I passed the entrance exam without a hitch and was admitted to the martial arts department of the Royal Academy.

''Well, I'm in E class, right?

　In my previous life, I was never able to go to school properly, so school life is something I long for.
　I stepped into the E class room with a great deal of anticipation.

　The atmosphere in the classroom was divided into two parts.

　One was people who were just as happy as I was to have been admitted to the school, and the other was people who said, "I'm really glad I was accepted.
They were saying things like, "I'm really glad I was accepted," and "I'm a student at the Royal Academy from today," in a very happy manner.

　On the other hand, there were people sitting on their chairs without speaking at all.
　The air was like a funeral.

　Looking at their grief-stricken faces, it was hard to believe they were freshmen.
　I wonder if something happened...?

　If it's just one or two people, there are a number of them.
　It's not like it was just a coincidence of bad luck.

　I sat down in an empty seat.

　It's not long before a man who looks like a teacher comes into the classroom.
　Is he our homeroom teacher?

　He looked around the classroom and opened his mouth.

'They're all here, aren't they?　So we will now begin our guidance. If you have any questions, I'll ask you to put them together at the end. All right?

　A few people said yes.
　So, deciding there was no objection, he continued.

'Let me be clear at the outset. Of course, as many of you know, the martial arts department divides students into six classes, S to E, according to their grades in the entrance examinations and other factors; S is for those who have the best grades, then A, B, C... and so on. They are assigned from the first to the second. That means this E class is at the bottom.

　Okay, so part of it was like a funeral in the air....

　Those whose goal was simply to pass were honestly happy to have been admitted.
　On the other hand, those who were aiming for a higher class are regretting the fact that they got into E class.

　It's funny though.
　I should have done well enough in the practical test.
　Was the current student who gave me the examiner wrong?

But even if it's the bottom of the barrel, it's still a student of the Royal Academy. Therefore, I'm not going to lower the level of my classes at all. ........even if it results in some people not being able to follow them. In fact, every year there are a large number of students who drop out. If you are satisfied with just being admitted to the school, you might be one of them.

　At those words, the pleasure group - unrelated to a certain group of people in their previous lives, of course - straightened up.

'And then the classes aren't fixed. If you are judged to have reasonable strength, you can be promoted to a higher class, even if it is in the middle of the semester. Of course it could be the other way around... but you guys at the bottom of the pile don't have to worry about being demoted for now, so you can relax.

　This time, the grief group has a determined look on their face.
　They seemed to be aiming for promotion.

　After that, there was a detailed explanation of school life, and we dismissed for today.
　Classes will start the day after tomorrow.





　After the guidance, I went to the dormitory.
　It seems that I've been assigned a room.

　The dormitory supervisor gave me my room number, and I went to look for the room I'd be living in.
　It was a room in the northeast corner.

'Is it here?'

　I opened the door and walked in.
　It was smaller than I thought it would be.

　A bunk bed was placed on either side of the room, which made it feel oppressive.
　Passing between the beds, I went to the back, where there were four desks in a U-shape.

　It was a room for four.
　Of course, there was no individual space.

"Oh, are you a freshman?

　I was putting my stuff on an empty desk for now, when someone walked in.

'Yeah. You too?
Yeah. I'm Ranta. It's a pleasure to meet you.
Nice to meet you. I'm Ark.

　We shake each other's hands as we introduce ourselves to each other.
　He's a friendly boy.

　His age seems to be one year older than me, 13 years old.
　It seems that he is from the Edelheid Kingdom.

It's a good thing that you're not a member of this group.　Never heard of it?　Where the hell is that?
It's a long way east of here.
Is it near the City of Swords?
It's further east.
Oh, man, that's a long way from home. It'll take you days to get there.

　It's about two days.

What class is Lanta in?
I'm a C-class. How about you?
I'm E.
'Well..... But, well, considering his age, it's probably enough for him to have passed. I heard there are geniuses who are able to enter the S class at the age of twelve. Do you know?　I heard that the Department of Magic got a new [most senior position] student this year.
Oh, yeah. You know it well.
No, there's quite a bit of talk about it.

　Apparently, Ranta is a well-informed person.
　I'm not sure how many people I know from this country, unlike me.

And from what I've heard, she's quite cute.
It's a girl.
'Well, unfortunately, we're in different departments and it's going to be hard to make a connection.

　The dorms don't have anything to do with the department, but if you're a girl, you're in the girls' dormitory.
　Of course Leila would be in that one, too.

　That's when a pair of guys walked into the room.
　A large boy and a boy of medium build with a somewhat insidious smile on his face.

So you're the freshmen. I'm the Gaon of the fourth year A class, and I'm the bozo in this room.

　The big boy said his name, then lifted his lips and announced.

'I mean, my orders are absolute.