Simon led the transfer students to the student council room. The moment they stepped inside, they let out small gasps of admiration.
"So this is the Kizen student council room! It's so flashy."
"Our school just slapped a 'Student Council Room' sign on an empty classroom."
"That's usually how it is."
Kamibarez, the secretary, moved quickly to seat the transfer students on the guest sofa and serve them tea. A sip of the tea brought another round of impressed murmurs. The calm tea time was brief; with twelve people in one room, a boisterous atmosphere soon took over as students with common interests began to chat.
"Vice President! That Jet-Black flame magic you used in the match today was awesome," said Jetz, the former representative from Sierra, who had struck up a conversation with Meirin.
She snorted. "You've got a good eye."
"The way you instantly combined pure magic and black magic to match your opponent was really impressive."
"And you use an Original, right?"
"That's right. So my repertoire is a bit narrow." Jetz conjured a blazing green flame in his palm.
Meirin's expression turned serious. "An Original isn't necessarily a good thing. I think it's best to focus on the versatile department curriculum as your main and then adjust the side branches to fit you."
"Of course, that's the standard, but isn't it cool and romantic to become the best with your own technique?"
"Does romance put food on the table?"
Kamibarez was talking with Alizarin, her opponent from the match. Their main topic, of course, was blood.
"I apologize again for what I said about the Ursulas. I've been told... I have a pretty twisted personality."
"N-No! It's okay! The black magic you used to move water with blood was amazing!"
"Want me to teach you?"
Simon was sitting alone at the president's desk in the back, sipping his tea. He was watching with satisfaction as the transfer students got along with his council members when Dick bounded over.
"Hey, Simon!" he shouted, playfully putting him in a headlock. "How've you been? I heard you got three straight wins in the transfer evaluations! As expected!"
"...This is giving me a headache, Dick."
"Anyway, look who's here." Dick gestured with his eyes toward a student. A sturdy boy with a shaved head was turning away, embarrassed. He was one of the boys from Alrand who had arrived with Benz. "Remember him? That's Ricon! He was in Class B with us in our first year!"
"...Huh?"
Dick explained that Ricon was originally a Kizen student and had even been the ace of Necrology in Class B. But he had failed the first exam of the second semester and caused a scene.
"There has to be some kind of mistake! My combat evaluation was in the top squad, and my grades were in the top 100, but you're kicking me out?"
He had thrown a fit, refusing to accept it, until he was subdued by their homeroom professor, Bahil. And then, something unexpected happened.
"Ricon is quite a decent talent. A place like Moiran would gladly take him. Whether he gets his act together, becomes the top student there, and returns to Kizen as a transfer, or simply crumbles, will depend on his mindset."
Heeding that advice, Ricon went to Moiran and worked relentlessly. In the process, he awakened a new talent: Curses. When Bahil heard this, he had Ricon transfer to Alrand, where one of his own former students taught. The infrastructure for learning Curses was much better there than in Moiran.
Ricon became the top student in the Cursology department at Alrand and had now finally returned to Kizen as a transfer student.
"Isn't that a true underdog story?" Dick chuckled, patting Ricon on the shoulder.
"He started as a Kizen student, went to Moiran, then Allande, and now he's back!" Dick announced dramatically. "He crawled his way up from the very depths of hell!"
"S-Stop it. You're embarrassing me," Recon mumbled.
As he listened, Simon realized the face was familiar, though he'd only seen it once. He recalled the student from his first year—back then, he'd had a bowl cut. Now, with his hair cut short and a sudden growth spurt, he was almost unrecognizable.
"Anyway," Simon said, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Welcome back to Kizen, Recon."
At his words, Recon's nose twitched, and his eyes began to redden. Dick, ever the instigator, grinned slyly.
"Uh-oh, look at him! He's tearing up! Hey, everyone, check it out!"
"Stop it!" Recon shouted, his face flushed.
A wave of laughter swept through the students who had been listening to his tale. Recon quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve and let out a sharp breath, his expression a storm of conflicting emotions.
And so, their impromptu tea time came to a close. Dick wheeled over a chalkboard and began explaining Kizen's systems, rules, exams, and performance evaluations to the transfer students.
"I'm guessing what you're all most curious about is the classes, right?" he began. "You'll be placed in all the required major courses, and for other general subjects, you'll fill any open spots. The school will have a timetable drawn up for you by tomorrow morning, so just follow that. Any questions?"
A transfer student raised his hand. "I want to take Professor Bahil's class."
"Whoa, there." Dick wagged a finger. "Classes with the star professors are obviously full. Even we had to fight tooth and nail to get into them. If it's not your major, you can forget about it."
The student sullenly lowered his hand. Dick picked up a piece of chalk and made a checkmark on the board.
"For liberal arts courses, though, I believe you can choose freely and register by the end of this week. Up to eight classes. It's true that transfer students start at a disadvantage, but with the classes already full, there's nothing we can do."
The transfer students nodded in understanding. In truth, they were just grateful Kizen had accepted them at all.
"That's all from me!" Dick announced, putting down the chalk. "Oh, and our Vice President has something to say. Care to take the stage?"
"...Don't be a smart-ass."
Meirin shot Dick a glare before rising from her seat. As Dick stepped aside, she walked to the front of the chalkboard.
"It's nothing major," she began, clearing her throat. "Kizen might seem impressive from the outside, but at the end of the day, people are the same everywhere, right? There are plenty of jerks, and you might run into hazing, bullying, or exclusion."
The transfer students' expressions hardened.
"But don't let that scare you," Meirin added, placing a hand on her hip. "The concept of 'transferring' is new here, so I think most people will be happy to have new faces around. If you ever run into any problems, feel free to come to the Student Council. We'll help you."
"Got it."
"Thanks."
Meirin shrugged. "Fundamentally, this place is a strict meritocracy. If you prove your worth, you'll earn their respect quickly enough. Oh! And you won't see the third-years often since they're usually off-campus, but as long as you show some basic courtesy, they won't bother you. That's all I have to say."
The transfer students applauded. Meirin gave a faint smile and returned to her seat.
'Well, the Student Council's work is done,' Simon mused, checking the time from the president's chair. 'They're a little late...'
Speak of the ogre, and he shall appear. The doors to the Student Council room burst open as a massive leg kicked them inward. The leg came down with a heavy thud, followed by deliberate footsteps. The transfer students stared ahead, their faces taut with tension.
"......How arrogant of you Student Council punks."
A man with a colossal build entered, radiating displeasure. "Who the hell do you think you are, summoning the department representatives over the broadcast?"
It was the second-year Summoning Department Representative and third-ranked student overall: Hector Moore.
A drawn-out yawn followed him. A tall, mint-haired girl was rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"I just got back from a mission evaluation, and I'm dead tired. Why'd you call us?" she grumbled. The second-year Venomology Department Representative and sixth-ranked student overall, Merdiana Ann Suddes.
Beside her, a girl was actually asleep on her feet. Wrapped in a blanket like a robe, her head bobbed rhythMikelly. The second-year Cursology Department Representative and fourth-ranked student overall—and the younger sister of the former Student Council President, Phantastus—Merida Hugh Ikel.
"Hey! Who do you think you are, getting mad at the Student Council?" a small girl with pigtails shrieked, darting forward. A large, white uniform was draped over her shoulders. "It's your duty to come running when the Student Council calls! You think you could've been so cocky with the third-year council?"
After yelling at the other representatives, she glanced back at Simon and shot him a wink. She was the second-year Necrology Department Representative and seventh-ranked student overall, Elisa Celine of the Ghost Ship.
"President, are you hungry? Should I go get you some bread?"
"...I'm fine."
"Don't be shy! We're comrades taking Royal Studies together!"
Simon let out an awkward laugh, wondering what kind of favor she was trying to butter him up for.
Following her was a stream of other well-known students: Chatel Maer, the Jet-Black Dynamics Representative and second-ranked student overall; Elysia Rosenfeld, the Hemomancy Representative ranked ninth; and Jule Vincere, the magic sword user representing Combat Magic, who held the tenth spot.
The famous 'Top 10' of Kizen had gathered in one place. The transfer students' heads spun; they recognized every single one of the legendary names and families.
"Welcome, everyone," Simon greeted them from the president's chair. "Thanks for coming so quickly, even though you must be tired."
As the Student Council President, he was the one who led the seven departments and served as the bridge between the students and Headmaster Nephthys. The transfer students' eyes sparkled as they watched him.
'He's not intimidated at all in front of people like that. He's so confident.'
'As expected of the president.'
Simon continued, "I called you here about the transfer students."
"Right, I heard we got some," Hector grunted, his brow furrowed in displeasure. "Then the Student Council should've just taken them to the dorms. What's the point of summoning all the department representatives just to escort them?"
"Whine, whine, whine... Here we go again." Dick stood up to provide backup. "You haven't changed a bit since the first year. We're just following procedure. What's with all the complaints? Do you have to act so high and mighty, Young Master Moore?"
Hector's piercing eyes shot toward Dick. "This is no place for you to be butting in, Rank 400."
Meirin let out a stifled snort. Dick's face flushed at the direct hit, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Oh, and just so you know, it was Professor Jane who instructed us to call you here."
This time, Hector flinched.
"Are you defying Professor Jane now? Huh?" Dick gestured to a nearby crystal sphere. "You see this recording device? Go on, say something. I dare you. You can't, can you? You can't say a damn thing. You're endlessly polite to adults but a tyrant to your peers. A classic bully—strong against the weak, weak against the strong. You're the biggest hypocrite here. You know that?"
Fire ignited in Hector's eyes. "...Did getting a title by clinging to Simon Polentia finally give you a spine?"
"Says the guy who sucked up to the third-years to snag the department representative spot just to oppose him?"
"...Don't think that power will last forever. The moment Aizel returns, I'll wring your neck first."
"Oh, that's great. If you're going to do it, why not do it now? You can't, can you? You can't do it. Why wait until I'm out of the Student Council? It's because you're a classic coward! It's hilarious watching a punk like you act like a big shot with your little cronies..."
Simon sighed and rose from his seat. "That's enough. Both of you, calm down."
The two glared at each other murderously. The transfer students watched nervously, unsure what to do in the suddenly hostile atmosphere, while the other department representatives seemed unconcerned, simply yawning.
"If it's Professor Jane's instruction, we should follow it," Elysia, the ninth-ranked student, interjected. "I'd appreciate it if you'd proceed quickly, Mr. President."
"Yes, I was about to." Simon turned to the transfer students. "The department representatives are here to explain the rules, class content, and necessary supplies, and they'll also give you a tour of the dormitory. Meirin has already submitted the paperwork for you to go out, so if you need to buy anything, you can go to Rochest this evening."
Simon smiled faintly. "Of course, the department representatives will guide you there as well."
This was the very reason he had called them. The representatives clicked their tongues, but managing and protecting their department's students was part of their duty.
"That's all from me," Simon said, smiling at the new students. "I hope your first day at Kizen is a pleasant one."
The transfer students stood and offered their thanks.
Late that evening, in Jane's office.
As night fell, the room grew dark. Jane, who had been wrestling with documents by the light of a small desk lamp, set down her quill and let out a long sigh.
'Knock, knock.'
"Professor Jane, the test results for the student named White are in." It was the voice of her chief assistant.
At her word, he respectfully opened the door and stood before her.
"We requested a total of twelve component analyses—including hair, skin, jet-black, and blood—and the results just came in."
Jane straightened her posture and clasped her hands. "And?"

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