017 The First Expulsion

In the darkened schoolyard, before we had even finished our self-introductions, we spoke with our fists—no, with clashing steel and sorcery.

Most of the students were now physically and mentally spent, covered in wounds and hanging their heads in exhaustion.

Except for me, of course.

"That is enough," Chloe declared. Her eyes were cold enough to kill, and right now, they were fixed on a single student.

"W-wait, please! Just give me a second! I was training until late last night, I’ve used up all my mana—"

"I don't need your excuses. Pack your bags. We will provide a carriage for your departure. Thank you for your time... Louis Meacent."

The entire yard fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone probably thought it was impossible to be expelled so soon after enrollment. However, the flat, indifferent tone in Chloe’s voice made it clear she wasn't joking.

The test had been a series of one-on-one duels, just like the mock exam. I had won every single match, and so had Lilith and Cynthia. As everyone else watched their points slowly dwindle, our balances had been steadily climbing.

Ironically enough, the one who had finally sent Louis spiraling into the abyss was Allen.

It was a cruel twist of fate, but then again, Allen didn't have a choice. If he had lost, he would have been the one getting the boot. Still, it felt like such a "protagonist" thing to do. Maybe it was the world’s narrative force at work, or maybe some invisible hand was gripping him by the throat and forcing him through the plot.

Looking at him now, Allen seemed more worried about Louis than happy about his own victory.

"Professor Chloe, please! Take it back!" Allen pleaded. "He really didn't have any mana left! This... this isn't fair!"

"Oh, Allen. If you feel that strongly about it, I could always transfer all your points to him. Shall we do that? Of course, you’ll be the one forced to disappear in his place."

Allen tried to push back even harder, but Shari moved quickly to stop him. If he defied Chloe any further, she’d definitely make good on her threat.

Louis sat on the ground, head bowed, but his expression gradually shifted until his face was contorted like a demon's.

"I am Louis, the eldest son of the Miscent Family! My family contributes more to this Academy than anyone! Do you have any idea what you're doing!?"

"I am aware. It is simply that you were a failure. That is all."

That cold, heartless remark completely broke Louis’s spirit.

Truth be age, I was actually pretty shocked myself. In the original game, Louis wasn't a failure at all. On the contrary, he had the potential to be a top-tier student. He was supposed to graduate with honors near the top of the class.

This is my fault. It has to be.

In the original timeline, I was supposed to have a massive amount of points stolen by Louis. Because I’d prevented that, the entire scenario had gone up in flames. It was almost comical that Allen was the one to knock him down instead... Heh. Heh-heh. This is getting interesting.

This wasn't the Nobless Academy I remembered anymore.

"Today’s lesson is concluded," Chloe said, turning to leave. "A carriage is available for those returning home. For those who lack the energy to move, you may use the guest dormitories."

As Chloe walked away, the students began to shuffle off one by one, casting pitying glances at the despondent Louis. The atmosphere was incredibly grim for the first day of school, but I found it exhilarating.

The Point System... I’d take this high-stakes tension over "holding hands and being friends" any day.

Maybe I really am suited to be Weiss Fancent.

"Lord Weiss, shall we head back? It's just about time for dinner," Cynthia said.

"...Aren't you scared, Cynthia?"

"Of what?"

"Well, you know... someone just got expelled."

"If they lost, they lost. It can't be helped, right?"

"I feel the same way! I’m starving~!" Lilith added.

To my surprise, both Cynthia and Lilith looked completely unfazed. They were apparently way more cold-blooded—or maybe just strong-willed—than I’d imagined. Honestly, it kind of made me like them even more.

The Academy dorms were high-end facilities, presumably designed so the young nobles could live without having to lower their standard of living. We had state-of-the-art magical lighting, automatic magic doors, and even full bathtubs.

Students at Nobless Academy were divided into three years: Upperclassmen, Middleclassmen, and Underclassmen. There were three separate wings, further divided by gender. Just looking at the layout gave me a headache—it was massive.

However, the cafeteria, meeting rooms, and other recreational facilities were shared. While each wing was connected, the Magic Mark on the back of our hands acted as a card key for access.

Since our luggage had already been delivered to our rooms, we headed straight to the cafeteria to fill our stomachs.

Because it was so late, there were no upperclassmen in sight. We sat at one of the long rows of tables, and I flagged down one of the staff members to order some food. As expected of the Academy, every ingredient—from the bread to the meat—was top-shelf.

If I had to complain about one thing, I would've liked a bit more protein and a little less salt. I found myself missing Zebis's cooking, if only for a second.

"This is reasonably tasty," Cynthia noted. "Though it's a step below what my family's chef produces."

"I can't believe all of this is free! I'm so happy!" Lilith chimed in.

She was right; all facilities for registered students, including meals, were free of charge. Training halls and study rooms were also available whenever we wanted them.

The quiet didn't last long, as the rest of our classmates eventually trickled in. Most were the ones who had performed well on Chloe's test—they clearly had thick skin. Among them, I spotted Allen and Shari. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I imagined it was something like, "You need to eat to keep your strength up."

Shari was the daughter of a Viscount. She was the "childhood friend" archetype who had met the commoner Allen by chance, became interested in him, and followed him all the way here.

"Are you really that interested in him? In Allen?"

Cynthia’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I smiled, realizing I’d been staring.

I guess I am paying attention to him.

I looked down at the back of my right hand. Including the points I’d snatched from the others, my display read: [2500]. In contrast, Allen was likely hovering right around [100].

I still hadn't decided what to do with him.

Just then, Lilith dropped a gold coin while reaching for a handkerchief. It was a significant amount of money in this world. As I picked it up, I remembered something she’d said to me before.

—This is perfect.

"Lilith, can I borrow this for a second?"

"Huh? I don't mind, but what for?"

"A test of luck."

If it landed on heads, I’d try to stay on Allen’s good side until graduation and avoid my own ruin through friendship.

If it landed on tails, I’d crush him head-on and tear the whole story to pieces.

Either way, it was going to be fun.

I balanced the coin on my thumb and flicked it. It let out a sharp, satisfying ring as it soared toward the ceiling. The currency of this kingdom featured a castle on the heads side. The tails side featured a dragon—the ultimate symbol of power.

Maybe I was more nervous than I thought, because I botched the catch. The coin missed my palm, hit the floor, and rolled away. It wobbled past several tables before colliding with a man’s shoe, where it spun in circles for a moment before finally falling flat.

The man picked it up and approached me with a refreshing, breezy smile. He had such a carefree, friendly face that it made me feel an immediate, intense surge of irritation.

"Weiss, you dropped this."

"Thanks... Allen."

He handed me the coin. The dragon was facing up, glaring at me.