By Zephyria 
‘That guy is in Class A too.’
When I stared at him without avoiding his eyes, Herman frowned and avoided my gaze first.
In the meantime, Polajigen’s calling continued.
The number was ten in total, including me.
Considering that the number of students who applied and entered the Magic Department was a little over a thousand, only a very small number of students, less than half of half, were selected for Class A.
《The calling is over. Those who have objections should stay, and the rest should follow the Magic Department dormitory proctor. Oh, and today Class A has an orientation and an unofficial class. The location is Room A21 on the second floor of the central building. Be sure to attend by 3 o’clock.》
As soon as Polajigen, who had finished speaking, released the Amplification magic, passionate students rushed forward.
Most of the other students either quietly got up from their seats or gossiped about Polajigen behind his back.
“I heard rumors, but… Professor Polajigen is really ruthless. How many freshmen are there, and he’s dropping them all?”
“Why is Polajigen the homeroom professor of Class A this year? If I had known this would happen, I would have just entered a year later.”
“I’m just going to be satisfied with Class B. I heard he gives Fs often. It’s ridiculous to put in classes from the first day of admission. I’d rather just get a high score in Class B and graduate comfortably than be harassed in Class A.”
Some of the students who were designated as Class A also didn’t like it very much or looked dark as if they were very nervous. He was quite famous for being a picky human male, as much as he looked.
“I’m Id, the dormitory proctor of the Magic Department. If you have any inconveniences in the future, please come to the proctor’s office on the first floor at any time. Now! The Magic Department dormitory is this way.”
Just in time, the proctor moved, leading the children. I also withdrew my gaze from Polajigen and followed.
“It’s close because it’s right below the banquet hall, right? Please be careful not to get confused, as the building on the opposite side of the fountain is the dormitory for Swordsmanship Department students.”
Having left the banquet hall building and walked straight down, I saw the magic department dormitory. My dormitory room was a ‘double room,’ Room 305 on the third floor. A single room would have been better, but unfortunately, all the rooms in this dormitory were double rooms.
And since the dormitory room assignments were already decided before enrollment, there was nothing special to be informed about.
However, I wouldn’t know who I would be sharing a room with until I saw their face… My dormitory partner was coming up through the opposite hallway and met me at the door.
It was a situation where we ran into each other while trying to put our student IDs on the 305 room reader.
“Ah.”
Moreover, coincidentally, I knew the face of that man very well. It was none other than the rogue, Herman Muller.
Herman, who was flustered, rolled his eyes around, unable to find a place to look. He seemed quite dejected now, after trying to wield this body so brazenly.
Eventually, I put my student ID on the reader first.
Beep.
The magic on the reader activated and scanned my body. Soon, a message appeared saying it matched, and the door opened.
I naturally went inside and took the right-hand bed. As I was taking out and organizing the luggage I had put in my Hyperspace pocket, I felt Herman entering with awkward steps.
For a moment, only rustling noises were heard.
“…Hey. Ray.”
Herman cautiously spoke to me.
“The reason I tried to put a Reverse Magic Circuit on your magic wasn’t because I wanted to harass you. I hope you don’t misunderstand.”
“Reverse Magic Circuit?”
“You used it earlier too, right? The nullification magic.”
Ah. That magic that cancels out the opponent’s magic by using the same magic as the opponent, or breaks the opponent’s Formula by distorting it.
Back when I was around, it was only called cancellation magic or nullification magic, and there was no official name for it.
‘I see. Reverse Magic Circuit.’
I stroked my chin and fell into thought for a moment. Netherworld Summoning, which is the basic magic of Necromancy, and… the combination of words is not unfamiliar.
The ancient Eastern language that my father had explained to me before was indeed the language of the Long-lived Race, an Eastern long-lived race.
Most of the Verbal Magic currently used by humans is composed of their language.
‘Compressed Verbal Magic, he said.’
Around that time, Herman continued hesitantly.
“If you force yourself to use magic when your Mana Circuit isn’t properly opened, there’s a high chance of misfire, and if it misfires, the Mana flow gets twisted and puts a strain on your body. So… I was trying to stop you. I thought you were being stubborn.”
“Hmm.”
“I’m sorry.”
Herman lowered his head slightly with a dejected look.
He was rude, but not a foolish human. After watching him for a while, I finished organizing the rest of my luggage and accepted his apology.
“Since you seem to be reflecting, I’ll let it go this once.”
Yes, yes. Even I think I’m very generous.
“Oh dear, I should get moving. It’s almost 3 o’clock.”
“Hey, Ray.”
“What is it again?”
“…Um. It’s nothing.”
Herman stopped talking and got up, following me.
He was a bland fellow.
We left the dormitory and headed to the central building. When we entered Room A21, which Professor Polajigen had mentioned, there were already eight students there besides Herman and me.
A strange silence flowed.
I also felt gazes subtly watching us. I glanced around and headed to a seat that was roughly in front of me.
Next to that seat was a chubby, fair-skinned young man with glasses, who didn’t seem to notice my presence because he was reading a book.
I sat next to the young man, keeping a little distance.
To be honest, I didn’t want to sit with humans, but… even though the lecture hall was large, everyone was sitting separately, occupying one row each. There was no way to sit alone anyway.
At that time, Herman, who was following behind, sat next to me.
When I stared intently at his profile, he blushed slightly on his handsome face and rolled his eyes. I don’t know what he was thinking that made his face turn red. I arched one eyebrow and gave him a stern warning.
“I didn’t permit you to sit next to me.”
Then Herman’s face quickly darkened.
“You hate even just sitting together that much?”
He seemed disappointed and angry.
…Humans are really annoying.
I didn’t want to cause any more trouble, so I ignored it with silence, but suddenly, an unfamiliar voice was heard from the side.
“Um….”
When I turned around, the young man who had been focusing on his book until just now was looking at Herman and me with bright, clear green eyes.
“Ah! Hello. My name is Tom Simyurel. Nice to meet you. Um, what are your names? Would you mind telling me? I was so nervous that I didn’t hear the names of the students in Class A properly.”
The way he shyly fidgeted with his fingers and looked around revealed the young man’s nature as it was.
I don’t dislike docile humans very much.
I nodded my chin.
“Raymond Den Valencia.”
“My name is Herman den Müller.”
With just that, the young man who introduced himself as Tom sparkled his eyes even more.
“Wow. Valencia and Muller, I’ve heard of you! You were the children of the Duke and Marquess families. Th, thank you for acknowledging me. Nobles are well-educated after all.”
Is that something to be so grateful for? I was wondering what his intentions were for looking at me with such burdensome eyes.
The lecture hall door opened and someone came in.
Black, wavy hair, mysterious eyes with an ash-gray tint. A nervous-looking impression. Eyes as sharp as that.
It was Professor Polajigen.
He opened his mouth as soon as he stood on the podium.
“I’m sure you’re not happy to be spending time outside of regular class hours. So, I’ll get straight to the point. One of them is something the headmaster should be saying, but… I have no choice but to say it separately here.”
His colorful eyes scanned the room.
“There are nobles, commoners, and non-human races here. Most are twenty years old, but sometimes there are students who are a little older or a little younger.”
That gaze was very cold and sharp.
“And Merzel Academy is a place that is equal to everyone, regardless of status, race, age, or gender. If there is anyone who brings in their little title that is only useful outside and flaunts it… I will personally expel them, so keep that in mind.”
Tom, who seemed timid, flinched.
He didn’t look well.
Judging from the situation, this Tom fellow seemed to be a commoner, not a noble, so I didn’t know why he was shrinking back.
Was he so timid that he was overwhelmed by just that much force?
“Next is the assignment. It’s very easy. Form a team from now on, find out what your and your team members’ Primary Affinity is by this weekend, and submit the assignment in a simple recorded form. Teams are allowed to have a minimum of two and a maximum of four members.”
Professor Polajigen flicked his fingers, and the stack of papers he had brought floated into the air, then fluttered down to their respective positions. It seemed to be a Telekinesis magic.
I snatched the paper that had fallen in front of me and checked it.
On the paper, there were spaces to record the names of the team members and yourself, and what your Primary Affinity was.
“Both
You’ve just enrolled, so don’t even think about relaxing during the weekend… That’s roughly what he’s saying.
Of course, no students expressed dissatisfaction with that.
“That’s all. You are dismissed. And… congratulations on becoming Class A. I hope you show me ‘half of my expectations’ in the future. Then, see you at the next regular class.”
Professor Polajigen left just like that.
After glancing at me one last time.
It was right after that.
“Would you like to do the assignment with me?”
I raised my head because a shadow was cast over me. A young man who had already come up to me was smiling with his brown eyes, which shone brightly.
“Your name was Raymond… wasn’t it?”
As he said that, the guy who let out a small laugh revealed that his name was Zeon Den Revygild. Even to this body, he seemed to be acting with dignity and gentlemanly behavior, despite being a young human.
‘Hmm.’
I stared at him intently and narrowed my eyes.
Why is that?
I felt like this guy was familiar.