Sword, Magic and Academic Society

The early fall season, Rosemieur Empire.

Much like the Yuglia's Royal Knight and Mage Academy, Rosemieur, too, boasted a similar academy, the only rival to Yuglia's academy in the continent— Olympus Mage Institute located in the capital, Olympus.

In the training grounds of the institute that only nobles could afford, Grayfia Indiana was going wild.

"Where the hell is your spirit, you lot!? Is that what you're capable of? Mere sissy-like attacks, I’ll butcher you all for real!!"

Around her, many of the students tumbled around on the ground, vomiting blood.

When the second half of the year began, she was congratulated with huge fanfare for getting three straight wins in the Yuglia's Rising Star Cup.

However, she also noticed her friends appeared a bit… distant. They, too, had apparently heard about the victory handed to her out of pity after she was thoroughly bashed around by a first-year student, called to be the hope of Yuglia, despite having the handicap in a sham battle.

But whatever the conclusion may be, her schoolmates, who knew about her prowess, had no intention to mock her.

That said, they were extremely curious about the guy named Allen Rovenne, whose rumors they occasionally heard from neighborhood nations. Grayfia had faced him up close, so they really wanted to hear her impression about the battle.

But, they couldn't ask.

There was no way they could ask her what happened in the match.

And Grayfia, who seemed to have perceived their hesitant attitude, naturally took it as a huge blow to her pride.

◆◆◆

“Give it a rest already, Grayfia. You're supposed to be the one to wrap up the disturbance as a Prefect of the Public Discipline Council, not cause it. And wiping the floor with your comrades wouldn't wipe away that shame. Visit the Student Council room later."

A graceful, silver-haired girl chided Grayfia, who showed no sign of ceasing her barbarism as she vented out her frustration on the students.

"Hmph, and that's what I’m doing as a Prefect. Their skin has been getting a bit too thick, after all.

......And did you seriously say I’m drowning in shame? Haa, I’ll just let you know, underestimate me, and I’ll show you what hell is. Don't think your princess status would save your wool. Be careful or that pretty face of yours will be biting the dust next moment, Ariichi."

"Insolence! Watch your tongue when you speak to Ariichi-sama. Perhaps you might have forgotten with your Prefect authority, but you're speaking to a princess here!!"

General Affairs Officer Eclair of the Student Council, also a follower of Ariichi, objected in a sharp tone.

"Shut up, you lowly servant."

However, when Grayfia shot a glare at her, she staggered half a step back tongue-tied. But as if to say she wasn't affected, she, too, glared back at her.

Ariichi sighed and directed her cold gaze at Grayfia.

"Listen, I’m simply saying to cease your barbaric acts now. You know there's no shaking your no.1 position, right? So cut it out with that tomfoolery, unless— you want scorch marks on your pretty body, Phi."

Her hand released a faint radiance.

Grayfia responded to Ariichi's suggestion with a snarky expression, baring her signature bucktooth at her.

"Hmph. I guess you now have some backbone, Miss Student Council President, or I should say former crybaby Richi who always used to hide behind me...... Just do it if you want to, why bother with the nonsense."

"You sure like to revel in the past, eh?...... This will only come to bite you back later, Miss 'Rabbit-Panty.'"

" "Pfft!" "

The onlooking schoolmates, who had been watching their confrontation with bated breath, unwittingly burst out in laughter.

"I............ I’m going to k-k-k-kill you!"

"You all, this isn't some exhibition. Hurry up and leave this place, unless you want to be pulled into their quarrel."

General Affairs Officer Eclair quickly urged the bystanders to disperse, and true enough, the sound of intense battle started to echo from behind her.

◆◆◆

"......Oh, I'm glad to see you're still as quick as ever, Grey."

Ariichi said while putting salve on a bruise mark she got after Grayfia's spear jabbed onto her.

"Haa, the same goes for you. You've polished your spell construction speed and precision shot rate...... Who knows what would have happened had you been holding onto your wand."

Grayfia said, tending to the scald marks on her skin.

"Well, you, too, were only using a training spear, so that goes both ways...... By the way, Phi. What were you trying to do at the training grounds? I believe you already know how much the students of this institute hold you, Grayfia Indiana, in high regard due to your incessant hard work, talent, and the ability you have cultivated.

I understand you might be vexed after your opponent resorted to that cowardly move, leaving a stain on your otherwise glorious profile, but no student holds you in actual contempt that I’m aware of. You should know better than anyone else, too. Why in the world are you throwing away that pride of yours by engaging in petty acts?"

Ariichi asked with a genuine look of concern, it was apparently a mystery for her.

At first, she thought Grayfia was just keeping a tight leash on the people around her to shut down any unsavory rumors from spreading.

However, by the time the first week had passed, and they entered the second week, it was clear to anyone's eyes that Grayfia was in a particularly bad mood. There was no one spreading ill words about her either who needed to be smacked down. Yet, her mood just kept getting worse and worse instead of getting better.

Then there must be something else that became the precursor to her wild acts, something that managed to corner her so badly. Alas, Ariichi just had no way of knowing what had happened.

"......It doesn't have anything to do with you."

Grayfia averted her gaze. However, Ariichi had also made up her mind, she was going to pry everything out of her mouth today by hook or by crook.

She had both the duties as a Princess, and also as a close friend of Grayfia, to know of any accident that might have happened outside what was reported while she was in Yuglia. This was also why she didn't keep her close aide Eclair in the infirmary.

Ariichi kept staring at Grayfia, but the latter, stubborn as rock, refused to say anything.

'Haa,' Ariichi sighed, seeing that maybe her plan wasn't as perfect as she had thought. She hoped, with how hard-headed Grayfia was, that maybe it would be easier to talk with her after a good fight, hence she had intentionally provoked her.

Ariichi changed her train of thought and suddenly started talking about their childhood.

"So, you're also wearing those panties up ‘til now, huh? Must be rough to wear it given the size. Why bother with that?"

"J-Just give those panties talk a rest, Ari!!...... No wait, did you just say 'also'?"

Ariichi snickered seeing Grayfia finally turning toward her to shut her up.

"Fufu. We got them before we were 10, right? You pushed me, taking me out of the Royal Palace for the first time. I still remember that cloudless autumn sky. The sunshine that day was sure too dazzling, wasn't it?"

"......Hmph. I was just irritated by your cowardice. Why were you, someone blessed with incomparable talent, letting yourself be pushed around by your incompetent brothers? It was my way to get one over you."

Ariichi giggled, but then the corner of her eyes dropped in melancholy.

"And you haven't changed one bit. You still hide that gentle part inside you, while picking up the role of bad guy when no one wants to take it. You must have thought I would never notice you, but I did, you know? I bet you must have wanted 'Lil' Bear' that day, but seeing that my interest was drawn toward 'Lil' Rabbit,' so you decided to put up with it. It was because I was genuinely happy when you proposed ‘let's take the matching pair’ while entering the shop and went along with my choice."

Grayfia's face contorted as if she was chewing a bitter bug.

"As if I would keep such trifling details in my mind."

"Another lie. Say, Grayfia. Don't you think it's about time you tell me the truth? You know, I totally know how you were clearing the hindrance for me, especially the clash that was occurring between the other prince and princess."

Grayfia's eyebrow shot up, but her expression quickly changed into an impish smile.

"Hmm. It's good that you now realize that the sole reason why you're able to reach your adulthood, and even manage to create your own circle without feeling pressure from the princes, was all due to me.

Well, you were always a naive idiot. I did all that because I didn't want to see an incompetent fella riding above my head in the future."

Ariichi's eyes were filled with sadness as she peered into Grayfia's eyes.

"......Sheesh, cut that bad guy act in front of me, now. You know that I've always been your, Grayfia Indiana's, fan since childhood. I made sure not to miss any of your actions. But as your fan, I just can't watch you wallow in self-derision because that bucktooth keeps bothering you. If anything, it’s one of the most charming points about you."

Grayfia glared at Ariichi.

"C-Charming!? Shut up! Stop talking like that guy!"

"Now, now. Frankly, the bucktooth being the proof of drawing devil's blood is mere superstition. I mean, do the devils even really exist? Sounds like some hoax to me......

And either way, even if it turns out to be true, it doesn't change who you are. You're Grayfia Indiana, stronger and haughtier than anyone. Well, that aside, who might 'that guy’ be?"

Ariichi was sure there was no suicidal person in this nation except herself, who would actually touch Grayfia's reverse scale, one that she had been more conscious about than anything else, and say it was 'charming'.

Perhaps, the source of her ill mood stemmed from that fact...... And most likely, it seemed like it was due to the same person who treated Grayfia Indiana like a child.

T/N - I wonder if it’s another crazy Flag lol. Instead of fate leading together by arrow of cupid, it’s just fate brought together by landmines.

E/N - Another crazy is about to chase the MC