The tumultuous entrance ceremony is over.
　My school life started ten days later than planned.

Seika-kun, good morning.
Good morning, Yifa.

　On the way from the dormitory to the schoolhouse. I return the greeting to Yifa, who comes running up to me with a smile.

　It's already been a month since we started living like this.

　It is not surprising that the school was in a state of confusion after the demon scandal, but it seems that the school was so busy dealing with the situation that there were some people who thought that the school should be closed down and students sent home until the safety of the students was confirmed.
　As the identity of the sorcerer who summoned the demon is unknown (because I fed it to a demon), it's not surprising. But in the end, it seems that it was given up.
　But in the end, it seemed to be foregone.
　It's a very good idea to be able to find out the magicians in the school, even if you don't know the sorcerers, if you can find the magicians in the school, you can learn their tricks and countermeasures.
　In the meantime, adventurers hired as security guards are still patrolling inside and outside the school.
　The academy's response seems to be something like that.

　Suddenly, at that time.
　I saw a familiar red hair near the school building.

　I raise one hand and greet him with a smile.

Hi. Hi, Amu.

　Brave man, Amu stops and gives me a blatantly troublesome look.

'Will you stop talking to me so casually?

　As Amu said that, she tossed her red hair and walked quickly away.

''Se, Seika-kun........''

　I froze with a smile on my face, and Yifa looked at me as if she felt sorry for me.

　But it's okay.
　There's nothing wrong with that.

　The plan I made in my reincarnation is very simple.
　I'm going to be one of the strongest people in the world, and I'm going to suck sweet honey under that umbrella.
　It's a nice little plan, and I think it's very clever.
　No one will pay any attention to this guy. Even I would ignore him.
　So he won't end up the same way as he did in his previous life.

　The bottleneck is finding the key to finding a strong guy, and I was lucky enough to find one early on.
　You'll be able to find a brave man and a gem of a person.
　It's not only that, it's also a schoolmate. I'm not going to be able to get to know you better than this.
　The school life has just begun. There's still plenty of time.
　There's still plenty of time left, and it's not so bad that people don't like you now.
　It's just a matter of taking the time to make friends.

　My thoughts went rigid.

　Huh?
　How do I know if we're going to be friends?

　When I think back, I've never made friends in my past life.
　There were times when people would come up to me and talk to me, but that was the only way I ever got to know them.

　Even if I wanted to become friends with someone, I had no idea how to do it.
　Wow, I lived for over a hundred years....

　A cold sweat breaks out.
　I've realized a horrible, horrible possibility.

　What if I'm not...

　Commie?


****


　After my morning class was over.
　I was heading to the cafeteria with Yifa.

　Yifa said with a worried look on her face, "Seika-kun, you look pale, are you okay?

"Seika-kun, you looked a little pale, are you okay?
'Oh, yeah. I'm fine now.

　I had come to my senses.

　It's okay.
　It's not that I haven't had friends in my life.

　In this life, I come from a good family and my circumstances are probably not so bad.
　A womanizing nobleman in a past life said that the more people you interact with in any way, the easier it is to get to know them.

　If you actively talk to them, you'll be able to do it.
　I have no choice but to believe that.

　I've been in the school for a month now and I don't have anyone other than Yifa to get along with, which reminded me of my difficult situation, but I decided to ignore it.
　It would only make me feel uneasy.

'You!　That's rude!

　A voice echoed through the school's corridors.
　The students who were around looked in that direction to see what was going on.

　There, surrounded by four large male students, was Amu's figure.
　Surrounding him seemed to be the senior students.

　Good grief.
　They're getting tangled up again.



　Amu, who defeated one of the daemons by himself, became the hero of the school in one fell swoop.......

　That Lesser Demon that I had thought was a small fry, apparently wasn't a small fry by the general standards.
　If he had defeated it with a few people, he would have been a hero.
　But if it was defeated by a single person, it was now a monster that was too strong.

　All that is directed from the surroundings is awe-inspiring gazes.
　Amu was isolated.

　To make matters worse, Amu's accomplishments drew the jealousy of the upperclassmen who weren't there.
　It seemed that only a few of the upperclassmen who were at the entrance ceremony were high achievers, and those who weren't were left hearing only Amu's name without knowing how horrible the daemons were. That wasn't a good thing, apparently.
　Amu, who had been top of the class with just a bizarre grade, had been spotted in no time.

　Therefore, I see him getting tangled up like that every so often.
　But the harassment doesn't show any signs of stopping, probably because Amu remains resolute no matter how hard he is pressed.

　I sighed.
　Well, that's what happens when you're strong, isn't it?

　The students around me are just looking at me from a distance.
　I guess it's partly because those upperclassmen are scary, but........

　It can't be helped.

''Um, what's going on?''

　When I called out to them, the four upperclassmen all looked at me suspiciously at once.
　I speak with a smile on my face.

"She has an appointment with me later on...
What about you?

　The fragile blonde in the center of the four of us opens her mouth.

'Be gone. I'm in the process of educating these commoners. Because the undesirables who ignore the voice of this Regulus Sid Gable apparently do not understand how the world works.
I don't have time for the sarcasm and bragging that comes with being a weak aristocrat. All right, now get out of my way.

　Amu's provocative mannerisms caused the senior students to look at him angrily.
　Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....

''Amu, just a little bit more around the corner........''
'Can't you see I told you to f*ck off?　What's your family name?　You don't think you're going to be talking to me as a commoner, do you?
I'm going to...

　At that time, a student on the right side of the room overhears Regulus.

''........Regulus-san. This guy is a ramp rogue. The one.

　When Regulus heard, he suddenly smiled a false smile.

''Well, well, well. I heard that your son was admitted this year from that prestigious Countess Lamploog family, and I didn't know you were the one. It's a pleasure to meet you, Seika Lamploog, Mr. Lamploog.
Hi. Hi.
''Even so, the Countess Lamploog does something drastic as well----I never thought that they would put a concubine's magiclessness into this magical academy with a slave. I don't know how much money you gave them, but you did well.
....

　Oops.
　I didn't know there was such a rumor.
　It's a rumor when it comes to aristocrats, and if it's a rumor, it's an aristocrat, so it's not unreasonable.

''The quality of the magical academy has also declined. You're a commoner at the top, a slave at the bottom, and a concubine at the bottom. You're not going to be the bastard who speaks to me, the Marquess of Gable, are you?
....
"Huh, don't be so shrill. In lieu of an apology, yes.

　And Regulus gives Eefa a sticky look.

'We'll forgive you with a forgiving heart, if only you'll let us borrow your slave for the night. Right, boys?

　The cronies let out a lowly laugh.
　One of them, a very large male student, put his arm around Yifa's shoulder.

Regulus, let's buy him outright," he said. This slave ... is quite good.

　Yifa's face turns down as if she is frightened.
　Regulus exaggerated.

'Oh, that's a good idea. 'You, how much is that boy?　I'll take my asking price.
I'm sorry, but I have no intention of letting Yifa go.
Huh, so what do you have to offer me?　...Oh.

　Regulus reaches into my breast pocket and picks up the leather bag that contains the glass pen Luft gave me.

Oh. This.
''Mr. Regulus, that's the one that's hard to find in that Pen Imperial City anymore.
''Hmm, too luxurious for a bastard. Come to think of it, I was just about to buy a new quill.
It's very important to me, could I have it back?
Don't you get it?　I'm saying this will allow you to forgive me. Or do you want to offer your slaves to me?

　Regulus says with a flirty smile.
　I let out an extra-large sigh and said, "Huh.

　I'm done, it's a pain in the ass.
　I keep the power of the curse in my voice.

"Regulus Sid Gable.
What is it?　Suddenly, you didn't even add a title of respect. If you allow me to call you rude....
Don't move...

　At that moment, Regulus stopped moving.
　His mouth was half open, like a dumb statue.
　If his eyes weren't moving, I might be mistaken.

　I take the leather bag and glass pen back from his hands.

"Thank you very much for returning them to me.

　And then I turn to the hardy boy who has his hand on Yifa's shoulder.

What's your name?
Well I'm Marc of the Viscount Preng. I may be a Count, but I don't have the right to be dictated to by a bastard!
So, Marc Preng. So, Marc Preng, you're going to punch that young Marquess who's frozen in there.
'What?　Oh, yeah.

　There was a powerful sound, and Regulus was blown away.

''Regulus-san!　Oh, I don't know what....

　The cronies, including Marc, rush to Regulus, who is stretched out on the floor. But there seems to be no response.
　He seems to have fainted.
　Marc, you can be a fighter. You're better suited for it.

　But then again, the sorcerer over here is a bit of a joke.
　I mean, it's just a bit of name tying.
　In a previous life, an amateur would have fought back a bit more.

Shall we go, Yifa?

　I take Yifa's hand and start to walk away.
　His little hand is trembling slightly and I chuckle.

'Yifa's a coward too. Those people, you could turn them into a fireball in the time it takes to yawn now.
I can't do that.

　A voice that seems to disappear.
　That wouldn't actually be possible, but I'm stronger than you, so you shouldn't be so afraid.

It's a good thing that you're not the only one who can do this. It's a good thing that you're not the only one who can do this.

　I stopped.
　I see.

I'm sorry. Yeah. I'll be more careful next time.

　Then he stroked Yifa's head, and the soft touch of the dull blonde hair felt good in his hands.

　But still, living cunningly is difficult.
　I didn't mean to cause trouble, even just now, but....
　If you don't do it back, it will be taken away from you, and if you do it back, you will be noticed.
　It's a hard world to live in, isn't it?

Yifa, you can do what you want without worrying about me or the house. I have a feeling I'm the one who's going to do it, so...

Hey.

　A voice from behind me.
　I turned around and saw Amu with his hands on his hips.

''What?　That thing you just did.

　I reply with a smile.

"That henchman, he was really upset with the young prince, wasn't he?
Don't be silly. I know you did it.
Come on.

　Amu comes close to me and says in a threatening voice with his neat face.

"Answer me,

　There was a fierce passion in the young grass-colored eyes I saw up close.
　I let out a breath and say, "Did you think you could just ask and get me to tell you?

Did you think you could just ask them and they would tell you?　I don't give away my cards that often. Nobody does.
Oh, okay. Okay.

　Red hair passed by next to me.
　I suddenly felt like saying something unnecessary.

'I thought for sure you were going to thank me.
What?

　Amu looks back.

'You thought you were helping him, perhaps?
Yes.
It's none of your business. It's not that big of a deal.
If you keep making enemies without a plan, you're going to get hurt sooner or later.
It's none of your business. What's your problem?　Just leave me alone.

　Oh, that's so sluggish.
　I smile and say, "Will we be friends?

"Will we be friends?
What?　What, out of the blue?
'We're both struggling with weird rumours and prejudices, aren't we?　So we're trying to help each other out.
Rumor?　I don't know if you have any magic, or if you have a slave samurai in your house, but this is the first time I've ever heard of a concubine. You just don't have any friends, do you?

　Amu looks at me with cold eyes as I flinch at the mental attack.

"I didn't come to the school to play friends. I'm not going to be the only one. I'm not going to get used to being a part of a gang of a**h*les.
Is that why you're playing games with everyone?
What?
It's a poor idea. If you want to be strong, you're gonna have to get yourself some more friends.
What?
There's only so much you can do alone. There's only so much one person can do. Right now you're weaker than anyone else in this school.

　Amu glares at me.

'Is that why we're going to hang out with other high achievers?　Dassa.
That's not cool.
I'm not going to do it anyway. I'd rather not have any weak allies. Even if you're a nobleman from a prestigious county, you have no magical powers.
I don't have magical powers, but that doesn't mean I can't use magic. We're in the same magic exercise class, so you know that.
Isn't it just for that?　You even lost to your own squire on the practice test. The reason you got three seats on the exam wasn't because of that phony test score. What's a perfect score? It's just weird to me.
No, it's just that...

　I was about to retort, when Yifa stepped forward next to me.
　Yifa stepped forward next to me.

"So my score doesn't look good?　I was only ten points lower than Seika-kun, though.

　Amu says with a slight snicker.

'Didn't they adjust it based on your score?　Because the nobleman couldn't afford to lose his slaves to writing.
It was Seika-kun who taught me how to study. It's the same with magic.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.

The truth is, Seika-kun is much better at magic than I am. But Seika-kun is so kind to me...
"...?　What does being nice have to do with anything?
I used a low-powered spell so as not to hurt the target!　If the examiner hadn't acted like that, I would have broken three targets and gotten a full score for three attributes!
"...Acting?　What are you saying about breaking or not breaking the target?　I'm sure that had nothing to do with the score.
'Well but I heard that you got a perfect score on the practical test by breaking six targets, Amu-chan.
You know...

　Amu says, holding his temples.

'The practical test is based on how accurately you can perform the magic according to the pattern.
What?
What?
'Did you think you'd get a perfect score if you broke the target?　Dumbfounded ... did the examiner ever say that?　There is no way that's possible from a common sense standpoint. That target is not a consumable item, so it's only natural for it to break...................aren't you guys really stupid?

　Me and Yifa look at each other.
　I don't know what to say. I can't say anything back.

CeCe, Seika-kun.

　Yifa looks at me as if she wants me to help her, but I look away.

No, it was Yifa who started it...
"?　Se, even Seika-kun was convinced!
"What's the point of this low-level bickering? It's the same level. It's the same level. Yeah, and you can't blame the Squire for that, either. It's pathetic.

　Amu lets out a loud sigh.

''Stupid nobles and stupid slaves. It's much more exhausting to deal with you guys than all the random people who get involved...''

　With that, Amu turned on his heel.
　And then his body suddenly leaned back.

''Wha........''

　Although he didn't fall, he held his eyes in pain.
　What, you're that tired?

You okay?
It's nothing.

　After saying that, Amu left.

　Hmm?
　I have a bad feeling about this. Just a hunch.

"Stupid aristocrats, stupid slaves. Seika-kun.

　I looked next to her and saw Yifa giving me an envious look. I couldn't help but draw a smile.

''Ah, haha, but ... but ... Yifa's brave in some weird places too, isn't she?''
...what?
Oh, to run into Amu, I'd be much more afraid of upsetting him than that jolly young marquess, if I were you.

　Yifa clammed up a bit before saying.

''Well I'd be angry too if it was okay to be angry.