[At that moment, in Waiting Room 3 of the Hall of Courage, where the Esdinas Academy entrance ceremony is being held. The temporary waiting room for the Student Council.]
Here, stands a young man with blonde hair and golden eyes.
The academy uniform, dyed pure white, resembles a pristine suit. There are no special ornaments, but the golden embroidery on the uniform clearly reveals how luxurious the clothing is.
No, perhaps it’s not just the clothes that are high-class, but the person wearing them is so remarkable that the outfit merely complements his appearance.
A handsome young man with fair skin that would make any woman swallow hard at the sight.
He tried to focus on the ‘Student Council President’s Speech’, repeatedly glancing at the parchment script, but he sighed deeply, indicating he couldn’t concentrate.
“Lord Keyarnim, Student Council President.”
“Just call me Arnim.”
The student council secretary, a second-year student with black hair and red eyes, approached and called his name.
“And if you insist on using a name, there’s always Julius.”
“How could I carelessly call the name of the Empire’s Crown Prince?”
“But this is the Student Council.”
“Forgive me, but I am still a noble of the Empire.”
“Hah.”
The Student Council President.
“I’ve told you many times when referring to me, just call me Arnim.”
“Yes, Lord Keyarnim, Student Council President.”
Although he corrected the use of his name, it was refused.
“I said, no need to call my full middle name. Just Arnim will do.”
“That feels too much like a nickname, it gives me chills. If I start calling you that, your… overly zealous fans might send me blood-stained letters.”
“…”
The Student Council President, Keyarnim, couldn’t find the words to respond to the secretary’s statement. In fact, he knew all too well about the troubles Lancy faced, but apart from officially calling for restraint, there was nothing he could do.
“Are the princesses giving you a hard time?”
“It’s not just the princesses. Those who think they’re the future Empresses are already acting like they’ve won the position.”
“… If you plan to slap someone like last time, please restrain yourself with the princesses or noble ladies from other countries. They’re the type to escalate it into a diplomatic incident.”
“I’m trying to be careful. As a citizen of the Empire, I don’t want to cause any harm to it either. But…”
Secretary Lancy pointed at the clock on the wall.
“The entrance ceremony is about to start soon. Are you sure it’s okay to keep staring at the speech script like that?”
“Yeah. I’m still considering some last-minute changes.”
“Now…?”
“It’s a minor phrasing, but it’s a really important matter.”
Keyarnim pointed to a particular line on the parchment.
“The part that says, ‘[I declare on behalf of the 412 male students gathered here.]’—I’m thinking of just reducing that number to 10.”
“I understand how you feel, but unless you want to fill the future Empire’s bureaucracy with women or recruit rebels from the petty men who didn’t make the cut, I’d advise against it.”
“Hah.”
Student Council President Keyarnim covered his face with his hand at Secretary Lancy’s cold words.
“It wouldn’t kill them to show up….”
“Not everyone is as ‘distinctly red’ as you, Your Highness.”
Lancy pointed to her own eyes.
“Through the magic lenses, we can see the flow of mana, the balance of mana. In men, the red energy gathers below. And thanks to that, we can see the… form.”
“And that’s why it’s s*xual harassment.”
“Men also use their eyes to stare at women’s mana pockets.”
“It’s not the same thing, Haah. Really.”
Student Council President Arnim lowered his gaze towards his pants.
“I can’t exactly wear some magic-stone-reinforced steel underwear to block magic-lens vision.”
“If you’re concerned about preserving your purity, perhaps considering mana-reinforced steel is worth it.”
“What? I’ve never been with anyone, so you should know better than anyone not to joke like that.”
“I’m only saying it because I know. Just as in the past, generals locked chastity belts on their wives to protect their virtue, now it’s become a time where men should wear armor to protect their own energy.”
“…”
“This is not a joke, Your Highness. This is advice from Lancy Ludenberk, daughter of the Marquis Ludenberk.”
Lancy pointed seriously at Keyarnim’s face.
“If the Vinyudan or those women drain all your mana, you might lose even your title of Crown Prince. All you’ll have left is your good looks.”
“Didn’t you say once that looks alone would be enough to survive?”
“Indeed. But still, please be careful.”
Beep Beep Beep.
“There’s no need to cause unnecessary trouble. The title of Crown Prince brings many enemies, and even if you stay still, they will appear.”
“… But.”
Keyarnim turned off the alarm on the clock and shook his head.
“If someone has to stand up as the representative of men, no other student can do it but me. Someone has to step forward as the representative for male students.”
“Even if—”
“Even if I’m exposed to magic-lens vision, it has to be me.”
“Student Council President Keyarnim?”
As the door of the Student Council room opened, an instructor entered.
“…Instructor Kadisha?”
“I have some good news.”
“Good news…?”
“Well, I’m not sure if it’s really good news, but at least it’ll ease the burden.”
Kadisha, the infirmary instructor wearing a white gown, scratched her cheek and pointed outside.
“The only male student from the special class is coming right now.”
“…!!”
* * *
On the way from the old school building to the main academy building, after receiving a message from Mercenary King Ederson Lionheart, the Dean of Academic Affairs.
…Do you understand the situation?”
“So, I’m the one who will endure the ‘visual harassment,’ right?”
“No, don’t put it that way.”
“But it’s not wrong. After all, you’ll be going through a lot of trouble too, Dean.”
“…I’m an adult, but you’re still a student.”
Dean Ederson growled lowly.
“As an adult, I’m really ashamed. Forcing adult responsibilities and sacrifices on those who aren’t adults yet.”
“As an adult, I feel ashamed. Forcing responsibility and sacrifice meant for adults onto those who aren’t even of age yet.”
“Then, how about I step up as an adult just for this moment?”
“What?”
“As I told Instructor Esta, I’m a student when I need to be, but I can be an adult when necessary.”
“Hah, are you over 20 years old?”
“By the Esdinas calendar, I’m officially 17, but I’ve lived more than 20 years.”
With a thumbs-up, I conveyed the ‘truth’ to Dean Ederson.
“You really do talk like an old man. …So, are you actually an adult?”
“When in Esdinas, I’ll follow Esdinas time. Officially, consider me a minor.”
“So, does this mean you’d be an adult in your homeland?”
“Something like that.”
The land where my soul was born cannot be returned to, and my physical homeland, Habsderk, burned with my body.
If I had to speak of a homeland, it would be Hell, the Demon World.
“Imagine a dungeon where a year passes outside, but inside, the flow of time is all messed up. How does that sound?”
“…”
“Just think of my age as… flexible.”
“Does that mean your body’s growth is already complete?”
“No.”
I shook my head firmly in response to Ederson’s question.
“Esdinas Academy is a place for growth. I can still grow beyond where I am now.”
Magically, physically, and mentally.
“Just because some growth has already taken place before entering the Academy, it doesn’t mean I can’t grow further during my time here. Isn’t that why you sent your granddaughter here?”
“Hmm…”
“You want her to grow not just physically, but mentally as well, by socializing with peers. Because she became an adult too early, you want her to experience at least a bit of a ‘youthful childhood’. I understand.”
“Have you spent time somewhere close to my age by any chance?”
“Not at all.”
At least I’ve remained a young man, unlike Ederson, who’s already a middle-aged adult.
If you count the total years or my perceived time, maybe, but…
“More importantly, we’ve already arrived. The Hall of Courage.”
“Yes. …I’m sure you’ve already noticed on the way here….”
“I’m sensitive to gazes, so I can tell for sure.”
I stood in front of the hall.
Some instructors passing by glanced at my face, while a few couldn’t help but subtly lower their gaze.
“May I ask for a bit of understanding?”
“What kind of understanding are you asking for?”
“My secretary is going to take a look at you.”
“Are you perhaps talking about the person already watching over there?”
At my words, Dean Ederson sharply turned his head, and there stood a blonde female secretary—instructor, whom I was quite familiar with.
“Good day, Instructor.”
“Oh, uh…”
Jane Gwendolyn.
One of the three Gwendolyn sisters.
“…Dean.”
Instructor Gwendolyn blushed as she whispered something to Ederson.
“Is that true?!”
Ederson reacted in surprise.
“My goodness.”
He let out a series of exclamations, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I had a hint from Instructor Esta, but I didn’t expect it to be this much…”
“…”
I just smiled.
“Are you really okay with this? Even now, it’s not too late. If you go straight to the special class, it might end as just a rumor.”
“You mean the rumor that the only male student in the special class has so much ‘vitality’ that someone could become a Grand Mage just by squeezing out his mana?”
“…Exactly.”
Ederson placed his hand on the doorknob and spoke seriously.
“The moment you’re seen, there’s no going back.”
“That’s exactly what I want.”
“What you want…?”
“A man who dreams of a harem, how could he be ashamed of the gazes of beautiful women?”
“Heh.”
I stood confidently before the door.
“Mercenary King.”
With a provocative smile, I asked Ederson Lionheart.
“Have you ever been embarrassed as you grew?”
“…”
Ederson was silent for a moment before he responded with a knowing smile.
“Not even once.”
Understanding me, he opened the door with a grin.
Creak.
The door of the Hall of Courage, where the new student welcome ceremony was being held, swung open.
Every gaze in the room turned toward me.
Nearly 500 female students.
The faculty preparing the welcome ceremony at the front. And a few male students, sitting in their seats, hunched over with their hands neatly clasped, trying to remain inconspicuous.
Most of the faces were unfamiliar, but some I knew.
Some were staring at my face.
Some were ogling my body.
Some… were focused on the front of my pants.
I walked boldly through them.
Whether they stole glances at my face or secretly used mana lenses to peer through…
‘Look all you want.’
Although the tastes of the Archduke of Hell are mixed, this body is the masterpiece of the Archduke of Hell.
– The bigger the rolling pin, the better it is for dough!
That’s how it was.
– If the dough you’re rolling is that large, wouldn’t it be ridiculous if the rolling pin were smaller? Like trying to cut a watermelon with a paring knife. Hehehe.
