"—And with that, today's examinations have concluded. The results will be posted on the bulletin board in three days. Everyone should return to the student dormitory now and recover from the day's exertions."
The robed teacher’s announcement echoed through the hall, and the stifling tension finally broke.
Heavy sighs and voices thick with exhaustion rose from the crowd in every corner of the arena.
Having been dismissed, we made our way out of the venue to find the sky painted in deep hues of crimson and gold. We joined the flow of students heading toward the student dormitory, our silhouettes stretched long by the setting sun.
"Finally over... I have to say, going up against those golems was actually a blast."
Yuu laughed, looking genuinely satisfied.
"You charged in headfirst! I was on edge just watching you," Ciel remarked with a shake of her head.
"I dodged everything, didn't I? Besides, I parried the dangerous hits with my sword."
Beside me, the two of them continued their banter as they walked.
True to their status as active adventurers, they showed no signs of exhaustion. Their faces were far brighter than the students around us, likely owing to their confidence in the results.
"I managed to show proper results as well!"
Walking on my other side, Lene spoke with a beaming smile.
The dejected aura she had carried after the mana measurement had vanished without a trace.
"Yeah. Your swordsmanship was as brilliant as ever. As expected of my maid."
"Of course! I won’t give up my position as Rai-sama’s personal maid to anyone!"
"...Lene, regardless of the results, you're still my personal maid. That isn't going to change."
I wondered when exactly this class placement exam had turned into a battlefield over the right to be my maid. I was lost in such thoughts as I walked the path to the dormitory with the three of them when—
"Everyone."
A dignified voice rang out from directly ahead.
Standing majestically before the crowd of transfer students was a lone girl.
The Student Council President—Elicia Loewenhart.
Her lapis-colored hair drifted in the evening breeze. Standing against the backdrop of the dying sun, she possessed an overwhelming presence, as if she were the very center of the world.
At her appearance, the surrounding chatter naturally died down into a hush.
"I was permitted to observe all of today's exams."
Her voice was calm and composed.
It was neither too low nor too high, a clear voice that carried perfectly as she continued.
"In an unfamiliar environment, you were likely bewildered by your surroundings. However, you did not falter; you showed us your strength. I am convinced that every student here possesses remarkable skill and talent. —Especially..."
Taking a brief pause, her deep purple eyes stared straight at me.
The smile she wore was beautiful enough to enchant anyone, and her gaze was filled with an unmistakable heat.
"You. Rai Arkberg."
In an instant, I felt the eyes of everyone else converge on me.
It was the same scene as when I broke the crystal during the mana measurement or when I instantly killed the golem; it was more than a little uncomfortable. It wasn't as if I enjoyed standing out.
Whether she noticed my inner discomfort or not, Elicia walked toward me.
"Ability Reinforcement magic appears simple, but it is extremely difficult to master. It constantly consumes a vast amount of mana. If you lose control for even a second, your mana will be depleted instantly—and in the worst-case scenario, it can lead to death."
I nodded at Elicia’s point.
In the game, depending on how Yuu progressed (if he went with a Pure Mage Build), he could learn and use Ability Reinforcement magic without much trouble. In reality, however, the difficulty of mastering it was absurdly high. The reason, as Elicia just said, was that using it required a massive, constant supply of mana.
Most mages gave up for that very reason.
No one wanted to use a spell where a lack of mana meant the very real possibility of death.
In that sense, I, who handled it as naturally as breathing, was likely an anomaly.
Elicia approached with quiet steps until she was right in front of me, then tilted her chin up slightly to meet my eyes.
"You maximize your reinforcement only for the split second it's needed, then deactivate it the moment the job is done. Hehe. As always, your efficiency is so perfect it's almost enchanting."
"You praise me too much. Anyone could do that much if they had the mana."
Even Yuu, the protagonist who came from a commoner background, could master the spell in the late game. If one trained to increase their absolute mana capacity, anyone should be able to use it.
"Too much humility can sound like sarcasm, you know?"
"...I see. I'll be careful from now on."
"Yes. Please do."
After a beat, Elicia smiled softly.
"After all, I simply can't bear to hear my fiancé spoken of poorly."
The world seemed to stop for everyone around us at Elicia’s bombshell statement.
The students fell silent all at once, but as their understanding caught up a moment later, a ripple of whispers began to spread: "Fiancé? Him and the Student Council President?"
The gazes of the surrounding transfer students grew sharp, while Yuu and Ciel, who were listening nearby, stood frozen with their mouths agape.
"U-Um... is what you just said true?"
After a long silence, Ciel asked, sounding utterly bewildered.
"Well, yeah. That said, it’s an engagement arranged between our families. To put it simply, it’s essentially a political marriage. Elicia’s family, in particular, is a prestigious house that has made conquering the Primal Labyrinth their long-held ambition. They are serious about joining the bloodlines of two Duke houses to give birth to the hero of the next generation."
"I don't really get it, but it sounds intense."
Yuu muttered as if he couldn't quite process the information.
That was only natural. He was a boy of purely commoner origin. He had lived a life entirely removed from the political maneuvering and strategic marriages of the nobility.
In fact, if he were too quick to understand, it might trigger some unnecessary flag like he was actually of noble birth. For everyone's sake, I hoped he stayed exactly as he was.
"It would be a lie to say there’s no calculation involved. —But that isn't the only reason it was decided."
Saying that, Elicia moved to my side.
She placed her hand over mine and interlaced our fingers in a lover's grasp. The moment our fingertips entwined, the surrounding air grew even colder.
Her profile, illuminated by the sunset, was beautiful and provocative.
She narrowed her eyes.
"I accepted the engagement after confirming both his skill and his character with my own eyes."
A stir of excitement spread through the crowd.
"We have spent the night together more than once or twice."
At Elicia's next bombshell, a high-pitched "Kyaa!!" erupted from somewhere in the crowd.
Technically, that did happen. It had been in her private room at House Loewenhart, when we were scouring through mountains of old documents for any mention of the Primal Labyrinth.
We had both been so absorbed that by the time we noticed the time, it was morning—it had been a perfectly wholesome, academic night.
However, the people around us interpreted it quite differently.
"Spent the night...!?"
"And more than once or twice... just how far have they—"
Whispers hissed through the crowd.
When I instinctively looked toward Yuu and the others, Yuu’s eyes were wide, and Ciel was bright red, covering her mouth with one hand. As for Lene, she was trembling with teary eyes, looking back and forth between Elicia and me.
Her expression screamed: I haven't heard anything about this!
"Stop saying things in a way that invites misunderstanding."
"It's the truth, isn't it?"
Elicia tilted her head slightly, looking completely unrepentant.
Her expression remained fixed in a smile, and she looked as if she were thoroughly enjoying the situation. ...No, she definitely was. It was rare for her to be in such a visibly good mood.
Still, I needed her to clear the air.
"Elicia. You and I are of pure body. Correct?"
"Umu. For 'now,' yes."
Why did she have to emphasize the "now"?
Did she not realize the commotion was growing because of that? Or was she doing it on purpose? ...It was definitely the latter. She was far too brilliant not to realize how her words were being received.
"Elicia."
"Hehe, perhaps I teased you a bit too much."
Saying that in a soft voice, Elicia slowly released our interlaced fingers.
She then took a step forward and looked out over the transfer students once more.
"To ensure there is no misunderstanding: he and I were simply discussing the Primal Labyrinth and researching documents together. We have done nothing of the sort that you are all imagining."
The chattering stopped abruptly.
Satisfied with the result, she smiled quietly.
"You should rest your bodies well tonight. No matter which class you are assigned to, I intend to walk alongside you all."
With those concluding words, she started to turn on her heel—then suddenly looked back at me.
"Rai."
My name was called, and all eyes converged on me once again.
Suppressing my discomfort, I replied with a simple, "What is it?" Elicia continued, seemingly oblivious to the scrutiny.
"I have something to discuss with you. About today’s exam, and about the future."
She leaned in close, pressing her body against mine. Then, she brought her lips to my ear and whispered.
"I want you to come to my room tonight. I'll be waiting for you."
I felt the commotion grow even more intense at those words.
Paying no mind to the chaos she had caused, Elicia simply announced, "Then, dismissed," and walked away quietly into the sunset.
What remained was a heavy silence and several meaningful stares piercing into me from every direction.
Feeling more exhausted than I had during the combat exam, I began walking toward the student dormitory, still the center of everyone's attention.
(About the future, huh... That works out. I have business with her as well.)
I thought to myself as I walked.