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Chapter 18. Let’s Form A Faction

"I don’t get it… Theodore Anthem, why didn’t you take the exam? With this much power, in a few years, you could be the division leader of the Magic Knights… no, even the Grand Master."

"Grand Master? Not just a leader?"

"...You really have no interest in the Magic Knights. When the Magic Knights were first established, the top position was indeed the leader, but as it grew, divisions were formed, and the head became the Grand Master."

"I see."

I didn’t know that. I thought the Magic Knights were led by the Knight Commander with division leaders below them, but apparently not.

"The reason I didn’t take the exam is that I didn’t even know there was such a ranking system, and I wasn’t that interested in the Magic Knights themselves. Well, I heard that a low rank could be inconvenient, so I aimed for around 250th place."

"And you achieved 250th place brilliantly."

Well, I was lucky. I never thought they would approach me. If I had picked a fight, it could have turned into something bigger, but since they challenged me and lost, it should be fine... I think. At least, since Princess Elissa, the top of the faction, isn’t the type to take action, it should be fine… though I am a bit worried.

"…Interesting. I have a suggestion."

"What? I already have a bad feeling about this."

"Theo, why don’t we form a faction with you as the leader? No rule says the leader of a faction must be highly ranked."

"What’s the point of forming something like that?"

"We’ll fight against the noble cliques."

Women who have survival of the fittest ingrained in their minds are never good news. But… considering that I might be targeted by various students, joining a faction might not be a bad idea. I could just fight them all off, but that’s a bit too reckless.

"…If it’s a figurehead, I know a good one."

"Oh?"

"It’s someone from the bloodline of the first leader of the Magic Knights of the Kingdom of Kuria."

I’ll use her as a convenient cover. If I apologize later, Elixira will probably forgive me.

"I absolutely won’t forgive you."

Nope, didn’t work.

Nina agreed to the idea of making Elixira, who dropped to the 984th rank after I took the 250th place, the head of our faction. It seems she understood that having a noble as the figurehead is better than a commoner. Probably, Nina was just interested in a student with the blood of the first leader.

"If you don’t like it, you could just refuse."

"Do you think I can refuse!? Especially when my family already told me not to disgrace the Bifrans family, now I’m surrounded by a monster ranked 250th and a vampire princess!"

"Stop calling me the vampire princess. Don’t give me such an embarrassing nickname."

Oh, so she’s embarrassed by such a chūnibyō name. I thought adventurers liked to call themselves by those names… Maybe the nicknames for the Magic Knights are also given by the nation or the people.

"Alright, from today, we are the Elixira Faction! The faction emblem will be an open book."

It’s like the library symbol in Japan from my previous life.

"Do factions have emblems?"

"Oh, they do… Basically, they use the family crest of the faction leader."

"The faction members are just me and Nina."

"That’s few! How can you even call that a faction!?"

We’ll increase from here. For now, I want a male faction member. Having only one guy seems like a hassle, so I’ll look for a male member.

"It’s not all bad. Next month, there will be group exercises, right? We’ll have to move in groups to the Beast Forest, so we won’t need to choose members then."

"Is that so? We’re avoided by others, and Elixira is ranked 984th and also avoided, so it’s perfect."

"I can’t deny that part!"

Loners should stick together.

"Hmm… From what I see, Elixira doesn’t have the aura of a strong person, and neither does she have the aura of a weak person. Rather, it feels like she’s hiding something."

"It’s not that exaggerated…"

"Are you talking about the Grimoire?"

Come to think of it, it’s interesting that someone like Nina can’t use a Grimoire, but someone like Elixira, who can’t swing a sword, can. It shows that the ability to manifest a Grimoire is independent of actual combat skill.

As a Magic Knight, being unable to wield a weapon is a huge disadvantage, but in a free-for-all fight, Elixira is probably strong. At least, she’s stronger than Carl, who couldn’t touch me.

"The leader doesn’t have to be highly ranked, but if the head of the faction is the lowest rank, it’s pointless. You need to raise your rank to around 500 in the mid-term exams next week."

"…500!?"

"Next week?"

That’s soon.

"Why don’t you know the exam schedule, Theo?"

"This is just how he is."

"Shut up."

He’s the type who never looks at the papers he’s given.

Still… the two of them together are quite a sight. Elixira is short with a large chest and pale skin, while Nina is tanned, about my height, and has a combat-suited slim body. They’re a contrasting pair. By the way, if you mention Nina’s flat chest, she’d probably just say, "It’s convenient for fighting."

"Alright, let’s prepare for the mid-term exams."

"Prepare how?"

"First, Elixira needs to learn to swing a sword."

"Impossible!"

Don’t give up so easily. With a week, we can at least get you from being thrown around by the sword to wielding it properly. I’m not asking you to learn a style, just to be able to call yourself a Magic Knight apprentice.