The first day for the new students at the Necromancer School had come to an end, and all classes were over.
Before leaving, the first-year professors gathered in the lounge, sipping tea and discussing the new students.
"Meilin Villeneuve exceeded expectations. She concocted Shannif's poison on the first day!"
"Her bloodline is indeed remarkable, isn't it? All seven of her siblings are outstanding!"
"What about the official heir of the Ivory Tower?"
"Ah, Serne? There's no need to say more. There's a reason he was so confident at the Ivory Tower."
"And what about Chatel Maier? There's a stereotype that giant hybrids lack in magic compared to their physical abilities, but this one excels in both."
"Professor, it would be a problem if you tried to take Chatel away from us."
"Haha, listen to you. Acting like he's already your student?"
"You know that making contact during the student protection period is against the rules, right?"
The professors exchanged jokes and engaged in subtle mind games as they discussed the new students.
"Hey, Professor Bahil."
Professor Bahil, who was savoring his tea with his eyes closed, nodded as if he was listening.
"You had a class with Class A today, didn't you? How was it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, come on, don't play dumb. I'm talking about the special admission number one chosen by Lady Nephthys."
Bahil placed his teacup on the table and smiled faintly.
"In my class, he lost 10 to 1 against another student. I'm not sure if he has any extraordinary talent yet."
"...... Hmm, that's unexpected. Still, being the special admission number one, wasn't there anything special about him?"
Despite the persistent questioning, Bahil smiled gently.
"His stamina was impressive. He endured Exhaust nine times in the first class."
"Oh, nine times?"
"Stamina is an important quality, but for a special admission number one, it's a bit ambiguous."
Just then, the door to the professors' lounge opened.
Professor Aaron of Summoning Studies walked in, his hair still disheveled and dragging his slippers.
He gave a light nod to the professors and went to retrieve his coat from the hanger, seemingly uninterested in their conversation.
"Speaking of which."
Bahil started.
"Senior Aaron also had a class with Class A today."
All eyes turned to Aaron.
He gathered his coat with an expressionless face.
"So what?"
"What did you think of the special admission number one, senior?"
By now, all the professors in the lounge were looking at Aaron with eager eyes, silently pressuring him to speak.
Aaron sighed quietly and answered in his characteristic languid voice.
"An insensitive genius. He had the creativity to make unique defects."
"......."
As the professors murmured and exchanged words, only Bahil's lips curled up sharply.
'Is that senior throwing smoke?'
Having often worked with Aaron in the field, Bahil knew his tendencies better than anyone.
If Aaron truly disliked a student, he wouldn't speak so indirectly.
Insensitive genius.
Creativity in making defects.
In a way, it was the highest praise Aaron could give.
'......
This is getting more intriguing.'
Chosen by Nephthys, and marked by the picky Aaron.
Bahil felt his thoughts about Simon growing stronger with conviction.
"By the way, senior."
In that case, the war had already begun.
"The story you mentioned last year, about not taking any more direct disciples. Can we consider that still valid?"
"......."
Aaron, who was about to leave, stopped in his tracks.
The other professors also paused their conversations and looked at Aaron.
Suddenly, a tense atmosphere filled the lounge.
"...... Professor Bahil."
A female professor next to him tried to dissuade him in a small voice, but Bahil waited with a smiling face for Aaron's response.
Just as Aaron was about to open his mouth.
Click!
"Hello, everyone!"
A silver-haired girl suddenly burst in with quick steps.
"Lady Nephthys!"
At her appearance, the professors of Kizen, who were said to shake the continent, all bent their waists in respect.
"Have you arrived?"
Bahil, who greeted her like a gentleman, was the first to approach her.
Then he took something out of his pocket and offered it.
It was a chocolate ice cream.
Bahil was the only one in Kizen who always carried ice cream in a subspace with freezing magic, just in case he met Nephthys.
"Oh, really! I told you not to treat me like a kid!"
She said that, but she quickly snatched the ice cream from Bahil's hand.
"Preparing a lady's snack is also a gentleman's virtue."
"Hmph, you talk well."
Nephthys took a bite of the ice cream.
Soon, her cheeks flushed, and she wore a soft expression like a girl her age.
Some professors bit their lips at the sight.
They couldn't dare to harbor the irreverent thought that the great Witch of Death was cute.
"Please have a seat, Lady Nephthys."
One professor quickly prepared a seat.
Nephthys held onto the armrest of a slightly large chair and climbed onto it with effort.
"Whew! How were the new students on the first day?"
She asked while eating the ice cream, and the professors eagerly reported their impressions.
Rather than the verified special admission students like Serne or Chatel, students with excellent grades like Meilin or Hector from Class A, and Kaez from Class B were mentioned more.
Nephthys nodded as she listened to the stories.
"Yes, good, good! If there's any problem, report it, and since it's the first day, go home early and rest."
"Yes!"
"Lady Nephthys."
It was then.
Aaron, who had been silent all along, spoke up.
"I would like to have a word with you alone."
The other professors widened their eyes.
Of course, someone at the level of a Kizen professor could have a meeting with Nephthys, but it was rare to boldly request a private meeting like this.
"Sure."
Nephthys smiled and got down from her seat.
Aaron bowed his head once and followed her out.
'Still as straightforward as ever.'
After Nephthys left, Bahil, who sat back down and crossed his legs, smiled.
'But Lady Nephthys won't easily reveal anything, senior.'
On the first day of admission, all classes at Kizen had ended.
Simon, Dick, and the entire Class A moved to the dormitory under the guidance of a servant.
However, a small problem arose.
Because they stayed until the end of the last three-hour Summoning Studies class, Class A arrived late at the dormitory, and most of the rooms were already full.
The dormitory rooms were designed for three people per room.
Simon and Dick had planned to share a room, but the students who arrived earlier had already taken more than two spots.
"I'm sorry, but there are no rooms with two empty spots on the second floor either."
The dormitory manager kept bowing his head.
Even though it wasn't his fault, he was sweating and apologizing, and Simon waved his hand.
"You don't need to apologize, manager."
Simon felt a bit uncomfortable with someone older treating him so politely.
Of course, within Kizen, students ranked higher than servants.
Moreover, since most of the students were from prominent noble families, it was natural for the servants to act humbly.
Dick, familiar with such situations, crossed his arms.
"There wouldn't be any rooms with two spots left on the third or fourth floors either, right?"
"...... Yes, it's a similar situation on the other floors."
The manager showed the list for the second floor.
There were occasionally single spots left in rooms, but they were too far apart.
Simon and Dick exchanged glances.
"What do you think, Simon?"
"Let's check the other floors just in case and then decide."
As the two were discussing their options.
"Move aside!"
With a thud, the manager was knocked over by a luggage bag.
A student with brown hair, pulling a cart, frowned.
"What are you doing? I told you to move!"
"I'm sorry!"
The fallen manager quickly bowed her head, and the friend accompanying the brown-haired student snickered.
The brown-haired student touched the luggage bag and grimaced.
"Oh, really. It's dented because of you. What are you going to do about it?"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
"Sorry, my foot. Come with me right now."
As she was about to get up, bowing her head like a criminal.
"Excuse me."
Simon stepped forward.
"I'm talking to this person right now."
"...... What?"
The manager's pupils widened.
The brown-haired student let out a scoff.
"And it was obvious you bumped into her on purpose."
Dick chuckled and stood beside Simon.
"...... Are these guys crazy? Who the hell are you to act like this?"
"Hey, hey, wait a minute!"
The friend urgently grabbed his shoulder and whispered.
"That's him! The special admission number one who took the oath as the student representative in the auditorium!"
"...... Oh?"
The student's expression hardened as he carefully examined Simon's face.
His pupils shook as if an earthquake had hit them, and he looked at the innocent manager.
"Ahem! Be careful next time! Let's go!"
Watching them leave in a hurry, Dick burst into laughter, holding his stomach.
Simon also let out a small laugh and extended his hand to the fallen manager.
"Are you okay?"
She blushed and took Simon's hand to stand up.
"...... Thank you for helping me."
"Don't worry about it. It's only natural."
"I'm Lena! If you're planning to check the upper floors, I can guide you. I might be able to help."
"Oh, would you do that?"
With that, the three of them headed to the upper floors.
Lena quickly gathered information from other managers and headed straight to the fourth floor.
"There's exactly one room with two empty spots on the fourth floor!"
Lena said as she ran, with Simon and Dick closely following behind.
"There's an empty room?"
"Yes, it's lucky! Room 409 was originally used as a four-person room, so it's spacious, has a great view, and is close to the central stairs! I never imagined there would be exactly two spots available there."
Soon, the three arrived in front of room 409.
Lena checked the names on the door.
"Ah......."
Her face suddenly darkened.
"What's wrong?"
She turned to the two and gave an awkward smile.
"Let's just go to another room. Rooms 412 and 413 only have one spot each, but they're next to each other......."
"Is there a problem with this room?"
Simon asked, and she nodded slightly with a stiff face, pointing to the nameplate on the door.
"...... Kazhan Edvalt. He's a student who was here last year."
Dick's eyes widened at her words.
"That can't be, this is the first-year dormitory, right? The second-year students won't be here until next month."
"Kazhan is a repeat student. I heard he caused some big trouble and was held back, so he's starting as a first-year again."
"Hmm."
Dick found it hard to accept.
Kizen was a place that didn't hesitate to expel students.
Normally, if a student caused trouble or failed to meet academic standards, they would be expelled without hesitation.
Being held back was rare.
Simon asked again.
"What was the reason for being held back?"
"I'm just a dormitory staff member, so I don't know the details. But he's notorious among the staff for causing trouble...... There were many cases where his roommates had bruised faces or begged to change rooms."
There was a reason why this room had two empty spots.
Dick, slightly intimidated, glanced at Simon.
"Simon. Let's just go to another room......."
"I'll just go in and say hello. That should be fine, right?"
Simon said as he knocked on the door and entered.
Dick, startled, followed him in.
As it was originally a four-person room, it was quite spacious.
There were two double beds, one single bed, and individual desks and wardrobes.
The view from the window overlooked Kizen's buildings, mountains, and valleys.
It was indeed a prime location as Lena had described.
And on one side of the room, someone had already unpacked and was lying on the top bunk of a double bed, with a white blanket covering their head.
"Wait, Simon!"
Dick lowered his voice.
"You heard what Lena said! He's probably a tough guy!"
Simon took a deep breath and opened his mouth.