At this point, how many times have I called it hell?

It seems we're in the same team, I’m looking forward to working with you guys."

"Yeah! Us too... hey Shiro, show some happiness, man! We have a great team... Shiro?"

"..."

"... Shiro."

"... Why..."

"Huh?"

"Why...!!"

"!!"

"Umm... is he okay?"

"Ah, I get it now... it must be because of her, right? No, no, don’t make that face... look, don’t overthink it... we’ll come to an agreement, okay? Somehow."

"Her?"

"Yeah... it’s just Alice, nothing to worry about."

"Alice?"

"Alice..."

"We have... some... small disagreements with her."

"Ah... no, I don’t get it, what’s going on here?"

I’ll just ignore his description of the humiliation I went through, that fight, and all those moments as "small disagreements." How cruel can fate be?

Maybe it’s a coincidence, like how Leo, Hikaru, and I ended up together in the same team before even knowing we’d be in the same group.

But it didn’t take me long to realize—it wasn’t just some random coincidence.

The Supervisor said it himself. The academy had divided us into balanced teams. Which means... they intended to put me on the same team as Alice. With that monster, even though they knew about our fight. About what happened between me, her, and Leo.

This was their idea of “balance”? What kind of sick joke was that?! Where the hell was the balance in that?!

“Oh god...”

Sighing deeply, barely holding myself back from cursing out loud, I let my body collapse onto the table. My brain had finally given up.

“You okay...?”

“...I’m fine.”

I answered Leo, who looked visibly worried. Meanwhile, the Supervisor just kept rattling off the rest of the team assignments, not even pausing for breath—like his words hadn’t just stabbed me straight in the back. I stole a glance at Alice.

She was looking over here...

“Leo...”

“Yeah, I know. Don’t worry—we’ll be fine... I think.”

“Umm...Would either of you mind telling me what happened?” Hikaru chimed in, clearly out of the loop.

“Later, Hikaru,” Leo replied quickly. “I’ll tell you later. Once this storm... passes. Hopefully.”

He was only now starting to show how concerned he was.

Bit late, buddy.

I didn’t mind telling Hikaru what happened between us, honestly. Maybe it’d even help us work better as a team. And there was a good chance people already knew we fought her. But the real issue was... I had no idea if I could actually get along with Alice.

Especially with that ugly little stain of a memory between us.

Oh right... I’ve got a “strong team,” huh. Yeah, that doesn’t make me feel any better.

As I sank deeper into my pit of despair, Supervisor Shin finally finished listing all the teams. Students were now glancing around, trying to remember who was on their team—or just figure out who these people were.

“Hm, this might not work...”

I looked up again just in time to see the Supervisor muttering something under his breath. Couldn’t quite catch it.

Was he planning some kind of surprise exam already? That terrifying possibility lit a fire of dread in my chest.

“Everyone, stand up. I’m going to repeat the names of each team. When you hear yours, move and sit with your teammates.”

Oh... well, that was one way to put a stop to my spiraling thoughts.

Reluctantly grumbling, the students all stood up.

The Supervisor began re-reading the teams, reshuffling our seating arrangement—and, somehow, making the already tense atmosphere even worse.

"..."

At first, I wasn’t too worried about the seating change. I’d somehow ended up next to my teammates anyway.

But now that we were all formally seated together, side by side, the tension in the classroom hit a whole new level—and I was feeling it more than anyone.

She’s sitting right next to me now... and she doesn’t look happy about it either.

“Shiro… you were a good man,” Leo whispered dramatically.

“I don't know... but I think I’m starting to understand what happened between them,” Hikaru whispered back.

Yeah, this was a lot. Definitely more than I could handle. Honestly, maybe applying to a tiny academy somewhere in Wysperia wasn’t such a bad idea after all... They’d still let me join, right? If I ran back now?

And just like that, I started thinking about quitting before anything had even started.

But hey, it wasn’t just me. The tension was high everywhere. Honestly, I was just glad I didn’t get placed in the very front of the class. I was now in the fifth row—still in a good place.

At least I had a better angle to observe the room from here.

Once everyone was seated, Supervisor Shin looked satisfied.

Only to drop another bbomb

"better. Now, just so you’re aware—your seats are locked for the next full month. Anyone who moves before that time is up... will get their entire team punished.”

“Hah?!”

“Didn’t you say we didn’t have to sit with our team?!”

And just like that, the room exploded.

To be fair, it was kind of a surprise. Being told we couldn’t move for a month? Maybe the idea was to help us bond... but not everyone was going to be cool with that.

“I did say that,” the Supervisor replied calmly.

“Then what now?!”

“What now...?"

Yeah. That guy. Some noble-looking student who was yelling like the Supervisor owed him a personal explanation. Standing tall, face flushed with anger—like he was scolding a butler.

Poor guy didn’t realize who he was screaming at. Must’ve been blinded by his own rage.

“Stop joking around! Why are we forced to sit like this now?! You said we didn’t have to! How do you explain that?!”

"..."

He demanded an explanation like he owned the place.

Seriously? Isn’t that a bit much? Why was he so mad about sitting next to people? No one’s forcing you to talk to them. You don’t even have to look at them if you don’t want to. Just sit there.

Watching him throw that tantrum... I started getting worried.

I’ve always struggled to understand how nobles think. Sure, they’re powerful, some are even smart—but they blow everything out of proportion. Which, in a place like this, can be dangerous.

“I don’t need to explain anything to you,” Supervisor Shin said, his voice colder now. “I told you that because those were the rules I set. And now, I’m telling you a new rule: You will sit with your team for the next two months. Anyone who disobeys will have the whole class punished.”

“Wha—?!”

Yeah, saw that coming...

What an idiot. Couldn’t he just read the room?

And just like that, the Supervisor’s tone shifted. This time... it hit different. But it wasn’t new. We’d heard this voice once before—when we first arrived.

“Don't get me wrong, I’m not trying to be strict for no reason. But mark my words—what you learn here might just keep you alive in future battles. I’m crafting a shield to protect you from the world. And in return, I ask only for your full obedience, for a short time. Imagine me as a blacksmith, and you’re a dull, useless block of heavy iron. I chose you from among millions. I’ll throw you into my forge with my own hands. You’ll endure the heat that melts you. You’ll endure the hammer blows that reshape you. You’ll endure my endless sharpening until your blade is ready. You won’t have the freedom to act—but you will get to choose what shape your final form takes. Stalefort will be the forge that turns you from a lump of nothing into a refined, intelligent weapon.”

All in one breath. That terrifying voice... That overwhelming presence. We were seeing it again—only the second time since we got here.

This guy... really knows how to pick his words. Scary words, honestly.

“The moment you break or decide to quit, I’ll toss you aside without hesitation and find someone else. I’ll overlook what happened today since it’s the first day for kids like you. But starting tomorrow—I expect to see people who are ready to be sharpened. Understood?”

"""YES, SIR!!!"""

There was nothing else we could do. We nodded along, terrified but united.

I think I even heard Alice’s voice mixed in with the others...

With that, the storm of team reshuffling finally ended. The Supervisor moved on to talk about the curriculum. Nothing too dramatic—just more important stuff to keep in mind. A few students even started taking notes.

“...There are twenty minutes left in this period. Use the time to get to know your team, if you want. Just don’t cause any noise or trouble. Your next class will be in the training yard.”

Short and to the point. Supervisor—I mean, instructor Shin—wrapped it up neatly.

Yeah, I still catch myself calling him a supervisor. Doesn’t make much difference either way, honestly.

But again—getting to know our teammates? Not as easy as he made it sound.

And no, I’m not just talking about Alice next to me. I mean the whole class.

Now that I was paying closer attention... even though I didn’t recognize anyone, my gut told me something: Alice and Hikaru weren’t the only ones from prestigious families.

In a world where magic and physical prowess could instantly earn you fame, it wasn’t surprising that certain families—especially noble ones—had earned a special kind of respect in Wysperia.

Why? Well, because of that old war.

From what I read in a book once, some families played massive roles in those battles, supposedly preventing the kingdom’s destruction. And so, even now, they’re treated with honor. Even if their treatment of the common folk is less than fair.

But really, why should I respect people who cause suffering just because they’re stronger?

If it were up to me, the answer’s obvious: To avoid trouble.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Going against them never ends well. But looking at it logically, it’s a huge mistake. By blindly calling scum “nobles,” we just feed their power. And that leads to even more abuse for the common people, who are too afraid to stand up.

It’s a cycle of mistakes. It starts when ordinary people show respect to someone who doesn’t deserve it. That person grows arrogant, starts treating everyone like trash, and now you have to keep pretending to respect them—just to avoid getting crushed by the very monster you helped create.

And of course, you can’t fight back. Because now... they’re stronger than you.

I’m not saying the solution is to stop respecting them from the start. Of course not. That would be unreasonable—they did help protect the kingdom once, after all. But now they’ve grown corrupt—or maybe they were rotten from the beginning—and we’re just forced to obey them whether we like it or not.

And again, not all noble families are terrible. I’m not usually the kind of guy who adopts such views, especially when I’d rather not end up with a rope around my neck for “inciting rebellion.” I just… don’t really know what exactly triggers these thoughts in me. But whatever it is, it’s only getting worse with time.

I shook my head side to side, trying to clear it. Leo and Hikaru had started talking about whatever Shin, the supervisor, had said. I ignored them—my mind was drifting elsewhere.

Maybe it was time to settle a few scores with the golden-haired girl sitting next to me.

“…”

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye.

She was staring at the classroom, probably at the silence and tension that still lingered in the air—though it had started to fade now that a few groups had begun chatting.

For some reason, I got the feeling that Alice was trying to memorize as many faces as possible, as if she were trying to figure out who might be a worthy rival...? I don’t really get how her mind works, even after meeting her a few times. But one thing’s certain—she doesn’t do anything without a reason. I’m sure of that much.

I kept staring at her carefully, hoping she wouldn’t notice, while my brain scrambled to come up with a smooth way to start a conversation.

Wait a second.

Now that I’m this close... isn’t Alice ridiculously beautiful?!

Yeah, I realized it way too late—right after her scent hit my nose.

But can you really blame me for not noticing before? I mean, I’ve seen her absurd skills firsthand. I’ve tasted the cold edge of her sword up close. My whole focus was on what she was hiding, not what she was showing.

That silky golden hair of hers practically begged to be touched. Those sharp blue eyes, framed in black, only looked more mesmerizing because of it. Her skin was pale and flawless—like untouched snow. And her eyelashes? Long, jet black, and proud.

From my slightly taller angle, I could see her rosy lips clearly. She didn’t need lipstick—her lips already looked… well, dangerously kissable.

She really looked like something out of this world. Maybe calling her a "monster" earlier was a bit much?

No no no, don’t fall into that honey trap! Don’t forget what she did to you! That sharp tongue of hers!

Okay, yeah, she’s hot—but that doesn’t mean she’s not terrifying. And yet… I had to admit, she was beautiful. Seriously beautiful.

“…You.”

“Hmm?”

As if she could read my thoughts, Alice suddenly spoke—without even looking fully at me, just glancing sideways.

I answered instinctively. No thinking involved.

Scary!

“How long do you plan on staring at me like that?”

“!!…”

I had nothing to say. Just a big shocked reaction face.

She noticed?! Why didn’t she say anything earlier?! I swear I was only glancing for a second... or two… maybe three.

Ugh, how embarrassing… The only silver lining was that she said it in a low voice. Thank you, Alice. I’ll take that mercy.

Or so I thought.

“Hmmm… staring like that… That’s a pretty indecent thing to do, Shiro. Didn’t take you for that kind of guy. Bold of you too.”

“…So, you are a guy after all, huh?”

That voice—Leo. His smug, teasing voice chimed in from the side. Of course.

Then came Hikaru, right on cue.

“…”

I had no idea how to respond.

I mean, Leo being snarky? Not surprising. I expected that. But Hikaru? I thought he was the sweet, gentle type!

And what do you mean “so, you are a guy after all”? What did you think I was before?!

Apparently, chatting with Leo for two minutes is all it takes to max out someone’s sarcasm levels.

In my mind, I gave Leo a silent nod of respect—for being a walking, talking plague of idiocy.

Seriously, these guys need to be burned before they spread. For the sake of humanity.

“Wait, hold up! Are you telling me Alice is your type?! Whoa… that actually makes so much sense now! Right, Hikaru?”

“Totally. That’s why he looked all awkward when he found out she was on the same team. He must’ve been thrilled.”

“N-no no no, this is too much—even for a word-spitting machine like you. Have either of you tried talking to supervisor Shin like that? I’m sure he’d love it.”

I tried to say something—mainly because their voices were getting louder and people were starting to look our way.

Mind your own business, will you?

But there was something way more pressing than the students' stares right now.

“……”

Alice… she heard us.

No, I’m not looking at her right now, thankfully. I’ve got my back to her, facing Leo and Hikaru instead. But I feel it—that ominous pressure melting down my spine.

And yeah, there's that too.

As I kept my gaze on Leo and Hikaru, I could see their frozen expressions… which said everything. They’d clearly snuck a glance at Alice behind me. And thanks to Leo’s crimson eyes, I could see her reflection in them too.

Yep. Perfect angle.

Joking around like this is gonna get us killed.

“Uh… Alice? Just so you know, we were totally joking,” Leo said with a strained smile.

Too late for that now, buddy. I doubt this’ll end without a fight or something. I kinda wish you were sitting in my seat instead.

‘Team fell apart before we even got to bond properly.’

Would’ve been the perfect title for what was about to happen…

…Or so I thought.

“Hmm, you really do love to mess around, don’t you?”

Alice sighed deeply, responding in a voice that… no one had ever heard before.

I didn’t even know how to describe it.

If I had to pick one word… it was normal.

“Ahaha… yeah, he kinda does. Sorry if we bothered you.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Hikaru answered for her, since Leo had apparently lost the ability to speak.

Those relaxed expressions… I never thought I’d see them on Alice. Honestly, I didn’t think she could make those kinds of faces.

I mean, yeah, we’ve only known her for a few days. We don’t have any deep history or close ties. Still—it felt surreal. Like watching Supervisor Shin break into a full-on belly laugh.

Okay, maybe that comparison’s a bit unfair, but still—what happened to that sharp tongue and short temper of hers? That’s what was running through my head. And probably Leo’s too.

We were both frozen, staring at Alice with wide-eyed disbelief.

Like we were silently asking, “Is this really Alice?”

That’s why Hikaru—who had only followed his imagination trying to figure out what had happened between Alice and us—was completely thrown off by our sudden silence.

Maybe his logical brain, like that of any regular person seeing Alice for the first time, would think, “Yeah, she’s a beautiful noble. I bet she has impeccable manners.” And honestly? That wouldn’t even be wrong. If we judged people purely by looks, then sure, all nobles would seem like perfect gentlemen and ladies.

Not that I could flat-out say she was rude or lacking manners either.

“…Something wrong?”

Tilting her head slightly to the side, her silky hair followed the motion in a strangely captivating way. Her expression was calm, her tone casual. And yet, for some reason, that only made me more nervous.

“Ah, no… I was just thinking about…”

I hesitated, stumbling over my words.

“Thinking about what?”

She repeated the question with more edge this time, leaving me no room to dodge it.

“...Just, you know… I didn’t expect you to speak so… calmly.”

“That way of speaking…?”

She echoed my words, then looked like she was trying to interpret what I meant.

“And why did you think that?”

She just kept going, huh?

I mean—wasn’t it obvious? Did I really need to spell it out?

“…”

She was still waiting. And Leo, the guy who got us into this situation in the first place, clearly had no intention of saving me. Meanwhile, Alice stared at me with those steady eyes of hers, almost like they were quietly demanding answers.

Guess I had no choice but to explain.

I took a breath to calm myself down.

“…Your fight with Leo and me in the forest… the conversation we had before the duel… the badge, and the Gyork…”

It probably made zero sense to anyone else, but I did my best to explain. And surprisingly, Alice seemed to get what I was trying to say.

“Ah, that’s what you meant,” she said with a smile that was weirdly cute—like, childishly cute—and honestly, kinda charming no matter how you looked at it.

“Yeah…”

Confirming it with a small nod, Alice closed her eyes briefly, as if she were thinking deeply.

Maybe I was just overthinking it. Actually, I was overthinking it. But what she said next, after she let out a soft sigh and opened her eyes again, was the answer I needed.

“Back then, we were rivals, so I treated you both accordingly. It wasn’t about insults or hostility—it was just psychological warfare. A mind game before the actual battle, you know? You didn’t mean anything in particular by your words either, right?”

“…Yeah, I guess not.”

“See? We were enemies, and both trying to steal each other’s badges to pass the test. You don’t go easy on your enemies, do you?”

“No… I don’t.”

“Exactly. That’s all there was to it. But now it’s different. There’s no reason for us to waste energy—mentally or physically. What we should do is cooperate toward our shared goal: passing the tests.”

Hard to argue with that.

Alice said it with a calm smile on her face, and I could hear Leo behind me muttering, “Yeah, yeah,” like some kind of idiot sidekick.

But after hearing all that… yeah. I was overthinking things. Big time.

No one’s going to go easy on someone they see as a threat. They’ll be on edge, ready to react to anything, always looking for the upper hand. But when it comes to a friend—a partner—it's a completely different story.

It was such a simple truth. And yet, I completely missed it. Seriously, what an idiot I am.

And to think I always mocked nobles for blowing things out of proportion.

“Haha, yeah… you’re right. I'm Sorry for this, really.”

I had nothing left but to apologize for my way of thinking.

“Yeah, we definitely overthought things… especially my friend here. Ahem… I’m sorry too, and I really hope we can work well together!”

Leo chimed in too—adding his own weird flavor to the apology, as always. Was he… embarrassed?

If he was, maybe I could use this chance to get revenge for everything he’s put me through…

As I got lost in those delicious thoughts of payback, Alice’s calm, almost gentle voice pulled me back to reality.

“No need to apologize. I hope we can all work well together as a team.”

That was clearly her way of closing the topic and starting fresh. She then turned to Hikaru, who just nodded with a soft smile. Apparently, that was enough for her, since she mirrored the expression exactly.

Gotta say… it’s not going to be easy getting used to those serene expressions of hers.

“Yeah! This is way better! Oh, right—again, name’s Leo Hawk! Fire element user and I like brawling with my fists! What about you?”

Apparently deciding that now was a good time for proper introductions—again—Leo pointed at himself proudly, then gestured to Hikaru.

“Ah, right. I’m Hikaru Fujin. I can use wind and mist. I also dabble in spear and bow combat. I hope we can all get along well.”

He introduced himself in his usual polite and noble way. Unlike his sharp tongue, his demeanor really did scream nobility. Even Alice looked a bit impressed—just like Leo.

Hikaru and Alice… unlike Leo, both of them gave off a real noble vibe on the outside. But man, their tongues were wicked. Like, it felt like nobles were trained to have that kind of double-sided personality. Honestly, I was starting to get a little scared just thinking about them.

Still, Hikaru really was something else. Possessing two elements was rare enough on its own, but one of his was a secondary element. Most people are born with a magical seed that only manifests a single element by the time they’re seven, if I remember right. But this guy had two. That made him pretty special.

…Friend, huh? Maybe my brain was already starting to categorize him that way, even though we’d just met.

Also, not that I knew much about magic, but the general knowledge said there were two types of elements: primary and secondary. Primary ones were fire, earth, water, and wind.

Meanwhile, elements like lightning, magma, and mist were considered secondary—gained through special means. And no, “secondary” didn’t mean weak. Some of them could overpower the primary elements entirely.

I wanted to go deeper into how that worked or what made them different, but my knowledge ended there.

Anyway, back to reality—they were all looking at me now. I guess it was my turn?

“…I’m Shiro Leonard. I haven’t discovered my element yet, and I don’t really have any particular skills or weapons I’m good at…”

I introduced myself, feeling… kinda embarrassed.

Unlike the others, I hadn’t even discovered my magical element yet, even at this late age. I had nothing to brag about. Even the sword I got from my father was gone—disintegrated during the explosion. I didn’t even have a weapon anymore.

A quiet pause settled over the four of us after that. That’s when I realized the rest of the class had already started chatting, voices rising all around us in a strangely harmonious way.

We weren’t alone. Seemed like everyone was trying to bond with their groups—maybe out of obligation, maybe not.

Then Leo’s voice suddenly cut through my thoughts—

"Yeah, but you do have a brain!"

"..And a reckless tongue.."

No, no way those are qualities I’d brag about.

And I definitely don’t think you get to talk about how reckless my tongue is.

Surprised by Alice jumping into Leo’s conversation, I just shrugged with drooping shoulders.

“No, these aren’t skills or elements. Doesn’t everyone have a brain?”

Emphasizing that point got a few light chuckles from everyone.

Wait, Alice actually laughed? Didn’t expect to see that happen in real life.

No, I gotta forget this way of thinking right now. Alice is just a normal girl, completely ordinary like anyone else here.

And of course, I don’t mean “ordinary” as in her abilities.

“Alright then... I’m Alice Takemikazuchi. I use the Lightning element, along with some other skills. I prefer sword fighting. Nice to meet you all.”

Being the last one, the only pretty girl in the team introduced herself.

I don’t know why I called her “pretty” here, but maybe because her way of presenting herself felt elegant, or at least that’s how I saw it.

Also, here’s an important point.

Usually, revealing your abilities is a clear weakness that can be used against you later. And I’m not just saying that because I read it somewhere—I say it from personal experience. Just like I managed to beat that noble by exposing how his magic worked, plenty of cunning opponents use that knowledge to turn the whole fight around, even if they were doomed to lose from the start.

But it can go either way, depending on the situation. Sharing your abilities with a friend might increase your synergy, and agreeing to introduce yourself and reveal your powers—which Leo didn’t hesitate to do—also means you trust the person you’re sharing with. That’s the key point I’m making here.

In short: sharing sensitive info like this without hesitation shows mutual trust.

And that trust formed pretty quickly too.

I think that’s thanks to Leo pushing the conversation forward from the start—even if he did it in an annoying, troublemaking way.

“Woah! You can use multiple types of magic? As expected from prestigious families.”

“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.”

“No, it’s actually pretty rare to use magic in several ways to enhance your element. Even I can only use one type, and I’m still weak at it. I really envy you.”

“Oh no... it’s not that special... but thank you both for the compliment.”

They showered Alice with praise.

After that, the three of them kept diving deeper into their magic elements and skills. The others around us did the same at the same time, which made me a bit suspicious.

How did I feel? No, I wasn’t sad, empty, or annoyed for being the only one who couldn’t do any of what they were talking about—no matter how much I hated my spot in the middle of them all. It just made it impossible to avoid hearing their conversation even if I wanted to.

Maybe later I’ll ask Leo to swap seats with me.

But then, as if fate had had enough of messing with me, granting me a short break—someone else opened the classroom door. This time, a different teacher from supervisor Shin entered.

He was... different. Really different. The first thing you’d notice when you see him...

“A giant...”

Yeah, he was ridiculously huge... to the point he had to bend to fit through the classroom door.

And by “giant,” I don’t just mean tall—he was broad-shouldered and muscular too. With harsh, rough features, thick eyebrows, and wild black hair just like his eyes. Everything about him screamed battle-hardened warrior.

That ghoul-like man moved to the middle of the blackboard in front of the class.

“...”

In reaction to his imposing presence, silence took over the room instantly, even before he said a word. The teacher looked around for a bit, then suddenly smiled—a smile that sent a chill down my spine—and spoke with a thunderous voice that perfectly matched his appearance.

“Alright, so this is the first class. Just as I was told, it’s really full of unique falcons. This year’s gonna be interesting.”

The man in his messy uniform smiled like that, and for some reason, my heart didn’t settle.

“Falcons...” That word stuck in my head for some reason too.

“Okay, unique falcons! I’m your teacher responsible for turning your puny, saggy bodies into ones faster than a cheetah! Tougher than dragons! Stronger than gorillas! My name’s Leonhart!”

He introduced himself in a... really weird way.

My suspicion of this guy grew even more, and I wasn’t the only one. I could see the confused expressions around me after hearing his words. And no one even thought about answering him, making the class dead silent after his name echoed a few times before fading away.

The falcons again...

And he definitely has a name that fits.

“Good! Very good! I can see the fire of passion in your eyes! Now everyone, jump up! Follow me out of this cramped room and into the blessed battlefield! Move those lazy bodies, we’ve got no time to waste today!!”

His voice got louder than I thought possible. He ordered us to stand up and follow him.

Looks like hell’s about to start here.