I was left alone at the entrance of the Boys' Dormitory with a Student Council President I’d only just met.
"Uh, let me introduce myself properly. I'm Tsukasa Nagase. Nice to meet you."
"Yes... are you from Japan?"
Did she guess that from my name?
"That’s right."
"I see... You seem quite young. How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"Oh? We’re the same age."
Is that so?
She certainly looked older than me. Sharleen was shorter than I was, but taller than Toko—probably around 160 centimeters. She had excellent posture and a graceful figure. Between her refined features and her cute, long side-tail, she definitely didn't give off the vibe of a commoner. Was she one of the high-class young ladies Toko had warned me about? It would make sense, given she was the Student Council President.
"It was Sharleen-san, right?"
"Yes. Sharleen Hivert. It’s a bit of a mouthful, isn't it? You can just call me Shar."
Hivert...
It sounded like the name of a prestigious family. I didn't know for sure, but she was clearly a lady. I’d have to be careful.
"Sorry to bother you on your day off."
"It's fine. This is part of the Student Council President's job, anyway."
"Wait, do you actually have a student council here?"
"Of course we do. We have to organize student opinions and handle all sorts of matters."
Huh...
"Is showing me around part of that?"
"Normally a teacher would do it, but your enrollment was decided so suddenly. There weren't any teachers available, so they asked me. By the way, why did you come to this academy so late? If you're sixteen, you should be a freshman, right? What about your old high school?"
I couldn't exactly mention the bracelet...
"I flunked the exams for a regular high school and was living as a NEET. Then my parents told me I had to come here."
The most depressing part about that excuse was that it wasn't a lie—it was the literal truth.
"I-I see... I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked."
Shar was visibly flustered, her expression practically screaming that she regretted bringing it up.
"Well, don't worry about me. Sorry for ruining your day off, but please, lead the way. I haven't been told a single thing about this place."
"R-right. Let's head outside first... Wait, why are you barefoot?"
Shar looked down at my feet and tilted her head.
"Ah, I was just in my room until a second ago."
I’d have to make sure I had shoes ready from now on.
"Ah... right, Japan is like that, isn't it?"
She was well-informed.
"I'll go grab them."
"No, there are slippers for guests here. Those will do."
Shar pointed toward a rack of slippers.
"Oh, these are fine, then."
"Yes. Let's go."
I slipped them on and stepped out of the dormitory with Shar. It turned out the building was situated on a hill, offering a panoramic view of the surroundings.
"Whoa, incredible! Astral is huge."
Countless buildings were lined up in the distance, and because there were so few tall structures, I could see for miles. Honestly, I’d imagined a much smaller world, but the town stretched out until it hit the horizon.
"Is this your first time in Astral?"
"My first. Honestly, I only learned it existed a few days ago."
"Wait... aren't you from a mage family?"
So that’s what she assumed.
"Yeah, I am. But I didn't have any talent, so I planned to live a normal life."
"No talent? You seem to possess a considerable amount of mana, though..."
"Just the amount. I can't use it at all. I can't even manage basic Fire Magic."
"I-is that so... then why would they send you to this world... oh, I’m sorry."
Remembering the NEET comment, she apologized again.
"Don't worry about it. More importantly, how big is Astral?"
"The total area of Astral is about one-fourth the size of Earth. This town is called Ain, and it covers about 100 square kilometers. It’s roughly the size of Paris."
Paris...
The capital of France, where the La Forge family lived. Not that knowing that helped me visualize the size much.
"Are you from France, Shar?"
"Well, I suppose so."
I guess we shared some common ground, then.
"Am I allowed to go into town too?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't you be?"
"Well, everyone here fled from the Witch Hunt, right? I wondered if they’d be discriminatory toward outsiders."
I didn't want people throwing stones at me.
"It’s not like that at all... Or rather, do you really know nothing about this place?"
"Nothing. I haven't been told a thing."
"Normally people know a bit more before they arrive... ah... w-well, fine. I'll explain it to you."
She’d remembered the NEET thing again.
"Please do."
"To start with, only mages can come here. You used a Gate to get in, right?"
"A Gate... that black door?"
"Yes, that."
The Headmaster had called it a Gate too, so that was the official name.
"Yeah, they just installed one in my room."
"Only mages can use those. In fact, ordinary people can't even see them."
Heh...
"Do you use a Gate to get around, Shar?"
"I do. I come here from the Girls' Dormitory."
The Girls' Dormitory, huh? That meant she might know Toko, since they were the same age. I’d keep my mouth shut about that, though—I didn't want anyone finding out we were siblings.
"So, what about the Gates?"
"The point is that only mages can reach this place. To us, mages are compatriots and precious allies. No one is going to throw stones at someone like that."
I suppose the inverse was that they might throw stones at someone who wasn't a mage.
"Is it peaceful here, then? No fighting?"
"......Just what family are you from, anyway?"
"I told you, I'm a Nagase. Not that you’d know the name."
Zero name recognition.
"Are there no families that hate each other?"
"You don't even know that?"
"Nope."
"Hmm... peaceful and without conflict? Not a chance. Prestigious families are constantly feuding, and there are plenty of rough characters around. It's the same as the other world. We’re all only human, after all."
I guess people were the same no matter the world. Still, I could probably handle a thug or two.
"I’ll have to take a look around once I’ve settled in."
"I think that's a good idea. Unlike your world, they sell all kinds of magical tools and gadgets. Oh, but there are restrictions on taking magic tools back to the other world, so I wouldn't recommend it. Also, make sure you don't get lost."
Good to know.
"You should take me sometime."
"Is that a date invitation? How bold of you."
"I have no money, though."
Could I even use yen here?
"I see. I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Joking aside, showing you around the whole town would take quite a while."
I didn't know much about Paris, but 100 square kilometers sounded massive.
"Do you have a map?"
"Not on me, but I have one in my room. I'll give it to you later. For today, let's focus on the academy."
She was actually quite kind.
"Thanks. Are those the school buildings?"
At the bottom of the hill, I could see four buildings lined up next to a large, circular structure that looked like an arena.
"Yes. Those four. Buildings A through D. On every building, the first floor is for first-years, the second for second-years, and the third for third-years. Which class are you in?"
"Class D, I think."
"Then you’ll be in Building D. That one over there."
Shar pointed to the building closest to us.
"What about you, Shar?"
"I’m in Class C, so I’m in Building C."
She pointed to the building next to mine.
"Just asking, but do the class divisions mean anything? Like, is Class D the 'worst' class?"
Since that's where they put me.
"Nothing like that. At the very least, they aren't ranked by grades."
Is that so...
"What’s that coliseum-looking thing?"
I pointed to the circular building next to the four schoolhouses.
"That's the Training Grounds."
"Training Grounds?"
"It’s where you go to let loose with magic. It would be dangerous to cast spells just anywhere, wouldn't it?"
That made sense.
"It looks exactly like a coliseum, though."
"Well, people do use it for fights..."
"They do?"
"Yes. There's special magic cast on that area. But we can worry about that later. Come on, I'll show you the school buildings. Follow me."
Shar started walking down the path leading off the hill. Partway down, I noticed another path branching upward.
"Where does that lead?"
"That goes to the Girls' Dormitory. Boys are strictly forbidden past this point."
Huh...
"Is it true you get thrown in a dungeon if you go there?"
"It is. Honestly, though, the dungeon is the merciful option. Everyone in there is a mage; if they catch you, they'll beat the life out of you."
Terrifying.
"What about romance? Like sneaking off to see a lover?"
"Meet them outside. There are plenty of places in town for that... Come on, let's go."
Shar’s cheeks flushed pink, and she hurried down the hill. I scrambled to catch up with her.