Chapter 570: First-Year Student

It was the day after our encounter with Romio.

Today, the atmosphere at the Academy of Magic was different from this morning. It was because there was an entrance ceremony for the new students.

However, the ceremony was quite modest.

It seemed that new students entered this academy every four months, and that was why the entrance ceremony was not such an important event.

Only the new students and a few teachers would attend it.

Fran was also told that she did not have to attend. She could attend if she wanted to, but of course, she didn’t. Even at her entrance ceremony, she was sure to doze off, and she would definitely fall asleep at someone else’s entrance ceremony.

So, she wouldn’t bother to tarnish the bright memories of the new students.

The bustle of the freshmen, filled with excitement and expectation, seemed to light up the academy.

『I guess it’s the same in every world that freshmen are always excited』

(In Master’s world too?)

『Yeah, they are similar. Well, it’s rare to find freshman with varying ages in my world though』

Since there was no age limit for admission, the new students were of varying ages. Some were as young as ten years old, while others were over twenty.

The most common age group is around 12 to 14 years old. The same age as Fran.

In a part-time school system, an age difference of this magnitude would be normal. However, children and adults should never be mixed. It was like elementary school students and college students studying in the same classroom.

However, this was not unusual in this world, and the adult freshmen mixed in with the children did not seem embarrassed, nor did the children seem to look at them strangely.

However, it was inevitable that people of the same age would tend to stick together. It was the same as on Earth.

The new students were gleaming with excitement as they saw the facilities of the Academy of Magic. As we were heading towards the classroom with them at our side, we were approached from behind.

「Fran-san?」

「Nn?」

「I knew it was you!」

Fran turned around and looked unusually surprised when she saw the face of the person who had called out to her.

「Khanna? Why are you here?」

「That should be my line」

In front of Fran’s eyes, the girl was Khanna, the girl who had been with us on the pass from the Kingdom of Kranzel.

And she seemed to be a freshman as she was wearing the uniform from this academy.

「Fran didn’t come to the entrance ceremony?」

「Nn? What do you mean?」

「No, it’s just that I didn’t see you there. But if you’re here, does that mean you were able to enroll here?」

「Nn. I’m enrolled here」

It was not like she was enrolled though. She was just being treated as a temporary student here.

「But I was told that I didn’t have to attend the entrance ceremony」

「Ara, really?」

「Nn」

「But it’s good to see you again. Since we couldn’t find you anywhere, I was wondering if you had abruptly canceled your enrollment. But it’s impossible for Fran to not be accepted because of her ability」

I had a feeling that Fran and Khanna were not quite on the same page, and now I know why. It seemed that she thought that Fran was a new student just like her.

Come to think of it, she only told Khanna that her destination was the Academy of Magic.

Fran’s age was just right for enrollment, and it was not surprising that Khanna misunderstood.

「Since we’re both new students, please take care of me」

As I thought, she seems to have misunderstood.

「But your uniform is…? It’s so different from ours」

「This is the Special Battle Class uniform」

「Eh? The Special Battle Class? Isn’t that an advanced class…?」

「Nn」

「You didn’t get into the Elementary department?」

At this point, Khanna must have finally realized that something was wrong.

They then exchanged information with each other, and finally, she realized that Fran was not a new student.

「I see. I never thought you’d be an instructor. Well, it was natural for someone as capable as Fran-san」

「So Khanna wanted to get here from the start?」

「Eh? Well, that’s right, but…」

She didn’t reveal that the purpose of her trip was to enter the Academy of Magic because she wasn’t sure if she would be able to get in.

「You said this place is open to everyone, right?」

「Well, I have a lot of things going on my side…」

I was aware that she had her reasons, but what exactly was the reason that might have caused the rejection of her admission?

Well, she wouldn’t tell us even if we asked. I guess Fran was not really interested in that either. So, she asked a different question.

「Hey, what happened to the other two?」

「Dianne and Shella?」

「Nn. Those two」

Fran had completely forgotten the name of Khanna’s companions. Well, she was always like this though.

「Shella is looking for a job in town during our stay. If I can successfully graduate, then we’ll return to our home country together」

It would take years for Khanna to graduate. If Shella waited that long, it would cost her a lot of money just to keep staying at the inn. She was looking for a job at Lady Blue to raise as much money as possible to pay for her stay.

「And about that knight?」

「I don’t know what Dianne is going to do. Originally, her job was to accompany me to this place. She said she would return to the country with me, but she is allowed to act at her discretion during her stay」

「I see」

「She said she was going to train as a warrior, but she hasn’t decided where she’s going yet」

I’m rather glad that she was not here.

「Aah, I have to go. I’m sorry to keep you with me」

The teacher leading the new students called her, and Khanna hurried back.

「Umm, hey!」

「Nn?」

Looking back at her, Khanna opened her mouth with a somewhat thoughtful expression.

「Can I meet you again next time?」

「Nn. See you」

「Yes! See you!」

Khanna smiled with relief and with a nod and wave at her. It was probably because she hadn’t seen Fran smiling during the conversation and thought that she was annoying her.

But from Fran’s point of view, she was actually quite happy to see Khanna again.

『I’m glad you meet someone you know here』

「Nn」