Results Day

"Alright, look right here and tell me your name and age, will you?"

On the day the exam results were announced, Marie clutched the terminal with trembling hands.

"P-Please..."

She had walked out of the exam brimming with confidence, yet the more she replayed every moment of that day, the more dread pooled in her chest.

During the interview she had heard nothing but negative evaluations until the magic plate finally activated. She had even committed the absurd blunder of answering the professors' questions with questions of her own.

In the mathematics portion the final problem had snagged her so thoroughly that she never managed a proper review, leaving a lingering unease in one corner of her heart.

"Marie, are you all right?"

"Y-Yes, yep, yes..."

"You look anything but all right..."

She was so tense her whole body shook visibly. Everyone fretted she might drop the terminal any second.

Its owner—the factory boss—remembered the brand-new contract on the device he had only recently replaced and grew restless himself.

"Maybe it would be better if the boss checked and just told her? Marie's going to faint at this rate."

"Looks like she's already halfway there."

"How on earth did she sit through an interview with nerves like that..."

The employees who had gathered to wait for the results each tossed in a remark. The boss accepted their advice and gently pried the terminal from Marie's hands.

"A-Ah!"

"I'll look and tell you. You just sit quietly over there."

"Y-Yes, sir..."

Marie suffered a brief bout of stomach cramps from pure nerves, but before long the announcement hour arrived. The boss had never once doubted her talent—

But did that kid actually do well in the interview...?

He knew her disastrous social skills just as well, so he could not begin to guess whether she had passed. With a tense heart of his own he operated the terminal and checked the result. Every employee except Marie held their breath and watched.

The moment the screen lit up, every single one of them clapped a hand over their mouth.

"Hah...!"

"Marie, what do we do?!"

"Haha, I knew it..."

Their chaotic reactions only swelled the anxiety already crushing Marie's heart.

D-Did I fail...?

She jumped to the conclusion that she had failed and that was why everyone had gone so solemn. Marie squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head toward the boss first.

"B-Boss, I-I'm so sorry... After all the support you gave me..."

"..."

When no answer came she cracked one eye open and looked his way. The terminal screen was thrust right in front of her face.

Marie's eyes went twice as wide. In that instant the employees who had been holding their silence erupted in a single roar of cheers.

"Marie, congratulations!!"

"I believed in you, damn it!!"

"You really went and did it!!"

"From now on I'm calling you big sis!"

Only then did the fact that she had passed truly sink in. Marie clenched both fists ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and began hopping in place.

"I-I passed! Th-Thank you all so much for cheering me on!"

"God of cramming!"

"As expected of Hans Factory's ace!"

"Mom, when I grow up I wanna be Marie! Mom, when I grow up I wanna be Marie!"

"Treat us for the pass!"

"I-I don't have money right now... I-I'll definitely treat everyone to a company dinner later!"

"Woooooo!!"

The employees went wilder at the promise of a free meal than they had at the news of her acceptance.

Once the excitement settled a little, the boss stepped up and clapped Marie on the shoulder.

"Marie, I knew you'd make it."

"Boss, maybe wipe the cold sweat off your forehead before you say that..."

"You little—right in the middle of a touching moment!"

An employee who had pointed out the gap between the boss's words and his appearance got a playful smack and retreated with a grin.

"Th-Thank you, Boss!"

"I always thought 'a dragon rising from a ditch' was just an old saying... but it really can happen."

"I-It's all thanks to you, Boss!"

"Yeah, yeah. Don't you dare pretend not to know me once you make it big, got it?"

"O-Of course! I'll take care of your retirement myself!"

"Nah, I've already got kids who'll look after me. You just live your own life..."

"A-Ah! Yes, sir!"

While the boss was still glowing with pride and encouraging her, an important fact suddenly struck him.

"Oh right—Marie, you don't have a terminal, do you?"

"U-Uh. No, sir..."

He hesitated only a moment before rising from his seat.

"I'll buy you one as a congratulations present. Let's go right now."

"I-I'm fine! I don't need anything like that!"

"You'll definitely need one once you enter the academy. How else are you going to keep in touch with the friends you make?"

"Th-That's..."

Marie considered whether she had anyone she could call a friend. The answer took less than a second. There was not a single person her own age she could truly call a peer.

Ch-Char...?

Charlotte flickered through her mind for an instant, then she erased the thought. A royal and a commoner as friends? If she ever said that out loud she would have no defense against being hanged for lese-majesty.

"I-I don't have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠any friends, so it's fine..."

"...No, you just make some after you get into the academy, right?"

"I-I'm not confident..."

"Then how about this. Once you're in the academy, if you save three or more friends' contacts, the terminal is my gift. If you have fewer than that—or none at all—you pay me back for it later. Deal?"

"Y-Yes? I-I really can't do that!"

"Then you'll just pay for the terminal yourself."

"E-Eek!"

At the terminal shop Marie tried to pick the cheapest model, but—

"You're seriously going to use a terminal that only old guys like the boss would buy? Marie, are you out of your mind?"

"U-Ueh?"

"I use the latest model myself, you know..."

"Forget this antique junk—give us one of these brand-new ones!"

"N-No! It's way too expensive!"

"I'm the one buying it, so why is that kid choosing...?"

Swept along by the young female employee's forceful insistence, Marie ended up with the latest model. The price was twenty silver.

"Haha, like your new terminal?"

"Th-That's half my monthly salary...!"

"So good it brings tears to your eyes?"

"Uweeeh—"

The debt of gratitude grew heavier, yet the terminal's performance was outstanding, as befit a brand-new model.

"Alright, look right here and tell me your name and age, will you?"

"U-Uh... My name is Marie, and I'm s-seventeen..."

The moment the female employee realized the truth she snatched the terminal away and forced Marie into a photo session. Only after a full hour was she finally released.

M-My photo album!

The album she had never once used was now packed with over a thousand pictures of Marie.

A few days after receiving her acceptance notice, a message arrived on Marie's terminal.

U-Uniform...?

She skipped the long-winded preamble that began with "As winter's cold air recedes and a new spring..." and boiled the message down to its core:

—The academy is standardizing its uniform brand, so have yours made only at the designated tailor shops.

Marie checked the list of shops attached to the message.

Th-They're insanely expensive!

Every establishment dealt exclusively in luxury goods whose minimum prices started in gold. All of them were located on streets a lower-class girl like Marie had never even set foot near. In short, they catered to nobles.

Sh-Should I borrow from the boss again...?

She immediately shook her head. He had already spent a fortune on her application fees, new clothes, and the terminal. She could not keep leaning on him.

W-What do I do...

Just as her imagination reached the nightmare of every other student arriving at the entrance ceremony in crisp uniforms while she alone stood there in street clothes, another message arrived.

The ominous title made her open it at once.

—Present the certificate below at a designated tailor shop and a uniform will be provided free of charge.

Th-Thank goodness...

Marie pressed a hand to her chest in relief and saved the attached certificate.

A few days later Marie took a personal day and set out for the tailor.

5th Avenue... it's so far...

The address alone belonged to a completely different class of street from the one where her lodging stood. The lower the number, the closer to the palace and the more expensive—if her usual scruffy self had set even one foot there she would have been beaten and driven out on the spot.

Fortunately the decent clothes the boss had bought her for the entrance exam kept that fate at bay.

I-Is this the place...?

Marie stopped in front of a marble building that glittered in the sunlight. The luxurious scenery made her stand frozen at the door for a long while, wondering whether she was even allowed inside.

Th-They wouldn't actually throw me out... would they?

She carefully pushed the door open. Bright dresses and every sort of ornament filled her vision.

I-I have to be careful nothing touches me...

She advanced with extreme caution, watching every single step.

"Here for a custom uniform?"

"Y-Yes!"

"Please wait over this way~"

An employee guided her to a seating area with plush-looking chairs.

A-Are these people new students too...?

Beside the seat she was shown to sat several girls her own age who appeared to have arrived earlier. The one immediately ahead of her looked ordinary, but the girl two places ahead was anything but ordinary from the first glance.

W-Wow, she's amazing...

A girl with brightly shining blue eyes was staring indifferently at her terminal. What stood out most was her hair—a gradient of white into blue that caught the eye at once.

I-It looks like soda flavor...

Had the blue-haired girl overheard that thought she might have smacked her, but luckily Marie kept it inside. Sensing the gaze, the soda girl looked up at Marie.

H-Hiiik!

The sharp eyes made her flinch hard; she dropped into her seat at once and buried her head so no one would pick a fight. Fortunately the soda girl took no further interest and returned to her terminal.

True to the "custom uniform" label, precise body measurements took a long time. While waiting, Marie studied so she would not fall behind once she entered the academy. She was so focused her face was nearly buried in the book when—

"Lora! Over here!"

The girl sitting next to Marie waved at someone who had just entered the shop. The newcomer came straight over.

"I saved you a seat—sit!"

"Hee~ Thanks!"

C-Cutting in line...

The newly arrived girl cut in as if Marie were invisible. Because she had been sitting a little apart, there was no need even to shove Marie aside.

So mean...

Marie could say nothing to the girls who were clearly nobles; she simply went back to her studying.

"Hey, you? Could you move over a little?"

Marie, mid-note, lifted her head at the voice right beside her. The girl who had cut in was glaring at her fiercely.

"Y-Yes!"

She tried to shift farther away.

Thud— clatter-clatter—

In her haste she knocked over her bag; every book and writing tool spilled across the floor. Marie hurriedly gathered the scattered items.

"Oh my, oh my—"

"Hey, you should be more careful."

The girls covered their mouths and looked down at her. Their words sounded concerned, yet their tone and expressions were pure mockery.

"I-I'm sorry for the disturbance..."

Not wanting to give nobles any excuse, Marie bowed quickly.

"Are you a commoner?"

"Carrying your own bags like that—yeah, definitely a commoner."

"Y-Yes... I'm a commoner."

One girl folded her arms and pointed a finger at Marie.

"A commoner apologizing to blue bloods is supposed to look like that?"

"Right~ Sitting there without any dignity was already bad enough. Completely ruined my mood."

"I-I'm sorry..."

Marie bowed even lower, terrified of offending them further.

"How does a commoner end up at a 5th Avenue tailor? Some nouveau riche?"

"N-No... I-It's because of Special Admission..."

The girl's face twisted even more.

"Haaah? If you're Special Admission you should go to the cheapest place like the freeloader you are. You dared come to 5th Avenue? You have zero shame, don't you?"

"Oh my, oh my—my expensive tuition money is being wasted on trash like this. How awful, really~"

"I-I'm sorry..."

She bowed until her back was nearly at a right angle and hastily grabbed her hat so it would not fall. The girl pounced on that too.

"Wearing a hat indoors~ As expected of an uncultured commoner."

"If you're going to apologize properly, take the hat off first."

"Th-This is... I-I mean..."

Marie fidgeted, hands shaking. The demand to remove her hat dragged up the memory of the students' reactions in the cafeteria on exam day.

If she showed her horns now—if they discovered she was a half-demon—the girls would humiliate her without mercy. She could do nothing; her eyes began to redden. Just then—

"I can't watch this any longer."

Someone stepped between Marie and the girls. When she raised her head, soda-colored hair fluttered right in front of her eyes.

"Wh-Who are you?"

"Why are you butting in?"

Sharp gazes locked onto the soda girl. The look would have made Marie shrink instantly, yet the soda girl did not tremble so much as a hair.

"Bullying a powerless commoner with absurd excuses—is this the capital's idea of noblesse oblige?"

"Unbelievable. Who do you think you are?"

Lora, the girl who had cut in line, took a step forward and pressed the soda girl.

"As a noble of the kingdom I cannot stand by and watch such tyranny."

"Oh please. Aren't you special."

"Kingdom bumpkins are always like that~ Just put up with it, Lora."

Even the others' attempts to restrain her failed; Lora kept pushing.

"My father is a member of the Imperial Diet and Count of Stein territory. Can you handle that?"

"...An Imperial noble, is it?"

"That's right. Proud blue blood of the Empire."

Lora squared her shoulders triumphantly. Even after hearing the Imperial title, the soda girl did not retreat an inch. Instead she sighed.

"Haa... So an Imperial noble is openly pressuring a citizen of the kingdom? Right in the middle of the capital?"

"So what are you going to do about it?"

At Lora's sneer the soda girl raised a hand into empty air.

Clack—

A scabbard dropped from nowhere.

A-A spatial scroll! That expensive thing!

Marie recognized the hand sign swordsmen used to draw a blade anywhere and was stunned. She had heard even nobles rarely used such costly magic circuits except in true emergencies, yet the soda girl employed it as if it were nothing.

"A s-sword?"

"You looking for a fight right now?"

Sensing the threat, the girls in front drew what looked like staves and faced off. The soda girl drove the tip of the scabbard into the floor and spoke in a low, cold voice.

"I, Luna Oriens, as an honorable noble of Gaia, challenge anyone who threatens a citizen of the kingdom to a duel. Do you accept?"

Luna prepared to draw her blade and asked the girls.

"Th-This is for real!"

"W-Wait, Lora!"

The moment Lora tried to charge in excitement, another girl held her back.

"What?"

"O-Oriens! The margrave family that borders the Empire!"

"The vampire hunters?"

"Th-That's right! Looking at that hair color—it's definitely them..."

"Hah..."

The girls whispered among themselves, put their staves away, and bowed to Luna.

"We're sorry... We got a little too excited and lost our reason..."

"Please forgive us..."

Luna seemed to ease her pressure at their apology—then:

"Not to me. Apologize to this person."

"H-Hweh?"

Without sheathing the scabbard she shoved Marie forward in front of the girls. Luna's firm strength sent her stumbling.

"Ugh..."

"Even so, to a commoner..."

Unlike when they faced Luna, the girls twisted their faces in open distaste.

"You don't want to? Then I'll take that as acceptance ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of my duel."

One quiet push of the scabbard forward made them bow at once.

"We're sorry for looking down on you just because you're a commoner!"

"I'm sorry too!"

"I-It's fine..."

S-Scary...

Fearing noble retaliation even inside the academy, Marie vaguely accepted the apology. The two girls fled the tailor shop in shame.

"Haa... The capital really isn't easy..."

Only then did Luna put the sword away and return to her seat. Marie followed and bowed.

"Th-Thank you..."

"Hm?"

"F-For saving me..."

The moment she heard the thanks, Luna's brow crooked.

"Haaah? I have no intention of receiving gratitude for something so natural."

"B-But still..."

"I didn't even do it for your sake, you know? I simply fulfilled my duty as a noble of the kingdom. Hurry back to your seat and finish the book you were reading."

"Y-Yes..."

Not wanting to provoke her further, Marie hurried back to her place. Once her pounding heart settled she turned her eyes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to the book again.

That was so terrifying... Will every day at the academy be like this...?

The incident made concentration impossible. The girls' words—"a Special Admission freeloader"—kept circling her mind.

She was a commoner who had entered through Special Admission, and a half-demon on top of that. How the other noble students would treat her was obvious without looking.

Charlotte, whom she had met on exam day, had simply been an odd personality who treated her kindly. The rest would be no different from the girls just now.

"Sniff..."

The endless dark imaginings made tears spill without her noticing.

"Don't tell me you're crying right now?"

"N-No!"

She hid her face behind the book and tried to sniff as quietly as possible, yet Luna—trained as a swordswoman—caught even that tiny sound.

"I heard it clearly, and you still say no?"

"I-I'm sorry... For causing trouble when I'm just a commoner—"

"Don't say strange things."

Despite the sharp tone, Luna held out her own handkerchief and quietly sat down beside Marie. Then she simply stayed there without a word until the leaking sobs subsided.

"Th-Thank you..."

Once the tears had mostly settled Marie returned the handkerchief.

"You said Special Admission, correct?"

"Hm? Y-Yes..."

"You must have studied hard."

"Th-That's right..."

"Then don't lose heart."

A strange pull in Luna's blue eyes kept Marie from looking away.

"Did you do something wrong? They're the ones holding improper thoughts. You aren't feeling guilty just because you entered on a full scholarship, are you?"

"Th-That's..."

"Haaah? You actually thought that? Honestly, between those Imperial nobles and our Oriens family, who do you think donates more to the academy?"

A foreign house versus the kingdom's own margrave family. No need to hesitate.

"Th-The Oriens family..."

"Exactly! So I should be the one speaking. Why are they taking their anger out on you?"

"I-I'm sorry..."

"Why are you apologizing? I never scolded you!"

"Y-Yes..."

"Anyway, don't get too discouraged. If you're reading a book even in a place like this... you must have studied truly hard to pass, right?"

Luna comforted her and took her hand. Warmth and a rough palm pressed against Marie's skin.

"L-Luna-nim, you must train hard too..."

"Of course! As the eldest daughter of House Oriens I have to bring honor to the family name!"

For a short while the two girls shared each other's warmth.

"I-It's not like I helped you because you reminded me of myself or anything!"

"Y-Yes..."

"A future talent of the kingdom was in trouble—as a noble I naturally had to protect her!"

"Y-You're so cool..."

Marie gazed at her with sparkling eyes. Luna seemed quite satisfied with that look; she clasped her hands behind her back and enjoyed the gaze for a while.

"You're a new student, right?"

"Y-Yes..."

"Since we've met like this, shall we exchange terminal numbers?"

"...!"

Marie was stunned by the completely unexpected offer.

A-Already exchanging numbers before the entrance ceremony even starts...!

The boss had spoken of friends' numbers, but the excited Marie did not recall that detail.

"S-Sure!"

"Type it into my terminal here. And give me yours too."

Tap— tap— tap—

While entering each other's numbers Luna naturally learned Marie's name as well.

"Marie? That's an uncommon name."

"I-Is it?"

"People don't usually put the character 'Ma' in names."

"I-I see..."

For a moment the horns hidden under her hat prickled at her awareness. If Luna ever learned of them, would she still treat her this kindly?

The question flickered, but she never found an answer—because Luna suddenly spoke again.

"Hee? You take nice photos."

"Hm?"

"This one here. It came out really pretty."

"A-Aaah!"

Before she knew it Luna was flipping through the pictures in Marie's album. Inside were the countless poses the female employee had forced her into a few days earlier.

"G-Give my terminal back!"

"All right."

Luna returned it more readily than expected.

"If it bothered you, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to look on purpose. A touch made it jump to the previous screen and this came up."

"I-It's fine..."

"Hmm...? You're not getting some strange misunderstanding, are you?"

"Y-Yes?"

"It's not like I looked because your photos were cute or anything, you know?"

"Y-Yes..."

Despite those words, until her own turn came Luna kept asking to see Marie's photo album again.

Fortunately Luna was not a domineering noble, so Marie's collection of dark history was not exposed any further.

While Marie was having her uniform measurements taken, raised voices filled the academy principal's office.

"Principal! You refuse to recognize the student who solved my problem as valedictorian?! What in the world does that mean?!"

Richard, head of the mathematics department, shouted at the man across from him.

"Department Head Richard... I never said I would not recognize her as valedictorian..."

"Did you not say you would not have her deliver the entrance ceremony oath?!"

"That is for the princess to do... Whenever royalty has enrolled we have always done it that way..."

At the academy entrance ceremony the top scorer of the entrance exam delivers the oath. It was a long-standing, time-honored tradition.

"That is only because most direct royals took the top spot. This case is different, is it not?!"

Richard could not help questioning the principal's attempt to break such an obvious custom.

"Even so, she is the princess His Majesty dotes on... If I entrust the oath to another student, what sort of looks do you think I will receive? Try to understand my position."

Richard let out a deep sigh. No matter how he looked at it, this was wrong. Never before—no matter how high the entrant's status—had the valedictorian's oath been forcibly taken and handed to someone else.

"Haa... Jerry, as a friend I will ask. Did you receive some order from above?"

"Haha, of course not. The academy principal's seat must be more impartial than any other."

"You and I both know that is not true."

"Richard..."

The principal rubbed his eyelids and sank into brief anguish. At last he spoke heavily.

"You know as well as I do... whose favor put me in this chair."

"That damned noble faction again! Please do not drag political fights into the academy!"

"In a place where every sort of noble blood gathers, do you think that is easy..."

Once he understood the principal's circumstances, Richard felt a sudden doubt.

"But what benefit does the noble faction gain by making the princess look like the valedictorian? That would only raise her reputation..."

"Haha... You see only one side and nothing beyond it."

"What do you mean?"

"That is why you are still only a department head."

"...Stop joking and just explain."

"It is simple. When the princess delivers the oath they will propagandize that she seized the top seat among outstanding talents and raised the kingdom's honor! Of course that information is false."

"I suppose so?"

"Then, once that propaganda has spread far enough, they quietly leak the true information that the princess actually stole the original valedictorian's place for the oath. What happens then?"

"A heavy blow to the royal family's honor..."

"That is what the noble faction is after."

"Haa... In a sacred place of learning, what is this nonsense."

"I feel the same. Will you understand this matter for me? I have been honest with you."

"Fine..."

"And stop putting anti-perfect-score problems on the entrance exam. Do you have any idea how many complaints pour in every new year because of them?"

"That may be difficult."

"Haa... That is why you are still only a department head—"

"You stop saying that too!"

"Haha, all right, all right. Feeling gloomy—how about a drink?"

The principal opened a cabinet and took out a bottle of whiskey.

"Is that proper inside the academy?"

"Work hours are over. I am the principal—who is going to complain?"

"Haha! That is also true. Let's have one!"

They poured whiskey into small glasses and clinked them.

"To retirement pay!"

"To that!"

They were about to down the contents when—

Bang—

The principal's office door flew open without any warning.

"Hurgh!"

"C-Carol, Department Head?!"

In the doorway stood the one person in the entire academy who could scold these two men.

She was the head of the Magic Department—the terrifying veteran who had already been department head back when the two of them were still students.

"Ugh... I smell alcohol. What are you two doing right now?"

"Th-This is...!"

"This guy suggested it first! Richard! After I tried so hard to stop you! You go and cause an accident after all!"

"You insane bastard! Who are you framing?!"

True to the man who had won his post through politics, the principal executed a flawless about-face.

"Haa... We will discuss this matter later. Right now there is something more urgent."

"Y-Yes, ma'am..."

"What matter brings you in such a hurry...?"

Slam—!

Department Head Carol strode up to the principal and slapped a paper down with a loud crack.

"Is what is written here true?"

On the desk lay a paper detailing exactly the conversation the two men had just been having.

"This is..."

"Department Head, a duke is involved in this..."

They chose their words carefully, trying to soothe the furious Carol, but—

"Haaah? What did you just say about the sacred academy? A duke? Educators of an academy that provides fair education under freedom and equality are dragging in impure political forces?"

"O-Of course not!"

Under Carol's rage Richard quietly tucked his tail and withdrew. Principal Jerry, however, did not back down.

"Department Head Carol, this matter was unavoidable! If the academy shrimp jumps into a fight between high nobles and the royal family—those whales—the outcome is obvious!"

"So you accepted it because you had no choice?"

"...That is correct."

"Haa..."

Carol cooled her anger and perched on a chair. From her pocket she drew a long stick and lit it.

"Department Head! Smoking on campus is prohibited!"

"It's a magic herb, you know? It's good for the body, so don't complain."

"...Magic herbs are also banned because they set a bad example for the students!"

"There are no students here, are there?"

"..."

With too many faults of their own, the two men could raise no further objection.

"Huu..."

After drawing the magic herb down to the end, Carol spoke quietly.

"One thousand two hundred fifty."

"W-What does that mean?"

"The number of circuits the top student drew in three hours this time."

"Hoh... If the accuracy is perfect she will become a future talent of the kingdom."

"Three-layer phase separation."

"D-Don't tell me... a student-level examinee performed phase separation?"

"Well, that much is not even surprising."

"W-What else is there..."

"She drew an integrated circuit."

"Th-That is one of the kingdom's strategic technologies, is it not...?"

"Well, she is not quite at that level yet, but if we give her a better environment and tools she will manage it easily."

The principal swept what little hair he had left toward his face and murmured.

"A genius. At that age I was still struggling just to attempt two-layer phase separation once..."

Richard likewise stared into empty air and offered his own impression.

"If she simply continues to grow, the realm of archmage is already in the bag..."

"Ha, that is only natural."

Carol snorted and glared at the two of them.

"If this student learns of the academy's filthy political fights and loses all affection for the kingdom, can the two of you take responsibility?"

"Th-That is..."

"Aaah—I hear a direct imperial of the Empire is enrolling this year too. Looks like we will lose another talent~"

"..."

"Aaah—and a direct of the Magic Kingdom that only uses elemental magic is enrolling too~"

"..."

"Aaah—and the Sword Saint's son as well..."

"P-Please stop! I understand!"

Unable to endure Carol's relentless pressure, the principal finally shouted.

"Good. You still retain the excellent comprehension you had as a student."

"I will have the top student deliver the speech..."

"W-Wait, Jerry! Are you out of your mind?! If you reverse a matter already accepted, what kind of retaliation will you face!"

Richard fretted for the principal, yet Jerry only looked back at him with the eyes of a man who had already given up.

"Richard... the next principal will be you..."

"No! Jerryyyy!"

The two men clung to each other in an unsightly display. It was, if nothing else, a sight worthy of forty years of friendship.

Carol, unable to watch any longer, forcibly pulled them apart.

"Gentlemen. Sorry to interrupt your quality time, but the principal need not resign."

"What do you mean?"

"This—this was sent by that so-called head of the noble faction, correct?"

Carol narrowed her eyes and glared at the paper on the desk.

"Y-Yes..."

The principal answered while feeling a creeping sense of dread.

"Haa... I taught that bastard's grandfather too... and he pulls a prank like this?"

"Department Head Carol...?"

"I will handle it myself, so the two of you just stay put and stop fretting."

Carol gathered the paper again, waved it about, and strode out the door.

"..."

"..."

"Sh-Shall we have another drink?"

"Let's do that..."

The two men decided to wipe today's events clean from their memories. Getting caught between a duke and an old-monster archmage would bring nothing good. It was a wise judgment from men who had survived forty years inside the academy.