By Zephyria 
Of course, strictly speaking, he didn’t have the delicate, pure, and graceful appearance typical of a princess. Rather, with his thick eyebrows and distinct features, he could be considered handsome. He was even a bit taller than Herman, so he wasn’t really someone who suited the role of Snow White.
But he was beautiful, beyond merely ‘handsome’ or ‘pretty’ enough to make one overlook all such minor details, and surely the little humans in the class thought the same as I did.
But it seemed the prince didn’t take a liking to the lovely Snow White.
The moment Herman confirmed his counterpart, his handsome face twisted sharply, and he openly displayed his discomfort.
“Sorry, but someone else can do the prince role.”
At that reaction, Ibelia’s eyes widened.
“Is there some problem?”
“…I don’t want to do it with that guy.”
Herman glared sidelong at Ardian. Even though he was openly showing hostility, Ardian didn’t show the slightest change in expression.
Whether he was thinking something or not thinking anything at all… looking at his face alone, it was impossible to tell.
“Ah, is that the reason? That’s a pity.”
Ibelia, resting her palm on one cheek, flipped through the papers again. It seemed she was about to bring out the next candidate since he said he didn’t want to.
But the name that came out as the next candidate was a bit unexpected.
“The second candidate I had in mind for the prince… is Lord Raymond. Lord Raymond, could you take on the role? I thought you’d suit the role of a prince with a somewhat arrogant feel.”
I never thought my name would come up.
Well. Based on what I saw in the mirror a while ago, this body is quite handsome too…. Around then, Melicsa added that while Zeon is also handsome, he looks too wild, so he was excluded.
What exactly does ‘looking too wild’ mean?
It was truly an incomprehensible reason.
When I was nominated as Ardian’s counterpart, Herman’s expression twitched and stiffened. Ardian, who had been sitting expressionlessly observing the situation, also glanced at me.
Amidst a strange silence.
As I stood at the crossroads, pondering whether accepting this proposal would bring me any benefit or if the annoyance would be greater, Herman, who had been biting his lip restlessly, intervened first.
“No…. No, I’ll just take that role.”
While making a face that looked like he really didn’t want to do it, to the point of death… why was he forcing himself? What a strange fellow.
Just then, Ardian, who had quietly lifted the corner of his mouth into a smile, finally broke the long silence and spoke.
“Then, I shall decline that role. I have no confidence that I can contribute to the class stage’s completion, so please ask someone else who can do it better.”
It was a polite yet unwavering refusal.
Sighs of regret mixed with disappointment flowed from here and there. There were also voices steeped in looks-obsessed regret, saying, ‘If we pushed with that face, first place for our class would be a sure thing!’
But you can’t force someone who doesn’t want to do it.
In the end, it was decided that Herman would take the prince role, and Clona would take the Snow White role instead, bringing the matter to a close. Afterward, Class A finished applying for both the Colosseum Ranking Battle and the class stage, and whenever they had time, they gathered and prepared diligently….
And so, June 1st arrived.
In the blink of an eye, the day of the festival dawned.
“Raymond! Herman! Over here, over here!”
Tom, who had arranged with us the day before to move together, waved at us from the dormitory lobby. Beside him was Zeon, who had come out early and was waiting with Tom.
“There’s so much to see outside! Let’s go quickly!”
Tom, brimming with excitement, urged us and quickened his pace. Herman chuckled and followed behind Tom, while I leisurely followed my excited vassals.
“Raymond. Did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes.”
Zeon, as always, walked one step behind me to guard me. It was an action close to a habit, carried over from dozens of years in my previous life.
“This festival also lasts for 5 days, right?”
“Yeah. Today, the first day, the Colosseum Ranking Battle takes place in the afternoon, and from tomorrow until the day after tomorrow is the period for enjoying the festival.”
“Ooh!”
“And the class stage is on the evening of the 4th day, and on the final day, the 5th day evening, a ball is held in the central building lobby. There’s a dress code, so we should buy some clothes before the ball too.”
“That sounds fun! Ah, let’s eat something for breakfast.”
While quietly listening to Tom and Herman’s chattering conversation, I quietly glanced around my surroundings.
‘It’s bustling.’
From early morning, the school grounds were crowded not only with students but also with unfamiliar outsiders dressed like nobles. Occasionally, there were people who looked like ordinary citizens too.
The reason that’s possible is because during the festival period, the gates are opened to allow outsiders to come and go freely.
Instead, for security reasons perhaps, unlike usual, knights in silver armor could be seen standing here and there; I heard they are all direct knights provided by the imperial family.
Certainly, their positions aren’t just for show; all of them possess considerable achievements for humans wielding swords. They are likely Magic Swordsmen who can channel Mana into their swords.
“Raymond! Zeon!”
Just then, Tom, who was walking ahead, called us. Looking over, Tom and Herman were stopped in front of a certain food booth. It seemed to be a dessert cafe run by second-year students.
They were selling a dessert called ‘Parfait.’ It was served by piling something generously onto a triangular-shaped cookie, resembling either a long torch made of food ingredients or a tall mountain.
How can such a thing exist in this world?
It looks like it could spill any moment while eating, yet it maintains its precarious form—truly a mysterious food, isn’t it?
“Enjoy your meal!”
“Thank you!”
“Here. Ray, this is your share.”
I must have been staring intently without realizing it. Flustered by the tall parfait that suddenly appeared before me, I looked to the side. Herman was offering me that mysterious food, as if telling me to eat it.
“You were looking at it so curiously. It’s delicious, try it.”
I carefully accepted it so it wouldn’t spill. It looked like various fruits, chocolates, and vanilla-coated cookies stuck here and there on white, thick cream like fluffy clouds.
“……!”
I’d never seen anything like this in my life, and the taste was also excellent, with a strong sweetness blending with the freshness of the fruit, and the soft, melting texture in my mouth was comparable to silk fabric. Suddenly, I heard Herman’s chuckle directed at me. Zeon, who had been fidgeting restlessly, spoke up.
“Raymond. Would you like to try that one too?”
Following where he pointed, I glanced and saw a booth with a sign that read ‘Fairy Thread.’ Wondering what that could be, I approached for a closer look, but….
No. What in the world.
Not only was I seeing a lump of scrap metal I’d never seen before trembling and moving, but… wasn’t a thin thread being pulled out from it?
As that thread was wound around a long stick, a food resembling a ball of thread was made. From the start, it was questionable whether it was even food.
“Zeon. What is this? Explain it to me.”
“It’s a type of dessert where sugar is pulled into very thin threads, wound around, and then either bitten into or sucked. Since it’s thin sugar, it’s crispy, sweet, and delicious.”
Zeon stuck close to my side, explaining things busily. Then, he offered me something he had bought, telling me to try it.
As I broke it open and ate it as I was told, the thin sugar crumbled and melted in my mouth. It might have been my imagination, but it tasted a little different from regular sugar. To think that sugar, which can be found anywhere, could change its appearance like this. The progress of humans was so dazzling that it was simply astonishing.
While I was busy experiencing this new world, the time for the Colosseum Ranking Battle was approaching.
“We should start moving soon.”
Herman, who had checked the time, raised his head.
“Where do we have to go?”
“Ah, the Colosseum entrance! Isn’t that it?”
Following my question, Tom, who had discovered something, pointed to the right. When I turned in that direction, a huge Gate was being created there. It was shaped like a black, elongated oval.
We were close enough that we quickly arrived in front of the Gate. Familiar faces, including Polargehen, were standing around the Gate. The person who created the Gate seemed to be Sigras Yggdrasil, the professor in charge of Class A of the Swordsmanship Department, whom I had seen at the entrance ceremony the other day.
“So, the Colosseum is referring to an Imaginary Space.”
“That’s right.”
Herman nodded and replied to my muttering.
Imaginary Space.
It refers to an ‘artificial’ space created by Magic that involves dimensions and senses, completely separated from this world.
Usually, the more complex and diverse the senses that are reproduced in the space, the more skill and Mana are required. Therefore, a proper space cannot be created unless one is a high achiever who has accumulated skill close to a master…
“Wow. It’s the sky!”
At Tom’s loud shout as he entered the Gate, I also took a quick look inside.
A clear sky and white clouds, no different from the real thing. A gentle breeze blowing from somewhere. The Colosseum was large and magnificent enough to accommodate all the students and professors of Merzel Academy, as well as nearly a few hundred outsiders. In front of it were roads and tree-lined streets.
Everything was so elaborate and realistic that it was admirable.
‘So, this is what it’s like to be a 7-star.’
I thought back to the person who had created the Gate. Sigras Yggdrasil. She was a woman with considerable beauty, comparable to Ardian in terms of looks alone.
And hair with a light golden hue and sparkling light blue eyes.
I couldn’t be sure because her ears were covered by her hair, but I knew one race that had those characteristics.