The new transfer students had not yet been granted clearance for direct teleportation to Roc Island. They first traveled to Langerstine, where they boarded a 'Nether Whale' at the docks to cross to the island. By the time the sky was growing dark, they had finally arrived.
"So this is Kizen!"
They stood before the school's main gate. Benz let out an appreciative whistle, and the other students couldn't hide their excitement, murmuring amongst themselves. White remained impassive, his gaze fixed on some distant point in space.
"Hahaha! Welcome, welcome, everyone! It was a long journey!"
The uniquely boisterous voice belonged to none other than Dick, who had come out to greet them wearing a student council armband. Behind him stood the council's direct subordinates, their leader, Mojo, bowing with his hands neatly folded.
"Dick!" Simon approached with a wide smile. "It's good to see—!"
"Hey! Commoner! You look pretty pleased with yourself, don't you?" Meirin shot forward, poking him repeatedly in the chest.
Dick giggled as if it tickled and backed away. "Simon, what's with this old lady now?"
"Who are you calling an old lady? You have a death wish? While we were suffering, you were having a blast on your cushy mission, weren't you? Huh?"
"Ahem! Such slander. You don't appreciate the treasurer's struggle to build a wealthy student council for our class, you just nag me day in and day out. This is why great men are only recognized after they're dead."
"You want me to make you famous right now?"
"Dick! It's been a while!"
"Hey, Kami!"
In an instant, the area in front of the main gate became a whirlwind of noise.
A single step forward from Jane, and all four of them fell silent at once. The student council subordinates also bowed deeply.
"There's no need for that. I assigned Treasurer Dick his own mission." Jane raised a hand to acknowledge their greeting, then looked at Dick. "Are the preparations complete?"
"Of course, Professor!" Dick grinned, waving the list of transfer students. "I've got the ceremony all set up and their uniforms ready in the right sizes!"
"Good. Thank you for your hard work."
"By the way, who's Berllini? Raise your hand. Ah, Sierra, that's you? It was a real pain getting a uniform your tail could fit through. Buy me a juice if you see me on campus later."
Behind Meirin, who was glaring at him as if he were pathetic, a female student from Alrand cautiously approached. "Um, Vice President? The fact that he knows our body sizes is a little... creepy."
Meirin sighed. "You're right. Just assume it's information that's been sold off for a mere fifty silver."
"...Really?"
"Don't worry, though. I'll shut him up by planting my fist in that mouth of his."
"Hey, what's with her? I'm a student council member and a public figure now, you think I'd do something like that!"
"And who are you calling an old lady, you psycho!"
While the vice president was whipping the treasurer into shape, Simon was exchanging greetings with Mojo.
"You worked hard during the transfer evaluations, Mr. President."
"You all worked hard preparing for the event as well. Where is the transfer ceremony being held?"
"In the central main building of the second-year campus."
Hearing that, Jane pointed ahead. "Let's head there immediately."
The central main building was the same place where the department selection ceremony with the third-year seniors had been held. The transfer students changed into their Kizen uniforms in the locker rooms first.
"Wooooow...!"
It was the most enthusiastic reaction they had shown so far.
"Look how smooth the fabric is!"
"There's really a wide-range protection spell woven into it."
"I heard Kizen kids basically wear a mansion..."
The male students were making a fuss, touching their uniform jackets and debating protection ratings and tensile strength, while the female students wouldn't budge from the mirrors. Benz was no different. He looked at his reflection and swept his bangs back.
"Finally! I'm finally wearing this black uniform!"
Just then, Meirin, who was bustling about, spotted a pair of green checkered pants on the floor and picked them up with her fingertips. "Ugh! Whose are these?"
"Ah, sorry. Those are mine... 'Hup!" Benz's shoulders trembled. "Ugh, people used to tease me, calling it a grasshopper uniform, and now I really see it!"
Now that they were off, they looked exactly like a grasshopper's shed skin. Simon laughed at the sight.
"Didn't you say you were from Alrand?"
"My roots, maybe, but now I've been reborn as an elite of Kizen!" Benz quickly folded his old uniform pants and stuffed them in his bag.
The transfer students, now in their new uniforms, formed a line before Meirin, who was seated at a desk. It was a simple procedure: reconfirm their profile information, finalize their desired department, and sign a document pledging to abide by Kizen's rules.
"Name?"
"Jetz Simerat."
Meirin's quill pen moved quickly as she asked various questions. "You were in the Jet-Black Dynamics department at Sierra. You'll be continuing with that major, right?"
"Uh, yeah, of course."
After signing, they moved to Dick and Kamibarez, who handed out various daily necessities. Finally, it was the last student's turn. Meirin's expression soured, but she forced a smile.
"Name?"
"White."
As Meirin filled out his documents, she came to the final question. "You were in the Cursology department at Moiran," she muttered, a hint of surprise in her voice. 'Curses. He never used them once when he fought me.' She was a little annoyed, but she kept her expression neutral. "You'll be continuing with the same major here, right?"
Just then, White slowly raised his arm.
"Him." He was pointing at Simon. "The same department as him."
Simon, who had been resting in his seat, was taken aback. He could see something strange flickering in White's empty pupils as he pointed.
"You want to change departments?" Meirin narrowed her eyes. "Simon is in the Summoning department. Are you sure you want to go there?"
White nodded silently.
"Your school has a major system from the first year, right? This will be completely different from what you've studied. Are you sure it's okay to just switch?"
White nodded once more.
'...What's his game?' This was unprecedented. Meirin pushed her chair back with a scrape and stood. "Wait a moment, I'll go ask Professor Jane—"
"There's no problem."
Just then, Jane, having changed into fresh clothes, entered the auditorium with her subordinates. "Please accommodate the transfer students' wishes as much as possible. The Summoning department has plenty of open spots."
"Ah, yes, Professor." Meirin sat back down and finished the paperwork.
Feeling unsettled, Simon rested his chin on his hand and stared at White.
"The same department as him."
White had changed his major, and he had done it while pointing directly at him. A strange sense of unease had been building since their first meeting.
'Pier, Pier. Do you have a moment?' Simon gently tapped the replica of Pier attached to his uniform. A moment later, its eyes lit up.
[Mwahaha! What is it, boy? I am in the midst of mastering the power of the new 'sword' I have acquired. The more I delve into it, the more uses I uncover!]
'I'm sorry if I disturbed you. We just arrived on Roc Island.'
[I see! Good work!]
'More importantly, there's something I want to ask.' Simon turned the replica slightly so it could see White. 'That white-haired student. What do you think of him?'
Pier's eyes flashed. Simon waited, his face tense.
[He is just a student.]
'What?'
The response was more indifferent than he'd expected. Simon grabbed the replica and shook it. 'Pier! Please, be serious!'
[Mwahaha! What is the problem?]
'Well...' This was the first time he was voicing the thought, but Simon spoke with a hardened expression. 'Doesn't he look like Magnus?'
[Yes, he does,] Pier's replica chuckled. [But in my eyes, all human appearances look more or less the same. I judge not by appearance, but by a human's Jet-Black and the aura they exude.]
'Then how does he compare to Magnus?'
[He seems to be a completely separate being,] Pier answered plainly.
Just then, Jane's voice boomed across the hall. "Everyone, gather 'round! We will now begin the transfer ceremony."
The transfer ceremony was not a large event. Had it been a weekend, it might have been grander, with other students attending, but since classes started the next day, they kept it simple. Vice-Headmaster Jane herself took the podium to give a speech, explaining the mindset and rules of being a Kizen student.
Afterward, she called each transfer student by name to present them with a transfer certificate and a second-year student ID, which held the authority of command and investigation.
A palpable sense of happiness filled the room. Some students' eyes welled with tears the moment they received their Kizen ID.
After the brief ceremony, Jane stood. "Well then, I must be off to prepare for class. The student council members here will kindly explain the details of school life."
Simon straightened his shoulders, while Meirin and Kamibarez gave small waves from either side.
"I wish you all the best of luck in your new school life. Oh, and student White."
White rose from his seat.
"You will follow me."
The reason was unclear, but Jane led White away. Soon, the adults were gone, and Meirin crossed her arms with a self-important, "Ahem. Well then, instead of standing around here, let's go to the student council room and talk over some tea."
"Sounds great!"
Simon's group led the transfer students out of the building, explaining the various school facilities along the way. The new students seemed a bit overwhelmed, but their excitement was greater, and they eagerly looked around.
"Behind here is the sports field, but it's so popular you have to reserve it. And this is the Hemomancy department building! Those two buildings back there, too," Meirin chattered excitedly. It was fun to show new friends around the school.
Sometimes she and Dick would talk over each other and bicker, but the transfer students listened intently, not wanting to miss a single detail. As expected of students who had survived such fierce competition, their attitude was different. Occasionally, Kizen students passing by would murmur or strike up a conversation.
"Hey, Simon! Who are these guys?"
"They're transfer students. They just arrived today."
"Oh, really? Right, it's that time of year! Anyone here for the Venomology department?"
"How many are joining Jet-Black Dynamics?"
The interest in the new faces was explosive. As students swarmed them, Dick stepped forward with a swagger. "Alright, alright, let us through! You can find out at your departments tomorrow. You're making them uncomfortable."
They had planned to tour the entire campus, but too many students were gathering. Simon decided to head straight for the student council room.
"You're all dead if you come to the Cursology department!"
"You know transfer students get their own special hazing ritual, right?"
Some students shouted playful taunts as they passed. Meirin scowled, fed up. "Ugh, get lost, you guys!"
"The vice president's mad!"
"Hahahaha!"
Fortunately, the transfer students seemed to be enjoying the excessive attention, waving and accepting greetings with smiles. Nothing could dampen the joy of finally being at Kizen. But the crowd was becoming overwhelming. When even third-year seniors, who had heard the rumors, started to approach, Simon had no choice but to mobilize the student council's direct subordinates.
The moment Mojo's eyes met Simon's, he nodded and stepped forward.
"Students. We're coming through."
"Please step back."
As the subordinates cleared a path, Simon shouted, "Run!"
He had the transfer students sprint toward the student council building. Once the last one was safely inside, he instructed Mojo to block the entrance.
"Whoa," Benz said, laughing with a dazed expression. "Dude, that was a seriously grand welcome."
"Still, it's better than being ignored. I was worried that might happen."
While the transfer students chatted, their faces flushed with excitement, Simon took the lead. "Let's go up to the student council room. The department representatives will be here to get you soon."
The transfer students tensed slightly.
"Department... representative?"
"Uh oh. For some reason, that sounds scary."
At the same time, in the Summoning Department Dormitory.
Students just back from their missions were entering the dorm, their faces etched with fatigue. The lobby was already buzzing with conversation.
'Ugh, I'm so tired I could die.' A returning student was trudging toward his room when a sharp-eyed female student called out.
"Hey. Report to the department rep now that you're back. For the headcount."
"Ah. R-Really? Got it." She had an intimidating air about her, so the student walked toward the lounge next to the lobby without another word.
"So I was saying!"
"Hahahaha!"
Four students were chatting in their uniforms and bathrobes. All of them were high-achievers from prestigious families. And in their midst, towering like a hill, was Hector Moore. The students from Class A were now used to Hector, even teasing him, but some in the department who were new to him were still terrified of his massive build and imposing face.
"What is it?" Hector turned around.
The returning student flinched but forced a smile. "Ah, I'm back. They said to report to you."
"Right. Good work." Hector picked up a quill and made a checkmark on his list.
"Ah, right, my name is—"
"Laubel Buenmers."
At Hector's words, the student's eyes widened. "H-How did you know?"
"As the department representative, memorizing the names of all fifty students in the department is basic."
Laubel felt a flicker of admiration and rubbed his nose. 'What's with this guy? He's actually a good person, not at all like he looks.'
'—Ah, ah, this is a broadcast from the student council.'
An announcement echoed through the dormitory.
'—Second-year department representative, Hector Moore. Please come to the student council room immediately. That is all.'
'Snap.'
Hector's eyes blazed. "Those arrogant bastards in the student council..."
The apple in his hand shattered with a crunch. The students he'd been talking with flinched, cautiously watching his reaction.
'He's a scary guy after all!' thought Laubel, who had been hit by a piece of the shattered apple.
With a sharp tug, Hector pulled the department representative armband from his uniform jacket and strapped it to his arm.
"H-Hector?"
"You guys go on to bed. I'm heading down to campus."

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