Chapter 1: Students of Tritonis Academy
"I would like to go to the pool, sir."
It was May fourth, with only two days remaining of Golden Week's string of holidays.
Haruhana uttered those words with a solemn expression as all four members of Tritonis Academy gathered around the breakfast table.
They had just finished saying grace over the mouthwatering, aromatic spread before her tragic statement fell. Stunned by her heart-wrenching tone, the other three lapsed into silence.
Tritonis Academy's entire student body consisted of the four people seated here, giving it by far the lowest enrollment in the entire Academy Archipelago. Yet only a few years ago, five hundred students had walked its halls. The campus boasted top-tier facilities, including a magnificent indoor pool.
Unfortunately, the pool Haruhana so dearly cherished had been spectacularly destroyed during a fight between Kuro and Pina due to a series of complicated circumstances.
"A-Ah... You know, Pina, your cooking is amazing! I'd expect nothing less!" Kuro blurted out, frantically changing the subject.
"Huh? Oh, thanks! I am Lady Laurier's personal maid, after all. Cleaning, laundry, and cooking are second nature to me," Pina replied, picking up on his intention right away.
As an accomplice to the incident, Pina had instantly caught on to Kuro's desperate attempt to steer the conversation away from the destroyed pool.
Kuro had simply wanted to discuss anything unrelated to the pool, but the topic had taken an unexpected turn. Blinking in surprise, he processed the unfamiliar revelation.
"A maid? ...You're Laurier's maid, Pina?" he asked.
"Yep! I actually brought my maid uniform with me. Want me to put it on and show you? Boys love that kind of stuff, right?" Pina teased, her red eyes twinkling playfully.
"W-Well... I don't think you can generalize like that, no..." Kuro stammered out a noncommittal response.
Fixed in the gaze of those playfully smiling red eyes, Kuro could barely assemble a coherent answer.
Their relationship could hardly be called simple friendship anymore. Just yesterday, Pina had dropped a bombshell by confessing her love to him. Even after he turned her down, she continued to make it clear she had no intention of giving up.
Because Pina acted as if nothing had changed, Kuro could converse with her normally, yet he remained conflicted over how he ought to treat her.
Should I just act like normal friends? Or is there some proper boundaries I'm missing here?
Watching Kuro flinch at Pina's teasing, Haruhana tilted her head to one side in confusion.
"Did something happen between you two after all, sir?" she inquired innocently.
"Nope, absolutely nothing! Right, Kuro?" Pina interjected with a wide grin.
"Y-Yeah. Totally. Everything's completely normal," Kuro managed, awkwardly averting his gaze.
In response to Haruhana's surprisingly sharp intuition, Pina beamed broadly. Seeing her act no different than she had before her confession, Kuro could only look away in awkward silence.
Meanwhile, Laurier—who seemed oblivious to the underlying tension—pouted her lips in displeasure.
"Calling her a maid is a mere formality! Pina is my trusted confidante and my dear friend. Together with Haruhana, she is one of the twin wings destined to support my future!" Laurier declared indignantly.
"Precisely, ma'am! Pina is truly extraordinary! I have known her for years, and I have never seen her fail at a single thing! She is gorgeous, brilliant, commands amazing magic, and cooks exquisite meals!" Haruhana agreed passionately.
"Naturally! After all, Pina is a proud student of our beloved Tritonis Academy!" Laurier puffed her chest out with pride.
During the recent crisis that had put Tritonis Academy's very existence on the line, a rift had nearly shattered their friendship. Having braved that ordeal together, the bonds between the three girls had grown even stronger.
"Wait, what's with the sudden shower of praise? You're going to embarrass me," Pina murmured, ducking her head with a bashful laugh.
Flustered as she was by their enthusiasm, her culinary expertise in preparing such a delicious spread genuinely warranted every compliment.
For the record, when Kuro—who took some pride in his own cooking skills—had offered to help earlier, he had been politely turned away. It seemed Pina was the type who preferred complete solitude while working in the kitchen.
At any rate, the topic of the ruined pool seemed to have successfully passed. Letting out a quiet breath of relief, Kuro resumed eating his breakfast.
"Honestly, it's not just Pina—everyone at Tritonis is pretty amazing. Haruhana holds the Fifth Seat, and Laurier's Seventeenth, right?" Kuro remarked between mouthfuls.
In the Academy Archipelago, there existed a designated group of elite students known as "Rankers."
They comprised the top one hundred mages whose spellcraft was officially evaluated and ranked by the Gobot Administration Bureau. At the end of every semester, the updated rankings were published, and earning a spot among the Rankers brought widespread admiration and prestige across the islands.
Most exceptional of all were the top nine—the Single Numbers—whose prowess placed them on an entirely different plane from ordinary students. Even the condescending Gobot Administration Bureau acknowledged their strength, bestowing upon these elite mages an array of special privileges.
"Since we're talking about it, I've been wondering," Kuro said, leaning forward. "Where do you think I stand compared to everyone else in the archipelago?"
Within just three days of arriving in the Academy Archipelago, Kuro had been swept up in a storm of major incidents. After resolving that chaotic series of events, he had made a bold declaration:
Tritonis Academy would monopolize the Single Numbers and claim absolute dominance over the entire Academy Archipelago.
Today was the morning after that ambitious vow. As the guy who had kicked off this wild goal, Kuro wanted to gauge his current strength, prompting Laurier to offer her thoughts first.
"Let me see... Judging purely by combat ability, you certainly possess the strength to earn a spot among the Rankers!" Laurier estimated.
"I concur with Lady Laurier, ma'am. Given your current level, Kuro-sama, I suspect you would encounter significant resistance around the Fiftieth Seat," Haruhana added thoughtfully.
"Hmph... So that's where I cap out, huh?" Kuro muttered, feeling a slight sting to his pride.
Kuro was well aware that his powers were unique. He had been born with magical energy that shouldn't exist in Earth World, and by enhancing his body through the blood flowing in his veins, he could push his physical attributes far beyond ordinary human capabilities.
Yet competition in the Academy Archipelago—packed with talented mages—was ruthless. Though he had come here seeking an extraordinary youth where his traits wouldn't mark him as an anomaly, discovering how many people surpassed him still sparked a bitter fire in his chest.
"Hey, being ranked around fiftieth out of nearly a million students right after transferring is incredible!" Pina offered soothingly. "Age isn't even a factor. I'm nowhere near that level myself."
Despite Pina's comforting words, having declared his intent to take a Single Number made realizing how far he fell short sting all the more. An undeniable pang of impatience stirred inside him.
"I really need to get a clear grasp of what I'm dealing with... The Single Number mages must possess truly absurd abilities, right?" Kuro asked.
"Indeed. The Single Numbers are individuals whose spellcraft rivals or exceeds even the advanced science of Earth World. Even if they returned to Heaven Disc World, every one of them could immediately establish themselves as a top-tier mage," Laurier explained seamlessly.
"The Gobot Administration Bureau decides the ranks based on their own arbitrary criteria, though. Anyway, here's the current lineup of the Single Numbers if you want to take a look," Pina said, turning her smartphone screen toward him.
Pina displayed the information page listing the Single Numbers on her phone screen.
1st Seat: ??? (Imperial Style Doji Academy Main Campus, Data unknown)
2nd Seat: Rhapsody Yayoi Jujo (USE 2nd year)
3rd Seat: Harvest Wee Lockwar (St. Guinness Girls' Academy Senior High 3rd year)
4th Seat: Full Armor Dotou Jou (Imperial Style Doji Academy 666th Branch School 12th year)
5th Seat: Black Box Haruhana Bacchus (Royal Tritonis Academy Senior High 1st year)
6th Seat: Ace Birgitta Pusti (Imperial Style Doji Academy Main Campus 11th year)
7th Seat: Death Scythe Manner Peikott (St. Guinness Girls' Academy Senior High 2nd year)
8th Seat: Art Phase Orc Dot (Imperial Style Doji Academy Main Campus 12th year)
9th Seat: Fall Down Wormwine Amnesium (St. Guinness Girls' Academy Senior High 3rd year)
A list of names stretched neatly across the phone screen Pina held out.
The Single Numbers.
These nine individuals were the apex mages officially recognized at the very top of over one million students in the Academy Archipelago.
"If you search their names later, you'll find plenty of info on the local network," Pina explained. "Though some are wrapped in mystery like the First Seat, and a lot of the talk is just unconfirmed rumors."
"Well, with Counter-Battles being such a big deal, nobody's gonna lay all their cards out in the open," Kuro reasoned. "And these titles attached to their names... those are their Mysterion epithets, right?"
"That is correct, sir! Every single one of them is a formidable mage!" Haruhana affirmed.
Haruhana, who held the Fifth Seat among these terrifying elites, nodded solemnly in agreement.
Having arrived in the archipelago only recently, Kuro knew firsthand just how terrifying Haruhana was. The fact that someone as monstrous as her sat right in the middle of the ranking spoke volumes about how insanely cutthroat the top tier really was.
"Laying it out like this, Haruhana... or rather, Tritonis Academy as a whole looks completely out of place," Kuro admitted with a wry chuckle.
"Right? Even on the top twenty chart, Lady Laurier is Seventeenth, so Tritonis actually looks like some kind of powerhouse on paper," Pina giggled softly.
"Do you two have some objection regarding our proud Tritonis Academy?" Laurier inquired, her smile radiant yet dripping with ominous pressure.
Though Laurier projected a heavy aura behind her polite tone, there was no denying that the institutions associated with the other Single Numbers were colossal powerhouses beyond comparison with Tritonis.
The Two Great Schools—Imperial Style Doji Academy Main Campus and St. Guinness Girls' Academy; USE, the mammoth institution founded by a coalition of Earth nations; and the 666th Branch School, infamous as a lawless harbor for student criminals. Even Kuro recognized those famous names.
In contrast, Tritonis Academy boasted a student body of exactly four people. Operationally, it was a shockingly minor academy. Having two Rankers in the top twenty was almost laughably absurd.
"Alright, let's break it down," Kuro said, holding up two fingers as he looked up from the screen. "There are two things we need to accomplish if Tritonis Academy is going to monopolize the Single Numbers."
Lifting his face from the phone screen, Kuro held up two fingers.
"First, all four of us have to become Single Numbers. Well, Haruhana's already sitting at Fifth Seat, so she's set. That means Pina, Laurier, and I need to fight our way into the top nine."
"Understood," Laurier nodded solemnly.
"And second, for the remaining five seats... we recruit five of the Single Numbers listed on this screen into Tritonis Academy."
In the Academy Archipelago, there existed a structured dueling culture officiated by the Gobots—the Counter-Battles.
By prevailing in a Counter-Battle fought under mutually agreed terms, you could drag a defeated opponent into your own faction.
In doing so, every single member of Tritonis Academy would be a Single Number—forging an unprecedented Hegemony School unlike anything the archipelago had ever seen.
"To get all three of us into the Single Numbers, we'll first have to knock three people off this list," Kuro reasoned, stroking his chin.
"Hmph! Are we commencing combat right now, Kuro-sama? I am ready when you are!" Haruhana declared, instantly falling into a stance.
"No, no, Haruhana! Why are you trying to fight your own teammates?" Pina cut in with a wry chuckle.
Pina let out an amused sigh as Haruhana raised her fists with intense enthusiasm.
Because the pool had been ruined during Kuro and Pina's clash, Haruhana hadn't been able to enjoy her daily morning swim, leaving her brimming with surplus energy.
"Looking at this list, Haruhana, is there anyone you'd rather not pick a fight with?" Kuro asked.
"Every single one of them is a formidable mage, so I would prefer not to fight any of them if possible, sir. But if forced to choose... it would be this individual," Haruhana replied.
Haruhana pointed her finger at the entry positioned right above her own: the Fourth Seat, Full Armor Dotou Jou.
"Setting aside the First Seat, who we know nothing about... you'd rather avoid the Fourth Seat over the top three?" Kuro asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, right! I forgot you wouldn't know, Kuro," Pina realized.
"The Second Seat specializes in Support Magic, while the Third Seat is a master of Healing Magic," Laurier explained smoothly. "In terms of raw combat power, they aren't necessarily dominant."
"Huh, so that's how it is. Well, that makes sense. Magic isn't just about combat, after all," Kuro nodded in understanding.
Because almost every application of magic Kuro had witnessed so far was combat-oriented, he had jumped to conclusions. Magical talents were far broader and more diverse than he had imagined.
"Indeed. The magic possessed by those two ranks at the absolute top in terms of rarity and societal contribution. However... in a one-on-one duel, neither of them holds a candle to Haruhana," Laurier noted.
"Huh... Wait, the Second Seat is Japanese?" Kuro noted, spotting the name on the screen.
"Yeah! It's super rare for anyone from Earth World to make it into the Rankers at all," Pina nodded. "Let alone becoming the very first Earthling to reach the Single Numbers. That's why people call the current Second Seat 'The Only Genius mage from Earth World.'"
After offering the detailed explanation, Pina's bright expression clouded over slightly.
"Still... I can't help feeling your plan is a bit reckless, Kuro. Every single person among the Single Numbers is a true monster," she admitted softly.
"It's not reckless," Kuro countered confidently. "This archipelago has a culture built around Counter-Battles—a system designed specifically to force through the impossible."
Counter-Battles.
It was a unique system in the Academy Archipelago where mages settled disputes or staked their rights in formal duels. This tradition had taken root largely because the mechanical lifeforms ruling the archipelago—the Gobots—had a shockingly twisted hobby of watching human conflict.
"However, Kuro-sama, I understand Pina's concern," Laurier interjected gently. "Once a mage reaches the Single Numbers, they will rarely agree to a Counter-Battle with their seat on the line."
"Fair point. Getting someone to accept a duel under your ideal terms is tough," Kuro acknowledged. "...If we don't snatch their seats through duels and want to raise our ranks legitimately, how does that work?"
"Since the ranks are assigned purely at the Gobots' whim and prejudice, it is difficult to say for certain... but generally, performance during magic classes at each school carries significant weight," Laurier explained.
"Your rank can also go up by distinguishing yourself in various events or contributing to the archipelago through daily activities as a mage," Pina added. "And fighting in Counter-Battles definitely boosts your evaluation too, since the Gobots referee and analyze every spell cast in combat."
"The evaluation criteria feel a bit vague," Kuro remarked, mulling over the rankings. "I guess raw combat prowess isn't the only thing that matters."
"The Gobot Bureau only officially states that rankers must be 'beneficial to the Academy Archipelago as a mage,'" Pina explained with a shrug. "They probably leave it ambiguous on purpose."
"I see," Kuro muttered, nodding in understanding.
Rather than a raw test score, ranking among the mage seats seemed more akin to an internal performance evaluation compiled by the Gobots.
"By the way, Haruhana, how did you manage to become a Single Number?" Kuro asked, turning to her.
"This one simply captured dangerous criminals that the Public Morals Gobots could not handle while earning bounties on the side," Haruhana replied with a crisp, military-style posture. "In doing so, my rank naturally climbed to the Fifth Seat. I have rarely participated in formal Counter-Battlees."
"Kuro, Haruhana is a special case," Pina pointed out, shaking her head. "She's not exactly a standard reference model."
"Precisely, Kuro," Laurier agreed, chiming in. "Trying to emulate Haruhana would only lead us down a wildly impractical detour."
"You two carry a terrifying amount of conviction about that," Kuro deadpanned.
Truth be told, given Haruhana's sheer combat ability, the Gobots' assessment was entirely justified.
After all, she was so overwhelmingly powerful that it boggled the mind to think there were four other mages in the Academy Archipelago ranked even higher than her.
Still, the process for raising their rank was far more opaque than Kuro had anticipated. Just as he was internally groaning over how difficult it would be to formulate a clear plan, someone spoke up.
"You seem to be agonizing over this, but fear not! I have a brilliant scheme!" Laurier declared triumphantly, breaking the stagnant lull in their discussion.
Kuro and the other two exchanged subtle, wary glances at the sudden proclamation delivered just as their brainstorming session had stalled.
"...Are we sure any idea of Laurier's is actually safe?" Kuro whispered quietly.
"Your apprehension is entirely understandable," Haruhana whispered back dutifully. "Laurier does have a habitual tendency toward being a bit clumsy."
"Oh, come on, you two," Pina giggled softly. "That clumsy side of Princess Laurier is what makes her so cute."
"Hey! All three of you! Why are you writing off my proposal before you've even heard it?!" Laurier huffed, her cheeks puffing out in indignation at their audible whispers.
Having been thoroughly evaluated right in front of her face, the princess pouted in utter discontent.
"Now, listen closely! Look at the academic years of the Single Numbers," Laurier insisted, pointing at the roster. "While lower seats past the tenth include middle schoolers like myself, the top-tier seats are almost exclusively high schoolers—and upperclassmen at that!"
Even though it was a ranking of elite mages, it was still drawn from the student body of the Academy Archipelago. Just as in traditional athletics, older students possessed a distinct physical and experience advantage.
Case in point: among the Single Numbers, Haruhana was the sole high school freshman, while all the others were second- or third-year upperclassmen. Aside from the mysterious First Seat about whom no data existed, high school seniors dominated the upper echelons.
"Do you realize what this means?" Laurier asked, a proud grin spreading across her face. "In a year or two, everyone listed here—except for Haruhana—will have graduated!"
"So what you're saying is..." Kuro's eyes widened. "...we just wait for them to leave and waltz right into their vacated seats!"
"Precisely!" Laurier squeaked triumphantly.
It was certainly a plan. As Kuro's face brightened, Laurier wagged an index finger with a smug, proud expression.
"Short-sighted strategies are for fools! We must conquer the Academy Archipelago through a long-term campaign," Laurier declared pompously, puffing out her chest. "Well, everyone? For coming up with such a magnificent plan, you may shower me with praise!"
"Truly impressive, Laurier!" Haruhana applauded earnestly.
"Yeah, that really is a stroke of genius, Laurier!" Kuro chuckled, joining in.
It was an idea perfectly fitting for a spoiled princess craving validation. Grinning, Kuro teamed up with Haruhana to pat Laurier's fluffy hair.
"Hehehe... The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting! My sister says so all the time!" Laurier giggled, melting under the affection.
"Umm, about that..." Pina interjected, rubbing the back of her neck.
"What is it, Pina?" Laurier asked, pouting her lips as if complaining that Pina wasn't joining in on the head-pats.
Having just worn a look of pure bliss, the princess frowned, aggrieved that Pina wasn't showering her with praise as well.
"Look, Princess Laurier, I hate to rain on your parade, but..." Pina offered a strained smile. "...we do have a deadline, you know?"
"Huh?" Laurier blinked.
"The auditors from the Tritonis Kingdom always arrive right after Golden Week," Pina reminded her gently. "We only have a few days left to pull together a progress report impressive enough to satisfy Princess Claudia."
Laurier's blank expression instantly froze in absolute horror.
"W-Wait... what?!" Laurier stammered, her voice squeaking. "D-Did we really have to do something like that last year?!"
"Up until last year, Ginion barely managed to handle it," Pina explained. "He doctored all the reports to drag out the budget before fleeing to the 107th Branch, but he was the one running Tritonis Academy back then."
"Th-That's... um... I suppose you're right..." Laurier trailed off weakly.
Her eyes darted frantically around the room before her head drooped in despair. As Laurier began acting visibly suspicious, Haruhana tilted her head in confusion.
"Would it not be simplest to state the truth?" Haruhana suggested matter-of-factly. "We can just inform them that Ginion's gross misconduct has left us in a bit of a predicament."
"Haruhana makes a great point," Pina agreed, nodding briskly. "When you mess up, prompt reporting, contact, and consultation are key! That's the golden rule."
"Indubitably!" Haruhana affirmed.
Pina nodded emphatically at Haruhana's sound logic.
"Then again," Pina added playfully, leaning in, "if we honestly report the current state of Tritonis Academy... Princess Claudia is going to be absolutely furious with you, Laurier. Beyond belief."
"N-N-N-Nooooo! Anything but getting scolded by my sister!!" Laurier shrieked, clutching her head in terror.
Faced with Pina's ruthless declaration, the princess squealed and grabbed her head in sheer panic.
"I-I only wish to be a proud and worthy little sister to my glorious elder sister...!" Laurier wailed dramatically. "I-If she discovers this horrific catastrophe, she'll scold me and abandon me forever...! Waaaaah!"
"C-Calm down," Kuro urged, trying to pacify her. "It's all Ginion's fault anyway, so it's not like you could help it. She wouldn't be that mad at you... right?"
"Hmm, I wouldn't be so sure," Pina replied with a nervous chuckle. "Princess Claudia is practically the living embodiment of Noblesse Oblige... If she finds out that royal authority was duped by a subordinate and ended up inconveniencing a commoner like Kuro, well..."
"A-A-Ah-Wha-Wha-Wha! If—If we just show results! If we produce an achievement grand enough to wipe away this blunder, we can deceive the auditors—I mean, sister will surely forgive me!!" Laurier stammered, flustered beyond belief.
Laurier had officially reached peak panic.
This was a terrible sign. Specifically, she was radiating the exact same desperate energy as when she had tricked Kuro into signing his academy enrollment forms.
"Easy there... Just take a deep breath, alright?" Kuro coaxed gently. "Didn't you just say quick results were impossible, and that winning without fighting through a long-term campaign was the supreme strategy?"
"Forget that! I have just remembered an ideal opponent whom we can fight immediately, defeat in the short term, and actually have a chance of beating!" Laurier declared, completely flip-flopping.
Just moments ago, the sheer difficulty of finding such an opponent was the exact reason she had proposed waiting for the current Single Numbers to graduate.
And yet, without a single hint of shame, Laurier pointed squarely at one of the names on the Single Number list.
"Ninth Seat, Lady Wormwine Amnesium," Laurier announced. "Not only do I share a personal connection with her, but there is a very high probability she would accept a Counter-Battle from us."
"A personal connection? You actually know her, Laurier?" Kuro asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. Though... well... our relationship is a tad... peculiar, so to speak," Laurier admitted, twirling her fingers awkwardly.
If she knew a Single Number, why hadn't she brought it up earlier? As Kuro fixed her with a suspicious glare, Laurier flashed a sheepish, half-hearted smile and looked up at him through her emerald eyes.
Short though their acquaintance had been, Kuro knew this look all too well.
Whenever Laurier struck this puppy-dog pose, it meant she was attempting to gloss over a massive blunder by acting cute. Refusing to be captivated by her pretty face, Kuro simply smiled back sweetly.
"Alright, Laurier. Spill it. Cough up the truth," Kuro commanded with an unyielding smile.
"Ugh... She is the individual from whom I borrowed funds when Tritonis Academy hit financial rock bottom," Laurier confessed, shrinking back. "Since the 107th Branch that acted as her debt collector was dismantled, reaching out to address the loan should secure us a meeting. And with any luck, we might just coax her into a Counter-Battle..."
"...Listen to me very carefully, Laurier," Kuro sighed softly.
Faced with a relationship far more sinister than he had anticipated, Kuro covered his face with both hands and looked up at the ceiling in despair.
The party who lent money to Tritonis Academy was, in other words, the ultimate source of the ruinous debt pushing their school to the verge of closure.
They were the reason Pina had been driven to sell herself to USE for ten million points, the reason Haruhana had prepared to auction off her own services, and the threat holding Laurier's freedom hostage to absorb them into their sphere of influence. In short—they were, without a shadow of a doubt, the enemy.
And yet, Laurier had brushed off such a ruthless creditor as a mere "personal connection."
"This is why everyone calls you the Clumsy Princess..." Kuro groaned, rubbing his temples.
"Who on earth gave me such a disgraceful nickname?!" Laurier cried out indignantly.
Stung by a title coined by virtually every student at Tritonis Academy except herself, Laurier stubbornly dialed Ninth Seat Wormwine Amnesium to prove a point. As a result—
—for reasons unknown, the recipient specified a water park leisure resort within the Academy Archipelago as their meeting ground, sending Haruhana into absolute fits of joy.
Under the clear, sunlit sky, a pristine white oiled-paper parasol unfurled.
Amidst the Academy Archipelago, where cutting-edge, otherworldly technology was forged, a young girl strolled gracefully, using the archaic Japanese parasol to shield herself from the sun.
Draped over her academy uniform was the traditional attire of Japan, a nation from Earth World. Trailed closely by a petite boy a step behind her, her most striking feature was neither her eccentric outfit nor her regal posture, but what lay upon her forehead.
Bare for all the world to see, she flaunted a distinct katana slash mark as if showing off a prized possession.
The pale scar, as long as an index finger, was prominently displayed, framed by a red headband that pinned back her bangs. Though her striking appearance inevitably drew staring eyes, anyone who caught sight of her quickly looked away in sheer panic.
It was not out of guilt for staring at a young girl's facial scar.
The true culprit was the uniform worn by both the girl and her accompanying boy.
Imperial Style Doji Academy Main Campus.
One half of the Two Great Schools vying for total supremacy over the Academy Archipelago alongside St. Guinness Girls' Academy. True to the military doctrine of the Tohsei Empire that governed it, the elite school operated under the explicit motto of "Conquest." Rumors whispered that their conduct was even more tyrannical than the notorious criminal hub of the 666th Branch School, making it only natural for onlookers to steer clear of them.
Unbothered by the terrified onlookers fleeing her path, the girl maintained a delicate, serene smile.
"Kyoko," the petite boy called out, glancing back at her. "You've been in high spirits ever since you heard from that collaborator."
"Oh my, oh my, oh my. Is it really that obvious?" Kyoko giggled softly.
"Painfully obvious," the boy sneered candidly. "Even someone like me, who views everyone else as a stepping stone, could pick up on it."
"Ufufu... How embarrassing for me," Kyoko murmured, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink as she twirled her white parasol to hide her shyness.
At the boy's blunt observation, the maiden named Kyoko flushed crimson and spun the handle of her paper parasol to cover her embarrassment.
"Still, I cannot help it if my true feelings show," Kyoko confessed, her voice thick with intoxicating ecstasy. "He has arrived in the Academy Archipelago and even crafted a pretext for us to cross paths once more. My heart beats so wildly it will not cease! Yes, yes, yes... I am so blissfully happy I can hardly contain myself."
Watching her radiate genuine delight, the boy knitted his brows in sheer bewilderment.
"Is it really something to celebrate?" the boy grumbled, scratching his head. "All we're doing is retaliating against the idiots who got cocky and destroyed the 107th Branch—beating those small-time trash until they learn their place. If you've got an acquaintance over there, won't it just be awkward?"
"No, not at all. To inflict a wound upon someone is to etch an indelible mark deep into their soul, you see," Kyoko gently corrected him.
Refuting the boy's logical objection, she let out an enamored sigh, resting the handle of her white parasol against the white scar on her forehead.
"The more wounds you carve into their flesh, the deeper the scars take root within their heart. And scars bound to heart and body endure throughout a person's life far longer than fond memories of youth, sweet whispers of romance, or even fierce battles with a hated enemy. Could there possibly be anything more wonderful in this world?"
"...Uh, yeah, right. Whatever you say," the boy muttered dryly, visibly creeped out by her twisted logic.
As one incident drew to a close, Tritonis Academy was not the only force setting itself into motion. Their enemies, too, were forging a new path, setting the wheels of fate and lingering vendettas into motion.
"I can hardly wait," Kyoko whispered softly. "It has been over seven long years since that day..."
Though hailing from Earth World, she stood as one of the young elites of Imperial Style Doji Academy Main Campus, operated by the Tohsei Empire—the greatest military nation of the Heaven Disc World.
"I wonder... just how far beyond ordinary humanity has Kuro grown?"
Kyoko Kasagaki murmured to herself, a chilling, eerie smile gracing her lips.
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