Chapter 21

"You're cutting it pretty close, aren't you? Big catches are different, you know."

A young female instructor greets me.

She's the one who helped me during the exam.

"No, if I wait too long, my stomach starts to hurt, so I was distracting myself by joking around with my friends until the last minute."

"Ah, I see. So, which one is your favorite, the silver-haired girl or the one with fox ears?"

The female instructor asks with a curious look.

"It's a secret. But even if I can't be lovers with them, I want both of them to be happy as friends."

"Kyaaaa, youth is amazing. That baseless confidence, the delusion that you can do anything. I love kids like you. Yeah, I thought you were a bad kid when you had that merciless fight, but you seem to be okay."

"Thank you."

She's a fun person. I can't help but think it would be interesting to have her as my instructor.

"Instructor Nakita, it's about time for the principal's speech. Please, release Soji and let him go. His first task is to listen to and understand the philosophy of this organization from the top. He's not here to play with you."

A large man, who was the examiner for the written test, speaks with a solemn voice that matches his appearance.

"Okay, okay, I get it, Instructor Sogoto. Seriously, you're so stiff, that's why you can't get a girlfriend."

"Instructor Nakita, I have no intention of getting into a deep relationship with anyone."

Instructor Sogoto seems completely unfazed by Instructor Nakita's words.

"Hey, hey, you, you shouldn't become an adult like him. He was a student here, and he had a senior he really admired. Even though that person is already married, he still dedicates himself to that person. Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, stop, time, it hurts, it hurts."

Instructor Sogoto lifts Instructor Nakita by the head with just his grip.

"Instructor Nakita, are you trying to make me angry?"

"Sorry, sorry, just kidding. Haa, haa, haa, I thought I was going to die."

Instructor Nakita, released from the Iron Claw, holds her head and groans.

"You shouldn't become an adult like that. People who can't understand others' pain are the worst. She's an excellent example of what not to be, so observe her well and strive in your school life."

"H-Ha."

I can only give a half-hearted response.

Then, Instructor Nakita slithers over to me and whispers in my ear.

"When I say people can't understand others' pain, it means that person is still bound to someone who's dead and can't see the feelings of the kids who like them."

She puts her finger to her lips and says, "It's a secret," before leaving.

"…What a complicated school."

I can't help but complain.

◇

"First, let me say this to the students. This school may be called a knight school, but we don't seek refined manners."

A man in his early forties, about 180 cm tall with a well-built physique, is giving a passionate speech.

He is the principal and also a current explorer of the underground labyrinth.

"Of course, we will teach you basic etiquette. But only to the level necessary for public settings. We won't go beyond that."

There is no sign of surprise on the faces of the noble students. They all know what they're getting into by enrolling here.

"What we ask of you is strength. The kind of strength that allows you to survive on the battlefield and in the underground labyrinth. No need for pretty words. Be ruthless, be cunning, just be strong and strive for it! Be dirty, cling to life. If you can't do that, you'll die like a bug."

He strikes the table on the podium with a powerful blow.

"To repeat, become strong. We have provided everything you need to achieve that. The rest is up to your effort."

The speech ends succinctly.

In summary, become strong by any means necessary.

What a clear philosophy.

From there, the introductions of the instructors begin.

There are 100 noble students and 50 general students, divided into three classes of 50 each.

It seems that noble and general students are not placed in the same class.

Our instructor is the young female Instructor Nakita.

And finally, it's my turn… to give the new student representative speech.

I take a step forward with determination.

◇

As I step onto the podium, murmurs start to spread.

"That's the one who defeated a Rank 2 and became a Rank 1…"

"The instructor said he can even surpass her in spear skills."

"He can summon weapons from the void."

"Damn, isn't that supposed to be impossible until Rank 4?"

"Rumor has it he can eat any magic stone."

"Damn, that's cheating."

There are both positive and negative comments, but it's clear that I have their interest.

Normally, only first-year students would be here, but this time, second and third-year students who are interested in me have also come to observe.

I scan the faces of the students from one end to the other.

Then, I slowly begin to speak.

"More than half of you are meeting me for the first time. I am Soji, the new student representative."

I wait for my voice to resonate.

"Since you've enrolled in this school, most of you must aim to reach Rank 3 by graduation and become honorary nobles."

Most of the noble students are second or third sons who cannot inherit the family name. The minimum goal is to gain strength here, and ideally, to achieve the status of an honorary noble.

"Of course, I aim for the same. No, to say 'aim' is incorrect. I will definitely achieve it. Not just me, but my entire party will reach Rank 3. That's the minimum goal."

There are students who are impressed, others who are skeptical, and some who are envious. But I continue deliberately.

"Beyond the minimum goal, the next target is Rank 6. The only Rank 6 in the world, that's what I aim to achieve in these three years."

Only one person has ever reached Rank 6 in the decades since the underground labyrinth was discovered. Saying this, most of the students look at me with disbelief. However, two students, Kuna and Anne, look at me with hope.

"If anyone wants to follow me, let me know. Let's aim for Rank 6 together. I hope to have various companions and rivals."

I know I sound arrogant, but that's what I wanted to say.

"Thank you for listening to my speech."

I step down from the stage.

There is no applause.

However, when Kuna and Anne start clapping, a few others join in.

Then, a particularly loud applause echoes, from the principal, who has a sly smile on his face.

Next to him, Instructors Sogoto and Nakita are giving small claps.

This is enough; I don't expect everyone to understand.

◇

After the speech, we receive a general explanation in our respective classrooms.

First, in this school, there are only three days of classes in a week.

However, if you can't complete the numerous assignments given, you will be held back. If you are held back three times, you will be expelled.

If you are held back even once, you will no longer be eligible for the status of an honorary noble.

The remaining four days are for exploring the underground labyrinth or completing the assignments.

If you have questions about the assignments, you can ask the instructors at any time. That's the rule.

Today is the first day, so we only received the general explanation.

◇

I walk alone to the dormitory.

Kuna and Anne are getting their uniforms and practical wear measured for semi-custom-made outfits, as the ready-made sizes didn't fit them.

If you're a regular student, you'd be told to make do, but the treatment for special students is good. Moreover, the free supply includes two spare sets.

The school's basic policy seems to be that the strong should receive rewards commensurate with their strength.

"So, seniors, you've been following me. What do you want?"

Since leaving the school, I've been followed by multiple people.

It was a poor attempt at tailing, so I noticed immediately.

"Wow, as expected, you noticed."

One by one, the upperclassmen appear.

I assess their strength. Two Rank 2s and three top Rank 1s.

These five surround me.

"Ah, is this about revenge for the last time?"

One of them is the Rank 2 I defeated during the exam. He must have called for backup because his blessing hasn't fully recovered.

"Right, because of you, I will be mocked as a Rank 2 who lost to a Rank 1 for the rest of my life. So, I need to get even."

"Do you intend to kill me?"

"No, we're not going to kill you. We're going to beat you until your blessing is zero, then break both your arms and legs. You'll end up in the hospital and won't be able to come back for a while. During that time, we'll rape your girls. We can even do it in front of you if you want."

"So, you're saying you'll attack my girls. I understand."

At this moment, I abandon the option of resolving this peacefully.

"And you think that will be the end of it. By the time you come back, you'll definitely be weaker. When you get out of the hospital, we'll do the same thing again."

I see, without a blessing, it takes at least a week to regain it. It takes another week to regain more than 30% of it, and it takes two weeks to recover enough to move normally. During that time, your strength and senses will deteriorate.

"I understand what you want to do. But do you really think that a senior who lost to me can do anything to me just by bringing along some lackeys?"

I smile as if I have no worries.

"O-Our group consists of two Rank 2s and three top Rank 1s, including me."

A fair fight would be impossible.

The senior seems to realize my calmness and is intimidated, pressing his left eye, which was pierced by a spear.

"Y-You're just putting up a front."

"Seniors, you didn't realize it, but I held back during that match."

"W-What? I heard you collapsed after that battle."

Good, he's taking the bait. I need to buy some time.

Without the senior noticing, I activate a concealment spell and visualize the magical formula in my head.

This spell is too complex for me to use in combat, but since they're talking to me, I can buy the time needed to process it.

"It was an act. The audience enjoys it more that way, especially in front of the king. Just winning isn't enough. I put all my effort into defeating the underdog. It's more entertaining and leaves a stronger impression."

"There's no way that's true. I'll expose your true colors. Let's go, Frenz!! No matter how skilled a swordsman is, he's finished when surrounded."

"Indeed, a swordsman is at a disadvantage when surrounded."

Thanks to the conversation, I've gained 83 seconds. That's plenty of time.

Now, there's no need to hide the spell processing. I remove the concealment and just need to release the spell.

"W-What is that massive magical formula? T-That's not a spell a human can handle! You're a swordsman, aren't you!?"

"Seniors, I'm not a swordsman. I'm a [Magician]. Let me show you the power of my true profession."

The senior's eyes widen in shock. Right next to him, in the middle between him and the other Rank 2, I activate the spell I've been processing in parallel with the conversation. A spell that, at my current Rank 1, takes too long to process for practical use. It is…

"[Spatial Destruction]"

A spell that distorts space and produces overwhelming destruction through its restorative force.

White light fills the area.