Chapter 5

The grounds of Adamas Imperial Academy spread around a small hill overgrown with trees. The areas equipped with facilities necessary for the study of magic are called the "Magic Zone," those with facilities for martial arts training are called the "Martial Zone," and the area with entertainment facilities, stores, dormitories, and the like is called the "Central Zone." The zones are simply divided in this manner.

At noon, after meeting Luna at the front, Kirio headed to the arena located at the boundary between the Magic Zone and the Martial Zone. The adjacent medical center was the venue for the aptitude tests, but as expected, it was crowded, and the waiting line had spilled over into the entrance hall of the arena.

"Still, ranking students is pretty intense when you think about it."

Kirio said this as he moved with the slow flow of the line.

The aptitude ranks range from the highest S to G, divided into magic and martial arts. In this academy, the lectures one can take are determined by aptitude rank rather than the number of years of study, making it a true meritocracy. Ranks are raised through regular aptitude tests and the achievements one makes.

"It's like the school is actively creating a caste system."

Therefore, many students looked tense. The quality of their school life would be significantly influenced by the level of their aptitude rank. However, even if one's aptitude is low, skills can vary widely, and there are certainly those who excel in a single area. If the system is too cutthroat, there's a risk of stifling such exceptional talents.

Still, skills have historically developed through competition. In modern times, anyone with a grasp of skills understands this. Those who criticize the school's approach have no choice but to leave. At least for Kirio, who greatly enjoys conflict and trouble, this is an ideal environment.

"Well, this will certainly create a gap, won't it?"

Luna said this with an unexpectedly calm expression.

"Are you confident?"

"To be honest, I'm confident about magic. I don't plan to train in martial arts, though."

That makes sense. To Kirio, it was obvious that Luna had a talent for magic. Whether it's *mana* or *ki*, the flow starts from the heart and follows the bloodstream. While the overall structure of the human body is similar, the details are as varied as fingerprints. These details are crucial, and the efficiency can vary greatly depending on the structure.

Looking at Luna's exposed skin, her blood flow circuit was circulating high-purity mana efficiently. Even by the high standards of Adamas Imperial Academy, Luna's high rank was assured.

"You seem pretty confident too, Kirio."

"Yeah, I am."

Kirio was also confident that he would achieve the highest rank, "S," in both magic and martial arts if he took the test. After all, his foundation was different.

"Then let's see who has the higher aptitude."

"Wait, a contest!?"

"Ah... I didn't mean it like that..."

Luna's face twisted into a forced smile.

"If you retract it, I win, right?"

"Too troublesome! Fine, fine, I'll let you win."

"Great! I win!"

"Kirio, you don't have any friends, do you?"

As they talked, the line moved forward, and Kirio and Luna entered the medical center from the arena's entrance. Inside, in addition to the new students waiting in line, there were a few upperclassmen in uniforms scattered about. They stood by the walls, chatting and sizing up the new students.

Among them were some who were profiling new students with binders and others who, like the teachers in the principal's office, were using *doppelgangers* to observe while hidden.

In this scene, Kirio glimpsed the intense power struggles within Adamas Imperial Academy. The addition of new students, a significant force, was similar to the club recruitment and group expansion efforts seen in regular schools during the start of the year.

This made the atmosphere even more tense, and no new students were chatting idly. Kirio and Luna also fell silent and waited. Soon, it was their turn. Kirio parted ways with Luna and followed a staff member to a room.

Inside the room, the first thing he saw was a ring-shaped device, like a CT scanner standing upright, in the center. A woman in a white coat gestured for Kirio to come over. He stepped into the ring and was handed a tablet.

"Please fill this out."

The tablet displayed a screen for entering basic information such as name, date of birth, blood type, and place of origin. Kirio quickly filled it out and returned the tablet to the woman.

"We will begin the test now—"

The test was more scientifically analytical than he had imagined. It included CT scans, blood tests, visual tests where he just watched short videos, checks of nerve responses to light stimuli, and a light physical examination.

The woman efficiently completed these tasks, and after a short wait, another woman in a white coat, who had been working on a computer in the corner, stood up and handed Kirio a clear file containing the printed results of the aptitude test.

(Well, it's probably "S," right?)

Kirio left the room, making way for the next student. He then looked at the results sheet and saw—

Magic Aptitude: G

Martial Aptitude: G

Overall Aptitude: G

The cruel aptitude results were written there.

"Huh!?"

At the front of the medical center, where many students were still waiting, Kirio let out a shrill cry, heedless of the people around him. Naturally, in the tense atmosphere, most eyes turned to him. But Kirio was too shocked to care. G was the lowest rank. Was this a mistake? Maybe the highest rank was G and the lowest was S?

No matter how he thought about it, it didn't make sense. Kirio rushed to the front desk and asked a busy staff member.

"What are the ranks, from highest to lowest?"

"The highest rank is S, and the lowest is G."

The staff member answered with a smile.

"Really? So..."

Kirio looked down at the results sheet and read it again. But the "G" remained unchanged. It couldn't change.

Finally accepting this fact, he said,

"Me... G!?"

Again, Kirio's shocked voice echoed through the floor.

"Does this mean... I'm... I'm..."

His lips trembled, and he couldn't form the words. The staff member tilted her head.

"Ma?"

"Ma... a loser...?"

The lowest of the low. A convenient scapegoat that gives others a sense of superiority and a feeling of "I'm better than that guy." Imagining himself being consistently defeated by everyone around him, Kirio almost fainted.

"Well, it depends on how you look at it..."

The staff member's gentle words pierced Kirio.

"AAAAAAAAA!?"

"What are you shouting about now?"

Just then, Luna, who had finished her test in another room, came over to Kirio.

"Lu... Luna... Look at this... What's my aptitude rank...?"

He handed her the results sheet, and she glanced at it.

"...G. The lowest rank."

"Owaaaaaaa!?"

Kirio clutched his head and screamed to the ceiling.

"Be quiet...!"

The new students who had received poor results and were making a fuss were naturally met with pitying and disdainful looks. Kirio, with his hollow eyes, snatched the results sheet from Luna and quickly read it.

"...Magic Aptitude, S. Martial Aptitude, B. Overall Aptitude, S..."

"Isn't that a violation of privacy?"

Despite her words, Luna looked proud. Kirio silently returned the results sheet to her and took his own. He then slammed it on the reception counter.

"This is a testing error!"

"Hey!"

Luna grabbed Kirio's sleeve, looking embarrassed and glancing around.

"Stop it, it's embarrassing...!"

"Haha, you're right. It's embarrassing."

The voice came from behind. Turning around, Kirio saw a group of upperclassmen who had approached them. In the center was a tall young man who seemed to be the leader, surrounded by a few followers.

"There's always one every year. Someone who can't accept their aptitude and makes a fuss."

The followers laughed.

"You've been hailed as a genius all your life, right? No one around you was stronger. But here, everyone is like that. Being a 'genius' is the norm."

Kirio suddenly realized something. The leader's confident attitude was not just a matter of personality but also because Kirio was a G-rank, the lowest. Kirio had been thinking of this as a negative, but it was the reason they were crowding around to bully him. Not just them, but as a G-rank student, he would inevitably face such people.

What Kirio felt in his chest was not anger at being looked down upon but excitement. His favorite kind of trouble was coming to him. If that was the case, this treatment was worth accepting.

(If I think about it calmly, it's strange that I'm G. The principal must have arranged it.)

With more frequent trouble, the school's nature would naturally require more use of skills. This was likely a plan to steal the techniques of his clan.

What a stylish arrangement!

Realizing this, Kirio forgot his anger and regained his composure. If this was the case, this aptitude rank was not valid, and it wouldn't count as a "defeat." That was a close call.

The leader, seeing Kirio suddenly calm down, looked puzzled for a moment but then placed a hand on Kirio's shoulder.

"Don't be too pessimistic. Actually, G-rank students are proportionally fewer than S-rank students."

"Nice, that's because most of them quit!"

"Oh, right!"

"Ha ha ha!"

They all burst into laughter. Kirio laughed along.

"Hey, you shouldn't be laughing. Many G-rank students are targeted. I'll tell you how a dropout like you can survive."

The leader, called Nice by his followers, pointed at Kirio's forehead.

"Serve someone. That's the basic strategy for the weak. How about being my errand boy?"

"No, thanks."

"What are you saying! We don't want someone like you, and a G-rank isn't even reliable as an errand boy! Ha ha ha!"

The followers laughed nastily. Luna tugged at Kirio's sleeve.

"Let's go, Kirio."

"Why?"

"Well, why...?"

Luna was taken aback by Kirio's lively expression.

"You're an S-rank overall, right? That's impressive."

Nice then turned to Luna. She smiled and nodded politely.

"Would you like to join my group? There's nothing good about being with him, and it's not a bad deal for you."

"Ha ha... I'll think about it."

"Great, thanks."

"Nice got rejected!"

Luna tugged harder on Kirio's sleeve, clearly wanting to leave as soon as possible.

But why didn't she leave on her own?

Kirio found this a bit puzzling. According to Nice, there was nothing good about being with a G-rank student. In fact, it would often lead to trouble. It would be wise to cut ties early. Yet, Luna didn't immediately distance herself from Kirio. Was it because she was simply a good person, or because she saw through Kirio's true nature? Either way, his opinion of her improved.

Regardless, Nice's attention returned to Kirio.

"Poor thing, let that girl protect you."

"Sure, I will."

"Ha. You were shouting earlier, but now you're completely cowed. But that attitude is important."

Kirio welcomed direct provocation or insults. The more emotional his opponent, the higher the quality of victory. But so far, Nice hadn't said anything to fuel Kirio's fire. Just causing trouble wasn't enough for a "contest," and Kirio wasn't in the mood to challenge him.

Just as some people have preferences for types of alcohol or cigarettes, Kirio had preferences for types of "victories." Crushing someone who completely underestimated him was his favorite, but Nice's behavior didn't quite hit the mark. It was just slightly annoying. Probably, Nice had no purpose beyond teasing Kirio for fun. This wouldn't get the engine running.

"Also, it's better to use proper language with upperclassmen. You'll get into trouble otherwise, seriously."

"Nice is so kind!"

(Maybe I should put this "contest" on hold for now.)

Feeling a lack in Nice, Kirio suppressed his desire for victory and quietly turned to leave.

"Try your best, loser."

But those words from behind made Kirio's feet stop.

"Come on!"

Luna tugged at the hem of his long coat, but Kirio didn't budge.

"Did you just call me a loser...?"

Without turning around, Kirio asked. His hand was trembling.

Nice had said the NG word to Kirio.

"Yeah, I did. What's the problem?"

Upon receiving the confirmation, Kirio immediately reached into the pocket of his long coat and pulled out a white glove he always carried.

"I challenge you to a duel!"

He then turned around and slammed the glove at Nice's feet with the force of a thrown coin.

"No way!?"

Luna let go of the hem of the long coat. Kirio's action was a well-known signal for a duel in the West.

A moment of silence dominated the room, but then—

"Ha ha! Seriously, you! Ha ha ha! This is a classic!"

Nice burst into laughter, and his followers joined in. Other upperclassmen and new students waiting in line also gathered around Kirio and Nice.

And the duel was—

"Sure, I'll play along."

Formalized when the opponent picked up the glove.