Classes and Daily Life (1)

"…That's all."

A fierce storm had raged through, and several hours later, the long-awaited morning at Arsen Academy finally dawned. But on the first day of official classes, wails erupted from classrooms everywhere.

It seemed many cadets had hoped the massive incident from last night might delay classes, but unfortunately, they decided to proceed as normal.

What can you do? That's how it goes in the original story too. Even after the ghost uproar left cadets injured left and right, classes went on. They couldn't push back the first day on a whim—that was the setup. The academy had no choice. With sponsors from all over the continent footing the bill, skipping classes while pocketing tuition would stir up complaints. As the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠top of the three great academies, they had to watch their step.

…Of course, that's just something I know because I've read the original.

"Yes. As your guiding professor, let me say it again."

Amid the despairing groans echoing everywhere, the podium remained serene. A female professor with dark circles under her eyes stood primly. Isabella Gaston, now our classroom's guiding professor, smiled calmly despite the complaints and firmly announced the academy's decision.

"The first class will proceed as scheduled. No questions on this."

"……."

"Ah……."

The cadets eventually gave up and submitted to her ironclad resolve.

"This first class is an orientation covering our educational direction and curriculum moving forward, as well as the essential academy rules every Arsen cadet must know."

Isabella pointed to the blackboard. Right on cue, the beam projector spat out a wall of densely packed text.

My breath caught the moment I saw it. Sadly, I'm not one for walls of text.

"Absent cadets will receive separate notices. From now on, you can use all functions on your locked watches, and we'll cover that too."

Beep!

Watches buzzed in unison—not just mine, but everyone's in the classroom. The screens showed a message from Arsen.

Isabella adjusted her glasses as we waited.

"Also, for those absent and to foster camaraderie this semester, we'll be implementing 'Ignatos Persio.'"

"Pardon?"

"What, what'd she say?"

Blank gasps rippled through the room. Some looked outright baffled, like they'd never heard the term. One of them was twisting a strand of her familiar pink hair around her finger—Iri de Sugamond, assigned to the same classroom as me.

The anxious Iri shot her hand up.

"Um, teacher! I've never heard that term…… What is it?"

"It's ancient fairy tongue for 'secret friend.'"

She sketched a simple diagram on the board: an A-B-C triangle where A helps B, B helps C, and C helps A.

"You'll be divided into 'Peltus'—those who help—and 'Leto'—those who receive. Each will aid a specific cadet. All participants get special service points."

Isabella tapped the diagram. Three glowing lines settled into it, flowing like water around the triangle's edges—a perfect cycle of mutual support. If it worked right, it could breathe fresh life back into the chaos-stricken dorms.

Of course, that's the optimistic view. In reality, it won't go that smoothly. If the world ran as neatly as a diagram, we wouldn't need laws split into hundreds or thousands of clauses in the first place.

These things always have side effects. Human ingenuity is a wonder—it cooks up unexpected misdeeds every time. That's why there's another rule.

"However, the Peltus must keep their identity secret until the end of the semester. If caught, you lose the special points. But if a Leto figures out their Peltus, they get bonus points instead."

A simple mini-game with perks either way. I've played both roles in the original—enough to get sick ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of it. It's basically the real-world 'manito' gamified. With some cadets hospitalized from the dorm fiasco, classes still have to go on, so absentees miss out. Arsen's dangling service points to get cadets helping each other.

Feels like a band-aid fix, but what can you do? Resources are limited.

"Special service points will be tallied based on your actions and results over the semester."

That's what Guiding Professor Isabella said, but honestly, the points aren't game-changing on their own. Maybe +1 or +2 at best, like store credit. In the original, it was skippable unless you were gunning for 100% completion.

Still, most cadets here will probably take it seriously. It's for bonding and recovery—who wants to be the only one missing out when everyone else gets points? Human psychology: when others run, you run too.

Doesn't apply to me, though. I've done it to death in the original, so whatever. No need to bother; I can make up the points elsewhere easily.

Of course, others will think the same—screw the hassle, skip it. For them, Arsen prepared another carrot.

"Significant results or positive impacts grant priority entry to academy events."

The triangle slid aside on the board, replaced by a new image. Felt like copy-paste in real life. Fantasy lets you shrug it off on a screen, but seeing it live? Pretty cool.

"Like Hunter Association raids, magic tower tours, seminars, presentations, priority lottery for magic research clubs, and more."

No wonder Arsen tops the three great academies.

"Peltus and Leto are randomly assigned, but if you want in specifically, submit a request."

"Ah, then obviously I'll join…… Whoops?!"

Iri popped up from her seat, flashing an awkward smile as she sat back down. As expected, she'll join like in the original. Kyle Ivanstair and Serin Anette probably too. Iri's from a notable noble house, constantly compared to her sister at Yoahim Academy. She's hustling for good grades amid succession drama.

…Wait, no.

Before that, I recall the Sugamond name on the hit list. Not Iri, but someone. No plans to join manito, but I'll keep an eye on her. If Esperand pokes Sugamond, my academy life gets messy. Better tip off the family early.

"That concludes our first class. Good work."

Claps rang out as Professor Isabella exited—the homeroom teacher we'd have for the next year. I felt kinda bad for her. Chronic fatigue already, and those dark circles are beyond concealer. They'll only worsen, thanks to the kids grinning and chattering in front of me right now.

"Whoa, she was kinda scary…… Kyle, what'd you think?"

"Professor Isabella Gaston?"

"Saw those dark circles? Bet you could sleep through class and she wouldn't notice."

"Yeah, saw 'em. Definitely."

Kyle must've unlocked some Affinity trait—he was already on first-name terms with the cadets around him. How does he befriend people that fast? His sunny personality helps. He'll probably handle manito fine, like in the original: doing tasks, catching professors' eyes for event invites, bumping into Rebecca von Anastasia Grander every time for endless headaches. A semester of vicious and virtuous cycles. Fun, probably—I was hooked early on too.

Still, no time to waste on it. Better knock out a forum mission instead. Points are points.

Ding!

My watch chimed. At this point, it'd be Kyle or Serin Anette, but doubtful. Suppressing a bad vibe, I checked.

I was gonna watch Iri till her talents awakened anyway, manito or not. Figures it'd line up like this. Bad hunches always hit the mark. Still, she's no hassle—my Leto is Iri de Sugamond, the comrade we survived with last night. She'd never suspect me as her Peltus. Smart enough, but blind to this stuff.

Huh.

Wasn't joining, but free points dropped in my lap anyway.

***

Short break after first class. I walked the hall with Iri—next was mobility class, and we shared combat track, so paths overlapped.

"…Lara Steelhiden?"

"Yes…… The one from the entrance exam."

"What's awkward about it? Just chat her up. You were great at that before."

"But approaching first might blow my cover right away."

Iri was hung up on the entrance exam. My request—order?—had her charge in swinging. Even in battle royale, that'd leave a bad taste.

To me, it was whatever. Friendly spars and duels would be constant; obsessing over trivia just tires you out.

"Um, I need those special points."

Unlike me, Iri was dead serious. Fair enough—her emotions show on her face, so clumsy approaches scream guilty. Plus, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her Leto was Lara Steelhiden: Iri pulls in, Lara pushes away. Worst matchup.

"Hey, Iri."

"Yeah?"

But she overlooked one key thing.

"What if I tell Lara?"

"Th……."

Tossed it lightly, but Iri froze like I'd doused her.

"You won't, right?"

"Relax, relax."

Her overreactions are a bit much. We reached the classroom door. Not thrilled with the nameplate.