By Zephyria 
The next day. Herman didn’t return even in the morning. So, today, I finished preparing alone and headed to the lecture hall.
Because I woke up earlier than usual, I arrived at the lecture hall earlier as well, and it was very quiet because there were few students at that time.
But that was only for a moment….
After a few minutes, the children began to enter one by one, and it quickly became noisy with small talk.
Zeon, who came in after me, asked why I was here so early and took a seat next to me. And Tom and Herman appeared while Zeon and I were talking. Together, too.
Curious about what happened last night, I stared intently, and Herman subtly avoided my eyes. But Tom, unable to withstand the pressure of my gaze, explained instead.
“Herman… slept in my room yesterday. So….”
So, that’s why they appeared together.
That explanation was enough.
Having satisfied my curiosity, I turned my head without saying anything. Herman also didn’t talk to me and sat in the back seat.
Tom, who was wavering alone, eventually went to the back seat where Herman was sitting, as if he was worried about him sitting alone.
I didn’t say anything in particular, but I could clearly feel Tom’s presence behind me, watching me incredibly closely.
“Everyone, take your seats.”
At that moment, Professor Polajigen, who entered through the door in time for class, calmed the children who were chattering here and there. Today’s morning class was
But he wasn’t alone today. There was one person following Polajigen.
That face was familiar to me too.
It was Ardian.
‘Come to think of it, today was the day he was coming to class.’
In an instant, I made eye contact with him in the air, as if I had been waiting for it. I felt prideful and didn’t want to lose by looking away first, so I kept staring, but he didn’t avoid my gaze either.
He even smiled slightly.
Is he provoking me?
As I continued the staring contest, I suddenly felt Zeon flinch and freeze. I wanted to ask him why, but Polajigen’s words came faster.
“His name is Ardian. He’s a transfer student who will be taking A class with you from now on. I hope you can have fair and healthy competition as rivals and friends.”
The children who were seated showed various reactions, focusing on the child standing on the platform. Polajigen didn’t directly mention that he was royalty, as if on purpose, but most of them seemed to recognize Ardian already.
“Go and take your seat now.”
At Polajigen’s command, Ardian, who had been staring intently at me, sat down next to me.
Leaving all those empty seats.
It was a long chair that could seat about three people, and it was originally the seat that Zeon and Tom had occupied on either side.
“Can I sit here?”
I was speechless at the shameless behavior of this guy who was already sitting down and asking.
But I decided to let this rogue do as he pleased for the time being. I needed to know what he was up to, approaching me so often.
Isn’t there also the advice to keep your enemies closer? If I keep him by my side, he will eventually reveal his true colors.
Ardian, unaware of what I was thinking, smiled prettily. Although he was an ‘unidentifiable dangerous person,’ his face, regardless, was a considerable beauty that never changed no matter when I saw it.
I glanced at his face for a moment and quietly turned to face forward. Polajigen’s class was starting.
“From this class onwards, I will lecture focusing on theory. These are knowledge that will appear on the exam, so listen carefully even if it’s content you already know.”
Polajigen drew a picture on the blackboard and continued to speak for a while. He seemed to be explaining the properties of Mana and the methods of storing Mana.
I was already familiar with the content, so I spent the time bored, half listening and half ignoring it, when Ardian suddenly took out paper and scribbled on it, then tore off a part and held it out in front of me.
“…….”
It was a note that said, [Is class boring?]. I didn’t react to the content, but Ardian couldn’t stand it and scribbled another note and slid it to me.
[Your achievement seems to have increased since last time. :)]
But that was a provocation I couldn’t just ignore.
[What are you going to do if I say yes?]
I quickly scribbled on the blank space of the note and held it out, and Ardian checked it. He wrote something again and held it out to me.
[Amazing. Come to think of it, I heard you use Black Mana, is that right? That means it’s the same Mana that Mephisto used?]
…Not ‘the same Mana that Gilbert used.’
‘The same Mana that Mephisto used’?
Without answering, I stared at the contents of the note for a moment. In fact, either way wasn’t wrong. But I felt strange.
At that moment, I felt Polajigen watching this way. He seemed to have noticed that we were doing something else. Ardian must have felt that gaze too. But whether he did or not, he wrote another note and held it out. It seemed he had moved on to another question since I wasn’t answering.
[Why did you enroll in the academy?]
I couldn’t answer that. Because Polajigen called Ardian’s name first and drew his attention.
“Come to think of it, Ardian. You haven’t had your initiation ceremony yet. Come back here and demonstrate your Primary Affinity and one basic Magic you can use.”
Ardian, who had finally turned his head to the front, willingly got up from his seat. As he walked back towards the platform, I could feel the gazes of the children, who were focusing intently, on me as well.
It was clearly curiosity about ‘What Affinity does Prince Albinus have, and what Magic will he use?’
And I was curious too, so I didn’t turn my eyes away from him.
Soon, Ardian effortlessly emitted Magical Energy. The yellow Mana that vaporized and appeared calmly rippled and rose. It meant he had Mana of the Transformation System.
Following that, Ardian held out his palm and created a flame that blazed above it.
The children who watched it exclaimed and reacted greatly. It wasn’t so much to please the high-ranking noble, but rather a reaction that felt like ‘He’s doing better than I thought?’
Perhaps the thought that he was a spoiled brat who had suddenly become interested in Magic and entered through the imperial family’s connections was subtly underlying. If they didn’t know that he was a 5-star or higher achiever, they might think that way.
“You have the Transformation System.”
“I usually use Ice Affinity, but I demonstrated Basic Formula Type 2 because you asked me to show you basic Magic… Professor Polajigen. Are you satisfied with this?”
“Yes. Good job. But focus on the class.”
Ardian, who had been scolded, smiled brightly and returned to his seat. As a high-ranking royal, he would have been proud to be told off like any other human being….
But this human doesn’t seem to have any of that at all.
[Aren’t you going to answer the question I asked earlier? :<]
…No. Is he just not caring?
I was speechless for a moment at Ardian's actions, who was repeating the same thing less than a few seconds after being scolded. Polajigen seemed to have given up and wasn't paying attention to this side, so I roughly answered him.
[○]
A circle meaning affirmation.
Ardian chuckled softly next to me. I didn't know why he laughed, but he didn't bother me with notes anymore after that. He must have gotten tired of it too.
A little later, the class ended.
Polajigen left the room, and I also got up from my seat with my attendants. Because today, after a short break, there was a class called
That’s when I was about to move to the next lecture hall.
Ardian followed me, sticking close to my side as he always did.
I could feel the bewildered expressions from my attendants following behind me, but Ardian shamelessly ignored them again this time.
“Will you allow me to sit next to you in the next class too?”
“…No.”
“I see. But I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Why even ask if you’re just going to be stubborn?”
“Because I wanted you to say ‘yes’ to me?”
I frowned. Ardian, smiling brightly at that, reached out to me and suddenly swept my bangs with his fingertips.
It was an incomprehensible action.
I coldly brushed off his touch. Yet, he only smiled once more, as if he was so pleased.
“Stop it.”
Herman, who hadn’t said a word until then, suddenly stopped Ardian by nudging his shoulder as if to push him away. He was glaring at Ardian with a considerably displeased look.
“……”
Ardian glanced back at Herman and smirked. Then, he gently yet firmly shook off Herman’s hand that was holding his shoulder.
A sharp air passed between the two for a moment… but the war of nerves didn’t last long.
Polargehen, who had left earlier, returned in the opposite direction, spotted Ardian, and gestured.
“Ah, perfect timing. Let’s have a little chat.”
It seemed he was going to continue the nagging from before. Ardian sighed softly and turned to me.
“Go ahead first. I’ll see you later.”
I watched Ardian’s back as he left with Polargehen for a moment. Around that time, Zeon, who had stealthily approached me, tilted his head and whispered.
“Raymond. Are you perhaps close with him?”
“Hmm? No. Why do you ask?”
Zeon hesitated for a moment at my answer. He seemed reluctant about something. As I tilted my head, Zeon lowered his voice a little more, as if afraid someone might hear.
“If he is someone whose intentions for approaching you are unknown, you should be careful. He is someone my Mana Detection doesn’t work on.”
At that moment, I felt like my thought process stopped.
…That means….
Zeon nodded with a stiff face at my gaze.
“He must be an achiever of at least 8 stars.”