CHAPTER 12
On the first day for new students at Keyzen, all classes had ended.
Before leaving for the day, the first-year professors gathered in the lounge, sipping tea and discussing the new students.
"Maelyn Villene was beyond expectations. She brewed Shanif poison on the very first day!"
"That bloodline is really something, right? All seven of her siblings were outstanding!"
"What about the official heir of the Ivory Tower?"
"Ah, Serne? No need to even ask. There's a reason she was so confident back at the Ivory Tower."
"And Shatel Maer too. People say giant-blooded hybrids are lacking in the magic department compared to their physique, but this one excels in everything."
"Still, professor, it'd be a problem if you tried to steal our Shatel away, you know?"
"Haha, listen to you. Acting like he's already your student?"
"You do know early contact during the student protection period is against the rules, right?"
The professors joked and subtly clashed while discussing the new students.
"Hey, Professor Bahil."
The Katarology professor Bahil, who had been savoring his tea with his eyes closed, nodded as if he had been listening all along.
"You had Class A today too, right? How was it?"
"What are you referring to?"
"Come on, don’t play dumb. I'm talking about Special Admission No. 1, personally selected by Lady Neftis."
Bahil set his teacup down on the table with a slight smile.
"In my class, he lost 10 to 1 against another student. I'm not sure if he's especially talented yet."
"...Hmm, that’s unexpected. Still, he’s Special No. 1—wasn’t there anything extraordinary?"
It was a persistent question, but Bahil just smiled softly.
"His stamina was impressive. He endured Exhaust nine times during the first class."
"Oh, nine times?"
"Stamina is an important trait too, but for Special No. 1, that’s a bit underwhelming."
Clack.
At that moment, the door to the professor’s lounge opened. Still disheveled, dragging slippers, Summonology professor Aron walked in.
He gave a brief bow to the professors, then walked straight to the coat rack to grab his outerwear, showing little interest in their conversation.
"Speaking of which,"
Bahil brought it up.
"Senior Aron also had Class A today, right?"
Everyone’s gaze turned to Aron. He wordlessly picked up his coat.
"So what."
"What did you think of Special No. 1?"
Before anyone realized, all the professors in the lounge were staring intently at Aron.
A silent pressure demanding an answer.
Aron let out a quiet sigh, then answered in his characteristic drowsy tone.
"A dull, average kid. But he had the creativity to craft a uniquely defective piece."
"......"
While the other professors murmured, Bahil alone wore a creeping smirk on his lips.
‘That senior just laid down smoke?’
Having often worked with Aron in the field, Bahil knew his nature better than anyone. If Aron truly disliked a student, he wouldn’t beat around the bush like that.
A dull, average kid.
The creativity to craft defective products.
From Aron, that was perhaps the highest praise he could give.
‘...Now I’m even more intrigued.’
Chosen by Neftis, and marked by the ever-picky Aron.
Bahil felt his thoughts about Simon turning into a stronger certainty.
"By the way, Senior."
If so, then the war had already begun.
"That story you told last year, about no longer taking personal students, should we still consider that statement valid?"
"..."
Aron, who had been about to walk out, froze in his tracks.
The other professors also fell silent, watching Aron.
Tension suddenly thickened in the lounge.
"…P-Professor Bahil."
The female professor next to him whispered cautiously, but Bahil kept his gentle smile, waiting for the answer. Just as Aron was about to open his mouth—
Clack!
"Hey hey, everyone~!"
Suddenly, a silver-haired girl came trotting in.
"Lady Neftis!"
At her arrival, the prestigious faculty of Keyzen, who were said to shake the continent, all bowed deeply in respect.
"You’ve arrived."
Bahil, ever the gentleman, was the first to approach her. From his pocket, he pulled something out and held it forward.
It was chocolate ice cream.
Bahil was the only one in all of Keyzen who carried ice cream enchanted with freezing magic in his subspace, just in case he met Neftis.
"Ugh, I told you, stop treating me like a kid!"
Despite her words, she snatched the ice cream from Bahil’s hand.
"Preparing snacks for a lady is the virtue of a gentleman, after all."
"Hmph, smooth talker."
Neftis took a bite of the ice cream. Her cheeks immediately flushed, and her expression turned into that of a soft, bashful girl her age.
Some professors bit their lips at the sight. They dared not entertain such blasphemous thoughts as she’s cute toward the great Witch of Death.
"Please, have a seat, Lady Neftis."
One professor quickly prepared a chair. Neftis grabbed the armrest of the slightly too-large chair and clambered up with a bit of effort.
"Whoop! So, how were the freshmen on their first day?"
She asked while eating ice cream, and the professors eagerly shared their impressions.
Rather than the already well-vetted special admission students like Serne or Shatel, they focused more on top-performing students such as Maelyn or Hector from Class A, and Kaez from Class B.
Neftis nodded, listening attentively.
"Mm, good, good! Report anything troubling, and since it's the first day, go home early and rest."
"Yes!"
"Lady Neftis."
Then it happened. Aron, who had been quiet the whole time, spoke up.
"I’d like to speak with you alone, if I may."
The other professors widened their eyes.
Sure, a professor of Keyzen had the right to request a meeting with Neftis, but to boldly demand a private conversation like this was quite rare.
"Okay."
Neftis gave a small smile and stepped down from her chair. Aron gave a slight bow and followed her out.
‘Still as direct as ever.’
Neftis gone, Bahil sat back down, crossing his legs with a smirk tugging at his lips.
‘But Lady Neftis won’t give you what you want that easily, Senior.’
* * *
On the first day of enrollment, all classes at Keyzen had ended.
Simon, Dick, and the rest of Class A followed a servant to the dormitories.
But a small problem arose.
Because they had stayed until the very end of their final three-hour Summonology class, Class A arrived late at the dorm and most of the rooms were already full.
Each dorm room held three students.
Simon and Dick had planned to room together, but the students who arrived earlier had already taken up two or more spaces per room.
"S-Sorry. There aren’t any rooms with two open beds left on the second floor either."
The dorm manager bowed repeatedly, sweating nervously even though it wasn’t his fault. Simon waved his hands.
"You don’t need to apologize, sir."
Simon felt awkward being treated so respectfully by someone older.
In Keyzen, the hierarchy placed students above servants, especially since most students came from noble families, so servants showing humility was the norm.
Dick, familiar with this kind of situation, crossed his arms casually.
"I assume there are no rooms with two open beds on the third or fourth floor either?"
"…Yes, it’s likely the same on the other floors too."
The dorm manager showed them the list for the second floor. There were only a few single spots scattered around, and even those were quite far apart.
Simon and Dick exchanged glances.
"What do you think we should do, Simon?"
"Let’s check the other floors just in case before deciding."
As the two discussed their options—
"Move!"
Thud!
A loud thump rang out as the dorm manager fell, having been struck by a luggage bag. A brown-haired student pulling a cart scowled.
"What the hell? I said move!"
"S-Sorry!"
The fallen staffer quickly bowed her head, while the friend walking beside the brown-haired student snickered.
The brown-haired student touched the dented corner of the bag and grimaced.
"Ugh, seriously. This part’s bent because of you. What are you gonna do about it?"
"I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!"
"Don’t give me that sorry crap. Get over here, now."
Just as she lowered her head like a guilty criminal and started to rise—
"Sorry, but—"
Simon stepped forward.
"I was speaking with her."
"...What?"
The dorm manager’s eyes widened. The brown-haired student let out a sarcastic laugh.
"And it was pretty obvious you ran into her on purpose."
Dick smirked and stepped up beside Simon.
"...What the hell is wrong with you freaks? Who the f*** do you think you are, acting all tough?"
"Hey, hey, wait a sec!"
His friend quickly grabbed his shoulder, then whispered urgently into his ear.
"That’s him! Special Admission No. 1—the one who gave the oath at the entrance ceremony!"
"...What?"
As he studied Simon’s face, the student’s expression quickly turned pale.
His pupils trembled as if hit by an earthquake. Then, avoiding Simon’s eyes, he turned toward the dorm manager.
"Ahem! Be more careful next time! Let’s go!"
He practically fled the scene, and Dick clutched his stomach, laughing hard. Simon chuckled and extended a hand to the fallen dorm manager.
"Are you alright?"
She blushed as she took Simon’s hand and stood up.
"…Th-Thank you for helping me."
"It’s only natural, so don’t worry about it."
"I’m Rena! If you’re still checking the upper floors, I can guide you! I might be of help."
"Ah, would you? That’d be great."
And so, the three of them went upstairs together. Rena moved swiftly, gathering information from other staff, and they headed straight to the fourth floor.
"There’s exactly one room left with two empty spots on the fourth floor!"
Rena called as she ran. Simon and Dick were close behind her.
"A room with two open beds?"
"Yes, lucky, isn’t it? Room 409 used to be a four-person room, so it’s spacious, has a great view, and is near the central stairs—prime location! But I never imagined two spots would be open in there."
Soon, the three of them arrived in front of room 409.
Rena checked the name tags on the door.
"Ah…"
A shadow fell over her face.
"What’s wrong?"
She turned and looked at them with an awkward smile.
"Uh, maybe we should try a different room. 412 and 413 only have one spot each, but they’re right next to each other…"
"Is there a problem with this room?"
At Simon’s question, her expression stiffened, and she pointed to the name tag on the door.
"...Kajan Edvalt. He was here last year too."
Dick’s eyes widened.
"That can’t be, this is the first-year dorm, right? Second-years don’t move in until next month."
"Kajan is a repeating student. I heard he caused some serious problems and had to start over from the first year."
"Hmm."
Even to Dick, something felt off.
Keyzen had no hesitation in expelling students.
Normally, those who caused trouble or failed their grades were immediately kicked out. Repeating a year? That was rare.
Simon asked again.
"What was the reason he had to repeat?"
"I’m just a dorm staff member, so I don’t know the full details. But he’s got quite the reputation among us for causing problems... Other students sharing a room with him often ended up with bruised faces or begged to be moved."
There was a reason why this room had two empty spots. Dick glanced sideways at Simon, a bit uneasy.
"Simon. Maybe we should just go with another room…"
"I’ll just say hello real quick. That should be fine, right?"
With that, Simon knocked on the door and stepped inside. Dick, panicked, followed closely behind.
As it had been a four-person room, it was indeed spacious. There were two twin beds and two singles, each with a personal desk and wardrobe.
Out the window, they could see the buildings of Keyzen, the mountains, and the valley. Just as Rena had said—it was a prime spot.
And on one side of the room, someone had already unpacked and was lying on the top bunk bed, completely covered in a white blanket.
"Wait a sec, Simon!"
Dick whispered urgently.
"You heard what Rena said too! That guy’s got a reputation!"
Simon inhaled slowly, then opened his mouth to speak.
Superb.