After completing the necessary procedures, including medical checkups, Lydia and her friends officially enrolled in the Officers' Academy.
Naturally, the rumors had already begun to circulate.
Word was spreading that the geniuses who had made names for themselves at the Arnold Magic Academy were arriving.
Few welcomed the news. In every age, those who stand out are destined to be loathed. They say the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, and that was exactly the reality they were about to face.
"So we end up in the same room after all. Oh, and I’m taking this bed for myself! The two of you can play nice and share the bunk bed."
"Caro-caro is so happy~☆ Looking forward to it, Lydia-chan! Abby-chan!"
"……Sigh."
It was a sign of the many difficulties to come.
In the Officers' Academy dormitories, rooms were typically shared by four cadets, but as a matter of special treatment, the three of them were assigned to live together in a single room.
Originally, all three were scheduled to remain here for only six months. Once the half-year curriculum was completed, they would move on to field training on-site. By completing this accelerated course, the arrangement was that these three would graduate from the Officers' Academy with flying colors.
That story had already spread throughout the academy as well.
Some cadets clearly felt that while they themselves were struggling, the idea of completing the course in just a single year was absurd.
"Well then, it's time for training. Let's not be late."
"Yeah."
"Yes, yes~!!"
Led by Abby, the three of them headed straight for the training grounds outside.
When they arrived, harsh glares were directed at them from every side. The people here were those who had already spent three years at the Officers' Academy and had only one year left until graduation.
Then these three joined them, effectively skipping years of work. Moreover, they had been mere students until just a few months ago. It was, in a sense, only natural for the others to find the situation grating.
"Hoh... So you're the 'super-elites' I've been hearing about?"
A man of overwhelming physical stature approached them. His brown hair was cropped short, and his eyes glared at them sharply.
"Ha? Who are you?"
Without being intimidated in the least, Lydia spoke up. She had dealt with sorcerers larger than herself many times before.
Besides, she knew that physical size was not everything.
"Looks like you're the one called Lydia Ainsworth."
"I am. Heh. It seems I’m quite the celebrity."
"Don't get cocky. Well, don't think for a second you'll be able to keep up with this training, alright?"
The atmosphere was thick with tension, but the man walked away after saying his piece.
"Hey, Lydia. Don't make a scene, okay?"
"Huh? I didn't even do anything."
"You were planning on taking him down if he tried anything, weren't you?"
"Hehe. You can tell? Well, back when I was a student, there were only half-hearted people around. I'm glad there seems to be someone with some backbone here. Kukuku..."
She wore a wicked smile.
Indeed, as far as Lydia was concerned, there were almost no peers who could hold a candle to her during her student days. In a magic battle, perhaps only Abby could come close.
Carol didn't particularly like magic battles because she didn't want her face or hair to get dirty.
"Alright. You're all here. We're starting today's training."
When a man who appeared to be an instructor arrived, the officer cadets fell into line. Their faces were marked with a distinct sense of tension.
"As you know, we have newcomers. However, I will not give them special treatment. Today's training will proceed as usual."
Those words were meant to clearly state that Lydia and the others would not receive favoritism.
It seemed that even during training, no special consideration would be shown. The three of them took this for granted.
"Now then, let's see. First, we'll time a ten-kilometer run. No Physical Reinforcement through magic. Everyone, line up at your designated positions."
Prompted by his command, the cadets began to line up on the track. Amidst them, Lydia alone was grinning happily.
"Starting off with a run, huh? This is getting me fired up... Heh."
The way she laughed to herself made her look like a complete deviant. Even if someone accepted that they had to complete this training, there shouldn't have been anyone actually enjoying it.
Except, of course, for Lydia Ainsworth.
"Now—begin!!"
At the instructor's command, everyone started running at full speed.
Lydia was the one leading the charge at the front.
"Hahaha! I'm becoming the wind! Wahaha!!"
As someone who loved moving her body, she dashed ahead without even considering her pace.
One might have thought no one could possibly keep up with her... but the man who had confronted Lydia earlier was running right alongside her.
"Hey. Don't get too carried away."
"Oh! You can keep up with this pace!?"
"Don't give me that. You're probably just going all out because you want to show off, right? You'll burn out soon enough. You're about to learn a woman's limits."
"Kukuku... I'm glad there's someone like you around."
However, Lydia's pace never wavered. She completed a lap of the track with beautiful form, her speed remaining as steady as ever.
"...Gh! Dammit! What's going on!?"
The man was barely hanging on, but his face clearly showed he was struggling. Lydia, on the other hand, continued to run with a broad smile.
"Wahaha! How's that? Can you keep up with the Falcon of the Kingdom?! Gahaha!"
And finally, Lydia pulled away into a solo lead. Even he couldn't keep up with her abnormal pace and was forced to fall behind.
Far from slowing down, her speed actually increased. Since it had been a while since she had been timed for a run, her excitement was peaking.
"...Alright. That should do it."
Lydia finished the ten-kilometer run in an undisputed first place.
While steadying her slightly ragged breath, she wiped the sweat pouring from her forehead.
"Ainsworth."
"Yes. What is it, Instructor?"
Lydia treated the instructor with courtesy. While she might have seemed like an outlaw at first glance, she possessed a certain degree of common sense.
"You really didn't use magic, did you?"
"Shouldn't you be the one who knows that best, Instructor? You had a wide-range interference-type perception magic active so you could perceive any signs of magic immediately, didn't you?"
Just as she said, the instructor had deployed perception magic to ensure there was no cheating. This was so he would know the moment anyone manipulated Prima Materia.
"...You could tell?"
"Yes. I felt it the moment I started running."
"I see. It seems you're even more capable than the rumors suggested."
"I am honored."
She bowed politely.
After that, the others crossed the finish line one after another. Abby finished smoothly in the upper ranks. Carol also finished in the middle of the pack, her twin-tails swaying as she ran.
To be blunt, the fact that they didn't end up in the lower ranks among this group proved how excellent they were.
The people here were all veterans who had been training for three years already.
Among them, the three who could keep up perfectly were undoubtedly outstanding not only in terms of magic but also physically.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
"Oh! Looks like you finished in the upper group. Well, you didn't come anywhere near me, though!"
Lydia patted his shoulder repeatedly.
"Dammit... Ainsworth. Don't get too cocky, or you'll regret it."
"Hahaha! You should say that after you beat me. Oh... come to think of it, what's your name?"
"...Nick Adel."
"I see. I've taken a liking to you. Nice to meet you, Nick."
She readily extended her hand. But Nick swatted it away.
"Ha. I'm not here to play nice. Remember that."
With that, he left Lydia's presence, but his gaze was filled with clear hostility.
"Lydia. You've already got a target on your back."
"Is that you, Abby? It's fine, isn't it? I'm sure that guy will pick a duel with me or something."
"...You baited him into that, didn't you?"
"You can tell?"
"I know how hot-blooded you are. You provoked him a little, didn't you?"
Abby, understanding Lydia's ways perfectly, said so while shrugging her shoulders. Her assessment was spot on.
"Kukuku... He seems to be the one throwing his weight around this Officers' Academy. I should probably take down the boss first and show him who's superior... I'm itching for a real fight..."
She wore the unmistakable expression of a villain plotting something nefarious.
"Sigh..."
Abby let out a deep sigh.
She thought to herself that Lydia was clearly never going to change.