The next day I was standing side by side in front of the mansion with Mr. Currier.
　We're now waiting for the carriage to pick us up.

'I'm kind of uncomfortable in this uniform.
'Well....'

　Mia, who was out to see me off, giggles.

'No, you don't, do you?　The two of you are looking good.

　Currier checks his clothes.

'Really?'

　A black-based uniform.
　Not much different from the uniform of St. Renowthred School.
　The white background is now black.
　It's like the blue background has become red.
　Of course, the details are different.

What do you think?

　Currier-san cupped her sleeve and extended her hand.
　What's that cute little gesture?

''Ni, it looks good on you?
Doesn't the color make me look aggressive?
Well.
You look different to me.
Haha.....

　We both looked like we had fallen to the dark side of evil.

'Well, we're only talking about going through today.

　Yesterday, Shana-san gave me an alibi, if you will.

You'll have to leave at least some proof that you were enrolled as an exchange student. But don't worry. But don't worry, we'll make sure that you only have to attend for one day.

　Falsifying records is a pain in the ass.

You'll need to make an official record of your commute to school, even if only in form, in order to get Onushi back to Renowthread in a short period of time. If you want to do it, you can fabricate a record, but in that case, you'll have to involve Mia in the process of falsifying the material.

　I don't know, but they need to keep a record of my attendance at the Argan Institute as an exchange student, even if it's only for one day.

　I don't intend to make Mia cross a dangerous bridge.
　So I decided to do as I was told.
　And I'm told that the commute is only for one day.
　It's easier said than done.
　The Rubel Argan version of St. Renowthred School.
　I'm also a little curious.

Hm?　Looks like you're here.

　A magnificent carriage approached and stopped in front of the mansion.
　Mia bowed.

''Well then, have a good day.
I'm out, Miss Mia.

　We greeted the Gosha and we got into the carriage.
　I close the door and the carriage starts to move.

'What's the place like?'

　When I asked, Currier replied coolly.

'At any rate, as long as it's not someone like Fibruk or Bashkatha, I'm good with that.


　　　　　*


Well, today, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to a fellow student from Renowthread.

　Upon arrival, me and Currier-san were led to a classroom in the academy.
　It was a female instructor who showed us around.
　She was an airy person with round glasses and a smiling air.
　Her name was Ele-san.
　At our first meeting, she surprised me.

''Ehhh!　So you are the Lord Forbidding Wizard?　I was imagining a more rugged gentleman. I didn't know that Kurier-dono is so beautiful........

　Instructor Ele.........
　Is it aimed at the buzzing sleeves?
　At first, the exterior of the Argan Institute felt like a fort.
　It's a bit like the headquarters facility of the Order of the Holy Tree.
　The school we attended was much more neat and tidy.

This way~

　I stepped into the classroom.
　I looked around the classroom with only my gaze.
　The structure is not much different from St. Renousselaer's Red School.
　The same is true for the feeling that the seats get higher and higher on the tiers as you go to the back.
　The only difference is that this one's atmosphere is a little more strict.
　The expression of the students seems to be hard.

''This is Currier Versteen-dono. You're a first year student at St. Renoussourde School~''

　Currier bowed lightly.
　Instructor Ele next indicated me with his hand.

And here's the rumored Impaler!　Lord Sagara Kurohiko!　Crackle, crackle~!

　No response from the students.
　They were all staring at us with stiff expressions on their faces.
　Some students were in a hunched over posture.
　Only the applause of instructor Ele's applause echoed softly in the classroom, empty.
　Hmm.
　I have a feeling this atmosphere is going to be a bit turbulent....

''Well then, your seat will be over there~''

　I don't care if there is no follow-up applause.
　Instructor Ele, he seems to have quite a heart of steel.
　And my seat, oddly enough, was in the same position as St. Renowthread Academy.


　　　　　*.


　The first liberal arts class was over.
　My classmates were taking the class in a matter-of-fact manner.
　The air is somehow tense....
　Well, well, it's just one day.
　If I think of it that way, I can endure this tingly air.
　Currier-san stood up from her seat.

''Next up, you had a class in the art form.

　He doesn't seem to care about the atmosphere in the classroom.
　It's the usual cool & fast pace.
　By the way, at Argan Academy, the order of the second period was reversed from St. Renowthread Academy.
　In that case, the battle class was first.
　It seems that over here, it's going to be followed by jutsu class, lunch break and then combat class.
　While preparing for the next class, Currier-san asked me.

'Are you paying attention to the air in the classroom, Kurohiko?'
''Ha ... ah, not a very comfortable atmosphere ...''

　At least it doesn't feel like they're in a welcoming mood.

'I'm used to an air of unacceptance. It doesn't bother me, though.
Well, I'm used to it, but...

　Most of all, I have Currier-san now.
　Alone, this air might have been hard for me, but........

We can't help but linger in this classroom. We have to get to the next class room--

Hey.

　One of the boys stood in front of Currier-san.
　No - should I say it was blocked.
　A strong-looking face.
　Gattitude is good.
　Hm.
　I have a lot of muscles, huh........
　It's like he's been working out.
　And he slightly resembles Phiburg in appearance.
　...I have a bad feeling about this.
　A boy said his name.

"I'm Zae.
What's wrong with me?
You're the one who killed those four scourges, right?
I was the one who killed him. Not all of them.

　Mr. Currier went through and tried to cross the street.

'Oops!'

　.... hmm?
　Zaye blocked the road with his arm.

"We're not done talking yet, okay?
Move.
"Heh, I know, right?

　Zaiye stands in front of Mr. Currier again.
　The other students stand behind him.

''I hear you're from that sixth house?

　A cold Kurier-san looks up at Zaiye.
　Ah, I thought.
　No, Currier-.

Currier Versteyn!

　Zaiye moved quickly.



　Two arms were held out in front of Currier-san.
　Zaiye has his head down.
　I know that pose.

　The posture that calls for a handshake.

'Oh, shake my hand!
What--?

　Currier-san is stunned.
　Even from the back, I can feel it.
　He's not understanding.

"What do you mean you're trapping me?
'There's no trap and no shit!　If he's alone, he killed those four deadly enemies, right?　That was awesome!　Really awesome!　As a warrior, I respect you!
Hmmm...

　Mr. Currier lifts a finger to his forehead.
　I can feel the confusion.

''Didn't you have a causal relationship with me...?''
I already know how strong you are!　I know you guys are significantly stronger than me, so everyone was tense and stiff all the time!

　The reason why his expression was so hard all along....
　Is that it?
　No I thought maybe on the way.
　That's when Zaiye blocked the way with his arm.

　There was no hostility.

　Three things came through him.
　A stiff tension.
　The faint confusion that comes with tension.
　A strong feeling of longing.

''And besides.....well....''

　Zaiye averts his gaze shyly.

''Outrageous, she's beautiful...''

　Currier-san slowly turned around to face me.
　The expression on her face was one of abandonment mode, beyond her processing limit.
　He didn't know how to process it.

''It's too much for me to handle. So why don't you take care of these guys for now?

　I looked at her as if to say.
　The voice in her mind was palpable.
　If the other party has hostility, you can deal with it as much as you want.
　Currier Versteen is that kind of person.

　But he is a person who is extremely weak in the face of favoritism directed at him.