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Chapter 11. Student Council

It's been a month since I enrolled. Contrary to my expectations, there's still no sign of anyone from the Magic Knight Department trying to transfer. In fact, it feels like there haven't been many duels on campus yet. I heard Chronos Magic Knight Academy was supposed to be a more intense place, but maybe it was just rumors.

"Hey."

"............"

"Don't give me that blatantly annoying look."

Well, that's impossible.

The person who approached me while I was walking on campus is rumored to be an incredible genius even within the Magic Knight Department. Elissa Kuria-sama. She's also the genius I accidentally knocked out a few days after enrolling.

"Why don't you challenge anyone to a duel?"

"...Huh?"

"With your skills, you could easily climb the ranks."

"I already said I'm not interested in ranks. While it might be weird not to climb, I'm not striving to be at the top like a princess."

Well, if I were aiming to be a Magic Knight like Elissa-sama, I might have challenged duels to climb ranks. But I never intended to climb the ranks seriously.

"How dare you speak so rudely to Elissa-sama!"

"Huh? Well, at Chronos Magic Knight Academy, there's no distinction between nobles and commoners."

"But even so, is it proper to show no respect to Elissa-sama, who is a princess of this country?"

"Eh, too much trouble."

Now that I look closely, there are about ten people, men, and women, surrounding Elissa-sama. Could this be... factions?

"Was I indirectly invited to join a faction within the school?"

"What!? I haven't formed any factions! Carl, stop making troublesome assumptions."

"But!"

"Regardless of the connections to the Kulia family, I'm merely personally acquainted with him. Besides, as he said, there's no hierarchy among classmates at Chronos Magic Knight Academy."

Don't glare at me like that in the middle of this conversation. Elissa-sama rejected me. Why am I being dragged into this weird situation?

"I'm sorry for approaching you."

"Eh, ah... It's not like Elissa-sama needs to apologize... And, I understand what you're saying."

Indeed, even though there's said to be no distinction in status within Chronos Magic Knight Academy, it's my fault for responding with such a casual reply to someone from the royal family who rules this country. Well, I do feel remorse. Maybe next time I'll use more formal language.

"Don't worry about it. At Chronos Magic Knight Academy, you can overturn status with your abilities."

Yeah. Everyone talks about it like it's a good thing, but it sounds more like a barbarian society where the strongest one leads.

"Anyway, come up to where I am soon. I recognize you as my rival."

"Are you serious about that?"

"Absolutely."

"Please spare me..."

Why do I have to be recognized as a rival just because I dueled with the princess early in my enrollment?

"If you're a rival, you should keep an eye on Jeremiah."

"Oh, do you have a connection with him?"

"...Well, we've had a few classes together."

"I see... He's certainly a rival, too. I consider all the ten people above me as rivals."

I'm about 980 ranks below that.

"By the way, the midterm exams are approaching... I wonder how much your rank will rise. If your abilities become known, your rank will naturally rise easily."

"Eh? Midterm exams aren't just written exams, are they!?"

"...You should go back and gather more information about the academy."

This is news to me!?

While I've been studying for the written exams, thinking it's bad to fail in academics, I haven't touched the practical side at all!?

"Don't worry too much. Even the practical exam is just going outside the capital for a few days to fight magical beasts."

"Oh... then it should be fine."

"Yeah. If you could defeat me, you'll be fine."

That's a loaded statement.

"Well then, I'll... make sure to take the exams seriously this time!"

"Like a mom."

I haven't researched anything about the school events. I need to know a bit about that. During the month since enrollment, after classes, I've just been holed up in the library, so I don't even know what other students are doing.

First, gathering information is a top priority. Necessary information includes the annual schedule of Chronos Magic Knight Academy and the current rankings. 

The latter might be a bit delicate in terms of obtaining it as a document, but I should be able to ask a teacher. Although I'm already being treated as a troublemaker by the teachers, I hope they won't be dismissive if I ask as a student... or so I'd like to think.

"The annual schedule of the academy? Of course, we have it. But as for the rankings, the Student Council manages that."

"Oh, I see."

"Our academy's Student Council holds significant power, so documents related to students are kept in the Student Council room."

I wondered what it meant for students to hold power. But that's right. In this academy, the top-ranked student in the third year becomes the Student Council president and has the authority to appoint other Student Council members. Moreover, the reason why the Student Council has so much power is because the outstanding students are basically from noble families.

While there's no distinction in status within Chronos Magic Knight Academy, that's among students. No matter what, teachers probably don't want to upset the children of nobles. Teaching seems like a tough job.

"Excuse me."

"Oh? You are? Welcome to the Student Council."

As directed by the teacher, I headed to the Student Council room, and as I opened the door, the first person I saw in the sunlit room was someone with crossed arms and a friendly smile.

"You're Ars-senpai, right?"

"You remembered me? Indeed, I am Ars Kugel, the Student Council President of Chronos Magic Knight Academy."

I remembered his name because of the somewhat sinister smile hidden behind his refreshing demeanor. Oh, I knew he was the heir to a marquis family, but I didn't expect him to be the Student Council President.

"By the way, coming here means."

"Ah, yes. I wanted to inquire about the rankings of the first-year students—"

"—and you're here to volunteer for the Student Council, right?"

"Not at all."

Why though.