Chapter 8

The next morning.

When Mina went to the academy and checked the class assignments, sure enough, she was in Class 1.

Class 1 had ten students, and among them, only two were girls, including Mina.

All the others had surnames, which meant they were all nobles.

"We're in Class 3."

"Well, that's to be expected."

Emma and Hanna said as they looked up at the bulletin board.

All the commoner students except Mina were in Class 3.

Commoners who didn't know the basics of magic were usually placed in Class 3.

"But I'll move up to Class 2 in my second year."

Emma said.

"I'll work hard to excel in the magic corps."

"...You don't want to go back home, right?"

"Yeah."

Emma came from a farming family in the countryside.

If she hadn't entered the magic academy, she was supposed to be married off to another farming family in the village.

"Spending my whole life tilling the fields in such a poor land would be so boring."

"Got it. Good luck."

Hanna patted Emma's shoulder.

Hanna was the daughter of a medium-sized merchant family.

Her family had high hopes for her, thinking that if she joined the magic corps, it might open up business opportunities.

"That's why I just need to work hard in the magic corps for a year," she said with a smile.

"Let's eat lunch together."

"Sure."

"See you later, then."

After parting ways with her friends, Mina headed to the classroom for Class 1.

(Ugh, I'm so nervous...)

All the students in this class were nobles.

She couldn't imagine how they would look at her.

Determined, Mina opened the classroom door.

"Oh, Mina!"

Startled by the sudden voice, she saw a girl waving at her.

Following the gesture, she sat down next to her.

"I'm Franziska Baumgart. There are only two girls in this class. Nice to meet you."

"...Nice to meet you, too."

Mina tentatively placed her hand on the one offered to her.

"You don't need to be so tense. I don't like formalities."

Franziska, with her long blonde hair loosely braided, narrowed her green eyes.

"Can I call you Mina? You can call me Fran. No 'sama' needed."

"Ah...yes."

Franziska, who readily allowed the informal address, indeed seemed much more approachable compared to the other noble girls Mina had seen yesterday.

Mina remembered that during yesterday's measurement, there was another girl who emitted a strong light besides herself.

"Mina, what did you do when the teacher called you yesterday?"

"Well... they checked if I could use magic and asked where I learned it."

"You can already use magic even though you're a commoner?"

"Yes... I was taught by the sisters at the orphanage..."

"Ah, that's why you're in Class 1."

Franziska smiled.

"I was worried about being the only girl in Class 1, but I'm glad you're here."

To begin with, there weren't many girls entering the magic academy.

Even if they had sufficient magical power, it was a different matter whether they could fight monsters.

Especially for noble girls who were raised to handle nothing heavier than a knife and fork, the sight of a monster could make them faint.

Many girls either thought they couldn't do it or were opposed by their families and didn't enroll.

"Miss Fran... Fran, aren't you afraid of monsters?"

"I am, but I have killed weak monsters before."

"Really?"

"Maybe everyone in this class has combat experience. What about you, Mina?"

"...Well..."

"Have you?"

Mina suddenly looked up, startled by the voice.

Alphonse was standing beside her, seemingly out of nowhere.

"...It's bad manners to eavesdrop on a lady's conversation, Your Highness."

Franziska frowned.

"Did it sound like a lady's conversation to you?"

Alphonse smiled and replied.

"Franziska, do you have experience in monster hunting?"

"Yes... when I returned to my territory."

"Does Friedrich know about this?"

At Alphonse's words, Franziska averted her gaze.

"You're still the same. Friedrich was against your enrollment in this academy. Is your fiancé worried too?"

"He lets me do what I want, unlike my brother."

Franziska said with a smile.

"...Are you close to the prince, Fran?"

Mina asked, glancing sideways as Alphonse took his seat.

Their conversation just now seemed quite intimate.

"My brother serves as the prince's attendant. I've known him since I was a child."

Franziska answered.

"Besides, my fiancé is also close to the prince."

"Is that so..."

Franziska is close to Alphonse.

—By the way, in the novel, there were three girls in Class 1.

The heroine and Mina, and the other one didn't have many appearances, but Mina remembered that she came from a family that had served the royal family for generations.

"Alright, everyone is here."

The classroom door opened, and Mr. Leibniz entered.

"I am Walter Leibniz, the homeroom teacher for Class 1. We'll be pushing you hard from the start, so be prepared. Those who can't keep up will be moved to Class 2."

Standing at the podium, the teacher surveyed the students.

"First, I want to see your current abilities. Let's head to the training ground."

At the teacher's words, the students stood up from their chairs.