Chapter 16

"......Our statuses are too different, aren't they?"

In the library, Ribia muttered while reading a book.

After a moment of silence, I agreed.

"Yeah, a duke's daughter is way out of my league. I think Ange is a good person, but we live in different worlds."

I, who agreed, was reading a book titled "The History of Tea Parties," which is quite enlightening. After the sports festival, the school festival is waiting, and the next appeal time is coming.

The performances at the school festival are not done by classes but by individuals or groups.

I plan to involve Daniel and Raymond and run a café.

If I want to make a move... to appeal to girls, there's nothing better than tea.

"Is the classic approach really the best? But, maybe it's better to put some effort into appealing to girls..."

"Mr. Leon, are you listening to me?"

"Huh? Ah, yeah. About Ange, right?"

"Well, that's part of it, but it's something different. To me, everyone here looks like nobles or knights..."

Well, nobles vary. There are poor noble families like mine, who do farm work, and there are those like Ange, who fit everyone's image of a noble.

"I can talk to you, and since I'm a poor noble from the countryside, I can get along with people who do farm work. Even if I get a job after graduation, I'll live a rather modest life, so there's no need to worry."

Not everyone will live a noble-like life in the future.

Some leave home to work at the palace or in other families. Most will work at their family's business and live modestly.

My older brother, for example, plans to work at the palace for a while and then return to help with the family business.

"But, everyone is so amazing..."

I looked at the book Ribia was reading.

Ribia was reading a very difficult and thick book about magic, and she was reading it smoothly. How many people in this school can read such a difficult book?

You're amazing. You're the protagonist of this world.

"You can ask others too. I don't think many will give a different answer. You're overthinking it."

Ribia was confused by my words.

"What's wrong?"

"Eh, well... asking others is a bit..."

"You don't have any acquaintances?"

"......No."

I realized something. I realized it.

Ribia has too few friends in school.

...This kid, she's usually with me or Ange, and she doesn't have any other friends or acquaintances.

Because of me and Ange, she missed out on opportunities to make other friends.

Ange is a duke's daughter, and people don't easily approach her, and I'm disliked in school, so no one approaches me.

If she's with us, no one will approach Ribia either.

I overlooked this. I thought the protagonist would handle it, but it turned out to be a terrible situation.

I closed the book and put it on the table.

"Mr. Leon?"

"Ribia... let's take a break from studying. Let's try to make some friends first."

"Huh?"

◇

The place I took Ribia to was the boys' dormitory of the regular class.

The regular class is basically a two-person room. My older brother, Nicks, is in the regular class, so I went to ask for his help.

"Bro, help me out."

My older brother, who is a third-year student, looked at me with a displeased expression.

Graduating students in the regular class are busy.

My older brother, who wants to become a civil servant, was studying for the exam.

Ribia bowed her head.

"Please, Nicks-senpai."

The boy in the same room left to give us some space, and my older brother glared at me.

"You... are you an idiot?"

"Why?"

When I explained the situation, my older brother criticized my actions.

"You should have thought about this at least when the new semester started. It's already more than a month into the second semester, and the school festival is coming up. It's going to be difficult to start new relationships now."

"That's why I'm asking for your advice!"

"Reversing the situation? Hey, why are you angry? I'm the one who should be angry!"

My older brother looked at Ribia instead of me.

"...I know Olivia, so I'll take your request seriously. But, do you know the rules of the regular class?"

"Eh, I don't know..."

My older brother explained to Ribia, who was looking down.

"The girls in the regular class aren't as extreme as in the advanced class. They're all from knight families—knight ranks or baronets. And students from families with low ranks in the court. There are also those from baron families who can't inherit the family, so they can't be arrogant."

The regular class is relatively normal because the girls aren't rich enough to buy slaves.

Well, to put it simply, buying a slave is like buying a car in the previous life.

After buying, the next thing that happens is maintenance costs.

Excellent slaves demand appropriate compensation, and if they're not excellent, there's no point in keeping them around. The girls in the advanced class are like having luxury or foreign cars around them.

"The girls in the regular class can't afford to have lovers or slaves, so they're relatively normal."

Compared to the advanced class, that is.

Still, women tend to have a stronger position. But it's within a reasonable range. After seeing the advanced class, the girls in the regular class might seem like angels or celestial beings.

Goddesses? Ribia and Ange, maybe. Clarice-senpai is also a strong contender, a bit lower.

Those five who gave up on such goddesses don't understand anything.

Sigh... But, I can't reach out to such goddesses.

"If you want to make friends before the school festival... how about this? There's an idiot here, right? He's planning to open a café at the school festival, so why don't you get free tickets from him and distribute them? It will be a chance to meet and talk. The girls in the regular class enjoy the school festival and look forward to the performances by the boys in the advanced class. They dream of a love story despite the status difference. It's ridiculous to hope for something impossible."

They might even think of finding love at the school festival.

Maybe the girls in the regular class are also dreamers?

They're cute. The girls in the advanced class should learn from them.

Since Ribia is looking at me, I'll prepare the free tickets. I have money, after all.

"I'll prepare free tickets for a tea and dessert set."

"Thank you!"

My older brother was stretching his neck. He looked tired from studying. That's my serious older brother.

"After distributing the tickets, it's good to start with familiar faces and greetings, right? I can't think of anything else. It's more natural than suddenly talking to someone."

I tilted my head.

"What? You're not going to go around with her on the day of the school festival?"

"It would be troublesome if we get the distance wrong. It's more reliable to gradually get closer. And, I'll tell you about the girls you shouldn't approach."

"Then, I'll help you on the day of the school festival!"

The girls you shouldn't approach are... well, the ones called delinquents.

There are girls who go to host clubs outside the school and come back in the morning... Are they the same as the girls in the advanced class?

Eh, are they treated as delinquents in the regular class?

"Girls who come back in the morning are no good. They don't even attend classes, and I don't know what they're thinking. Sigh, still, I envy that marriage is easier for them than for us guys."

I muttered.

"In the advanced class, they would be considered normal girls."

My older brother avoided my gaze.

Ribia was smiling awkwardly.

...Why am I in the advanced class?

When I had a sad look, Ribia grabbed my clothes.

"Mr. Leon, I'll help with the café. I always cause you trouble, so..."

A refreshing agent for the soul—Ribia's determined face healed my troubled heart.

...If this girl were a commoner and not a future saint, I might have proposed right here.

The world is so unfair.

◇

A few days before the school festival.

Our performance is a café, which is quite common, but there are many performances at the school festival.

Since it lasts for several days, the café is very popular as a resting place.

That's why there are many of them...

"Don't underestimate me, who learned tea from my master. I've prepared a proper café!"

My friend Daniel was looking at the room, which had completely changed.

"Wasn't this an empty classroom before?"

Raymond, who was wearing glasses, nodded.

"Leon, you've spent too much money. It won't be profitable."

The two were worried, but there was no problem.

"I wasn't expecting a profit from the beginning. Besides, the money spent on the interior was collected from everyone through gambling. I have to give something back, right?"

I called in professionals for the interior.

The quality is different from a typical school festival café run by students!

As I laughed, Ribia came with teary eyes.

"Mr. Leon! The, the next room—"

◇

The four of us went to the next classroom, and there we saw Prince Julius.

He was distributing flyers to the students who had come to see.

"Come if you have time. We welcome you."

The girls blushed at Prince Julius's smile.

"Y-Yes!"

"I'll come every day during the three days of the school festival!"

"I'll spend a lot of money!"

Is this some kind of brainwashing?

Prince Julius smiled brightly at the girls.

"Please look forward to our café, Princess."

...Café Princess, you say!

Daniel's shoulders drooped.

"Seriously? Having cafés next to each other is impossible."

Raymond was looking at me.

"Is this a revenge on Leon? There are people in the executive committee who lost to him in duels and air bike races. But, this is too much, isn't it?"

When Prince Julius noticed me, he gave me a meaningful smile.

Do you hate me that much? I hate you too. What a coincidence.

"Baltofalt, I hear you're also opening a café. We're planning to open one too. Come if you like."

I took the flyer, and Ribia was surprised.

"A tea and dessert set for 100 dia!"

I supported Ribia, who was about to faint.

A bold price setting. No, it's not bold; it's a rip-off, isn't it?

In the previous life, it's like paying 10,000 yen for cheap tea and desserts. With additional options, the price will skyrocket... It's easy to spend 20,000 or 30,000 yen per person in a few minutes.

Even a host club isn't that bad!

Daniel and Raymond were also stunned.

I thought a customer price of 10 to 20 dia would be good, but... I forgot. This is a school for rich nobles.

A more aggressive price setting would have been fine.

Prince Julius looked at Ribia and tilted his head.

"Is it too cheap? But, Marie said this is good. I want to make more money, though."

Ribia was about to give up because of the difference in financial sense.

"...I understand what Mr. Leon meant. I think this difference in perception can't be bridged."

"Don't give up. You can do it if you try. Well, you can ignore Prince Julius."

No matter how you look at it, Ribia is not a match for Prince Julius and Zirk.

I'd like to hope for the other three, but... it's unlikely. It might be better to look for replacements for the five?

Prince Julius looked annoyed.

"You're ignoring me. Fine. I'll make you recognize me someday. Baltofalt, I won't lose this time."

Saying that, Prince Julius left, but we followed him to gather information.

What is he talking about not losing at the school festival? What a funny guy.

When we followed him, Prince Julius was surprised.

"Hey, why are you following me!"

"Well, I thought I'd do some reconnaissance."

"You're being too bold!"

"I'm being honest with myself. Come on, show me..."

When we entered, the first thing I noticed was... this isn't a café.

Low tables and luxurious sofas were lined up, and the room was slightly dim.

In the classroom, Chris Fear Arclight and Brad Fou Field were trying on costumes.

They were clearly in suits. Moreover, their shirts were open... black suits with colored shirts.

I couldn't help but shout.

"Isn't this a host club!"

Chris, with his blue hair and glasses, noticed me and gave me a sharper look than usual.

"Baltofalt."

Brad, with his long purple hair tied up and a flashy suit, also looked at me.

"Scouting the enemy? You're still a dirty man, as usual."

...You're the dirty ones.

You're calling it a café, but it's actually a host club, isn't it?

"You guys are cheating!"

When I said that, Chris smiled happily.

"I didn't expect to hear that from you. It was a good decision to follow Marie's suggestion. Just seeing your disappointed face is worth it."

There she is again! She never does anything good!

Prince Julius declared in front of us.

"We will win this school festival. Baltofalt, don't run away because you're afraid of losing."

Prince Julius looked really happy to provoke me.

...Are you guys idiots? What are you going to compete in, a café and a host club? The playing fields are completely different!

Ribia tilted her head.

"Is this a café? It looks more like a... bar to me."

Brad approached Ribia.

"Are you going to complain even as a special student? Don't criticize Marie's suggestion. Besides, we're not serving alcohol. It's just tea and desserts. We'll provide the service, though. You won't understand Marie's idea."

"Eh, but... something feels off."

I stepped between Ribia and Brad.

"Don't touch her. You'll make her dirty. Go away."

"...You're really annoying."

Don't you guys feel ashamed as heirs of prestigious noble families? A host club at the school festival is insane.

Daniel, who was looking around the room curiously, found the menu and was surprised.

"Service charge of 100 dia for ten minutes!"

Raymond was also surprised.

"Such an expensive café..."

As we were more surprised, Marie, who had been trying on costumes, appeared. Kyle was standing beside her. ...Is she planning to participate as a hostess?

"Of course. Let me tell you, Julius and the others are heirs of prestigious noble families. If you can get service from them, it's worth 100 dia."

Seeing Marie in a dress, I clicked my tongue.

"Princess on the sign, that's you, right? You're the youngest daughter of a viscount, aren't you?"

"My heart is always that of a princess."

Then, Brad supported Marie.

"Marie, you're always our princess. A princess."

"Thank you, Brad. In contrast, you, a mere extra, are really rude."

"I can't lie. I'm pure."

"If you're pure, then delinquents are saints. Stop joking."

I want to kick this woman in the shins.

Marie brushed her fluffy hair and said to us.

"I'm looking forward to the school festival. Well, your café seems to be empty, so we'll use it as a break room. We'll pay the proper price, so serve us good tea."

...I won't lie about the tea, even if you don't ask.

Because I can't betray my master.

Still, I didn't expect such a strong rival to be next door...

◇

The day before the school festival.

Ribia was distributing free tickets to the girls in the regular class.

She was giving out tickets to get a cup of tea and a little dessert for free to encourage them to visit.

"Um, please visit our café."

The girls who received the tickets looked at Ribia a bit confused.

They took the tickets but walked away.

"Who is she?"

"A special student."

"Not in the advanced class. I envy her."

"Stupid. She doesn't even have a personal slave. That's how she's treated."

In the school corridor, Ribia was slouching.

She could get the tickets, but she couldn't have a proper conversation or greeting.

When she was feeling down, a girl approached her.

"Do you have any more tickets?"

"Yes!"

When Ribia gave her the ticket, the girl had long navy hair and was very beautiful. She