Class F VS Class E

In the curriculum of the Royal Academy, there exists a truly wide variety of subjects.

Subjects centered on classroom learning like History and Philosophy.

Classes centered on physical activity like Martial Arts and Dungeon Practice…etc…

What is being conducted today is the subject known as “Magic Exercises” among those.

In Magic Studies, which is usually classroom-centered, we actually train in practical magic such as offensive and defensive spells.

Among them, offensive magic is flashy to watch, so I hear it’s a popular class for new students who can’t use magic yet.

Incidentally, this “Magic Exercise” is a joint class with Class E.

This is the first time Class F is having a joint class with another class.

And so, Class F is out in the schoolyard waiting for the class to start, but—

“Kukuku…”

“Kusukusu…”

We were being laughed at.

By the guys from Class E.

In an obviously mocking manner.

Matthias clicked his tongue at the attitude of the Class E members, “Tch.”

“Hey, you guys… what’s so funny?”

“Ah, sorry, but could you not talk to us? We don’t have tongues to speak with a class that handed the seat of ‘King’ to a mere Baron.”

The man who looked the most important in Class E answered in a blatantly condescending tone.

—Oh?

Is this a premonition of trouble right off the bat?

“…What did you say?”

“I can’t understand it at all, Marquis Matthias. Even though Class F has you and Duke Ivan, to think that of all people, that lowest, worst Baron is… You have all truly fallen low.”

“……”

Matthias and Ivan made grim faces at their names being brought up.

Also, wrinkles formed on Letitia’s brow.

She looked quite displeased.

—A man dressed in a way that identified him as a noble at a glance, with slightly long wavy hair parted in a seven-three ratio.

Judging by the atmosphere, this guy is probably the “King” of Class E.

Class E’s “King” continued,

“Besides, to decide a ‘King’ without expelling a single student… I really don’t think you have the intention to make it in this Royal Academy.”

He shrugged his shoulders as if to say he was exasperated.

I’m starting to get pissed off too.

“The teachers seem to appreciate it, but I don’t think so. The essence of the Royal Academy is survival of the fittest, the weak are meat and the strong eat. It is a place to kick others down to prove one’s own competence. It is certainly not a place to hold a playdate.”

Looking closely, the number of Class E members is less than ten.

One, two, three… eight people in total.

Apparently, two people have been expelled from Class E.

They were probably driven to expulsion after losing the power struggle with this man.

Well, I don’t entirely disagree with what he’s saying.

The Royal Academy is a place for fierce mutual elimination between students.

Moreover, this year, spouting about new school rules, they are simulating the power struggles of nobles.

In the midst of that, deciding the top seat without missing a single person—

Seen from the perspective of someone who won the throne at the end of fierce competition, we might look like we’re playing house and acting all buddy-buddy.

At the very least, high-ranking classes like Ivan and Matthias might be justified in having their motivation doubted.

However, “…A playdate, is it?”

Ivan pushed up his glasses, floating a fearless smile.

“Then, verify it in today’s ‘Magic Exercise.’ Whether Baron Odrant’s talent is truly on the level of a playdate or not.”

“What…?”

Ivan spoke in a provocative tone.

Just then, Paula-sensei finally arrived at the schoolyard.

“Everyone, sorry to keep you waiting! Today is a joint class between Class F and Class E! Let’s have fun!”

“………”

“Yes, yes, a wonderfully savage and hostile mood already! Please get along and kick each other down!”

Paula-sensei, whose remarks are as battle-junkie as ever.

This person really loves making students fight each other, doesn’t she…?

I think she’s more suited to be a soldier than a teacher…

“Well then, let’s begin the ‘Magic Exercise’ class! First, raise your hand if you can already use magic!”

When she asked, hands went up here and there.

Starting with Letitia and me, Ivan and the Class E “King” also raised their hands.

“Oh, you are, let’s see, Class E’s Michelardo Cafaro-kun! You can use magic too!”

“Of course. It is only natural for a human of the Cafaro Marquis house.”

Class E’s “King” brushed up his bangs boastfully.

His name appears to be Michelardo.

Well, I couldn’t care less.

“Then since we’re here, let’s have the Class F ‘King’ and the Class E ‘King’ reproduce an offensive and defensive magic battle!”

“Eh?”

An unexpected remark.

Not expecting my name to be called, I blinked in surprise for a moment.

“Hoh, this is perfect.”

In contrast to me, Michelardo made a vaguely happy expression.

“To think the timing to verify would come so quickly is a godsend. Let me teach you that Class F’s ability is, after all, mere child’s play.”

Kukuku, he laughed.

As if he had already won.

“…What a pain.”

Tedious.

I don’t wanna do it.

Because the result is obvious.

For me, if Letitia isn’t involved, there’s no need to try—

“Alban.”

Just as I was thinking that, Letitia called out to me.

“Won’t you show me your cool side?”

She said it with a heart-pounding smile.

…

……

………

“Of course! Watch me, Letitia!”

Yup, I’m super motivated now.

I’ve gone into hyper-motivation mode.

Because there is no husband in this world who can betray his beloved wife when she expects him to be cool!

Michelardo and I stood in the center of the schoolyard, facing each other.

“Now, shoot your magic without holding back. I shall show you the difference in class between one who became ‘King’ at the end of competition and one who did not.”

“I don’t have to hold back?”

“Naturally. Since it won’t be much of a spell anyway—”

“Okay, here I go.”

—After this, I used S-Rank magic and mixed magic to trample Michelardo until there was nothing left.

▲ ▲ ▲

“Th-th-that’s, impossible…!”

Michelardo was crawling on the ground right in front of me, breathing heavily in pain.

It seems he ran out of mana and can barely stand.

—The magic duel between Michelardo and me ended in a completely one-sided development.

Since he said no holding back, I fired off the high-power stuff even among S-Rank and mixed magic… but Michelardo couldn’t even last three minutes.

His magic barrier peeled away in an instant, and if my reaction had been a little slower, I would have accidentally killed him.

Truly a trampling so overwhelming it didn’t even allow for a counterattack.

Too disappointing.

He really was all talk.

“I-Impossible… I carry the blood of the Cafaro Marquis house…!”

Michelardo glared at me, looking like he couldn’t understand or accept it.

I’m getting a sense of déjà vu from this development.

Is it that? Is it similar to when I beat down Ivan and the others at the very beginning?

Why are these high-ranking nobles all so overconfident?

“Wonderful, Alban-kun! Class E gets a 10-point deduction, and we’ll give 10 points to Class F!”

“—!? Th-that’s…!”

“? Points?”

I tilted my head at Paula-sensei’s statement.

In contrast, Michelardo’s face went completely pale.

“Ah, I hadn’t explained it to everyone in Class F!”

Tehe, silly me♪ Paula-sensei knocked her own head.

It’s Annoying.

“Until now, we had you kick each other down among classmates to decide the ‘King’… but now that the ‘Kings’ are decided, we will have you kick each other down class against class!”

“Class against class, you say…?”

“Yes! We have distributed 100 points to each class from A to F, and you will steal them from each other! And at the moment points reach zero, everyone in that class will be expelled!”

“Wha…!?”

The members of Class F, including myself, were shocked.

This is completely new information.

“Y-You should have told us something that important sooner!?”

“Please rest assured! As long as Alban-kun is here, I believe Class F won’t be expelled!”

No, that’s not the issue.

It’s nice that she believes in me, but negligence of duty is bad for a teacher.

Seriously, isn’t this person unsuited for teaching…?

While I was lost for words in amazement, Letitia quietly raised her hand.

“Sensei, may I ask a question?”

“Yes, go ahead, Letitia-san!”

“Under what criteria are these points added or subtracted?”

“Good question, let me explain!”

Paula-sensei pointed her index finger sharply and began the explanation.

“Point addition and deduction mainly occur in two situations. First is ‘when a difference in ability with another class is shown’!”

“I can interpret that as when we defeat a student of another class, like just now—is that right?”

“Yes! The more you show an overwhelming difference in talent, the easier it becomes for teachers to add or subtract points!”

Paula-sensei stuck up her middle finger following her index finger, making a “two” pose.

“But the important one is the second… the ‘Exam War’ held between classes five times a year!”

“Exam War”—

For students, there is nothing that feels more tedious than the word “exam.”

But… adding the word “war” to it gives the sense that we won’t be able to just call it tedious.

“Two midterms, two finals, and one year-end exam… in total, five ‘Exam Wars.’ Depending on each class’s grades, points will definitely be added or subtracted! In the exams, individual ability is obvious, but teamwork as an organization will also be a target for evaluation!”

“…I see. That is why we decided on the ‘Kings’ of each class…”

“Precisely! Whether you hold loyalty to the ‘King’ or not will be the key to your grades! And be warned, a class with bad exam results can have up to 99 points deducted!”

…99 points?

That’s practically no different from a death sentence.

Truly, this academy forces troublesome systems on us.

“Also, finally—the class with the lowest possession of points right before the grade advances will also be forcibly expelled as ‘dropouts’ so… please do your best!”

Paula-sensei said with a smile like a devil.

Right before the grade advances—.

In other words, the timing of moving up to the second and third years.

What that means is, within these three years, at least two classes will definitely disappear.

Seriously, it’s too brutal.

Well, however… it’s nothing to fear, probably.

If they think they can kick down the Class F where Letitia and I are—let them try.

“Therefore, Class E has had their nose broken right from the start! Too bad!”

“U… Uuh… Dammit…!”

Michelardo ground his teeth, girit, and grabbed the dirt of the schoolyard, jarit, while still on all fours.

From his perspective, it probably feels like mud was smeared on the throne he worked so hard to get, so quickly.

“Damn, damn, dammit all! Don’t think you’ll get away with a mere Baron making a fool of me!”

Truly the howling of a loser.

I didn’t even feel like responding, letting it go in one ear and out the other, but—

“People like you should have just been wiped out in that incident the other day! The lowest, worst Baron and the shame of the Barrow house—!”

—Gushat.

Faster than Michelardo could finish speaking, I stomped on his face with the sole of my shoe.

“—Should have died, you say?”

“U…go…eh!?”

“Are you trying to say it would have been better if Letitia had died just like that? Huh?”

I ground my sole into his unpleasant face.

Filling it with plenty of killing intent and rage.

I don’t care if he spews bitterness at me.

But that remark just now was far too insensitive toward Letitia.

Do you have any idea how terrified she was while captured in that warehouse…?

And can you imagine how much courage she summoned to act for her escape?

Without thinking of that, you say it would have been better if she died?

…Scum like this is suited to be covered in the mud on my shoe.

“If you say something similar one more time. At that time…”

“Hii… u…!”

“Alban, stop it. Everyone is watching.”

Told by Letitia, I reluctantly removed my shoe from Michelardo’s face.

Then she came to my side, and,

“…My apologies, but I won’t die for you. After all, I have a husband who treasures me this much.”

Saying that, she leaned against my shoulder.

Seeing us like that, Michelardo seemed to finally have his spirit broken, and left the schoolyard led by his Class E companions in a daze.

In the end, after this, we completed the “Magic Exercise” class under a beaming Paula-sensei.

▲ ▲ ▲

<Letitia Barrow Odrant Perspective Side>

“E-Even so, Letitia-sama and Baron Odrant really are close, aren’t you…!”

Shanoa, standing at the counter in an apron, said with blushing cheeks.

—I am currently settling down at the counter seat of her tearoom, which is my regular spot.

The shop, no longer targeted by thugs, seems to have regained a bit of liveliness.

Wrapped in the scent of tea leaves even more than before, there are other customers here and there besides us.

It’s a very good thing.

Delicious tea is meant to be loved by many people, after all.

Though—today, I didn’t come just to enjoy the tea.

“Well, certainly, my relationship with him is good.”

“…Rather than good, it looks like nothing but the ideal idiot couple…”

Sitting in the chair next to me, Ester said with a sigh, looking slightly exasperated.

Yes, today I am not at Shanoa’s tearoom alone.

Me, Letitia, along with Shanoa, Ester, Laki, and Carla—we five girls have come together.

I invited them here.

In the form of a so-called “Girls’ Gathering.”

“My, are you disparaging us?”

“I am praising you, technically. A couple as outrageously dangerous as you two, surely one couldn’t find them even if they searched the whole world.”

Ester lifted her teacup and sipped the tea.

Perhaps it’s her habit, but the pinky finger of the hand holding the cup sticking straight up is somewhat funny.

“Don’t you think the tea here is delicious?”

“…Certainly, it is delicious.”

“Totally♪ The aroma is super rich, right?☆”

Laki, sitting on the other side of Ester, cut into the conversation.

It is extremely doubtful whether this woman understands the aroma or taste of tea.

“So, so, what kind of tea does Al-kun like?★ Tell me, Shanoa-chan♡”

“You don’t have to tell her, Shanoa. Tell her to find out herself if she wants to know.”

“Fu, fueee…”

Shanoa trembled, katakata, caught in the middle.

Oh my, I didn’t intend to trouble her.

“Caw!”

“…Darkness Assassin-maru… quiet inside the shop…”

Carla sat at the very end.

She has no presence as usual.

If anything, the crow perched on her shoulder might have more presence.

“…So, Letitia-chan… why did you invite us today…?”

Carla asked.

From the perspective of those invited, it’s a perfectly valid question.

To that query, “Because we are no longer enemies.”

I answered very simply.

While drinking the delicious tea.

“Rather the opposite—From here on, we are, so to speak, a community bound by destiny. In that case, a single difference in thinking could lead directly to expulsion.”

“………”

“You all probably have various thoughts on the matter. But I want to make just this clear.”

…The teacup became empty.

I slowly placed the cup on the saucer, and, “I will not let Class F—no, Alban—be expelled. But for that, I need everyone’s strength.”

Classmates must be in absolute obedience to the “King”—.

The Royal Academy’s new school rules established a “hierarchy” within the class, clarifying the ruler and the ruled.

Once you become the side that is ruled, you must obey.

The “King’s” command is absolute.

But—that is bad governance.

You can make people submit with force.

You can make them do your bidding with violence.

But with that, you can never gain their hearts.

No matter how much you display power, what awaits at the end of tyranny is only ruin.

Even more so, if I am to command those with talent like them… there is only one thing to do.

I stood up from the chair and—

“So please. For just three years, I want you to entrust your talents to Alban. I promise I will never let you be treated unreasonably.”

I bowed my head toward them.

Not an order.

This is a request.

As Alban’s wife, this is the utmost sincerity I can offer them.

“────”

The four of them fell silent.

Perhaps my bowing was exceedingly unexpected.

“Wha… Stop that!”

The first to break that silence was Ester.

“You idiot! What is the wife of a ‘King’ doing bowing her head to subjects!”

She grabbed my shoulders and forced my face up.

With incredible strength, it felt like she would leave marks on my shoulders.

“Listen up!? Dig the wax out of your ears and listen well! A ‘Queen’ sits heavily with elegance, high-handedness, O-Royalness, and O-Smartness, and gives precise orders from above with a bam! That is how it should be!”

“Ester…”

“Put more O-Power into your nobility! If you don’t behave appropriately as my rival, it won’t be worth competing!”

“…When did I become your rival, I wonder?”

“Nu-eh!? I-I-I-It can be whenever, can’t it!”

“…It is as Ester-sama says, Letitia-sama.”

Following Ester, this time Shanoa opened her mouth.

“W-We have already recognized Alban-sama as ‘King’… A-And besides, I was saved by the two of you… If I can repay that debt, I’ll do anything…!”

“Me too, me too! If it’s Al-kun’s order, I’ll listen to anything☆”

Laki raised her hand in continuation.

She speaks briskly and brightly, but immediately stares at me with settled eyes.

“…But, I haven’t intended to give up on the seat of ‘Queen.’ You’d best be careful not to let Al-kun’s heart waver…♪”

“I accept the challenge. But I must thank you for cooperating.”

“Not at all~, you’re welcome★”

“Caw!”

“…Darkness Assassin-maru, quiet…”

Carla soothed the crow on her shoulder.

She moved only her eyes slightly to look at me.

“…Obeying Alban-kun, is the same for me… …But, you owe me…”

Owe…

Come to think of it, Alban told me later.

It was thanks to Carla that they found where Shanoa and I were captured.

That we owe her.

“I know. If you have a wish, please say it.”

“…Anything, is okay…?”

“If it is something Alban and I can do.”

“…”

Carla was silent for a moment.

Then, for some reason, she started to fidget.

“…Actually I…write novels as a hobby…”

“…? Haa…”

“…Letitia-chan, might not know but… since the kidnapping incident was reported, ‘Al x Letty TL Novels’ have been super popular on the academy’s underground route…”

“…Ye.s…?”

“…When I write them, everyone is very happy… …So, I wanted permission from the person herself so I can keep writing…”

“Ah, eh, yes, well, I suppose, I don’t mind…?”

“! Th-thank you… that’s great…! Glory to Al x Letty…!”

“Caw!”

…I don’t really understand, but if she will cooperate willingly, there’s no problem, right…?

For the time being, I’ve communicated with all four girls…

Right, let’s say this is good.

It’s all for Alban.

—At this time, I thought so.

But I would come to regret this decision just a little.

…Yes, that’s right.

I never thought that embarrassing romance novels about Alban and me would spread throughout the academy.