A lavish feast was lined up in the dormitory cafeteria to celebrate the new students.
　Of course, there was a good selection of drinks as well.

''Well, it's not a bad meal, is it?''
'By Neusch's standards, it would be.

Even if it's a feast for me, that's probably how I'd feel about it from the Dukes of Geffis.
　The party seemed to have already started ahead of time and the place was in full swing.
　Just by looking at the movements, you can roughly understand the rank of the house.

Someone who is engrossed in their first feast.
　Those who are pressurized and small in the corner.
　The one who actively interacts with others to form a network of contacts while they are still in the moment.

Many are rushing to the brave man's side. A neutral, tiny epona, who may or may not be a man or a woman, appears smaller.
　Before the entrance exam, I was reserved in many ways, and if I had jumped into that crowd, my first impression of the brave Epona would have been the rest of the crowd.

But now there's a sign that says I'm the head of the pack.
　In fact, as I approached, the crowd cracked open.
　........I kept observing Epona. Throughout the exam.
　That's why I know how to deal with Epona.
　So, let's make first contact.

"My name is Lugues Touahade, a new classmate of mine. It's a pleasure to meet you.

Then he holds out his hand.

"Doc, hi. I'm not... I'm Epona. Epona Rhiannon. It's nice to meet you.

Epona squeezes her hand.
　Her skin is thick and hard. But it's not as stiff from handling swords on a daily basis, as is common for those born into a prestigious family of warriors.
　This is due to farming. The muscle tone is also that of a peasant, who has done nothing but farm, and appears to have no experience in the martial arts.
　It seems to be true that Epona was born without magical powers and was treated as a failure and was seen as nothing more than a laborer.
　It's probably because Epona is like that that she's confused by suddenly getting the power of a brave person.

''We've become schoolmates. Let's help each other out.''
Ugh, yeah, but there's nothing I can do.
No need for modesty. Epona has a good way of moving her body. I'd like to take a look at that.
Oh, yeah. So you have to teach me how to study. I don't know anything about the test.
Yeah, I think I can help you with that one.

He smiles and talks to her and gets the conversation going.

I don't dare to use respectful language even though I'm dealing with a brave man.
　That's because I know Epona doesn't want that.
　Epona used to be oppressed and constantly looked down upon by those around her. And as soon as she became brave, she is now being lifted up.

Now and then, she is still lonely and hungry for the warmth of others.
　That's why he was lonely even when he was surrounded by so many people.
　What Epona wants is an equal, a person who will see herself without the colored glasses.

Very straightforward. So you can attack her along those lines.
　He doesn't treat her as a brave person, as Epona wants him to, but only acts as a schoolmate with the same perspective.
　As expected, we can't suddenly become friends, but we've made a good first impression.

In fact, since a while ago, all we've been doing is catching up on our conversations is me throwing the ball and Epona throwing it back, but now she's starting to throw the ball from the other side.

It's time to pull away.
　The trick to first contact is to pull away when you're at a stage where you're feeling a little left out and want to talk some more.
　Just then, one of the instructors came over to talk to me.
　It's time for me to address the new students on behalf of the new students.

'Sorry, Epona. I think I've been summoned.
No, it can't be helped. You're top of the class. You're a baronet, just like me, and yet...

Somewhere, Epona looks at me with envious eyes. I'm surprised that a brave man can look at me like this.

'I can't say that birth has nothing to do with it, but it's not everything. Besides, I got lucky this time. I'm going to do my best not to get bogged down by this greeting.
'Rouges are awesome. They look great, they look great, they look great. And a rogue is not going to break.

The last word, a whisper, a very small whisper, I would have missed it if it weren't for my ears.
'Looks unbreakable'. What on earth does that mean?

◇

As he and Neusch move to the most prominent position in the dormitory cafeteria, the attention of all the new students is drawn to them.
　First, Noish opens his mouth.

'I don't want to talk too long, so I'll tell you what I want to tell you the most. I want to compete with everyone here. Otherwise, there is no point in being here. I came to the school to compete and grow. In order for me to grow, I want everyone to catch up to me and threaten me for the top spot!　Together we will be strong. That's all.

Everyone was speechless at his too masculine words, and then the applause exploded.
　That's cool.
　It makes it a little harder to do.

Neusch looks at me like he's playing a trick on me.
　Did this guy do that on purpose?

But he didn't say those words just to liven up the place, he meant them. I know that, so I can't have bad feelings about it.
　Let's change my mind. Now it's my turn.
　There's a slight pause and then I start talking.

"We're here, away from our respective fiefdoms. Honestly, two years is a long time. I think many of us would rather spend those two years developing our realms than learning here.

A few of them let out a laugh at my words.

'Nevertheless, I answered the call as one loyal to the Kingdom of Arvan. If you don't make your two years here a detour, I swear that you will surely gain much from these two years. And I hope everyone else does too. Because this country needs us to grow up for it to prosper. Let's work together so that two years from now, we can say we're happy to be here.

Dia and Tart clapped first, loudly, and then the applause spread up the chain.
　I said some pretty stinky things, but that's about as good as it gets for this occasion.
　The instructor sends his closing remarks and me and Neusch go back.
　Then Dia and Tart came to me.

'Lug, that was pretty cool.
'Yes, I felt like The Chief!　Too bad there's no magic to save sound.
Thank you. You're a little embarrassed.
'And since Master Rouges doesn't seem to be eating anything at all, I've made sure he has his favourite food!　Go ahead.

Tart hands me a plate of beautifully arranged food.
　She's right, the choice of food and the amount of food is to my liking.

'Thanks for the help. We don't have a good selection of food anymore. As expected of a grown man, everyone eats well.

I'm grateful that I just gave up on dinner today.

'Hey, are you done working today?'
Yeah, we've made contact with Epona. Besides, they'll be looking for us as soon as we stop talking to them. They'll come to us when there's a break in the conversation.

As I say this, I look around.
　Quickly, one of them is walking towards us.
　Then I see Noish talking to Epona.

He's engaging with Epona in a different way than I am.
　He's sloppy.
　The higher ranking nobles need more skill in dealing with people than they do in their own excellence, and they receive a specialized education from an early age.
　He would have no trouble with this.
　However, one thing that bothers me is that Noish treats Epona as a woman. Even though she's supposed to be a man on the family register.
　........I'll have to look into this again. Since he's only a duke, he might have information on a brave man who knows more than me.

That said, I have to deal with the students who are coming our way.

'Dear, Tart. It's ostensibly irrelevant to their respective identities here. But.....
I know that. I know it's just a formality.
I will do my best not to embarrass Master Lugue.

You just need to know that much.
　Here comes a man who was born into a prestigious family of knights and ripped off the S class.
　He's a man I'd like to get to know well.

◇

After the welcome party was over, they were shown to their respective dorms.

''It's strange that there are only a hundred of us and yet there are three dorms.
It would have been a lot less work to have one.

They looked at each other curiously.

'There's a point in separating them. Well, you'll know it when you see it.

There are only S-ranked students and their servants in this group.
　Tart's eyes widen when he sees the dormitory he has finally arrived at.

''This isn't a dormitory, it's a mansion, isn't it?''
I told you. Each class treats you very differently. It's not just the classes. It's not just the classes, it's the living environment.

Once inside the dormitory, we are shown to our respective rooms.
　Dia and I part ways and go into the room that me and Tart have been assigned to.
　We have the living room, kitchen, and three other rooms at our disposal.
　The furniture and furnishings are first class. If you ask for more furniture, they can add it to your home.
　In addition, if you ask them to do your cleaning and laundry for you, they've done everything for you.
　The room layout is clearly too large for a student to live in, with three bedrooms.

"So this is my room, Mr. Lugue and I.
'If I use the servant quota, I'll have to let the servants use one of the rooms. Sorry about that.
Well, Mr. Lugues, I'm a bit of a bloke, but it's nice to meet you. I don't know what to do, I'm just nervous about sharing a room with Mr. Lugue, I've lived in the same house before.

In Tart's case, it's an S class, even if it's a merit class, so he could use a private room if he'd been admitted in the general quota.

''It's outrageous that it's bad!　I'm so very, very happy to be in a room with Mr. Lugue!

He clenches his fists in front of his chest and snorts.
　It's a little scary.

As I'm watching the tart, I hear a knock at the door and open it.
Lug, you haven't been attacked by a tart yet, have you?
'Oh, what do you say?
I'm worried about being alone in this tiny room. I think I'll live here too. There are three more rooms besides the living room, so each of us can have our own room.
And what about Dia's room?
I'll put it in storage. It's a good size.

That's a real rich man who grew up in a castle.
　On many different scales.

How serious are you, by the way?
Yeah. That's right, about 100 percent. I wouldn't mind getting into a relationship with a tart, but I wouldn't want him to run off.
Yeah, well, I don't mind.
'I'm fine too. It's easier for me to take care of Lady Dear. And to be honest, I'm relieved. If you continue as you are, I don't know when I'll........
Okay, I'll get your stuff later.

Dia seems to be completely serious.

Well, since each of us can use one room, there will be no problem.
　........Apart from the size, if this gets out to my classmates, I'm likely to be ridiculed as a harem bastard, but I'm nominally a sister and a servant.

''But it's surprisingly extravagant. A room like this for each student. As expected of a school for magicians.
'Well, it's only S class that's this messed up, A class is given a private room, but with a bed, a desk and a storage cupboard it's a lot of room, and from B onwards we'll have to share a room and do our own housework or use servants. ........So we're desperate to drag the guy in the class above us down every regular exam.

It's also a good motivator.
　Especially downstairs, you want to get a private room at all costs.

'Wait a minute, how do the servants take care of the people you share a room with?'
'All servants, except S class, will be provided with a servant's room in the C class dormitory. It's like commuting to your master's dorm from there.
'I mean, if my class fails, I'm going to be separated from Master Lug and I'm not going to let that happen. For the sake of living together, I'm going to do my best!

Dia opens her mouth as she looks sideways at Tart, who is showing more motivation than ever before.

'Apart from that, in Tart's case, I don't think he needs to work hard because he's dependent on Roug's grades. I'm like that too, in a way. And if it comes down to it, all I have to do is give up the storage room.
'Even if you both don't have that kind of immediate benefit, it's still an asset if you study hard. Don't skimp.

Chuckling, he mutters.

'Yes!　But a really nice room. Even the kitchen. I can bake a cake in this one to celebrate Master Lug being made head of the house.
I'll be happy to eat some tart confections, but we'll have to wait until after training to celebrate. But we'll celebrate after we've finished training, but the S-rated dorms have a training room. It's a closed room by appointment only. I'm sure I could teach you the Toorhade technique in there.
It's really all there, isn't it? Well, you're welcome to have the cake after you work out. I like it better.
'Yes. From today onwards, every day at night, I can study and train with Roug-sama and sleep in the same room... I'm too happy. I feel so bad for Maha-chan.

Maher.
　She's probably still working hard at the store.
　I'll send her a request for additional research on Epona.
　There's something about the Rhiannon family.
　That should lead to Epona's weakness.

The three of us headed to the training room, and even there I was surprised at how well equipped and spacious it was.
　The new life seems to be quite comfortable.