Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Linea Hall's Worst Mage (1)
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"Did you hear the news? Apparently, there's an Archmage candidate among the new students starting with us this time."
"Who? You don't mean the top scorer from the Magic Department, do you? That black-haired guy sitting up front?"
"No, not him."
"Then who?"
"They say the top student from the Magical Engineering Department is an Upper Mage. Name's... Lunaris or something?"
The auditorium buzzed with the entrance ceremony in full swing.
A few new students had started whispering, unable to bear the boredom.
"Huh? Why would someone that amazing go to the Magical Engineering Department?"
"No idea. Probably just a rumor."
"But it's true the Magical Engineering top scorer got the highest score overall on the written exam. They say it's the highest in academy history."
"What? For real?"
The murmurs quickly spread throughout the auditorium.
"..."
Soon, they pricked the ears of a male student sitting near the platform.
Edwin Belka.
As the top freshman in the Magic Department—the flower of Elterion Academy—he should have been the star of the entrance ceremony.
No, even if he yielded first place to the princess...
Second place should have been his.
But he hadn't even managed that.
And for good reason—Edwin's top spot had been "bumped down."
He knew it well, grinding his teeth in full display of his displeasure.
'Why the hell...!'
An Archmage candidate who didn't come to the Magic Department?!
He could have nodded if she'd gone to Politics.
He might have understood it as ambition to rise from imperial bureaucrat to prime minister.
Hell, even Economics—yielding a hundred steps—he wouldn't have felt this bad.
He'd have sneered that it was fitting for a commoner to value money over honor.
But what?
'Magical Engineering?!'
Why go to a department full of rejects who couldn't make Magic?
The thought that he'd received the same "pity" placement made his head burn hot.
The pride of a genius had cracked.
Meanwhile, there was one other person as distraught as Edwin.
"It is an honor to enroll in the storied Elterion Academy..."
None other than the Third Princess Celestina Belhart, standing at the podium delivering the freshman representative address.
"This new beginning today..."
Her clear, elegant voice carried a refined smile.
The speech was flawless.
...On the surface.
'Why the Magical Engineering Department...?'
Her mind was a whirlwind.
Occupying the noble princess's thoughts was a girl with tousled ash-gray hair.
Just a few weeks ago, hadn't they chatted briefly in the interview waiting room, and she'd said she was coming to Magic?
So why Magical Engineering?
Did she say she was going to Magic...?
And avoid her on purpose?
'I thought she didn't recognize me...'
Come to think of it, the palace atmosphere had been off lately.
Rumors swirled of other princes and princesses meeting individually with members of the Imperial Knights and Mage Corps.
...Had the vice-captain of the Imperial Mage Corps—her supposed guardian—joined some faction?
Was that why the girl was avoiding her?
'No. Too early to jump to conclusions.'
At least it was fortunate she'd entered Magical Engineering.
There were plenty of overlapping classes.
And the semester had only just begun.
'Plenty of time.'
Deciding to probe gently when they met, Princess Celestina finished her soulless speech.
As the princess stepped down amid applause, an administrative staff member cast an amplification spell on their throat and announced,
"Next, awards for the top students from each department. Those called, please come forward."
Five names were called.
But only four ascended the platform.
"...Magical Engineering Department top student, Lunaris Evermoon? Lunaris, are you not here?"
The staff called again, but no one came up.
What? What's going on? Why isn't she coming?
As the voices grew louder,
The auditorium doors suddenly burst open with a BANG.
"S-Sorryyy...!"
Charging in unexpectedly was the head of the Magical Engineering Department, Lilliana Gearheart.
Neatly dressed maids hurried behind her.
"Professor Lilliana? What is this?"
The baffled staff asked.
Stepping onto the platform, Professor Lilliana wiped cold sweat from her brow and gave an awkward smile.
"W-Well, you see... I'm here as proxy for our Magical Engineering top freshman, Miss Lunaris..."
"Pardon? Why is the department head acting as proxy...? And where is the student...?"
"I'll explain."
One maid stepped forward calmly.
Odette.
She was the head maid overseeing Linea Hall, the academy's top-tier dormitory.
Odette bowed deeply, hands neatly clasped.
"Miss Lunaris is currently fast asleep in her assigned dormitory room."
"???"
The staff doubted their ears for a moment.
Missing the entrance ceremony because she was sleeping? Did that even make sense?
And it was afternoon, not morning?
"We're sorry. We tried every method to wake her..."
All eyes in the auditorium fixed on her.
The head maid continued expressionlessly,
"...But she only muttered something incomprehensible like, 'Skipping the entrance ceremony and first week's classes is the unwritten rule,' before burying herself in bed."
The auditorium fell silent.
Even Princess Celestina blinked repeatedly, unable to hide her shock.
As everyone reeled in confusion, Odette stood with a serene smile, hands politely clasped.
"Today's 'incident' is entirely the fault of us Linea Hall maids."
...Though her fingertips trembled ever so slightly.
"Per Linea Hall Dormitory Rule 12, Student Academic Support Provision, we will form a dedicated team for Miss Lunaris starting today for special oversight."
The unflappable pro maid was visibly shaken.
"We pledge, on the pride of us maids, that such an unsightly matter will never happen again."
Elterion Academy's dormitories are divided into three main buildings.
Edelweiss Hall for fallen nobles and wealthy commoners.
Sepia Hall for regular nobles and scholarship students.
And Linea Hall for high nobles, department tops, runners-up, and other academic elites.
Even I, as department top, live in Linea Hall.
The moment I entered my assigned single room and flopped onto the bed, it hit me.
Thank god I didn't slack on the exams—
"Huaaah..."
I'd been a frog in a well. An idiot.
I'd arrogantly assumed the shack bed was the best, but no.
There was sky beyond sky, fluff beyond fluff.
Euehe... I could lie here all four years...
But this paradise had one fatal flaw.
-Knock, knock.
The intruder who showed up without fail every dawn.
"Miss Lunaris, time to rise."
A gentle, businesslike voice echoed from beyond the door.
Linea Hall's head maid, Odette, had come to wake me as usual.
I had no idea why she tried so hard. I'd get up when I was ready.
No, by now, shouldn't she give up on me?
I pulled the covers over my head and wiggled my fingers.
-Thud, crash, boom!
The wardrobe and bookshelf in the room floated up, barricading the door.
Seeing that sturdy defense line made me feel secure for some reason.
Then the usual routine: maids trying to force the door, eventually giving up and leaving.
Our daily WWE with the maids, going on for days.
...But today felt different.
"The rumbling's lasting longer than usual..."
No sooner had I sensed UFC vibes than—
KABOOM—!!
A deafening explosion shattered the door to splinters.
"...Huh?"
Startled, I bolted upright without thinking.
The furniture I'd used to block naturally crumbled and rolled across the floor.
Beyond the wreckage stood a line of maids, hands behind backs.
At the front, arms crossed, was none other than Head Maid Odette.
"Good morning, Miss Lunaris."
A hint of madness gleamed as she smiled and greeted me.
"W-Wait... You destroyed the door and furniture..."
"No worries. We'll repair everything while you're out for morning activities. All costs from my personal funds."
"...Isn't this stuff expensive?"
"It's fine. My salary is ample."
Chills ran down my spine at her addendum that it didn't matter if she went unpaid this month—or year.
"Why go this far..."
"Miss Lunaris, you've wounded the pride of us Linea Hall maids."
As I made a baffled face, Odette stated firmly,
"Since arriving at the dormitory, you've never once left your room except for meals."
"Oh? ...Really?"
"As head maid, I cannot tolerate such peak laziness."
Was I that bad?
"Moreover, you're the overall top freshman, the academy's symbol. It's only natural we assign dedicated maids."
"But the first week is orientation... Everyone skips, right?"
I wiped cold sweat from my brow, making excuses.
Odette smiled softly once more.
"The first week is over. Today is the second week's Monday."
"...Already?"
Week one: obliterated.
"Yes. And per the Student Academic Support Provision, we'll fully support your morning routine."
Odette snapped her fingers lightly.
"Gyaaaah—!"
The last thing I saw was maids swarming from all sides.