Chapter 187: Announcement of Qualification
Two weeks have passed since the Royal Academy entrance ceremony. Today is the day of the qualification announcement. Those who qualify will see their names posted in front of the academy building. Once they confirm their own name, they will proceed with the various procedures.
"Now then... What is this? Why are you two following me?"
At the academy’s main gate, Rigel asked. The ones he was looking at were Testarossa and Nessis.
"After all... We’re worried whether or not you’ll pass."
"I’m the same. My heart is beating so fast it might burst..."
In response to Rigel’s question, Testarossa and Nessis answered. Hearing their reply, he smiled wryly.
"Even if I’m a hundred steps ahead and understand your anxiety, you don’t need to follow me, right?"
"But... It feels lonely if it’s just the two of us..."
"I think it’s reassuring to be with someone with superhuman mental fortitude like Rigel-kun. After all, you survived without becoming a wreck even after being struck by that ’Illusion Eye’ of Ero-Ra’s."
Hearing Rigel’s words, Testarossa and Nessis replied. It seemed they had somehow succeeded in covering up the mock battle with Ero-Ra. They thought he had survived only because he had strong mental fortitude... and they had no idea he had brutally raped her in the illusion world.
"Hmph... What nonsense. Tsk..."
Rigel shrugged, but he didn’t seem particularly bothered by their words. It wasn’t that he was kind. He had just made two female friends, so he wanted to get along with them appropriately and lead into his pleasurable rape later on. He was truly the worst scum.
"Well then, do as you like."
Rigel said that and began walking toward the building. The two followed him. Eventually, the three arrived at the place where the qualification board was posted.
"Um... My name is..."
Rigel looked for his number with a relaxed expression. Testarossa and Nessis followed him. Then—
"Ah! Found it!!"
Before Rigel, Testarossa raised her voice. The place her gaze fell on was her own name.
"...Good. My number was there too."
Nessis also confirmed her exam number and let out a sigh of relief. It seemed both of them had passed.
"You two did it."
"What are you talking about as if it’s someone else’s problem? Rigel-kun’s name was there too."
"Yep, it looks like we’re in the same class."
"Really?"
Hearing the two’s words, Rigel smiled happily. Seeing him, Testarossa and Nessis also smiled. Of course, the feelings Rigel and the two had were completely different. Rigel was not happy that he could spend academy life with them. Instead, he imagined his imminent act of violation and grew excited.
"Um... Where exactly is the list?"
"Top-left area. Look, all three of us made S class!"
"This means our elite track has been promised."
While listening to the two’s words, Rigel confirmed the list. Indeed, all three names were there.
"Hou... So S class, huh..."
"What a reaction. The prestigious S class, right?"
"I don’t know. Is it that impressive?"
"Of course! S class is a special treatment class for those who achieved the highest level of performance in the entrance exam!"
Hearing Nessis’s explanation, Rigel nodded in understanding. In short, it was like a special scholarship.
"Ah~... So that’s it. I’ve already reached the top of the academy..."
Rigel sighed. If he entered S class, he would naturally be noticed by everyone. Normally this would be something to be happy about, but for Rigel it was nothing but a nuisance. His rape situations would become one-note.
"Fufu! It is certainly something to be proud of, but saying ’top’ is going a bit too far."
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"Look, check the list carefully. The order of the S class qualifiers is the same as their exam scores. That is the sequence after enrollment."
At Nessis’s words, Rigel looked at the board again. It was certain that all three names were there. However, their positions within the S class were all at the bottom. Especially Rigel’s, who was listed as the lowest in the entire S class.
"Hou... So among the excellent students, I am the lowest?"
"I’m afraid that is the case. Well, since he passed into S class, it shouldn’t be that big a deal. I don’t think you need to worry too much about it..."
Hearing Rigel’s mutter, Nessis followed up.
"You’re not the type to be down in the dumps, Rigel-kun. In the basic physical fitness test, you were only a little slower than me... In the magic mock battle, you somehow survived after being struck by Ero-Ra’s ’Illusion Eye’."
"Maybe the examiner’s impression was left by that incident. It wasn’t just mental strength, but his magical resistance was also recognized."
"Hou... So that’s it."
Rigel nodded in understanding. He had made sure to achieve excellent results in every exam to avoid failing. However, he had deliberately avoided showing standout top-class results in order not to stand out. It seemed the mock battle with Ero-Ra was evaluated unexpectedly highly, and he ended up in S class even though he was the lowest.
"Oh! Ero-Ra’s name is there too!"
"It seems so... Rigel-kun, be careful when the school starts!"
"If you anger her again, she’ll definitely turn you into a wreck! We were very worried!"
"Hou... I’ll be careful."
Rigel replied casually. Ero-Ra had completely surrendered. Rather, it was she who was despairing knowing they were in the same class. While thinking this, he left, accompanying Nessis and Testarossa’s congratulatory meal. Thus, Rigel’s enrollment at the Royal Academy was decided.
—-
Two weeks have passed since the Royal Academy qualification announcement.
"Right, Rigel-kun."
"Good morning, Rigel-san."
Testarossa and Nessis greeted Rigel, who was waiting in front of the gate. It seemed they had arrived early.
"Ah, good morning."
Rigel replied and began walking. Today was the entrance ceremony. The three had made plans to go to school together as friends from before enrollment.
"So this is it... The day has finally come when I’ll enter the Royal Academy."
"Yeah... I’ve been waiting for this day all along..."
Testarossa and Nessis muttered with deep emotion. Both had tears welling up in their eyes. They had truly been looking forward to this day.
"Seriously... You two are being a bit dramatic."
Rigel gave a wry smile. Unlike the two of them, he did not feel particularly emotional. After all, he had enrolled in this academy because Wistaria King had ordered it.
"Come on, let’s go."
Rigel walked ahead. The two followed. Before the entrance ceremony, they first had to go to their own classrooms and wait.
"Hou~ So this is the atmosphere..."
While muttering, Rigel walked through the academy corridors. Classes were arranged from E up to D, C, B, and so on. The overall atmosphere felt almost no different from a Japanese middle school or high school. The classrooms were slightly larger, and the desks and chairs were quite luxurious. This perfectly reflected that the Royal Academy was a prestigious school attended mainly by the children of nobles and major merchants.
"Oh, Class A is even bigger."
Rigel muttered. The room labeled A Class was clearly larger than those in B through E.
"Class A has special treatment."
"Too soon to be surprised? S Class is even more amazing! We’re far above the rest!"
"Hou... So that’s it. The treatment for the commoners and trash in B Class and below must be completely different."
Rigel pointed this out. He had decided to enroll in this academy because Wistaria King had instructed him to. In preparation, he had carefully studied the entrance exam. However, he had no particular interest in what would happen after enrollment.
"Hou... Don’t be so harsh with the terms ’commoners’ and ’trash’..."
"Well, it’s a fact, isn’t it? The fact that our S Class is above Class A and below is undeniable."
"I’ve had enough of this, Rigel-kun..."
Testarossa smiled wryly. Nessis was also smiling awkwardly.
"Well then, let’s head to our S Class classroom."
Rigel urged the two of them to move forward. At that moment—
"Wait! You bastards!!"
A voice came from behind. Rigel turned around, and there stood a girl with a fierce gaze.
"Hm? Who are you?"
Rigel asked. It was a girl he had no memory of.
"Isn’t greeting enough? I am Lizia from Class A! Although I barely missed S Class, I am a girl who will surely be promoted sooner or later!!"
The girl puffed out her chest as she answered. It seemed she was dissatisfied that she had been placed in A Class. In the Royal Academy, the class division from the entrance exam was basically maintained. However, students could be promoted or demoted depending on their performance. If a student had been in A Class on enrollment, there was a possibility they could be promoted to S Class depending on their future efforts.
"...I see. Well, do your best."
Rigel replied casually. He felt no particular interest in her. He only felt like he had been bothered by a troublesome person.
"Um... Lizia-san?"
Testarossa asked timidly.
"Hm? What is it?"
"How do you know it was ’paper-thin’? S Class isn’t announced, so how do you know the class order inside each class...?"
It was a completely reasonable question. The division between S, E classes was based on the results of the entrance exam. However, the rankings within each class were not announced. Even in A Class, it was unknown to each student whether they were the top or bottom. The only exception was S Class, whose internal rankings were announced together with the qualification results.
"Haa!? You stupid!?"
Lizia shouted at Testarossa, clearly insulting her.
"This Lizia was admitted to Class A! It’s obvious that it was ’paper-thin’!!"
"""..."""
Rigel, Testarossa, and Nessis reacted in unison. Although their personalities were different, all three reached the same conclusion.
(She’s an idiot...)
The three were stunned by Lizia’s ridiculous statement. She was in Class A, so her skill was obviously real. Depending on her mood that day, she might have been able to enter S Class. However, saying it was "paper-thin"...
"I understand! You think the A Class students who barely missed S Class are being looked down on!? I won’t stand for your ’commoners’ remark! Apologize!!"
Lizia pointed directly at Rigel.
"It seems she overheard the conversation earlier..."
Rigel clicked his tongue inwardly. He had to decide how to deal with this troublesome girl.
