Special Class Secrets: Esta's Imperial Call
A short while later, in one of the rooms of the Old School Building.
Creak.
The woman who entered after opening the firmly shut door, the White Sword Saint Esta, took off her coat and sat down at the desk.
Click.
She picked up the palm-sized, wide object attached to her belt and placed it on the table like a magic crystal orb.
Whirr.
As Esta channeled mana into it, the rectangular device absorbed the mana and began to sparkle with a magical glow.
Magic Communicator. A remote communication device successfully developed about three years ago by magic engineers funded by the Silverstar Merchant Group.
Esta gripped the magic communicator with both hands and familiarly pressed the button at the bottom. Soon, light began to flow from the signal antenna extended from the device.
Beep beep beep.
Along with a sound like it was sending some kind of signal.
"Did your trip go well?"
"Really?"
Esta replied in a pleased voice.
"I was worried the Emperor might storm the academy if things went wrong."
"........."
"...Ahem."
"No thanks, Your Majesty. I'll end the call now."
Esta clicked her tongue briefly.
"...I'm just reporting on academy business. I can't trouble the Emperor of the Empire with it."
"...Sigh. It's a report on the two special admits."
An intrigued "Oho" came from the other end of the communicator, but Esta let out a short sigh and continued.
"The female student seems fine, no major concerns. According to the academy student affairs intel division's investigation, she's likely a descendant of the Ash Witch."
The Emperor's voice started to liven up.
"Personally, I think she'll be around S-rank by graduation."
"...Her breasts are bigger than mine."
The Emperor fell silent for a moment, and the sound of Ederson clearing his throat came through the communicator.
"The problem is the male student."
Ederson's voice turned serious.
"So he's not a mercenary?"
"No idea at all."
Esta drummed her fingers on the table and fell silent.
"The only thing I can tell is... he has solid confidence in his own skills, and he seems convinced he can overcome any crisis that comes."
"It didn't feel like simple arrogance."
"He knows about mana drain, yet he's sleeping in the same room as the female student who went to his room."
Ederson's voice hardened.
"No. If he had, I would've barged in and told him to cut it out."
"To cut to the chase, the female student went into his room out of worry that he might get mana drained. And he knew that and let her in."
Ederson groaned.
"What are you saying..."
Esta squeezed her eyes shut at the Emperor's words.
"Your Majesty. If you rode a unicorn..."
"........."
Esta suppressed the something rising inside her with effort.
"...Understood. Anyway, no issues to worry about right now. I'll report on the special admits' activities as they arrive at the Old School Building one by one."
"...Yes."
Esta replied flatly and reached for the magic communicator.
"...She already passed the regular exam, so no need to specially transfer her."
"She won't mind much. Plus, even though it's special admission, this is a 'special purpose class'..."
Esta glanced at the photo on her desk, one taken with her and two other girls.
"Top-performing current students have a chance to transfer in too, so if she wants, she'll aim for top grades to join the special class."
In the photo, two blonde girls flanked Esta in the center, arms linked with hers, flashing V-signs with their hands. They looked somewhat like sisters. Esta smiled faintly at the sight.
"The special class isn't called 'special' for nothing."
Morning.
"You up?"
"...Did I fall asleep?"
"Yeah."
Unia sat up in my bed, avoiding my gaze.
"Uh, um..."
"You must've been exhausted. You crashed right after lying down, barely any chat."
"That's..."
Unia turned her eyes to me. She seemed to have something she wanted to say, but I winked lightly and pointed outside.
"Wanna grab breakfast first? Time's about right."
"Time?"
"Breakfast starts every morning at 7."
"Ah."
Unia hopped out of bed and extended her hand toward herself, channeling mana.
Shaa—
Clean spell. Her hair tidied up in an instant.
Magic sure is convenient for stuff like this.
Women take forever washing hair, doing skincare, getting ready. All that solved with one quick spell—that's why anyone who can use magic masters the basics.
Of course, it doesn't give the mental satisfaction of a real wash, and it costs a fair bit of mana, but if it saves time, some folks maintain hygiene with mana daily.
"Let's go. Uh, where to?"
"Follow me."
I headed out with Unia. Being morning, not much staff movement inside the Old School Building. I walked the hall straight to the cafeteria.
"You knew the way?"
"Felt like the academy dorm layout."
Heading down the stairs to the first floor, the savory smell of bread hit my nose.
Actually, the dorms mimic the Old School Building's structure.
They could've changed the style, but the basics are the same. First floor: cafeteria and lounge. Second: boys' rooms. Third: girls' rooms. Fourth: instructors' offices.
The dorms in the academy are just that residential section spun off into separate buildings. Difference is this Old School Building connects residence and lecture halls in one structure.
Not a huge diff.
If the Old School Building feels like a high school with dorms on campus, the academy buildings are more like a big university campus.
It is basically high school.
Students aged 17 to 19. Over 500 years, entry age rose, adults attend now, but originally run like a boarding high school.
A place to film academy teen romance dramas, then push grads straight into heir-making training. All to mass-produce talent able to beat the demons that might rise from deep underground someday.
That's why.
"Um, over there."
Like the cafeteria here and most places.
"...Aren't the tables too close?"
"Yeah."
Unless they modernize the interior, everywhere in this Old School Building is primed for romance to bloom between guys and girls.
"Sit separately?"
"No. Together... with you."
I took a seat first, and Unia sat opposite me.
"...Mm."
Tucking legs in, our toes brushed lightly. Table blocks side views too.
Even if someone stretches a foot to tease, hard to notice without staring.
"...So."
"Buffet style. Like hotel breakfast."
Food laid out free-serve, and no one else here now.
"...How'd this happen?"
"After we eat, staff start at 8."
"Ah, got it. I thought it was waste..."
Unia fidgeted her fingers, looking at me.
"So... just us two again?"
"Don't mind if I do."
"........."
Next to me.
"Instructor... Esta?"
"Morning."
Instructor Esta ripped the table stuck to the floor with brute force and shoved it next to ours.
"Good morning, you two."
She plopped a chair down beside me and sat.
"What's up?"
"...Nothing."
Unia flashed Esta a bright smile. The saintly, people-pleasing kind.
"........."
The cafeteria air felt a tad chillier, somehow.
Remember this, you.
When you're flirting with women separately and get caught dating both, it's two-timing.
But in the demon world, we made plans.
If you're upfront about building a harem from the start—like a total madman—it's a different story.
"This feels straight-up harem vibes."
"...What?"
"Huh?"
"Ah, perfect."
You're becoming a harem-crazed lunatic right from enrollment.
Out in the open.
"Breakfast with beauties like this first thing—feels like wishes coming true already. Right? Why the face, Instructor? What's with you?"
Unia stared at me like I'd lost it, and Esta flushed slightly, coughing awkwardly.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"...Sigh, no."
Unia sighed deeply, stood up, already looking enlightened.
"Let's just eat."