The Trash-Tier Generation (2)

In Lumeris Academy, strength is the only hierarchy that matters. Unless you have an overwhelming background—like being royalty or the scion of a ducal house—you are liable to be looked down upon simply for being weak. In that regard, Yuren Stardust has become a celebrity. He is the top student of the Fencing Department and holds the formidable status of being the eldest son of a Duke. He is a man who fits the description of a handsome youth, more beautiful than any woman. In the past, people used to cite his "kindness" as another one of his merits. It was that "he’s indecisive and lacks common sense, but he’s a good kid" kind of vibe. I don’t think that at all anymore.

"Look over here! Please, just once!"

"Kyaaak, oh my god! It’s my first time seeing him in person!"

The banquet hall, now that Dean Celes and the professors have stepped out. Lumeris Academy encourages social interaction among its students. That is why every year, they wrap up the entrance ceremony as quickly as possible and use the remaining time to nudge the students toward mingling. The professors have all exited, leaving only the freshmen in the banquet hall. Some students welcome this system, while others do not. There are those who are highly sociable and active, but there are also those who prefer quiet and are timid.

Like Yuren Stardust, who is receiving praise from countless students over there, those with high status or exceptional skill naturally draw crowds. It was a perfectly natural phenomenon.

"Saintess! It is truly an honor to meet you!"

"Do you remember me? I’m Rim from the Shailin Viscounty. Thank you so much for curing my illness three years ago."

Shirai was no exception. She was even more popular ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than Judith, who was in the same position. There are two ducal houses in the world, and if you just count heads, there are over ten people with ducal status. But there is only one Saintess. Since the value of her scarcity is on a different level, it was only natural that there were more people around Shirai.

'You’re as consistent as ever.'

It’s the same then as it is now. Being a background character with no presence. What would people think if they saw me standing here alone like a beanpole in the center of the banquet hall? Well, they aren't interested in me to begin with. I am not the protagonist of this world.

"Yuren, you look like you’re having a blast tucked away among the girls, don’t you?"

"S-sorry. I was just standing there, but the crowd swarmed in an instant..."

They really do look like protagonists from a romantic comedy manga. Yuren and Judith. I heard the rumor that they recently got engaged. It’s just a rumor, not a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠confirmed fact, though.

"..."

During the month since I turned back time, I’ve thought about a lot of things. Did I tear up the Regression Book for nothing? Could I have worked things out with words? But seeing the two of them so happy, I have no choice but to acknowledge it. That I was a hopeless spoiler. They are a pair that fits together without a shadow of a doubt. To the point where I think this was how it was supposed to be all along. Judith is happier now than she ever was with me.

Looking back, the Stardust and Moondust families have maintained a close relationship for a long time. The reason the Judith route was the easiest in the game was because they were childhood friends. 'As long as you’re happy, that’s enough.' It was worth tearing up the Regression Book. Live well and prosper, my favorite heroine.

I pulled the student ID out of my pocket and fell into deep thought. An academy of meritocracy that engraves your class rank right in front of your name. In my case, [Class C] is plastered on it in big, bold letters. Sia Stella is in Class C? She’s the girl who revives at the place where she last slept when she dies. If I set up a water prison at her respawn point, she’d just drown repeatedly? Her respawn location changes automatically even if she isn’t conscious of it. Sia Stella, who has such a cheat ability, is in Class C?

I can understand Shirai, since she’s blind. Has Dean Celes become this much of a pushover? Muse is nowhere to be seen, as if she skipped the entrance ceremony, and Sia disappeared somewhere the moment the ceremony ended. The social gathering is still in progress. There’s no rule against leaving the banquet hall once the entrance ceremony is over, so it’s not a problem. Probably.

Rather than being trapped in the orientation amidst that swarming crowd, it’s much more profitable to wander around near the fountain like this and enjoy the natural air.

"They say there are only two people in Class A among the new freshmen."

"How lacking in talent must they be to have only two? There are three in the second year, aren't there?"

"The future of the academy is dark. Very dark."

"Heh. We’ve got something to tease the first years about."

"What did they do wrong to deserve being teased?"

"I don’t like how they look. There are too many handsome bastards."

"Didn't they call it the golden generation when the first-year list was released?"

"They had reason to. Duke Yuren, Lady Judith, Saintess Shirai, the owner of the Frey Merchant Guild, and even that genius mage. It’s insane that all those amazing bastards are the same age."

"But why are there only two in Class A?"

"They saw them in person and realized the truth, that’s what. How many times have we seen these losers' skills get exposed?"

Has the rumor spread already? It’s certainly fast. My head is spinning from this unexpected change. Only two in Class A? How lacking in talent must they be? I can understand why they’d think, "The first years are total trash." The Class A of the first year, which was originally five people, is now only two. I don’t think this change will affect the scenario. Celes already knows that Sia is a student of Class A caliber. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have let a delinquent student who didn't even apologize for being late, but instead spoke to her informally, get away with it. It’s clear she let the mistake slide because she thinks Sia Stella is a talent she shouldn't miss.

The same goes for Shirai and Muse. The students might think they’re all hype, but Dean Celes knows their true value. The fact that Shirai and Muse were in Class A in the previous timeline is proof of that. Shirai confessed it a long ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time ago, anyway. She said she was originally in Class A but came to Class C on purpose. Furthermore, the top of the first-year Fencing Department, Yuren Stardust, and the top of the first-year Magic Department, Erpin von Herta, are still going strong. Therefore, there is zero possibility that the first year’s standing will diminish. Unless Dean Celes has developed dementia, there is no possibility that the flow of the scenario will change because of this. Dean Celes still thinks this year’s first years are the golden generation. So, there’s no need to think too deeply about it.

The reason for the change in the Class A that used to have five people? With no evidence, only one possibility comes to mind.

"Hey!"

"?"

Cat-like lips and fangs that some might find annoying and others might find cute. Both hands hidden behind her back, as if the girls of this age were acting shy. Contrary to her neat bangs, she had braids, also known as twists, resting neatly on both shoulders. Does that count as twin-tails? A playful, tomboyish impression, snow-white skin, and golden hair that is vivid compared to my own light blonde hair. Sky-blue eyes that radiate madness. She isn't a heroine, but she is quite a beauty.

"You're a first year, right?"

With a bright expression, she showed her fangs and said, "I heard you guys are the lowest-level grade in history? Amazing."

It’s Nipia Solaris, the 3rd Princess.

"You’re a freshman, so why aren’t you enjoying the social gathering?"

Nipia, who was saying such things, was already sneering. Covering her mouth with her left hand. Even spreading her fingers to make sure her laughing expression was visible. Every single one of those actions was meant to provoke me further.

"Don't tell me you came out because you don't have any friends to hang out with? You don't have a face that looks like you'd be a drifter anywhere."

"You are too kind."

Calmness is important when dealing with Princess Nipia. Answers should always be short. The moment your tongue gets long, you can become a target of Princess Nipia’s malice.

"Honestly, don't you think you freshmen are trash, too? I won't tell anyone, so tell me honestly."

Princess Nipia, who links her arm with mine, pretending to be close. This is the most dangerous moment.

"I won't tell your classmates, okay? We’re making a secret that only we know. Isn't it romantic, like something out of a manga?"

The sweet scent of a girl this age pricking at the tip of my nose as soon as she gets close. The cleavage subtly visible between the unbuttoned shirt. This is how she closes the distance to lower the guard of male students, inducing them to let their guard down and treat her as an equal.

"Call me Nipia-sunbae. Let's be friendly."

It’s Princess Nipia’s low-class, bad hobby.

"It’s fascinating."

"Hmm?"

"That there isn't a single person who looks flustered even though Princess Nipia is hitting on a commoner like me, when there are so many people around."

Just because Princess Nipia approaches you in a friendly manner doesn't mean you should forget the overwhelming difference in status. If I really called the noble 3rd Princess of the Empire "sunbae"? The eyes of every student here would become witnesses to turn the rest of my academy life into hell.

"Hmph~."

The right hand she had been hiding behind her back since she started talking to me. I was already worried about it, but she finally brings it out to the front.

"Ta-da!"

What she was holding in her right hand was a recording device that was currently running.

"Where did a slippery snake like you crawl in from?"

"You are too kind."

"How is being called a slippery snake a compliment?"

"What greater honor could there be than for Princess Nipia to pass judgment on a commoner like me? No matter what you compare me to, it is nothing but a reward."

Princess Nipia’s weakness. Natural flattery.

"..."

Nipia’s exploration continues after the silence. Nipia’s gaze slowly scans me from head to toe. Just as a strange air was flowing and the atmosphere was about to turn cold, Princess Nipia’s cherry-colored lips opened.

"I’ve started to want to make you submit."

...?

For a moment, I wondered if I had heard her wrong.

"Kneel here and say, 'I am Princess Nipia’s dog.'"

She wants me to suddenly become a beast? In front of all these people?

"..."

I tried to maintain my composure, but the fact that Princess Nipia looks like a jerk is not something I can control with my will.

"Why would I do that?"

I ran my hand through my hair, but I ended up running it back up again. Because Princess Nipia’s follow-up answer crossed the line.

"If our junior shows off his pride here, his classmates are going to have a really hard time later, you know?"

I understood what she meant. In an academy of meritocracy, there are only two people in Class A. It sounds like she’s saying she’ll use this to narrow the standing of the first years...

'Will that even work?'

Look at the first-year lineup. You guys might be ignoring them, calling them all hype, but they are literally beings of a different caliber. "I refuse." I spat out that short sentence, passed by Nipia, and moved directly to the banquet hall next to the main building. So what if she’s a princess? Yuren Stardust, the Duke, is still going strong as the top student of the Fencing Department. The same goes for Erpin von Herta, who is called a genius mage. It is impossible for Princess Nipia, who has few supporters, to narrow the standing of the first years, even if she dies and comes back to life. Or so I thought.

I was severely mistaken. My stupidity had crossed the line. Yuren Stardust and Erpin von Herta. My expectation that the two of them alone would be enough to withstand Nipia’s pressure was not wrong at all. There was just a mistake in the process. The Erpin von Herta runaway incident. That day, the incident caused by Erta’s runaway becomes the reason I truly despise Yuren Stardust.