♢♢ ♢


　The fact that they are in the same class is probably a reflection of the director's concern.

　Was Loki's self-introduction completed in an orderly fashion?　There was no blunder on his part, but was it peculiar to the academy that people were making a fuss about it?

　It means that Loki's feminine appearance was well received by women more than men.
　There are many students of the same age at the Academy of Magic. There is no particular rule, but as long as you have the makings of a wizard, age is not an issue. However, since general education is also a part of the class, obviously older people will not be admitted. In that case, it would be better to enter the training facility in the military.

　Needless to say, even a curt self-introduction was an extra push. What's more, Loki's ranking was enough to attract people.
　They who aspired to be magicians were still bound by rankings. It was inevitable that Loki would be asked about his ranking.

　But--.

'Rank 570!

　

　Ars, who was listening to it from a distance, had an idea. It would be that Loki was also the object of measurement in yesterday's mock battle. In addition, it's that great magic.
　Although it falls under the taboo, it was also recognized as an exercise of magic as an object of measurement.
　It's no wonder that the four digits were raised to the mid-three digits in one fell swoop.

　 It was no surprise that he had risen in the rankings significantly. Because Loki was originally ranked in the 100s.
　Loki's rankings triggered a letter on the screen in front of him to reflect the exam results.
　This screen is not only used in the classroom, but also serves as an information dissemination tool to announce announce announcements within the school from time to time.

　The students were scattered around the screen with their licenses in hand.
　It's because of their selfishness that they don't want their own to be known while asking others where they stand.
　In the meantime, Loki moves next to Ars and takes an empty seat - the one next to Ars is almost empty. It's also mostly meant to be spooky these days.　


　Loki asks me a question about my rankings in the classroom with a mixture of glee and disappointment.
　When he replied as you might guess, his face broke out a little at the fact that his ranking had improved.　
　Thinking it was unnatural for Loki, who was in the military, to care about the rankings, Ars raises his eyebrows quizzically.

　It's normal for the academy to be happy and sad about the rankings. As a matter of course, Tesfia and Alice are included.
　No matter how meaningless it is, they are probably curious about it.
　The ones who overreact to this are those who are lower in rank than them.

''7833th place on the 4500th, you two are still head and shoulders above them.

　It's the female student who often comes to Tesfia and Alice to teach them a lesson," she exclaimed in admiration.

''Ciel isn't nearly four figures either.

　Ciel, who reminded me of a small animal, was embarrassed to see a different kind of cuteness than Tesfia.
　Tesfia's turnaround is a compliment, but a fading of disappointment has fallen that Tesfia herself hasn't risen much.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　It's not surprising that Alice was ranked 8867th, but this in itself is not surprising.
　Since the rankings were originally based on the entrance exam, this precise measurement is the one that is as accurate as one's true ability. Still, though, swings to this level are rare.

　And when they had finished confirming their rankings, their classmates looked around the classroom to find Loki, the center of attention.

　When they found him, there was a momentary pause, probably due to the fact that Ars was next to him.
　It didn't help that his eyes shifted to the boy next to him as if he were touching a boil.
　It would be even more so now that he found out he was a three digit wizard.

'Loki-san is an acquaintance of yours, Ars?'

　The one who called out to me was Ciel, who was talking with Tesfia and Alice earlier. If you're not as brave as you look, there are two of them firmly behind me.

''Yes. Al and I have been close to each other for some time now.''

　This is a response just as we discussed beforehand. If you only listen to his voice, you would associate it with an inflected smile, but in reality, his voice is emotionlessly indifferent and mechanical.
　It's a bland, chitchatty meeting, but the only thing that surprised Ciel was the content that they knew each other from before.


　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.
　You can't help but be bombarded with questions, and I'm sure that's how it is on the first day of transfer. It's a scene that Ars doesn't understand.
　It's a good thing that you're not the only one who knows what's going on, or else you'd be the man of the hour in our school, because you'd have won the next seat close to Felinella.


　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　Loki, who has noticed it anecdotally, gives him a look like an abandoned cat, but Ars just leaves the classroom, telling him to get used to it.




　Is this getting grumpy?
　During his pre-lunch class, Ars shifts his gaze from his books to the one next to him.
　It's impossible to peek into his expression with his silver hair trimmed down the front, but he's still expressionless as usual, I guess.
　It's not as easy to understand as Tesfia's personality, but I find it hard to handle.
　But that doesn't mean I'm not going to take the time to fix my mood.
　The same thing will happen at lunchtime anyway.


　When the chime rings to signal the end of the class, the students rush in, as expected. The next thing you know, there are students waiting outside the classroom as well.
　And the first one to come running in was........Alice.
　She stroked her hair as if she had just been holding back.

''Haa~........Loki-chan, you're so cute.

　A voice of dismay is thrown at Alice, whose cheeks are loose and completely at ease.

'And I don't think you're going to use up all your lunchtime.
Wait, I'm almost done.

　Ars swallowed the off-the-mark reply of what kind of body construction, and headed to the cafeteria to get lunch, which they hadn't prepared for, as a matter of course.

　The top three of the first year's top three practically came out of the room, but no one was strong enough to share in it.

　While Alice was petting him, Loki was letting himself go like a puppet, but when he saw Ars walk out of the classroom, he followed at a terrific rate.
　Naturally, the two people who followed - mainly Alice, who followed Loki, followed by Tesfia in the form of Tesfia.

　No one follows the group as they walk down the corridor.
　The fact that Ars was among them exposed them to even more bizarre gazes.



　The cafeteria is located in the building next to the main building. There are mainly shops, such as shops, lined up, but it is the only wizarding academy, and it is a place where the famous and famous shops will be serving their skills.
　It's not only the cafeteria, but also different things that are handled at each level. Everything you need for schoolwork is available.

　Since most of the students in the school are dormitory students, it was to be expected that it would be crowded and chaotic at lunchtime.

　After receiving the lunch menu, Ars takes a seat at a table for ten people.
　It's understandable that Loki would come next to it, though.

''Why do you guys even stick around?''
Come on, come on, it's your first time at lunch.
This is my first time, but what does that have to do with anything?

　Alice puts down her tray as well, while Tesfia begins to develop her incomprehensible theories.

'Oh, good grief!'

　There are still empty seats, although they are crowded. It wouldn't be full without the entire school crowding in to begin with.
　The four of them froze at the edge of the table, with Tesfia sitting resolutely across from Ars.

　I don't mind if it doesn't bother them, but these two are the ones who have been taking up Ars's time in some way or another.
　I can't help but overflow with sighs. In the end, I had to let out a sigh after a while.

"May I sit next to you, Mr. Ars?

　A voice from somewhere.
　They stopped eating and turned to the owner of the voice.

　There was no mistaking the scene.
　The only person with lustrous black hair hanging down was Felinella, holding a tray and waiting for a response.
　An impenetrable space has been created with Felinella in the midst of the obvious congestion. It's scary to be here, on the contrary, I thought about that with a glance at the students who were giving in to avoid them with envy.

　Ferinella tilted her head, wondering how she caught the pause, and moved closer to the side.

''No?''

　Felinella was in front of me, her hips folded lightly and her hair hanging over her ears with one hand.
　A startled voice?　I'm not sure if it's because of that, but a yellow voice is also mixed in and springs up in places.

　It's easy to use that as background music, but this person called Felinella was not good for Ars.
　It's a good idea to make sure that you have the right kind of equipment for the job.

'As you wish.

　The bare-bones lines are a bulwark against Ferrinella's pace.
　I'm aware that it's a fragile bulwark.

'Thank you,'

　It's a polite yet somehow implied tone of voice.

　Although he is not aware of it, it's not because of his natural grace, or even though it's not an intimidating voice sound, it makes him seem superior to his opponent.

　Felinella took a seat next to Ars.
　The reason she didn't sit down right away was probably because she was joined by someone she had never met before.

''It's nice to meet you, Loki-san.

　Felinella declined to talk to Ars and smiled at Loki in the back of the room to get a face to face meeting. As expected, Loki's transfer seems to have gone to all the students.
　Receiving a lustrous smile, Loki had the same first impression as Ars, but it was not reflected in his expression, and he responded with an expression that he didn't even make.

''It's nice to meet you, Miss Felinella.

　Loki is looking through the list of senior students at last night's meeting. So I know her as knowledge, that she's related to the military.

　He shares the minimum (...) information about Loki, which he also gave to Tesfia and Alice, with Felinella, and finishes the meeting for the first time.


　Needless to say, I received a concentrated barrage of unwanted stares from the other students who witnessed this bizarre scene. Since you are surrounded by four peerlessly beautiful women, it is inevitable that jealousy will swirl around you.

　However, that stopped soon after.

Five large screens were set up everywhere in the dining room, which seats more than a thousand people.
　Announcements of new announcements were projected after tickers and announcements.

We are pleased to announce that the extracurricular lesson will be held on May 28. We are pleased to announce that our students will be trained in real world combat as a way to encourage them to take their first steps as wizards after graduation.

　The announcement is made in a matter-of-fact manner, accompanied by a reason that sounds good.

'You are all required to defeat the demons as you would in a real battle. For detailed explanations, a printout will be distributed in each class.
I repeat...........''

　There's an uproar and a commotion as you return to the pouting display.
　There is not one or two sounds of someone dropping dishes on the floor.
　It's both the inevitable challenge and the biggest challenge for students who want to become mages.
　Those who had the spine to do it now revealed their motivation, but most of them were still confused.

　As for the Ars table.
　Ars, Loki never stopped eating because he knew in advance.
　The person with experience in actual warfare was also surprised by the suddenness of the situation, but knowingly went back to eating as if it were someone else's business, saying, "The chancellor's having a hard time, isn't he?
　There's only one thing left--''

''Yo, there's plenty of room........''

　A question that I don't ask anyone. My gaze was still on the screen.

''Why now.........''

　Alice was floating a question that had no answer. The only person who can answer that question is Ars here, but teaching it won't make things better, on the contrary, it will only make them feel resentful with no place to go.

　The two men were uniformly blue.

''What will we do?''

　Felinella next to me whispers in a whisper so that Ars can hear her.
　A glance at the oblique.
　Annoyingly, this time Ars replied in a whisper.

''The trouble is already coming around.

　Maybe she didn't have to answer, but she couldn't be completely unaware of it as a supervisor either.

''Well I'm sorry to bother you.
Absolutely.

　Felinella did not hint at the story any further.
　I cut him off with my eyes down. That's because of Ars's heartache.



　♢ ♢ ♢　


　After lunch, the school was full of talk about actual battle training.
　They had never seen a demon in person, so perhaps that was inevitable.

　For some reason, people were gathering around Tesfia and Alice even more than usual.


　The reason for this, as usual, came from a comment he made during a training session in Ars's laboratory.

''We don't even know if we can decide to form a group by ourselves, but we're not going to get ahead of ourselves.
Yeah. That one kind of threw me for a loop.

　They gave a fed-up grimace.

　There was no room on their faces, but they could have been cooler to their more impatient classmates than the two of them. As a result, they became aware of what they had been training for with the appearance of a clear enemy.

　It wasn't a light talk, but unlike before, they had gotten used to it enough to talk to each other even during training.
　He must have continued to train even after he returned to his dormitory. The results of their relentless efforts were visible.
　You can now transfer magic power without pinching each other, and the fact that you can do it even while talking is proof that it has become a habit. It's still a slow transfer, but it's still an amazing growth rate.

'It looks like I'll be disclosing more details when we get closer to the extracurriculars.
They want me to train you to take down demons instead of forming a group.

　Even Ars was momentarily blindsided by this swearing, "Well said.
　It hasn't gone unnoticed by the pile of books.

In fact, the Chancellor will decide on the Gang of Five.
...
Lady Arus!

　I told him, since he wasn't being muzzled to keep it hidden, but Loki seemed to see it as a leak of information.

'No matter,'

　He implied that this meant he was not bound by military discipline, a loose promise of sorts.

'How do you know that?'

　A dubious look is given, but it is interrupted by a pile of books.

'Of course it's because the Chancellor told you. Think about it for a minute.

　Beyond the unseen, Tesfia would be biting her teeth.

'I wonder who Al would be paired with if he did?

　Alice's trivial question.

'Come on,'

　I didn't tell them to go behind the scenes. That's because it's not necessary. It's something you don't need to know, and any more than that is material that might hinder you in a real battle.

''Well, ah........I suppose 1st place-sama would have plenty of time for this kind of actual battle.
...

　I know it was meant to be sarcastic, but it couldn't be projected onto Ars.

'Of course. I'm just going to get it over with and go home.

　He controlled Loki with his eyes as he responded with a twitch and lifted the corner of his mouth.

'You better make sure you don't rough it up too.

　In an instant, Tesfia's face turned red and she let out an angry, "I can't believe it. Even in this exchange, neither of us is serious. This is because this level is a rather common argument.

　Since it doesn't even get into a fight with an Ars opponent, they usually work quietly on their training after this.
　The fact that it doesn't jump out at you for some reason is always a good thing.
　That doesn't stop them from talking. It's because they will eventually ask for a hint.

　But this time, Ars was the first to go.

"For now, let's prepare for the actual battle with the demons.
You mean the next step?

　Ars released a stick that had been cut into two pieces to both of them.
　He took it as a dangerous thing to do.

'If it's true, we'll be a little further along, but I think we can handle it in our current state.

　We both smiled at each other with a congratulatory smile as we were both recognized or worth the effort.
　However--.
　A haphazard sound of magic power diffusing with a bash was heard in succession, and soon Arus reconsidered with his cheekbones as if it was premature.