?"
"Exactly."
Since she suddenly froze, I laughed and imitated her.
Ah, but if I stay glued to her all day, will she hate it?
From how startled she was, maybe.
"T-that's a bit..."
Damn.
Even though I expected it, she refused.
At least this time she didn't curse, which was fortunate.
"Why? Isn't the major I'm taking a bit difficult?"
"...Not really."
Then why do you keep failing?
'As expected, stubborn.'
On the other hand, I was curious.
How difficult was the major?
Wasn't she someone professors had been watching since freshman year?
I remembered she couldn't keep up with elemental magic.
Was she in a slump?
Or a legendary bubble?
Anyway, it was a truly unfortunate thing.
'For me, it's rather a good thing.'
Just when I was seriously trying to persuade her to give up if she had no talent and seek another path like me.
"Kiara Scarlet?"
"Y-yes?"
Startled by the sudden call, she answered reflexively.
"We need a mage to demonstrate elemental magic, and it says among the students, your elemental affinity is the highest."
The one who called her was the professor of the last lecture of the day, 'Fundamentals of Magic Studies', and since he was in charge of lower grades, he was young for a professor.
"So, could you possibly help me?"
"Ah..."
Kiara didn't answer immediately.
She just let out a long sigh-like sound—
'?'
In that moment, I clearly saw.
Kiara's fingertips trembling slightly like aspen leaves.