"Please come to the entrance ceremony alone."
That had been the instruction from Magias to all incoming students.
Aunt Coffey seemed to have known beforehand, so her send-off at the front door was brief.
Sewn onto my brand-new robe was the twin dragon crest, the symbol of our nation. I had heard the Imperial Archmage Faculty was one of the very few exceptions permitted to use the dragon crest outside of the national flag.
The standard Magias uniform was already famous enough on its own, but wearing one from the Imperial Archmage Faculty drew even more attention. People stared at me constantly on my way to school and even after I entered the campus building.
Word had it that only seven applicants, including myself, had made the cut for the Archmage Faculty.
Reflecting on that gave me a real boost of confidence.
However, this only meant standing at the starting line.
Even someone as sheltered as me understood the weight of bearing the national crest.
"The Archmage Faculty gets missions from the country every now and then, but don't worry—you only almost die once in a while!"
My aunt had laughed when she said that, but I couldn't laugh at all. Still, even factoring in the risks, the benefits the academy offered were well worth it to me.
Since I had resolved to move forward, I needed to face it with determination────.
"Ah, you."
Having heard that voice for the third time now, I recognized it immediately.
Before I realized it, a girl was standing beside me.
I had barely spoken to anyone on the day of the entrance exam, but I clearly remembered her name.
A girl with short, dark blue hair and droopy eyes.
Amae Vandenberg-san.
Her petite, slender frame was draped in the same dragon-crested robe as mine.
"Did you pass?"
"A-Ah, yeah..."
Still unaccustomed to talking to girls my age, even my simple reply came out awkward. Amae-san gave a noncommittal "Hmm" with an expressionless face that betrayed nothing of her thoughts, then nonchalantly fell into step beside me.
"And we're in the same faculty, too."
"Thanks for your help back then. It was a real lifesaver."
"Don't mention it. Though honestly, you were probably the only person there who didn't know that."
Well, she was probably right.
That was precisely why her answering my question seriously had been such a huge help. Normally, it wouldn't have been surprising if she had just ignored me.
"Still, good for you, passing. I'm Amae. Um, you're...?"
"Brendan."
"Brendan-kun, I didn't see you around the Middle Magic Academy. Where are you from?"
"The Decol area."
"Must've been quite a trip to get here, then. Where are you staying?"
"I'm boarding at my aunt's place in the West District."
"Huh. The royal capital is huge, so it's easy to get lost, right? When I first came here..."
Just then, an unnaturally fierce gust of wind blew past.
Perhaps it was an aftereffect of the rain that had fallen until this morning.
What followed next was straight out of an old comic strip. The loose robe enveloping Amae-san billowed upward in an instant like an inverted teru teru bozu, flipping up alongside the skirt hidden beneath her coat.
"Ngh... ah...!"
Amae-san's panic and stiffness came through loud and clear in her voice.
Realizing this was disastrous, I reflexively snapped my head away the moment her thighs came into view.
"...A-Are you okay?"
"...Did you look?"
"Sorry, just a little."
"...Ahhh..."
Amae-san smoothed down the bangs tousled by the wind, brushing the dust from her clothes with a look that seemed surprisingly unfazed.
"...Well, what just happened... whatever, it's fine. Actually, it's not fine, but────"
Mid-sentence, Amae-san froze completely.
Right at the moment her eyes shifted back to my face.
"Wait, what's wrong with you?"
Her question was prompted by the sudden abnormality on my face.
Blood was dripping from my nose.
"Huh? What? Did you bump into something?"
"No."
I shook my head.
"I got a nosebleed because I saw something naughty."
"You got a nosebleed because you saw something naughty???"
Amae-san parroted my words, staring at me as if she were looking at an alien.
"The truth is, my body gets nosebleeds whenever I see something naughty."
"Why???"
Even if she asked why, it was purely physiological, so there was nothing I could do about it.
Apparently, the people of this world didn't get nosebleeds from seeing provocative things. I seemed to be the only person cursed with this trait, perhaps as some lingering remnant of my previous life.
"This won't stop for a while... Haha... What a pain."
"That's creepy..."
"Sorry, it is creepy, isn't it? Being looked at that way by the opposite sex..."
"It's not your sex drive. The very concept of getting a nosebleed from seeing something naughty is what creeps me out."
"Even though I'm like this, will you still be friends with me?"
"H-Hmm, I'll have to think about that..."
Amae-san, who had previously seemed so low-energy, was now genuinely put off. I had to say something upbeat to smooth this over.
"Phew... So our academy life begins today, huh."
"It's pretty hard to take that seriously while you're leaking a mysterious nosebleed~..."
◇
Still enveloped in an awkward atmosphere, Amae-san and I made our way to the entrance ceremony venue, which turned out to be an ordinary classroom.
At the front stood a blackboard and a teacher's podium, facing seven desks arranged in neat rows. The other five students were already seated, waiting quietly without engaging in any idle chatter.
"I wonder if the ceremony is held separately just for us."
"Looks like it."
We both took our assigned seats. Come to think of it, the other students walking through the courtyard earlier had been accompanied by their guardians. Did that mean only the Archmage Faculty was told to come alone?
While I was pondering that, a woman in her prime entered the classroom and spoke without missing a beat.
"Alright, everyone. I'm Blanchard, the homeroom teacher for the Imperial Archmage Faculty. Nice to meet you."
"Homeroom teacher?"
The one who raised the question was a student with chestnut hair styled in a half-updo.
Right, she was the girl who scored highest on the magic coefficient test. 980 points. I remembered her.
"I was under the impression that Magias utilized a credit-based system to prioritize student autonomy?"
"In recent years, your upperclassmen have caused endless trouble, and their poor conduct has become a serious issue. As a countermeasure, starting this academic year, a homeroom teacher has been assigned to ensure you all acquire a baseline level of social competence."
At Miss Blanchard's matter-of-fact explanation, someone let out a scornful scoff.
"Playing buddy-buddy, huh?"
"Yes, Garry-kun, quiet down."
Miss Blanchard didn't seem to care in the slightest about the surly attitude of the dark-skinned young man as she continued.
"Now then, let's pick a class representative right away. I'll just decide on my own authority right now."
The teacher casually glanced around with a slightly listless gaze before locking her eyes onto me.
"Alright, Brendan-kun. Would you mind doing it?"
"Huh?"
I had assumed it would be decided by drawing lots or asking for volunteers, so this caught me completely off guard. While I appreciated the nomination, I doubted someone like me, with virtually no experience in communal life, was fit for the role. I felt it best to be honest about my circumstances.
"I grew up way out in the boonies, so I don't really have much experience interacting with people my age."
"Then all the more reason for you to do it. You'll get used to dealing with people much faster."
Well, she had a point.
Whenever an opportunity arose to work on my shortcomings, I ought to take it.
"Understood. I'll do it."
"Good boy, so obedient. In that case, please go ahead and introduce yourself."
Doing as I was told, I rose from my seat and turned to face the room.
My six classmates fixed their eyes quietly upon me.
"I'm Brendan Walker, from the Decol Region, majoring in magical material engineering. I primarily focus on smelting and forging. If you ever need help repairing metal equipment or anything similar, feel free to ask. Nice to meet you all."
"Alright, everyone give him a hand~"
About half the room didn't clap.
Amae-san, on the other hand, gave a rather enthusiastic round of applause.
"I'll be counting on you for a lot of things from here on, Brendan-kun~. Well then, let's keep the ball rolling and have everyone else introduce themselves. I wonder who's going to give the most entertaining self-introduction~?"
With that, the round of introductions began.
Since I was apparently the representative, I figured I should listen carefully to my classmates and make a sincere effort to memorize their details.
"I am Mercedes Meltzelia. My majors are swordsmanship and magical biomechanics. I look forward to working with you."
"My name is Filiestra Adinson. I studied magical medicine in the Temcha Region. I will do my absolute best to be of service to everyone."
"I am Gerald Whitesmith. Majoring in magical physics."
"I am Luluck Lulu Lunlun!! A pleasure to make all of your acquaintances!!"
"...Garry Locke."
"I'm Amae Vandenberg. My specialty is pharmaceuticals. And gunpowder, too."
This was hopeless; too many of them had mouthfuls for names, and I couldn't keep them straight.
Let's see... the luxury car with 980 points, and Filiestra-san was the medical specialist.
The fair-skinned, handsome blond guy straight out of a shoujo manga was Gerald.
The wild, dark-skinned, handsome bad boy from a shoujo manga was Garry.
The high-energy girl dressed like a witch was Luluck-san.
I already knew Amae-san, so practically speaking, that left five people to remember.
Alright, I got this.
Just to be safe, let me sort through them one more time.
Mercedes, Phili... somebody-san, Jera...? Freddie... wait, no. Toyota? Freddie... wrong. Hibari Misora...?
Whatever.
I jotted them down earlier, so I could memorize them at my own pace.
"Everyone's energy is a bit low today. Take a page out of Luluck-chan's book, everyone. It pays to be friendly to people you've just met~"
In contrast to the somewhat standoffish students, Miss Blanchard proved quite talkative. Though her face carried an air of lethargy, she spoke with surprising briskness.
"At any rate, starting today, let's all pull together as a class and strive to become respectable members of society."
At that, the girl with the half-updo────Mercedes────politely raised her hand again.
"Pardon me, Miss Blanchard, but should not our highest priority be the pursuit of magic?"
"Focusing too heavily on that is precisely why your upperclassmen turned into a societal problem recently."
"Is that not merely the petty resentment of the common folk, given that over ninety percent of the tuition for the Imperial Archmage Faculty is subsidized by their taxes? I find it entirely unacceptable that we scholarship students should be subjected to stricter discipline simply to appease a vocal minority."
"Alright, questions are off-limits for now, Mercedes-chan. Teacher is done answering~"
"Hehehe, my apologies."
Mercedes brought an elegant hand to her mouth, flashing a bold, defiant smirk. Behind her, when I looked closely, Garry-kun was slouching so terribly that it actually looked uncomfortable to sit that way.
"And so, your very first extracurricular lesson will be a field trip."
"Wait, what about the entrance ceremony?"
"You kids don't get one."
Answering Amae-san's interjection without missing a beat, the teacher pressed on.
"Please take a stroll to the destination I'm about to give you and use the time to bond. Teacher already bought some snacks earlier. Brendan-kun, could you hold onto these for me?"
"Ah... sure."
"Alright, Teacher has preparations to make, so I'll go ahead and wait for you there. I'm leaving the group in Brendan-kun's capable hands. Everyone must arrive at the entrance to Al-An National Park by noon sharp."
Leaving behind only those instructions, the teacher vanished with a dramatic whoosh! She moved with a strange, rubbery spring in her step.
A whirlwind of developments had occurred in a matter of minutes, but nobody in the room seemed particularly rattled.
"Uh... well then..."
Stare.
Six pairs of eyes converged on me. No, five. That Mercedes person was staring idly out the window.
"...S-Shall we get going too? Is anyone here familiar with the layout of the royal capital?"
For now, I decided to take charge and lead everyone as instructed.
"Mm."
The one who raised her hand was Amae-san.
I had a feeling she was just looking out for me.
"I only just got to town, so I don't know my way around. Would you mind helping me navigate?"
"I don't mind, but if we just walk normally, it'll take about two days to get there."
"So it's a distance that assumes we'll be using magic, huh."
"At the very least, it'll be impossible unless we enhance our physical abilities and sprint."
She called it a field trip, but the subtext was clearly to get there strictly on time under our own power. On top of that, I figured it was my responsibility to ensure the entire group arrived safely and together.
"Is there anyone here who thinks they won't be able to make it by noon?"
I asked just in case.
Unsurprisingly, not a single person admitted to being incapable.
Besides, judging by the map I was handed, if we set out right now, we ought to make it in time for noon.
All that remained was to check everyone's preferred method of travel and set a baseline pace; that way, nobody would get separated along the way.
Getting separated was a far greater concern to me than merely running late.
And that exact concern materialized almost immediately.
"Let us make this a competition. I shall take my leave ahead of you all."
The one who made the declaration was Mercedes.
She rose abruptly and strode toward the exit with an aloof, composed expression, treating my proposed plan as beneath her notice.
"Come on, since we're all here, let's just go together."
Before I could back up the lifeline Amae-san had offered, Mercedes shot back with a cold sneer.
"I have no interest in the weak. If you wish to play buddy-buddy, feel free to do so after catching up to me. Assuming you can, that is."
Snap.
For a split second, I could have sworn a spark flashed in Amae-san's drowsy eyes.
"I see. How fascinating."
In the blink of an eye, the handsome blond youth, Gerald, rose to his feet. Standing upright, his tall, slender frame was unmistakable.
"Brendan, was it? I shall take my leave ahead as well. No objections, I presume?"
"Ah..."
While I struggled to formulate a reply, Gerald and Mercedes made a swift exit, immediately followed by the dark-haired boy, Garry.
"...Well, after hearing all that, I'm sure as hell not gonna sit around on my hands."
"Wait, hold on a second..."
"Sorry, shorty. I'm heading out."
"Excuse me?"
Completely disregarding Amae-san's scowl, Garry walked out of the classroom.
And just like that, less than a minute in, three people were already unaccounted for.
The only ones left were Amae-san, Filiestra, and Luluck, huh.
Talk about hitting a wall right out of the gate. I really should have stepped in and stopped them.
It was my fault for letting things derail like this, but I knew when to swallow my pride and lean on others.
"Amae-san."
"What is it?"
"I'm going to run ahead and check on the three who took off. Sorry to dump this on you, but could you guide the other two?"
The remaining two seemed relatively cooperative. Relying this heavily on Amae-san when we had barely just met felt bad, but if I didn't hurry, I wouldn't be able to catch up to the lead group.
"I don't mind, but are you sure you'll be okay? There are a lot of weirdos in that bunch. Wouldn't it be better if the four of us just went together?"
"Worst-case scenario, I'll turn back and we'll do just that."
I was uneasy, but I figured the three ahead would listen to reason if I talked to them. Probably.
"Alright, here's the map to the park. Just head straight down the marked highway and you'll reach it."
"Thanks. I'll see you there!"
And with that, my very first class at Magias Magic Academy was officially underway.