It has been a common sight in my school that there are silent wars happening with two sides. Even though they have many things in common, they still don’t get along. These things commonly happen between girls though.

***

“Young master, the coachman has arrived with the carriage. My advice is that you hasten up.”

“Sorry Petal, I overslept.”

I am currently rushing to wear my uniform to the academy right now since I am very, officially a student of Half Moon academy. However, my enrolment didn’t go smoothly at first.

Turns out that the people that were together with me and the Headmaster in his office were the staff of the school, most of them rejected the idea of me entering the academy. But the Headmaster silenced them with his authority.

Although I understand them because they want to protect the other students, but I was slightly annoyed when someone said that I should be seal, literally. But that guy ended up getting fired though.

The ones who accepted me were only two teachers, Miss Florentine and Sir Xalten. Both of them were said to be respectable people who also helped in backing the Headmaster.

It has been three days since then.

I used most of my free time during those days in studying and learning about magic. But since Petal said that I could learn better if I actually entered the academy, I used up the remaining time to let Petal teach me about proper etiquette and manner as a noble.

Because of that, I ended up waking up late in the morning.

“Good morning sir. It’s good to see a young man like you to be energetic early in the morning.”

“Gen, you jest.”

-did I just say jest? I sound so freaking old. It’s probably Petal’s teachings trapped in my head.

The one who greeted me is Gen. He is an old man with a large white beard. I met him in the City Guild Managing Office a few days ago when I was looking for someone to hire as a coachman. He is said to be a retired hunter and is now living off his life with only odd jobs for a living. It’s not because I pitied him that I hired him, but because I admired him for his pride as a person that doesn’t accept pity.

***

Arriving at the academy in a carriage feels a little embarrassing. Moreover, I could see students peeking out the windows of their classrooms from both buildings. Now I feel embarrassed like the time my friends surprised me on my birthday.

“It was probably a bad idea to ride a carriage into the academy.”

“What are you talking about sir? This is how being a noble should be, especially a grandson of a Baron.”

I talked to Gen who was driving the carriage through the window. I’m slightly intrigued to where he knew my grandfather being a Baron.

“How’d you know my grandfather’s a Baron?”

“It’s a common knowledge for us commoners twenty years ago.”

-so he was that famous huh.

After exiting the carriage, the Headmaster, Miss Florentine, and Sir Xalten welcomed me. Still, the students were watching me from the windows. Uhg! My stomach hurts.

“I officially welcome you to Half Moon Academy.”

When I bowed to him, the three of them bowed back in reply.

***

Skipping the formalities, I got immediately directed to the class I’m going to attend to.

There are five sections on each year: Brown, Red, Blue, Silver, and Gold. Brown is to commoners that have >, although their lessons are only on basics, it’s still important for them to learn. Red is still for commoners that wants to seek deeper in the world of magic, they are taught magic to the intermediate level only. Blue are for wealthy commoners and young people who have special recommendations. Silver are for students who are sons and daughters of high nobles from different parts of the neighbouring cities and territories and have special privileges to learn advanced level magic. And lastly, gold, they are for special people like the Saints Sora and Cherry girl. Since I’m a special case, they also included me into the Gold class.

Now, I’m standing in front of the class which only has 8 students including Sora and Cherry girl. To my surprise, Ghena is also there, sitting beside Cherry girl.

“I’d like everyone to meet Key Godfre Chardelier. Please be nice to him.”

Such a short introduction…

After the introduction, I am currently facing another problem.

There are only few vacant seats in this class. Moreover, students with black uniform are sitting on the left of the classroom while the white ones are on the right.

There’s a vacant seat beside Sora, I want to sit there. But the [Oracle], Lia behind him is breaking cold sweats while looking at me. I heard from Sora that she’s been feeling torn apart from his command as a saint and her duties as an Oracle to Darkus. I feel sorry for her.

On the other hand, there’s also a vacant seat beside Ghena. She looks somewhat happy seeing me in the school finally, but there’s Cherry girl in front of that vacant seat and kept throwing sharp glares at me. Although we had a little conversation from our first meeting, I can’t seem to find the reason why she’s angry to me. Did I do something wrong to her? All I can remember is her dissing me though.

“I guess I could sit there.”

I walked pass the two vacant seats and went to the last row. Sora seemed to understand what I was thinking, but Ghena had a betrayed look on her face when I walked pass her.

On the end of the row, there was only one vacant seat on the right.

To my surprise, there was a girl sitting there. Although I knew that there was someone sitting here, but I thought she was a “he”.

“Can I sit here?”

“I don’t mind.”

Wow! Her voice sounds nice even though she only let out three words. It matches well with her glasses type beauty. The color is odd for me but her emerald green hair matches perfectly with her beautiful face. Even though she’s sitting, I could easily tell that she’s perfectly slender.

Because of that, I got nervous all of a sudden and froze on the spot.

“Is there any problem sir Chardelier?”

“Ah, none, sorry...”

Even though I have nothing to apologize, I got so nervous that I did. The moment I sat beside her, Miss Florentine immediately started the class.

***

Lunch break…

The moment the bell rang, all the teacher immediately stopped the class and exited the room. Even though I said that, she finished the lesson without leaving us hanging. It’s like everything was timed perfectly.

Sora stood up from his seat and immediately came to me.

“Want me to tour you around school?”

“Sure, I’d like that. But I’d have lunch first before it.”

“Ok, we have two hours vacant anyway. We can be slow as we want later.”

Together with Sora, we exited the room.

I saw Ghena tried to call me along the way, but it must’ve been my imagination.

In the Cafeteria, lots of students were around here. It has a different atmosphere from my class which only has 9 people including me. It’s like there’s a thin thread of tension inside here like everyone would make a war if someone would drop a spoon. That’s only my speculation though, so I don’t think it’s it.

“My, my. These women sure are scary when there’s a rich guy around.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Since I heard Sora mutter, inadvertently ask. But I think he was whispering to me though.

“These girls are from silver and blue sections. Most of them came here looking for a rich noble to marry. It’s the same with men, although there’s only a few of them.”

While saying that, I looked at the surrounding girls. Some of them caught my line of sight and then smiled to me. My heart’s pumping like crazy.

“If it was earth, I can understand. But what is it for in this world?”

“Well, to summarize it all, it’s almost the same as earth, if women marry to a rich or high ranking noble, their families will have a connection with them. In other words, it’s political marriage.”

“So being a noble makes you a politician huh.”

“Not exactly, most of them are just merchants and businessmen.”

I kind of got the gist of it.

Arriving in front of the canteen, I could see a lot of expensive looking dishes that I haven’t seen before. Oh wait, there’s Italian.

On the other hand, Sora’s silver eyes were locked unto some weird looking fish dish. The other students didn’t take it. But Sora seems very interested in it. He’s got some weird palate.

“Is this [Mud River Dog Fish]?”

“Still have some good eyes eh, Sora?”

Sora excitedly asked the cook on the other side of the counter. The cook seemed to be his friend and is giving him a bowl of the weird looking dish.

“What is that exactly is, Sora? Is that safe to eat?”

“You’re being rude to the Chef, Key. Of course it’s safe to eat. Why would they even try to put it on the menu in the first place if it was?”

Can’t really argue with that…

I took some regular everyday dish which was poultry, beef, and pork. Since I don’t know the dish’s name yet, let’s call them by their main ingredient. The reason why I didn’t take any veggies is because I had them last night.

While eating with the happy Sora, I had a feeling of being watched again. It’s pretty annoying since I don’t know who it’s coming from.

[Element Row: Wind, Effect Column: Blow, Target: One, Direction: Up, Mana Output: .5%.]

I’m not speaking nor muttering the chant using my voice, but using my thoughts. Also, it’s not exactly chant but code. Even though I don’t know the exact spell for this, I can use it using runes.

This is all thanks to the Ring that the idiot god gave me. For now, I’m calling it Ring of Runes since it can only use runes. Since Sora didn’t react to me

As for the effect, I targeted the person hiding in the shadows. Well, only Sora can do the literal Shadow hiding though.

The wind suddenly blew 11 o’clock of my position. Since I only put less mana than it’s supposed to be, it cannot hurt anyone except lift some skirts up. It’s a sight for sore eyes.

I didn’t expect it to be a girl though.

When Sora and I turned to her direction, I saw her trying to push down her skirt that has been and still being lifted by the strong wind. It may be just a split second, but I think I saw a glimpse of her yellow panties.

But then suddenly—

“#### ### ### ## # # ## ###### ## # #### #### ### >”

--my magic got dispelled by her and the air calmed down.

To my surprise, this girl was actually the short Cherry girl. I’d like to add big boobs to that.

She looks at me with a bright red face and then ran towards me.

“Not only you, have called me short, but also the audacity to put me into shame!? I’ll kill you!”

Did she hear my conversations with Sora? No—more importantly, she’s trying to kill me! And Sora, don’t just sit and laugh!

Cherry girl suddenly summoned a golden spear out of nowhere and started chanting.

“--## ### >”

Since she started chanting, everyone in the cafeteria started running towards the exit leaving me, Sora, Cherry girl, and the green haired beauty that is just silently eating on the side.

The ground below me started making small quakes, and in just a second, thorny vines suddenly wrapped around me. Though I said wrapped, it didn’t touch my skin and only stopping my movement.

“Wait! Isn’t this a misunderstanding!?”

“How is blowing my skirt up on purpose a misunderstanding, you perverted noble!”

Just when she was about to bash my head with her staff, a blunt end of a black dagger intercepted it.

Thankfully, Sora stopped laughing and decided to save me--

“If you’re going to kill him, do it in the battlefield.”

--or not…

“Wait Sora! I’m not at fault! I was trying to defend myself.”

“Defend? You used magic on me first!”

“But you we’re stalking me! I had no choice but to use it.”

“Calm down you two, we can just settle this without getting anyone get hurt, yet.”

Sora stood up between us and stopped our quarrel. Judging from that smile on his face, I think he was aware of it the whole time and didn’t tell me. Damn you!

“Okay, okay, let’s clear some things first.”

--shut up, traitor.

“Don’t look at me with those eyes Key.”

“Screw you!”

“Yeah, yeah, put those things to the side for now. First, since miss little feisty girl here wants to kill you, why not let her with the chance of not letting her to.”

--Why are you making it sound like I’m in the wrong here?

On the other hand, Cherry girl has calmed down, except she didn’t dispel her own spell on me. It’s quite troubling.

“So, what are you implying Darkus Saint?”

Then Sora looked at me and gave me a wink.

“If you can beat me, I can say that you really are qualified to beat Key.”

“Hold up, what are you doing Sora?”

“Don’t intervene in my fight Darkus Saint, I wish to kill this heretic. If you continue, I have the right to kill you even if you are one of the King’s Royal Knights.”

My words were instantly ignored by them. I feel like a side character.

“Kill me? Don’t get too full of yourself. I may not be a genius like you, but I have the confidence that I have the skills to kill you.”

“Oh? Then why don’t we have a death match so I can show you our gap in power.”

“I will accept your provocation.”

I’m completely ignored. Although Sora successfully turned her attention to him, I got him into some trouble because of me.

This hurts my pride as a man.

So that it wouldn’t get injured any further, I’ll just accept her challenge.

“I’ll accept.”

The moment I spoke out loud, Sora’s eyes were filled with shock. Why are you even looking like a betrayed friend? I’m just getting you out of my trouble.

“Dude! I almost had it!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll live, I think. But do that kind of thing to girls and put that pretty face of yours to good work.”

While making a joke, I was already thinking of a rune combination to destroy the thorny vines around me.

[Element Row: Wind, Effect Column: Cut, Target: Magic, Direction: Rotate Up, Mana Output: 30%.]

After making a combination, a razor sharp whirlwind went past me and shredded the thorny vines around me. Although my robe is slightly shredded along the way, it seemed to get auto repaired by magic, truly convenient.

Sora and Cherry girl looked at me in surprise after I used magic. Wait, aren’t they supposed not to get surprised?

“What are you both staring at?”

“H-how did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“How did you cast a spell without chanting?”

Ah… so that was the reason. So mages without speaking a single word for a chant doesn’t exist huh. I’ll take note of that. Technically, I really was chanting.

After clearing my throat, I looked back at Cherry girl who has her mouth open.

“As you can see, I am a capable magician. I have the confidence that I can have an equal bout with a Saint like you.”

--It’s a lie though. Please don’t take it seriously.

When her thoughts came back to her, she immediately closed her mouth in a panic and regained her cool although it’s too late.

“It seems that you have the aptitude to rival me and Darkus Saint.”

Good. Now that her attention’s on me, Sora will be—

“So it’ll be a Free for all Death Match.”

How did it come to that!?

“Today, after the classes, we will have the death match on the open training grounds of the academy. You can use anything from magic swords, to holy staff if you want. I will get the Headmaster to approve of our duel and take the role of the overseer. I expect the two of you to show up, if you don’t, I’ll hunt and kill you myself.”

After declaring such dangerous words, she turned away from us and started walking with heavy footsteps. She seems prideful, but it’ll make things worse if I tell her that the back of her skirt is still flipped open. Yellow sure is nice.

On the other hand, Sora didn’t notice that because he was still looking at me.

“Dude, what did you just do!?”

“Calm down! Stop shaking me.”

“I can’t calm down!”

“At least stop yelling!”

“I can’t stop yelling!”

“WHY!”

“-BECAUSE YOU’RE ALSO YELLING AT ME!”

Oh.

After calming ourselves down, we sat on the seat we used earlier.

“How did you do it?”

“Turning the duel in a three way death match?”

“Not that, the chantless magic. The chantless magic used earlier, explain it.”

I’m still looking for words to explain it myself.

“I’ve never seen you use magic since you came here. Now, I see you using magic and not even uttering a single word for the chant. How did you do it?”

“I was still chanting using my thoughts.”

“Anyone can do it too, but it wouldn’t be that strong. Moreover, the magic she used earlier is an advanced level earth magic. It’s not easy to just slice it with wind magic. You need to use fire to destroy it thoroughly and skilfully to avoid harming yourself.”

I was actually harmed though. But I won’t say it out loud since the proof disappeared.

“So, back to the topic—“

I leaned on the chair using both of my hands and then looked at the door where Cherry girl exited.

“What do I do now? I’m still a beginner in magic, and I’m already going to face two boss level monsters.”

Sora refuted by saying, “Who’s a monster?”

“Cheer up. I’m going to hold back. Although I don’t know if Goldenbloom would do it too.”

--You really call her at random…

“It does make me feel relieved a little, but it would mean that I would be dragging you together with me.”

Sora made a short laugh at the depressed me.

“Then, would it make you feel more relieved if I teach you some defensive spells?”

“That’s quite an offer from an enemy.”

“But I’m the kind of enemy that wants to fight equally. If you feel a little offended when I’m holding back, it’s not my fault.”

This guy…