Chapter 2 – School Admission

♦♦♦

When they gathered in the auditorium, the chairs were packed with people.

They had entered before that group, but this number of people was impressive, given the total number of students enrolled in this school.

Meanwhile, Adele and the others hadn’t been told anything in particular, so they just sat in any available chair.

“Master, let’s sit over here. We can sit side by side.”

“Sure.”

Urged by Elesia, she sat down at the end of the very back row.

Perhaps they wanted the instructors to remember their faces at the front, or perhaps they wanted to get a closer look at someone taking the stage, but the seats at the back were surprisingly empty.

“Fufu, putting on the uniform like this really makes me feel like I’ve entered the school and it gets me excited♪”

“Contrary to me, the person next to me seems to be in a good mood.”

Adele didn’t particularly want to attend the school.

However, when she turned next to her, Elesia had a happy smile on her face.

“I’m looking forward to it, I can go on a school date with Master.”

“The dorms aren’t that far from the school building though.”

“We can have class dates.”

“I think I’ll be asleep.”

“We can also have lunchbox dates.”

“Wait, don’t think you can just ‘date’ to anything.”

School life is suddenly filled with pink color.

“Well, that aside… I’m looking forward to it. If you’re not at home, you won’t have the opportunity to learn magic.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

The Marquis of Astia is a family of knights.

While they have the weapons and materials needed to become a knight, they don’t have the magic to begin with.

In terms of the magical environment, they are a world apart from the magical family of Count Elemirea.

“Hehe, but I also enjoyed learning swordsmanship at the Astia Marquis House. I want to be as all-powerful as you someday.”

“It’s enough for a lady to just wear a dress, you know?”

“No, if I want to stand next to you, I need to hone my charms beyond just standing under a chandelier.”

Is that really all there is to it? Adele tilts her head.

“Besides, this school seems to be merit-based, so if you don’t put in the effort, you might get kicked out.”

“If you get kicked out of Elesia, that seems like a damn high hurdle…”

“Master, let’s go find a spot to take a nap right away.”

“Hmm… I can’t imagine that’s the kind of thing you’d say after saying you have to put in the effort.”

Even so, Adele is more than happy to help find a spot to take a nap.

It’s a bit strange why she doesn’t have to put in the effort, but for now she gives him a thumbs up and says, “I’m looking forward to it.”

(Well, maybe Master doesn’t need to make an effort.)

While thinking about this, Elesia casually closes in on Adele.

At that moment──the opening words finally rang out.

“Well then, we will now begin the entrance ceremony. First up is a speech from the representative of the new students──Luna Carbon!”

After the speeches from the representative of the new students, the student council president, and the principal, the ceremony finally came to an end.

After that, students check the class allocation posted in front of the main entrance building and return to their classrooms.

“It seems that at this school, classes are decided by the grades you get in the entrance exams.”

While everyone was gathered in front of the class chart, we were waiting for the crowd to thin out when Elesia, a beautiful girl her age, began to say something like that.

“As expected from a school that is based on meritocracy. They’ve already started ranking the frogs in the well.”

“It’s a cruel environment… At least create a more peaceful, welcoming atmosphere, like ‘everyone is equal!’”

Adele, sitting on the edge of the fountain and looking at the group, had a gloomy look on her face.

After all, the harmonious atmosphere was gone from the moment it started. Even though it’s a school that is based on meritocracy, a situation like “Wha-aat, you’re lower than me!” might occur.

And besides───

“If we rank them by merit, they may stand out depending on their ranking.”

“That’s the probleeeeeeeeeeeeeem!!!”

Because it’s a school based on meritocracy, everyone’s attention is focused on their grades.

This is irrelevant to Adele, who wants to live a carefree life, but other students will make an effort to improve their own abilities even if only a little.

This means that the person with the highest exam results will inevitably attract attention.

What kind of person is he? Which family is it? Will they become rivals? Or enemies? Depending on the person, various reactions will be generated.

“Oh no… If I’m ranked high, I’ll definitely stand out! In some cases, my identity may even be revealed…!”

Adele came to this school to escape from reporters and block out information.

He stood out early on before the entrance ceremony, but leaving that aside, it was unavoidable, and from now on he wants to spend his time quietly and lazily, not standing out.

He might stand out strangely and get himself into trouble, or word of the “Black Knight” might spread around the school, and he might catch the eye of the nobles attending the school.

Anyway, in order to avoid encountering such things and spend his time leisurely with Elesia, he must try to stay as inconspicuous as possible.

“Well, well! I was pretty lax on the exam! I guess it’s easier to count from the bottom!”

“You’re saying that after knocking out the instructor in the swordsmanship exam.”

“N-no! That was because the instructor was a shitty weakling! Or like a puppy walking and hitting a stick!”

“Haa… you’re quite the attention-grabber puppy.”

Elesia sighs at Adele’s reaction.

The instructors gathered at the kingdom’s best school are the finest elites. They shouldn’t be people that students can compete with.

And yet, Adele defeated them so easily that she blurted out her true feelings, calling them “shitty weaklings.” Elesia didn’t think much of it since she already knew about it, but anyone else would definitely be surprised.

“B-but! If, by any chance… no, even if their rank were even a billion times higher, they could just drop down! Right?! There are events happening all the time that change their rank, right!?”

“That seems to be the case.”

While Adele was frantically trying to explain himself, Elesia took out a pamphlet from her pocket.

“According to the pamphlet, there are events that change the rank several times a semester so that the curious children don’t get bored.”

“Wait, that’s not the pamphlet I got the other day. I haven’t seen it yet.”

“Hehe, I’m the only one who can explain things to you, Master.”

Not understanding, Adele tilted his head.

“Ahh! Anyway, it’s good that there are attractions that those children won’t get bored of… even if their test results are good, they can just drop down the rankings!”

“Isn’t that difficult?”

“Why!?”

Adele was surprised and turned to Elesia, who had the pamphlet open.

However, Elesia continued speaking.

“At this school, if you go up in the rankings, they welcome you, but if you go down, they’re pretty strict.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you go down from a certain rank, you’ll be expelled.”

“Damn it!”

Adele collapsed on the spot.

And then he slammed his fist on the ground…because it made him sad.

“There’s also a system in place that expels you if your test results are below the standard.”

“A follow-up blow?!”

“Apparently, only about 10% of the students who enroll each year graduate.”

“Isn’t this school too harsh on young people of today?”

That’s how much they want to discover young talented people.

They don’t have time to bother with those without talent. If that’s the case, it would be more meaningful to create an environment where talented young people can grow even more.

I’m sure that’s what the school is thinking.

“So, just graduating from the Royal Carbon Academy gives you prestige and is well-regarded in high society. Especially if you graduate at the top of your class or have good grades, you become very popular in high society.”

“…I don’t know, but it doesn’t seem necessary to me right now.”

“Well, you already have more than enough prestige, Master.”

“Hehe” Elesia smiled with an elegant smile that was unlike that of a maid.

Seeing this, Adele sighed, and slowly got up and walked towards the bulletin board, where there were fewer people.

“Ah…Well, it’s fine. After all, if you look at the world as a whole, my powers are like a cute kitten playing with a cat toy. There’s no way my grades are that good.”

“Master, you’ve been escaping reality a lot lately.”

“Escaping reality is important.”

Elesia followed Adele to the bulletin board.

There were fewer people, so now they could get closer and see what class they are in and what their rank is.

“Now, what is my ranking…”

Adele stretched his neck and looked at the class allocations posted up over the students.

And then───

“Class S, provisionally ranked number one, Adele Astia”

“Oh, it looks like I’m in second place. I’m in the same class as Master, I’m so happy♪”

“I’m so happyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!”

Adele Astia.

And so, the disgrace of the Marquis family got off to a fantastic start at the academy.

♦♦♦

Hey, hey, listen! You see, my entrance exam results were the best out of all the first-year students!

Up until now, my days had been unbecoming of the distinguished Marquis of Astia, but now I can finally proudly tell my parents that I am a member of the Marquis of Astia──

“Can I do that!!!”

“Master, no one can keep up with your monologue and your humorous comments.”

Class results were announced, and we had to head to our classrooms before homeroom.

On the way there, Adele was crying bitterly over something he should be proud of.

“First place… after all, it’s just the top priority for a carriage-horse ticket, isn’t it!? I don’t want it, so I’m happy to be at the back!”

“Hehe, I like being looked at from behind by Master, but the back view is the best after all♪”

This girl is always and everywhere smitten.

(Really, speaking only of people my age, I can’t think of anyone better than master)

This school is where talented young people gather to seek prestige and further their abilities.

Naturally, this means that many students are outstanding even among those of the same age, and it is extremely difficult to gain recognition among them.

But even so.

{(As someone who has watched my master from beside him)} I thought that even if he tried to hide his abilities, he would be the best.

A maverick who can handle both swords and magic.

You could even say that he has established himself as a rare magic knight.

(How much demand was there for magic knights? I remember hearing that there was only one in the kingdom, and he would certainly be in high demand wherever he went.)

That is how valuable a magic knight is.

Handling sword or magic. In that case, it is difficult to hone both unless you are a person with a great talent for combat. The current situation is that it is difficult to hone even one of them.

Therefore, if the story is true───if Adele is the hero, the “Black Knight”, there would be many students who would want to build a good relationship with him.

(Well, that’s what he says, but… I think he would hate it.)

Despite being a student, he had a beloved talent for combat.

What a waste of a treasure, he thought. Elesia shrugged.

“Ah, well, it can’t be helped that things have turned out that way… The rumors have died down, and they still haven’t let me eat tangerines at the kotatsu, so I can’t be expelled from the school. I’ll try my best.”

At the same time that Adele cleared his throat, he reached a door with a nameplate that read “S Class.”

he then slowly opened the door.

And then───

*glare

Everyone’s sharp gazes were on him at once.

“(Hehehe… I feel like you’ve suddenly become famous. Can we even get a line to ask for an autograph?)”

“(They’re staring at me like they would stab me, but will they really only need to ask for an autograph?)”

Probably… no, considering what happened in the morning, they were probably looking at me like, “Why is that disgrace of the Marquis in first place?”

They’d worked so hard, and now there was someone above them who they had mocked as incompetent. It must have been very hard for them to accept.

“Why is that disgrace in first place… he must have cheated.”

“I understand that the prodigy of the Elemirea family is ranked higher than us.”

“I mean, why is Lady Elesia here with that disgrace? Is she being threatened?”

As far as the eye could see, there were roughly twenty people.

Because of the number of chairs and the fact that they were late, it didn’t look like there would be any more people, so the number that could be seen with the naked eye was probably the total number of people in the class.

And Adele was attracting attention from all of them. Moreover, they were staring at him with piercing gazes that felt like they could pierce his heart.

(These stares are better than the gallery during the Black Knight incident, but it’s sad that the attention is the same…)

Thinking about this, Adele sat down in an empty seat.

He heard someone next to him say, “Excuse me, could you give up your seat?” “Well, well…” “Can you give up your seat?” “Ah, okay…” but Adele ignored it and looked out the window.

“Master, could we move our chairs a little closer?”

“No, it’s close enough, isn’t it?”

“But there’s still too much space between us… We can’t show each other our textbooks at this rate.”

“The textbooks haven’t been handed out yet.”

“I can’t even feed you lunch.”

“I didn’t bring my lunch.”

Everyone was doing things at their own pace.

Even though all eyes are on her master, she doesn’t seem to intend to change her loving behavior towards him.

Seeing this, Adele gave a wry smile───

“Ah, um!”

Suddenly, a voice called out to her from beside Elesia.

Curious, she turned her gaze and saw a beautiful and adorable girl with long, glittering hair, just like the moon, standing there.

What was going on? She couldn’t be a fan, so she couldn’t have come straight up and started complaining? He tilted her head at the timid girl, wondering what was going on.

And then───

“C-Can I get your autograph?”

“Wow.”

To her surprise, she was a fan.

“No, you can’t…”

A cute girl suddenly asked for an autograph. And from a girl who was an incredibly beautiful girl.

But why an autograph out of the blue?

Not to brag, but Adele had been asked for an autograph countless times as the “Black Knight” and had refused.

It was something she did for herself, and she had no intention of standing out as someone everyone looked up to.

At first I was skeptical, but I guess this girl found out I was the Black Knight and asked for my autograph.

Oh dear, I’m troubled by my own fame. I’m sorry, but I have to firmly refuse—-

“Hmph… Could someone bring me some paper and a pen?”

“What are you doing, master?”

Adele Astia.

He seems to be a boy who wants to look cool in front of beautiful girls.

“Hmm? Master… Your nose is getting longer.”

“Wait a second, partner. What purpose is that hand you suddenly placed on my shoulder for?”

“To lecture the master who always likes showing off”

“Excuse me for saying so no matter who you are! I’m an honest boy who only wants beautiful girls——–”

WHACK☆

“So, you’re fine with anyone as long as they’re beautiful girls?”

“…Yes, I’ll try to live a little more honestly.”

My dislocated shoulder hurts.

Adele’s shoulders were lowered as tears flowed from his eyes.

“Hey, hey! Why is he embarassing Lady Luna?!”

“Did he do something again!?”

“Don’t mess with me… I’m jealous.”

At that moment, voices were heard from around him again.

Picking up what he was hearing, it seemed like this time it was directed at this girl.

(Um… is she really that amazing?)

Adele rarely shows up in high society.

The main reason is that it’s simply “troublesome” and he isn’t very welcome there, but that’s why he doesn’t remember the faces or names of nobles very often.

(Hmm, but I feel like I’ve seen this face somewhere before.)

Where was it? Adele tilted his head.

“Um…”

At that moment, the blonde girl who had been left out tilted her head.

Adele finally came back to his senses when he was spoken to again.

“Ah, ah… sorry? I can’t give you an autograph, I’ll get in trouble.”

“Ah… I see.”

The girl hung her head cutely.

She looked so cute that all the boys in the class were entranced.

“Yes, yes, princess, stop.”

Then, a petite girl appeared from behind the girl.

“What’s with you suddenly wanting fan service? Don’t stand out so early in the opening, you celebrity.”

“Uh… I mean, the real ‘Black Knight’…”

“Yes, yes, it will be annoying when the instructor arrives, so fans should move out of the way so they don’t get in the way of the celebrity.”

Then, the brown-haired girl appeared, grabbed the girl by the scruff of the neck, and headed to an empty seat.

I think she said something along the way like “Sorry to bother you” and “Ah, I want to talk,” but the way she was dragged along made me smile wryly.

However, the moment they returned to their seats, the nearby students began to gather around.

“What, is that girl a celebrity?”

“Haaa… Master’s cognitive ability is so poor that it makes me question his age.”

“I’m not senile, I just don’t know! So I’m not bad, I’m not old!”

“It’s your fault for not knowing, where do you think you live?”

“Under the sky.”

Haa. Elesia sighs again.

Is she really that famous? Adele wonders.

“Hey, what’s up with that scary introduction? Can you stop with that? It’s more spine-chilling than a ghost story you hear in the middle of the night!”

The secret to staying inconspicuous and quiet is to “not associate with celebrities.”

If you’re with a celebrity, you’ll be looked at by others due to the attention they get.

To avoid this, the motto for leading a self-indulgent school life is to keep a safe distance from celebrities and avoid recognition as much as possible.

Therefore, Adele curled up like a frightened animal upon seeing Elesia’s reaction.

“Uuh… I’m scared, the coachman pulling the carriage horse is coming…”

“…M-master, you look so cute right now, may I hug you and stroke your head?”

Apparently, the maid was tickled by her master’s transformation into a small animal.

Without his permission, she hugged him and began to fondle his head.

“By the way, as for the continuation of what we were talking about earlier, we were speaking on stage, ignoring those who don’t know, do you remember?”

Elesia glanced to the other side of the classroom.

There, there was a larger crowd than before.

“Her name is Luna Carbon – the second princess of this country.”

“That’s terrible!”

Adele clung to Elesia’s chest, frightened even more like a small animal.

Somehow, the person who seemed to have the most power in the school contacted him, but the teacher arrived safely and the homeroom ended.

During homeroom, they received a brief explanation of the school.

To summarize the main points of what I heard───

– Grades are assigned and rankings change based on regular monthly exams.

– rankings can change outside of exams, according to a rule called dueling.

– Twenty students per class. If a change in ranking results in a change in class, the student will be expelled.

───Well, that was a pretty harsh rule.

In other words, in order for Adele to enjoy his freedom for three years and wait for the heat to die down, he must not drop out of S class.

This is probably what Elesia meant when she said “if you fall below a certain standard of grades you will be expelled.”

It’s fine for those who want to rise up, but it feels like a fresh start for the underachievers.

And after being forced to tighten up with these harsh rules, classes began in each class.

And Adele—-

“Look, Elesia! Isn’t this the perfect spot for a nap!!!”

“To think you found one so quickly… Master’s enthusiasm for depravity is as expected.”

—He was slacking off in style.

“Wow… good sunlight, good breeze, good silence. It’s made of stone so my back hurts a bit, but with some ingenuity it’s no problem. After all, the roof is the classic school spot for slacking off.”

Right after homeroom finished.

Adele was one of the first to explore the school building, and soon discovered the perfect spot, the roof, and headed there right away.

Of course, there were no student nor teacher on the roof as class was in session, and the pleasant breeze was blowing their hair.

“If it’s this comfortable, the other students will probably take a nap here too. Is it okay to have it all for myself?”

“Master is the only one who leaves the stage during a performance. I think that worry is unnecessary.”

“Is that so?”

Adele pokes the ground once.

A large bundle of grass appears from the ground and instantly forms a bed.

“But you’re still skipping class from the first day, Master.”

“Well, if you stay in the classroom like that, you’ll get some weird jealousy, the weird princess will come, and classes will be a pain, so you should run away before that happens.”

“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

He’ll probably get harassed, saying, “There’s no way you got first place! You must be cheating!”, or the princess, who is such a big fan that she asks for an autograph, will talk to you and say something like, “Why would someone like you be with the princess!”

If that’s the case, it would be better to run away before he gets harassed, before she talks to you. I’m not going to let myself get any more attention…!

“Well, I guess I’ll have a nap. I need to prove that a sleeping child grows well.”

“But the kids who prove it will definitely get their parents in trouble.”

The first and second ranked students in the entrance exams were slacking off.

It was unheard of, and skipping classes right from the start was definitely cause for scolding.

Still, the two didn’t care and stepped into bed together, Adele lay down, and Elesia put her head on top of Adele’s knees as if it was the most natural thing to do.

“You should sleep too, Elesia.”

“Hehe, this is my usual spot. We do switch places sometimes though.”

“Well, it’s my turn today.”

The bed Adele made was soft and fluffy. He had carefully selected the grass and leaves that felt good to the touch from as many plants as he could produce, and it was of high quality for something that was simply made.

Looking up, the clear blue sky spread out before him, and the soft feel of her thighs made it very comfortable.

“Now that I think of it,”

“Yes?”

“Elecia sure loves having her head rested on someone’s lap. She always asks for it and does it for her.”

Suddenly, Adele blurted out something he had been wondering about.

“Well… I guess it’s my way of expressing my affection, I guess? My mother used to do that a lot in the past, so maybe it became a habit from then on.”

“That’s a really cute reason why I’ve developed such a spoiled habit.”

“Hehe, of course. I’m a mama’s girl.”

Elesia smiled elegantly and gently stroked Adele’s head.

Perhaps it was because the beautiful face was so close to his eyes that he had to look up, but Adele couldn’t help his heart from racing.

“…Is it okay to be a mama’s girl? Working as a maid in a place like this.”

That’s why Adele spoke, trying to hide his excitement.

“She’s a prodigy from a magical family, and popular in high society due to her looks. But then she comes from a family of knights, which is the complete opposite… and ends up working as a maid, which is shameful. I know I’m late in saying this, but surely there were plenty of other happy paths for her?”

Why here?

Adele felt a little sleepy and turned his face to the side.

Elesia looked up to the sky as if thinking for a moment, then dropped her gaze back to Adele.

“Do you think I owe you a favor?”

“Am I wrong?”

“I told you I didn’t need any gratitude, so I don’t feel one in the first place. There’s a whole other reason why I’m here.”

Her gentle touch made it seem as if he was being wrapped in warmth.

Combined with the pleasant spring breeze, Adele’s eyelids began to grow heavier and heavier.

“That’s it…?”

“Yes, that’s it.”

“…I see.”

Finally, Adele’s breathing begins to sound in his sleep.

The face he shows now is like that of a child, and looks much cuter than his usual playful demeanor.

–This is Elesia’s special seat.

I’m the only one who can see this face up close. This is a happy seat that I can only enjoy by running away from home.

“Really, where could there be any greater happiness than this…Master?”

Elesia raises her face to the sky and closes her eyes.

At that moment, for some reason, she suddenly remembers something from the past.

Yes, the day she first met Adele–