Chapter 61: The Tyrant’s Descent
“Ah, I’m sorry. I need to step out for a moment to pick some flowers.”
As soon as Yuri finished her introduction, Primula stood up from her seat.
“Oh, I’ll go too!”
“Well then, allow me to join you. I read in a book that girls always go to the restroom together!”
Viola and Yuri followed suit. Rest glanced at the clock and noted that there were still about ten minutes until the guidance session after the entrance ceremony began.
“Make sure you don’t take too long, you three. I’ll save your seats.”
“Got it! I’ll be right back.”
With that, the three girls left the classroom, leaving Rest alone.
“……”
Feeling a bit idle, he looked around the classroom and noticed that about half of the seats in Class A were already filled. Some students were sitting quietly, waiting for time to pass, while others were chatting with acquaintances.
(The ratio of nobles to commoners seems to be about nine to one…)
More than half of the students in Class A were from noble families. Rest recognized most of the commoners who had taken the exam alongside him, especially those who had performed well.
(As expected, nobles have the advantage when it comes to magic education from a young age. On the flip side, those who passed from the commoner slot must have put in a tremendous amount of effort.)
The commoner students in this classroom had all achieved respectable scores in the target shooting portion of the exam. Suddenly, Rest found it strange that a boy who had also performed well alongside him and Yuri was nowhere to be seen.
(I can’t see Celery Boy… I mean, Celery. Could he have ended up in a lower class?)
Although Rest had ranked third among the commoners in the practical exam, Celery was absent from Class A. Perhaps he hadn’t done well enough on the written exam and ended up in a lower class?
(Well, if we were in the same class, we might have clashed, so it’s probably for the best that he’s in a different one.)
As he pondered this, the classroom door swung open with a loud crash. Curious about who had entered so roughly, Rest turned to see three boys striding in.
“Is that…?!”
“What?!”
“Whoa…”
As the trio entered, a ripple of unease spread through the classroom. It was not a positive reaction; it felt more like the arrival of troublemakers.
“Why is that person here…?”
“I heard he’s in a different class. I thought he was assigned to Class D…”
“Class D? I thought he was a magic genius?”
“I heard he submitted a nearly blank written exam… saying something like, ‘A ruler needs only strength. If knowledge is required, he can ask his subordinates.'”
Classmates began to whisper among themselves. It seemed the boy who had just entered was somewhat of a celebrity. The murmurs contained unsettling information, creating a tense atmosphere.
“……?”
Rest observed the trio discreetly, feeling puzzled.
Leading the group was a boy with spiky golden hair. His features were somewhat handsome, but his gaze was menacing, and he wore his blazer carelessly, with the buttons undone. Following him were a tall boy with a shaved head and a smaller, nervous-looking boy wearing glasses.
(What a bunch of arrogant brats… They’re the type I would have avoided in my previous life…)
Rest subtly averted his gaze. He decided it was best to steer clear of this type of person in this life as well.
“……”
However, as the boy at the front scanned the classroom with a glare, he strode directly toward Rest.
“Hey, you over there.”
“……”
“You! Look over here, now!”
“……Seriously?”
Despite his efforts to avoid confrontation, it was clear the boy was addressing Rest. Reluctantly, he turned to face him, only to find the golden-haired boy leaning over his desk, looking down at him with an intimidating presence.
“With a face like that, you must be a commoner, right?”
“……Yes, but what of it?”
“Good… You’re going to move to Class D from now on.”
“……What?”
“I’m entering Class A, so you’ll take my place in Class D. A commoner like you wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure of Class A, so I’m doing you a favor.”
“……”
Rest was left speechless, stunned by the boy’s brazen demands. Why was he being ordered around by someone he had never met before? As he sat there, dumbfounded, the tall boy beside the golden-haired one slammed his hand on the desk in irritation.
“That honorable person is none other than His Highness Rodel Aiwood, the Third Prince! You filthy commoner, get lost!”
(Rodel Aiwood… Could it be…?)
Could this golden-haired boy really be the infamous Foolish Prince everyone spoke of? Rest’s face contorted in disbelief as he looked up at the trio from his seated position.