[At that time, in a certain salon of the student dormitory at Esdinas Academy.]
“…So, I heard that some of the new students have disappeared this time. What could have happened?”
“Could it be that they were admitted fraudulently? Perhaps they turned out to be children of criminals or have family members in the Vinyudan.”
The discussion among the girls in uniform, seated around a white circular table with macarons and tea, was rather grim.
“Don’t you think so, Miss Yurha?”
“What do you think of this situation, Miss Yurha?”
Despite the round table, there was a sense of hierarchy, and the other students asked the girl with blonde hair and golden eyes, seated in the central position at the table.
“Even if they passed the entrance exam, being called separately by the Student Affairs office suggests that while they might have had the ability to pass the test, there was probably something seriously wrong.”
Yurha replied to the girls enjoying their tea with a graceful voice.
“Just as you mentioned, they might be related to criminals, and the scale of the crime could be so significant that it affects the studies of other students.”
“But even so, the Academy…”
“They might be s*x offenders, for all we know!”
“Ugh, ugh…?!”
At Yurha’s words, the tea time members shuddered, looking visibly disturbed.
“P-Please don’t say such things! How could there be s*x offenders in the Academy…!”
“It is possible. While we can’t really say it’s a form of collective punishment, if someone with such a criminal family is admitted, the Academy would inevitably need to be cautious. Perhaps they are visiting as family observers…”
“Or maybe they are servants of demons.”
A girl wearing a cross necklace interrupted Yurha’s speech, raising her voice.
“They must have made a pact with a cursed demon before even enrolling, gaining the power to pass the entrance exam. They have become children of the Devil.”
“Miss Essid, what are you talking about?”
“They might have grown them through a contract with a demon.”
The other girls turned red at Essid’s words, who wore the Goddess Church’s necklace.
“Isn’t there a rumor that if you make a pact with a demon and surrender your body to it, the demon will attack you in your dreams and provide you with mana in exchange?”
“That’s…”
“That’s like being a pr*stitute. Selling the purity of your soul to a demon in exchange for mana.”
Essid clasped her hands and closed her eyes.
“I only hope that no one would engage in such a dreadful act. Isn’t that right, Miss Yurha?”
“Hehe. Your words are quite pointed.”
At Essid’s sidelong glance, Yurha shrugged her shoulders and straightened her back.
“If you’re doubtful, why not check it yourself? Whether it’s achieved by selling purity to a demon or purely through talent and effort.”
Yurha put her hand on her upper abdomen as if supporting them.
As expected of the ‘current students’ who entered the academy, all of those invited to the tea party had a certain amount of mana, but they could not even dare to compare it to Yurha’s.
“…Are you that confident?”
“Of course.”
“After nurturing them like that, who are you trying to embrace in your arms?”
“…Hehe.”
Yurha smiled softly and shrugged.
“The person who first made a deal with me a long time ago.”
“…?”
“Although we might not meet again now, I still hope to meet that person someday.”
“…Ahem.”
At Yurha’s words, Essid cleared her throat and blushed.
“I understand. I apologize, Miss Yurha. It seems we misunderstood Miss Yurha due to recent rumors.”
“Rumors?”
“Yes. …About that.”
Essid looked at Yurha, trying to gauge her reaction, but Yurha nodded as if it was okay.
“Please tell me. It’s better to clear up any misunderstandings. I’m fine with it?”
“…There’s a rumor that Silverstar has developed something to forcibly expand mana pockets.”
Suddenly.
“Is that true?!”
It wasn’t Yurha or Essid, but another female student who got up, slamming the table.
As a result, the huge pudding in front of her shook violently.
“Ah, th-that…!”
“It’s okay, Isabella.”
Yurha handed her a handkerchief with an understanding look.
“I understand the heart of a sister who loves her younger sibling, especially since Isabella values her sister so much.”
“That’s…”
“Even though there may have been conflicts between you and your sister due to the size of the mana pockets, it will be fine. Surely.”
“…It will definitely be fine, right? She’ll be able to grow within a year, right?”
Isabella wiped her tears with the handkerchief Yurha handed her.
“My sister wouldn’t run away and join Vinyudan just because she couldn’t meet the entrance requirements, would she?”
“That wouldn’t happen.”
“T-Then…!”
Isabella clutched the handkerchief with the Silverstar emblem and asked Yurha.
“Wh-what if Silverstar really developed something that can expand mana pockets…!”
“At least, I haven’t been informed of anything like that.”
Despite Isabella’s desperate question, Yurha shook her head firmly.
“Even if something like that exists, it’s likely to be a workaround. They might have temporarily expanded the mana pockets or maybe increased the mana vessel at the cost of reduced lifespan.”
“B-but…”
“But?”
“If that’s the only way to get into Esdinas Academy…!”
“…”
The atmosphere at the tea party grew solemn at Isabella’s words.
Since they were all students who had already attended the Academy for ‘one year,’ they understood how serious it was to be unable to gain admission to Esdinas Academy.
“Isabella, my classmate, no, Sister Isabella?”
Yurha stood up and took Isabella’s hand.
“Hold on to hope. I was in a precarious position until I turned 15, but things changed right after one year.”
“Oh….”
“Growth often comes suddenly. If you keep hope alive until the end, a miracle will surely come. So…”
“Sniff, sob…!”
Isabella clung to Yurha and cried on her chest.
Yurha patted Isabella’s back for a while and then smiled gently at the other tea party members while pointing outside.
“It seems we should wrap things up for today. Miss Essid? Could you assist Miss Isabella back to the dormitory?”
“And you, Miss Yurha…?”
“I’ll clean up here and then take some time to sort out my thoughts before heading in. I also have some personal matters to attend to.”
“…Understood. Miss Isabella.”
“Sniff, thank you….”
Isabella left the room, supported by Essid.
The tea party members briefly nodded at Yurha and then departed one by one, leaving Yurha alone in the garden.
Swish.
When Yurha flicked her fingers, golden magical energy flowed from her fingertips and began tidying up the tea party’s items.
Clink.
Yurha sat alone in her chair and extended her hand forward.
Click.
The magic tool on Yurha’s wrist glowed, and an image of someone’s face began to appear on the tea table in front of her, like a hologram.
“Oh my, aren’t you busy?”
[On the move. Brief report. 3 minutes.]
“Yes, please proceed.”
Yurha leisurely raised her cup.
[Two scholarship candidates were selected by Ederson Lionheart.]
“…Heh. So, after catching the eye of the White Sword Saint, they did the same with the Mercenary King? Does that mean their talent was noticeable?”
[Since they are to be specially admitted, it seems necessary to amend the scholarship foundation’s regulations.]
“Yes. I understand. I’ll take care of that. But….”
Yurha lowered her voice.
“Have you secured a sample of the chest manipulation device?”
[Failed to smuggle them out. The Dean of Admissions manages all 16 of them, making it impossible to access them without direct contact.]
“…We need to find out which ‘factory’ produced them.”
Yurha bit her lower lip and clenched her teeth.
“If you can find the serial number, please check it. I’ll handle the ‘fraudulent admissions’ as a student myself.”
[Understood.]
“We need to secure it no matter what. If it turns out that Silverstar produced it, we need to determine who is responsible for its creation. And….”
Yurha gave a menacing smile.
“That way, we can deal with the ‘siblings’ whose wealth and dignity are inversely proportional.”
[Understood.]
“Yes. Certainly. And….”
Crash.
“Even though they couldn’t get into the Academy, we need to deal with those exploiting the desperation of those trying to get in. For Silverstar. Please handle this well, Sister Esta.”
[Understood. Returning to the mission.]
Click.
The connection was cut off.
Yurha sighed heavily for a moment and then lowered her head.
“…If only it weren’t so big, I could have stopped it from the top.”
Crash.
“Really, who were they thinking of when they created this?”
Yurha smiled faintly and closed her eyes.
“…Chest manipulation.”
Smirk.
“As expected of that worthless woman, she must have made it for herself.”
Yurha opened her eyes slightly and looked down at her teacup.
“What, how are you going to enroll next year? With fake breasts. Special admission, indeed…”
Snap.
“…No way?”
* * *
As a result of waiting at the West Terminal, we caught the eyes of the Academy instructors and were selected as ‘special admission students’.
I followed Dean Ederson and Instructor Esta to a certain location along with Yunia.
“What is this place…?”
“I’m sorry to you, but the special admission students will be staying here for the time being.”
“…?”
Yunia tilted her head and looked toward where Ederson was pointing with a bitter smile.
“It’s not … an abandoned building, is it?”
“No! As you can see, the staff is working hard to tidy it up.”
“Uh, well….”
“Haha, this is it. It’s called the [Old School Building].”
Old School Building.
It is the very place where Esdinas was originally established hundreds of years ago.
“It’s not a building that’s being used, is it?”
“…”
A place abandoned in the forest as the Academy expanded.
“Well, it’s not haunted, is it?”
“It’s not ghosts, but it seems like demons might appear.”
Yunia’s expression hardened at my words.
“…Really?”
“I’m joking, I’m joking.”
I patted Yunia lightly on the back and pointed inside.
“So where are the other special admission students? Are we the only two?”
“…For now?”
“Yes?”
“…Other special admission students will be arriving soon, but for now, it’s just the two of you. Who would have thought we’d discover talent at the terminal before even crossing the Greenbelt! Hahaha!”
Dean Ederson laughed heartily and pointed inside.
“Until the others arrive, you two will have to stay here for the time being.”
“…Oh.”
Yunia alternated between pointing at herself and me.
“J-Just the two of us?”
“Yes. Ah, and of course.”
Ederson, who had been smiling awkwardly and showing his good-natured side, immediately turned serious and hardened his expression.
“Know that the Academy rules regarding expulsion will take immediate effect from now on.”
“Expulsion?”
“Yes. This has been the case in the past and will be in the future as well.”
The unchanging rule.
“Know that if you become pregnant before graduation, both the male and female students will be expelled.”
“…”
“Do you understand?”
