153: Partner Selection

"...Good grief, talk about overkill."

Having surpassed the required point threshold, I had officially been promoted to B-class.

My new room was several times larger than the previous one. It even came equipped with a water server—a luxury unheard of in this era. The bed had been upgraded from a Queen to a King, and a small mountain of pillows was lined up across the headboard.

In line with the school’s "Carrot and Stick" philosophy, lower-ranked students were technically forbidden from entering higher-ranked dorms, though the rules were so lax they were practically non-existent. Still, if I made a habit of flaunting it, I’d probably get a lecture.

Inside the mini-fridge sat a Melo-Melon I had "acquired" (read: stolen) during our trip. I planned to eat it piece by piece as a nightly reward for myself. It’s these little daily rituals that build the man I’ll become in the future.

I’d certainly enjoyed my time off, but it was time to get back to work. Just then, the sound of the shower caught my ear.

I hurried over and threw the door open, only to find—

"Debi-debi-bi♪ Debi!?"

"Scrub all you want, you’re not going to turn white just because you're clean."

"Debi-bi..."

It was Debi. He’d finally graduated to taking actual showers. When I’d given him a single Melo-Melon the other day, he apparently found it so delicious that he’d spent the rest of the day zooming around the sky in a sugar-fueled frenzy. Apparently, we share the same palate. Well, I suppose he’s cute in his own way.

"We’re going to be busy starting today. Get your warm-ups in."

"Debi-bi!"

Thinking back on the classes and exams from our time as lowerclassmen, everything had been a brutal slog. The first year was about building a foundation; the second year was where you sublimated those abilities. I knew the drill from the Original Story, and today was the first step.

From here on out, more and more people would be left in the dust. Even if it was someone I knew personally, I couldn't afford to let sentimentality cloud my judgment. The life of a Noblesse isn't that soft.

But first, priorities.

"I think I’ll have just one slice of Melo-Melon before I head out."

"Debi-bi!?"

Ugh, sharp-eyed little devil.

---

While I was waiting in the courtyard, something truly shocking happened. In the Original Story, only Chloe was supposed to be here, but Teacher Milk, Darius, and Teacher Coco all showed up as well.

Even I was stunned. The rest of the students erupted into a noisy chatter.

"Silence! As previously announced, today we will determine your pairs. Choose wisely. These people may become your most important partners for the year—or perhaps for the rest of your lives."

"Composite Magic is the most vital skill taught at Noblesse," Teacher Milk added, following Chloe’s sharp command. "It is the school's most guarded secret. Bear that in mind."

The courtyard became deathly quiet—so quiet that Darius felt the need to play peacemaker.

"Now, now. It’s exactly as the other teachers said, but don't forget that compatibility matters too. Right, Teacher Coco?"

"Is that so? I’d think they should just focus on whoever provides the most mutual benefit," she replied.

"……"

Darius’s attempt at a "nice pass" fell completely flat. Teacher Coco let out a little "fufu" giggle and stepped forward.

"I’m joking. Of course ability matters, but whether or not you actually click is even more important. Some of you have shared life-and-death experiences already—though there’s plenty I still don't know about you all. I'm sure there’s some sentimentality involved. However, on the battlefield, feelings are just a hindrance. You need to ask yourself: whose ability benefits me most? That should be your primary concern. Wait… did I just go back to talking about benefits?"

The students laughed. These kids had already lived through a much harsher reality than the characters in the Original Story. My very presence was likely a massive headache for them, yet they were still clawing their way up. Everyone’s baseline had been raised; even the nameless "mob" characters weren't to be trifled with anymore.

I shifted my gaze toward Cynthia. She was looking straight ahead, listening intently.

Composite Magic was similar to the way she had attached Ice Wings to me before. Once they hit their intermediate year, Noblesse students spent a year revealing their abilities to one another, making fine adjustments to master the art of combining them. It was almost impossible to acquire new attributes naturally, but by understanding the principles and elements of another person’s power, you could fundamentally change your own magic.

If it went well, you could end up with something as rare and powerful as Cynthia’s ice.

Furthermore, these pairs often stayed together after graduation. In the case of mixed-gender pairs, many ended up getting married.

Then came the next surprise.

"This is a technique I mastered and refined during my own time here at Noblesse."

Teacher Milk stepped forward, her right-hand sword erupting in flames while a thin membrane of water coated her body. In the Original Story, this was practically an ultimate technique. To think she was showing it off now...

"It boosts my attack power, obviously, but the water also repels any incoming strikes. There’s more to it than that, but you’ll see. For the next month, I want you to cycle through various partners. Fight. Reveal everything. Measure each other’s worth."

"Just like Milk said," Darius added. "Don't be afraid to keep it casual at first. But mark my words: when you find someone you're truly compatible with, you won't even have to think about it. You'll just know."

"My, Darius. How poetic of you."

"Teacher Coco, please don't tease me now..."

Despite the friendly banter between the teachers, the weight of the lecture was clear. From that day on, the partner-selection period officially began.

"Weiss, may we?" Cynthia asked.

"Yeah, of course."

It was the obvious choice given our history. Other pairs started forming as well; Allen, for instance, was paired with Lilith. The classes were simple enough—standard tag matches and flag-capture games.

"Winners: Weiss and Cynthia!"

"We did it, Weiss!"

"Yeah. It was perfect."

The next day, I paired up with Lilith. We took first place, naturally. I cycled through a few others over the next week and maintained high scores across the board. But as the days bled into a week, everyone began to realize the truth.

Some people just didn't fit.

It wasn't just a matter of "compatibility" in the abstract; it was a fundamental clash of innate abilities. Personality played a role too. Someone who wanted to charge forward to win might be held back by a partner who wanted to retreat to secure the victory. Some people believed probability should be ignored on the battlefield, and they weren't necessarily wrong.

On the night before the final deadline, I sat in my room with Cynthia.

"Weiss... it’s finally tomorrow."

"Yeah."

We drifted from idle chatter into nostalgia. We talked about the day we met, the dinner parties—it all felt like a lifetime ago.

But then...

"Weiss, I love you. That will never change. However—"

"I know, Cynthia. I have no intention of leaving your side, but pairing up now wouldn't be for either of our benefits. You’re the only lifelong partner for me."

"—And you are mine. I love you."

That night, we decided not to become official partners.

The next morning, the Partner Applications began in earnest. While it was possible to change later, the students had spent a month of intensive training together. Most had made up their minds.

I watched as Cynthia stepped forward with Allen.

"I request a Partner Application with Allen."

"I, Allen, request a Partner Application with Cynthia Violetta."

In the Original Story, Allen and Cynthia were a pair. Their compatibility was, quite literally, the best in the world. Her ice was perfectly suited for the protagonist, and even with Allen’s new Copy ability, that fundamental truth remained. From a world-building perspective, it made perfect sense. She was the heroine, after all.

Honestly, I felt proud of her. She’d made the strategic choice without letting her feelings get in the way.

"Duke, shall we?"

"Yeah, Lilith. Let's do this."

It was fascinating to see how the other pairs differed from the Original Story. Lilith and Duke? High-speed movement combined with his raw power… that was a terrifying prospect.

"Cecil, let's give it our all!"

"Of course, Tura."

Tura and Cecil were the biggest surprise. But considering Cecil now used Construction Formula to supplement her swordsmanship, adding Tura’s "reckless charge" energy to her tactical brain was going to be a nightmare for their opponents.

"Carta! Looking forward to it!"

"Same here! Let's take first place in everything!"

And then there was Carta and Olynn. Currently, I considered them the biggest threat. Olynn still needed a staff, but he’d mastered flight. Their range of movement was absurd. Controlling Subjugation monsters from a safe distance while raining down massive Mana Cannon blasts from the sky? That was just cheating.

Heh. This is getting interesting.

Finally, it was my turn.

"Shari, let's go."

"A-Are you sure? You really want me?"

"Yeah. It has to be you."

"……I understand."

"But if you don't want to—"

"That’s not it! There isn't a single person in Noblesse who would say no to you, Weiss."

Shari’s eyes were filled with a fierce, unwavering determination. She commanded Spirits—a rare talent that no one else could learn. Because her power was so unique, it didn't mesh well with others, making her a "bad" partner by standard school metrics. And Noblesse wasn't the kind of place that made exceptions for "difficult" students.

But I was different.

I already had the Four Great Elements, plus Light and Darkness. I was already planning to incorporate Enhancement Attributes. If I wanted to master everything, pairing with Shari was a non-negotiable requirement. In the Original Story, Shari died, and Allen inherited her Spirits.

As someone who understood the true logic of Noblesse Oblige, this was the only logical path. But even beyond strategy, I knew just how much talent she actually had.

"I, Weiss Fancent, request a Partner Application with Shari Elias."

"And I, Shari Elias, request an application with Weiss Fancent."

The real battle starts now. I will win. I'll beat the monsters, the Demon Race, and the Demon King himself.

Isn't that right, Weiss?